A/N: THIS IS MY FIRST FIC AND IS HEAVILY INSPIRED BY A FIC CALLED NINE MINUTES WHICH IS AN AWESOME FIC. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS APPRECIATED AND PLEASE FORGIVE ANY MISTAKES. I JUST ENJOY WRITING AND WROTE THIS AS AN EXPERIMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR READING THIS.
Luffy felt himself floating. That was the best way to describe it. There was no light or sound, but that didn't matter because he didn't have eyes or ears. There was a complete lack of attachment as his consciousness simply drifted away. He had no idea where he was going; he had no idea where he had come from.
All he could think about was Ace...Ace...His mind was complete blank and Ace wasn't the only reason. The other reason was because he was dying...
Suddenly he saw him
Ace...
He floated next to him bawling and screaming "ACE!!!ACE!!"
Ace looked at him with concern first then saw the state he was in and looked between horror and anger. He took a deep breath to calm himself and knelt down next to his floating broken body.
He was silent for a few minutes while Luffy continued bawling and babbling about how he was alive and what had happened to him and his crew... "ACE ACE where are we ???...Ace...huh ?"
"Ace!"
Ace watched him but didn't respond immediately.
After some time he spoke
" I am already dead! Luffy and You're going to die if you do things like this" Ace said, his expression flickering somewhere between pity and irritation. "Again. Is this really how you want it all to end? What about your Dream huh?! Your Crew?!"
At first Luffy was shocked he didn't know what to say. Ace was dead...but he was here scolding him like always...No...No...Ace can't be dead ...No...Ace was dead !!!He failed waaaH...!!!!But ...Ace's Words hurt him more than ever ...
Slowly, Luffy could feel his heartbeat starting to race, each beat so powerful it shook his body to the core. His breathing became stronger, more furious, while the adrenaline raced through his body. Feebly, his hands clenched into fists.
Ace just shook his head dismissively. "I'm honestly not even surprised," Ace murmured, slowly standing up. "You always were just a little brat. As soon as things don't go your way, you fall down. Still, there's one thing that I've got to ask…"
Luffy was trembling madly, willing his body to respond but it just wouldn't work. Ace's condescending words cut straight through him, vibrating around his soul. The image of Ace sceptical face, raised eyebrow and looking down on Luffy mockingly, burned into his eyeballs.
"…You couldn't save me so you will abandon everyone else? Abandon your Friends?"
Luffy screamed. It was a hoarse shrill cry that gradually became deeper and throatier. The tears were still pouring down his face, but his heart was racing and his body was trembling frantically. His skin felt numb, but Luffy gasped and panted, forcing his limbs to respond by sheer willpower. He could feel the power flowing through him, as he glared at Ace furiously.
"Shut up."
The words were so powerful that air surrounding him pulsed. In an instant, Luffy could suddenly feel his body again. The pain hit him like a steam train. Every nerve, every patch of skin, every bone screamed in utter agony, so intense Luffy could barely breathe. It was an incapacitating torture that nearly caused him to blackout.
Still, the pain felt good. The pain felt like he was coming back to life.
He heard someone calling to him but he couldn't decipher what they were saying.... He recognized what he heard as Jinbe's voice
"LUFFY-KUN!!...STAY STRONG !!
You can't lose hope ...You must focus on what's left and not what is gone."
What's left...? I still have My Friends...
Images of all his friends came to his mind and he felt the hope they gave him shine through the cloud of depression from which he has been suffering.
He heard them calling his name.
Luffy ...Zoro Luffy ...Nami Luffy... Usopp Luffy...Sanji Luffy ...Chopper Luffy...Robin Luffy...Franky Luffy-san...Brook...I still have my friends ...I WON'T DIE HERE !! I CAN'T DIE HERE!!!
Trafalgar D. Water Law watched in surprise as Straw Hat who was dead for last 10 minutes heard Jinbe's encouraging words and let loose a blast of pure willpower that made half his crew faint. Just as he got ready to restrain him,Luffy got up at impressive speed for someone in his condition and smashed his submarine's roof and ran away.
That willpower! So he can use it just as I thought...Cora-san's Words floated in back of his mind "D will always bring a storm!" He wondered what storm Straw hat would bring . It should be interesting. We'll have to fix the submarine now though...
Jinbe walked in the forest searching for Luffy. He expected him to be in pain and was prepared to help his new friend instead found him sitting in a clearing and trying to do something with his hand on his cheeks and looking frustrated.
Meanwhile with Luffy...
He had to get stronger.
Luffy knew that everything had changed. No matter how much he wanted to go back to the way things were, he just couldn't. Suddenly, he had gained a new perspective on everything, it was impossible to close his eyes again.
His near death... And that dream with Ace ... He couldn't save him and his friends...
He needed to get much stronger before going to New World... Shanks was waiting for him to return his hat but he wasn't READY ... The War had showed him that... Ace had showed him that...
And now this...
With vague dread, Luffy realised that he was now…different. It was an uncomfortable and unwelcome thought.
Just as Jinbe came into the clearing Luffy looked up face scrunched up due to thinking so much but somehow having a easier time thinking. "Jinbe ...!" He uttered with a forlorn expression. "Are you Ok Luffy-Kun?" Luffy didn't say something for quite some time but he finally mustered up the courage to tell Jinbe.
Meanwhile At the coast of Amazon Lily
Rayleigh had arrived and Hancock was asking (demanding) Law to tell her about her beloved Luffy's condition. At first Law didn't reply but seeing as all the women and Rayleigh looked at him he said "I have stitched up his chest wound, performed several blood transfusions, and treated his other injuries. Right now, he just needs rest and recuperation. BUT there is one thing you must know."
Law cleared his throat. "The dynamics of Devil fruits are not particularly well understood," He confessed. "But it is known that once the user dies, the Devil fruit power leaves the body and is reincarnated into a fruit elsewhere."
The doctor continued. "Now, it is possible (very rarely!) for a person to reach such a state of near-death that the power actually leaves the body, and in such a case the power will not return when the user recovers."
The Empress gasped. "You mean…?"
He nodded grimly. "Yes – the power of the Gum Gum Fruit is already gone," he explained. " Straw Hat-ya is no longer a Rubber-man."
IN THE FOREST
Jinbe was shocked to hear that Luffy has lost his devil fruit. He hasn't even heard of that before ...ever. He looked ready to console his Friend but instead of looking devastated Luffy was looking more determined than ever. He then said "Jinbe I want to see my crew..."
Jinbe helped Luffy up and both headed to the coast.
SOME Time later...
At the shore Rayleigh was sitting with the Amazon Lily's residents waiting for Luffy's answer to his suggestion and thinking over what Luffy had said to him moments ago...
A few moments ago...
Luffy and Jinbe arrived out of forest to see women and Rayleigh waiting for them.
Immediately Boa Hancock started fawning over Luffy offering him meat and fruits..
"Luffy, I could barely sleep, I was so worried about you… here I prepared a feast for you" Hancock said as she put her fingers on the fruits.
He realized he owed her ...and hugged her saying "Thank you so much for everything Hancock"
He let go of her but she was already in her dream world.
He looked confused as she didn't appear to be hearing him.
He then spotted Rayleigh and asked him what he was doing out here when his vivre card was still pointing to Sabaody. Rayleigh said that he left his with Shakky. Luffy began eating the food after Jinbe invited him to eat with him. Rayleigh then asked Luffy what he planned on doing now.
Luffy took a while to settle his thoughts. He looked up at Rayleigh with fierce will burning in his eyes.
"What I want is to see my crew again. What I want is to get back on my ship and go on more fun and exciting adventures with them" Luffy exclaimed passionately.
" But…Shanks is waiting somewhere on the other side of the Red Line. I promised him that I would be strong enough to beat him when we met each other again… and this isn't enough.There are too many tough enemies in my adventure… to become the Pirate King I need to become much stronger… I can feel inside of me… some power waiting to burst out… I can grow stronger … but like how I am now its not enough, I don't have my devil fruit anymore I had it for 10 years so most of my fighting style was based on it" Luffy pointed at his chest
" So I want me and my crew to stop for a while and get stronger to take on the New World."
Rayleigh was silent for a few minutes but then spoke "Then I have a suggestion for you Luffy-kun."
Luffy thought about Rayleigh's suggestion... His crew wouldn't know about him dying and losing his devil fruit but he could always tell them later and the most important message to stop for 2 years would be recieved. He looked up to Rayleigh "Lets do it."
(A Week Later after stopping at Marineford)
He raided Marineford listening to Rayleigh's plan and sent a cryptic message to all his crew members, to return to Sabaody Archipelago in two years instead of three days later.
That cryptic message would tell them to train for two years in order to prepare for the New World.
He himself will be training with Rayleigh.
He has a lot to accomplish if he is aiming to be King of the Pirates.
Now at a island with Rayleigh his training begins.
"Some call it the physical manifestation of pure willpower – the ability to enforce strength of character on to the world. Others consider it a divine gift, only given to a select few. Others believe that everyone is born with Haki and use it regularly, but not many are capable of actively applying it."
Luffy's head tilted to the side. "I don't get it."
The pirate just smiled, his eyes glazing over. "The best definition I ever heard," Rayleigh mused. "was something that Roger told me a very long time ago…"
"What did he say?" Luffy asked finally, after a few seconds.
"Haki…" Rayleigh muttered "…is the ability to defy fate itself through your will."
Haki. Pure willpower. The power to achieve the impossible. The power to break through boundaries.
It was the thing Rayleigh has said he would be teaching him in the course of 2 years. He had shown him all 3 types of Haki and Luffy had soon realized he had the third rare type which was one he had used in War. He was most interested in Armament Haki as it could allow him to hit Logia users but Rayleigh has said to train all 3 equally so He will become much stronger.And that was what he wanted. He still didn't want to conquer anything but to be the freest man on earth also meant being strong enough to protect his crew . The War had changed him but what had changed him the most was losing his devil fruit and THAT talk with Ace...He didn't have his devil fruit anymore but he had decided instead of searching for a new one he will become stronger by himself train his body instead of depending on a devil fruit. It was hard as for 10 years he had the rubber body. The positive effects were that for 10 years he had trained to use his body effectively and even if he didn't have his gears the strength was all him in it so he was as strong as a half giant but the negatives were he couldn't use gears so that strength couldn't be utilized effectively . Even if Gear Third's power was there he couldn't utilize it and he couldn't be as fast as was without Gear second. Another major downside was He couldn't eat as much as he did before ... Which was the most unfortunate.
Rayleigh had gave him some alcohol to help digest the enormous amount he had eaten which was still nowhere near what he ate before .But His thoughts were constantly going towards how to get stronger. He didn't think he had thought this much even before...ever.
He thought of Humans stronger than him without devil fruit powers and how to get as strong as them. His G..Gramps..that crazy old man was super strong and he didn't have any devil fruit powers as far as he knew ... maybe Rayleigh knew him being old and all...he could ask him about if he ever faced him in battle...There was Rayleigh himself who was super strong... Shanks also didn't have a devil fruit...
Luffy kept on lifting that solid block of granite he had found. The sweat pooled around him, and he was filthy and tired. His muscles were screaming and the pain was agony, but he had too much at stake to give up. The words "I will become stronger"resonated through his mind with every push.
10 days Later ...
Luffy tried to sense the blow coming and moved in the opposite direction to get away but got smacked right in the face. "Oww It hurts...!" He calmed himself down and centered his mind letting it detach from pain and said "again". Rayleigh grinned at his tenacity and prepared another lousy strike , Luffy had asked him to train him Hard but he was still going easy on him...The loss of Devil fruit and a mysterious conversation with Ace that Luffy has told him about had pushed Luffy to extreme and his willpower had increased greatly. He wouldn't be surprised that instead of 2 years Luffy learned the basics of Haki in 1 year. He would have to master the Haki in battles he got in New World. He was surprised that Luffy had asked him about Garp but had told him about that Garp was easily as strong as Roger was and even now in old age was as strong as Admirals and maybe even himself but wasn't too sure of that... Luffy's face was comical when he had said that ...Luffy had known his Grandpa was Strong but as strong as Old Man Whitebeard and Gol'D' Roger was a Surprise. But He couldn't and wouldn't ask that crazy old man for training so he had asked Rayleigh to be Hard on him but he could still tell he was going easy. He shouted stubbornly "Come on Rayleigh!! I can take it!". Rayleigh sighed but didn't comply He may be motivated and focused much more but he wouldn't be Luffy without being stubborn... Then He grinned Just like Roger ... He shouted back " Focus Luffy-kun!" and went back to it.
10 days Later...
Luffy was facing against that stupid large gorilla trying to get Armament Haki to work... Last 20 days has been tough on him without being a Rubber-man it was Harsh on his body but he withstood it. Haki was based on willpower and he had mostly withstood hellish training with Willpower alone. He could get that black sheen maybe 5 times per 100 tries which was very less but Rayleigh said it was good because Haki evolved more the more he fought with it. So He was fighting against these stupid tough beasts. He ducked under another tough punch and jumped high to land a solid blow to the beast. His fist gleamed black for about 3 seconds then turned to normal but Luffy had already punched the lights out of beast. He stood there panting and sweating. He was tired and all his muscles were screaming at him to stop but he Couldn't and refused to give up. He saw the beast lay still still alive but unconscious so allowed himself to relax and collapsed laughing..."Shishishi...I did it Rayleigh!" He grinned widely reaching for his hat before remembering he had left the hat near that tree as he was taking a break as Straw-hat Luffy. Rayleigh came behind him saying "Very Good Luffy-kun. You have progressed greatly in these 20 days.But you still have ways to go if you want to survive in New World."
"Shishishi Don't worry Rayleigh. I will train harder and become stronger than ever. I want to go on adventures and be able to protect my crew too!" Luffy said Grinning madly as always.
Rayleigh smiled and said " Well do you want to call it a day or are you going to challenge some another animal."
Luffy eyes shined with excitement "I want to challenge that fast cheetah I beat 5 days earlier"
"Well Luffy-kun that shouldn't take you long. But come before night. I am going to prepare dinner and don't challenge the beasts above your level yet."
Rayleigh adviced.
Luffy pouted but easily agreed to his wishes.
After 2 hours in the hearts of Rukusuina Island (Ruins of Old Civilization)
Luffy was confused as he was sure he saw that cheetah run here but couldn't find him. AND what was this place?...
The air felt heavy as if something great was here he could vaguely sense something in air but couldn't exactly decipher what it was. All his wounds weren't aching anymore. Where am I? Am I still on the Island?...
He walked deeper and deeper into the mysterious ruins guided by some mysterious force. At long last he reached what he felt was the center and took notice of the thing that had brought him here. A round distortion like ripple was present in air hanging gleaming electric blue.
Luffy didn't know what it was but his instincts were screaming at him that this was a passage of some kind.
He wanted to go there but He was hungry...Should I go back to Rayleigh...? There was nothing here but some fruits were scattered about likely some animals had dropped it while coming across the portal. Different types of fruits were scattered about. He collected them and ate a few before using his vest as a makeshift bag to take them back so he could eat them with Rayleigh. His ability to eat now lessened he didn't eat as much. He still wouldn't share his meat with someone else but fruits were different in his opinion. as shoon as he collected fruits and began to get out of This place. He was pushed into the portal suddenly ... Last thing he felt before being whisked away was smell of that Cheetah he had followed here ... So he was here the whole time...
Luffy opened his eyes and found himself in a underground cave like place and a massive city in front of him and what looked like toy soldiers all staring at him in shock. The Cheetah was standing next to him tensed and ready to attack at a moment's notice. He finally noticed someone who looked like a human and as he saw him he couldn't help but gasp ...
"You...!!??" There was some kind of graffiti at nearby wall where HE was standing looking gobsmacked and fearful of him. "What the hell are you doing here on this island? Where did all these funny people came from!!???Hancock didn't tell me anything about this!".
The soldiers somehow enraged at his words started attacking him while that guy was still as a statue not doing anything.
He ducked under a blow and punched the toy in his face sending him flying and scattering the lined soldiers."Hey what the hell?why are you all attacking me?..."The Cheetah behind him began ran down many soldiers and ran away into the city.
It started an all out brawl with Luffy and Cheetah fighting the soldiers while a sole man looked on too shocked to even do anything.
When Enel had come to Fairy vearth he hadn't expected to find the automatic soldiers who functioned on electricity. He hadn't expected to learn about how his ancestors and all ancestors of skypiaens had come from here due to lack of resources but he had found it and he was fairly satisfied with the results.
What he was not happy with was that...darn...heretic...somehow finding his way here due to him powering the oddest ruin here which had made no sense to him. The One who was his natural enemy the rubber man.
It had taken him a few minutes to recover his composure but now he was angry. That little nightmare of his wouldn't leave him alone. Well this time he was going to win and show him God's true power. This time he knew how that monkey fought and using his Mantra he would defeat him ... and using that portal thing he will kill all his friends before killing him for defying God.
Enel took note of his surroundings using Mantra and his eyes both ... He fired a enormous amount of lightning to where the brat was fighting and saw that he dodged his blast which took out a lot of his soldiers .
Luffy recognised the lightning bastard from Sky Island who had hurt all those Sky people and hurt all his friends expect Nami. He had also taken freedom of other people simply because he thought he was a God. Just like those Celestial bastards... Luffy hated people like him and looks like he will be fighting him again.
Luffy prepared himself, he wasn't rubber anymore so he couldn't hurt him but he remembered Rayleigh saying that Armament Haki can hurt Logia types and this was how he will beat him again.
Enel approached Luffy at a high speed using his gold spear instead of lightning which Luffy blocked with his hand,as the area around his hand heated up he jumped back from the god. he couldn't use gears but he still had that speed move he copied from those CP guys. He used it to run towards Enel who dodged out of way of his punch using his Mantra. "I am going to kill you... you heretic..then I will go down to blue sea to kill all those pathetic friends of yours. You wouldn't be allowed to defy God and do as you please. Only I am capable of doing that."
That pissed off Luffy the most "SHUT UP YOU BASTARD!!!!!"
He bypassed Enel's Mantra and slugged him straight in face...except his fist passed through lightning and he recieved the first lightning shock in his life...He spasmed badly not ever having to experience it before.
Enel was surprised... Was that brat wasn't immune to his lightning anymore ...? Slowly A Maniacal grin crept upon his face. Well there's only one way to find out . "100 million volt bari"
An enormous amount of lightning launched out of his hand and Luffy dodged it immediately not wanting to be shocked again that was an unpleasant experience. He glared at Enel and summoned all his willpower running towards him at full speed. Enel was now extremely confident , somehow that brat wasn't rubber anymore and he could use all his lightning and he did just that.
"EL THOR!!"
Luffy couldn't dodge and the lightning hit him dead on delivering shock after shock to his body. but he kept running and punched the god in the gut. This time there was a hint of Haki as the punch connected but only managed to push Enel back instead of dealing damage instead Luffy flew backward and crashed on top of the soldiers. His muscles spasmed and some of his nerves were fried. He hadn't felt this much pain since he had fought Rob Lucci.
He stood up and was immediately attacked by an enraged Enel."Stay down You bastard! 60 million volts Thunder dragon!!"
Luffy's body thrashed in agony as he was once again thrown away against his will by the enormous amount of lightning and looked like the bastard wasn't going to stop.
Enel meanwhile prepared even more lightning to rain down on the one who had once defeated him.
"EL THOR!! " Luffy evaded the attack but the force sent him crashing into a nearby building , breaking through the stone. It took Luffy a while to regain his bearings, as he slowly realised that the earth was rumbling. Luffy recognised the rumble.
The lightning cracked through the air. Luffy tried to dodge but the arc of light changed direction and chased him down. He didn't scream as he felt the electricity burn through him, but his whole body shuddered. Somehow, he managed to stay standing while every nerve in his body screamed in agony. He ran towards Enel again unheeding of his body's agony. He wouldn't lose ...He couldn't lose ... He still had to meet his friends again. He had to win this otherwise he couldn't survive in the New world.
His roundhouse kick landed straight to Enel's side sending him flying this time with exceptionally powerful blow. Enel crashed through buildings and a huge amount of soldiers were thrown away in chaos. Luffy took a moment to catch his breath as suddenly another pillar of lightning shot towards him. Enel was there in an instant devastating his body with a series of blows from his staff and lightning attack but he refused to stay down and landed more blows back to back out of which only 1 connected solidly, the rest not able to. It still sent Enel flying again but he wasn't hurt in the least.
Enel recovered instantly, launching an arc of lightning at Luffy that the pirate barely managed to dodge, yet the lightning still knocked him to the ground.
Enel strode forward and threw another huge bolt of lightning now. It hit Luffy dead centre and sent him flying a long distance away blackening everything in his path. Once again he got up and using Soru took another hit at Enel.
Enel was bored now, without his Rubber body the brat wasn't a challenge anymore. His weird trick which worked sometimes had caught him off guard earlier but now he was just bored...so he played with his opponent ...sending 20 million volts bari again and again as he grew amused of the brat who would try to hit him but he dodged easily due to his Mantra . He had taken a few hits but nothing which was inconvenient to him. This pattern continued on and on for about 10 minutes as Luffy grew more and more fatigued while Enel's confidence (arrogance) returned. Growing bored he used another massive EL THOR and sent Luffy flying ...again. He went too far this time but didn't get up. He used his Mantra to confirm and the Voice of the brat was very weak now. He waited for few minutes as he couldn't hear anything from the wreckage where that brat had crashed before going in his direction at an relaxed place now assured of his victory.
Monkey D. Luffy lay on his back on the ground. Luffy was awake, but he just couldn't move. The connection to his body was severed, and he couldn't even feel pain as he stared up towards the sky with unblinking eyes.
Every breath was brief and wheezy. He could hear his heartbeat, but it felt quiet and irregular. He couldn't even think properly – shell-shocked would be an appropriate description.
Moments passed that could have been seconds or years. It was hard to tell the difference. His eyes and ears were hypersensitive, but his brain couldn't process anything. Slowly, he could hear the sound of quiet, casually footsteps walking towards him. The light faded as a shadow loomed over his face.
"Well then." A voice announced calmly. "You look like shit."
Luffy tried to focus. His mind slowly reeled back to reality as he recognised the voice. He tried to speak, but all he could do was gasp weakly. The voice would have sent tremors down his spine if he could still feel anything.
Ace…
His brother was standing above him, looking down with an amused smile. Ace looked exactly like he remembered; tall, lean and muscular, with a freckled face and a smile that just wasn't right.
It looks like the last time when I was dead... Luffy thought .
Ace sighed as he scratched his forehead, casually looking around at the blackened earth. Luffy could do nothing but stare. "So…" Ace muttered after a pause. "How you've been? Doing alright?"
This is impossible, Luffy realised with a flash;Ace was DEAD. He couldn't be here.
Luffy couldn't even speak to reply. Ace chuckled under his breath. "You've really got yourself messed up this time, little brother," Ace said conversationally. "Seriously, it's quite impressive. After all this time training with Rayleigh I thought you would have at least learnt something."
He snorted. "You're exactly the same as last time." Ace said with a sigh."Didn't you learn anything? Weak Little brother."
Finally, Luffy managed to rediscover his voice . His tongue was heavy and clumsy, and his words were stiff. "…Shut…up…" Luffy gasped weakly repeating the same words as last time only this time , they didn't have the power he was just starting to unlock.
That time had been a fluke.
"Why should I?" Ace retorted. "You're still just getting beat up and losing. I swear, have you ever thought about trying something new?"
Luffy growled quietly, a deep throaty noise. Ace just scoffed. "Weak, little brother," he continued irritably. "What? Is this really the best you can do? Are you so helpless that you need a Devil fruit power just to beat one arrogant prick? That's pathetic."
Luffy couldn't believe this. Was Ace's spirit his companion now , always with him, if that was so... he should be happy but he didn't feel that at all ...All he was feeling...was ANGER!.
Was this a permanent thing...? Whenever he was about to die he would be mocked by his dead brother everytime?...
Then...He couldn't stay down.
He wouldn't!!
Luffy's body screamed in agony as he remembered the last time he talked with Ace's spirit and tried to bring forth that power.
He thought of all his friends...waiting for him 2 years from now ...he could feel their voices in his brain telling him to do what he always did ...
He tuned out everything else focusing on his pain and his breath...
Pain shot through his body as he stood up abruptly with his willpower alone but it made him feel alive and he tuned out everything else.
The only sound he could hear was of his breathing, slow and steady. Luffy cast a dismissive glance towards Ace finally accepting his death before stumbling away without looking back. Every step he took was sluggish, but gradually gaining in momentum and determination.
He now understood what Ace was telling him.
He couldn't keep stumbling everytime he ran into overpowered enemies. He should accept now that Ace was truly gone and move on. That was what his brother's wish was. He will fulfill his brother's last wish. He will become stronger and stronger and stronger and stronger and even stronger.
Enel frowned as he saw the blur racing towards him gaining speed slowly. He wasn't concerned anymore. He had already won in his eyes. But this brat just wouldn't stay down.
Luffy blurred forward with as much speed as he could put in his body. Enel was just standing there as arrogant as he was when he had first met him before he had known about his rubber body utterly confident of his victory . He wasted no time in attacking him.
His leg blurred in a flurry of spinning kicks, followed by an uppercut and vicious shoulder barge. The attacks were furious and deadly fast, but Enel never even felt them. Luffy phased straight through his body in a haze of sparks, crashing into the ground.
"You're not a very smart man, are you?" Enel mocked as another fist blurred through his forehead. Watching him fight hopelessly was incredibly cathartic . His hand glowed with sparks as he slammed it into Luffy's chest.
Luffy grunted but didn't stop. He barely felt the pain anymore. There no thought other than every fist and every kick. Enel never bothered dodging, but just occasionally threw out an attack that sent Luffy skidding to the ground. He was smirking like a child pulling the wings off a fly slowly just to see how long it would thrash.
Luffy didn't care. He just kept on punching and kicking madly, even as the sparks tore his body apart.
And every attack just kept on getting faster and stronger.
Enel was bored again..."This is getting boring now...?"
He sent another high voltage bolt of lightning getting bored and now wanting to finish this.
Luffy landed face first into the dirt, soot covering his whole body. Luffy closed his eyes for a second as he took a deep breath, and pulled himself up to his feet. His hands weren't trembling anymore.
"Yep…" Luffy muttered finally, staring at Enel. His gaze had a cold determination to it. There was no fire or anger; just a relentless icy fury that blocked out the screaming agony of his body. "Your attacks are definitely getting weaker."
Enel didn't even see the attack coming. Luffy's legs just exploded in a roar of power as the pirate slammed forward, his fist blurring with speed. His heart felt like a sledgehammer, while he roared in determination. Luffy's knuckles collided straight into Enel's stomach.
And deep inside the pirate, he felt a lock shatter as the power exploded through him like fire roaring through his bloodstream.
Luffy has fully awakened his Haki now.
The blow landed with a crunch of flesh and bone. Enel's eyes nearly burst out of his head as the air was crushed out of his lungs, while his whole body flew backwards.
Luffy was on him in a second. Enel barely managed to pull himself up before Luffy's fist zoomed into view. Knuckles slammed against his nose with a sickening crack.
The air pulsed with lightning that struck Luffy to the ground. Enel staggered to his knees as he clutched his stomach and felt the blood stream from his broken nose. Luffy winced with pain as he staggered upwards, but his muscles were roaring with relentless energy.
"Just die!" Enel roared as the lightning swirled around him with crackling fury. Luffy dodged the first strike, but the rest took him to the ground. Luffy roared in pain, but just kept pounding forward.
Enel's Mantra was working like never before, predicting every attack and every dodge. He dodged a salvo of lightning fast kicks, replying with a thunder bolt that chased after Luffy even as he rolled to avoid it. He barely managed to spin away just as the lightning discharged into the earth, but it was followed by a stream of furious blasts.
"You will not defeat me again ! I am God " Enel proclaimed, thrusting both hands forward.
Luffy sprinted away quickly, even as he felt the heat burn his back and the lightning torch straight through the earth. There was no time to pause. He was already spinning his fist around in an unstoppable blow, while Enel had to dematerialise into lightning and zap away to avoid the attack.
As soon as he reformed, Luffy was on him in a second. Enel caught a glancing blow on the shoulder, just as a wave of thunder struck him to the ground.
"Die, infidel!" Enel roared, unleashing a crackling bolt. Luffy was already moving, spinning to avoid the blast as he closed the distance between them once again. Enel panicked for half a second before vanishing into a stream of thunder, yet Luffy's fist never stopped. Enel felt the blow collide against his back, knocking him into the ground.
He can hit me even when I'm dematerialised?Enel thought with panic.What sort of trick is he using?!He is still feeling my attacks!He isn't Rubber anymore so how is he doing this??!!!
Too bad for Enel he never knew what Haki could do.
Luffy's barrage of fists burst towards him. Enel reacted on instinct, using Mantra to weave through the blows. His movements were lightning fast as he dodged every attack. Enel could feel his heart pounding, his lungs wheezing for breath, and the blood filling his mouth even as Luffy's knuckles scraped against his skin.
This is impossible, Enel told himself repeatedly, the dread rising in.I wouldn't be beaten by this monkey again. How is he bypassing my Mantra?...
A glancing blow knocked Enel to the ground, followed by a kick straight to his chest. Enel took the blow like a champ, before sending a pulse of electricity straight through Luffy's leg. The pirate roared in pain, but didn't stop as he spun his other leg straight into Enel's skull.
Enel was faster and more powerful. He had every advantage and Luffy's body was falling to pieces.
Still, Luffy was relentless. Somehow, his every attack just became stronger and faster than the last.
Enel barely had a chance to breathe before a hooking fist slammed towards him. There was blood pouring from his forehead.
"DIE!" Enel screamed, as lightning pulsed into the air around him, heating it until it exploded in a huge thunderclap. The shockwave cracked the earth and sent Luffy physically flying into the air. Enel was on the offensive immediately, materialising a giant hand of lightning that snatched Luffy out of the air.
The pirate didn't even have time to gasp for breath as Enel threw him downwards like a ragdoll. Luffy slammed into an old stone building, crashing through rock painfully before coming to a halt in a shower of dust.
Enel wasn't satisfied with this. Somehow the brat was capable of hurting him which shouldn't be possible .
As soon as he saw the brat a bolt of lightning shot out of his hand faster than a bullet. Luffy was already moving. His heart was beating louder than ever, and his feet slammed against the ground. The lightning moved to chase him down, but he just managed to avoid it as the electricity discharged into ground behind him.
Enel unleashed a hail of lightning bolts. Luffy didn't even think about it. His body moved on its own as he swerved in between the bolts of intense light. Enel's mouth dropped open, and Luffy charged towards him with a powerful fist. Enel dodged, but the blow still ended up crashing against his forehead.
The god crashed to the ground, staring at Luffy in shock and horror. Each punch felt like a sledgehammer. Enel should have dodged that one. He knew exactly where Luffy was aiming at, but then the pirate just moved his hand.Is… is this brat using Mantra too?!
In a battle between two Mantra users, both of them could predict the other's attacks, and then predict how the other would avoid that attack. The one that would win would simply be the one with the most concentrated Mantra. Enel's hands were shaking as he glared at Luffy. This… this… can't be…Enel thought, breathingheavily.This brat's Mantra can't be more powerful than mine!
Enel screamed. The thunder was so powerful it shook the earth. A solid sphere of blue lightning burst out of him, cutting through everything in its path. Luffy gasped, but there was no way to avoid it. Instead, he just gritted his teeth and charged through. He could feel the air crackling and exploding around him. He could feel the heat scorching his body. He was just moving too fast to care.
The god's eyes bulged as he saw Luffy approach. He reacted quickly, slamming a thunder-infused fist towards Luffy, just as Luffy's knuckles burst towards his chin. They each landed their blows at the same time, and the momentum sent both men flying backwards.
Luffy's hands were shaking furiously as he staggered upwards. His heart was drumming like never before. His whole body wanted to collapse. The only thing that kept him going was that power inside of him. It was like pure, concentrated determination. The type of power that kept him fighting until there was nothing left.
So this is Haki , The act of not doubting Luffy thought slowly. It was so intense but now he could control it, he didn't doubt himself anymore . He had accepted his shortcomings and will correct himself because he believed he could and that was all that mattered. He could feel it coating his skin like armour, and he could feel it in his mind, pushing him to go faster and stronger.
This was what Rayleigh meant when he said that Haki evolved in heat of the battle.
This impossible and very hard battle had changed him. Now he had the willpower he needed for becoming stronger. Now he knew He could use Haki.
He wasn't going to lose here.
Luffy's fist gleamed pitch black as it crashed straight into Enel's chin. The force behind the punch was surreal. There were wrecking balls that caused less devastation.
The shockwave burst the sound barrier. Luffy couldn't feel any pain or damage, but instead his knuckles were suddenly covered in an indestructible coating as they collided with unstoppable momentum. There was a crack of bone, and in an instant the air was raining with fragments of Enel's teeth as he was sent shooting backwards.
Enel was gasping for breath weakly. The god's body was scarred and bruised, while his face had been so bloodied he was barely recognisable. His nose was burst, his jaw broken, his teeth shattered and his vision was failing. He barely had any lightning left. He honestly didn't know how much fight he still had in him.
He glared at Luffy with mad, unhinged eyes as the pirate slowly staggered towards him. The god screamed in primal rage as he lashed out with an arc of blindingly intense lightning.
Luffy reacted instantly. He didn't dodge, but he just raised his right hand and caught the stream of electricity in the palm of his hand. The air roared and crackled madly as the lightning fought against the black coating covering Luffy's palm.
Then, a few seconds later, the lightning halted. Luffy's hand looked completely unharmed. Luffy just blinked in surprise as he flexed his fingers curiously, watching how the black coating flexed like unbreakable armour embedded into the skin.
Enel's eyes were wide and disbelieving as he watched his attack be blocked so easily. His body was shaking. Luffy just grinned, before leaping up into the air and bringing his leg downwards. His foot transformed pitch black just before it made contact.
Enel tried to dodge but was barely able to move and the foot collided with his shoulder with tremendous force almost popping his shoulder out of its socket. He screamed loudly...He hadn't felt this much pain since he had fought Luffy before and the same arrogance he had then was also now his undoing.
Enel tried to avoid him. Luffy was faster. His hand clutched a hold of Enel's foot and swung the god towards the ground. The next second, both men were falling towards the earth while Luffy's arms wrapped around the Enel's chest tightly.
"Got you!" Luffy roared triumphantly. Enel tried to thrash, but Luffy's grip was like iron, while preventing him from dematerialising.
Enel growled, before the air sparked and he started to pump out thousands of volts from his whole body. Luffy screamed as he felt the electricity cut through him.
Ok, so holding on to him isn't a good idea, Luffy conceded weakly, but somehow he managed to keep a hold. The electricity was cutting through his body, but his grip was tight. Luffy had one arm around Enel's neck and the other around his chest, squeezing the life out of him as they both crashed to the ground.
" You should give up now Enel!" Luffy said "You have Lost!"
Enel had enough by now. The whole Fairy vearth was in ruins... The city was destroyed ...All the soldiers were demolished. His dream had been tarnished once again by this brat. He was going to crush him with his full power now.
Enel transformed into his 200 million volt AMARU form.
His Arc maxim was nearby and he couldn't let it be destroyed else he would lose the major work of his life. But he was going to crush this worm and then as a punishment all his loved ones too. " Bow before me, you mortal this is the end of your worthless life. You cannot hope to defeat me now that you are vulnerable to lightning. This is my most powerful form!! Witness a true God you beast!!"
Enel was cackling, mad with power and due to deep fear that had come back now after getting such a beating. He wouldn't stop now.
Luffy's teeth clench as he glared at Enel, before his legs collided with the ground and suddenly he was running. He was going to beat him. This was how he proved to himself that he was more than just a Devil fruit power.
His fists became obsidian black with just a thought he jumped high enough. He wasn't a Rubber-man anymore but that didn't mean he couldn't use moves he had ...
Enel began gathering a massive amount of lightning "I will end you with this...Raigo..."
A massive black ball of lightning began gathering in front of the lightning man. It wasn't as big as one he had created at Sky Island but it was easily as big as Luffy.
Luffy stretched his arms backwards . He couldn't stretch more than a normal person now but didn't waver in the slightest.
He was going to end this. He thought of all his training till now which was only a starting point for him.He thought of his friends,his dream and concentrated all his willpower into this one shot.
Luffy ran towards Enel at full force. "I'M THE MAN WHO WILL BECOME THE KING OF THE PIRATES...I WON'T LOSE . ENEL!!!!! EAT THIS...HAWK STORM BAZOOKA!!"
Enel watched as the foolish brat jumped towards his Raigo with hands thrust forward in some kind of attack. "Foolish brat, Running towards your own demise. Yahahahaha!!"
He barely had time to scream " No...NOT AGAIN...AAAAAAAAARRR!!!!!"
Luffy had peirced the Raigo rotating like a ball with his blackened arms and legs and hit Enel straight into his face sending him crashing into and through his ark maxim.
Enel lay there defeated and unconscious.
Finally sure of his Victory, Luffy collapsed , his body burnt beyong recognition his muscles aching every bone creaking and every tendon taught with tension. As soon as He relaxed his body and blacked out.
When Luffy woke up it was to a morbid smell of blood and gore.
He wrinkled his nose and slowly stood up. Each of his muscles hurt terribly. Each bone creaked as though they have been shredded. Once he stood up he reached out with his Mantra to know where Enel was. To his utmost surprise he couldn't feel Enel anymore.
Did he run away again?...
He limped where he thought Enel was and had to duck fast from the set of claws that attacked him .He looked up and saw the Cheetah that he had completely forgotten about growling at him and looking to attack.
Luffy's eyes widened as he looked behind the animal. Behind that cheetah was Enel's corpse half eaten and mangled covered in Blood. His staff was thrown to the side and the structure of the Ark was badly damaged creaking heavily as it would collapse anytime.
There was so much gold here in the form of diffedent machines Enel had made. Even if Enel was arrogant as hell he had some crazy engineering skill to make such a structure but half of it was destroyed . Nami would love this ship ... He thought.
The Cheetah looked ready to attack him again but he was very very tired. Honing his inner focus, he narrows the scope of his spiritual energy solely on the Cheetah and opens the levies, letting the power flood out of him.
The Cheetah fainted on spot.
He couldn't believe he has made such progress in just one day in his Haki training but it is good because Rayleigh had said that 2 years were only enough for him to master the absolute basics of Haki and the advance applications could only be learnt in the heat of battle.
Well he should get back now before Rayleigh starts worrying...
Now how to get back..."Aaaaaa What do I do? How to get back?"
He panicked but calmed down after a few minutes due to sheer pain and agony his body is in. Aha let's find that circle thingy.
As Luffy nears the portal he sense some sort of power coming from nearby from his new observation haki. He stares at where he feels the power from The Pineapple looked exactly the same as the others, except slowly its skin started to transform yellow and jagged spirals materialised on the surface. Luffy stared while a strange gleam glistened over the fruit, and a supernatural aura settled over the fruit.
He nearly exactly which one it was. Slowly, he moved to pick up the newly reincarnated Rumble Rumble fruit, staring at it curiously
He had proved to himself he was more than a devil fruit but he needed to get much stronger. He knew all the Admirals were Logia types and very strong with Haki too. If he became as strong as an Admiral he could Definitely protect his friends.
Meanwhile on the Rukusuina Island...
Rayleigh has been waiting for Luffy for a long time and after it being very late he had used his observation haki to see where he was and to his shock he wasn't able to sense him anywhere on this harsh island. The Logical conclusion was that either he left or he was dead but he couldn't have left without informing him. Luffy was incredibly selfish but when it came to his friends and people he respected and loved he didn't break his promises.
Somehow he didn't think he was dead. Luffy was definitely the man Roger was waiting for. And if there was a fight he would have sensed it too.
Suddenly a new presence entered his range.
It was huge...and warm and incredibly familiar.
Luffy ...what had happened that his willpower has increased to such level so rapidly?... He pondered but then he noticed the weak state the body was in and rushed towards him using his future sight observation to intercept Luffy before he went too far away. Just as he was nearing him his future sight warned him and he stopped in the clearing . Few seconds later Lightning struck near him and took the form of a man severely injured but happy to see him. "Rayleigh!!!" Luffy shouted ecstatic at seeing his mentor.
"Luffy-kun what happened?" Rayleigh asked calm as ever but a little worried seeing Luffy's near death state again.
Before Luffy could answer all the pain and fatigue of the Long Long day caught up to him and he collapsed.
Rayleigh was there to catch him instantly. He took one look at Luffy's injuries and muttered to himself "This is gonna be a Long night..."
10 DAYS LATER ...
Rayleigh had been surprised by Luffy's bizarre adventure as he called it that had happened 10 days ago. He had told Luffy to rest for days due to his extensive injuries so he could recover properly as there was no doctor here and he could only help so much and be ready for when training began again. Luffy had an incredible healing factor but he wanted to train Luffy at his 100 percent and it was good that he coped with all new things he had done in such short time. Luffy's Haki had rose exponentially. He already had strong Conqueror's when he came to this island, but now his observation was also very strong and he could use Armament to greater extent easily. On top of that he had eaten a new Devil fruit. A Logia devil fruit at that... In the New World being a Logia wouldn't be any different than if he still was Paramecia as Haki was very common in New world but Logias who had all 3 types of Haki were essentially unheard of. If he trained Luffy in how to use Haki effectively in conjunction with his devil fruit then he would be able to survive and thrive in all challenges he would face in New world. Luffy had already told him his desire to be as strong as Admirals which ,honestly he could see but not in just 2 years even if Luffy had accomplished a lot in 1 day it was due to the battle he had with the previous Lightning Logia user which was so intense it would take many many days for Luffy to heal.
Luffy's new devil fruits greatest power in his opinion was the increase it could provide in his Observation Haki.
He had asked Luffy to remember everything he could about how Enel used his fruit so he could improve on it or use as much as him.He also had several ideas about how he could use it as Luffy was a brawler and using range attacks might not work for him as it did for Enel.
He took a sip from his bottle lost in his thoughts.
Well rest now Luffy kun I am looking forward to training you...
Luffy felt a shiver run down his spine. It wasn't the cold season this week. Something told him that the upcoming training was going to be harder than anything he had done in his life.
.