Flames of the Sun God
A One Piece Fanfic by GreyNimbus
OP/Luffy, Mature/Luffy, EarlyDFAwaken/Luffy, NoPairing
Disclaimer:
One Piece is owned by Eiichiro Oda. I do NOT own anything One Piece related. Obviously(!)
Chapter 11 — Fifth Gear
Dum-dum-dum… dum… dum…
Doom… dut… da-da…
Doom… dut… da-da…
Doom Dut Da-Da…
"Aaahahahahaha!"
On his back, Luffy bounced up and down on the pile of shattered earth like an oddly-shaped mattress. His heart beats in an odd musical rhythm in his chest.
Rayleigh was startled awake from his brief nap at the sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki, his eyes widened at his student's strange transformation.
Luffy's hair, eyebrows, and blue denim shorts, with the exception of his sandals, turned completely white, with the former two taking on a more swirly, billowing appearance. The same steamy substance that accompanied his Fourth Gear form was back, but now it was much thicker and more cloud-like.
Losing himself in his laughing fit, Luffy had a hand covering his eyes to hold back his tears of laughter as he continued bouncing, unaware of how his abilities were affecting the environment.
At that moment, Rayleigh knew that, without a doubt, Luffy had finally achieved Awakening.
Luffy suddenly ceased his bouncing and sat upright before stretching his arms to grab the edge of the ditch. He rocketed out of the ditch, leaving Rayleigh to lick his wounds.
The old man wasn't sure how to deal with the situation. Despite building up Luffy's strength and abilities to Awaken his Devil Fruit, he neglected to plan for what might happen once they made it to the final stage. Now that the moment of truth has arrived, there was little that he could do to stop Luffy, especially since he was still fatigued after sparring seriously for a whole day.
Without a plan to stop Luffy's ridiculous outburst of power, the Dark King decided to leave him alone. After all, he just reached the peak of his Devil Fruit powers. It was unpredictable what he was capable of now.
Let him enjoy the experience until he runs out of steam.
Rayleigh admits defeat before succumbing to the effects of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki. He smiles proudly and lets sleep take over.
'You've finally surpassed me…Luffy…'
Luffy had no idea what was happening to him, or around him, but he was having too much fun to care.
He opened his eyes to reveal that they now had red ring-like pupils that glowed with power. Looking around him, the newly Awakened Rubber-Man found himself airborne high above Luscaina.
Down below, the massive animals, who were woken up by the sounds of intense laughter, stepped out onto the damaged clearing to look up at the source of the noise. They saw a strangely-shaped figure in a triumphant pose captured in the foreground of the moon, its silhouette forming in the background.
Luffy's laughing fit finally starts to settle down. Keeping himself airborne with Moonwalk, he assesses the situation of what he was feeling.
"What's happening to me?! I feel great! I feel so free! I feel like I can do anything! My heartbeat sounds so funny!" he cheered before patting his white shorts and tugging on the cloud that was wrapped around him. "Isn't this…?" he gasps in realization. "Is this what Awakening feels like?"
Overcome with curiosity, Luffy dove down toward the ground, preparing to test out his new powers. Just before contact, Luffy flipped over to land on his feet. On impact, the ground felt and gave way like rubber. The animals that were watching him fell victim to his Conqueror's Haki and fainted.
For a brief moment, he remembered a lecture that Rayleigh gave him about Devil Fruit users achieving Awakening and how their powers will also affect the environment around them. Since Luffy's Devil Fruit gave him a body made of rubber, that meant that everything he touches will be made of rubber too.
In other words, everything around him was now his to control.
Luffy smiled wildly as he stretched deep into the rubbery earth until he came to a stop.
"Gum-Gum…"
He launches himself back into the sky, making the ground shake with its elasticity.
"...Trampoline!
He shot up into the air like a mortar, along with all the loose rocks that littered his surroundings before they came crashing back down. With every ounce, he laughed with absolute glee as he continued to defy the laws of physics. He continued to jump around the island like his own personal playground for the remainder of the night.
"This is my peak! This is... Fifth Gear!"
Luffy cannot recall ever having this much fun in his life.
(The Next Morning…)
The intense brightness of the Summer sun shined once again on the dented island of Luscaina.
Luffy slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry at first. As he blinked a few times, the surroundings came into focus, and he realized he was lying on a log in the familiar campsite on Luscaina. Memories flooded back to him — his moment of Awakening his Devil Fruit.
With a groan, Luffy pushed himself up into a sitting position, rubbing the back of his head. He could still feel the dull ache from the impact of his mentor's powerful attacks. Memories of their battle filled his mind, flashes of Rayleigh's lightning-fast movements and the overwhelming force behind each blow, to the thrilling adrenaline of having absolute freedom in his new rubbery powers.
As Luffy looked around, he noticed Rayleigh sitting nearby, patching himself up with a calm expression on his face. Their eyes met, and Luffy couldn't help but offer a sheepish grin.
"Hey, old man. How long was I out?" Luffy asked, his voice still slightly groggy.
Rayleigh chuckled softly, sheathing his sword. "Hard to tell. I was out before you were. You took quite the beating, but you got right back up. Imagine my surprise when I saw you turning white and laughing like a man possessed."
Luffy's eyes widened, memories of what happened after their spar coming back to him in bits and pieces. He recalled how easy it was to move around, the thrill of being able to fly freely and turn everything he touched into rubber.
He truly had the time of his life.
"You've finally done it, Luffy," Rayleigh said, his voice filled with pride. "Your Haki has reached its peak, and your attacks have evolved into their full potential. All that's left is to learn how to control your Awakened abilities. Remember, there's always room for growth. Never stop pushing yourself."
Luffy grinned, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He knew that his journey to become the King of the Pirates was far from over, and he had much more to learn.
"Thanks, Rayleigh!" Luffy said, excitement evident in his voice. "I never would've made it this far without you!"
Rayleigh nodded approvingly, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "It was my pleasure, Luffy. Your potential has surpassed my own, and I look forward to seeing you claim Roger's legacy."
With that, Rayleigh pushed himself up to his feet, putting his supplies away and putting his arms through his backpack.
"Where are you going?" Luffy asked.
"I have nothing left to teach you, Luffy," Rayleigh answered with a smile. "And, while I'd love to stick around, I need to return to Sabaody and finish the coating on your ship. Are you staying here?"
Luffy couldn't help but feel a surge of loneliness at the thought of Rayleigh leaving. He had been the only real person he could talk to during his training, with the exception of the Kuja Pirates during the Byrnndi World incident. He was truly grateful for the guidance and support that his mentor provided for him, but he knew their journey together had to eventually end.
He knew that the path to becoming the King of the Pirates would be arduous, filled with all sorts of conflicts, including being alone, but he was filled with a burning passion and unwavering determination. He knew that he'll reunite with his friends soon.
"Well, It's been a year and nine months since I sent out that message to my crew," Luffy reminded himself.
"'3D2Y'", Rayleigh said, remembering the message. "'Two years later instead of three days later', right?"
Luffy nodded. "If we want to continue our journey, we all need to get stronger. After what happened, I'm sure they feel the same way."
"You still got three months. That should be plenty of time for you to get your Awakened powers under control."
"Yeah!" Luffy perked up with a bright smile. "I can't wait to see how much the others have changed after two years. I've still got work to do if I want to protect them and their dreams. So, I'll stay here and work out all the kinks until time's up."
"Good," Rayleigh nodded in agreement. "Soon, you'll be able to control your powers however you like."
Luffy gazed at Rayleigh, gratitude and determination shining in his eyes.
"You got it!"
Rayleigh smiled warmly, his weathered face reflecting years of experience. The old man reaches into his backpack and pulls out a red bundle with a yellow cloth tied around it, then throws it to Luffy.
"Here, a little going-away present."
Luffy caught the bundle, feeling heavier than it looked. Untying the knot that held it together, a variety of items came falling out into his lap. Stretching out the fabrics, they revealed to be a red, long-sleeved cardigan with four buttons, and the yellow cloth turned out to be a sash, specifically designed to wrap around one's waist.
Rayleigh thought he could use a new change of clothes when it was time to leave.
The items on his lap consisted of all of Dr. Vegapunk's Devil Fruit encyclopedia books, a hefty stack of cash worth about ฿10,000,000 in notes, and an intact pair of familiar handcuffs.
Luffy curiously picked up the handcuffs to confirm his suspicion. When his fingers made contact, he instantly felt a tingle go through his whole body. They were definitely made from Sea-Prism Stone.
"What's all this for?" Luffy asked in surprise.
"It's a reward for all your hard work," Rayleigh answered proudly. "I got those handcuffs from the World Pirate's ship while you were busy. I took them in case we needed a spare set to use for your training, but you've improved so fast that they became redundant. Why don't you hold onto them? I'm sure your crew could put them to good use."
Luffy scrunched his face before taking a moment to think. "I'll bet Usopp and Franky could make all sorts of things out of this stuff. I'll have to remember to keep an eye out for more on our journey."
Rayleigh gave him a nod before turning to walk away to the shoreline.
"I'll see you back on Sabaody in three months," Rayleigh says before informing him, "The Kuja Pirates will pick you up a week before you have to meet your crew. They'll know where to find you."
"Thanks, Rayleigh! For everything!"
As Rayleigh disappears out of sight, Luffy couldn't help but feel sad at being alone after all the time they spent together. But, while his strength had indeed grown, so did his mental capabilities, mostly thanks to his grandfather's strict educational methods. Luffy had learned how to act more like a leader to his crew, including the virtues that came with those responsibilities.
Patience was now a part of Luffy's vocabulary. A trait that he knew a certain cook would be more than happy about.
As he looked up to the sky through the forest canopy, his eyes were filled with the determination to never stop growing. Time was fast approaching, and he was gonna treat each remaining day like it was his last.
'The sky's the limit…'
(Three Months Later…)
The white blankets of Winter's snow covered the landscape.
Luffy had spent the last few months on this secluded training ground, honing his Awakened skills and pushing his limits to new heights.
With the time to reunite with his crew only one week away, Luffy was getting ready to leave. With all his bare essentials already packed, all he had left to grab was his treasured straw hat.
"Luffy!" a distant female voice called out.
"I'm coming, give me a sec!" Luffy replied with relative volume.
As the snow crushed beneath his sandals with every step, he made his way to where he left his most prized possession. He stopped in front of a short, fat tree surrounded by stones, some of them nearly as tall as himself. This was the only safe place on the island due to the pollen that the tree produces, which the animals find extremely repulsive. Luckily, it was tolerable to humans.
Sitting on one of the stones was Luffy's straw hat, covered with snow, but still completely intact with Rayleigh's Vivre Card still tucked into the red band.
Luffy let out a relieved sigh before smiling.
"Time really sneaks up on ya, huh?" Luffy muttered with an excited grin. "Two years already." He reaches out to grab the top of his hat. "Well, partner…the wait is finally over."
He pulls the hat off the rock, letting the snow fall off of it before walking away with it in hand.
Meanwhile, back at his campsite, the giant gorilla and alligator were sitting around the lit campfire, fighting over a large chunk of meat on the bone like a pair of bickering bruisers.
Standing next to a nearby tree was Margaret, who was watching the beasts' rough-housing. Her observations were interrupted when the colossal lion appeared and prowled towards her dangerously. Margaret gasped, startled by the beast. She pulled out her snake weapon and pulled back an arrow. The lion roared in response, sensing the threat from the Amazon warrior.
"Hey!"
Before either could make the first attack, they were suddenly interrupted by the commanding voice of Luffy, who casually walked towards them while holding his hat to his side.
This caused all the beasts to suddenly freeze with fear at the sight of the Rubber-Man.
"Find someone else to eat. She's my friend," Luffy said, his voice full of authority.
He gave the animals a stern glare, emphasizing his warning, to which the beasts complied without complaint.
Margaret sighed in relief before lowering her weapon. "Hi, Luffy! The ship is all ready to sail. Give the word and we'll be off," she said happily.
"Got it. Thanks."
As if on cue, the Boa Sisters and the Kuja pirates appeared on the scene, all impressed at Luffy's commanding aura.
Hancock giggled, "I should've known."
"He's the boss of the whole island now," Sandersonia said.
Luffy stopped in his tracks in front of the trio of beasts.
"Yeah, it's kind of a shame," Luffy said. "I was originally planning on eating these guys. But, after Rayleigh left three months ago, I was starting to feel lonely. So I decided to make friends with them instead, and I'd feel pretty bad if I ate my friends, right? Still, they do look pretty yummy."
Luffy's new friends all lowered their big heads, mildly disappointed that their boss would still think of them as food.
"Don't you worry about food," Hancock said as she placed a hand on her cheek and blushed. "I have all of your favorites ready and waiting on the ship. Since I'm so thoughtful, I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to get married right away!"
Two years later and she was still an oblivious, lovesick drama queen.
Luffy, on the other hand, had matured enough to fully realize what Hancock's true intentions were by now. He saw her as a good friend, but nothing more. Which made this next part all the harder on them both.
Luffy turned and casually made his way towards Hancock, who was expecting some sort of…intimate agreement to her proposal.
Once Luffy stopped in front of her, he reached up and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Hancock moaned slightly, flinching at the touch of the man she fell in love with.
"Listen, Hancock…"
'Aaooh~! He said my name again~!'
"I can't marry you."
Hancock gasped sharply with a look of horror. But when she saw the look in Luffy's eyes, she found a glint of fire in them, proving that Luffy was in serious mode. The Pirate Empress composed herself before letting Luffy continue.
"I'm gonna be King of the Pirates one day. That means I'll be more free than anyone else in the world. How can I truly call myself a free man if I just trade it all away with something as binding as marriage?"
Hancock's reaction was another overly-dramatic swoon.
She moaned in delight before slouching and placing the back of her hand over her forehead. "You're so wise, my dear! I've been such a fool! What was I thinking?! I should be sad about your cold heart, yet mine is on fire!"
Luffy sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "Oh, well. I tried."
With that display out of the way, Sandersonia decided to step in.
"Rayleigh informed us on the time to pick you up, so I'm guessing he's waiting for you at Sabaody now?" she clarified.
"Yeah," Luffy confirmed. "I learned everything he could possibly teach me, and then some. I've completely mastered Haki, then Awakened my Devil Fruit." He turns back toward his animal friends, "All that's left is to say bye to these guys, now."
As he got closer to them, he gave them all a genuine smile.
"So long, you guys. Thanks for keeping me company."
The Rubber-Man slowly places his trusty hat on his head, grinning with excitement and determination.
"Time to go!"
Author's Note:
I hope things weren't too anticlimactic!
Either way, Luffy's training is finally over, and we can now get to the real fun! I've personally been looking forward to this for months. I have a lot of plans for Luffy when he gets to Sabaody that won't be anything like canon, so the next few chapters might take me a while. But I'll do my best to not disappoint you, my beloved readers.
As my first fanfic, I'm still fairly new to this, so I'm still a bit skeptical about my writing skills. Reading fanfics is one of my hobbies, and I've read countless fanfics written by much more skilled authors. They have become my inspiration, so I'm grateful to all my fellow writers.
If you're wondering why Rayleigh gave Luffy all that money that was with his gift (don't ask where he got it) and what Luffy's going to do with it, you'll get your answer in due time.
I might add another separate Author's Note in-between chapters at some point if I ever forget to inform you all about something.
Thanks again for all your support! I've now reached 500+ Favourites, 600+ Follows, and 100+ Reviews.
GreyNimbus out!
P.S.: "…Sunny~!"