Luffy's Return Test
"Belch--!"
Luffy burped contentedly, rubbing his round belly as he swayed out of the cafeteria.
Behind him, several cafeteria Big Mom watched him leave, their expressions like those of historians witnessing a miracle.
"That child... how many years has he been starving...?"
"He ate half of the cafeteria's meat stock all by himself... We have to change our menu this week!!"
Completely oblivious to everyone's dismay, Luffy kept muttering, "The steak was delicious... the grilled ribs were delicious too... next time I'll add some omelet rice..."
He strolled to the Training Ground and happened to see Sanji and Usopp practicing. His eyes lit up instantly, he raised his hands high, and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Oi~ The blond curly-haired girl who cooks really well! And the long-nosed girl who cries all the time!!"
Sanji and Usopp simultaneously roared with veins bulging on their foreheads:
"My name is Sanji (Usopp)!!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a huge fist slammed down on Luffy's head!
Thump!
"You brat! You can't even remember your own name?!"
Zephyr stood behind him, fists clenched, roaring, his eyes filled with anger and amusement.
Luffy crouched down, clutching his head, tears and snot streaming down his face. "I know! It hurts so much!"
Just then, a clear and melodious call came from the edge of the Training Ground:
"Luffy--!"
Nami and Nojiko walked side by side, warm smiles on their faces.
"Nami!! Nojiko!!" Luffy, and he instantly sprang up from the ground, charging forward like a runaway bull.
Nami punched him on the head without hesitation. "Didn't you just say you felt pain?"
"Waaaaah--Why did you hit me again?!" Luffy, crouching on the ground.
Nami smiled and ruffled his hair, "I heard you were back, so I came to see you."
Nojiko didn't say anything, just smiled and looked at him, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over Luffy and lingering on Ace in the distance.
Their eyes met, and Ace was slightly taken aback before revealing a simple and honest smile and scratching his head.
Sanji, upon seeing the two beauties Nami and Nojiko, instantly perked up. He pulled on his jacket, straightened his tie, and his eyes sparkled. "The Goddess have visited! This is the perfect opportunity to showcase my gentlemanly charm—!"
He was about to step forward with a flourish when he saw Nami affectionately ruffling Luffy's head with a smile the next second.
Then I saw that soft light in Nojiko's eyes... it was directed at Ace.
"Thump."
Sanji instantly knelt down, his entire body turning ashen, like a painting that had lost its soul.
"Why... why do all the beautiful women bypass me...?"
Usopp patted him on the shoulder, offering words of comfort like someone who'd been there all along:
"Don't be discouraged, Sanji. Your 'destiny' might still be on the other side of the Grand Line."
Sanji looked up, tears streaming down his face, snot smeared on his nose. "Waaah... We're all alone..."
Suddenly, Usopp's expression turned serious. He stood up with a flourish, straightened his headscarf, and turned to give a sharp look.
"I'm not like that."
After saying that, he skipped along, swinging his long nose, his dashing figure swaying in the wind, much like a fictional playboy.
"Clang!"
Sanji knelt down again, pounding the ground with his fists, looking utterly devastated.
"Even Usopp... This world... is too cruel!!"
Luffy, Nami, Nojiko were laughing and chatting in the distance, while Ace smiled as he watched his noisy yet close companions.
Sunlight streamed onto the Training Ground, casting warm shadows across the ground.
Just as everyone was still immersed in the joy and excitement of their reunion, a messenger in military uniform rushed into the Training Ground, panting:
"Report! Admiral Sakazuki has ordered: Enel is to immediately proceed to the New World to provide support; the objective is to subdue the Pirate 'Steel Fang' Liton!"
"A Pirate is attacking?"
Enel was still lazily yawning in the corner when he heard the word "Pirate," and his eyes instantly flashed with a fierce light.
"Hmph... this is finally getting interesting."
Before he finished speaking, his entire body was suddenly struck by lightning. With a "crack," he transformed into a bolt of lightning and soared into the sky, instantly disappearing at the horizon, leaving only a trail of rolling lightning.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Hey! Luffy!
Zephyr's voice was loud and clear, Air Quake throughout the Training Ground.
"Now that you're back from G3's special training, I'll have to personally check the results of your training!"
Luffy's eyes ignited instantly, his fighting spirit rising like flames.
He took a sudden step forward, "Really!? Professor Zephyr!! Let me have a duel with you!!"
"Ha?!"
Nami gasped, almost unable to believe her ears, "Luffy, you... you're getting cocky!!"
Do you know who you're talking to?! That's Professor Zephyr!!
Ace, hearing the sound from afar, walked over with a familiar, helpless smile on his face, and reached out to ruffle Luffy's messy hair.
"You brat... you come back and immediately challenge your teacher? You're a constant source of worry."
Luffy shook his head, his smile in the sunlight so dazzling it seemed to pierce the clouds, "Hehe~ I'm not the same person I was a year ago!"
"After more than a year of Hell Training, I'm more than a hundred times stronger than before!!"
Sanji snapped his cigarette butt in half with a snap, staring at him in shock. "Challenge Zephyr- sensei? He's insane..."
Usopp jumped up, his face pale. "Zephyr's Iron Fists! I still have nightmares about them!!"
The two looked at each other, as if they had been instantly dragged back to those Purgatory years of being beaten, kicked, and repeatedly tortured day after day, and their bodies couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Just then, a Thunderclap laugh resounded throughout the entire venue!
"Ha ha!!"
He nonchalantly tossed aside his Coat of Justice, revealing a terrifying physique that was completely beyond the realm of "old age"—
His muscles were fiercely stacked, his pectoral muscles resembled stone tablets, and his arms were as thick as rock pillars. Between the bulging veins, jet-black Armament Haki slowly spread across his hands, as thick as rolling ink.
"I knew you'd say something like that, you brat!"
"Bring it on--!"
He raised his fist, his fighting spirit blazing as he stared at Luffy:
"Let me see for myself just how much of your 'Iron Fist' skills you actually learned from old man Garp!!"
The atmosphere suddenly heated up!
Without hesitation, Luffy ripped off his jacket and flung it into the air! (Both brothers like to wear only their navy jackets~)
"Thump--!"
He stomped his foot heavily, his body taut like a bow, his aura as powerful as a rainbow!
That year, he had grown to nearly 175 centimeters tall, and the childishness of his youth had long since faded, replaced by a robust physique brimming with explosive power.
His muscles were well-proportioned and clean-lined, and the old, slanted scar on his chest seemed to tell the story of his battles with Garp.
He spread his arms wide and grinned, "I've learned quite a bit about Grandpa's Iron Fist!!"
The surrounding cadets and officers all stared in shock, holding their breath.
The once carefree "monkey Luffy," who only knew how to eat meat and cause trouble, now stood before them with an aura that was in no way inferior to Zephyr's!
Nami wanted to say a few more words of advice to him, but when she turned around and saw Luffy, who was confident, high-spirited, and reborn, she was stunned.
That upright figure, those determined eyes, that smile gleaming in the sunlight...
"This guy... when did he... grow so tall?"
She spoke softly, her cheeks flushing slightly.