Luffy Awakens, the Crew Trains

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Calm Belt, the Amazon Lily.

"Aaaaaaaahh..."

As giant trees fell one by one, rocks flew everywhere. Luffy, who had been venting his frustrations after waking up Luffy weakly to his knees.

"Waaaaah~~~"

"What King of the Pirates— "

If it weren't for Roman, he would have died at the hands of that Poison Man in Impel Down long ago; if it weren't for Roman, he would never have been able to save Ace from the Execution Platform. But... but...

A punch pierced Luffy's chest so fast that Luffy didn't even have time to react.

Ace's older brother collapsed to the ground, while Ace was rescued by Roman...

"Too weak! I'm so weak!!"

"... Can't protect anything! What kind of man is he?!"

"... Luffy and his brother."

Jinbe, who was recuperating with Luffy, came over and saw Luffy smashing rocks on the ground with his head.

"Get away from me! Don't worry about me!"

Faced with Luffy's overwhelming grief, Jinbe simply shook his head.

"No, I have to watch over you. I can't let you hurt yourself anymore."

"This is my body, I can do whatever I want with it..."

"What about Ace? Ace's life was his own. Even if he died, it was his own choice!"

"Shut up!"

"If you say that again, I'll beat you up!"

"If this makes you feel any better—"

Call out!

Turning around, Jinbe suddenly threw a punch, his eyes Jinbe as he faced Luffy's fist.

"Although I have also suffered some injuries, I am confident that I will not lose to you in your current state."

Rumble boom—

Sure enough, after a few moves, Luffy, who was also seriously injured but whose experience and mentality were not Jinbe Jinbe's, was knocked to the ground!

"Is there nothing else in your eyes?!"

"Did those enemies who shattered your confidence, your strength, and even your 'brother' as a target, leaving you helpless, truly destroy your world?"

"And so you can no longer see what lies ahead, your heart slowly consumed by regret and remorse—"

Jinbe is, after all, a 44-year-old man who has experienced countless joys and sorrows. This isn't the first time he's encountered a situation like Luffy's, so:

"I know you're feeling terrible, Luffy!"

"But don't dwell on what you've lost, because what's lost can never be regained!"

"Think carefully, what have you left behind? What is there left that's worth protecting, worth risking your life for!"

In response to Jinbe's words, Luffy slowly extended his fists, each outstretched finger representing:

Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, and...

Snap,

A white figure folded its wings and descended from the sky, instantly blurring Luffy's vision.

"I still have my friends!!"

"Waaaaah~~~ Roman ~~~!!!"

???

Faced with Luffy throwing himself into his arms and Luffy, the White Knight, with a black line on his forehead, barely suppressed the urge to say, "Don't wipe your snot and tears all over me," and patted the other on the shoulder.

"Okay, okay, are you that excited to see me?"

"Waaaaah, Roman! Ace, Ace— "

Oh, so it's about Ace.

But:

' Ace... no, Ace. Should we tell Luffy that you're still alive?'

"No, no," the masked acting captain of the Whitebeard Pirates shook his head. "Thinking back on it, I was too willful before. I didn't act like a proper older brother at all, and now..."

Anyway, please keep it a secret from him for me.

"I believe Luffy will overcome his sadness and surpass me!"

"It's alright, Luffy."

The White Knight flipped his hand, and the 'Paper Phone' appeared in his palm. —Luffy's previous one had long since been shattered into pieces during the fierce Marineford War.

"Luffy!!"

"Luffy— "

"Mr. Luffy,"

"Luffy, cheer up!"

"You still have us..."

"······"

In an instant, all sorts of words came out of the Paper Phone. Although the words were different, everyone was trying to express the same meaning.

"Luffy, we all know now..."

"Luffy!! Why didn't you call us?"

Where are you? I'm coming to find you right away—

?!

"Ahem, wait a minute!"

The White Knight coughed. "Zoro, calm down. Let's talk this out. Please, don't go to sea!"

???

"Are you looking down on me?!"

Upon hearing Zoro's words, the previously enthusiastic chatter group fell silent instantly. This caused Zoro, far away on Kuraigana Island, to have veins bulging on his forehead! Just you wait, I'll be right there:

"Hey, you're going the wrong way. That's the direction to the old ruins of the Kingdom of Shikkearu..."

Perona's voice came through the Paper Phone.

········

"Ahem, that was just a mistake..."

"Alright, that's enough. We understand!"

"What do you know?!"

"Zoro, admit it..."

The White Knight ignored Zoro's explanation and handed the Paper Phone to Luffy.

Luffy,

"Should we gather our companions at Sabaody Archipelago?"

Sabaody

He easily toyed with Kizaru of the Straw Hat crew, and Kuma with a single slap... If he were to encounter them again, with his current strength...

"No!"

"Listen up, everyone, I am now giving the 'Captain's Order':"

In an instant, the argument on the Paper Phone immediately fell silent.

"Our strength is not yet sufficient to cope with the increasingly powerful crisis. Everyone, please train for two years! After two years, we will reunite and march into the New World!"

"This is not stagnation, but preparation for a better adventure!"

After a few seconds of silence in response to Luffy 'Straw Hat crew words:

"Phew~~~"

"No problem, that's fine."

"I always say Luffy is the strongest—cough cough, it's okay..."

"Since it's the captain's decision, we have no choice but to comply."

"Wait a minute! What am I supposed to do?!"

Sanji's mournful voice rang out, "Your environments are all so nice, why is my place full of transvestites?! I refuse to accept this, I—"

After these few days of 'chatting,' everyone has gained a basic understanding of the other people's situations:

Zoro alone with the gothic lolita, Usopp eating whatever food is available, Chopper researching medicine in the Great Library, Franky learning in Vegapunk's old experiments, Robin liberating slaves with the Revolutionary Army, and Brook being... watched by others...

As for Roman and Nami?

Let's not talk about it.

Overall, they were all quite good, and they were all places where everyone could utilize their strengths. Except for:

"No, Roman, you have to show me the way! I'll swim myself out of this hell!"

Faced with Sanji, the White Knight calmly replied.

That's impossible.

!

"However, a group of new people will soon be coming to keep you company."

"New... newcomers? Who are they?"

"Transgender person".

!!

"However, there are some of our friends inside, so I believe you will get along well."

"Friend? Who is that—"

"Mr. 2 Bon Clay,"

?

"Von Clay".

"Isn't that still a transvestite?!"

Click,

With Sanji being 'silenced', the world fell silent.

"Puhahaha,"

Luffy, who burst out laughing Luffy, wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes. "Sanji~~~"

"Serves you right, you lecherous cook!"

"Yes, yes, Sanji is just about to 'abstain from sex'..."

"······"

If you're so capable, don't silence me, you damn admin!!

"Sorry,"

Luffy stood up and bowed to Roman and Jinbe in front of him.

I'm sorry to have worried you!

After all, so much time has passed, and everyone has become familiar with their surroundings. This conversation was merely a lighthearted exchange to Luffy on from the shadow of Ace's death.

"Hehehe, don't worry, I've already cheered myself up! Because:"

"I'm your captain!"

As captain, how could I let my crew see me act so cowardly? A captain who worries his crew is no good captain; even if it means forcing a smile through tears!

This is the Luffy...

Splash—

In the nearby sea, an elderly man with white hair and glasses jumped ashore.

"Oh dear, I'm getting old and useless."

While sighing, the old man took off his clothes, revealing a strong, muscular physique, and began to 'Versailles' in a calm voice.

"I'm a bit tired after swimming here through the storm..."

Wow, the One Piece world Iron Man Champion has arrived!

Bare-chested, I traverse the Calm Belt; the world is so vast, where can't I go?

"Uncle Rayleigh!?"

Upon hearing Luffy's surprised voice, Rayleigh wrung out the seawater from his clothes.

"Little Luffy, I knew you'd be here. To have won over the Empress so quickly, you truly are a man destined to become the King of the Pirates!"

"Uncle, what brings you here?"

In response to Luffy's question, Rayleigh directly stated his purpose.

"I know a good training spot, Luffy, would you like to give it a try?"