East Blue, Goa Kingdom, the forest outside Gray Terminal.
Sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting dappled patches of light and shadow. Several crocodiles, tigers, and brown bears covered in bumps cowered behind a large tree, staring in terror at the boy in the forest clearing.
Luffy stretched his steaming arm far back, then yanked hard, using the recoil of his rubbery contraction to drive a fierce punch into the hard millstone-sized rock before him.
Boom!
The rock exploded with a roar, shattered fragments spraying in every direction and battering the surrounding bushes and trees with a rapid crackle.
The watching animals shuddered and clung to one another, trembling uncontrollably. Their terror was so overwhelming that they even ignored the pain of being struck by the flying stones.
"With this, I should be able to set sail now, right?!"
As the steam dispersed, Luffy stood before the pile of shattered rocks with his hands on his hips, laughing heartily with a smug grin on his face.
Unlike his recklessness in the original story, Luffy had learned in advance, thanks to Dawn's interference, that he had become a thorn in the World Government's side. He had not immediately gone to sea upon coming of age.
He had chosen to train quietly first, and had now developed Gear Second to the point where it had no side effects whatsoever.
As for the more advanced Gear Third, Gear Fourth, and even Gear Fifth, there was no way to train them on Dawn Island, where there were only ordinary wild animals.
Even Gear Third felt somewhat like using an anti-aircraft cannon to kill a mosquito here.
"I wonder how Ace is doing now..."
He muttered softly, but the growling from his stomach interrupted his thoughts.
"I'm starving!"
Luffy rubbed his sunken stomach, picked up