One Piece: Absolute Domination; Reborn as Luffy

Several minutes later...

Above the calm waters, Luffy was already feasting on premium-quality meat.

"Not bad," he muttered between bites, nodding in satisfaction.

Around him, the once-turbulent sea had gone eerily still. Pieces of tender, succulent meat floated nearby, bobbing gently in the steaming water. The sea around Luffy was boiling, turning into what looked like an enormous hot pot.

Luffy grinned wide and laughed heartily.

"Cooking meat in the ocean itself... Now that's what I call flavor!"

"This Sea King's meat really delivers," he added.

"After eating this, there's no doubt I'll get even stronger."

Just then, he noticed his companions—his fishy allies—hovering nearby with expectant eyes.

"Hungry, huh?" Luffy chuckled.

He clapped his hands, and with a simple gesture, a slice of perfectly cooked meat flew toward the group of sea creatures.

"Here you go!"

The fish scrambled for the morsels, frantically darting about to claim their share. They soon bit into the most flavorful meat they'd ever tasted.

Luffy laughed, his heart full of joy at the chaotic feeding frenzy.

"Yeah, this is the life," he said to himself, utterly content.

Meanwhile, on the island...

A figure stood in front of a wooden cabin, his face a mixture of shock and concern.

"What in the world happened here?" the man muttered, his voice low.

All around him, the scene was grim. Dozens—no, over a hundred—people lay unconscious near the cabin, their bodies sprawled haphazardly.

The sight was unsettling, to say the least.

Fortunately, upon closer inspection, he realized they were merely unconscious, not dead. From afar, he had feared the worst.

"Hey!" he called out, crouching beside a young woman who appeared to be in a deep stupor.

She didn't stir, no matter how much he shook her.

"Ugh..."

The man sighed, his expression troubled.

This was Silvers Rayleigh.

He had come to collect Luffy—it was time for their departure.

The agreed two-year period was over, and there was no room for delay.

But Luffy was nowhere to be found.

Instead, he was met with this bizarre scene—an entire gathering of people, all knocked out cold.

"Ridiculous..." Rayleigh muttered, running a hand through his graying hair.

Suddenly, movement caught his attention. From within the cabin, someone was emerging.

It was Hancock.

Recognizing her immediately, Rayleigh's eyes narrowed.

"Hancock," he said firmly.

"Where's Luffy?"

"Why can't I find him anywhere? We need to leave now. If we don't, we'll miss our chance."

Rayleigh's tone carried the weight of the two-year promise—a sacred pact, not a trivial joke.

Luffy couldn't afford to break it.

Hancock, her expression calm but serious, replied, "Rayleigh-senpai, you're here."

"Luffy has already left."

Her words were simple and direct.

But to Rayleigh, they hit like a thunderbolt.

"What?!"

Rayleigh's disbelief was evident.

"Luffy… left? Where did he go? Doesn't he know we're supposed to leave together?"

He pressed his forehead with his palm, frustration bubbling over.

"Luffy's changed," he muttered under his breath.

"Shanks was right… He's becoming harder to predict."

Rayleigh sighed deeply, feeling a wave of exhaustion.

Hancock, maintaining her composed demeanor, said, "Rayleigh-senpai, Luffy asked me to assure you he'll be fine."

"He can handle things on his own."

Before she could finish, Rayleigh cut her off sharply.

"Enough!"

His voice was stern, filled with exasperation.

"This is absurd!"

"You've all gotten far too comfortable!" Rayleigh said, his eyes scanning the unconscious revelers around the cabin.

"All this partying… it's made you lose focus."

Even as he vented, a deep worry gnawed at him.

"Even if he manages to survive out there… The Marines has no shortage of forces lying in wait at the Sabaody Archipelago."

"If I'm not there to protect him and his crew…"

"They'll be in serious trouble."

Rayleigh's concerns weren't baseless. The Marines had been itching to eliminate the Straw Hats ever since the events two years ago.

And now, two years later, that desire hadn't faded. If anything, it had grown stronger.

Without his protection, an Admiral's intervention could spell disaster.

Rayleigh's brow furrowed as he weighed his options.

"I have no choice. I need to head to Sabaody," he muttered.

"Hopefully, I'll run into him along the way. That's the safest scenario."

If he could rendezvous with Luffy mid-journey, he could ensure their safety. The thought of the Marines ambushing them without warning was too risky to ignore.

Suddenly, Rayleigh froze, sensing something strange.

"What's this…?"

His gaze shifted to one of the unconscious women nearby. Her lips were moving faintly, as if trying to speak.

"Is she okay?" Rayleigh asked, his concern genuine.

If there were any lives at stake, he couldn't turn a blind eye.

Hancock stepped closer, inspecting the woman. After a brief pause, she smiled faintly.

"It's nothing," she said.

"She's just drooling in her sleep. Everyone has their moments."

Rayleigh sighed again, shaking his head.

"Unbelievable…"

At first, Rayleigh didn't notice.

But now, as he took a closer look, he realized something peculiar—every single person here had a faint white froth around the corners of their mouths.

It was as if they were all foaming at the mouth, hinting at some major crisis.

After a brief examination, however, it became clear that none of them were in any real danger. Relieved, Rayleigh finally relaxed.

Still, he couldn't help but ask, "What's going on here? Why does everyone look like this? What did you all do? And what's with the foam?"

Hancock smiled faintly, brushing the concern aside as if it were nothing.

"Rayleigh-senpai," she said with a calm tone, "we may have overdone it during last night's festivities."

"When Luffy left, everyone was already passed out. They've been out cold since then and haven't woken up yet. But don't worry—they're fine."

She paused for a moment before continuing, "As for the white froth… it's just the aftermath of our 'chicken-eating' game."

"After the game ends, it gives you a reward. And that reward…"

"…is the froth."

Rayleigh blinked, his confusion deepening.

"Chicken-eating? Rewards? Froth?"

He repeated the words slowly, his face a picture of disbelief.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Rayleigh shook his head in frustration and waved dismissively.

"Never mind!" he said. "Hancock, I hold you partly responsible for Luffy's actions. If something happens to him…"

His voice trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Hancock's gaze remained steady, her confidence unwavering.

She knew Luffy would be fine—there wasn't even a sliver of doubt in her mind.

...

Time passed swiftly, and it had already been some time since Luffy set sail.

At the Sabaody Archipelago...

The area was bustling with pirates from all over.

"Hey!" a voice called out excitedly.

"Did you hear? Someone spotted Zoro!"

Another voice chimed in, "Yeah, I heard he's near the Sunny!"

The crowd buzzed with speculation. Some claimed they had also seen Sanji, Nami, and Nico Robin.

One by one, the members of the Straw Hat crew were making their presence known.

"Look!" someone shouted. "That's Black Leg Sanji!"

"Quick, get him!"

A group of Marines charged in, weapons ready. They had received intel that the Straw Hat crew had returned to the archipelago, and orders from above were clear—capture them at all costs.

A lone figure turned to face the incoming threat.

"Hmph," he snorted dismissively, his expression calm and confident.

"Do you think we're still the same rookies you faced two years ago?"

Instead of running, he stepped forward, heading straight toward the Marines.

"What's he doing?" one of them exclaimed in panic.

Before they could react, the figure struck with blinding speed. His feet blurred in motion, delivering devastating kicks.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of Marines were down.

"Pathetic," he muttered, lighting a cigarette as he casually walked away.

"It's been a while, hasn't it, you fools?"

Marine Headquarters – Fleet Admiral's Office...

In the grand office of the Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki, better known as Akainu, sat behind his desk, his presence commanding and ominous.

The former Admiral had risen to the rank of Fleet Admiral after defeating Aokiji in a fierce battle for the position.

A Den Den Mushi on the desk crackled to life, delivering urgent news.

"What's that?" Akainu's voice rumbled.

"The Straw Hat crew?"

His expression darkened as he absorbed the report.

"So, they've finally returned," he said grimly.

"The Sunny is here, which means they'll come. We'll wait for them. This time, there's no escape."

The voice on the other end of the line hesitated before adding further details.

"What?" Akainu growled, his expression turning even grimmer.

"They've grown that strong? Not even a laser cannon could take them down?"

Akainu's mind flashed back to two years ago. Back then, the Straw Hat crew had barely survived an encounter with the Pacifistas' laser cannons.

And now? They were fending them off with ease.

"I'll send reinforcements," Akainu declared.

"You'd better keep a close eye on them. If they manage to slip away…"

His tone grew icy, "…you'll answer to me. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" came the nervous reply.

Hanging up, Akainu leaned back, deep in thought.

"They've grown up," he muttered to himself. "No longer the same naïve kids from two years ago. But a threat is a threat. None will be tolerated."

As he spoke, a figure entered the room. Without looking up, Akainu addressed the newcomer.

"You're here, Borsalino."

"Ah, Sakazuki," Kizaru drawled lazily. "What's so urgent that you had to call me this early? You know I'm a busy man."

"The Straw Hat crew has resurfaced."

Kizaru's eyes widened slightly, a rare sign of genuine interest.

"The Straw Hat crew?" he echoed. "Two years ago, they slipped through our fingers. And now they're back…"

He smirked faintly.

"I see. You want me to handle them, don't you?"

Before Akainu could reply, Kizaru's body began to glow.

In an instant, he transformed into a beam of light and shot out of the room.

Akainu nodded to himself.

"With Kizaru on the job, they shouldn't stand a chance."

A grim smile played on his lips.

"This time, Straw Hat crew, there's no escaping us."

His mind drifted back to the events of two years ago—Marineford, the battle atop the Summit War.

Back then, he had come so close to ending Luffy. But Ace had intervened, sacrificing himself to save his brother.

The memory filled Akainu with renewed determination.

With a sudden burst of anger, he slammed his fist onto the desk.

"Luffy… Ace…" he growled.

"I let one of you slip through my fingers before. But this time, I'll make sure neither of you escapes."

He rose from his chair and strode to the window, gazing into the distance.

"Damn it," he muttered.

"If I weren't Fleet Admiral, I'd go after them myself and finish this once and for all."

With a heavy sigh, Akainu clenched his fists.

"But no matter. They won't leave Sabaody alive."

~-------------------------

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