Luffy woke up with a grumbling stomach.
Dragging himself out of his warm little bed, he slowly made his way to the door.
"Eh?"
As soon as he pushed open the cabin door, he saw a bright oil lamp flickering gently on the deck, casting a warm glow through the thick, purple mist.
Brook stood facing the misty sea, playing a soft, soothing melody on his violin.
The tranquil tune flowed out like a gently meandering stream, like gauze drifting through a dream, ephemeral and delicate. Within the murky twilight of sea and sky, it felt like a fleeting vision: there, and then gone again, like a flower seen in a dream or floating on the water.
Beneath the oil lamp sat a reclining chair, a wooden table, and a cup of steaming tea.
Robin held a book in her hands, her brow furrowed in focus as she read and took notes. She was fully immersed in her vast sea of knowledge, but as soon as she noticed Luffy, she pulled herself away without hesitation.
"Luffy~ breakfast is ready!"
As if she knew exactly what he wanted, Robin smiled gently and pointed toward the heat cover on the table the moment Luffy cast her a pitiful, hungry look.
When the metal cover was lifted, steam rose from a lovingly prepared breakfast.
A heart-shaped ham and egg, a cup of extra-creamy coffee in a heart-shaped mug, and a large braised pork knuckle.
To the graceful sound of Brook's violin, Luffy devoured the meal like a whirlwind, done in under ten minutes.
He grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth carelessly.
Robin had poured extra sauce over the pork knuckle just to suit Luffy's tastes. It might've made the flavor a bit strong for some, but hey, Luffy loved it.
Feeling full, Luffy suddenly turned to Brook, who was still immersed in his music.
"Brook, as the newest member of my crew, I've got a gift for you."
"A gift?"
"A gift?"
Robin and Brook both turned to Luffy with curious expressions.
Robin's curiosity came from experience. She knew Luffy's gifts were never ordinary.
She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses and glanced at the amethyst ring on her right hand. Every day, she could feel the lonely, powerful energy pulsing from it, even though she still couldn't control that power.
Brook, on the other hand, was simply puzzled. He had no idea what kind of gift Luffy would give him.
Was it perhaps a uniform to signify his status as a crew member? Wait, no, Robin wore her usual clothes too…
Luffy didn't give them much time to guess. He reached into his backpack and pulled out the Hogyoku he had won from the draw.
A transparent gem glowing with deep blue and black light, just seeing it made Brook's nonexistent heart skip a beat.
Even though he technically had no heart.
"Luffy-san… What is this?" Brook asked with a mix of wonder and uncertainty.
He couldn't explain it, but he felt a mysterious pull toward the gem.
"This is called the Hogyoku. It's an incredibly powerful item," Luffy said with a smile, handing it over casually. "Use it well."
"Hogyoku…" Brook murmured, confused. He reached out his bony hand and gently took it.
The moment it touched his palm, a surge of energy swept through Brook's body before receding back into the gem.
The strange sensation made Brook blink, or at least, the skeletal equivalent. "Luffy-san… How do I use this… 'Hogyoku'?"
"Uh…" Luffy paused. Thinking quickly, he remembered what had happened before and said calmly, "Try placing it on your forehead."
"Alright!"
Without hesitation, Brook pressed the blue-black gem to his forehead.
Five seconds… ten… twenty…
A whole minute passed, and Brook looked up blankly, empty eye sockets aimed straight at Luffy.
"Uhh…"
Feeling a bit awkward under Brook's stare, Luffy quickly asked in his mind, "System! How do you actually use the Hogyoku?"
[Answer: The Hogyoku must be ingested.]
"Eat it???"
That was… unexpected.
Was it really safe to eat something like this? But if the system said so…
Luffy turned back to Brook. "Try swallowing it."
"Eat it…?"
Brook hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth wide and popped the gem in.
Thankfully, Brook didn't have a dainty little mouth, otherwise, that ping-pong-ball-sized gem might've been an issue.
Once inside, the Hogyoku dissolved instantly into a stream of energy, flowing down his ribcage and settling deep in his abdomen.
There, it formed a pulsing energy core, visible, but untouchable.
Brook rubbed his belly, sensing something different but unable to describe it.
"How do you feel, Brook?" Luffy and Robin both leaned in, curious.
Brook hesitated. "I… don't feel much different."
But just as he spoke, Luffy felt a surge of power rise within himself, rushing through every part of his body, with most of it concentrating in his brain.
He recognized this sensation, he'd felt it before.
Brook, however, was experiencing it for the first time.
Suddenly, his Mental Power stat shot past 1200. It was as if something deep inside had been unshackled. A torrent of energy erupted from where the Hogyoku had settled, flooding every fiber of Brook's being, tugging at his soul.
Crack… Crack…
Brook's already eerie skeletal frame began to change. Bone-white material spread rapidly across his body, reinforcing it piece by piece.
His body started to morph, slowly at first, then faster.
Crack… Crack…
The transformation showed no signs of stopping, only speeding up.
Brook, already a timid soul, let out a terrified scream.
"Luffy-san!!! What's happening to me?!"
Tears welled up in his hollow eye sockets. Paralyzed with fear, he looked helplessly at Luffy, placing all his hope in him.
Robin stepped over, her face filled with concern. The changes were simply too alarming.
Even though Luffy didn't fully understand what was happening either, he had some idea based on what he knew of the Hogyoku.
He quickly tried to calm Brook down. "Don't worry, Brook!"
"This is a blessing in disguise, a rare opportunity!"
"Don't be afraid! Think about your music, your favorite song!"
"Binks' Sake brings joy to your side~"
Luffy sang as Brook's body was finally covered completely by the glowing white bone.
Thankfully, with Luffy's words echoing in his ears, Brook started to calm down. In his mind, the familiar tune played on loop.
"Yohohoho~ Yohohoho"
"Yohohoho~ Yohoho~ho!"
==========
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