Morning sunlight filtered through the trees as Luffy rubbed his eyes, stretching and yawning wide enough to scare the birds from the branches. He stumbled to the pond outside Dadan's hideout, splashed cold water on his face, and shook his head wildly like a wet dog.
"Alright! Meat time!" he shouted, charging straight back into the hideout.
Dadan was already sitting cross-legged, half-asleep, cigarette dangling from her lips. Luffy barged in, grinning ear to ear. "Food! Dadan, I want food!"
Her eyes twitched. "You damn brat, you think this is a restaurant?!"
She still tossed him a plate piled with leftovers. Luffy devoured it in seconds. Bones, scraps, sauce—gone. Then he looked up expectantly. "More!"
Dadan slammed her fist on the floor. "Go find it yourself! You're seventeen now, stop leeching off of me!"
Instead of sulking, Luffy just laughed. "Shishishi! Fine, I'll get my own food then!"
He ran outside, stretched his arms to a nearby tree, and launched himself through the forest like a slingshot, sailing through the air with a carefree grin. The wind whipped his hair as he swung from tree to tree until he reached an old, weathered treehouse.
The memories hit him instantly. The secret base he, Ace, and Sabo had built with their own hands. He climbed up, sat on the edge, and gazed at the horizon.
"I'm seventeen now… it's time," he whispered. "Time to set sail. Time to be a pirate."
Ding!
A glowing window appeared before his eyes.
[Savage Pirate System: Pirate King Guide Activated]
Luffy blinked. "What the—!? It talks now?!"
Words scrolled across the screen.
[You need some preparation before setting off as a pirate.]
Luffy scratched his head. "Huh? Wait… not talking, just writing." He grinned. "Hehehe… this floating thing is more educated than me."
The Guide repeated the same message again.
Luffy leaned forward, pouting. "Preparation? What kind of preparation?"
[Step One: You need a ship.]
Luffy threw his arms up dramatically. "But I'm super broke!"
[Don't worry. I will guide you on how to make quick cash.]
His eyes sparkled. "Cash means… more meat?"
[First task: Capture a few oxen or large forest beasts. Hunt some giant fish. Sell them in the village.]
Luffy tilted his head. "So… you want me to eat them because I didn't get enough breakfast? You're a kind person!"
The system flashed angrily.
[No! To become Pirate King, you cannot remain stupid. Do as I say.💢]
Luffy flinched, puffing his cheeks again. "Tch! You sound just like Makino when she lectures me!"
But then his grin returned. "Alright then. Hunt some beasts, huh? Sounds fun!"
He stood, stretched his arms to a faraway tree, and launched himself into the wilderness, laughter echoing through the forest.
-----
The forest shook with heavy stomps. A wild horde of bulls emerged from the undergrowth, their horns sharp, their eyes bloodshot with fury.
Luffy grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Perfect! Meat delivery!"
He shot his arm back, muscles coiling like springs. "Gum-Gum Pistol!"
His fist shot forward like a cannonball, smashing into the skull of the leading bull. With a dull thud, the beast collapsed instantly, legs buckling under its weight.
The other bulls bellowed, rage filling the air as they charged at him in a stampede. Their horns gored his chest and stomach—
Boing!
They bounced back harmlessly. Luffy tilted his head, unfazed, then drew both arms behind his back. His body stretched like a bowstring about to snap.
"Gum-Gum… Bazooka!!"
Both palms slammed forward, unleashing a devastating shockwave that blasted two more bulls off their feet. Their bodies flew through the air before crashing into the dirt with bone-cracking force.
The rest of the herd skidded to a stop, fear flashing in their eyes. With frightened bellows, they turned and scattered into the forest.
Luffy pouted. "Oi, it's not fair if you all run away! Guess I'll look for other prey."
He slung the three unconscious bulls over his shoulders like sacks of grain. With his monstrous strength, their combined weight was nothing more than an annoyance. He laughed as he marched deeper into the woods, humming about meat.
Suddenly, a massive shadow passed overhead. A wild bird—large as a man—swooped down, its talons gleaming sharp as daggers. It aimed straight for the bulls Luffy carried.
He set the bulls down with a smirk. "You want my prey? Then come and get it."
The bird shrieked, wings slicing the air as it dove. Luffy crouched, grinning wide.
"Gum-Gum… Rocket!"
His body snapped forward like a launched spear, his fist colliding with the bird's skull mid-flight. CRACK! Blood spurted as the creature plummeted, crashing into the dirt with a pitiful screech before lying still.
Luffy wiped his nose proudly. "Guess I got another prey."
Now carrying both the bulls and the bloodied bird, he wandered toward the river by the great waterfall. Below, giant fish the size of grown men thrashed in the waters.
Luffy set down his haul, flexed his arms, and grinned. "Dinner and cash in one go. Hehehe… Gum-Gum Gatling!"
His fists blurred into a storm, pounding the surface of the river. Water exploded upward like heavy rain, the sound like thunder echoing off the cliffs. When the barrage ended, the frothing river revealed four giant fish floating belly-up.
Luffy burst into laughter. "Jackpot!"
Meanwhile, in Foosha Village, the day was calm as Makino poured drinks for a few customers at her bar.
BOOM!
A massive crash outside rattled the walls. Everyone looked toward the door.
Makino hurried out—only to freeze at the sight.
Piled high in the street were three wild bulls, a bloodied giant bird, and four massive river fish. Standing proudly beside them, grinning like a fool, was Luffy.
"Hey, Makino!" he shouted, waving both hands. "Do you know where I can sell these? I need money!"
The villagers who gathered stared in disbelief. Who in their right mind went into the forest alone, fought a horde of bulls, killed a giant bird, and then Gatling-fisted a river? For Luffy, though, this was just another morning.
Makino pressed her hand to her forehead, a laugh escaping her lips. "Honestly… only you, Luffy."
Still, she couldn't deny the value of his haul. With her help, the animals and fish were sold off through the village traders, netting a hefty 250,000 Berries.
That evening, Luffy sat on a stool, counting coins like a child counting candy. His eyes sparkled.
"Makino, is this enough for a ship?"
Makino smiled patiently. "That's a lot of money, Luffy. But not enough for a proper ship. At best, you can get yourself a good fishing boat."
Luffy slumped, crossing his arms like a sulky child. "But I don't want a boat. I want a ship!"
His eyes burned with determination as he shouted, "A real pirate ship!"
------
The metallic chime echoed in Luffy's skull, making him flinch. Another glowing message appeared in front of his eyes.
[To acquire a proper pirate ship, hunting wild animals will not be enough.]
[Recommendation: Hunt pirates with bounties. Take their loot. Claim their rewards.]
Luffy's grin widened. "Ohhh, so that's what you mean by pirate stuff! Hehehe…"
He ran straight to Makino's bar, bursting through the doors with his usual lack of manners. "Makino!"
Makino, who was restocking bottles, blinked at him. "What is it this time, Luffy?"
"Can you tell me about some pirates with bounties on their heads?"
Her face froze. "What?"
"I need to hunt some pirates. You know, beat them up and take their treasure!" Luffy declared proudly, puffing his chest out.
Makino frowned, setting the bottle down. "Luffy, that's… dangerous. Bounty hunting isn't a game. Pirates fight in groups, and they're not like wild animals. They cheat, they use weapons, and they'll kill without hesitation."
Luffy tilted his head. "I'm stronger than any pirate around here."
"I don't doubt your strength," Makino said softly, her eyes heavy with worry. "But it's not just about fighting. Pirates play dirty, Luffy. You could be ambushed, poisoned, tricked—"
"Don't be a worry-baby," he interrupted with a carefree laugh. "Just tell me already! If I get beat up, I'll just beat 'em back harder."
Makino sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible." After a pause, she gave in. "Fine. But promise me you'll be careful."
"Hehehe, promise!"
Makino leaned against the counter, thinking. "Well… the closest one would be Iron-Jaw Briggs. He's a petty raider with a bounty of 1.8 million Berries. Brutal, but not very clever. He's been harassing coastal villages east of here."
She hesitated before continuing. "Then there's Red-Haired Matsu, a thief-turned-pirate. Bounty of 3.5 million Berries. He travels with a small crew of cutthroats. Dangerous men."
"And of course… there are more famous names." She lowered her voice. "Alvida the Iron Mace. Bounty 5 million. She's cruel, Luffy. Not someone you can take lightly."
Her gaze sharpened. "And… there's a rumor that Buggy the Clown is lurking in the nearby waters. Don't laugh—he may look ridiculous, but he's a Devil Fruit user. His bounty is 6 million."
Luffy's eyes sparkled like treasure. "Woooah! They sound fun to punch!"
Makino pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering, "Why do I even tell you these things…?"
Ding!
Another message flashed before Luffy's eyes:
[New Quest: Prove your savagery. Hunt down a pirate and claim their bounty.]
[Reward: SP +20 | Skill Unlock: Plunderer's Instinct]
Luffy's grin spread ear to ear. He slammed his fist into his palm. "Alright then… let's go hunting!"
--
Continued...
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Author Note: Updating after a long break. Finally back on writing. May it be a long journey with your support.