Two Years Later

A lot of things have changed in the past two years. A milestone of strength for me is one of the most significant. I finally managed to make Gramps bleed, but as a result, he has really stopped holding back, where before he was only using maybe seventy-five percent at most, now the gloves have been chewed up and spat back out in the haste to remove them. My mastery of the six techniques has gone through the roof. For Kami-e, I’m looking at ninety-five percent success rate when I mean to use it, meaning that someone would have to be vastly faster than me (like gramps) to hit me when the technique is used. Geppo I can now use for pseudo flying if I need to, being able to run/walk forcefully one hundred feet or more above people’s heads will do that. My Soru is such that only Gramps can catch me when I use it. While I can use Tekkai reliably, it doesn’t fit my style to use it as defense, I prefer the added edge it gives to my offence, though I only do an arm at a time so that I can freely move and lessen the chance of overextending when I strike. Rankyaku is where I have been shining. When I combine using the technique with wind-natured mana, many a tree have been felled at the same time. It was also using this combination that enabled me to make Gramps bleed for the first time, at which he laughed, long and hard, so proud of me for the accomplishment. Shigan has also seen progress, now that my fingers are less likely to break. If I put my whole arm behind such a blow, I can render even reinforced steel, but only with two fingers at the most from each hand, but it flubs whenever I try to use an element of mana in combination with it and I still haven’t determined why.

Ace has also put more effort into his training, but is still far behind me, but much less than what the distance between me and Gramps is. He is choosing Tekkai to master, and while he can do it all over his body full black, it flickers with his concentration, or when I flick him in the forehead with a finger. Chaos, Gaia, and Abyss have also gotten much stronger and can now use several of the six techniques with a good amount of proficiency. Soru is their best since they are on all fours most of the time, but it is bare a bastardized version as they alternate legs when they hit the ground, and can thus do seven kicks a second. They each have different a second best though as their prior personalities come to forefront even more. For Abyss that is Tekkai. She can only use it with twenty-five percent reliability, though with her fur color, it is a guessing game on if it is active unless you know her tells as the technique does no visible color change to her. Chaos prefers Rankyaku, but can only make small groves in wood right now, but with both her paws and tail. Gaia took to Kami-e very well. When active, while she doesn’t have the flexibility that human users have, it is more like hits slide along her fur if she can move just enough out of the direct path.

Makino, sweet, beautiful Makino. She turned twenty-eight a month ago, yet still looks more vibrant and youthful compared to all the other women that I have seen, both this life and my previous. You still have to watch out for the teeth beneath her surface though, for she is a shark of a business woman. Me and her are the richest people in the city, and it is all thanks to me giving her the bounty money from Higuma for investment purposes. While the Party Bar and making alcohol is a hobby to her, her business acumen is where she really thrives. Just last year, things had grown enough and were stable enough in Foosha for an actual bank to be needed. Makino was the only one capable of immediately putting up the money needed to build the proper structure; thus, she got the rights and ownership to it. Me and the girls helped with digging the foundation and pit for the vault, and the rest of the six-thousand square foot building was built within another month after we got done. Even before this she already owned a majority share in many of the other crucial businesses in Foosha City, but the bank cemented her place as one of the most crucial people on the island. When she last gave me the status of my investment (and with all her help, ownership), that eight-million Beri investment was now north of two-hundred million and set to grow even faster. She became afraid for my health for just a few minutes after she told me. The reason is that I was slipping out of consciousness, while shaking and foaming at the mouth in shock at the rate of growth.

I still haven’t forgotten about the nobles, but I have time and patience a plenty as I continue to grow stronger and stronger, still retaining that ‘Monster’ epithet that Shanks gave me. As it is I don’t believe there are that many others who are stronger than me here in this so called ‘weakest sea’ of East Blue, other than Gramps, maybe two more, but this is just based on East Blue having one million people total spread across all the islands. As for the Grand Line and the other seas of this world, hell yes. Even as strong as Gramps is, I have no doubt that there are numerous people of all walks of life who would be capable of putting Gramps in the ground permanently and with ease, including those he told me of when we first started training. Gramps could have very well plateaued for his potential, or just given up on getting stronger for a multitude of reasons, none of which I know nor am I interested in asking him about.

Speaking of plateauing, I think that I might hit that before I turn fifteen. Yes, I have my prior life’s knowledge of how far I can take my control/use of mana, but what I’m missing that I had then is true life or death stakes. Controlled environments will only allow me to grow so far. Conflict is what I will need as I still plan to be the freest man in the world and that will mean facing those who want to put a boot through my ribcage for one reason or another.

Right now, though I am growing bigger as well, my hands are still too small to wield Hellfire with the skill that my prior self-had had in spades. I’m just over four foot tall now , and almost nine years old. I’m kind of hoping that I take after Gramps for height and end up almost nine feet tall, but I’ll settle for just over six feet tall if I have to.

I’m stopped from wool-gathering as one of the marines makes his presence known by tapping me on the shoulder as I enjoy my meal, the girls relaxing as several of the other kids give them attention. “Ships spotted with the Goa Kingdom’s flag and loaded down with knights two miles out and holding position. Since this is not pirate activity or revolutionaries, but technically an interisland matter, the marines have been ordered to be neutral in this for now. The captain dispatched me to tell you this.” He doesn’t even wait for a reply before he leaves back out the door.

“So, they are finally doing something. I hope those men are prepared to die for the Nobles foolish plans. Well girls, let’s see about burning some plans huh.” I say to the girls, a sigh of annoyance escaping me as we leave the building, my straw hat hanging by a strap off my neck, though I adjust it to the top of my head as I walk.

We walk with urgency to the docks where many other people are gathered, including governor Woop Slap, Ace, and Makino. Just pulling up to the docks is a medium sized rowboat containing a small contingent of soldiers, with a white flag being shown on the tiny mast. One disembarks and is surprised when they can go no further as none of the people gathered, me included, want to let him into the city proper. “Make way citizens, we bare news from your rightful rulers of the Goa Kingdom.” The lead messenger states.

“I am Woop Slap, governor of Foosha City. Please state your business for being here and why you have armed ships stationed several miles off shore.” Even though Makino and I basically own the city, I hate the minutia that comes with such a responsibility, same for Makino. So, for the day to day non critical manners, Woop Slap is personable enough with a level enough head for said position.

“Very well. If you want this conversation out in the open for everyone to hear, so be it. By order of the current Monarchs, taxes and pay for the continued protection of the lands are being reinstated. Previously Foosha was small enough to not warrant this, but a recent reevaluation has changed the Monarchy’s mind. The total comes to two-hundred and fifty million Beri. If this is not paid forth with, then the Monarchy is authorizing the confiscation of items and property until such that fifty percent more than what is not paid in Beri is collected. The knights and soldiers off shore are merely to assist us in this collection and to maintain the citizen’s safety.” The messenger says with a straight face.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“No.” I say calmly, but loudly as I step forward, pushing Woop Slap to the side, the girls right behind me as I continue. “We will not allow someone representing those whom we hold no allegiance to, to just show up and demand payment for our livelihoods and continued existence. Foosha City is home to so many people. People that want nothing to do with that of the Goa Kingdom.” My talk is finished with my arms across my chest, an annoyed glare being sent the messenger’s way.

“Who is this brat? Why does he speak to me the way he does? Is his sentiment shared by the rest of you?” The messenger haughtily says.

“I am one of so many affected by the Noble’s callous actions. That is who you are actually speaking for, not the puppet of a Monarch, correct? The Nobles hate that their coffers are shrinking so much, not only from the lessoning amount of citizenry within their walls to tax, but the lessoning profits they make from the businesses they also own within those walls. Thus, they seek such an inflow elsewhere. By any other name, you would be pirates demanding a tithe or the city would be plundered. Thus I give you an ultimatum in return, leave and never come back. For if you do return, then you have accepted that your life and that of the soldiers with you have no meaning and that you mean to dash them upon the unforgivable tower that is myself in the hopes that you can topple me and take what you want. But I’m not the only one standing in your way, and if the best you have is no better than the late Raven knight and his melted sword, then your lives will forever be meaningless.” My words trigger more than a few reactions at my eloquent speech. Makino has an interested look in her eye. Ace is confused at my fancy wordage. Meanwhile the messenger is changing colors in the face, slowly getting to that red of anger.

“Few knew the skills of my uncle, let alone that his sword was found melted next to his cooling body. Are you saying that you, a child bested him over two years ago? Or are you merely the scapegoat for the one who did?” The tone is near apoplectic, as I swear that smoke is slowing puffing from his ears, his brain slowly cooking in his anger.

“When he was actively assisting the Bluejam Pirates, he almost killed me and my brother. So, when he tried to kill me several months later as I wanted revenge on the nobility for what they did to the Gray Terminal, well, how do you think it turned out?” I say mockingly as I spread my arms to the side as if presenting myself.

The messenger tries to pull his saber free, but before he can, I move. My hand is easily gripping his and preventing him from pulling the saber out, his fingers just a hair’s breadth from being crushed.

“I say again. Go back to your masters, and tell them that they shall get nothing from us, except for an express trip to the devil’s cauldron.” With that I close my hand like the vice that it is, ruining the man’s hand for life as his blood and skin gushes like a crushed grape between my fingers. He screams with blood-curdling agony, falling to his knees as I release him. One of the soldiers seeing me do this, hops out of the boat, sword already drawn. He goes down in a gurgle of blood after not even ten steps are taken. The reason is that Chaos has her teeth buried in his meaty throat, before she gives a yank with her head and his neck loudly snaps, making his twitching and grasping hands fall back to the ground, immediately motionless.

While a good portion of the citizen behind me react with alarm at the bloodshed, I tilt my head to the side as I look right at the other ten soldiers in the boat. “Anymore idiots aboard? Or will you deliver my message and warning?” I ask as I release and shove the messenger towards the boat. I get no answer other than wide eyes as they rapidly row away.

Chaos has simply nudged the dead soldier over the edge of the docks, where he quickly makes a splash before sinking. I pull a rag from my pocket to clean her muzzle of the remaining blood with nary a care in the world.

“Do you know what you have just done Luffy? The trouble this will now bring to the city?” Woop Slap asks with equals parts anger and concern.

“The Nobles through the Monarch brought this upon themselves with their greed and overinflated sense of superiority. Either they will crawl back into their holes and not bother us again for a while, or they will think that the quantity of soldiers and knights matter more than quality and attack. If it is the latter, then the tower will stand tall as they are ground down. After which I will stop playing the passive game and demolish Hightown and the castle, brick by bloody brick if I have to.” Cold, cool determination is laced into my voice.

After the crowd disperses, rumors already flying at the speed of sound, I stick around as I wait for a possible move. I see the knights and soldiers making the wrong decision as the ships that were at the bare edges of my sight, come closer, cannons at the ready. They chose poorly it seems. When they hit the mile marker, I figure that I should make my move. Me with the girls trailing behind me, skate over top of the water with Geppo. Before the ships even get another fifth of a mile, and with cannon balls making splashes so far behind us, we are already upon them. Just before we would run into the hull of the lead ship, we push another ten feet higher with Geppo. We then clear the railing and land on the forward top deck. There is no waiting for them to react, no words pleading for them to surrender before their lives are reaped, just action. No weapons in hand, except for the two fists I have trained with. A knight tries to draw his sword, but the arm doing so is removed from his shoulder with crushing force before the blade can even get a third of the way clear of the scabbard. Three other soldiers, their armor not worth a damn against the teeth of a dire wolf, each are torn off their feet before being shaken like rag dolls and tossed hard to the other nearby ships. The crashing sound they make via their impromptu landing sans the arms that were ripped from their sockets, is quickly drowned out by the sounds of alarm being raised. I’m already in the middle of the biggest group on the main deck with just a few steps from Soru. To the common man and soldier, I am but a blur, with the bodies all of those I strike taking precious seconds to realize that something is wrong. I take no pleasure in the toll that I am reaping upon them, but when their goal is to attack my home which holds a few of the people I hold dear, well then, I will stain this deck with my enemies' lives. Arms, legs, heads, chests, it matters not, for none of them can stand before my blows that rend armor easier than one would beat dough. In just two minutes, I have reaped two-hundred lives, while my girls have claimed over fifty each. The ship now with no one manning the helm or working the sails, turns into one its brethren, the last frantic action from one who fell like all the rest. The crash that happens in mere seconds is resounding as it stymies the movement of the one it crashed into. With this ship clear, me and the girls each leap to one of the other four ships to finish this bloody act. Though the other ships occupants have tried to prepare, they are still fall all the same. By the end of our bloody slaughter, over a thousand knights and soldiers have lost their lives, few having survived by jumping overboard, only to die as the sea pulls them under, the weight of their heavy armor hastening their demise. By the end I’m crying, crying for the senseless loss of life I caused, all because some self-entitled nobles couldn’t just roll over and die. With no one manning the ships, they list and end up lightly stuck together, coming to a rest, just one-hundred feet from the docks.

The cannons going off had drawn attention and as me and the girls hop off the ships, the only thing not died red is my straw hat, that merely has a few errant drops splashed upon the brim. My tears get Makino’s attention and disregarding the viscera that is covering me, she pulls me into a hug as I step foot on the docks, burying my head in her heavenly chest as tears stained red, flow like a heavy rain. Ace has dropped to his knees as he realized what I have just done, the burden of life that I have placed upon my very being with the act I have done.

The tears keep flowing even as I get stripped of my clothes after Makino has gotten me into her shower, my mind barely cognizant of her being in her underwear (emerald green bra and pantie set) as she works to scrub me clean. Even her seeing me naked many years before I planned on is pushed to the side. I finally let sleep claim me just thirty minutes later, tears still falling even in my sleep.

When I later awake, it is to find my head resting on Makino’s very well-endowed chest, with Chaos, Gaia, and Abyss (fur still drying from whoever scrubbed them clean) more than filling up the space of her medium sized bed. I look up to see her stroking my head, and fracking the consequences, I dart my head up to quickly lay a kiss upon her lips, her stroking of my hair freezing as a result as her mind tries to come to grips with my action and the meaning behind it.