One Piece: Nobody knows Devil Fruits better than me

Chapter 355 When will this nonsense end? Until we die!

"When did you first decide you wanted to go to sea?"

Even in Luffy's mind, which doesn't usually dwell on things much, such thoughts occasionally arise.

That was probably a question Makino and the people of Windmill Village asked him when he was a child.

Perhaps it's a question he thinks about occasionally.

But in any case, Luffy wasn't quite sure of the answer.

"Yes, when was it?"

He rubbed his chin.

"Why go out to sea? Isn't it better to stay here?"

"If you go out to sea on such a simple little wooden raft, wouldn't it capsize at the slightest wave?"

"You'll die, Luffy."

"So, your desire to become a pirate is indeed because of Shanks?"

Similar questions had echoed in his ears more than once.

But Luffy never listened.

He doesn't deny that Shanks influenced his decision to set sail; the pirate who gave him the straw hat and the promise was his "mentor." But he's certain... that his desire to set sail itself has nothing to do with Shanks.

That was an idea that came about much earlier.

Perhaps it was when you saw the sun setting below the horizon on the small hill outside the windmill village, with golden waves rippling across the water?

Perhaps it's when you're at the harbor, and the sea breeze brushes against your cheek, carrying the fragrance of flowers from some unknown island?

Perhaps it was the occasional seagull delivering newspapers, or a cloud that seemed to have been seen many times before, yet appeared to be a first-time sight.

Luffy doesn't remember.

But he knew that he would have to go to sea sooner or later—it was just a matter of time.

After all, that's the ocean!

An endless, boundless ocean!

Laugh when you want to laugh, cry when you want to cry, eat when you want to eat, do whatever you want—the ocean will always calmly accept every choice and treat every creature fairly.

There are always new and interesting things on the sea, and there are always interesting people on the sea.

"Do you want to get ONE PIECE?"

Of course, he wanted it—that great treasure that supposedly could fulfill all dreams and ambitions, and contained everything in the world.

But for Luffy, that treasure symbolized not "wealth," but "freedom."

Once you obtain it, it means you are the Pirate King, the freest sailor on this sea.

Once he gets it, he can realize his ambitions.

That was the ambition he had mentioned to his companions when he first crossed the Upside Down Mountain.

"I want to throw a grand banquet—a 'grand banquet' where everyone in the world, from all corners of the earth, can attend and have their fill!"

"Then, I will use ONEEPIECE to make the ocean even wider, so that everyone can sail freely!"

"I want to go to more islands, see more interesting people, eat more meat, make more friends, and have more parties—so the sea... the wider the better!"

"Since you said you could 'realize all dreams,' then this must be able to do it too!"

He didn't want wealth or status, he didn't want to rule, and he didn't care about fame.

Therefore, he was severely ridiculed by his friends at that time.

"Yao, that sounds good, Luffy!"

"What's so great about it? It's like a child's wish."

"In summary, isn't it all about wanting 'freedom'?"

"Well, he's Luffy after all, so it's understandable."

At that moment, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro all almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Yes.

For Monkey D. Luffy.

Becoming the Pirate King is not the goal, nor is obtaining ONE PIECE—or rather, these are merely "parts" of his dream. For him, sailing freely on the high seas with his crew is his dream.

After finding the One Piece left by Roger, he will find new treasures, and after finding new ones, even newer ones will appear. All he needs to do is sail freely toward the "One Piece" that he will never obtain but can always pursue.

That was his dream.

Therefore, Luffy speaks almost without hesitation now.

To stop sailing here?

"I refuse."

He had no idea who the crowned man in front of him was, and who addressed him so strangely.

But in short

"You're an annoying guy."

Luffy was able to make such a decision.

Can you gain immortality, wealth, and status by stopping your voyage?

"What's the point of having that kind of thing?"

Can giving up on your dreams save your friends from this crisis?

"I don't need you, I'll go save my companions myself!"

Luffy stared intently at the dark figure before him, raising his fist: "I just want to beat you to a pulp!"

That's his usual style.

His words fell.

The next moment, he sensed a booming pressure and a low laugh.

That seemed to be the phantom in front of me that called itself "Mu".

Or perhaps it was the voice of the Monkey King, who was currently possessing him, and the voices of the heavenly gods before him.

"Stubborn to the end!"

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

The gods of Heaven asked the Monkey King this question.

Just like at this moment, Im roared at Luffy.

then.

"Clatter."

The monkey being escorted to the Lingxiao Palace, and Luffy, who had also collapsed before Im, both made a sound beneath their feet. At that moment, Luffy felt as if his body was beginning to fill with boundless power.

He slowly, little by little, stood up!

"Sizzle!"

"Sizzle!"

The black and red lightning, a color reminiscent of a tyrant, suddenly surged forth at this moment.

"Buzz!"

Nika's power resurfaced within Luffy.

The surrounding celestial palace and the Monkey King vanished, and Luffy's body reappeared.

However, at this moment, his body had turned pure white again, just like when he first awakened, and his hair rose up like white flames. "Hehehe."

He covered his face, laughing heartily, the signature flames around him from his awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit seemingly pulsating with his laughter. "You ask how long I'm going to stop this nonsense?"

He raised his head, as if giving a matter-of-fact answer to the "god" who had ruled the world for countless years.

"Of course...until death."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luffy raised his hand and threw a punch.

The white fist instantly grew enormous—before this, he had actually tried more than once with Rayleigh's help, but he could not control this power. Whenever he swung his fist, he would either feel weak all over or his body would become knotted. In short, he could not control it no matter what.

But clearly, this time the situation is different.

"boom!"

Luffy could sense that this time, his punch was not out of control.

Quite the opposite.

"Hehehe, feels good!"

He felt that his thoughts at that moment seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding with the power within him.

It was as if their wills were now aligned in the same direction.

That is... the direction called "freedom".

And then the next moment...

"boom!"

The illusory figure was suddenly shattered.

Congratulations on passing the special trial ground "Flower Fruit Mountain - Heart Refining Trial"!