"So, what brings you here this time?" Shakky lit a cigarette and sat across from Luffy and Robin, resting her chin on one hand as she asked.
Luffy scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Um… Shakky-san, we're leaving the Sabaody Archipelago today."
"Oh?" Shakky raised an eyebrow, visibly surprised. She had assumed they'd be staying on the island for a while, after all, they'd just bought furniture and rented a place. Their sudden departure caught her off guard.
"There's been a change of plans," Luffy explained. "Something came up, and now I really need a quiet place to train and settle myself."
Originally, Luffy had planned to remain on the archipelago as a bounty hunter, earning gold, building his reputation. If the chance arose, he even considered taking out a Celestial Dragon or two. Sure, that would plunge the island into chaos, but that didn't particularly bother him.
Unfortunately, plans couldn't keep up with change.
The Marine's sweep operation had wiped out all the big-name pirates on Sabaody. The few who escaped were soon captured and likely now rotting in Impel Down. For at least a year or two, the number of pirates entering the New World would drop significantly.
While Luffy did manage to cash in big, collecting a good haul of gold, the island had gone quiet. Most pirates were now lying low, unwilling to set foot on Sabaody. For the past month, Luffy had made no progress at all.
And then there was the matter of his new gear, the [X-Glove Ver.V.R.]. The "Sky Flame" it unleashed was far more powerful than anticipated, but also wildly unpredictable. Luffy realized that while system items were undeniably strong, true mastery still took time and effort.
The "Dying Will Flame" he'd first acquired had been mild and easy to control. But the newly evolved "Storm Flame" had thrown him off entirely. Its explosive force made it impossible to use in actual combat for now.
He hadn't even dared try the "Dying Will Zero Point Breakthrough – First Edition." Luffy had long known how powerful that technique was, he thought he'd need to unlock it on his own, but the glove gave him a shortcut.
The Dying Will Flame was the manifestation of a person's inner resolve.
Whether it was the Dying Will Flame, the Storm Flame, or even the Sky Flame that Robin used, they were all forms of energy ignited by conviction and determination.
The "Zero Point Breakthrough – First Edition" worked by suppressing that flame to its lowest point, releasing a cold flame forged from clarity of mind. It manifested as ice, the opposite of fire.
Though this ice couldn't match Admiral Aokiji's Devil Fruit in raw power, it couldn't freeze an entire ocean, it had a unique trait: because it was formed from pure resolve, ordinary fire couldn't melt it.
Anyone frozen by it had to rely on their own willpower to thaw out. It might take minutes… or years. It all depended on the strength of their Mental Power.
It was the ultimate dueling technique.
Unfortunately, Luffy couldn't even control the Storm Flame yet, let alone master a technique that required even greater precision.
Still, the upgraded glove had already taught him the hardest part: how to control his inner self. The rest would come with time.
Shakky tapped the ash from her cigarette and sighed. "Youth really is a blessing… to be able to just leave on a whim. That kind of freedom..." Her smile faded into something distant, her gaze unfocused, like a tree in winter stripped of all its leaves, a quiet melancholy hung in the air.
So much time had passed. So much that she no longer dared count the years on her fingers.
Exhaling one last breath of smoke, she asked, "So, are you heading to the New World? I can have Rayleigh coat your ship, I'll even give you a discount this time."
Pulling herself out of old memories, Shakky returned to her usual self, offering one last gesture of help to the young pair.
But Luffy looked awkward. "Uh… actually, no. We're not heading to the New World. Not yet."
He hesitated, debating whether to confess what happened to the house they rented. After all, they'd only stayed a few weeks before blowing it up…
But if he told Shakky the truth, she might beat him to a pulp.
"The Four Seas?" Shakky raised an eyebrow in confusion. "It's not easy to head back that way. How do you plan to cross the Calm Belt?"
Luffy scratched the back of his head and gave a sheepish laugh. "Haven't figured that out yet. We'll take it one step at a time."
He glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late, Shakky-san. Robin and I need to stock up, we're heading out today."
"So soon?" Shakky sounded surprised. She didn't understand why Luffy was in such a rush.
"Yeah... Time waits for no one," Luffy said vaguely.
He stood up, patted Robin on the shoulder, signaling it was time to go.
Robin, slightly flushed and bashful, looked down as she followed him. Shakky gave them a curious look, wondering what secret they were hiding.
At the bar's entrance, Luffy suddenly turned around, as if remembering something. "Oh right, Shakky-san, about the house. I, uh, accidentally blew it up. Just sell it to me, okay? I'll pay you next time we come back."
Shakky leaned on her hand, watching them with a faint smile. They reminded her of her younger days. Lost in memories, she replied casually, "Don't worry about it. Rayleigh's a renovation expert, he'll fix it."
"Really? Then I'll leave it to Uncle Rayleigh. See you next time, Shakky-san!" Luffy called as he walked away without turning back.
"Safe travels, then." Shakky watched the two young figures disappear down the road and chuckled. "What a whirlwind pair."
Out on the street, Robin asked quietly, "Was it really okay not to tell Shakky-san the truth?"
Luffy, still feeling nervous, replied, "It's fine, it's fine! Uncle Rayleigh won't mind… hahahaha."
Truthfully, he was just terrified of Shakky's fists. And come on, it was only one house. Surely that wasn't a big deal for someone like Rayleigh. He'd just make it up to them later.
A few days later, Rayleigh stood at the edge of a crater, his face blank.
"...Where's my house?"
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Note: For those unfamiliar, the "Flames" in this story are based on Katekyo Hitman Reborn!'s Dying Will Flames. Each flame has a unique attribute:
Sky (Harmony): Balances and unifies other flames.
Storm (Disintegration): Breaks down and destroys matter.
Rain (Tranquility): Slows and weakens opposing flames.
Sun (Activation): Boosts healing and physical energy.
Cloud (Propagation): Expands and multiplies on its own.
Mist (Illusion): Creates illusions and false constructs.Lightning (Hardening): Solidifies into shields or armor.
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