Luffy's Call: My Journey with the Straw Hats

The current Straw Hat Pirates had been scattered across the world, each member training to strengthen their own abilities. But Moonlight believed they would all reunite. Luffy, especially, had experienced separation, death, and a fierce battle that had broadened his vision and greatly improved his character and abilities. Having survived this ordeal, when he reappeared, he would surely surprise everyone.

This war had brought together the most powerful individuals on the sea: the lava fist of Akainu, the flashing light of Kizaru, the ice of Aokiji, the shockwave of Sengoku, the tremor-fist of Whitebeard, and the darkness of Blackbeard. This war was not the end of everything, but rather, the beginning. The beginning of a new era of piracy.

"I believe it," Shanks nodded. He had bet his arm on Luffy, and he believed that after this experience, Luffy would become even stronger.

"Boss, Luffy and the others haven't gone far. Shouldn't we go see them?" Lucky Roux asked, gnawing on a chicken leg and pointing at the Moby Dick in the distance. Luffy was on that ship.

Benn Beckman and the others couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. They hadn't seen Luffy in many years, and he must have grown up by now.

"Now is not the time to meet," Shanks shook his head. Though he wanted to see Luffy, he couldn't. Luffy had just been through a traumatic experience and needed to process it on his own. As long as Luffy continued on his path to becoming the Pirate King, they would meet again sooner or later.

"Let's go," Shanks said, giving Moonlight one last, deep look. This was over. There was no need to stay any longer.

Sengoku and the others didn't stop them. Marine Headquarters had suffered heavy losses, and they had no strength left to fight another Emperor, especially one who was in his prime, unlike Whitebeard.

At this time, Garp suddenly walked over to Shanks and whispered something that made the Emperor's face change drastically. He then left quickly, without another word. Only Garp could make Shanks react like that.

As all the pirates withdrew from Marineford, the Navy was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. The Warlords also departed. Their lack of participation had played a large part in the Navy's "pyrrhic" victory.

"The Seven Warlords, hmph," Akainu sneered. He advocated for Absolute Justice, a concept completely different from Sengoku's. He had long disliked the Warlord system.

And so, the war at Marineford, now known as the "War of the Best," finally came to an end with the death of Whitebeard.

The true winner of this event, however, was Blackbeard. He had not only recruited powerful allies from the sixth level of Impel Down but had also stolen Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit. With the two abilities of devouring everything and destroying the world, it was foreseeable that once he fully mastered them, he would be able to shake the world. He was younger than Whitebeard, more cunning, more ambitious, and more vicious. The future was about to change. The era that Blackbeard had declared—the era of Blackbeard—was about to begin.

"This is the general trend. It cannot be stopped," Moonlight sighed. Blackbeard's rise was inevitable.

"Blackbeard is strong, but we are constantly getting stronger. Who will the future belong to? We'll see," Moonlight chuckled, looking at the door to the operating room where Luffy was. With Law's surgical skills, Luffy would not die. In fact, this would be a blessing in disguise. The reborn Luffy would be completely different.

"Don't worry," Bepo, the talking polar bear from the Heart Pirates, said, comforting him. "If our captain is operating, your captain will be fine." After witnessing Moonlight's strength, which was comparable to Mihawk's, everyone on the submarine was in awe of him.

"Really? Thank you very much, then," Moonlight chuckled.

After Shanks had left, Moonlight had jumped into the sea, and to the shocked gazes of the Marines, had chased after Ace, Marco, and the others. After learning that Luffy had been rescued by Law, he had bid them farewell and had finally found Law's submarine, the Polar Tang, at a depth of 100 meters.

The operation lasted for seven days. Finally, Law emerged, looking exhausted but successful. "Master Moonlight? Don't worry, your captain is fine," he said, surprised to see him there.

"Thank you," Moonlight said, bowing deeply. "This is a kindness I will not forget." He was truly grateful. If it weren't for Law's timely treatment, Luffy would have been in real danger.

"It was nothing," Law said, turning away, a little embarrassed.

Moonlight entered the cabin and saw Luffy, covered in bandages but standing on his own two feet. He was a little depressed, but he was calmer now. The war had shown him that there was always someone stronger. With his current strength, if it hadn't been for Moonlight and the others, he would never have been able to save Ace. He realized now that he was still too far from his goal of becoming the Pirate King.

"The Ope-Ope no Mi is truly a game-changer," Moonlight marveled.

"Moonlight..." Luffy said, overjoyed, but as he tried to step forward, a sharp pain shot through his body.

"Recover your injuries during this time," Moonlight smiled. "I'll keep in touch with everyone. Don't worry about the Thousand Sunny; the Flying Fish Riders are helping to guard it."

"Moonlight, thank you," Luffy said, taking a deep breath and bowing deeply.

Moonlight quickly moved away. "Have you ever seen anyone thank their own right hand?" he asked, looking at Law.

Law thought for a moment and shook his head. "Never."

Luffy was speechless.

"BOOM!" At that moment, the ship shook violently.

"What happened?" everyone asked.

"Captain, look!" Bepo pointed outside. A giant octopus had grabbed the Polar Tang and was pulling it toward the surface.

"What a huge octopus!"

"What is it going to do?"

They were all landlubbers; if they had to fight in the sea, they would be at a disadvantage. They all looked to Moonlight, who just frowned for a moment before shaking his head, indicating they had nothing to worry about. He had already perceived with his Observation Haki that they had arrived at Amazon Lily.

No, it wasn't by chance, he thought, someone deliberately guided us here.

Sure enough, the ship rose to the surface, and the giant octopus deposited them on the shore of an island. The Kuja Pirates were waiting for them, led by the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock. Not only that, but Rayleigh was also there, as if he had been waiting for them.

"Luffy!" Hancock's face was full of joy, but when she saw Moonlight, her expression turned cold.

"Hancock! Rayleigh!" Luffy was delighted to see them.

"That's... the Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh!" Law's pupils shrank. He had seen him once before at the auction house, and now here he was again.

"Moonlight," Rayleigh nodded to Luffy, then looked at Moonlight and exclaimed, "It's amazing. Comparable to Mihawk. It seems another incredible person has appeared on the sea."

"It's nothing," Moonlight nodded. "In the future, I'm afraid the sea will be filled with powerful heroes."

"You should have noticed it, Luffy," Rayleigh said, his expression turning serious. "The people in this place are different."

"Yeah," Luffy nodded, looking at his palm. "Almost everyone here has a strange power. It's the same as Moonlight's. He said it's called 'Haki,' and it's very powerful. When I encounter someone who has this power, I feel like I can't beat them."

"Yes," Rayleigh nodded, looking at Moonlight. "That is indeed what it's called. And I was very surprised to see that one of your crew has already cultivated their Haki to a very good level."

"This is an innate power," Moonlight shrugged. "I don't know how to teach it." He understood what Rayleigh was getting at. His own Haki was a gift from his system; no one could learn it from him.

"So, Luffy," Rayleigh said, looking at him. "I will teach you this power."

Luffy was silent for a moment, then, as if he had made up his mind, he bowed deeply to Rayleigh to show his respect and gratitude. He then looked at Moonlight. "Moonlight, I'm leaving everyone to you."

"Don't worry," Moonlight understood immediately. Luffy's training would take a long time. Though he had the aptitude of a chosen one, it was hard to say how long it would take him to master it. But he had to do it. They were all too weak. If they didn't increase their strength, they wouldn't be able to survive in the New World. And it was his responsibility to contact their scattered crewmates. It would not be an easy task.