One Piece: Absolute Domination; Reborn as Luffy

"I can't go back just yet," Luffy said, shaking his head. "I still need to solidify my Conqueror's Haki… "

Without wasting any time, he ventured deeper into the forest.

Soon, the sound of intense battle rang through the woods. "Boom! Boom! Boom!" echoed all around as Luffy squared off against a gorilla. The great ape was completely outmatched. Wielding a thick tree branch, Luffy pummeled it without mercy, blow after blow.

"Oooowww! Ooowww!" the gorilla cried out, unable to dodge or counterattack. Every move it tried to make seemed to be anticipated by Luffy, who struck back at the perfect moment every time. It was as if the gorilla's every thought and movement were laid bare for Luffy to read.

Finally, beaten and bleeding, the gorilla raised its hands in surrender. "Ooooww!" it wailed in defeat, realizing there was no point in resisting. This boy was ruthless and relentless, caring only for his own thrill.

Seeing its surrender, Luffy nodded with a hint of understanding. They'd formed a strange bond during their matches, a sort of silent understanding. But then, the gorilla made a different kind of sound, one that puzzled Luffy.

"Hmm?" Luffy raised an eyebrow. He could tell there was something more to this particular groan, something beyond the usual battle cry.

He concentrated, using his Haki to grasp the gorilla's intent. Soon, he understood. The gorilla was complaining… about food.

"You could've just said that outright," Luffy chuckled. "I'd understand."

"Oooow!" the gorilla repeated, sounding almost like a broken record, oblivious to Luffy's words. Luffy quickly realized that while they shared an unspoken understanding in battle, actual verbal communication was another story entirely.

So, he switched to a different approach, using his Conqueror's Haki in a way that allowed him to project his intent directly. With this mental connection, he could transfer his thoughts straight to the gorilla's mind—a feat so refined that even insects could potentially understand him.

Finally, the gorilla seemed to grasp Luffy's meaning.

"Oooow!" it responded, with a hint of clarity now.

Luffy smiled, interpreting its response. The gorilla explained, "The food in the forest has practically run out. My friends and I haven't had a full meal in days. I even started eating leaves!"

It dawned on Luffy that his own relentless training and appetite had depleted the local wildlife, leaving the gorilla and its friends to go hungry.

"I get it now," Luffy said with a nod. Over the past few days, he'd worked tirelessly to improve himself, feasting on all the creatures in the forest. No wonder the big guys like the gorillas, lions, and tigers were starving.

"Hey, don't worry about it, big guy," Luffy said cheerfully. "You'll figure something out. There's always a way around these things. Take it easy; it's not that complicated!"

The gorilla's face fell at Luffy's casual attitude. To any human, this would have sounded callous—a vampire's logic, carefree and indifferent after consuming someone else's resources.

But Luffy went on, grinning without a care. "You'll just have to adjust, right? Try eating more plants. Good for the body, you know!"

If it were anyone else, they'd be furious. Who eats up all the food and then suggests others change their diet? Yet Luffy, unapologetic, was quick to justify his actions.

"Hey, that's just the way of the world," he said, spreading his hands wide with a shrug. "Simple rules—survival of the fittest. You tell me… who's gonna argue with that?"

Luffy made his intentions clear. He wasn't feeling any sympathy; his training was what mattered most, and everything else could wait. "You've run out of food," he said firmly. "Find a way to deal with it. Don't complain to me. Got it?"

"Grrrr!" the gorilla growled, furious. It was unacceptable for Luffy to be so unreasonable.

With a thunderous bang, the gorilla stood up and began pounding its chest in a display of anger. Luffy remained calm and collected, watching quietly. At that moment, he heard rustling in the forest.

Before long, a group of large creatures appeared—other animals that had been Luffy's training targets in his previous life: crocodiles, elephants, and snakes. Luffy couldn't help but chuckle. "What's this? Are you all here to complain?" he joked. "I'm just kidding around! I'm actually studying animal behavior."

Luffy wasn't lying; his earlier comments weren't meant to be cruel. He was genuinely curious about how different animals reacted to provocation. He wanted to understand the differences in thought processes between humans and animals, and it seemed there was little difference at all. "It's all the same," he mused. "The emotional reactions are quite amusing."

Luffy admitted he was being a bit mischievous. He took his training seriously, but exploring various things like this wasn't a bad idea. Still, it seemed he'd gone too far.

"Roar!" the other animals were now upset, joining in to confront Luffy. He opened his mouth to explain himself but was suddenly attacked.

"Boom!" A crocodile swung its tail, unleashing a fierce gust of wind. Fortunately, Luffy's senses were sharp, honed to perfection. With a Conqueror's Haki level of eighty-six, his agility exceeded three billion berries. There was no exaggeration; with this power, he was nearly invincible on this small island. Even Rayleigh might have trouble with him here, as Rayleigh's Conqueror's level was only eighty-eight. Luffy's Haki was exceptional, not something to be compared to the usual levels. With a value of eighty-six, he could easily keep up with the Pirate King's first mate.

As a few massive creatures attempted to attack, Luffy found it laughable. He knew that relying solely on his physical strength would not suffice; he needed to harness his Haki.

"Whoosh!" In an instant, his Conqueror's Haki enveloped the attackers, rendering them immobile, as if they had turned to stone. Their bodies trembled with fear, knowing that even the slightest movement could lead to their destruction.

"Roar!" the gorilla yelled, but it was futile.

"Trying to pick a fight?" Luffy said calmly. "Maybe you should consider a check-up. I was just testing the waters. Why the rush?"

Suddenly, Luffy sensed a wave of awareness from the group. Reading their thoughts, his expression changed to one of surprise. The truth hit him: these creatures had been displeased with him for a while. They had longed to confront him, but their respect for Rayleigh had held them back.

"That's strange," Luffy muttered, shaking his head. In his past life, these beasts had been friendly, comrades even, not the villains they seemed to be now. They should not harbor such ill will against him.

His Conqueror's Haki had revealed their true feelings, and he knew he hadn't changed. Some of his behaviors and attitudes must have triggered their dissatisfaction, leading them to feel threatened by him.

"Aw man…" Luffy sighed, feeling a deep sense of despondency. "What's wrong with me? Why don't you like me?"

"I'm a good person!" he insisted. "I admit I might be a bit foolish or naive sometimes, but…" He paused, feeling the weight of their judgment. "At heart, I'm good! Why treat me this way?"

Luffy felt a wave of sadness wash over him, perplexed by their rejection.

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T/N:

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