3. Awakening And Change

Luffy quickly forgets about the Kuma's identity, as he has bigger concerns now—Zoro's injury.

"Zoro, are you okay?" Luffy asked, clearly worried.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to die," Zoro replied firmly.

"Hey, Luffy, fetch me my swords," Zoro requested.

"Your swords?" Luffy hesitated for a moment, realizing that Zoro's three swords were not with him.

Thankfully, the swords were close by. Luffy spotted them among the ruins after a few steps.

A swordsman without his swords—typically only happens in dire situations, like facing death. Zoro was convinced he was going to die and had tossed his swords here before facing his fate.

Luffy bowed his head, adjusting his straw hat firmly. Shadows clouded his eyes as he stared at the discarded swords.

If it weren't for that mysterious power, if they hadn't awakened in time, if the kuma had truly come with the intent to kill them... the outcome would have been dire.

"I'm still too weak," Luffy muttered to himself. "This won't happen again. I refuse to be this weak."

Beneath his straw hat, a determined voice echoed—this wasn't the first time.

It was the same with Aokiji before. The gap between them and the top players in this sea was immense.

Even though he had just gained mastery over three powerful and terrifying abilities, Luffy still couldn't gain the upper hand in the fight against the Kuma.

The Kuma's strength was fearsome. As a Shichibukai, he surpassed even Gekko Moria. And Aokiji, a Marine Admiral, was stronger than the Kuma.

The encounter with Aokiji and the Kuma made Luffy realize that this sea doesn't wait for anyone to become stronger.

The allure of the sea lies in its unpredictability. During the journey, you never know what or who you'll encounter.

This unknown holds the freedom's charm but also harbours endless dangers.

Luffy embarked on his journey prepared for battle, ready to face death. But now, he had companions. He wasn't the lone traveller he once was. He was the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, bearing not only his own dreams and life but also those of his crewmates.

"If you can't even protect the captain, how can you aspire to be the world's greatest swordsman?" These were Zoro's words when he was unconscious.

"If you can't safeguard your crew, do you truly deserve to be their captain? Do you have the right to seek One Piece?"

Luffy removed his straw hat, gazing at it intently as if having a conversation with it. It felt like he was also conversing with the three renowned swords abandoned on the ground by their owner.

At that moment, something shifted within him—his consciousness since setting sail underwent a transformation.

...

After a while, everyone began to stir.

Kuma had evidently held back, or else, with his power, none of them would have survived.

"Luffy, Zoro, why are you both so badly hurt? I'll patch you up right away," Chopper exclaimed urgently upon waking, seeing Luffy and Zoro covered in blood.

They might seem eccentric at times, but when push comes to shove, every member of the Straw Hat Pirates proves reliable.

"Hehe, I'm okay, Chopper. Focus on bandaging Zoro first. He's in worse shape," Luffy said with a grin, perched on a crumbling stone next to Zoro.

He didn't have much to do, even though his injuries looked severe. In reality, about half of his wounds had been absorbed by Zoro.

Thanks to the mysterious voice he heard while unconscious and the enigmatic power that repaired and fortified his body, Luffy's injuries had nearly healed. 

Every passing moment brought a palpable sense of his growing strength. It was evident—as the mysterious voice had hinted—that his body was evolving.

"Hey, I'm far from kicking the bucket," Zoro declared, mustering enough strength to sit upright and address Luffy.

With only typical injuries, Zoro's condition wasn't life-threatening. After a short while, he was able to speak more forcefully.

"Zoro, you're in bad shape. Stay put and let me bandage you," Chopper snapped, instantly angered, landing a punch on Zoro's head.

"Hey, Chopper, ease up. Zoro's badly hurt," Usopp interjected, covering his face, then shouting, "Zoro passed out! He's dying!"

"Calm down, Usopp. Zoro's tougher than that," Luffy reassured calmly, his steady demeanour instantly soothing the others.

"Luffy," Sanji uttered, looking at Luffy with a hint of astonishment.

Sanji sensed that Luffy had undergone some distinct changes. This transformation was subtle, noticeable only to companions who shared their lives day in and day out.

What puzzled him even more was what transpired during his coma. Where was the Kuma when Luffy woke up? How did it vanish? And why did Zoro sustain such severe injuries?

While Sanji harboured doubts, others were more attuned to the subtle shifts in Luffy. Of course, not everyone picked up on it. Usopp and Franky, in their carefree manner, seemed oblivious.

On the contrary, Nami and Robin, being more observant, detected the changes most keenly.

"Has Luffy changed somehow?" Nami mused, her hand covering her mouth as she observed Luffy nearby. "He seems a bit more composed than before."

"It appears something happened while we were unconscious," Robin speculated softly, her gaze shifting to Luffy with a smile. "Regardless, it seems our captain has gained some insight."

For Robin, the changes in Luffy hinted at positive developments.

Later that night, amidst their discussions...

"Meat! I want meat!"

Luffy slammed his hand on the table, shouting loudly, much like an impulsive child.

"See? I knew something was off. He's still the same old Luffy," Nami remarked, shaking her head as she covered her face in exasperation.

"Well, it seems our intuition was off," Robin chimed in, unable to contain her laughter as she covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes narrowing in amusement.

Indeed, their captain remained as worrisome as ever.

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