The hatch exploded inward, revealing Luffy slumped motionless in the center of the cabin.
His back faced the entrance, but even from that angle alone, his condition was alarming. Only one word could describe him: emaciated.
The moment Nami saw him, she rushed forward. As she approached, a faint odor of decay reached her nose.
Lindbergh hurried over as well.
When they finally got a clear look at him, both were stunned.
Luffy's eyelids drooped heavily. His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and his cheekbones protruded sharply from his gaunt face.
He looked nothing like a young man not yet twenty years old.
Instead, he resembled an elderly man standing at death's door.
Nami's face instantly turned pale.
"Luffy!"
She threw herself toward him, but the moment she touched him, his weakened body lost all support and collapsed. The two fell together onto the floor.
Lindbergh immediately stepped forward and helped them up.
Ignoring the pain in her knees, Nami grabbed Luffy's shoulders and shook him desperately.
"Luffy! Luffy!"
There was no response.
Panic filled her eyes.
"Go get Chopper! Hurry!"
Without hesitation, Lindbergh sprinted away at full speed.
Moments later, he returned carrying Chopper, who still had bandages wrapped around his head.
Chopper had initially looked confused, but the instant he saw Luffy's condition, his expression changed completely.
He rushed forward and immediately began an examination.
Pulling out the stethoscope he always carried, Chopper carefully listened to Luffy's heartbeat. He then checked his eyes before speaking with a grave expression.
"Luffy's body is extremely weak."
He paused.
"Judging by his condition, he still hasn't recovered mentally from what happened before. It also looks like he hasn't been eating or drinking properly."
"What?!"
Nami's expression changed dramatically.
She immediately spun around, grabbed Lindbergh by the collar, and shouted,
"You were the one who said we should leave Luffy alone! How did you arrange things? Has nobody been checking on him? Has nobody made sure he was eating or drinking?!"
Lindbergh looked equally alarmed.
"No! That's not what happened!"
He quickly pointed toward the corner of the cabin.
"There was plenty of food and water prepared for him. Look for yourself!"
Nami followed his finger.
A large refrigerator stood there, fully stocked.
Seeing that, she fell silent.
At that moment, a weak voice suddenly emerged.
"Nami..."
The voice was so faint it was almost impossible to hear.
Nami immediately lowered her head.
"Luffy! You're awake!"
Lindbergh quickly fetched a small bucket of water.
Nami accepted it and carefully brought it toward Luffy's lips.
However, Luffy slowly turned his head away.
His voice trembled as he whispered,
"It was me who killed Grandpa..."
Nami froze.
Then she immediately shook her head.
"No! That's not true!"
Her eyes reddened.
"Luffy, none of this was your fault. Vice Admiral Garp died from exhaustion. Uncle Lindbergh, tell him!"
Lindbergh immediately nodded.
"That's right, Luffy. You didn't kill Vice Admiral Garp. You don't need to blame yourself."
Tears filled Luffy's eyes.
His trembling hands slowly rose before him.
"But these hands..."
His voice cracked.
"These hands hurt Grandpa!"
Nami's own tears began to fall.
"No! It wasn't your fault!"
She gritted her teeth.
"It was Joy Boy! He definitely took over your body back then!"
Luffy suddenly became silent.
The cabin fell quiet.
A few moments later, under the worried gazes of everyone present, he slowly staggered to his feet.
Golden light occasionally flickered within his eyes.
Then he began speaking.
"Have you caused enough trouble?"
His tone was completely different.
"Is this really the time to act like a child?"
"All you're doing is destroying your own body."
The moment those words left his mouth, Nami immediately realized something.
That was not Luffy speaking.
Without hesitation, she stood up and slapped him across the face.
Smack!
"Luffy!"
She shouted angrily.
"Wake up! Don't let this guy take your body again!"
The slap jolted him.
His eyes widened.
The golden glow faded, and his pupils returned to their normal black color.
Luffy violently shook his head.
Then he grabbed his hair and roared.
"Enough!"
His voice echoed throughout the cabin.
"This isn't the life I want!"
For the first time in a long while, Luffy unleashed astonishing determination.
His will surged forward and completely suppressed Joy Boy's consciousness.
Deep within his mind, Joy Boy retreated unwillingly.
Yet his voice still echoed.
"Don't you want revenge for your fallen companions?"
The words struck directly at Luffy's heart.
"Have you forgotten how Ace died?"
Instantly, the memory resurfaced.
Ace standing in front of him.
Usopp's head buried deep within Ace's chest.
Ace's eyes staring blankly in his direction.
The horrifying image replayed endlessly.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Luffy screamed.
He clawed at his hair and collapsed to his knees.
Pain twisted across his face.
His psychological defenses shattered.
Joy Boy immediately seized the opportunity.
White flame-like cloud streamers gradually emerged around Luffy's body.
This fierce resistance had made Joy Boy feel genuine danger.
He needed Luffy to understand one thing.
This body no longer belonged solely to him.
"Luffy!"
Nami grabbed his shoulders and desperately shouted.
"You have to hold on! Don't let him take over again!"
Chopper jumped forward and tightly hugged Luffy's leg.
"You can do it, Luffy!"
Both of them had already noticed it.
In every recent battle, the amount of time Joy Boy controlled Luffy's body had continued increasing.
Sometimes, even when there was no fighting at all, Joy Boy would suddenly emerge and seize control.
If things continued this way, one day Luffy's consciousness might never wake up again.
And if that happened...
How would that be any different from death?
Lindbergh stood nearby, silently watching.
His expression was conflicted.
Emotionally, he wanted to help Luffy resist Joy Boy's influence.
But logically, he knew their situation.
The Revolutionary Army desperately needed Joy Boy's power.
From their encounter with Blackbeard, to their search for Emet, and finally the battle involving Vice Admiral Garp, Joy Boy's strength had grown increasingly terrifying.
Without that power, the Revolutionary Army might have already ceased to exist when Blackbeard attacked.
At that moment, Joy Boy's voice resounded within Luffy's mind once more.
"You are the destined successor of D."
"Accept my power."
"Let us become one."
Luffy clenched his teeth.
"I just want to be myself."
His voice trembled but remained firm.
"I am the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"This isn't a contradiction."
Joy Boy continued relentlessly.
"You must understand. Without my power, you will never become the Pirate King."
"You cannot defeat that Celestial Dragon through determination alone."
"Nor can you defeat the World Government behind him."
"Accept it."
"Don't resist."
"This power was always meant to be yours."
The voice carried a frighteningly persuasive quality.
Gradually, Luffy's gaze lost focus.
Crackling black and red lightning burst from his body.
Conqueror's Haki erupted violently.
Nami and Chopper were instantly blown away.
Lindbergh watched with a complicated expression.
But just then, another voice suddenly appeared within Luffy's mind.
Along with it came a familiar fist.
"The final... Fist of Love!"
The moment those words echoed through his consciousness, everything changed.
Luffy's body jerked backward.
His eyes snapped open.
The white cloud streamers surrounding him instantly vanished without a trace.