Taoist priest, who is so popular in One Piece

The moment the phantom appeared, Luffy discovered that the flow of time deep in his consciousness was quite abnormal.

The two had been communicating for such a long time, and in the outside world, Kaido and his partners had just started fighting.

However, after experiencing the magic of the rainbow mist world, Luffy was not too surprised.

"Huh? What are you talking about? The name Joey Boy sounds familiar."

Luffy, who is usually calm, just had an argument with someone, but now he started chatting with them as if nothing had happened.

And he had indeed heard of the name Joey Boy.

When everyone left Fishman Island, Robin told everyone about Joyboy's confession.

But Luffy didn't listen carefully at that time, so he just felt a little familiar, but couldn't remember what it was.

"nothing."

The voice paused and replied:

"Although I still don't quite agree with your answer, I have a general idea of ​​what kind of person you are."

"So, let me help you."

The voice said: "If you wish to continue fighting, let my power help you."

As soon as the words fell, something magical happened.

Luffy clearly "saw" that, deep in his consciousness, a shadow suddenly appeared next to the flame.

The phantom looks very small, just like an elf.

"Wow ah ah!"

Luffy shouted in surprise: "Who are you? How did you appear in my mind!!!"

It was only then that Luffy realized what was happening and shouted.

The phantom was obviously stunned for a moment, and then started to complain in a familiar manner.

"I've been communicating with you through my consciousness for such a long time, and you just discovered this problem?!!"

"Oh, that's right." Luffy quickly accepted this fact. It was nothing special, he was just too carefree.

But it also made the phantom stunned again.

However, because he was familiar with Luffy's wild ways, he did not complain again, but just continued:

"I say I'm lending you my power, but in fact, this power has always been yours."

"This is the power you possessed the moment you ate me."

"It just requires my approval."

"That's what people outside often call [Fruit Awakening]."

...

Now it was Luffy's turn to be silent.

After a long while, the phantom asked with a little uneasiness:

"You...didn't understand what I said at all?"

To this, Luffy responded:

"Hey, what about your power, my power, recognition and so on? I really don't understand."

“But I understand one thing.”

"After the [fruit awakens], I will become stronger, right?"

The shadow nodded: "Yes, in fact, you have never used the full power of the devil fruit. This fruit has never been as simple as you think."

"In fact, I had already awakened when you ignited the Heart Fire in Marinford, but I didn't want to show up so soon."

"Because I want to see if you are worthy of my power."

"After that..."

As the shadow was talking, Luffy became impatient.

"You're more talkative than Bai Ye."

Shadow:?

"I don't care what you think. You've lived in my body for so long, but you've been hiding your power. You're just a mean guy."

Shadow: ? ?

"But now that you've appeared in front of me, don't even think about running away."

Luffy smiled and said, "Give me your strength!"

Having said this, Luffy paused and spoke again:

"Let me shoulder your expectations as well!"

Shadow:...

At this moment, the phantom, who had been alive for an unknown period of time, was a little confused about Luffy.

Over the past hundreds of years, it has encountered countless hosts, but has never seen such a...

A weird guy.

The idea is so simple and pure, even a little stupid, but——

Yet it is so infectious that it is impossible to resist.

After a long while, the shadow spoke:

"The ruler of the sea has been trying to get me for hundreds of years at all costs, but has never succeeded."

"They fear my power, so much so that they don't even want my name to be known in the world."

"Paradoxic Rubber Fruit. They are using this name to hide my true identity."

"But, Monkey D. Luffy, you have my approval and are entitled to know my name."

"Say it aloud. After you say this name, you will gain my power."

At this moment, drastic changes began to occur deep within Luffy's consciousness.

The burning fire in my heart suddenly swelled up inexplicably.

Then, a white light suddenly appeared in the dim space.

The white light slowly expanded and gradually began to occupy the depths of Luffy's consciousness.

At the same time, Luffy's external body, which was still unconscious, was also changing.

His hair began to turn white at an alarming rate.

The shadow's voice became louder and louder, and it was obvious that the final moment had arrived.

"Listen carefully, my name is——"

【Joey Boy, is that you? 】

[After hundreds of years, how come you appear? 】

[Where have you been all these years? ]

Just as the shadow was about to say his name, another voice broke into the depths of Luffy's consciousness.

There was a hint of surprise in his anxious voice, but he didn't know what he had just interrupted.

Shadow:...

Luffy:? ? ?

"Another voice? My mind is so busy today."

Luffy complained, "Also, why is someone looking for Joy Boy again? Who the hell is this guy?"

But he didn't expect that this casual complaint would make the third voice that suddenly appeared panic.

[You're not Joey Boy? Impossible!]

[Even if eight hundred years pass, I will never mistake the drumbeat of liberation.]

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, not Joey Boy."

Luffy replied: "Come to think of it, who are you? Are you also the mean guy living in my head?"

Shadow: ???

"He is the Elephant Lord...a partner who once fought alongside us." said the shadow.

The voice of the phantom elicited a response from the elephant master.

【This voice... is you! 】

"it's me."

[I heard it right, that drum beat is you...]

【He must be Joey Boy. 】

"He is not." The shadow told the truth: "Joey Boy died eight hundred years ago."

[Dead? ! ! ! ]

The elephant's voice was so loud that it shook Luffy's consciousness space.

[Impossible! How could he be dead!!! He is clearly...]

"We have failed, Lord Elephant."

"The result of failure is death."

This did not silence the elephant master, but made him more eager:

【What about me? ! Why am I still alive! 】

[Bearing sins and walking on this sea for hundreds of years, what is my waiting? ! ]

[What am I still waiting for? ! ! ]