章 70: Pirate King Met Magician King

On the High Seas: Luffy's First Voyage

After ten long years of dreaming, Luffy launched into the vast ocean on his tiny rowboat, ready to chase his destiny. But adventure found him fast—he soon clashed with the menacing Lord of the Coast! With a grin, he unleashed his Gomu Gomu no Pistol, stretching his arm and delivering a punch that sent the beast reeling. As he sailed further into the unknown, Luffy's dreams soared: he aimed to recruit ten crewmates, fly a legendary Jolly Roger, and seize the title of Pirate King. But fate had a twist in store; his little boat was pulled into a fierce whirlpool, leaving him with no way out.

Meanwhile, on a secluded island, a pirate ship lay anchored under the iron grip of Captain Alvida, known for her merciless rule. Among her beleaguered crew was Koby, the cabin boy, who found himself thrown ashore for not cleaning fast enough. On the beach, he discovered a barrel that had washed ashore. His crewmates, thinking it was filled with booze, pried it open—only to be blown away when Luffy erupted from inside, fresh from a nap! The ruckus caught Alvida's attention, prompting her to launch her massive club at the building, sending it crashing down as her crew spilled the news about Luffy.

In the nearby forest, Luffy confronted Koby, asking if he had a boat. Koby showed him a makeshift vessel he'd crafted in hopes of escaping Alvida's grip. Too scared to leave, he offered it to Luffy, who scoffed at Koby's cowardice. For Luffy, the pursuit of becoming Pirate King was worth any risk, even death. This fire sparked something in Koby; he began to envision his own dream of joining the Marines and taking down pirates like Alvida.

Suddenly, Alvida and her crew arrived, ready to crush their new adversaries. She offered Koby a lifeline—call her the most beautiful pirate of the seas, and he'd be spared. But Luffy, ever the troublemaker, casually asked who she even was, igniting Koby's courage to turn the tables and insult her instead. Enraged, Alvida swung her club at Koby, but Luffy was quicker. With a leap, he blocked the blow, unfazed thanks to his rubbery body.

Luffy sent Alvida soaring with a satisfying Gomu Gomu no Pistol that echoed through the cove. The sound had barely faded when a sudden cry of terror sliced through the air.

Everyone froze and looked up to the sky, where, against the bright blue expanse, a small figure was plummeting downwards at an alarming speed, screaming in surprise.

"Nani?!"

Luffy, Koby, and every remaining pirate on the deck collectively gawked as the figure descended, flailing through the air. Just before impact, the mysterious boy whipped out a sleek black and gold wand, pointed it at the deck, and shouted, "Magic-Magic Soft Water Bed!"

In an instant, the wooden planks of the deck shimmered and transformed into a rippling, soft water bed. The boy hit it with a muffled thud, bounced up with a surprised yelp, and landed lightly on his feet, unscathed. With a quick flick of his wand, the deck solidified back to its original state as though nothing had happened. Luffy, Koby, and the rest stood there in stunned silence, their jaws quite literally hitting the floor in shock.

"Who… who is this guy?!" Koby stammered, eyes wide.

Luffy, ever curious and delighted by strange encounters, had stars in his eyes. "Hey, who are you?" he asked, stepping forward. But the boy, dressed in a stylish black suit with golden lining and a matching hat, merely adjusted his cuffs, dusting off the nonexistent dirt from his fall. Finally, he turned around, gazing at Luffy with a scrutinizing look before locking eyes with him.

"First," he said coolly, "introduce yourself before you start asking others, baka."

Luffy blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Who are you calling baka?!" he retorted with a defiant huff. Then, in his iconic way, he threw his arms up, declaring, "I'm Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the man who will become the Pirate King!"

The boy smirked, tipping his hat down to add a bit of flair. With a small, exaggerated bow, he straightened up and said, "Well, then, I'm Rudra D. Raja." He placed his hat back on his head with a confident grin. "And I'm the man who will become the Magician King!"

Luffy's eyes sparkled even more, and his jaw dropped in awe. "A Magician King?!" His mind raced with possibilities, and he was instantly captivated by Raja's declaration. "Hey, join my crew and become my nakama!" he blurted out excitedly.