One Piece: Starting in God Valley as a Slave

Lindbergh and the other Revolutionary Army commanders surrounded Luffy, their anxious calls echoing in the tense air.

Luffy's eyelids drooped heavily, his pale face showing that he was on the brink of collapse.

Suddenly, urgent shouts pierced the air:

"LUFFY!!!"

The Revolutionary Army members turned toward the source of the cries, their gazes landing on several unfamiliar faces. At the forefront was a young woman with orange hair, her figure striking as she ran with urgency, her expression filled with concern.

Gildeo, ever the intelligence officer, quickly deduced their identities. He turned to Lindbergh and the others, saying:

"They're Luffy's crewmates. The one in the lead is Nami, the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates."

Hearing this, Lindbergh and the others nodded before gesturing to Nami and the rest, shouting,

"Hurry over here! Luffy's condition looks really bad!"

Nami and the others quickened their pace, sprinting toward the group.

When they reached Luffy, Chopper immediately knelt beside him. His expression turned grave as he pressed his face against Luffy's chest. Under the anxious eyes of Lindbergh and the others, Chopper frowned deeply. Suddenly, with a loud hum, Chopper entered his hybrid human-beast form, startling the Revolutionary Army members.

Nami, panic written all over her face, asked anxiously, "Chopper, what's wrong with Luffy?"

Chopper placed his hands on Luffy's chest and explained, "He must've taken my Rumble Ball again—this time consuming more than three at once! That dosage puts immense strain on the body and can cause Zoan-type Devil Fruit users to lose consciousness, pushing their abilities until they collapse or even die!"

Gildeo quickly countered, "But Luffy was conscious during the fight earlier—he didn't seem like someone who'd lost control!"

Chopper hesitated, confusion flickering across his face as Lindbergh and the others affirmed Gildeo's statement.

This unexpected response left Chopper momentarily stunned. While performing chest compressions on Luffy, he muttered, "How could that be? Could it be that different Zoan-type Devil Fruits have varying resistance to the effects of Rumble Balls?"

Nami spoke up thoughtfully, "I think that's the reason. Luffy said his Devil Fruit is the Nika Fruit—something extraordinary. It's not like an ordinary Zoan Fruit. This was once the fruit of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, right? There must be something unique about it."

Chopper, having consumed the original Human-Human Fruit, nodded in deep thought.

Suddenly, Franky clasped his hands together and exclaimed, "Chopper, need my help?"

Chopper shook his head but was about to speak when an abrupt, loud drumbeat resonated through the air.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Everyone froze, the drumbeats growing louder and reverberating across Baltigo.

Chopper let out a cry of surprise as an incredible force pushed his hands off Luffy's chest, sending him flying backward. He landed on the ground with a thud.

Before their astonished eyes, Luffy's chest heaved violently. The familiar swirling white clouds of his Nika form reappeared behind him. His black hair transformed into fiery white flames, and with a sudden motion, Luffy sat up straight.

A wide grin spread across his face as Nami's expression shifted to one of relief. She threw herself into Luffy's arms, crying, "Luffy!"

Chopper scrambled to his feet, ignoring his sore rear, and leaned forward to examine Luffy.

But Luffy didn't respond immediately. He maintained his smile for a moment before speaking in a voice deeper and more resonant than usual:

"He's fine."

Nami froze at the unfamiliar tone. A hint of hesitation colored her expression as she stammered,

"You're… not Luffy, are you?"

Luffy—or rather, the person in Luffy's body—ignored her question. Instead, he turned to Chopper, gave a thumbs-up, and said with a smile,

"Kid, your blue medicine is a masterpiece. Incredible work!"

Chopper flushed at the praise, slapping Luffy lightly.

"Don't tease me like that! I won't get carried away!"

But then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, Chopper's expression hardened.

"You're not Luffy! Who are you?"

Nami and the others stared intently at Luffy's eyes, their gazes filled with suspicion and hostility.

To them, it felt like Luffy's body had been taken over—an unsettling and malevolent thought.

The figure wearing Luffy's body smiled faintly and said, "You're truly loyal crewmates. I once had companions like you… but they're long gone now."

He paused, his smile fading, and added, "Don't look at me like that. I'm not your enemy. Besides, if it weren't for me back on Sabaody Archipelago, you'd all be dead."

Brook furrowed his skeletal brow. "It was Lady Toki of the Kozuki Clan who saved us!"

The man chuckled softly before crossing his legs and settling on the ground.

"You're referring to that girl, right? It's true her Devil Fruit played a critical role in your escape, but without me, she wouldn't have had the chance to activate her powers in the presence of that Dark-Dark Fruit user. If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself."

Tears welled up in Nami's eyes. Clenching her fists, she cried, "Lady Toki hasn't woken up yet! How can we ask her anything?!"

The man grew quiet for a moment before replying, "That's because she forced her powers, allowing the darkness to infiltrate her soul. She'll wake soon, but…"

"But what?!" Nami demanded.

"She'll never be able to use her Devil Fruit powers again."

"What?! That can't be! If we encounter him again, we're doomed!"

The man explained, "Her Devil Fruit essence has been corrupted by the Dark-Dark Fruit's power. I can't remove it in my current state. I'll need time to recover—or we'll have to find ..., who still carries…"

Franky grabbed Luffy's collar, hoisting him up.

"Enough about bodies and powers! I don't care about any of that! You're in Luffy's body—get out of him now!"

Nami joined in, her voice sharp. "Who are you?!"

The man didn't resist. Calmly, he replied, "My name… is Joy Boy."

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+240 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg