Luca sat on the edge of the shrine, the clouds rolling beneath his feet like an endless white sea. The scene was beautiful—truly enchanting… but it no longer stirred that first shiver he felt when he arrived in Skypiea. The place had become too familiar, too safe. And the power that had been growing so rapidly in his chest was beginning to slow down bit by bit, as if the very air could no longer push him forward.
He closed his eyes and listened to the silence.
Here, no one attacked him.
No one challenged him.
No one could even come close to his current level of power.
And yet, he didn't feel stronger… he felt trapped.
There was one thought that always floated in his head, burning him from the inside:
"If I stay here… my strength will grow, but slowly. Too slowly."
He opened his eyes slowly and looked at the sky that seemed to have no edge.
A whole year spent training — meditation that elevated his mental powers to a terrifying level, his fruit reaching monstrous stages, and his body evolving as well. But he knew real growth never comes from comfort. It doesn't come from a place whose limits he already knows.
Real power is born in fire… in confrontation… in danger.
He took a deep breath, then said to himself:
"The sea is where monsters are made… and men too. It's where I'll become the person I want to be."
Only there could his power explode at the rate he wanted.
Luca rose slowly from the rock, small sparks of lightning flickering across his skin before fading.
His heart was drawn toward the sea, his spirit longing for adventure… but his mind knew that leaving wouldn't be an easy step. Going down meant abandoning comfort, leaving total control, and returning to travel — giving up the luxury he enjoyed here.
"If I stay here, I'll become strong…
But if I go down to the sea, I'll become something much greater."
He stepped back from the edge — not out of fear, but in readiness. He knew exactly what going down to the sea meant now.
There, the world would witness something they had never seen before: a fourteen-year-old boy with mental power strong enough to crush an entire ship in a single moment — shattering its sails, splitting its hull, and throwing its crew into the air without moving even a finger.
And yet… he knew he was still far, far from the level of the Golden Lion Shiki he dreamed of reaching one day. That vast gap between them didn't discourage him… it only fueled his heart even more.
As for his fruit, it had reached a frightening stage. He could now unleash thunder strikes of 120 million volts — enough power to melt iron, blow apart rocks the size of houses, and annihilate an entire crew before anyone understood what had happened. Its effect was no longer just an electric shock… but a pure wave of destruction that burned everything in its path.
His Observation Haki had blossomed unnaturally fast, aided greatly by his fruit. He could hear heartbeats from tens of meters away, sense intentions before anyone moved, and catch brief glimpses of the next moment when he focused hard enough.
This haki, fused with lightning, made him faster than sight… and more precise than prediction.
Even his body — once his greatest weakness — had become iron-like.
Constant training, mental exertion, and the immense power he handled daily made his physique far stronger than it appeared. His muscles became flexible yet powerful, his reflexes like a sudden flash, and his endurance to pressure and strikes doubled far beyond what he had before the year began.
"What I need now is Armament Haki. I must keep a low profile until I learn it — it's the foundation of everything."
---
Luca returned to the shrine after the atmosphere had completely calmed down. The place was bathed in golden light filtering through the roof's openings, and with every step he took, he felt long memories tying him to this place… and to that woman.
As he approached the entrance, he heard a faint sound accompanied by soft footsteps. Inara appeared before him as if she had been waiting for him. She was wearing a light ivory dress, short at the thighs and split at the sides, decorated with thin threads that emphasized her curves boldly. Her shoulders were bare, her silver hair cascading down one side, and a simple necklace glistened around her neck, suiting her in an irresistibly captivating way.
She smiled the moment their eyes met, tilted her head slightly, and said:
"Did the path trip you up, or did you miss the shrine before I did?"
Luca chuckled lightly and approached her without hesitation. There was a kind of familiarity between them that needed no words. He didn't hide how his gaze wandered over her revealing outfit, and she raised a brow playfully:
"You stare a lot these days… Did you lose your courage or what?"
He replied with a short laugh:
"It's you who keeps teasing me with that outfit."
She closed the distance with a single step — close enough for her breath to mix with his name:
"And who said I don't enjoy your reaction?"
Inara smiled mischievously, lifted her hand to touch his cheek, and Luca leaned gently toward her.
In an instant, their lips met in a long French kiss, filled with affection and warmth, igniting every bit of excitement and desire that had built up between them. It felt like time stood still, and the entire shrine became a witness to this intimate moment, as if the world beyond its walls no longer existed.
When they finally parted, Luca smiled and said:
"Well… since we're in this place… seems like we have an invisible audience."
Inara glanced around and noticed the maids standing in the corners of the shrine, embarrassed by their bold display of affection. Their eyes briefly crossed the couple's moment before they quickly looked away. Some held plates and drinks with hesitation, trying hard not to look directly, though shy smiles still appeared on their faces.
Inara raised an eyebrow teasingly:
"So, shall we eat together?"
Luca laughed and nodded in agreement.
They sat on the large seat at the center of the shrine, golden light pouring from the high windows. The maids moved around them shyly, offering food and drinks with a subtle nervousness. Every movement, every small embarrassed smile, added a layer of charm to the scene as Luca and Inara enjoyed a dinner filled with boldness and intimacy inside the luxurious hall.
The shrine buzzed with laughter and whispers. Luca, slightly drunk, held his cup and laughed softly as he approached Inara with stumbling steps.
"You always steal the moment!" he whispered while kissing her cheek lightly.
She smiled and returned a quick kiss to his lips before pulling back playfully.
The maids stood along the edges of the room, carrying plates and drinks with shy expressions. Some turned away quickly whenever a bold movement happened, others exchanged small laughs when they saw Luca exaggerate while reaching for a cup, almost dropping it.
Inara laughed out loud:
"Luca! Even the maids are getting embarrassed by your boldness!"
"Embarrassment is part of the fun!" he replied, leaning toward her again, patting her backside and kissing her neck gently, then taking her hand and pulling her to sit closer. Every touch was deliberate, every short kiss fueling the heat of the moment, while the maids stepped back shyly, giggling softly, whispering among themselves as if they were unintentionally part of this lively game.
Luca leaned back on the large seat, Inara beside him, their hands intertwined, his eyes half-closed as he whispered with a laugh:
"I need nights like this every now and then."
Inara smiled, brushing a strand of his hair:
"You know… I think the maids are scared of your reactions now. But I admit — the whole atmosphere is fun."
Luca laughed and pulled her gently onto his lap, kissing her deeply while the maids continued serving food and drinks, sometimes smiling, sometimes blushing. Every look or soft laugh from them added to the warmth and playful energy of the place, turning the shrine into a stage of intimacy and joy, far from any outside restraint.
As midnight approached, they sat side by side, relaxed and slightly drunk, holding hands, laughing, whispering, exchanging light touches, while the maids moved quietly around them, adding to the lively and playful atmosphere.
Luca sighed, leaning against Inara:
"Alright… let's go to our room where the real fun begins."
---
The next day
Luca woke up with the first ray of light. He got up slowly, feeling a slight heaviness in his shoulders after days of continuous training. He sat on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath, and ran his hand through his hair, saying calmly to himself:
"Four years… passed faster than I thought."
He stood and walked toward the balcony, opened the door, and the cool refreshing air brushed against his face. He looked down at the sea of clouds stretching beneath the shrine.
"Today marks the fourth year since I arrived here. Looks like I'm progressing well so far."
"Only one thing remains… Armament Haki. Without it, I'll always be incomplete no matter how strong I get."
"Learning Haki will complete my foundations… and I'll get closer to my goal step by step."
He closed the door and went back inside, tightening his belt as he prepared for the day. He murmured while walking into the shrine's corridor:
"This place is comfortable… maybe too comfortable."
He paused for a moment, looking up at the tall ceiling as if addressing himself with certainty:
"Comfort doesn't make strength. The sea is what makes men."
Then he walked forward with steady steps, the decision clear in his mind — without drama, without hesitation:
"It's time… in a few days, I'll leave Skypiea and head down to the sea."