One Piece : The Blood Emperor

"Hisashiburi dana(Long time no see!), Rooku!" Luffy enthusiastically greeted Luke. He jumped on Luke and the latter instinctively dodged to the side.

"You've improved more than I expected." Luke tapped Luffy shoulder as he showed a hint of surprise. After evaluating Luffy's bodily progress, he came to know that Luffy already maxed out the one thousand times gravity suppression while staying hyper like in the original story.

"Nshishishi! Of course I've worked hard these past few months! I can't wait to show you how much I've improved!" Luffy flexed his muscles while grinning from ear to ear.

"Luffy? Who is this guy?" A slim young woman of average height with orange hair and brown eyes cut their conversation. After observing Luke, she concluded this guy is hard to deal with, especially those scary looking crimson eyes, but he also looked handsome.

"Oh Nami! Right! Everyone! Meet the Vice Captain of our group, the first mate of Straw Hat Pirates, Luke." Luffy excitedly introduced Luke to the crowd. Surprisingly, he didn't stutter his name this time.

Luke smiled as he bowed his head.

Everyone introduced themselves. Nami, Zoro, Usopp, Kaya, Merry and a stranger that wasn't present in the original story. In fact, this person is not even in a character in the One Piece story.

"Hello, my name is Liz. I'm a temporary member of your pirate group though." A young lady introduced herself. She wore a full body armor with no helmet and has short, pink hair covering over her right eye. The most distinct about Liz is her peculiar looking eye that has a triskele symbol in it.

"Nope. You ARE a member of our crew." Luffy grinned happily. He turned to Luke and says, "Wasn't her eyes similar to yours?"

"Hmm.. We have unique eyes yes. Is that why you invited her?" Luke inquired with interest.

"Ye-"

"Because she can magically heal injuries and cure illnesses like Ms. Kaya." Nami cut Luffy off. She knew he will be talking nonsense again if this conversation continues.

"Oh? Pretty amazing ability you have there, Ms. Liz." Luke was sure this woman isn't simple as he initially thought. He will definitely look into this matter later.

He indeed saw Kaya's condition has improved so much that she became a lively lady.

The crew entered the Ship except for Usopp who's still having a heart to heart talk with Kaya.

Just like in the original story, Luffy invited Usopp to board the ship to become their new member.

Luke squinted his eyes when Usopp mentioned he will become the Captain of the crew. He just smiled and didn't say anything else.

Meanwhile, Zoro was closely observing Luke's behavior. He has this inkling guts that the latter was a mysterious person. It's just that, Luke's presence made him not say anything else.

He felt that Luke appeared fragile. Yes, he saw Luke wasn't a threat because the guy don't have any sort of dangerous vibe in him.

The crew's journey went on smoothly. Luffy even designed their Jolly Roger, crossing bones behind a skull wearing a straw hat. After Usopp enhanced the quality of the Jolly Roger symbol, the Straw Hat Pirates officially established.

...

The ship made a stop in a unusual island and Luffy, Nami, Zoro and Usopp explored around the island while Luke and Liz stayed at the ship.

"Why didn't you go with them?" Luke casually asked Liz. Apparently, his role is to protect the ship from any unwanted harm.

"I'm a doctor. I also like staying behind to relax." Liz replied with a smile.

"But your outfit don't match your words." Luke pointed at her armored outfit.

"It's their adventure, not mine. I'm only joining here to reach my destination. So long as I'm in the ship, I'm all good with everything." Liz pursed her lips. She's telling as little clues about her goal as possible. She's seemingly wary of Luke or any people.

"Sure. Suit yourself. In this whole journey, I'm mostly in the ship to guard it. Now that you're around, I won't feel lonely anymore." Luke winked at her.

Liz smiled back. She still maintained her distant attitude towards opposite gender.

...

Luffy's luck really went through the roof. Although Luke's existence have invaded the story and personally became a Strawhat crew, the following events still follows like the original story. In the East Blue, no butterfly effects are shown. If there is, then it would be Luke's doing.

Their voyage progresses as they met two pirate hunters Johnny and Yosaku after Luffy and Usopp tested the ship's cannon on a rock formation. Both pirate hunters led the crew to the famous place Baratie since Luffy wants to invite a cook in the ship.

Every scene was so in line that it made Luke felt like he's watching on a theatre.

Now here comes the scene where Nami sabotage the group and she sailed alone to her hometown.

Luke had to let go of the ship first since he wanted to witness a legendary scene in the story, Zoro against Dracule Mihawk, strongest swordsman in the world.

Freaking Zoro got bitch slapped by Mihawk in their battle. Still, Luke watched the scene with interest.

Mihawk admires Zoro's persistence as the latter vows to become the strongest swordsman in the world.

Luffy and Mihawk almost confronted when the latter assured that Zoro was alive.

Luke and Liz arrived beside Luffy.

"Quick Liz! Heal Zoro!" Usopp shouted in agitation. Fortunately, Liz was around. If not, Zoro would be in grievous danger.

"No." Luke calmly said.

Everyone including Mihawk turned their attention to Luke.

"Zoro accepted his defeat. This wound of his is the sign of honorable loss. If she heals him, then Zoro will bear the shame of being a swordsman." Luke squinted his eyes at Mihawk. For some reason, he found swordsmen's stubborn pride to be idiotic. However, since it is their custom, he has no right to interfere about it.

"Admirable. What's your name?" Mihawk eyed Luke in a different light.

"Crew Commander and the Vice Captain of Strawhat Pirates, Luke." Luke calmly stated. He wanted to test Mihawk's capability, but his power was fully spent during Big Mom's battle.

"You have guts to call yourself a Crew Commander. I wish you can lead the crew better when we meet again in the future." Mihawk nodded as he prepared to leave.

...

Baratie expanded as if it became a stage.

Johnny, Yosaku, Usopp, Zoro and Liz went for Nami.

Luke, Luffy and Sanji was left behind to face the Don Krieg crew who wants to take over the Baratie ship.

Luke decided to stay again since he found something interesting. Interesting enough that his eyes were shining in delight.

"Hey Rooku! Just this once! Let me lower the suppression so I can defeat them all." Luffy was fired up. However, with the body suppression, his mobility was still affected, especially when his body was burdened by a thousand times suppression.

"It's all on you. It would be best if you remove all restrictions so that your body will adjust to your new strength." Luke shrugged. It's not like he's strict on Luffy or anything.

"Ah. Forget about it. I'll remove the suppression when the time is right. I just maxed my suppression not long ago so I'm still in training until now." Luffy groaned in annoyance.

"Alright. Go deal with their Captain, I'll deal with the small ones." Luke smiled as he picked a pistol from the floor.

"Yosh! The fight is on!" Luffy smashed both his fist in excitement as he attacked Don Krieg.

Meanwhile, Zeff and the chefs watched the scene like bystanders. Sanji also wanted to fight so he smashed the enemies coming after him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Luke casually reaping lives as he strolls in every corner. Every kill, he received their souls in secret.

As he absorbed their souls, Luke's own lifespan was filled little by little. However, it is not the most exciting part.

Every soul he reap, he not only absorb their lifespans, but also their physical attributes. Meaning, his physical strength also improves indefinitely.

Soru Soru No Mi sure does it's job by mending his soul and even gave him a bonus.

Meanwhile, the chefs stared at Luke with trepidation and horror. It was as if they look at Luke as if he was a monster even though he only used a simple hand gun.

The most terrifying about him is that, he kills without batting an eye. A true demon in a sense.

Sanji also noticed Luke's doing. He was also bothered by the latter's way of dealing enemies.

Luke pointed the gun at a petrified pirate and a soul got harvested.

Soon, a pirate named Pearl entered the scene. Enemy pirates cheered before they again met with despair.

That's because Luke shot the guy multiple times in the head until he died.

"M-M-Monster! Let's get the hell out of here!!" A pirate shouted in fear as he prepared to swim away.

"Sorry boys. You can only forfeit your life today." Luke's crimson eyes glowed. He was a bit excited after this newfound power he got.

After his voice died down, every pirate minions halted their moves as if they became statue.

"Hold it! They already gave up. Spare some of them." Sanji held Luke's wrist as he said seriously.

Luke paused as he stared at Sanji. He raised his brows and asked, "Why should I listen to you? These pirates are ruthless. If you give them a chance, they'll do horrible things again. It's an unending cycle."

"Not everyone is like those filthy pirates. I'm sure some of them will change their way." Sanji reasoned back.

"Oh? You mean like him?" Luke pointed at a guy at the back of Sanji.

Sanji turned and his expression went stiff.

A person was seen putting a gun on Zeff's head on the ground.

"Ghin! You..! Let go of the chief!" The chefs glared at the pirate that Sanji once saved because of hunger.

"Give up the ship! I won't ask the second time!" Ghin was having complicated emotions while gloomily staring at Sanji.

Sanji was in a dilemma. He wanted to save the old man who saved his life when he was a kid but also can't give up the ship since this is the home of the old man.

"You and that old man are both stubborn idiots. Deal this problem yourself." Luke snorted as he went towards Luffy who seems having difficulty defeating Don Krieg.

He didn't want to have too much intervention of Sanji joining the Strawhats. It is Luffy's role to recruit members, not him.

BOOM!

"You used Haki?" Luke said with amusement. For the likes of Don Krieg, Luffy's gatling technique is enough.

"Ugh! He always splashed me with sea water. I've no choice but to teach him a lesson." Luffy grumbled while huffing and puffing.

"Alright. Let's talk about your training later. For now, secure a chef to our crew." Luke pointed at Sanji who got beaten by some minion pirates he just spared.

Luffy did what he had to do and almost destroyed the Baratie because of Sanji's martyr attitude.

Meanwhile...

Luke was eyeing at Don Krieg with interest. Of all the soul he absorbed, this one will be the highest quality so far.

Bang! Bang!

After absorbing Don Krieg's soul, his eyes light up with determination.

'I've underestimated this Devil Fruit too much..'

'Wait a bit for me dear..'

'I'm gonna be home soon..'

"Hmm?" Not far from Luke, Luffy stared at him in confusion before he shrugged and minded his own business in recruiting Sanji.

*****

A/N : Next chapter in 3 days approx.