One Piece : The Blood Emperor

After finishing dinner, the Strawhats prepared their tomorrow's intensive training by resting early.

Late at night, Luke laid back at Going Merry.

He was sitting on his favorite reclining chair while fidgeting on a Seastone. He gave most of the Seastones he hauled from Alabasta Kingdom to Usopp in order for the guy to provide inventions against Devil Fruit users.

He was contemplating why this piece of metal is ineffective against him. His suspicion was pointing at Liz who overexert her healing ability towards him back at Drum Island.

From what he recalls, Liz was from a race called Angels. Other than their superb abilities to heal others, they are also expert at dispelling various types of curses.

Devil Fruits inflicts curse to it's user. One of those curses is the inability to swim in the sea.

Not to mention the curse, Devil Fruits have side effects too. Side effects such as changing the body properties permanently.

Just imagining eating a poison-type Devil Fruit and the side effect is going to the toilet every hour to relieve oneself. Such an inconvenience anyone doesn't want to experience.

If he were able to consume Liz' soul, he'd be able to copy her abilities. However, it is against his moral code as Liz is his friend.

'Maybe if I can find another rogue Angels in the future...' He muttered in silence.

Liz ate the Clear-Clear Devil Fruit which enables her body to be invisible. Maybe the moment she gained the power of Devil Fruit, its curse and side effects if theres one has been wiped clean.

For experiment, Luke needed to know if anyone that gained the Devil Fruit power and had been purified of its curses can be able to eat another Devil Fruit again. It will be interesting to know the result of that experiment.

His attention then focused on Frankenstein.

"Frankenstein."

"Master." Frankenstein knelt in one knee while blowing.

Luke inwardly clicked his tongue. He could tell the unwavering loyalty radiating in this fellow.

He said, "Protect them at all cost while I'm away."

"...Yes, Master." It took a couple of seconds for Frankenstein to reply because of hesitation.

Luke merely chuckled at Frankenstein's candid attitude.

After Frankenstein gained full intelligence, he immediately rejected the idea that his master was just a Vice-Captain of the Strawhat Crew. Just imagining that Luffy is bossing around his Master filled him with immense bloodlust. He even had the crazy thought of getting rid of Luffy for good.

All this dark thoughts of Frankenstein was clearly perceived by Luke. He wasn't alarmed by it but instead amused.

"Don't get any bad ideas on Luffy. He's a friend of mine. The same goes with the rest of the Strawhats. We may not be close friends for now, but we all will in the future. All we need is time to get to know them well." Luke said. He continued, "You can give them a tough time in the training instead. Help them grow further not only in combat but also in other aspects."

"I understand, Master." Frankenstein agreed reluctantly. His brows furrowed when he sensed unfamiliar individual heading towards their location.

Luke also turned his attention in the distance and saw a familiar flying-man. It was his servant, Laffitte.

"Master, I'm here to relay some news of the New World." Laffite bowed respectfully to Luke. His attention then turned to Frankenstein as he made a slight nod in greeting.

Frankenstein sensed no hostility from the man before nodding in return. From the posture of this man, it seems the latter is also his master's servant.

"Say, what's the news?" Luke asked calmly.

Laffitte began telling the details of their war against Whitebeard and Blackbeard's tactical retreat.

Luke frowned in contemplation. It turned out Whitebeard survived that war. No, the old man somehow reached his prime amidst the battle, turning the battlefield into a straight up mess.

"This is beyond my expectation. Even Bullet couldn't match the old man. And he was defeated in the second exchange?" Luke asked in puzzlement.

"Yes.. We are no match for Whitebeard alone. He's a monster.." Laffite muttered in a low voice. He somehow felt that his team were holding back, maybe afraid to be exposed too much to the onlookers. However, even if they fought back, massive tsunamis already ravaged the battlefield leaving nothing but scattered debris in the sea.

He continued, "Our captain is keeping a low profile at the moment, waiting for another opportunity to strike back. Apparently, he's still eyeing for the big prize, that is Whitebeard's Devil Fruit. As for Bullet, he left. His pride must've been hurt from that defeat."

"Let him be for now.." Luke waved his hand.

Back then, he infiltrated the Impel Down with Blackbeard in order to gather more Devil Fruits. One of the Devil Fruits he received there was the More More Devil Fruit by killing a prisoner named Byrrandi World.

While there, he met Bullet whom he proposed with a deal. The deal was to kill Whitebeard in exchange for a reward.

Bullet immediately declined the deal. However, when he heard that Luke was planning on killing Big Mom alone, he found it interesting.

For a young man to spout such bold declaration, its rather entertaining to know the outcome.

He then thought of an idea. If Luke successfully killed Big Mom, he would become his follower.

Luke agreed and took it as gentlemen's agreement, no 'Blood Contract' was revealed.

He will issue an order but Bullet will still decide if he follows it or not.

He was pretty sure that Bullet will retaliate if he exposed the Blood Contract. At that time, he's preparing for his great battle against Big Mom. The prime Bullet wasn't on his list where he still found a rather troublesome target.

After he defeated Big Mom, his power was back to zero. Dealing with Bullet will only result in his utter defeat so he left things as it was.

And so, he didn't get a servant but a follower instead.

...

"The Marines are also starting to get busy." Laffitte added.

"Why?" Luke raised a brow when he heard that.

Laffitte explained the plausible reason of how they killed two Vice-Admirals that followed their trails before facing Whitebeard's army.

Luke was a bit dazed after hearing the narration. His eyes then went sharp and narrowed at Laffitte.

Laffitte's very being trembled after meeting Luke's crimson eyes. This is the first time he saw his master so pissed off. With a quick thought, he immediately pointed out the problem. It must be because they have dealt with the two Vice-Admirals.

"Pass this message to Blackbeard." Luke's indifferent voice sent shivers down on Laffitte's spine.

"He can kill any roaming pirates he wants. But never... ever.. kill any marines. They are part of my future plans. This is my first and last warning. You can leave now." Luke waved his hand.

"Yes, Master." Laffitte turned as he prepared to leave when he thought of something and passed a black gooey ball to Luke.

Luke received the ball and saw Laffitte flying away. His frown still remains.

Remembering the two old men he met at the Drum Kingdom, he could only sigh in lamentation.

He vaguely guessed why these old men went to chase Blackbeard and his crew.

'Garou..'

Luke murmured in his thoughts. He wondered if this person would become a threat to this world in the future.

The black gooey ball in Luke's hand wiggled in excitement as if wanting to show him its harvest.

It was a normal type incanation meant to gather souls.

Luke previously lent this incarnation to Blackbeard back at Drum Island for the upcoming war against Whitebeard for some soul harvest.

While examining the bunch of souls, his eyes shone when he sensed two familiar soul signatures.

The two old men, Bang and Bomb.

He immediately prepared two golden rings for each soul to occupy before absorbing the rest of the soul reserves. He also allowed the newly created homies the ability to hear and speak.

Disregarding the received fragmented memories and how much power his body improved, he checked the two homies he just created.

"Wh-Where am I? Am I ..dead?" The ring that Bang's soul slowly spoke up.

Luke's eyes lit up. He didn't expect this method actually works.

"Ugh..! Bang? Is that you? Why can't I see? I can't move either.." Bomb's puzzled voice resounded.

"Bomb? Where are you?" Bang asked.

"Wait.. Last time I remembered, we both perished by a sneak attack. We.. Are we really dead?" Bomb asked back in dismay.

The two old men chattered in confusion while Luke merely listened attentively.

Luke wanted to know if theres a mishap with this method. It turned out nothing was out of place. The two old men's soul seems perfectly aligned with their memories.

Since nothing seems abnormal with the two old men, he permitted them the ability to see.

"..Hm?" Bomb and Bang simultaneously stared at one another in shock. In their understanding, they have become golden rings.

Their eyes then shifted at Luke and Frankenstein who observed them in silence.

"Kid, you look familiar. Have we met before?" Bang asked Luke.

"I remember now. You are that strawhat kid's crew." Bomb's voice echoed in surprise. He has a deep impression of Luke back then. The guy seems more dangerous than the Strawhat boy despite looking pale and injured.

"I'm Luke, Vice-Captain of the Strawhats. This is Frankenstein beside me, my personal butler." Luke nodded to the old men. He was impressed how these old men easily recovered their composure after finding out they have become golden rings.

"What's going on? Why did we turned into rings?" Bang asked with a frown.

"Well, first of all, I would like to sincerely apologize. I see both of you as allies. However, you guys perished from the hands of my subordinates." Luke made a bow. He knew that Blackbeard is a loose cannon but as long the guy is still of use, he will postpone getting rid of him.

"..." Bang and Bomb were both shock of Luke's revelation. A few minutes passed of contemplation as they sighed.

"We had it coming. It's entirely our fault for being too reckless. I just wanted to retrieve my disciple back." Bang made a tired sigh. Deep inside, he was shocked when knowing that Luke has a team of powerful subordinates.

Luke didn't know exactly the story of Garou in this world. Since Bang was a marine, then Garou must be a marine too. As for why Garou wanted to be a pirate, he wasn't much interested in its story.

"I happened to have the ability of controlling souls and imparting them to things, turning them into living beings.."

"Wait. Why does this kind of power seems so familiar?" Bang pondered with a serious look.

"Well, it's just a fraction of my abilities. My main power comes with controlling blood." Luke shrugged it off. He doesn't mind revealing a thing or two to these old men since he has a good impression on them in the first place. What matters right now is how he will do to these old men.

"Since it has come to this, choices for both of you has been made." Luke stared at the old men.

"..." Bang and Bomb became silent. They're already smart enough to know their situation.

"Stay or let go. If you guys choose to stay, there's a chance that both of you will receive a new body. However, both of you will also become my servant." Luke wasn't too sure if he can create new bodies in the future but that issue is not too much of a problem either. He can just ask Loki for a favor or something. "Now if you guys want the other choice, I can arrange that too. Both of you will rest in peace."

"I want to stay." Bang said in a decisive tone.

"That was fast." Luke raised a brow.

"Being your servant is not a problem for me. It's just that, I usually don't follow certain rules." Bang said. He was certain that this pirate crew will surely roam around the world in the future. Persuading his disciple one last time is a great bargain for him. As for Luke, he knew this guys doesn't kill without reason.

Bomb stared at Bang in silence. He knew his brother too well. But, as the older brother, he will unconditionally support whatever his brother decides and accompany him until the end.

"Don't worry. I don't issue excessive commands. You two will serve as my butlers in my new journey." Luke smiled. Since Frankenstein is not available, he can take these old men to the Marvel Universe for a sightseeing. "In fact, I'm about to go any moment now. As for the matters of your disciple, we can talk about it in the future."

He tucked the two rings to his finger. His top priority right now is to become stronger. For him, preparing two steps ahead is better than not doing anything at all.

He only bestowed Frankenstein the Slow Slow Devil Fruit ring. As for the weapon, the guy has now the Dark Spear from his original power.

His stay in the Marvel Universe no matter how many years will take one week in this world. It means when the Strawhats finished their one week training, he will return in this world to accompany them on the journey.

Although one week will be spent in this world, he doesn't know how many years he will stay in the Marvel Universe either.

Upon the agreement between him and Loki, he cannot bring anyone except his selected homies.

Also, Loki will be the one who selects the Marvel Universe timeline that Luke goes in.

"Time to go."

Luke took a deep breath. Taking out the so-called golden 'Entry Ticket', tapped it twice, then..

Zap!

He disappeared in his spot.

(A/N : I suggest anyone who wasn't familiar on MCU to watch some Marvel movies for reference specifically on Captain America Movie.)