On the sparkling sea, Aokiji rode his bicycle with one hand, while holding the bounty posters of Luffy and his two companions in the other!
His eyes, as still as an ancient well, gazed at Luffy's bounty poster, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my, 400 million Berries. The World Government sure knows how to bluff, huh? Monkey D. Luffy, what a miraculous person!"
If it weren't for Garp and the Alabasta incident, Aokiji would have definitely killed him! A boy not even 18 years old had actually unleashed Admiral-level power!
With Aokiji's insight, he naturally saw that it was only temporary power, but what of it? Even an Admiral for a few minutes was incomparable to a Yonko's first mate!
"Oh my, the era is about to go wild!"
Aokiji's cycling speed suddenly increased, sending ice shards flying!
...Nameless Deserted Island
The Straw Hat Pirates were having a feast.
Sanji was at the grill, barbecuing skewers and mixing his exclusive drinks, reserved for the ladies, of course!
"What a perverted cook!" Zoro scoffed, looking at Sanji who was fawning over the women, then took a big gulp of sake.
Nami delicately sipped her "Sanji Special Drink," frowning as she watched Luffy nearby, who was busy devouring the giant Sea King that Aokiji had frozen!
"Is he alright? That was a Marine Admiral!" God knows what expressions everyone had when they saw Luffy "unscathed"! Every time they thought they understood Luffy, they were shocked again. It was as if this guy had no bottlenecks, changing every day!
"Hmm, looking at how lively Luffy is! He should be fine! But... it's truly astonishing!" Robin showed a faint smile, sitting quietly on the ground, but her complex eyes revealed the turmoil within her.
"Ah... delicious, so delicious!" Luffy directly transformed into a super glutton, his head becoming enormous!
As soon as the meat entered his stomach, it transformed into streams of pure green energy, stored within Luffy's body!
The battle with Aokiji had completely depleted all his stored abilities, but the effect was also very significant! If it weren't for it, Luffy would have at least become disabled!
Just by looking at Aokiji's expression, one could tell how incredible this was, able to even evade the corrosive power of ice and the destructive power of lightning!
And the gains from this battle were also huge: his Haki and physique had increased slightly, and he had also unlocked a trump card: "Raijin Mode!"
Raijin Mode: Forcibly uses the thunder power of the Nika Fruit to stimulate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, causing the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to be temporarily developed to its awakened state! Side effects: Great damage to the body, use with caution!
In his current state, with his life force fully charged, he could sustain it for 7 minutes. After his life force was depleted, he could probably last another 3 minutes!
That meant ten minutes of Admiral-level power!
...At night, the bright moonlight shone on the beach!
Everyone was sleeping in the ship's cabin.
Only Robin stood alone on the beach, looking sadly into the distance!
"Robin, what are you looking at?" Luffy appeared beside Robin without a sound.
"I'm... thinking of the past!" Robin whispered, looking into Luffy's deep pupils. Her shoulders suddenly relaxed, as if she had let go of something.
"Luffy, it seems like ever since I joined the crew, I haven't told you about my past!" Robin sighed, slowly recounting her story...! (Everyone should know this old story, so I won't write it out.)
"So?" Luffy chuckled softly.
"Don't you understand? Every place or organization I've been with before has been destroyed, and it was all because of me! That's right, Aokiji must have come for me too!" Robin's tone was no longer calm, her expression unusually agitated!
"Do you remember what I said when you joined the crew?" Luffy's tone was calm and gentle, "I said, you're not a bad person!"
Luffy placed one hand on Robin's shoulder, and the other pressed down on the straw hat on his head. "Once you're on my ship, you can never leave for the rest of your life! No matter what we encounter, we will never abandon anyone!"
Luffy's words were light, floating in the air; yet they were also overbearing, as if even the sky couldn't suppress this seemingly small figure!
"Luffy!" Robin's tears flowed uncontrollably at this moment, and she suddenly threw herself into Luffy's arms!
"This...?!!" A soft, fragrant embrace, but Luffy was utterly bewildered. How many times had this happened?
"Let me lean on you for a while!" Robin sobbed softly!
Feeling his chest dampen with tears, Luffy didn't dare to move! He could only gently stroke Robin's beautiful hair, offering his comfort!
And Robin felt a deep warmth in Luffy's embrace, as if a wanderer who had been away from home for many years had returned to the gentle harbor of their hometown!
Robin and the Straw Hat Pirates had only been together for less than half a month, but she had already deeply fallen in love with this feeling!
Playful and carefree in peacetime, absolutely reliable in battle! In normal times, he had no captain's authority whatsoever, yet he commanded the absolute trust of his crew! He let them pursue their goals freely, but never asked about anything!
Before talking with Luffy, she was anxious and uneasy; after their conversation, she understood Luffy's determination to protect everyone, and felt at ease!
In Robin's eyes, there was admiration, obedience, and also a deep affection for Luffy!
Robin leaned on Luffy's shoulder and fell into a deep sleep.
Luffy, helpless, slowly closed his eyes as well.
...Soon, the morning sun shone on the beach!
Everyone slowly opened their eyes, left the ship, and noticed missing crew members.
"Where did Miss Robin go?" — Sanji
"Where's Luffy?" — Usopp
Soon, everyone found the two on the beach!
Luffy was sprawled out on the sand in a big 'X' shape, completely without an ounce of dignity, letting out soft snores.
And Robin, on the other hand, was elegantly lying on her side on top of Luffy, sleeping soundly!
"Luffy!!!" The sound echoed through the sky!
Robin suddenly opened her eyes, looking at the scene before her. Even the usually composed big sister couldn't remain calm; her ears burned, and she quickly pried open Luffy's arm wrapped around her waist, standing up!
"This...!" Robin couldn't explain the scene, so she simply shut up!
"Diable Jambe!" Sanji's leg, wreathed in angry flames, charged towards Luffy. For some reason, Nami didn't stop him.
"Idiot!" Zoro looked disdainfully at the charging Sanji.
Sure enough, the moment Sanji was about to kick Luffy, Luffy instantly flickered, his Armament Haki perfectly executed, and he punched Sanji in the chest, then... Sanji flew away!
Only then did Luffy lazily open his eyes, staring blankly at the scene before him. "What happened? Sanji! Who hit you like this, I'll beat them up!"
Everyone: "..."
...Luffy still couldn't escape punishment.
Luffy, with a large bump on his head, propped his chin with his hand at the bow of the ship, deep in thought. However, after thinking all morning, he still couldn't figure out why Nami hit him!
Indeed, a woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea!
...The ship continued to sail on the sea.
However, the usual cheerful atmosphere on board was gone.
Everyone was training, having realized their own insignificance, their desire to train was exceptionally strong!
Luffy sat at the bow, fishing, out of place with the others. He calmly looked back, 'They're really pushing themselves!'
Of course, it wasn't without results; everyone had awakened Observation Haki, but Armament Haki had not yet awakened.
Luffy guessed that Usopp should be close to the threshold of awakening, and if nothing unexpected happened, he should awaken in the next few days!
Soon, a freestyle-swimming frog appeared in front of the Merry!
"A frog! It can actually freestyle!" Usopp exclaimed in surprise.
"Perhaps that guy would make good ingredients!" Sanji said calmly, looking at the frog, as if he had already envisioned it on a serving platter!
"Brothers! Let's chase it!"
Then, the Merry closely followed the frog.
Luffy "looked" at the magnificent maritime city—Water 7—with anticipation in his eyes, 'CP9! Pluton blueprints! Shipwright!'