Chapter 232 - 90

Cobra walked over, his expression somewhat complex. "You know that text, so you must know that it records the location of the Ancient Weapon.""That is not what I want.""What I want to know is the true [history] recorded on the poneglyph scattered throughout the world. The history recorded in that blank one hundred years—everything else is unimportant.""Twenty years. I have been searching, and there are no more clues left. This was my last hope. With that hope dashed, everything no longer matters.""I was already tired of choosing this path. Dying here might be a fitting end.""I..." she murmured. "I just wanted to know the history."Luffy glared at her, gritting his teeth. "I will not let a crewmate die in front of me!"Everyone has their own firm beliefs.Why is there always someone talking about dying in front of him?If you die, isn't everything gone?This is no longer about the plan.It is not because he needs Robin to execute some so-called plan, but because he does not want Robin to die—it is that simple."A crewmate?"Robin's gaze shifted slightly, falling on Luffy's face, which was full of anxiety.In the final moments of her life, meeting them seemed to be a good thing.She remembered Saul, remembered Professor Clover... The words that Giant Race friend had spoken seemed to echo in her ears."The sea is vast; you will definitely meet crewmates who are willing to protect you."But...Luffy ignored her melancholy and reached out to search her body.Robin froze, a faint, unnatural blush appearing on her pale face."Luffy, what are you doing?""I asked Vivi when I arrived."Luffy explained while searching."You gave me the antidote after I was poisoned, so you must still have a spare on you!""I already said I have no purpose to live!""Then live on as my crewmate! Robin."At this moment, Luffy stopped his actions, looked at her, and gave a smile, calling her name directly to show his seriousness.Robin was completely stunned.She was made somewhat at a loss by his words.She had clearly always been a composed person, but at this moment, she didn't know why some emotions she had never felt before appeared.Just then, Luffy found that familiar small glass bottle from a hidden pocket at her waist, which still contained half a bottle of clear liquid.Robin gritted her teeth, still wanting to make a final resistance.She had said such determined words, and at this time... didn't she have any pride?Luffy, however, paid no heed. He pulled out the cork, tilted his head back to hold the antidote in his mouth, and then leaned down, accurately covering Robin's purple-tinged lips, which were slightly parted in astonishment.Robin's pupils dilated sharply.Is this what is called fate?Not long ago, she had passed the antidote to him like this, saving his life.Not long after, he used the same method to return the vitality to her.Her clenched teeth relaxed involuntarily.The cold and bitter medicinal liquid, mixed with the boy's burning warmth, flowed into her throat.The will to seek death was, at this moment, shattered by a more powerful force that intruded forcefully.Her hands, which had nowhere to rest, seemed to have a consciousness of their own; they slowly raised and gently wrapped around Luffy's neck.Standing to the side, King Cobra, who was watching this sudden scene, opened his mouth. In the end, he could only helplessly cover his forehead, between laughing and crying.Young people these days.He shook his head, looking at the collapsing tomb, and couldn't help but remind them: "Are we going to leave this place first?"The war was over.The smoke and shouts of killing that permeated the sky over Alubarna were blown away by the wind carrying the taste of sand.The tattered flags hung limply on the city walls, and the battle-scarred soldiers supported each other, their faces mixed with exhaustion, confusion, and a hint of relief at having survived.The rebel army and the royal army originally had a common enemy. Their misunderstandings were cleared up, but the wounds left by the war would take time to heal.As the king, Cobra would soon have to throw himself into post-war work.Outside the palace.Ace was leaving."Alright, let's stop here. Seeing that you're fine and have become so strong, I'm relieved."Ace pressed down on his orange cowboy hat, looked at the spirited Luffy in front of him, and said with a bright smile: "I have a lead on that guy I've been tracking. Blackbeard stayed on an island before, so I can't delay any longer.""Blackbeard?"Luffy tilted his head, having no impression of the name.But he could instinctively feel disgust."Just a traitor that I must clean up."Ace didn't explain further but patted Luffy's shoulder hard. "See you in the New World. I won't go easy on you like we did arm-wrestling before!""Ace, you're still so stubborn!"Luffy pouted, then smiled too. "The New World, huh? Then see you in the New World!"He would definitely go.Not just the New World."Yeah, see you in the New World!"Ace turned around, flames gathering under his feet, preparing to turn into propulsion flames to leave. However, just as he took a step, he seemed to suddenly remember something, stopped again, and looked back at Luffy, his eyes filled with a trace of inquiry and gravity."Luffy, I suddenly remembered another question. Those white flame clouds that appeared on your body when you fought Crocodile earlier. Do you know what that is?""Ah, that... it seems to be the power of Devil Fruitawakening? I'm not too sure either, I just felt my body sprout it out on its own."According to Nika.She acknowledged that Luffy was not enough yet; Luffy could only mobilize a part of the Nika Fruit's power. To fully awaken, his current physical strength could not keep up.Zoan Devil Fruits are not like Paramecia; the rigid rules are like this.Hearing this, Ace's expression became even more serious."It really is like that. Then I didn't judge wrong before. Luffy, you must be careful. Devil Fruitawakening, even in the New World, is an extremely profound power. It can even be said that it has not been fully explored yet.""Only a very few powerhouses standing at the peak can develop their own fruit abilities to that extent and successfully awaken."He paused, carefully observing Luffy's reaction, and continued to ask: "Also, I heard that the kind of cloud vapor that looks like steam and fire is usually a signature feature that only appears when a ZoanDevil Fruit user awakens. But Luffy, your Gum-Gum Fruit is clearly a Paramecia."Luffy looked blank: "Eh? Is there any difference?""Of course there is a difference."Ace's tone grew heavier as he said:"The awakening of a Paramecia Devil Fruit is more reflected in the user's ultimate control over their ability, as well as bestowing their own characteristics onto or influencing the surrounding environment, such as changing terrain or assimilating matter.""Although it is also very difficult, the development path is relatively clearer. The awakening of a ZoanDevil Fruit is more bizarre and dangerous.""Legend has it that Zoan fruits, especially Mythical Zoan, may harbor ancient and powerful wills within them. While awakeners gain powerful strength, they are also very likely to be influenced, or even eroded or replaced, by the will residing within the fruit."This was also what Ace was worried about.As Ace said this, he felt he was overthinking it. The fruit Luffy ate was a Paramecia Gum-Gum Fruit; how could it be a Zoan?Sure enough, rumors are just rumors.He added jokingly: "Hey, Luffy, the fruit you ate couldn't possibly not be the Gum-Gum Fruit, right? Since when does Rubber emit white flame clouds?"Luffy's heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously shook his rubberized arm and pretended to be calm as he retorted:"Of course it's the Gum-Gum Fruit. Besides Rubber, what else can stretch and shrink like this!"He averted his gaze with a guilty conscience, while internally he was furiously complaining about Nika.It was all that guy's fault.However, Luffy also knew that his Devil Fruit had indeed not fully awakened yet.And that guy Nika had warned him that before having enough strength, it was best not to easily expose the name Nika Fruit and its full form.When Luffy asked what counted as having enough strength, Nika said, be able to beat an Admiralfirst.Although Luffy felt his strength had greatly increased and perhaps he could clash with an Admiral, thinking of his grandfather Garp's iron fist, he decided to play it safe first.Garp was so powerful as a Navy Vice Admiral; an Admiral should be even more powerful, right?Although whenever Garp referred to those Admirals in front of him, he always said with an indifferent face that they were just a few brats."It's good that it's not."Seeing Luffy answer affirmatively, Ace breathed a sigh of relief, patted his shoulder again, and said:"In any case, although the awakened power is strong, you must control it cautiously. I'm leaving."Before the words faded, Ace turned into a mass of raging flames, streaking across the sky like a meteor, and quickly disappeared into the distance.After saying goodbye to Ace, Luffy returned to the Alabasta palace.Although they, the Straw Hat, were the heroes who crushed Crocodile's conspiracy and saved the country, their status as pirates was ultimately sensitive.In the town outside the palace, the Marine led by Smoker were still closely monitoring the situation.Therefore, this grand gratitude and reception could only be held low-key within the palace, and only a few core members like King Cobra, Pell, and Chakaknew the inside story.Sanji, Usopp, and Chopper were all exhausted. After Chopper helped everyone with treatment, they rested early, and the so-called gourmet feast had to wait until the next day.Even the energetic Zoro took a few bottles of good wine and found a corner to doze off.In Vivi's room, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.Nami, due to the dual overdraft of spirit and physical strength, was already fast asleep on the soft big bed.Robin, on the other hand, sat quietly on the sofa by the window, reading an ancient book borrowed from the royal library by the faint light of the deepest darkness before dawn outside the window.She seemed to have no sleepiness.Vivi was also unable to sleep.She washed away the dust of battle and changed into a clean princess dress, but could not wash away the chaos in her heart.Vivi sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the gloomy sky outside the window that seemed to have solidified. It was the darkest moment before dawn, just like her mood at the moment.The war was over.Some things seemed to be coming to an end as well.Robin closed the book, gracefully crossed her legs, and her gaze fell on Vivi's side profile, which was full of entanglement.