Across the shimring ocean, Admiral Aokiji rode his bicycle leisurely over a path of ice.
In one hand he held the bounty posters of three people.
His calm gaze rested on Luffy's bounty.
"Arara… four hundred million Berries."
"The World Governnt sure knows how to exaggerate."
"Monkey D. Luffy… what a miraculous person."
If it weren't for Garp, and the events in Alabasta, Aokiji might have truly killed him.
A boy not even eighteen years old—
yet capable of unleashing Admiral-level power.
Of course, Aokiji knew it was only temporary strength.
But even so—
even a few minutes of Admiral-level combat ability was sothing no ordinary Yonko commander could reach.
"Ara ara… the era is about to go wild."
Aokiji pedaled faster.
Ice fragnts scattered across the sea behind him.
The Naless Island
The Straw Hat Pirates were holding a banquet.
Sanji stood beside a barbecue grill, roasting at while preparing his special drinks.
"Ladies only," he said proudly.
"What a shaless cook," Zoro scoffed while gulping down a large cup of alcohol.
Nami took a small sip of Sanji's drink.
Then she looked toward Luffy with a frown.
Luffy was busy devouring the giant Sea King that Aokiji had frozen earlier.
"He's really okay…?"
After all—
that opponent had been a Marine Admiral.
Seeing Luffy completely unhard had shocked everyone.
Every ti they thought they understood Luffy—
he surprised them again.
It was as if he had no limits.
Each day, he grew stronger.
"He looks pretty energetic," Robin said softly with a faint smile.
But her eyes were complicated.
Clearly—
her heart wasn't calm.
"Ahh! So good! This is amazing!"
Luffy continued eating like a monster.
His head even inflated comically from stuffing himself.
The at he swallowed transford into green life energy, storing itself inside his body.
The battle with Aokiji had completely drained his reserves—
but the results were impressive.
Without that energy—
Luffy might have been crippled.
Even Aokiji had been surprised.
This ability could counteract both the corrosive cold of ice and the destructive force of lightning.
And the gains from the battle were massive.
His Haki and physical strength had both improved slightly.
And he had gained a new trump card—
Thunder God Mode.
Thunder God Mode
By forcing the Nika Fruit's lightning power to stimulate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Luffy temporarily pushes the lightning ability into a pseudo-awakened state.
Side effect: Severe damage to the body.
With Luffy's current vitality:
Full life energy → 7 minutes of useAfter depletion → about 3 minutes remaining
Total ti: 10 minutes of Admiral-level power.
Night
Moonlight spread across the beach.
Everyone slept inside the ship.
Only Robin stood alone on the shore, gazing sadly into the distance.
"Robin… what are you looking at?"
Luffy appeared beside her silently.
"I'm… rembering the past."
Robin spoke softly.
When she looked into Luffy's deep eyes—
her shoulders relaxed.
As if she had finally let sothing go.
"Luffy… since I joined the crew, I've never told you about my past."
She sighed and began telling her story.
(About Ohara, the World Governnt, and her years of betrayal and survival.)
After she finished—
Luffy simply smiled.
"So?"
Robin's voice suddenly trembled.
"Don't you understand?"
"Every organization I've ever joined… was destroyed."
"Because of ."
"That's why Aokiji ca today."
Her calm composure shattered.
"Do you rember what I told you when you first boarded my ship?"
Luffy's voice was gentle.
"I told you—you're not a bad person."
He placed one hand on Robin's shoulder.
The other pressed down his straw hat.
"Once you get on my ship…"
"You're not allowed to leave for the rest of your life."
"No matter what happens—"
"We will never abandon any of our crew."
His voice was soft.
Soft enough to drift in the air.
Yet the words were incredibly domineering—
as if even the sky couldn't suppress the small figure standing before her.
"Luffy…"
Tears stread down Robin's face.
She suddenly threw herself into his arms.
"…Huh?!"
Luffy froze.
This had happened multiple tis now.
"Let stay like this for a while," Robin whispered as she cried.
Luffy didn't dare move.
He gently stroked her hair.
In his arms—
Robin felt a warmth she had never experienced.
Like a traveler returning ho after wandering for years.
She had only been with the Straw Hats for less than half a month.
Yet she had already grown deeply attached.
Their daily laughter.
Their absolute reliability in battle.
Luffy himself—
a captain with no strict authority,
yet soone everyone trusted completely.
He allowed his crew to chase their dreams freely.
He never questioned their past.
Before speaking with him, Robin had been filled with fear.
Afterward—
she understood his determination to protect everyone.
Her gaze toward him now held
respect,
loyalty,
and sothing deeper.
Robin eventually fell asleep against Luffy's shoulder.
Luffy sighed and slowly closed his eyes too.
Morning
Sunlight illuminated the beach.
The crew woke up and left the ship.
But they quickly noticed two people missing.
"Where's Robin-swan?!" Sanji shouted.
"And where's Luffy?" Usopp asked.
Soon they found them on the beach.
Luffy lay flat on the sand, snoring loudly.
Robin slept peacefully on top of him.
"LUFFY!!!"
The roar echoed across the island.
Robin woke instantly.
Even she—normally calm and mischievous—blushed slightly.
She quickly removed Luffy's arm from around her waist and stood up.
"…I can't explain this."
So she simply stayed silent.
"Diable Jambe!"
Sanji launched himself toward Luffy with a flaming kick.
Surprisingly—
Nami didn't stop him.
"Idiot," Zoro muttered.
Sure enough—
just before Sanji's kick landed—
Luffy flashed aside.
Armant Haki activated instantly.
His fist slamd into Sanji's chest.
Sanji went flying.
Only then did Luffy lazily open his eyes.
"Huh?"
"What happened?"
"Sanji! Who beat you up like that? I'll send them flying!"
Everyone: …
Luffy didn't escape punishnt.
Now sitting at the bow with a giant bump on his head, he pondered deeply.
He had been thinking all morning.
Why did Nami hit ?
Conclusion:
Won are impossible to understand.
The Going rry continued sailing.
But the usual cheerful atmosphere was gone.
Everyone was training intensely.
After witnessing the battle between Luffy and Aokiji, they had realized their own weakness.
Even so—
there was progress.
Everyone had awakened Observation Haki.
However—
no one had awakened Armant Haki yet.
According to Luffy's guess—
Usopp was very close.
He might awaken it within the next few days.
anwhile—
Luffy sat calmly at the bow fishing.
He glanced back at his hardworking crew.
They're really going all out.
Suddenly—
a frog appeared ahead of the ship.
It was swimming freestyle across the ocean.
"A frog?!"
"And it's doing freestyle!" Usopp shouted in shock.
"That might make a good ingredient," Sanji muttered calmly.
"Guys!"
"Let's chase it!"
The Going rry imdiately followed the frog.
Luffy looked ahead.
In the distance—
a magnificent city rose above the sea.
Water 7.
Luffy's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
CP9…
The blueprints of Pluton…
And a shipwright.
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