As Lucian Thorn's voice fell, the air around them seemed to freeze in place.
That line — "Future World's Greatest Swordsman" — sent a jolt through Marco.
'Future… World's Greatest Swordsman?'
The amount of information packed into that sentence was staggering.
Marco's eyelids twitched violently as turbulent waves surged within him.
He knew Lucian was insanely bold, but he didn't expect him to take it this far!
He had just blurted out something about the future—right in front of the person involved!
'Wouldn't this cause some kind of space-time paradox?!'
But what caught him even more off guard was Zoro's reaction.
The man who was destined to become the greatest swordsman in the future showed no joy, no excitement at all upon hearing a title that any swordsman would kill for.
Zoro's eyes narrowed even further.
The already razor-sharp aura around him now carried a trace of cold, murderous intent.
"Who the hell are you?" Zoro's voice was lower than before. The grip on his three swords tightened into a guarded stance.
"Trying to mess with me using this kind of empty flattery—what's the point?"
Clearly, that kind of talk didn't work on him.
In his eyes, this was just some cheap trick meant to throw him off his game.
On the other hand, Luffy's reaction was much more direct.
He paused for a second, then suddenly widened his eyes, lighting up with excitement as he pointed at Zoro, then looked at Lucian.
"Huh?! Zoro's gonna be the world's greatest swordsman in the future?!"
His voice was filled with delight, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I knew it! Zoro's super strong!"
"..."
A vein pulsed on Zoro's forehead.
He turned his head sharply and barked at his captain, "Idiot! Don't go believing the enemy so easily!"
Luffy scratched his head and gave a classic dumb grin.
"But it sounds awesome!"
Watching this chaotic exchange between the impulsive captain and his equally impulsive vice-captain, Lucian's smile deepened.
He knew full well—there was no point explaining things to these two instinct-driven monsters.
'If I want them to believe me, I need to do it in the most direct, most shocking way possible.'
So, under Zoro's watchful and suspicious eyes, Lucian took a step forward and raised both hands.
The gesture made it clear—he had no hostile intent.
"You two, relax. No need to be tense."
The smile on Lucian's face carried the calmness of someone who had seen everything.
"We're not your enemies."
"As for your question…"
His gaze shifted slowly from Zoro to Luffy.
"The answer is simple."
"Because we are…"
Lucian paused for a moment, then pronounced each word clearly, dropping a truth that could overturn the world.
"'Time travelers.'"
Boom!
Those two words hit Luffy and Zoro's minds like thunder.
'Time… travelers?'
The expressions on both their faces froze instantly.
Marco covered his face and let out a groan of despair.
'It's over. He really said it! There's no going back now!'
Dead silence.
A needle could be heard dropping.
About three seconds passed.
"Pu-hahaha!"
Luffy suddenly burst out laughing so hard his eyes teared up.
"Time travelers? Hahaha! That's such a funny name!"
He laughed while curiously studying Lucian.
"Hey! You're really good at joking around, huh!"
"Is that your new move or something? Sounds awesome!"
'A new move?!'
Marco almost spat blood.
'What the hell is going on inside your head?!'
Unlike Luffy's open laughter, Zoro's reaction was ice cold.
His fingers clenched white around his sword hilt.
That towering sword aura turned into tangible killing intent, locking firmly onto Lucian.
"An illusion?" Zoro's voice was flat.
"Or is this some special Devil Fruit ability?"
To him, 'time travel' was pure fantasy.
'Compared to such a ridiculous story, I'd rather believe they're using some incomprehensible ability to create a realistic illusion—or a trap meant to harm us, or more specifically, Luffy!'
That thought turned Zoro's gaze completely cold.
The three swords at his waist began to hum bloodthirstily, as if ready to leap from their scabbards.
The air itself seemed to freeze under his killing intent.
And yet, in the face of a pressure that could make even a Yonko commander tremble, Lucian acted like nothing was wrong.
His smile stayed playful.
He knew Zoro had already drawn the line.
But he didn't care.
Because in his hand, he held a trump card no one could refuse.
"Heh." Lucian chuckled and shook his head.
"Whether you believe it or not doesn't really matter."
His smile faded, and his eyes grew more serious than ever.
He ignored Zoro's almost-drawn blades, ignored Luffy's curious stare.
His gaze, like an arrow, shot straight into Luffy's eyes.
"Straw Hat, Monkey D. Luffy."
Lucian's voice dropped, heavy and solemn.
"The reason we've crossed time to come here… is only one."
The atmosphere grew heavier instantly.
Luffy's grin faded subconsciously.
He could feel it—whatever this man was about to say next would be very important.
Zoro's killing intent faltered slightly too.
He could sense the change in Lucian's aura.
It was no longer playful but… confident.
Lucian stared at Luffy, speaking one word at a time, his voice resonating like it could shake a soul.
"We're here to ask the future you…"
"To help us…"
"Go back to the past…"
He paused, giving them a moment to breathe.
Then he drew in a deep breath and shouted with all his strength the name burned deepest into Luffy's soul.
"To save your brother…"
"Fire Fist Ace!"
Boom!!!
The moment those two words—"Ace"—left Lucian's lips, the world seemed to go silent.
The wind stilled.
The rain stopped.
Even the dust drifting above the ruins froze in midair.
In that instant, everything around them lost its meaning.
Upon hearing that name, Zoro's killing intent slowly crumbled.
The icy vigilance on his face was replaced by sheer shock.
He whipped his head toward his captain.
Luffy still stood there in his slightly curious pose.
But—
All expression on his face vanished the moment he heard that name.
The smile, the curiosity, the ease…
All of it was gone without a trace.
In its place was a deathly silence carved deep into his bones.
His body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Those black eyes that had been so bright filled instantly with endless pain, regret, and despair.
Two years ago, at Marineford.
That back which had shielded him from Akainu's killing blow.
That face, smiling faintly as life faded away in his arms.
Those final words—"Thank you… for loving me"—as he drew his last breath.
One by one, they cut into his heart like the sharpest blades, slashing again and again.
That was his lifelong pain.
A wound that could never heal.
The regret that haunted his nightmares.
"Ace…" Luffy's lips moved soundlessly.
Just uttering the name seemed to drain all strength from his body.
It was as if his soul had been torn out, leaving only an empty shell standing there.
Dead silence.
A suffocating, oppressive dead silence.
Lucian simply watched him quietly without speaking.
He knew.
He had played his trump card perfectly.