Robin was stunned, a flush of abnormal red appearing on her pale face. "Luffy, what are you doing?"
"I asked Vivi on the way here."
Luffy searched as he explained. "You gave me the antidote when I was poisoned, so you must still have some left!"
"I already said I have no reason to live anymore!"
"Then live as my nakama! Robin."
At that, Luffy stopped his movements, looking at her with a smile, calling her name directly to show his seriousness.
Robin was completely stunned.
His words left her feeling utterly flustered.
She had always been a composed person, but now, for some reason, emotions she had never felt before were welling up.
Just then, Luffy found the familiar small glass bottle from a hidden pocket at her waist. Inside was about half a bottle of clear liquid.
Robin clenched her teeth, still wanting to make a final resistance.
I said such decisive words... now... what about my dignity?!
Luffy paid no mind. He pulled out the stopper, tilted his head back to take the antidote into his own mouth, then leaned down, accurately covering Robin's slightly parted, purple-tinged lips, which were open in shock.
Robin's pupils dilated.
Was this... fate?
Not long ago, she had passed the antidote to him like this, saving his life.
Not long after, he returned the favor in the same way, giving life back to her.
Her tightly clenched teeth unconsciously loosened.
The cool, bitter medicinal liquid, mixed with the boy's scorching warmth, flowed down her throat.
Her will to die was shattered at that moment by a more powerful force, one that barged in with overwhelming bluntness.
Her hands, which had nowhere to go, seemed to move of their own accord, slowly rising to lightly encircle Luffy's neck.
Standing to the side, witnessing this sudden scene, King Cobra opened his mouth, then could only smile helplessly and rub his forehead.
Young people these days...
He shook his head. Looking at the continuously collapsing tomb, he couldn't help but remind them, "Shouldn't we... leave this place first?"
The war was over.
The smoke of gunpowder and the sounds of battle that had hung over Alubarna were scattered by the wind carrying the smell of sand.
Tattered flags drooped from the city walls. Battle-scarred warriors supported each other, their faces a mix of exhaustion, confusion, and a hint of relief at having survived.
The rebel army and the royal army realized they had a common enemy. Their misunderstandings were cleared, but the wounds left by the war would take time to heal.
Cobra, as king, would soon be immersed in post-war efforts.
Outside the palace, it was time for Ace to leave.
"Alright, you don't need to see me off any further. Seeing you safe and so much stronger puts my mind at ease."
Ace adjusted his orange cowboy hat, looking at the energetic Luffy before him with a bright smile. "I've got a lead on the guy I'm after. Blackbeard was on an island recently. I can't delay any longer."
"Blackbeard?"
Luffy tilted his head, having no impression of the name.
But he instinctively felt a sense of disgust.
"Just a traitor I need to deal with myself."
Ace didn't explain further, just slapped Luffy's shoulder hard. "See you in the New World! Next time, I won't go easy on you as I did during that arm wrestle!"
"Ace, you're still all talk!"
Luffy pouted, then grinned. "The New World? See you there, then!"
He would definitely go.
Not just the New World.
"Yep, see you in the New World!"
Ace turned. Flames gathered at his feet, ready to propel him away as fire. But he had only taken one step when he seemed to remember something. He stopped and looked back at Luffy, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry and gravity.
"Luffy, it just occurred to me. Back when you were fighting Crocodile... those white, flame-like wisps around you. Do you know what they are?"
"Ah, that? Seems like it's the power of Devil Fruit awakening? I'm not really sure. It just kinda comes out on its own."
According to Nika...
Her acknowledging Luffy wasn't enough. Luffy could only mobilize part of the Nika fruit's power. To fully awaken, his current physical strength wasn't up to par yet.
Zoans weren't like Paramecias. The hard rules were like that.
Hearing this, Ace's expression indeed grew more serious.
"So that's what it is. My earlier judgment wasn't wrong. Luffy, you need to be careful. Devil Fruit awakening, even in the New World, is an extremely profound power. You could even say it hasn't been fully explored yet.
Only a very few of the strongest at the pinnacle can develop their fruit abilities to that level and successfully awaken."
He paused, carefully observing Luffy's reaction, then continued. "And what's more... I've heard that steam-like or flame-like clouds are usually a distinctive feature that appears when Zoan-type Devil Fruit users awaken. But Luffy, your Gomu Gomu no Mi... It's clearly a Paramecia-type."
Luffy looked utterly confused. "? What's the difference?"
"There's a big difference."
Ace's tone grew more emphatic. "The awakening of a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit is more about the user's ultimate mastery of the ability and the power to imbue or affect the surroundings with their own properties, like altering terrain or assimilating matter.
It's still difficult, but the development path is relatively clearer. Zoan-type awakenings are more bizarre and dangerous.
It's said that Zoan fruits, especially the Mythical Zoans, may harbor ancient, powerful wills within.
The awakener gains immense power, but is also highly likely to be influenced, even eroded or have their original personality replaced, by the will residing within the fruit."
This was precisely what worried Ace.
As he spoke, Ace himself felt he was overthinking. Luffy ate the Paramecia-type Gomu Gomu no Mi. How could it be a Zoan?
Rumors are just rumors, after all.
He added half-jokingly, "Hey, Luffy, you didn't actually eat something other than the Gomu Gomu no Mi, did you? What kind of rubber spews white, flame-like clouds?"
Luffy's heart skipped a beat. He subconsciously shook his rubbery arm, putting on a brave front to retort, "Of course it's the Gomu Gomu no Mi! What else can stretch and shrink like this besides rubber?!"
He guiltily averted his gaze, internally cursing Nika.
It's all that guy's fault.
But Luffy also knew his Devil Fruit hadn't fully awakened yet.
And Nika had warned him that before he possessed sufficient strength, it was best not to easily expose the name "Nika Fruit" or its complete form.
When Luffy asked what counted as "sufficient strength," Nika said, "For starters, be able to beat a Marine Admiral."
***
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