Bab 24: Chapter 24 : Respect
[After a moment of silence, Kuma approached Luffy.]
[With a gentle tug, a large red bear paw bubble emerged from the unconscious Luffy's body!]
"This is all the pain, suffering, and exhaustion that the Straw Hat Kid has accumulated in this battle. If you can endure it all, I will consider your request."
"But I must warn you, in your current condition, I doubt you can bear it at all!"
[As a piece of advice, I can let you experience a fraction of it first..."]
[Saying this, the Kuma flicked his palm, and a small bubble separated and floated towards Zoro...]
[In an instant, an indescribable, searing pain erupted throughout Zoro's body!]
[Zoro at that moment began to tremble uncontrollably.]
[As if he were touching the breath of death, as though all the world's agony was compressed into this one moment, it was an overwhelming and suffocating experience!]
[A small bubble caused such excruciating pain; imagine enduring a bubble thousands of times larger...]
[If you can withstand it all, you might survive!!!]
[So, what do you say? If you'd rather not, I can disregard your previous words and continue taking away the Straw Hat..."]
Zoro mumbled incredulously, "Is this the pain Luffy has been enduring all this time?"
[Gradually, determination sparkled in his eyes...]
"Please let me take his place."
[Finally, Zoro and Kuma moved to a clearing several hundred meters away, gazing at the enormous red bubble before them. Zoro took a deep breath.]
[He raised his hands and touched it...]
Even though he knew it carried unimaginable agony, and it might even cost him his life, he didn't hesitate.
[Because Zoro understood that, as a crew member, he had to share Luffy's pain.]
[And only this method could save his life and the lives of everyone present...]
[The scene shifted once more; Kuma had vanished, and Zoro stood in place, appearing oddly normal...]
[But as the camera zoomed in, one could see...]
[Zoro's body was covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds, his eyes bloodshot, and his overall condition was dire...]
[Within a 100-meter radius on the ground, bloodstains splattered everywhere, creating a horrifying and pitiful sight...]
[Fortunately, despite this unimaginable torment, Zoro was still alive, which was the best possible outcome...]
…
[The scene shifted once more; Luffy had awakened, and Chopper had healed Zoro. Though Zoro was bandaged all over, at least his life was no longer in danger.]
[After defeating Moria, the Straw Hat Pirates received a tremendous boost in their abilities and growth...]
[Now, it was time to set sail once again and continue their adventure to new horizons...]
As everyone watched the scenes unfolding, they were deeply engrossed...
Zoro's unwavering determination and self-sacrifice left a profound impact.
Not only did Kuma stand in awe, but also those who watched the live broadcast at that moment...
They were moved to their core!
Luffy wasn't just strong; he had a dependable and selfless partner!
This also made it abundantly clear that Luffy's victory over Moria came at a tremendous cost.
The level of suffering he endured was simply unimaginable.
His willpower and endurance were astonishing...
...
Luffy gazed up at the sky, lost in thought.
"Is this my future crewmate? Did he go through all of this for me?"
Even with Luffy's carefree personality, he couldn't help but be deeply moved at this moment.
In the original storyline, only Sanji knew what Zoro had sacrificed for Luffy.
It was a journey as harrowing as death itself!
Now, as Luffy watched the live broadcast and the Straw Hat Pirates across the world witnessed these events...
They were all in awe.
Sanji, Brook, Nami, Usopp, Robin, and the others were stunned by what they saw.
They were not only amazed by Zoro's choice but also by the incredible pain Luffy had endured in this battle.
The suffering was beyond imagination!
And the most astonished of all was Zoro himself...
They saw him looking at his future self in disbelief, standing in a pool of blood with a bewildered expression.
"Is this really me?"
He found it hard to believe that his future self would willingly sacrifice everything for another person.
With Zoro's current mindset, it was utterly unfathomable.
But soon, he smiled...
"It appears that my future captain is a truly remarkable person."
"Why else would I be so convinced..."
He trusted his own judgement, and since he was willing to sacrifice for Luffy, it proved that Luffy's charisma had won him over.
For a moment, Zoro had the desire to meet this captain he had never met before...
On the Navy's side...
Sengoku and the other high-ranking officers watched with furrowed brows.
Their expressions hinted at a hint of envy toward Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates.
After all, defeating two Warlords in succession demanded their attention.
As for the pirates...
The Red-Haired Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates, and even the other Four Emperors and renowned pirate crews.
After witnessing this battle, their perceptions started to shift.
This seemingly small crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, was undeniably formidable!
Whether it was Luffy as the captain, Zoro with his Three Swords style, or Robin, Usopp, Brook, and the others...
It was becoming clear that their future was boundless!
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