บท 36: 36. God-Like Ability
Marineford, Marshal's Office at Naval Headquarters.
"Are you serious, Kizaru?" Sengoku exclaimed, his disbelief evident.
"Hey, Sengoku-san, I wouldn't joke about something like this, especially considering I got injured because of it," Kizaru replied casually, his mouth forming a smirk.
Underneath his Admiral cloak, Kizaru was wrapped in thick bandages, including around his head.
"But how could it be Luffy, the Straw Hat kid? He's just a rookie who's barely been abroad for a year. It's impossible for him to have grown so quickly, no matter how talented he is," Sengoku insisted, still struggling to accept the news.
The man with the highest potential and the most dangerous lineage in the sea, the one with the top Logia fruit and the blood of Gol D Roger, was still locked away in Impel Down. To suggest that Luffy, at the age of seventeen, had reached Admiral-level strength seemed like a joke.
But seeing Kizaru's wry smile, Sengoku realized he wasn't joking. Moreover, the information from Sengoku's own sources aligned with Kizaru's account.
This revelation left Sengoku feeling as if he had seen a ghost.
"Tell me the details of the battle," Sengoku finally requested, his tone grave.
Kizaru's expression shifted, becoming serious in response to Sengoku's request.
"The Straw Hat Pirates are far from ordinary rookies. Their strength is formidable," Kizaru began, recounting the encounter. "Upon my arrival, Roronoa and Blackfoot Sanji dispatched the pacifists with ease. Additionally, during the brief skirmish that followed, the second and third in command of the Straw Hat crew exhibited mastery over both Armament and Observation Haki."
Listening to Kizaru's account, Sengoku couldn't help but ponder deeply. Roronoa Zoro and Blackfoot Sanji's ability to swiftly defeat pacifists indicated a level of strength on par with notorious pirates boasting bounties exceeding 500 million berries. Moreover, their proficiency in both types of Haki suggested their strength was not to be underestimated.
"I heard Roronoa took down Kuma alone?" Sengoku inquired suddenly, referring to a severely injured Kuma found amidst the battlefield, later sent for treatment on Vegapunk's island.
"Yes, in my assessment, Roronoa is a formidable individual. He likely has a high chance of mastering Conqueror's Haki. Given time, he could become a figure akin to Pluton Rayleigh," Kizaru confirmed.
Kizaru held Roronoa Zoro in high regard.
As the first mate and swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro had briefly clashed with Kizaru. Kizaru couldn't help but acknowledge Zoro's skill, especially witnessing the devastating final blow delivered to Kuma during their battle—a strike capable of causing serious harm even to a member of the Four Emperors.
"Is he really that impressive?" Garp pondered aloud as he sipped his tea, finding Kizaru's description of the Straw Hat Pirates at odds with his own impression.
Garp had encountered Roronoa before, finding him reliable and remarkably driven. However, during their time in Water Seven, the entire Straw Hat crew seemed inexperienced and fragile. While their potential was undeniable, their current strength seemed insufficient for navigating the treacherous seas.
Yet, Kizaru's account suggested otherwise. Each member of the crew appeared to have grown significantly since then.
"Roronoa's strength is not to be underestimated," Sengoku interjected, his expression serious. "To dispatch pacifists with ease and exhibit exceptional proficiency in Haki—such feats warrant a bounty increase, perhaps even surpassing 600 to 700 million berries. And defeating a Shichibukai like Kuma alone could easily push his bounty to a billion."
Despite the potential repercussions, Sengoku decided to table the discussion until after the war with Whitebeard. However, he couldn't help but inquire about Luffy's current strength.
"But what about the Straw Hat kid? What level has his strength reached?"
Sengoku's tone was grave as he addressed the topic of the Straw Hat Kid.
At the mere mention of the name, Kizaru instinctively tensed, feeling a dull ache in his chest—a physical reminder of the encounter.
"His strength is formidable, and his Devil Fruit ability is truly unique," Kizaru began, his expression serious. "While his base strength may still fall short of an Admiral's, his mastery of his fruit's various states—such as Gear Fourth, utilizing airflow to enhance his size, and harnessing the elasticity of his rubber body with Armament Haki—elevates him to a steady Admiral-level combatant."
"And with his exceptional proficiency in Observation Haki and the added factor of Conqueror's Haki," Kizaru continued, "his destructive potential surpasses even my own."
"Conqueror's Haki?" Garp interjected, visibly surprised. "Luffy has mastered Conqueror's Haki?"
As a seasoned martial artist, Garp understood the immense difficulty and power associated with Conqueror's Haki. Its mastery was a hallmark of the strongest individuals in the world, typically associated with the Four Emperors.
"Yes," Kizaru affirmed. "And not only that but his proficiency in Armament Haki allows him to strike with incredible force, while his Observation Haki has reached a level where he can predict the future."
"In all honesty," Kizaru admitted, "if it weren't for his lack of experience with Haki and the limitations of my own Devil Fruit ability, he might even be able to overpower me in his Gear Fourth state."
Kizaru's words were a testament to Luffy's exceptional abilities—a fact that shocked Garp to the core.
"And you're saying this is all about Luffy?" Garp struggled to comprehend, his astonishment evident.
Sengoku, however, honed in on a crucial point in Kizaru's revelation. "You mentioned that just shifting to Gear Fourth is enough to overpower you. Does that mean he has an even stronger form?"
Kizaru's expression turned grave as he clutched his wound, his demeanour suddenly sombre. "That... that's an exaggeration. His next form... it's like a god."
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