Ronan, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp slowly walked to the edge of the crater.
Zoro rested a hand on his sword hilt, glancing down at the unconscious Crocodile with clear disappointment.
"So this is one of the Seven Warlords?"
His towering frame cast a long shadow under the sun, radiating pressure.
"…Doesn't seem like much."
"Along the way, it's either fodder… or flashy trash like this. Isn't there anyone worth cutting?"
Ronan casually tapped his ebony staff against his shoulder, a teasing grin forming.
"If you're that eager to fight…"
"Simple. We can spar again later. How about another three hundred rounds?"
At the word spar—
Zoro's eye twitched violently.
Over the past journey, Ronan had used "training" as an excuse to drag him and Sanji into countless brutal sessions.
"…I'll pass."
Zoro immediately turned away, staring into the distance.
"I haven't had enough to drink yet."
Ronan chuckled softly.
But inside—
His thoughts were far more serious.
In the original story, Luffy nearly died fighting Crocodile… drained dry, pierced through the chest…
But now…
He glanced at Luffy.
A fully trained "Vajra Body"… he's basically a human tank.
This level of growth… has completely derailed the original timeline.
If this continues… Enies Lobby, Thriller Bark…
Even the war that changed the world—
Everything will be crushed head-on.
Just as they were about to settle things with Vivi—
A voice echoed across the ruined plaza.
"Luffy…? Is that you?"
Clear.
Calm.
Yet carrying a natural weight.
Luffy's relaxed body froze instantly.
"That voice…"
He turned sharply.
On a broken pillar—
A young man leaned casually.
An orange hat.
Two badges—one smiling, one crying.
A bare upper body, muscles coiled with explosive strength.
And on his back—
The mark of the strongest man in the world.
Whitebeard's emblem.
He looked up—
Freckles across his face—
Smiling.
"A-Ace?!!!"
Luffy's face exploded into pure joy.
All the cold, brutal aura from before—
Shattered instantly.
"IT'S REALLY YOU, ACE! HAHAHA!!"
"Lu… Luffy?"
Ace's voice wavered slightly.
The little brother he remembered—
Was a scrawny kid running behind him and Sabo, shouting about becoming strong.
But this man—
Over two meters tall.
Skin bronzed from overflowing vitality.
Muscles like coiled steel cables.
Standing there like a fortress—
Radiating heat like a living furnace.
"Hehehe! You haven't changed at all, Ace!"
Luffy strode forward.
Each step cracked the stone beneath his feet.
He spread his arms—
And hugged Ace tightly.
BOOM—!!
The impact sounded like two iron mountains colliding.
Ace staggered slightly—
Chest tightening from the sheer density of Luffy's body.
"You… what the hell…"
He grabbed Luffy's arm, eyes wide with disbelief.
"This isn't rubber anymore—this is steel!"
"Did you eat the Gum-Gum Fruit… or some kind of Diamond Fruit?!"
"This pressure… this density… are you really Luffy?!"
Ronan walked over slowly, staff resting on his shoulder.
He looked at Ace—
The man who left a permanent mark on countless hearts—
And smiled faintly.
"Ace… the sea is vast."
"For the dream of becoming Pirate King… Luffy went through hellish training."
"Training… huh?"
Ace's eyes ignited.
Not hostility—
But pride.
And instinct.
"Luffy."
"I'm glad you've become this reliable."
"But as your brother…"
"I need to see it for myself."
"Whether you can survive in that 'monster-filled' sea."
Luffy grinned.
"Perfect! I wanted to test it too!"
"How big the gap between us is now!"
The ruined plaza fell silent.
The wind stirred again—
Agitated by the clash of two overwhelming presences.
Ace's body ignited—
Dark red flames rising violently.
The heat warped the air—
Turning the sand beneath his feet into glass.
Luffy lowered his stance—
Blood and energy roaring through his body like thunder.
"Careful, Luffy!"
Ace moved first.
"That heat melts steel—"
"Fire Fist!!"
His fist roared forward—
A massive pillar of fire, over ten meters wide—
Taking the form of a raging fire dragon—
Charging straight at Luffy.
"OOOH!! PERFECT!!"
Luffy didn't dodge.
He stepped forward—
Arm instantly coated in jet-black Armament Haki.
"Gomu Gomu no—Bullet!!"
BOOOOOOM——!!!
A thunderous explosion shook Alubarna.
Luffy's punch—
Carrying monstrous force—
Slammed directly into the dragon's head.
The fire—
Split apart.
Torn down the middle.
Flames surged past both sides of Luffy—
Turning the ground behind him into molten hell.
And through the fire—
Luffy charged forward.
Steam rose from his body—
But his skin—
Tempered by both Haki and his Vajra physique—
Remained unscathed.
If anything—
It looked even stronger.
Like a divine weapon—
Forged in fire.
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