"Roger!"
Seeing Roger convulsing without stop, Mo Wu finally panicked.
Roger's breathing had become incredibly faint, and his body was twitching in an unnatural rhythm. It was obvious that the clash of Conqueror's Haki had placed an enormous burden on him.
"Roger!"
Mo Wu shouted, trying to wake the unconscious Pirate King.
Even if Roger's life had already reached its end, this kind of ending was far too sudden and absurd.
He hadn't even properly locked onto Roger yet. If Roger died now, it wouldn't count as completing the mission.
Activating the Transparent World, Mo Wu hurried forward and examined Roger's condition with his eyes.
His heartbeat was nearly gone.
His blood flow had almost stopped.
His lungs no longer contracted.
What the hell? Isn't he already dead?!
"Damn it!"
Grinding his teeth, Mo Wu stopped caring whether it would work or not. Recalling the motions of CPR from his previous life, he placed both hands on Roger's chest and began pressing down.
But it seemed useless.
In Mo Wu's vision, Roger's life force was still slipping away.
His body was even beginning to turn cold.
Mo Wu had no choice but to do something desperate.
Lowering his mouth close to Roger's ear, he whispered in a voice like a devil's murmur.
"Roger, you can't die this early…"
"The new era hasn't even begun yet…"
"Hm?!"
Roger's tightly shut eyes slowly opened.
Though he still looked weak, a stubborn light had returned to them.
As if Mo Wu's words had touched something deep inside him, Roger's fading life force showed the faintest sign of rising again.
"The new era…"
Roger's voice was weak, but his consciousness was clearly returning.
"That's right… the new era… hasn't begun yet…"
Seeing this, Mo Wu felt a rush of relief. His words had worked.
He continued murmuring in Roger's ear, both to steady his emotions and to reignite his will to live.
"Roger, you're the Pirate King. You're the key to the new era."
"You can't fall here. The new era is still waiting for you…"
As Mo Wu's voice continued to reach him, Roger's breathing gradually steadied, and the convulsions in his body slowly ceased.
Until, at last, clarity returned fully to his eyes.
"Hahahaha! Never thought I, Roger, would almost capsize on a little guy like you."
To Mo Wu's astonishment, Roger suddenly sprang up from the bed in one smooth motion, showing none of the convulsive weakness from just moments ago. He looked overflowing with vitality, and his hearty laughter filled the chamber.
"Kid, I really didn't expect you to have Conqueror's Haki too."
As if he had gained a whole new understanding of Mo Wu, Roger's tone turned faintly wistful.
"That new era really is something to look forward to."
"But…"
Roger's smile remained bright, but curiosity shone in his eyes.
"How did you know I was going to start a new era?"
He didn't seem the least bit troubled that Mo Wu knew this.
Instead, he asked with open interest.
"Don't tell me your family has some Poneglyph I never found?"
"Like a twenty-seventh one, outside the known twenty-six?"
You really dare say anything.
Seeing Roger reveal information about the Poneglyphs with absolutely no psychological burden, Mo Wu shook his head. He didn't answer Roger's question. Instead, he asked one of his own in an even tone.
"Roger… do you even know what kind of era you're about to create?"
"You really dare ask that…"
Roger's broad smile disappeared.
A thoughtful look entered his eyes.
He fell silent for a while before speaking again, his voice carrying a subtle weight.
"So you really do know something."
"The era I'll begin?"
He repeated the words as though savoring them.
"I think… it'll be an unknown era. One filled with infinite possibilities."
"I think it'll be an era where people chase freedom and dreams."
Roger's gaze drifted far away, his eyes gleaming faintly.
It was as if he could see through the prison walls to the island at the end of the world.
The island he himself had named—Laugh Tale.
"Laugh Tale will eventually wait for the person it truly belongs to."
"But I want to begin the new era now."
"I want to create an era without so-called 'kings,' without absolute power or oppression—an era where anyone can freely sail this sea and pursue their own One Piece!"
At that, Roger's smile returned.
"Kid, I know what you want to say. But I'm not a good man."
"I'm just a pirate who wears all his joy, anger, sorrow, and laughter on his face—a man who chases freedom."
As though remembering something from long ago, Roger laughed cheerfully.
"Turning this world upside down… that's my One Piece as a pirate."
So this is the Pirate King's freedom?
After hearing all of Roger's words, Mo Wu fell silent.
A memory from the original story surfaced in his mind—something Garp had once said in Dadan's recollections.
Roger was a man who became rash and unreasonable when enraged, yet at his core remained as straightforward and innocent as a child.
Much like Shanks, Roger cared deeply for his companions.
So deeply, in fact, that just because someone insulted his crew, he once wiped out an entire nation's army.
That was Roger.
A man who worshiped the absolute freedom in his own heart.
[Main Mission: Justice Will Not Be Late!]
Target lock enabled.
Target locked: Gol D. Roger
Current target state as follows:
[Gol D. Roger]
Sin: Orange
Combat Power: Tier Two High → Tier One Low (Declining)
Talent: Freedom
Freedom: A will that cannot be restrained.
Skills: Omitted, Three Haki Types (Declining)
Closing the prompt in front of him, Mo Wu looked at the smiling Roger and answered with a faint smile of his own.
"I'm going to stop you from opening that era."
"Your freedom is built on pain."
"Is that so? Hahahaha!"
Roger wasn't surprised at all. In fact, he looked as if he found it only natural.
His smile grew even brighter. He truly appreciated Mo Wu's honesty.
"Come on then, kid. If you've got the guts, try and stop me—the Pirate King!"
Roger's eyes sharpened, like those of an eagle locking onto its prey, as though he were evaluating a worthy opponent.
If Garp had been here, he would have been shocked.
How long had it been since Roger had worn that look?
Though no Conqueror's Haki clashed between them this time, their locked gazes still seemed to spark in the air.
Until one side could no longer bear the strain in their eyes.
"Tch… looks like I lose, kid."
Roger rubbed his aching eyes, all the previous pressure gone in an instant.
"Hey, kid… can I trust you?"
Sitting down at the edge of the bed, Mo Wu heard that and suddenly felt as though black lines had appeared on his forehead.
Why does this feel so familiar?!
"Wouldn't Vice Admiral Garp be more suitable than me?"
He shook his head lightly and tossed the topic back toward Garp.
Mo Wu had no interest in becoming someone else's backup plan, and there was no way he would remain in this world forever.
"Tch. You really do know everything, don't you?"
Roger rubbed his forehead in frustration.
Thinking of Garp's careless personality, Roger wasn't worried that he wouldn't take care of the child.
He was worried the child would turn into a grandson instead.
The mere thought of his son calling Garp "Grandpa" every day—maybe even joining the Marines—made Roger feel completely broken inside.
"Mo Wu, this is the last wish of an old man before death."
A trace of pleading entered Roger's voice as he turned to look at Mo Wu—
"Phew…"
"Phew…"
But what answered him was only the steady sound of breathing.
Asleep already?
Roger chuckled softly and lay back down on his bed.
For a man on the verge of death, sleep had been a luxury for a long time.
He hadn't dared sleep.
He was afraid that once he closed his eyes, he would never wake again.
"The new era…"
"What a wonderfully free future to look forward to… Ace…"
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