Chapter 24: The Straw Hat Pirates, Unlimited Potential!

[After a moment of silence, Kuma approached Luffy.]

[With a gentle tug, he pulled a massive red bear-paw bubble from the unconscious Luffy's body!]

["This is the sum of all the damage, pain, and exhaustion that Straw Hat has accumulated during this battle. If you can withstand it all, I will consider your request."]

["But I must warn you, in your current condition, you probably can't withstand it!"]

["As a piece of advice, I'll let you experience a bit of it first…"]

[Having said that, Kuma waved his hand, and a small bubble separated from it, drifting towards Zoro…]

[In an instant, an indescribable intense pain exploded within him!]

[At this moment, Zoro began to tremble violently!]

[It felt as if he was experiencing the breath of death, as if all the pain in the world was pressing down on him, suffocating him!]

[If a small bubble could cause such pain, one couldn't imagine the pain caused by a bubble thousands of times larger…]

[If he were to withstand it all, there was a chance...he could die!]

["How about it? If you don't want to, I can ignore your previous words and continue taking Straw Hat away…"]

[Zoro whispered in disbelief, "Is this the pain Luffy has been enduring all this time?"]

[Gradually, determination appeared in his eyes…]

["Please let me change locations."]

[In the end, he and Kuma arrived at an empty area several hundred meters away. Facing the massive red bubble in front of him, Zoro took a deep breath.]

[He raised both hands and touched it…]

[Even though he knew it contained unimaginable pain, possibly leading to his death, he didn't hesitate for a moment.]

[Because Zoro understood that as a crew member, he had to share Luffy's pain!]

[And it was the only way to save him, to save everyone present…]

[The scene changed again, and Kuma had disappeared. Zoro stood stiffly in place, seemingly unfazed by what had just happened.]

[However, as the scene zoomed in, one could see…]

[Zoro was covered in blood, his clothes reduced to tatters, his eyes bloodshot, and his condition at its absolute worst.]

[The ground within a hundred-meter radius was splattered with blood, a horrifying sight!]

[But fortunately, even after enduring such unimaginable pain, Zoro was still alive – this was the best possible outcome…]

...

[The scene shifted again; Luffy had awakened, and Zoro had been treated by Chopper. Although wrapped in bandages all over, he was no longer in mortal danger.]

[After defeating Moria, the Straw Hat Pirates all experienced significant growth and improvement.]

[Soon after, they set sail once more, continuing their adventures toward new destinations…]

As everyone watched the scene, they were deeply engrossed…

Zoro's determination, steadfastness, and selfless spirit of sacrifice.

Not only did it astonish Kuma, but it also deeply moved everyone watching the live broadcast…

Luffy wasn't just powerful, he also had trustworthy allies.

Allies willing to risk their lives for him!

And this made everyone realize the true extent of the pain Luffy had endured while defeating Moria.

Such pain would be unbearable for most people.

His willpower and physical constitution were truly terrifying…

...

Luffy stared blankly at the sky.

"Is this what he's been going through for me?" Luffy thought, deeply moved, even with his carefree nature.

In the original storyline, the fact that Zoro willingly took on all the pain to save Luffy remained unknown to him and the rest of the crew, except for Sanji, who alone understood the price Zoro had paid—a journey akin to facing death itself.

Now, as Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates in various locations watched the live broadcast, they were all stunned by the events unfolding on the screen. Sanji, Brook, Nami, Usopp, and Robin were shocked by Zoro's determination and the unimaginable damage Luffy had sustained during the battle. Zoro had barely survived just by absorbing it, which demonstrated the extent of Luffy's suffering.

The pain was beyond imagination.

And the most astonished of all was Zoro himself. Looking up at the sky, he saw himself standing in a pool of blood, utterly bewildered. "Is that me?" He found it hard to believe that his future self would willingly endure such pain for someone else. At least with his current mindset, he could not comprehend or imagine it.

But soon, he smiled. "It seems like my future captain is an amazing person." "Otherwise, why would I be so convinced by him?" Zoro trusted his own judgment; his willingness to sacrifice for Luffy proved the charisma of Luffy's character.

In that moment, Zoro suddenly desired to meet this captain he had yet to encounter.

Over at the Navy...

Sengoku and the other Navy officers frowned as they watched the screen. The expressions on their faces were enough to prove that they were becoming wary of Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirates. After all, defeating two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea was a threat they could not ignore.

As for the pirates...

The Red Hair Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and even the other Four Emperors and some prestigious pirate crews had initially looked down on the Straw Hat Pirates or just wanted to enjoy the show. But after watching the battle, their attitudes began to change.

This pirate crew, though small in number, was incredibly formidable. Whether it was Luffy as the captain, Zoro with his three swords, or Robin, Usopp, Brook, and the others, their potential seemed limitless.

Their future was truly boundless.