"Nothing. I was just calculating how much longer you had to live."
As he slowly fell, Luffy recalled what Loa had said to him in the Sakura Kingdom. He struggled to glance toward Chopper. He couldn't make out what Chopper and the others were shouting. He only knew they were crying.
Crying?
Why are they crying?
Oh, right. I'm going to die. So this is death. There's nothing to be afraid of after all.
Luffy slowly closed his eyes. In his perception, the fall stretched on without end. Everything around him seemed frozen in place, as though someone had pressed pause. His body was still too, but his mind kept working.
No!
Luffy's eyes snapped open.
Why should I die?
There's still so much food I haven't eaten!
So many places I haven't been!
So many things I haven't done!
And so many friends waiting for me to come back!
I haven't become the King of the Pirates yet!!!!!
Boom!
A powerful, terrifying aura suddenly surged skyward! Even deep beneath the sea, through layers of concrete and earth, Tony and the others felt its pressure!
Conqueror's Haki!
The makings of a king!!!
Rob Lucci had thought he'd won and was savoring his victory. But the sudden eruption of that aura made him cough up blood and drop to one knee!
Tap!
It wasn't loud, but in everyone's mind it struck like thunder. They watched those straw sandals plant themselves on the ground again, going from shaky to firm as they held Luffy upright. None of the Straw Hat Pirates could put what they felt into words!
Everything they wanted to say came down to one shout.
"Go, Luffy!!!"
"Heh! Of course!" Luffy's left hand was covered in burns and had gone completely numb. Yet his smile was as bright as