" Straw Hat Boy, come on, try my freshly roasted leg!"
A middle-aged man handed Luffy a large, freshly grilled leg.
"Oh ho?"
Looking at the golden color of the pork leg and smelling the enticing aroma, I could almost taste it.
Luffy's eyes immediately transformed into the shape of this leg, and he couldn't help but drool. He immediately picked it up.
"Thanks!"
Not far from Luffy, the rest of the group were happily eating, chatting, drinking, and watching the performance by a group of people in the distance.
The scene was incredibly lively, and everyone was immersed in joy, except for one person.
Sabo sat on the roof of a house that had been reduced to ruins, watching the happy faces of the crowd, and tears welled up in his eyes again.
They, the Revolutionary Army, did this occasionally before!
But now... everything is irreversible!
" Imu!!"
Sabo couldn't help but grit his teeth, his voice filled with hatred.
He has made up his mind: from now on, he will hunt down and kill members of the World Government on the high seas, especially the Celestial Dragons —he will kill them one by one!
A blood feud must be repaid with blood!
Sabo slowly raised his hand, and the next second, Armament Haki covered it, shimmering in the light of the fire not far away.
If Xia Chen were here to see this scene, he would definitely be very surprised, because Sabo's Armament Haki level at this moment is actually... King Level!
Not only Armament Haki, but Three Types of Haki had reached the King Level level at this moment.
During the time Imu controlled his body, Imu somehow managed to rapidly increase the level of his Three Types of Haki, eventually raising them all to the King Level.
So even though Xia Chen has erased Imu's consciousness, his Haki aura still remains!
His strength has now leaped to become one of the world's top powerhouses!
But if he could, he would rather nothing had ever happened, and he wouldn't need this kind of power; he could just stay the way he was before.
Just be with them like before... that's fine!
"Boom!"
Just then, a series of sounds suddenly came from the surroundings.
Then everyone saw countless clods of earth converge towards the sky, gradually forming a huge rock sphere that floated in the air.
However, because it was nighttime, even with the firelight, people could only vaguely see a spherical black shadow.
Countless residents stared wide-eyed at the sight, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"What... what is this?"
"Wasn't it all over? Why are you coming again?"
"..."
The residents began to discuss the matter, but they didn't seem particularly afraid.
After all, they've experienced enough things like this today.
Besides... the Straw Hat Pirates are right beside them now, with them around, what's there to be afraid of!
"This rock ball... what is Xia Chen doing again?"
Zoro took a sip of his drink and asked curiously.
This wasn't the first time they'd seen this rock sphere; they'd seen it before at Marine Headquarters.
However, they saw it from a great distance on the ship back then, which was not nearly as awe-inspiring as seeing it from this distance!
" Xia Chen's ideas are so weird, who can guess what he's up to!"
"Alright, forget about him, Zoro, let's keep drinking!" Usopp said, putting his arm around Zoro's shoulder and offering him his wine glass.
"Cheers!!"
Before long, everyone was immersed in a happy atmosphere again.
Since Xia Chen did it, then there's no problem!
At this moment, atop the giant rock sphere, Xia Chen stood looking down.
After a long pause, a slow smile appeared on his lips...
--
The next day, at a cape in Dressrosa.
" Sabo, are you really not coming with us?"
Luffy's slightly disappointed voice came through.
"No! Luffy!"
"You all have your own adventures to continue, but I'm different. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I'll spend the rest of my life fighting the World Government, until the day I die!"
"I won't stop until then!" Sabo said calmly, looking at Luffy.
"..."
After a long silence, Luffy finally said, "Then you absolutely mustn't die. Ace probably doesn't know you're still alive, right? He'd be so happy if he did!"
"So you must live well, because one day the three of us brothers will definitely reunite!"
"Definitely!" Sabo smiled slightly.
Then he slowly opened his mouth, but didn't say anything, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Hmm? Sabo, what are you trying to say?" Luffy noticed the conflict on Sabo's face and asked curiously.
"Um... can I ask you for a favor, Luffy?"
"Bang!"
Luffy punched Sabo in the chest, a displeased expression on his face.
"Hey! Sabo, when did you become so distant? We're brothers, just say what's on your mind!"
"Like a woman, so indecisive!"
Upon hearing Luffy's words, Sabo's face showed a look of astonishment, and after a long while, he managed to utter a single sentence.
" Luffy, your attack power is much stronger than when you were a kid!"
"Hahaha!! Really? You think so too? I also think I'm terrifyingly strong now. One punch from me might just make you cry!"
"Uh... I wasn't talking about the power of your fists, I meant your words!"
Luffy:...
After this little incident, Sabo's mood visibly improved, a slight smile appearing on his lips. He then looked at Luffy earnestly and said:
" Luffy, I heard the Storm-Storm Fruit is in your hands, could you... give it to me?"
"I thought it was something big, but it's just this!"
"You should have said so earlier! We were just leaving it to gather dust anyway, it was completely useless!"
"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Sabo's pupils dilated slightly.
The Storm-Storm Fruit? Gathering dust? Completely useless.
He can understand the meaning of each of these three words individually, so why can't he understand them when they're put together?
" Xia Chen, give the Storm-Storm Fruit to Sabo!" Luffy turned to look at Xia Chen and said.
After they met Xia Chen yesterday, they entrusted the Xia Chen Storm-Storm Fruit to him for safekeeping.
Xia Chen didn't speak, but slightly raised his hand, and the Storm-Storm Fruit appeared directly in his hand.
"Give!"
Sabo reached out and caught the Storm-Storm Fruit Xia Chen tossed to him, his eyes revealing excitement, but also a hint of nostalgia, as if he were thinking of a certain man.
"I will inherit your Devil Fruit power and your will..."
"I will change the world!!!"