Luffy, how can you become the Pirate King if you don't work hard!

Luffy crouched down to examine Rocks's mangled body up close, noting, "It's very similar to Whitebeard's situation."

Such vitality is truly remarkable; after suffering such an injury, it is still slowly recovering.

Indeed, the hole in Rocks' chest, blasted open by Garp's punch, was visibly growing granulation tissue at its edges. The tissue was weaving together, trying to fill the gap. The slash wound on his neck was also slowly healing, albeit slowly.

At this rate, it will take at most half a day for Rocks to regain his basic mobility.

That will be another disaster.

"Joe, Joey Boy?"

A hoarse voice suddenly rang out.

Lox's eyes, which had been completely covered in darkness, suddenly regained a sliver of clarity.

This is the consciousness of Lox D. Gibbek himself.

"You've regained consciousness?" Luffy was somewhat surprised.

"Heh, hehe."

Lox's voice trailed off, "It seems I have failed."

"Kill me."

"Now use Conqueror's Haki to sever my head."

“My people and children are still alive, and they may be able to help you in the future.”

This is the last bit of rationality a ruthless leader possesses.

Lox knew better than anyone what fate awaited him if he were controlled by Im's Black.

This would threaten his people and his wife and children.

Therefore, dying here, dying at the hands of this man who is qualified to stand against the world, is the best ending.

Luffy shook his head.

"We're friends, aren't we?"

He said, "I could never do something like that."

friend?

Lox's remaining consciousness was stunned.

A flood of memories came to mind.

He couldn't help but laugh.

"So as a friend, give me a quick death, or everything will be a disaster."

"I'd like to try a pretty good method," Luffy grinned. "It might be an effective one. Want to give it a try?"

method?

Before Rocks could react, Luffy grabbed him with one hand. With Luffy's current strength, lifting the ten-meter-tall demon body was as easy as picking up a chicken.

Then, he was dragged to a spot not far away.

There was a huge crater there, a fissure in the ground caused by the previous battle. Deep inside the fissure, seawater was gushing out, forming a small saltwater pool.

"Wait, what are you going to do?"

Luffy didn't say anything. He just walked to the edge of the pool and, like throwing away trash, shoved Rocks' massive body into the sea.

Glug glug glug......

Bubbles surged out wildly.

Devil Fruit users lose their powers upon contact with seawater; this is the law of the sea. Im's ability also seems to be a Devil Fruit power, which even Rocks, under the control of the Black Transformation, could not defy.

Add to that Joy Boy's power...

Five seconds.

ten seconds.

.......

Not long after, Luffy pulled him out.

"Pfft!"

Rocks coughed up a large amount of seawater and collapsed by the pool, gasping for breath.

His appearance has undergone a dramatic transformation.

The left half of his body, from the shoulder to the waist, was still covered with the remaining dark red scales. His left eye was completely black, and the fingertips of his left hand still bore the marks of sharp claws.

However, the right side of his body has returned to a normal human appearance.

Half demon, half human.

Just like Whitebeard back then.

"It really works!"

"Is this the power of Joy Boy?"

Lox said in a deep voice, "It's truly amazing. I've gained some control over my body, but unfortunately, we're not from the same era."

He looked up at Luffy:

"Are you leaving?"

It wasn't surprising that Rocks guessed he was a time traveler using the Time Fruit.

"Hahaha, the future looks like it's going to be very exciting. Two Devil Fruits in one person, Newgate never expected to encounter the same thing as me."

Lox laughed loudly, "It seems that fighting against this world is indeed the destiny of the Joy Boy and David families!"

As he laughed, his voice lowered.

"Unfortunately, I am not the one who will become the king of the world."

He lost.

"Want to come?"

Luffy suddenly spoke.

Rocks froze, staring blankly at Luffy, "To the future?"

Luffy nodded and said, "I'm not comfortable leaving you here in this state. It would be troublesome if you were controlled again. Let's go to the future. If you become a problem then, I'll take care of you myself."

Lox opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

"The future?!"

He burst out laughing, "Then I'll leave it to you!"

"Hey, Luffy, shouldn't you ask for my advice?!" Gion shouted from the side.

Luffy turned around and smiled, "You'll agree, won't you?"

Gion's expression froze.

Damn it,

He's right!

God Valley has made her lose sight of what justice truly is.

Pirates are helping civilians and slaves, while the World Government is carrying out inhumane extermination.

This is not the justice she wanted.

It's already messy enough, so adding another one won't make a difference.

Just then.

Luffy's eyes suddenly lit up as he looked up at the sky.

There, a worn-out straw hat was fluttering in the wind, swirling and falling.

It was blown from some battlefield, and it was unknown how long it had been floating in the air, but at this moment, it swayed and drifted down towards where Luffy was.

Luffy reached out his hand.

Snapped.

The straw hat landed steadily in my palm.

He looked down at the straw hat he had lost and found, and grinned.

Luffy put the straw hat on his head and pressed down the brim.

A familiar touch.

A familiar weight.

"It's time to go back!"

......

Calm Belt, Amazon Lily.

one year later.

When will Lord Luffy finally come back?

Hancock is like a waiting stone, almost every day she waits at the place where Luffy and Gion fought a year ago.

This is the 107th time I've asked this question today.

Today she was wearing traditional Amazonian lily attire, her long, deep purple hair swaying gently in the sea breeze, her face, hailed as the world's most beautiful woman, etched with melancholy and resentment.

It's been a year!

"I said, very soon."

Beside her, Nika lay on her back in the air, holding a bottle of fruit wine, a specialty of Amazon Lily, and sipping it intermittently.

"You said the same thing a year ago!"

Hancock whirled around, glaring at Nika. "If Lord Luffy doesn't come back soon, I'm stopping your drinking!"