"Roman, should we use 'that move'?"
The Red the Aloof was too strong!
In the past, he had fought and overwhelmed the previous Marine Fleet Admiral, Kong—also known as "Steel Bone." Then he battled Garp before voluntarily going to Impel Down. Otherwise, with his speed, even Garp might not have been able to catch him.
"So, I'll go bring the 'Thousand Sunny' over and get everything ready first..."
What Nami meant by "that move" wasn't the combined attack they had used before. It was a technique specifically designed to deal with highly mobile enemies—Infinite Thunder Abyss!
Yes, the same move that nearly soloed Doflamingo.
That technique had been developed specifically to counter high-speed, high-Observation Haki opponents. Once the target was marked, no matter how good their Observation Haki was—even if they could "see the future"—or how fast they were, they couldn't outrun lightning!
As long as the positive and negative charges kept stacking, there was no escaping the ever-intensifying lightning strikes...
"Wait a second."
But the Red the Aloof wasn't like Doflamingo.
Infinite Thunder Abyss was a progressive attack, and even landing the first charge mark on someone who could "read minds" like the Red the Aloof would be difficult. Not to mention, if he realized the danger, he could simply charge through the early strikes and take Nami out.
So... was this really up to Luffy...?
No!
Roman shook his head. He had to trust Luffy, just as Luffy trusted him.
"Roger, Newgate..."
Even while facing the entire Straw Hat Crew at once, the Red the Aloof still had the composure to speak casually.
"It was because of them that I abandoned my ambitions and chose to live out my days in Impel Down."
Conquering the seas had never been the Red the Aloof's true interest.
Watching his old friends stir up storms across the ocean—that was what he truly enjoyed. To him, Impel Down, a place feared by countless people, was actually the perfect "retirement home."
But—
"Newgate became old and weak... and died miserably at Marine Headquarters..."
"So, I will carry on their dreams!"
He refused to accept it!
Roger, Newgate—was this really the ending they deserved?
"I will use this body that never ages... and become the true king of the seas!!"
And once he fully mastered his abilities, the Holy Land of Mary Geoise—
"This place has made so many old friends hesitate... but I'll break through it myself..."
"You don't understand anything!"
Luffy's furious shout interrupted Red the Aloof's thoughts. "Whitebeard was really strong! I saw him with my own eyes on the battlefield at Marineford!"
"The one who doesn't understand is you—"
At the mention of his old friend, the usually composed Red the Aloof flew into a rage.
"Whitebeard in his prime was far beyond what you saw! You young ones who don't even know what aging means shouldn't talk so recklessly!"
"When you get old, your body will betray you."
Red the Aloof clenched his fists in frustration. Since ancient times, beauty and great warriors alike have never been allowed to grow old in peace!
The Marines have it better—after all, they have the entire world's resources at their disposal. The latest medical technology, various healing abilities... While these aren't very effective for Haki masters, at least they can still maintain some level of combat power.
Look at Kong, Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru—those old Marines are still full of energy.
But on the pirate side? Roger, dying young from an incurable disease. Shiki, suffering from dementia and migraines. Whitebeard, always hooked up to IV drips... The old legends of the sea are all plagued by hidden injuries and illness!
When it comes to logistics, the Marines crush the pirates by miles.
"You'll feel helpless! Your once unstoppable fists will turn weak, and your lightning-fast reflexes will slow down..."
"If that's the case, then tell me!"
As Red the Aloof halted his attack, Luffy strode forward alone, making Zoro instinctively step up as well.
"Hey, Luffy...!!"
"Tell me what it means to grow old!"
Facing Luffy, who stood fearlessly before him, Red the Aloof's expression darkened.
"Alright then, I'll let you experience it firsthand!"
*Snap!* "Roman..."
"Stay calm. I've already called Merry and Sunny over. If things go south, use that move! I'll hold him off..."
Roman respected Luffy's decision and trusted his judgment. But that didn't mean they wouldn't prepare. Even if they ended up not needing it, it was better to be safe.
With the enhancements from the Soul-Soul ability, both Merry and Sunny could now pilot themselves.
With their combined strength and the ship's upgraded weapons, they might just stand a chance!
But before that—
——————
"This is aging!"
Red the Aloof grabbed Luffy by the neck with one hand. As his ability activated, Luffy's very *lifespan* began to drain away!
His jet-black hair rapidly turned white, his limbs shriveled like a deflated balloon, his body growing thin and frail—
"Feel it now? Your strength is slipping away!"
"Your power, your stamina... Once everything is taken from you, can you still talk about dreams?"
*Boom!* "Luffy!?"
"This can't be real..."
"Damn it, turn Luffy back—!"
"Stay back!"
Luffy struggled to his feet, raising a hand to stop his crew from rushing over.
His back was to them, his hair now silver, his limbs thin and frail, his body hunched over.
But—"Even if I've grown old... I'm still made of rubber..."
"Stop lying to yourself!"
*Boom!* Luffy shakily raised a fist, but Red the Aloof simply swatted him down again with a wave of his hand.
"Damn it!! I'll kill you—"
A hand blocked Sanji's path. "Don't lose your cool. Besides, if anyone's going to kill him, it's not going to be *you*, a cook, right?"
Sanji was about to argue when he noticed Roman clenching his jaw, veins bulging on his neck—a clear sign he was suppressing his rage to the limit.
That's right, the first one to meet Luffy was Roman. As his very first crewmate, of course, he would be furious. And unlike the others, Roman had no hesitation when it came to killing.
"I won't lose to someone like you..."
As Luffy struggled to stand again, Red the Aloof shook his head.
"Stop forcing yourself. Your body isn't listening to you anymore. The things you used to do—one by one, you can't do them now."
Boom! With just a casual step forward and a simple wave of his hand, the just-standing Luffy was sent flying once again.
"Does aging... count as an excuse for failure?"
Luffy, struggling to get up again, snapped back—but all he got in return was another impatient slap.
Boom! "You talk big, but look at yourself! You can't even fight properly anymore!"
Boom! "No matter what dreams you hold on to, your aging body will betray you and shatter them!"
Boom! Over and over, he stood up. Over and over, he was knocked down with ease...
Gritting sounds filled the air. Nami, Carrot, and Pudding instinctively covered their mouths as tears welled up in their eyes.
"Luffy, stop getting up..."
"Luffy, ... this fight is completely—"
"Luffy!!"
Roman's voice drowned out their worries, his firm words echoing across the battlefield.
"Stand up!!!"
"Knock that guy down, just like always! We still have to get to Laugh Tale—we can't fall in a place like this!"
"Roman! Look at Luffy—he's—"
Chopper, who had been rescued, lay on the ground crying. But Roman just kept staring ahead, his expression calm.
"This is Luffy's fight. I respect his choice."
"But—"
"If Luffy loses, then it's my turn!"
... "Accept it. In the end, everyone grows old. One by one, they give up on their dreams, until finally, they meet their end!"
Boom! This time, it was Luffy's fist slamming into Red the Aloof's stomach.
"I already told you, this isn't about age...!!"
Boom! Luffy's second punch struck Red the Aloof's well-defined abs again, but it didn't even make him flinch.
"Did Whitebeard ever give up?!"
"No matter how many times he was stabbed... he kept fighting! Whether it was to save Ace or to protect his crew—he never gave up!!!"
Smack! For the first time, Red the Aloof—who had never taken a step back in battle—staggered. It wasn't just Luffy's unyielding will, but also the arrogance of pitying Whitebeard...
"Enough, kid!!"
Furious and humiliated, Redfield threw a powerful punch at Luffy!
This time, he wasn't playing around—he was aiming to defeat, maybe even kill. The Straw Hat Crew, watching from behind, instinctively leaned forward—
Smack!
But just as the rejuvenated Redfield, with his mountain-splitting strength, was about to land his punch, an aged hand caught it.
?!
"Gramps didn't, and neither did Uncle Rayleigh..."
"They never used 'old age' as an excuse!"
"You, who so easily gave up on something important—"
The little tanuki beside Chopper lowered his head.
"How could you even compare to those men?!"
Whoosh—
Luffy, now with a head full of silver hair, flung Redfield's fist aside, his eyes unwavering.
"I will never abandon my crew!"
"That's why you will never defeat me!!"
Insane...
Redfield instinctively took a step back, his face twitching in frustration. His fist clenched tight once more, then—
With a crimson glow, his punch shot toward Luffy.
"You really think that nonsense is gonna work?!"
At the same time, an aged fist met his attack head-on, fearless.
"Who cares about reasons?!"
Crack—
A web of countless tiny black lightning bolts erupted between their fists, spreading outward in every direction.
The ground exploded, the air tore apart as if boiling!
It was as if an invisible wall of pure destruction had formed, expanding endlessly from the point of impact, dividing the world into two halves that could never cross.
This is—?!
Roman, who had been ready to assist Luffy, widened his eyes.
Conqueror's Haki infusion?!
"I will never give up... Even if I turn into an old man with white hair... Even if my body can't move... Even if it costs me my life..."
Boom—!
In the next instant, Luffy's fist, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, forcefully pushed through Redfield's attack and smashed into his face.
"My dream will never be abandoned!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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