From his perch on the rock, Luffy finally let out a low, almost childlike laugh.
"Shishishi… if you awaken your Conqueror's Haki tonight, I'll give you a special reward."
His eyes sparkled with expectation as he opened the Adventure Shop.
"A full Haki upgrade set… just for you. Trust me, it'll be worth it."
And while the metallic echoes of battle still rang through the night, Luffy was already preparing the rewards—firmly believing that Zoro would be able to break through that barrier and take one more step toward the title of the world's greatest swordsman.
Even though there was no logical basis for believing so, Luffy felt deep in his heart that Zoro could push further—perhaps even tonight.
[Custom Update]: Haki Fruit
And then, before his eyes, a single Haki Fruit appeared in the shop.
Without hesitation, he bought it.
The second update… again, just one fruit. He bought it.
The third time… the fourth time… always solitary, always a single fruit.
Finally, on the fifth attempt, a golden gift box appeared. Luffy bought it instantly.
He pressed on. Sixth try: a lone fruit.
Seventh try: another gift box.
"Perfect," Luffy murmured, satisfied.
In the end, he had spent 7,540 Adventure Coins. His balance dropped from 386,245 to 378,705. The return? Fifteen shining Haki Fruits lined up before him.
[Obtained]: 15 Haki Fruits
With the reward prepared, Luffy lifted his gaze back to the battlefield.
The night passed without mercy. When the first rays of sunlight touched the distant islands, the clash had already scarred both earth and sky.
Zoro was still standing, but his body could barely hold up under the weight of his own will. His clothes were drenched in dark crimson, and the sword gripped in his mouth finally fell with a dry clang. His frame trembled uncontrollably, but his eyes still burned with fire.
Katakuri, swaying on his feet, stared in disbelief.
"He… he's still standing? Impossible. Look at you—you're unconscious, yet you still force the world to see what you can do. You're already knocked out… the only thing keeping you upright is sheer willpower."
There he was—a man who, even unconscious, refused to fall.
"What a monster… your strength isn't extraordinary compared to mine, but that will… that indomitable will!"
Breathing heavily, Katakuri could only admit,
"Sooner or later, this man will be a great swordsman. That much is inevitable."
He himself was exhausted, torn apart by the battle that had dragged on from night into dawn. Every blow exchanged had been a test of endurance, and now, finally, Katakuri fell to his knees.
He raised his eyes to Zoro, sighing,
"It would be a waste to let you die here. I'll call for a doctor—"
But before he could take a step, something changed.
Katakuri's pupils shrank violently. What had been fading, like a dying candle, suddenly reignited with supernatural ferocity.
A thunderous boom split the air.
Zoro rose once more, both blades clenched in his blood-soaked hands. His right eye burned with a grotesque red glow, and from him surged an aura of Conqueror's Haki so intense the ground itself trembled. Yet it was not ordinary—it was twisted, abnormal, as though hell itself had branded this man.
"I… STILL… HAVEN'T… LOST!!!"
Zoro's voice tore out like a growl from the abyss.
Katakuri froze, petrified.
"This… this can't be! This is awakening!"
He remembered his own awakening at twelve years old, when he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki to protect his sister, driven by violent emotion. Awakening was always born from overwhelming feelings.
But Zoro? He wasn't awakening for anyone's sake. Not out of pain, nor sorrow, nor rage.
He awakened because he simply refused to lose.
Even at the edge of the abyss, even stripped of consciousness, his will to win was stronger than death itself.
Katakuri clenched his teeth, filled with equal parts awe and fear.
"What kind of man is this…? Why would someone like him bow to the Straw Hat?"
Before he could react further, another presence slipped between them.
"Enough."
Luffy appeared like a phantom, his fist driving into Zoro's stomach. In an instant, the wild Haki was extinguished, and the swordsman collapsed into his captain's arms.
"Straw Hat Luffy…" Katakuri breathed, stunned. "When did you arrive?"
"Last night," Luffy replied coldly. Adjusting Zoro over his shoulder, he fixed Katakuri with a sharp look.
"Thanks for fighting him, but if he keeps going, he'll die for real."
The words were simple, yet cut deep. Katakuri had nothing to say. What could he answer? His mind still reeled at the realization that Luffy had been there the whole time, unnoticed. If Luffy had been an enemy, Katakuri would already be dead.
In his Nika form, Luffy vanished in a flash of white, carrying Zoro toward the castle.
Katakuri stood motionless, silent, as he put away his Mochi as though burying a vow.
"That man… with subordinates like this, it's only a matter of time before he becomes Pirate King. But… why does a swordsman like Zoro bow to the Straw Hat?"
---
Hours later, the silence of the infirmary was broken by a faint groan.
Zoro opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. He tried to move, but his body refused to respond. Bandages wrapped him from head to toe.
"Stay still, Zoro!" Chopper scolded, wringing a damp cloth. "You almost died! When Luffy brought you back, I thought it was already over!"
Zoro managed a faint smirk.
"So… I'm in the castle, huh? Spent the whole night training with that mochi guy…"
His mind froze. He couldn't remember the ending. Only fragments—flashes of an animalistic instinct guiding his sword.
Then Luffy, lounging lazily on a sofa, spoke with a sly grin:
"Congratulations, Zoro. You awakened your Conqueror's Haki."
Zoro blinked in disbelief.
"I… did it? But my body's wrecked. I can't even feel it, let alone control it."
Luffy stepped closer, placing twelve Haki Fruits on the bedside table.
"These are your reward. Eat them, and I'm sure you'll have the strength to challenge Mihawk himself. But if you'd rather keep training the old-fashioned way, I won't stop you. The choice is yours."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked out.
Zoro could only follow him with his eyes, too weak to move. Then his stomach growled loudly.
"Chopper… help me," he said with a serious look.
"You… you want to eat all of these!?" Chopper's eyes bulged.
"Ahhh—" Zoro opened his mouth without hesitation.
Grumbling, Chopper shoved all twelve fruits in at once.
The sound of chewing filled the room. Zoro swallowed them with satisfaction—only for his pupils to contract sharply.
"Zoro?! What's happening?!" Chopper panicked.
The swordsman shut his eyes, and an overwhelming pressure rolled through the infirmary.
"Suddenly… it feels like I've mastered my Haki," he muttered, stunned.
Chopper stood frozen, speechless.
Meanwhile, outside, Luffy watched the system window flickering before him.
[Crew Member Roronoa Zoro has awakened Conqueror's Haki]
[Reward: 10,000 Adventure Coins]
Luffy crossed his arms and sighed with a smile.
"As expected…"
---
End of Chapter
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."