Chapter 101

"Then Lord Sima, what about you?" Vivi asked.

"Robin and I can be ruled out." Sima Di shook his head.

He didn't need to say more.

Robin had survived being hunted since childhood; if she were pure, she would have been captured long ago.

"Then what about Crocus?"

"I don't need this so-called Elixir of the Gods. At my age, what potential is there left?"

"Mm... fair enough."

Crocus ruled out.

"Laboon definitely can!"

"Must be!"

Same reason as Chopper.

"Zoro?"

"Mm..."

"Probably... can, right?"

"Beyond the way of the sword, he doesn't even have interest in women."

"And he's a lost-cause directionally challenged, bonus points."

Zoro never imagined that one day being directionally challenged would count as a bonus.

"Kurei-kai..."

"I'll pass." Kurei-kai knew his own limits.

"Then that leaves the Fast One. What do you think?"

The Fast One tilted its head in confusion.

Though it was clever, it still hadn't reached the point of understanding the meaning of "pure."

So everyone turned to look at Vivi.

"The Elixir of the Gods I brought back this time is only enough for two people!" Vivi shook the glass bottle. "So we'll talk about the Fast One later. Who should get it now?"

Two slots?

Then who gets them?

The few who had just been named as eligible no longer stayed silent, and eagerly spoke up one after another.

Chopper: "I won't need it for now. My constitution isn't strong enough yet. Better give it to someone else."

Zoro: "The way of the sword can only be walked step by step. Give it to someone else."

Laboon: "I just used a potion. For the short term, I should focus on adapting."

Luffy: "Give it to them! I should be awakening Haki soon anyway!"

The four spoke in unison, all declining, then exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

Sima Di and the others laughed too.

He believed the four were different from Usopp — they weren't declining out of fear, but wanted to give the chance to their companions first.

"Alright, stop pushing it back and forth. Didn't that Heavenly God say he'd provide more Elixir of the Gods?" Sima Di said. "The Elixir of the Gods unlocks potential, but you still have to be solid yourself. A foundation too weak would be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow. Given the current situation, Zoro and Luffy should use it first."

Laboon has already awakened Armament Haki, and has already consumed three team resources in a row — he can wait.

As for Chopper...

He's simply not strong enough yet; his foundation is too thin.

Everyone agreed with Sima Di's arrangement, except Luffy and Zoro, who were a little displeased.

"I'm about to awaken Haki myself. No need to waste it." Luffy said.

"The way of the sword must be pure! Shortcuts gurgle gurgle—"

But Sima Di couldn't stand watching anymore. Taking advantage of Zoro's guard being down, he snatched the Elixir of the Gods and forced less than half a bottle down Zoro's throat.

The moment the Elixir of the Gods went down,

Zoro clutched his throat and collapsed on the deck. Though he looked to be in great agony, his aura was surging wildly.

"Looks pretty painful. Want me to help you out?" Sima Di's hand glowed with light.

Zoro: "!!!"

He had been in agony moments ago, but suddenly his face went poker-stiff. Though his shoulders still twitched uncontrollably, he looked far more normal.

This made Sima Di nod involuntarily.

"Still in control. Looks like it's not a big problem."

The light in his hand faded too.

Everyone: _●)_●)

You're the devil!!

They didn't rush to have Luffy drink the other half of the Elixir of the Gods. Everyone simply stood around Zoro waiting.

This wait lasted the better part of a day.

Until the sun set in the west,

Dinner had already been prepared by the time Zoro finally ended his ordeal of agony.

The first thing he did upon standing was draw Wado Ichimonji and slash at Sima Di.

"Bastard! I told you I'd rather die than let you treat me!!"

"Clang—"

Sima Di caught Zoro's blade with one hand, then raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Basic Armament Haki. It seems the Super God Water really worked."

"Hmph!"

Zoro sheathed his blade after testing its power, staring blankly at his palm.

"Is this Armament Haki? It's truly amazing—now I can cut through steel even without the Cutting Iron Secret Technique!"

"Congratulations, Zoro."

"Hah! If Zoro's gotten stronger, then I'm safer!"

Ma Di looked at Luffy and raised the remaining half-bottle of Super God Water.

"Do you want to take it yourself, or shall I help you?"

What could Luffy do against Ma Di's firm attitude?

"Can we wait until after dinner to gulp it down—"

What no one expected happened!

Even Luffy winced in pain, yet he still trudged step by step toward the dining hall, biting down one giant bone at a time, his eating pace showing not the slightest hesitation!

"Tsk! Is this the power of a foodie?" Ma Di murmured in amazement.

By the late night,

the effects of the Super God Water were completely spent—and something even more unexpected occurred!

"Hummmmm—"

An invisible aura erupted from Luffy's body, crushing down on everyone like a mountain descending!

Conqueror's Haki!

Even Ma Di hadn't anticipated this—he'd assumed Luffy would only awaken Armament Haki, yet he'd somehow awakened Conqueror's Haki too?

He immediately snapped to attention,

releasing his own Conqueror's Haki—not to oppose Luffy's, but to shield Chopper, Run-Fast, and others with weaker wills.

The others felt the pressure too, but their minds remained clear and unharmed.

After roughly several seconds,

Luffy's first unconscious release of Conqueror's Haki drained him completely, sending him into a coma.

Ma Di retracted his Conqueror's Haki and smiled at Luffy.

No wonder he's the protagonist—he gains more from the same opportunities than anyone else.

He glanced at Zoro, whose face had darkened, and comforted him: "Conqueror's Haki is a matter of innate talent—usually only captains can awaken it. Not a single Marine Admiral has ever done so."

Zoro stared silently at Ma Di—you've awakened Conqueror's Haki too, haven't you?