1. The Birth Of The Viceroy

In the first half of the Grand Line, also known as Paradise, we find ourselves at the territory of one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Gekko Moria, on his ship called Thriller Bark.

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm gonna find One Piece!" declared Luffy amidst the chaos of his thoughts. The intense battle had quieted his mind, but now a strange force stirred within him, bringing his awareness back to life.

As Luffy's consciousness awakened, a voice echoed in his mind, speaking of his dire condition and the need for evolution. It mentioned the healing of injuries, a ten-day process of physical enhancement, the evolution of his Conqueror's Haki, and the advancement of his Devil Fruit powers, all within the span of ten days.

With each proclamation, waves of energy surged from Luffy's body, swiftly repairing his wounds and setting in motion the evolution of his abilities.

Driven by this mysterious force, most of Luffy's injuries and fatigue were expelled from his body. Despite the severity of his battle wounds, his recovery was alarmingly rapid.

Although Luffy had regained some consciousness, he still lacked full control over his body, which remained in a state of partial recovery.

In the darkness surrounding him, a familiar voice reached Luffy's ears.

"Trade my life for Luffy's."

"My name might not ring bells yet, but I'm destined to be the greatest swordsman in the world. I offer myself."

...

"Is that Zoro's voice? Why the humility?" Luffy pondered.

Zoro never bowed his head, not even in the presence of Hawkeye, the world's greatest swordsman. Why now? Hadn't they defeated Gekko Moria?

But darkness persisted ahead.

...

"If you can't protect your own captain, what dreams can you aspire to?"

"Luffy, he's the one destined to find One Piece."

...

"Experience hell, Roronoa."

The voice, once gentle, now carried a hint of regret as if lamenting the impending withering of life before him.

A cluster of small, blood-red orbs burst forth, hovering slowly before Zoro before merging into his chest. Zoro's visage froze momentarily before contorting in agony. Despite his indomitable will, a will tougher than steel. He screamed in pain—a rare occurrence.

The torment and exhaustion inflicted upon him by Luffy were overwhelming. Compared to the resilient rubber body of Luffy, Zoro, being an ordinary human, felt the pain twofold.

"Is this what Luffy goes through?" Zoro wondered. In this moment, he grasped the unimaginable suffering and injuries Luffy endured after each battle.

"How... do you still wish to proceed?" Kuma inquired.

To venture into hell, one must first glimpse it. But to willingly face it, the courage required far surpasses that of mere curiosity.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo," Zoro gasped heavily before speaking in a low voice, "I'll switch places."

Moments later, he confronted a massive ball of blood-red flesh condensed from exhaustion and agony. Without a word, Zoro's eyes remained eerily calm, the eyes of a man resolved to face death.

Without hesitation, Zoro plunged his hands into the colossal mass of flesh. Instantly, a wave of even greater agony surged through his body, filling Thriller Bark with his uncontrollable screams. However, all aboard the ship were unconscious except for one.

"Is that Zoro screaming? What's happening?" a voice pondered.

"Such agony... Is Zoro facing death? Impossible," another voice murmured.

"Wake up, body," Luffy growled, snapping awake despite the intoxicating relaxation. Zoro's screams pierced his senses, even through Observation Haki, conveying an impending sense of mortality.

"Second Gear," Luffy muttered. In an instant, his body steamed, and he vanished from sight.

"What?" Kuma exclaimed, sensing something amiss. This marked his second surprise, the first being when Zoro offered his life.

A figure enveloped in dense steam soared overhead in an instant, swiftly pulling Zoro away from the bloody, spectral meatball he had thrust his hands into. In a mere ten seconds, Zoro's body was drenched in blood, with crimson streams flowing steadily from his wounds, while the massive meatball had only diminished by a third.

"What's happening? Zoro, what are you doing?" Luffy questioned, his heightened awareness registering the horror emanating from the bloody mass before them. Yet, moments ago, Zoro had plunged his hands into it without hesitation.

"Nothing," Zoro managed to utter amidst the excruciating pain. "Step aside, Luffy. This is a pact between men."

Zoro's resolve remained unshaken despite Luffy's intervention. He understood that Kuma's strength far surpassed Gekko Moria's, rendering them incapable of confronting him. Their only option was to honour their previous agreement: Zoro's life in exchange for Luffy's.

"Your accumulated fatigue and injuries, Straw Hat Boy, speak of a true companion in Roronoa. I've pledged to exchange his life for yours," Kuma stated calmly.

"I don't care about any agreement! This fatigue and pain are mine to Kuma, not Zoro's!" Luffy declared emphatically. "I won't let my crew suffer for my sake."

With that, Luffy pressed his hand directly into the massive, bloody flesh ball.

Boom.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as though time stood still.

The unbearable pain elicited a primal scream from Luffy's lips. At that moment, he understood why Zoro couldn't withstand the agony through sheer willpower alone. It was as if every ounce of pain from their previous battles had been condensed and unleashed in a single, overwhelming wave. This was a torment beyond ordinary comprehension.

Yet, despite the resounding screams echoing throughout Thriller Bark, Luffy's hand remained firmly embedded within the bloody mass.

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