Suddenly, Sanji stood up from his chair with a shocked look on his face and asked.
"Wait, you knew this would happen? You predicted this?"
"Shitty cook, what are you talking about? Isn't it normal for Liam to plan this?" Zoro looked at Sanji's reaction with confusion. He directly chose to ignore Luffy's question and focus more on Sanji.
Most of them didn't understand. Only Robin had a thoughtful look on her face. Slowly, even Nami began to understand something, and a look of horror emerged in her eyes.
"This. This action from the Marines. It was part of your plan."
"Not completely!" Liam shook his head and continued.
"I did plan to recruit these supernovas one way or another."
He looked at Luffy and continued.
"They are supposed to be your rivals. Even if we hadn't gone through those training plans, we would still be stronger than them."
"In other words, their existence as your rivals was pretty much useless. So, I thought of recruiting them through other methods. I pretty much had some ideas in my mind."
"But thanks to Fleet Admiral's idea and Akainu's ruthlessness, we don't have to use those plans. As for why we should recruit them."
Luffy nodded his head, wanting to know the answer. As for his other words, he just ignored them.
"It's simple. They can save our lives."
That instantly made Luffy give up his rejection. However, he still showed a conflicted look and asked.
"How?"
"Trafalgar Law! He is the user of Ope-Ope No Mi. It allows him to create a blue sphere inside which he can do pretty much anything from controlling people to teleporting them."
"The latter being very important for our crew and can be used in an emergency. Besides, he is also a doctor. And, if you manage to make him as loyal as others, he might choose to make you immortal in your last battle."
That brought a strange silence in the room.
"Did you just say immortal?" Sanji asked while lighting up his cigarette.
Liam nodded, completely ignoring their reactions, and said.
"Ope-Ope No Mi allows the user to make one person immortal after awakening it. It is called Immortality Surgery. Although it does cost the life of the user."
"But your last battle will decide the fate of the world, so compared to that, Law's own life might not be worth much. As for why you need immortality, it's basically simple."
"Your awakening will cost you your lifespan."
Hearing his words, Luffy frowned a little, not liking the idea of sacrificing someone for a win. It wasn't his idea.
So, when Liam saw his expression, he quickly explained.
"I know what you are trying to say. But, you have to understand. Someone who is at least fifty to a hundred times stronger than the current you lost against the World Government eight hundred years ago."
When he said that, Robin shook in her chair. Once again, Liam was casually mentioning the history, but it was causing shockwaves in her heart.
She felt her status in the crew declining even more. It made her heart bleed. She almost had the urge to leave, but she noticed a hand holding her.
At this moment, she slowly raised her head toward the left and sees Luffy looking away.
But it was his hand. Because only his hand could reach her from that side, especially with his rubbery powers.
This was a small action, but it was more than enough to calm her heart.
Although it was a small action, everyone noticed it and decided not to talk about it.
Liam felt bad taking Robin's role in the crew. But he couldn't slow down now. He had already changed so much, and his existence was already disappearing.
He didn't want these people to suffer because of the changes he brought.
Sometimes the protagonists' group wins because of the author or plot, especially the Straw Hat Pirates.
They faced three Logia before even Luffy made it to the Marineford and somehow survived. It was a feat of luck that can only be described as plot armor.
Now Liam had almost broken the plot, he didn't know what kind of situation this crew would face especially after he disappeared.
So, he wanted to inspire Luffy to get stronger, and he just had the perfect idea.
"Eight hundred years ago, someone possessed the same devil fruit as you. He not only awakened it but also had the Haki stronger than Roger, Garp, and Shanks."
"Their Haki is so strong that during the battle, their Conqueror Haki alone can negate the effects of devil fruit unless their users combine similar levels of Haki to their devil fruits."
"And, if you are asking what level can they negate. I am not one hundred percent sure about these three, but Joyboy, who possessed your devil fruit, could easily negate the devil fruit powers of an Admiral."
"Yes, an Admiral!"
Not to mention others who were freaking out, even Luffy was stunned by his words. You know, he just fought an admiral a few days ago.
He was almost defeated by them if he hadn't awakened his Advance Conqueror and even then, it was hard to win against them.
During their battle, Luffy understood just how annoying their devil fruits could be. Kizaru, despite not having Advance Observation, could outmatch him in speed thanks to his Pika-Pika No Mi.
Liam suffered the most damage he has ever suffered in a battle with Aokiji. These two alone forced them to their absolute limit and more.
But now, Liam was casually telling him that someone out there eight hundred years ago could easily destroy their devil fruit powers.
It almost sounded unbelievable, but considering it came from Liam, he had no choice but to accept it.
Zoro and Sanji hardened their gazes. They immediately knew they had to start training. They needed to be stronger, a hundred times stronger than they are now.
Liam smiled when he saw this and continued.
"Don't worry, with your talent and devil fruit, you will reach his level of strength soon. But because your awakening consumes your lifespan, you might need to rely on Law as a last resort."
"Of course, that's just a last resort. I believe with my training, you can achieve that level of strength without any side effects."
Hearing that, Luffy smiled. He didn't care much about it anymore. Since Liam said he could do it, he will do it.
As for lifespan or things like that, he didn't care. Just because he didn't care didn't mean others didn't care.
Robin immediately hardened her eyes and asked.
"Liam, you said his awakening will cost his lifespan, but I've never heard of a devil fruit costing someone's lifespan. Why would it happen to Luffy?"
Liam didn't get offended by her harsh tone. She sounded very concerned about Luffy. And it wasn't just because of her selfish reason. But, Liam still replied.
"Because after his awakening, Luffy can change reality to his Will."
That became a little too complicated for them to process. Luffy was steaming while eating steamed fish.
"Basically, Luffy can fly, grow to the size of a giant, catch lightning or fire or laser with his bare hands, and turn other things, including living beings, into rubbery bodies."
While he was mentioning his words, Luffy's eyes were literally glowing like light bulbs.
"As I said, Luffy can fight in any way he wants. But, this also puts too much pressure on his body, forcing him to consume a large amount of food, and if overused during battle, it costs life-force."
"But as I said, with enough training, Luffy doesn't need to use this power unless he is facing some of the strongest people in the world."
"So cool!" Luffy's eyes widened, and he quickly asked.
"Liam, how can I awaken my devil fruit?"
Liam scratched his head and said.
"I am not sure. You have mastered your devil fruit to the maximum level. You have also mastered three forms of Haki and their advanced techniques."
"Now, either you have to awaken it on your own or die."
"What?"
Every straw hat stood up from their chairs and shouted. They pointed their fingers at Liam and asked.
"How can you ask the captain to die?"
Robin was almost releasing her Killing intent at him while Luffy just shrugged it off.
Liam helplessly explained, knowing they wouldn't let this go easily if he didn't.
"Don't worry, Luffy can awaken it. To awaken a devil fruit, you either have to master it completely, or you have to take a shortcut route."
"In the case of Mythical Zoan, it will be even harder. Because you need to be the person that fully represents your devil fruit powers. In Luffy's case, he is perfect for it."
"Complete opposite to Luffy is Kaido, who has a Mythical Zoan fruit related to Azure Dragon. And, Azure Dragon represents protection and goodwill."
"Unfortunately, Kaido is a complete monster who has caused nothing but misery to thousands of people. So, he can't awaken his devil fruit."