When the golden phone bugs appeared in everyone's hands, before any could utter a word, Luffy's voice resonated first!
"Hey hey hey, can you hear me?"
Luffy's voice, unmistakably distinct, echoed in the moment!
Countless were left dumbfounded upon hearing it for the first time. After all, as the protagonist of the live broadcast, they had all followed numerous broadcasts.
There was something special about Luffy!
During several global calls, he took the chance to privately chat with his two brothers.
Having not addressed the entire world before, this was a first!
Just as everyone anticipated what Luffy would say next.
And sure enough... when Luffy spoke, he uttered those iconic words!
"I am Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will become the Pirate King!"
"From this moment on, I will undoubtedly rule the seas. Any foe standing in my path will be defeated by my hand!"
"Not even the Four Emperors can stop me."
With these words, Luffy left countless people in awe.
Although these words had been heard and spoken no less than ten times during live broadcasts.
But this instance held a different weight. He wasn't merely proclaiming his dream to the world!
He was declaring war on all his enemies, including the Four Emperors!!!
It was common knowledge that every pirate sought to uncover the great secret treasure left behind by Roger!
To inherit boundless wealth and the esteemed title of Pirate King!
However, the one closest to this aspiration was Luffy. Now, upon hearing his voice, everyone's reactions were entirely transformed!
The Whitebeard Pirates!
Many chuckled at the rumors they heard.
Even Whitebeard himself wore a smile and couldn't help but cast a glance at Ace.
"Your brother has quite the spirit, harboring such an audacious dream!"
"Though, toppling the Four Emperors won't be a walk in the park!"
Despite Whitebeard's reputation as the strongest man, truth be told... he wasn't particularly keen on the title of Pirate King, or else he would have claimed it.
All he cherished was his family!
Thus, Ace's admiration for Luffy's resolve was entirely apparent. And upon hearing Whitebeard's words, Ace also grinned.
"I have faith that Luffy will continue to grow stronger, until eventually…"
"Not even the Four Emperors can stop it!"
"Revolutionary Army Headquarters!"
"Luffy!!!"
Upon hearing Luffy's voice, Sabo couldn't contain his excitement, naturally being the most thrilled among them.
The other Revolutionary Army cadres mirrored the emotion on their faces.
"The leader's son... fearlessly inviting trouble!"
"Indeed, his words tantamount to declaring war on others!"
"But when you think about it, Luffy has always had a knack for stirring up trouble."
"Speaking of which, Luffy's potential knows no bounds. He might just become the Pirate King one day!"
From the very beginning until now, everyone witnessed Luffy's journey, challenging even the Four Emperors!
Although Luffy hadn't reached that pinnacle yet, his talent and future were undeniably extraordinary!
Who could have predicted that a scrawny lad, merely after consuming a seemingly ordinary Devil Fruit, would ascend to such formidable heights and earn the title of the Fifth Emperor of the Sea?
If he continues to grow, piracy might not be his only path!
Meanwhile, Dragon remained silent, a subtle smile gracing his usually stoic face...
Despite numerous forces rallying behind Luffy at sea, there were just as many wishing for his demise.
The Beast Pirates, in particular, scoffed at his words!
"Humph, absurd!"
Kaido snorted disdainfully upon hearing Luffy's proclamation. With no pretense, he addressed the speaker through the receiver.
"Straw Hat, you're not fit to be the Pirate King!"
"If you seek to topple the Yonko, you're still far from worthy!"
"Don't delude yourself into thinking that merely being called the Fifth Emperor of the Sea makes you a true emperor."
"The might of the Four Emperors surpasses your comprehension!"
"If I were to act, you wouldn't withstand even a single blow!"
Kaido's words dripped with anger as he vented his frustrations.
Navy Headquarters!
Amidst Garp's boisterous laughter, Sengoku appeared utterly helpless by his side.
Akainu, who harbored a long-standing disdain for Luffy, wasted no time in seizing the phone bug.
"Straw Hat, don't get cocky!"
"You've just revealed an extraordinary threat."
"From this moment forward, I'll be keeping a close watch on you."
"If there's even a hint of mischief, you'll fall into my grasp!"
"The depths of Impel Down will become your destination!"
Aokiji and Kizaru couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation at Akainu's words. Their colleague's animosity towards Luffy was a daily spectacle.
Thankfully, Garp was engaged in banter with the Warlords upfront, oblivious to the brewing tension. Otherwise, another clash might have ensued.
Truth be told, they both held a begrudging admiration for Akainu. Despite being bested by someone as formidable as Garp-sensei, he still had the audacity to incessantly pursue the Straw Hat boy.
If it were anyone else, they might not dare to utter a word.
Akainu was undeniably resilient. It wasn't just Kaido and Big Mom who taunted and threatened Luffy. Even in the vast sea, there were many spectators rooting for him, but equally as many who couldn't stand him.
Becoming the Pirate King and uncovering Roger's hidden treasure was the aspiration of nearly every pirate. So when Luffy declared his ambition to be the Pirate King and asserted that no one could obstruct him, a multitude of prominent pirates immediately tuned in.
Some scolded, some mocked. They collectively opined that despite Luffy's current strength, he wasn't yet worthy.
In an instant, the phone lines were inundated with a barrage of ridicule and condemnation. Of course, there were also voices of support, but Luffy was oblivious to it all.
True to his impulsive nature, he had no patience to linger and listen. After his proclamation, he swiftly switched to one-line communications and set off to reunite with his brothers, Ace and Sabo.
Meanwhile, the broadcast resumed:
"The global transmission has concluded. Now, we'll proceed to recap the upcoming pinnacle battle."
"Please stay tuned for further updates."
With that announcement, all eyes were once again fixated on the impending showdown. The anticipation for the next climax was palpable.
Amidst the crowd's mounting curiosity, impatience tinged their anticipation. Previous skirmishes had ignited excitement, leaving them eager for the next crescendo.
As the forthcoming pinnacle clash loomed, speculation soared. How much more exhilarating would it prove?
Luffy, what manner of enemy would he confront...
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