It's unclear whether he felt pain from being injured or that the high-intensity use of his abilities led to his physical exhaustion, but the grin with bared teeth on his face finally calmed down.
"Huff, huff..."
The white hair, blazing like Sage's flame, seemed to lose its fire and wilted downward.
"Oh? Can't go on anymore? If a man's stamina isn't enough, it can lead to big problems." Sage sneered.
"Who said I'm done!"
Luffy looked up at Sage, pressing one fist to the ground, his heart pounding with a dense rhythm, prompting him to gradually stand straight, his hair igniting like a flame once more.
"Until Wano Country is liberated, I won't fall! Fifth Gear!"
It's not a matter of exhausting strength and then forced awakening, because this guy gives Luffy an extremely dangerous and troublesome feeling; though he's cheerful, his consciousness hasn't erred.
If he exhausts his strength and still can't resolve him, it might truly be too late.
Instinctively, Luffy forcibly maintains his ability, ensuring he doesn't exit this state.
Sage glanced at him and said:
"So desperate? Sit-ups... Hmph, in the end, it's all about burning life, others retire in failure, but I don't see you even having the time to fail."
This attitude of forcibly maintaining power isn't just relying on willpower and resilience, it also comes at a cost.
In Sage's eyes, he's like he's initiated 'Brake Hole,' trading life for combat power.
"I've always wanted to ask you."
Sage raised his head, "Is Wano Country where your father or mother is? I remember your father is in Kamabakka; what's all the effort for?"
Earlier in Dressrosa, Bashas who came for the tournament seemed to be severely injured by Sabo, but also managed to sneak onto their evacuation ship, leading Bashas to discover the Revolutionary Army's headquarters, causing Teach to obtain a large batch of weapons.
These were the intelligence Teach told him.
If Luffy encounters Teach, new hatred and old grievances, accompanied by certain purposes, risking everything would be justified.
But Wano Country...
"No kin, just sailed with them for a while, yet you boast about liberating this place; having words means nothing without life to fulfill them," Sage said.
"I promised Momoko, and I promised those starving people, plus Ace also came here before and had an agreement with someone, and..."
Luffy tightened his fist, the words those people said flashed through his mind, finally settling on the protagonist of the story he often heard.
"Kozuki Oden said to open the country, and I want to help them fulfill their dream! No matter who wants to rule here, it can't happen!"
"Kozuki Oden?"
Sage shook his head and smiled, "So... who the hell are you!"
Luffy?
He and Robin are siblings; later, when they settled the deal to trade with O'hara, they did chat, sometimes about the past.
For instance, Sage asked why she didn't board his ship then, Robin replied she was afraid of the World Government, thinking two O'hara descendants were too conspicuous; Sage hadn't been found yet, so she refused boarding to preserve O'hara's heirs.
Just as Sage speculated then.
During this, there was talk about Straw Hat.
In Robin's eyes, Luffy is an optimistic man with a spirit of adventure, although he acts according to his preferences, he's absolutely not foolish; he once told Vivi not to be naive during a crisis in Alabasta.
He has his own set of judgment standards.
But now...
What's this reason?
Is it justified?
It's not about lacking justification for battle; pirates never care about reason.
Yet the difference between fighting with or without a justified cause lies entirely in mental state.
Like Sage going out for robbery; if faced with deadly danger, he'd avoid it, chased by Garp from the East Sea to the first half of the Navy; even with Garp's tenacity, other Navy members were still fightable.
But it's meaningless; fighting them achieves nothing. Such a massive organization won't be afraid from sinking a handful of ships.
Better to leave promptly than to waste time.
Only when core interests are involved does Sage truly risk it, like seeking Kaido now; in the first half of New World, he's the only overt power left. Even if he hasn't consolidated all territories or found every island, removing this power leaves only him in the first half.
For the plan, he's definitely risking it now.
Otherwise, being the largest power, watched by the World Government and Kaido, weakened he may even get backstabbed by Teach.
Indeed a collaborative relationship with Teach, but the premise is both remain undefeated; failure leaves little room for negotiation.
Over time, even with immense confidence and skills, if ambushed from both sides, Sage would be too busy handling them, then it's passive defense, an opening causing a cascade.
He could leave, but would he just stay in O'hara?
Secluding himself somewhere, what's he ruling then? If production falls behind, he enjoys nothing; if his men's treatment worsens, his rules become irrelevant.
Only by taking initiative can he turn passivity into proactivity, clash until no force in the first half challenges him, that half then becomes his domain.