Before, no one knew the extent of the Black Tide's coverage. However, it wasn't until Larson and the others rushed outside that they grasped the magnitude of the problem.
Even with prior preparation, Larson's brows couldn't help but twitch at the sight before him. The endless Black Tide seemed to engulf the entire forest, instilling a sense of despair at a single glance.
The reason is that anyone witnessing it would feel the creeping thought that escape was impossible. Just a brief entanglement with the Tide posed a fatal threat to ordinary people.
Fortunately, the crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates and Roger Pirates were no ordinary individuals, nor were they just average pirates. Although the scene ahead greatly shook them—some even beginning to tremble—no one stopped, and no one broke down. It seemed as if everyone instinctively understood that all they could do at this moment was to run until they escaped this place.
Stopping would mean succumbing to the encroaching death. In a situation like this, staying resolute and prioritizing survival over despair was the only sensible choice!
As the group charged forward, Rayleigh, leading from the front, couldn't hold back his question: "How long do we have to keep running?"
But there was no answer, as everyone was absorbed in the urgency of their escape, leaving no one paying attention to his question.
Rayleigh glanced backward but couldn't spot Larson or Whitebeard initially. When he looked back again, he noticed a familiar tall silhouette, accompanied by the one person he had been searching for—Larson.
Rayleigh redirected his focus ahead, understanding that if Larson was running as well, it meant there were no alternatives except to continue fleeing.
Meanwhile, at the rear of the team, Larson, unaware of Rayleigh's earlier glance, was still vigilant, observing the scene behind them.
In that direction, countless giants were roaring and pursuing them. After a prolonged reshaping, the giants had regained their form and were charging forward with renewed ferocity, seemingly incensed by being deceived. Their speed was noticeably faster compared to their previous confrontation.
However, Larson's attention wasn't on them, but rather on the clearing where they had previously fought. Without the dominant presence of him, Whitebeard, Roger, and others, the Black Tide's spreading pace had fully recovered, accelerating in its encroachment upon the area.
Larson observed that the massive crack created by the combined power of his and Whitebeard's Shock Fruit was gradually being devoured by the relentless advance of the Black Tide.
"Strange?" Larson murmured. When the Black Tide reached the cracks, instead of descending into them as he expected, it simply passed over the gaps, not filling them as he had envisioned.
A sense of unease settled in his mind. If this was truly the case, then his plan to use the rift to block the Black Tide would be entirely ineffective.
'What should be done?!' Larson thought anxiously.
He was acutely aware that even if they managed to leave the area currently covered by the Black Tide, it would continue to spread. If unchecked, it would inevitably consume the entire forest. Once that happened, any survivors who came to the island searching for treasure would be at the mercy of the advancing tide.
'Should I just leave?' For the first time, Larson seriously considered abandoning their mission. Compared to finding the treasure, ensuring everyone's survival was paramount.
Larson wasn't personally afraid of the Black Tide. Apart from his own Armament Haki, his Susanoo could also serve as a barrier against it. However, his confidence didn't extend to everyone else. He knew that apart from a select few, the only option for most of them to resist the Black Tide was through Armament Haki, and sustaining it had always been a significant challenge.
Maintaining Armament Haki consumed stamina. Once it was exhausted, there would be no means to keep using it. Without this defense, the chances of survival in the face of the Black Tide were slim, and Larson feared that when everyone eventually ran out of stamina, the inevitable outcome would be death.
He cast a glance at Whitebeard beside him, not hiding his concerns. Larson shared his thoughts openly.
Whitebeard fell silent after hearing Larson's words. Marco, who stood nearby, also hung his head in quiet reflection.
They both knew whom Larson was worried about.
"If there really is no way to stop it, then let's leave," Whitebeard replied, his voice solemn, acknowledging the harsh reality.
Whitebeard continued, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "I've had countless treasures in my life," he said, "but family—I only have so many family members. I won't lose any of them."
Larson nodded in agreement. Despite the urgency, he knew now wasn't the right time to retreat completely. They were still within the Black Tide's range. Once they managed to escape its immediate grasp, they would be able to assess whether it continued to spread. If the Black Tide halted and stopped expanding, they wouldn't have to leave the island. However, if the tide resumed its encroachment, they would have no choice but to withdraw for their safety.
Despite the vast extent of the Black Tide's reach, everyone's speed allowed them to see its boundary approaching rapidly. Relief swept through the group, yet exhaustion was starting to take its toll on many of them. Without a moment to rest, some could barely maintain their Armament Haki.
As they finally reached the edge of the Black Tide, Rayleigh, still leading the way, did not immediately stop. He pressed on, running another ten minutes despite their exhaustion, ensuring they had truly left the area of danger.
At last, when someone was about to collapse from sheer fatigue, Rayleigh came to a halt. The crew members promptly dropped to the ground, some sitting and others lying down to catch their breath.
It wasn't that they were weak; on the contrary, their battle with the giants had already depleted most of their strength. That they held out this long was a testament to their resilience.
A crew member, still catching his breath, asked, "Are we safe now?"
Gaban shook his head grimly, pointing back at the advancing darkness. "Don't you see? It's still spreading."
The realization that the Black Tide hadn't stopped spreading brought a renewed sense of dread. They weren't out of danger yet.
Rayleigh sighed, reflecting on how rapidly the situation had escalated. "Not long ago, these things were just small patches. Look at them now; they've become so massive."
At that moment, Larson approached. Seeing him, Roger and Rayleigh exchanged knowing looks and quietly walked over to him.
In a secluded corner away from the rest, Larson finally voiced his thoughts.