When Luffy, Fujitora, and the others rushed frantically to where Garp had landed, the sight before them silenced the very air.
A chasm split the icy surface.
Garp's golden Buddha form had dissipated, reverting to his original appearance as he lay motionless amidst shattered ice, eyes open but vacant, staring at the sky.
Luffy's lips trembled, his hands shaking uncontrollably as overwhelming grief surged within him.
"Grandpa..."
As he approached, he saw Garp's chest—a massive, grotesque cavity where his heart should have been, the flesh and bone collapsed inward in a horrific puncture.
His heart was gone.
A pool of blood spread beneath Garp's body.
Fujitora's scarred eyes burned red, tears streaming down his face as he sensed the fading life force of the dying legend.
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
Akainu's eyes cracked at the corners, streaks of blood mixing with the tears as he roared at the stunned Aramaki.
"What the hell are you waiting for, Aramaki?! Heal him now!"
Kizaru's chest heaved violently, veins bulging on his forehead as he stared fixedly at the bloody hole in Garp's chest.
His fists were clenched so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms, drawing crimson blood.
Aramaki's lips trembled slightly as if she wanted to say something.
But seeing the split corners of Akainu's eyes, her heart shuddered.
Taking a deep breath, she rushed forward.
Extending her right hand, sharp thorny vines sprouted and plunged directly into Garp's mangled chest and abdomen.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
Luffy knelt beside Garp in a daze, watching Aramaki's actions blankly.
As he observed, the shattered flesh on Garp's body began to regenerate rapidly, broken bones mending themselves.
The sunken parts of his body quickly filled out.
Even the bloody hole in his chest was covered by a layer of new skin, making Garp appear completely unharmed, as if he had never been injured at all.
"Grandpa!"
Light returned to Luffy's eyes, his face lighting up with joy as he shouted excitedly.
He repeatedly thanked the exhausted Aramaki across from him.
"Thank you, thank you for saving my grandpa, thank you..."
Yet Aramaki's face showed no trace of a smile, her eyes filled with sorrow as she silently rose and stepped away from Garp.
Akainu hurriedly turned his gaze toward her, looking at her expectantly.
Kizaru also turned his head to watch her.
Only Fujitora remained like a statue, standing quietly on the shattered ice trench, staring down at the broken ice as if witnessing a crumbling world.
Aramaki's heart was heavy with grief.
In her battle against Linlin, she had also suffered significant injuries.
Her beautiful hair had been scorched by Prometheus, her face covered in burns.
Meeting the hopeful gazes of Akainu and Kizaru, Aramaki opened her mouth but said nothing, only shaking her head lightly.
Thud.
Akainu's towering frame swayed, his body already riddled with countless wounds.
It was as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and he collapsed backward, hitting the ground hard.
"Sakazuki-san!"
Aramaki rushed forward, reaching out to heal Akainu.
Crack.
A large hand shot out, gripping her wrist tightly.
It was Akainu.
His powerful hand clenched her wrist with such force that the bones in Aramaki's wrist creaked audibly.
"Sakazuki-san..."
Drip… drip…
The clear sound of dripping water reached Aramaki's ears, freezing her attempt to heal Akainu once more.
Not far away, Kizaru's aura grew erratic.
Black and gold light flickered across his body, his energy fluctuating wildly, sometimes strong, sometimes weak.
Gradually, the golden glow that had covered half of Kizaru's body was being overtaken by darkness, the inky light slowly spreading towards his right side...
Suddenly!
"Cough… cough…"
A few hoarse coughs rang out, making everyone's hearts tremble as they turned toward the source.
Garp's vacant gaze slowly focused, his eyes first landing on Luffy's joyful face.
A tender smile appeared on Garp's lips as he raised his right hand and gently patted Luffy's head.
"Luffy, you've grown up... cough... and have your own ideas now. Fine, your grandpa doesn't have time to look after you anymore. Do whatever you want to do. As long as you're a man who doesn't regret your choices, that's enough."
Luffy's face was bright with a smile, yet tears streamed down uncontrollably, falling onto Garp's face.
"Grandpa... what are you saying? What do you mean no time? Don't just say whatever comes to your mind!"
Garp slowly turned his head and looked at Fujitora.
Fujitora raised his head, revealing a slightly fierce expression.
"Issho, among them, you're the most steady. In the days to come, I'll have to ask you to take care of things. The Marines... justice also needs... different voices."
"Rest assured, Vice Admiral Garp! I will uphold the oath I took when joining the Marines and carry out justice to the end!"
Fujitora spoke each word firmly, gripping his cane sword tightly in his right hand.
"Borsalino... come here." Garp smiled at Kizaru and gently beckoned him.
Hearing Garp's voice, Kizaru's rapidly darkening body trembled suddenly.
The last trace of golden light remained on his nearly pitch-black form.
The black glow gradually faded from his surface, and Kizaru returned to his original appearance.
Silently, he walked to Garp's side and knelt down.
Garp extended a broad, calloused hand as if to grasp Kizaru's, but halfway there, it could go no further.
Kizaru's heart clenched.
He quickly reached out with both hands and clasped Garp's palm.
Garp's hand was rough with calluses, but it no longer held the strength it once did.
Kizaru thought back to his younger days, when his arrogant self had often scoffed at training in Haki, relying solely on the power of his Logia ability, acting as if no one in the world could match him.
To teach him the might of Haki, Garp and Zephyr would often drag him, Kuzan, and Sakazuki to the training grounds under the guise of "sparring," giving them a harsh lesson.
Garp looked at Kizaru with a gentle smile and said softly.
"Borsalino, don't blame yourself..."
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