...
On the light screen, the afterglow of that destructive light beam finally faded, leaving behind only a shocking, pitch-black deep crater at the edges—still crackling and sizzling, where ice and laser intertwined in charred ruin.
The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning and lingering cold, as if even grief had been instantly vaporized by this extreme power.
The frame froze in silent declaration!
"Black Arm" Zephyr—or rather, "Z," burdened by hatred and destruction—
His long life of glory, struggle, and ultimate self-destruction… came to a complete end here.
Kuzan stood silently beside the shattered remnants of the ice wall in the distance, gazing at that scorched earth.
He slowly turned around; deep shadows fell across his face, his sunglasses reflecting the cold sky light, making it impossible to read his expression at that moment.
Only the slightly tightened corner of his mouth betrayed an indescribable heaviness.
Ain and Binz collapsed to the ground, all strength drained from them, able only to let out sobs suppressed to the extreme.
Those cries echoed across the silent battlefield, exceptionally shrill and mournful.
The surrounding Marine officers—Vice Admirals who had once been taught by Zephyr, along with other Marine soldiers—all stood in solemn silence like stone statues.
Many lowered their heads, shoulders trembling slightly as they fought hard to keep the hot tears from falling.
Grief pressed down like a heavy boulder on every heart.
Aboard the Sunny, which had already sailed away from the shore, the Straw Hat crew stood at the railing, looking back from afar at the island where smoke had yet to fully clear—each with their own expression.
Luffy pressed down hard on the straw hat now back on his head, remaining silent.
Zoro hugged his swords, Sanji exhaled smoke rings, Nami let out a soft sigh, Chopper lay on Usopp's head, Franky manned the helm…
The outcome of this battle transcended simple victory or defeat, leaving behind complex emotions that were hard to let go.
An almost suffocating silence fell over God Valley.
This was the truest reflection of the shock and emotional turmoil surging in everyone's hearts.
A legendary hero who once embodied the Marines' glory and justice had ultimately been "executed" by a Marine Admiral, meeting his end in his own "grave."
This stark contrast and tragedy struck the soul of every viewer.
For the Marines, it was nothing less than a double earthquake of faith and emotion.
Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru's eyes were filled with deep regret; they had known Zephyr would be killed, but the impact of this scene was still too great for them.
And now Zephyr himself stood in place, face heavy as he watched the future that belonged to him.
Even Roger and Rocks—opposing sides—set aside their usual arrogance or wildness at this moment, their faces showing solemnity and a trace of respect.
Between the strong, there exists a mutual appreciation that transcends positions. Wasn't Golden Lion Shiki's earlier cursing also a form of indignation at "Z"'s fate?
The scene did not end there. Just when everyone thought everything had settled, the camera shifted back to the edge of that charred deep crater.
Kuzan had not truly left.
Like a silent "ghost," the moment Borsalino's laser light fully dissipated and he confirmed Zephyr's heartbeat had stopped, Kuzan leaped down from the rocky outcrop where he had stood before.
Cold swept in; his movement was so fast it left only an afterimage of frost.
He stepped into the still-lingering mix of high heat and chill, paying no mind to the ice crystals rapidly melting on his body or the rising steam, walking straight to where Zephyr had fallen.
At the center of the crater, Zephyr's massive body lay quietly. His sunglasses were shattered, his form covered in terrifying laser burn marks, with no breath of life remaining.
Yet strangely, his face looked exceptionally peaceful—even the corner of his mouth seemed to retain the faint curve of holding a blade of grass, as if he had simply fallen into exhausted sleep.
Kuzan crouched down, carefully avoiding the more severe wounds. With the arms that had once frozen the seas, he gently lifted Zephyr's cold, stiff body.
Finally, he draped it over his own shoulder…
...