His body shot forward like a comet, and his fist fell like a meteor.
Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp poured every ounce of fury into that punch.
Already pushed to the brink by Dean D. Dollars' slash, Rocks D. Xebec had no strength left to defend himself.
BOOM.
Garp's fist caved in Rocks' chest.
The sea overlord's body crashed down like a falling star onto the shattered ground of God Valley.
BOOM.
The island itself finally gave way.
God Valley collapsed completely.
It was over.
The battle between the Marines and the overlord of the seas ended with the fall of Rocks.
...
"Dean!!!"
A panicked female voice rang out across the scorched battlefield.
Rear Admiral Tsuru stumbled forward and caught the blood-soaked Dean D. Dollars in her arms.
Tears the size of beads rolled down her face, falling onto Dean's blood-covered cheeks.
"Dean! You idiot — wake up!" Garp roared, dropping to one knee.
"Dean, don't screw with me," Gol D. Roger said weakly as he sat down heavily. "If you wake up right now, I'll forget every time you wrecked my crew."
After years as a pirate, this was the first time Roger had ever prayed for a Marine to survive.
Especially this bastard — the one who had given the Roger Pirates more than a few unforgettable beatdowns.
"Dean… didn't you always brag that you couldn't die?" Sengoku dragged his battered body across the scorched ground, leaving a trail of blood behind him. "Prove it."
In Tsuru's arms, Dean lay motionless.
No heartbeat.
No breathing.
Nothing.
Roger fell silent.
Garp shouted in rage.
Sengoku's eyes were red.
For ten years, they had witnessed miracle after miracle from Dean.
No matter how badly he was injured, he would get back up the next day — stronger than before.
Like he truly couldn't die.
But this time…
Rocks' near-awakened shattering power had almost torn him apart.
In ten years, they had never seen him this badly injured.
Had even his monstrous body finally reached its limit?
"Please… just wake up," Tsuru whispered through tears. "I'll stop lecturing you. I swear."
"…You said that yourself."
Tsuru froze.
Her eyes widened.
She looked down — and met a pair of bright, very much alive eyes.
"Finally… no more lectures."
Born once again from death, Dean grinned.
Tsuru went still.
Garp blinked.
Sengoku froze.
Roger's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Holy— he cheated death again?!" Roger blurted out.
Garp and Sengoku felt the same shock — Roger just said it first.
Another miracle.
Right in front of them.
"Who're you calling a corpse?" Dean muttered lazily, still lying in Tsuru's arms. He lifted a leg and weakly kicked Roger in the head. Then he sighed dramatically.
"Man… I almost died again. That would've been a pain."
Sengoku, Garp, Roger: "..."
If they had even a shred of strength left, pirate and Marine alike might've teamed up just to beat him senseless.
Tsuru didn't lecture him this time.
Instead—
She laughed.
As long as he was alive, nothing else mattered.
"Tsuru-san, you're beautiful and all," Dean said seriously, "but try not to cry on me. I'm already soaked."
Thud.
A small pink fist connected cleanly with his eye.
Tsuru stood up, flustered, refusing to let him keep enjoying her embrace.
Laughter broke out across the ruined battlefield.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Dean muttered, giving half-hearted kicks toward Sengoku, Garp, and Roger.
Garp crossed his arms.
"Seriously, Dean. What the hell happened this time? You've been hurt worse before — but this? You were practically torn apart."
Sengoku and Roger leaned in.
Dean shrugged.
"I told you guys a long time ago. I can't die. I'm built different. Not my fault you don't believe me."
For once, none of them mocked him.
Click.
Roger's left wrist was suddenly cuffed with a pair of Seastone shackles.
"Huh?!" Roger's eyes widened. "You're getting revenge!"
Dean smirked.
"You better run. Once Garp recovers a little, you're not leaving."
Roger went pale.
Without hesitation, he gathered what strength he had left, turned, and bolted.
Laughter followed him across the shattered remains of God Valley.
The incident of God Valley ended with the future Pirate King fleeing in embarrassment.
...
A few hours later, warships from Marine Headquarters and the World Government arrived.
The wounded and the dead were loaded onto ships.
The injured were treated.
The fallen were sent home.
Dean and Garp boarded the warship back to Marine Headquarters.
Not long after their departure, agents dressed in black — operatives of the World Government — arrived at the center of the battlefield.
They carefully gathered soil soaked with blood.
Every last trace.
...
Three days later.
Marine Headquarters — Marineford.
When the warship carrying the returning "heroes" sailed into port, a roar like a tidal wave erupted across the entire base.
Cheers shook the harbor.
At that moment—
Heroes were crowned.