...
The light screen continued playing. By now, Gloriosa had more or less accepted her future appearance, though it still stung a little…
On the light screen, the future Gloriosa—Granny Nyon—saw Hancock's resolute attitude and ultimately had no choice but to relent.
She couldn't change the Empress's decision, but as an elder of the country, she had to minimize risks as much as possible.
"Sigh…"
Granny Nyon let out a sigh and tapped her snake staff on the ground: "Since you're so insistent, then let them go to that abandoned cabin on the shore!
It's secluded, far from the village. There are no Marines pursuing them, and due to the special ocean currents in the surrounding waters, large Sea Kings rarely appear.
If you want a quiet place to recuperate, that's the most suitable spot."
The moment she heard they could go to the shore, a yearning blush immediately appeared on Hancock's stunning face. In her mind, scenes were already playing out of her and Luffy alone together in a peaceful seaside cabin…
Her personally feeding him medicine, wiping his wounds, the two of them cuddling romantically…
However, Granny Nyon's next words shattered her fantasy: "But! As the Empress of Amazon Lily!
You must remain in the palace to handle state affairs—you cannot stay at the shore for long periods! This is your responsibility…"
"No…"
Hancock wanted to argue, trying to get away with her usual "no matter what I do, I'll be forgiven" attitude.
But this time, Granny Nyon's stance was exceptionally firm and unyielding: "No buts! Hancock…
Even willfulness has its limits! The country cannot be without its Empress in command!"
Seeing this former Empress—now the nation's elder—so resolute, Hancock felt extremely unwilling. She pouted her alluring red lips, but she also knew that on matters of fundamental national principle, Granny Nyon would not compromise.
She could only nod helplessly in compliance, already scheming in her heart how to sneak away to the shore at the first opportunity.
On the other side, Law followed the instructions and piloted the Polar Tang to a hidden shoreline at the edge of the island.
Everyone carefully placed the still-unconscious Luffy on a relatively comfortable medical bed inside the submarine. The atmosphere was heavy.
They all understood that Luffy's physical wounds might heal thanks to Law's miraculous medical skills, but the massive trauma to his heart—the agonizing pain of losing his brother Ace—was truly the fatal one.
No one could predict whether Luffy, upon waking, would be able to bear this cruel reality.
Gulp.
Law picked up the flask he carried with him, tilted his head back, and took a swig. The spicy liquid burned down his throat but couldn't dispel the heaviness in his heart.
He had just set the flask down…
"STOP!!!"
A heart-wrenching roar filled with endless terror and despair suddenly erupted from the medical cabin!
Luffy, lying on the stretcher, jolted awake. His eyes bulged wide, pupils shrinking to pinpricks!
He had dreamed once again of that hellish scene—Aokiji's magma fist mercilessly piercing through Ace's chest!
"Aaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Luffy completely fell into an unconscious rampage!
He could no longer distinguish dream from reality. The Gomu Gomu no Mi's power activated out of control. Ignoring the wounds tearing open across his body, he suddenly punched toward the inner wall of the submarine!
Boom!
The sturdy submarine bulkhead was smashed open with a gaping hole! Like a beast breaking free from its cage, Luffy—covered in bandages and spurting blood—charged fiercely out through the breach and crashed heavily onto the sandy shore.
"Ace… Where's Ace!!!"
Luffy lay face-down in the sand, lifted his head, and let out a broken scream toward the sky.
The violent movement caused all his wounds to reopen. Blood quickly soaked through the bandages; even his vocal cords tore from the strain, causing blood to spill from the corners of his mouth.
"Captain!"
"Stop him!"
Law's crew—Bepo the white bear and the others—rushed forward in a panic, trying to restrain the out-of-control Luffy.
"Get out of my way! You Marines! Give Ace back to me!!"
Luffy's eyes were bloodshot; he had completely lost his reason. He mistook Bepo and the others in front of him for the Marines who had chased him down.
His rubber fists rained down like a storm. Though his strength was greatly diminished by his injuries, the sheer reckless madness of his onslaught momentarily forced Bepo and the others back and knocked them down.
Law stood at the breach in the submarine, seawater already beginning to trickle in. He watched Luffy rampaging and destroying on the beach, looking utterly deranged, his face so dark it seemed water could drip from it.
"If the wounds tear open completely and he loses too much blood… he really will die."
Law's voice was low and hoarse, carrying the helplessness of a doctor facing an uncontrollable patient.
His gaze unintentionally swept over the straw hat placed to the side. His expression grew complicated, his thoughts unreadable.
...
[This arc is about to wrap up—next up: Garp getting beaten by Dadan, Whitebeard's funeral, Rayleigh proposing the two-year training plan!]
...