Garp fell silent for two seconds, then laughed. "That's the worst proposal I've ever heard. But..."
He looked ahead, where the demon Rocks had already regained his footing, the dark flames on his Black Blade burning even more fiercely.
"We can't ignore this guy."
Before his words faded, the demon Rocks moved!
This time his target was clear: Garp.
His massive body transformed into a black shadow as the Black Blade descended straight down!
Garp didn't block it head-on.
At the last moment, he sidestepped, the Black Blade grazing past the tip of his nose as it struck the ground!
The earth split open into a massive chasm, sending rubble flying everywhere!
At the same time, Roger had already circled around to Rocks' back.
He compressed his Conqueror's Haki to its limit, then swung his sword horizontally!
BOOM——!!
The demon Rocks was sent flying by this slash, crashing through a nearby rock wall and embedding himself deep into the mountain.
Seizing the opportunity, Garp charged forward, grabbing Rocks' exposed left foot with both hands.
"Get—out here!"
Muscles bulged, veins popping!
Garp yanked the demon Rocks out from the rock wall, then swung him like a sandbag, smashing him violently against another rock formation!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three consecutive heavy slams created three deep craters in the ground.
Roger followed up immediately, wrapping Haki around his Ace Blade as he delivered another fierce slash directly onto the demon Rocks' body.
This battle shook heaven and earth, every collision generating Shockwaves that swept across the island like tsunamis.
Distant forests fell in swathes, already damaged buildings completely reduced to ruins.
The right peak of God Valley finally couldn't withstand it any longer.
RUMBLE...
The mountain began cracking from within, massive boulders tumbling down as the entire peak started tilting and collapsing.
Rocks cascaded down like a waterfall, burying everything beneath.
"Run—!"
Survivors fled in panic.
At the island's periphery, the Roger Pirates were retreating.
The crew couldn't help but worry about Roger, but only Rayleigh understood their captain's intentions.
Rayleigh told everyone: "Hurry! Roger is holding off Rocks! He'll keep fighting until he's sure we've all escaped!"
Just then, another voice chimed in.
"Your ship looks pretty good! Mind if I hitch a ride too?"
Rocks Pirates Officer Gloriosa ran alongside the sprinting Gaban, trying to cozy up to him.
Gaban turned his head: "Gloriosa?"
...
Elsewhere in the forest.
Linlin carried a large treasure chest on one shoulder while gripping the Emperor Sword Napoleon in her other hand, shouting at Kaido before her:
"Listen well, Kaido! This is a lifetime debt! You must repay me someday!"
Kaido had already returned to human form, also carrying two treasure chests on his shoulders.
He turned his head, showing a disdainful smile:
"Idiot! I won that competition for the Azure Dragon Fruit! That's the real story!"
"Look closely, Linlin." Kaido's eyes burned with the flames of ambition:
"I'll form a pirate crew where violence reigns supreme!
Stronger than Rocks, more ferocious than Roger!
I'll make the whole world remember my name!"
Linlin stamped her foot in anger: "You're getting carried away with yourself! You'll never beat me!"
Long Bread tugged at her sleeve: "Linlin, what are you still doing here? It's time to go!
Move all the treasures! The ship is ready!"
Linlin shot Kaido one last glare: "I'll collect this debt from you sooner or later!"
Kaido grinned, turning to leap toward the coast: "When that time comes, I'll beat you back!"
Their figures disappeared into the burning forest.
Former comrades, now going their separate ways.
...
Southwest side of the island.
Whitebeard strode forward with Cloud Cutter resting on his shoulder.
"Hey! Newgate!"
A voice called from the side.
Whitebeard turned to see a pineapple-haired man sitting on a large rock, smiling at him.
"The mountain peaks on the left side have collapsed - that was your doing, wasn't it, Newgate?" The pineapple-haired man jumped down, landing in front of Whitebeard:
"The Rocks Pirates seem to have fallen apart!"
Whitebeard stopped and frowned: "Who are you?"
"Polo Gram!" The man puffed out his chest, "Captain of the Bolo Pirates! Bounty of 730 million Belly!"
He stepped closer, eyes shining with excitement:
"I'm your biggest fan! Look, now that Rocks has fallen, you need a ship, right?
Let's team up! My ship is right over there, we can set sail together and form a new pirate crew!
I've even thought of a name - how about 'White Pineapple Pirates'?"
Whitebeard looked at him for three seconds.
Then.
"Get lost."
Two words, simple and direct.
Polo Gram froze: "Huh? Why? I'm being sincere!"
"Don't block my path." Whitebeard walked past him without even bothering to look: "I'm not interested in playing house."
Polo Gram stood there, his face alternating between red and pale, finally gritting his teeth:
"You'll regret this! Newgate! Someday you'll be begging to work with me!"
Whitebeard was already far away.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
This ancient saying found its perfect embodiment in today's God Valley.
The once-mighty Officers of the Rocks Pirates, each with their own schemes, were now fleeing in all directions with their plundered treasures.
Some killing each other, some forming temporary alliances, others escaping alone.
...
The Oro Jackson finally set sail.
All crew members except Roger had boarded.
The ship moved away from the coast, heading toward relatively safer waters.
But just then—
"Rayleigh! Gaban! Where are you going?!" the crew shouted in surprise.
Rayleigh and Gaban simultaneously leaped from the ship's rail, landing on the beach.
"Don't follow us!" Rayleigh shouted without looking back:
"Take the ship out! Away from the coast! Wait at sea!"
With that, Rayleigh and Gaban charged back toward the island at full speed.
The crew on the ship fell silent.
Watching the two figures recede into the distance, the helmsman finally gritted his teeth: "Keep going! Trust the Vice Captain and Gaban!"
...
Center of the island.
Roger and Garp stood back to back, breathing heavily.
Both their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in wounds.
"Ha... ha..." Roger wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly:
"That black monster from the World Government, you know? Garp! Even justice would be stunned by it!"
Garp spat out a mouthful of blood: "Agreed!"
After a brief silence, Roger suddenly said: "If you ever quit the Marines, come join me."
Garp was taken aback, then laughed heartily: "Don't talk nonsense! If I resign, who will protect the Marine soldiers!"
Their laughter echoed over the ruins, carrying a sense of absurd tragedy.
As they laughed, Roger's expression turned serious: "Don't you think... the key lies in intensity? Garp."
"Intensity?" Garp frowned. "What intensity?"
"Of course, the intensity of Haki." Roger clenched his fist tightly:
"You know, Haki is something that can even counter Devil Fruits.
Besides, we've both infused Conqueror's Haki into our attacks—it shouldn't be ineffective!"