Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, while Saint Dio and Rayleigh’s sword flashes clashed and the giant serpent surged, the Kuja Pirates’ captain took advantage of the gap created by everyone’s attention being drawn to the two monsters.
Clutching her wounded chest, she silently slipped away from the edge of the ruins.
She had only one goal: to rescue the three children who had been taken away.
She tracked Stussy’s retreat route, bypassing collapsed buildings and weaving through the chaotic crowd, until she finally spotted the white figure in an alley leading to the harbor.
Stussy was holding the chains, dragging the three stumbling little girls toward the harbor, her pace quick.
“Stop—!” The Kuja Captain roared, using the last of her strength to stomp the ground.
Her massive body shot forward like a cannonball.
The Serpent Naginata in her hand sliced a fierce arc through the air, slashing down hard at Stussy’s back.
However, just as the blade was about to touch the white figure, Stussy’s body suddenly disintegrated without warning.
In an instant, her body split into dozens of palm-sized bats, a black swarm scattering in all directions with a loud fluttering sound.
The Kuja Captain’s naginata struck empty air, the blade slamming into the ground and sending a shower of sparks flying.
The bats circled in the air once, then, like sharks catching the scent of blood, they all swooped down on the Kuja Captain.
One of them landed first on her bare shoulder, its sharp fangs sinking without hesitation into her neck.
The Kuja Captain felt a sharp sting at her neck, followed by a wave of intense dizziness and weakness washing over her.
She could clearly feel the blood being rapidly drained from her body, flowing steadily through the bat’s fangs.
The rest of the bats gathered, reforming into Stussy’s shape in mid-air.
She stepped gracefully out from the swarm, and the bat that had been biting the Kuja Captain also dissolved into a wisp of black smoke, merging back into her body.
She extended her tongue to lick a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth, a satisfied smile appearing on her doll-like, exquisite face.
“Don’t think…
I’m an easy target,” she said with a light laugh.
Then, she raised her slender leg and delivered a clean, powerful kick squarely to the Kuja Captain’s chest.
Thud!
The Kuja Captain’s massive body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, rolling several times on the ground and smashing through a pile of wooden crates before finally coming to a stop.
She struggled to get back to her feet, but the blood loss and her injuries made her limbs feel as heavy as lead.
Just then, the ground began to shake violently.
Stussy steadied herself and turned to face the source of the tremors.
When she saw the colossal green serpent bursting from the earth, blotting out the sky, a flicker of undisguised astonishment crossed her lake-blue eyes.
“…To think Master would summon Jormungandr,” she murmured to herself.
Stussy knew the sword’s true power all too well—and she knew even better that Saint Dio would only unseal Jormungandr when facing an opponent truly worthy of his full attention.
What kind of enemy could force Master to this point?
The tremors intensified, and cracks spiderwebbed across the ground in all directions, soon reaching the alleyway where she stood.
Debris rained down as the walls began to crumble.
The Kuja Captain gritted her teeth, using her naginata to push herself up.
She swayed as she rose again, her eyes burning with a fire of defiance as she glared at Stussy and the three girls behind her.
But Stussy didn’t spare her a second glance.
She simply raised her long, slender leg—clad in a white garter belt—pointed her toes, and brought it down in a sudden, powerful chop.
“Tempest Kick!” A razor-sharp flying slash tore from her toes, slicing through the air and striking the Kuja Captain squarely in the chest.
Squelch—!
Blood sprayed.
The Kuja Captain’s massive frame stiffened.
She glanced down at the bone-deep gash on her chest, her lips trembling, but no sound escaped.
Her knees buckled, and her colossal body slowly tilted forward.
The moment she fell, a crack in the ground spread right beneath her feet.
The very earth supporting her suddenly gave way, and she plunged into the dark abyss below, swallowed by the crumbling stone.
“Captain—!” Hancock’s scream was heart-wrenching.
She watched, helpless, as the strong figure vanished into the dark chasm.
Tears streamed down her face, her small body shaking violently with grief and rage.
Sandersonia and Marigold collapsed to the ground, clinging to each other and sobbing uncontrollably.
Stussy tugged the chains in her hand, the iron rings clinking sharply.
“Stop crying.
Let’s go.” She turned away without a second glance at the chasm, leading the three weeping girls toward the harbor.
Even with Saint Dio having recalled Jormungandr, the island’s fate was sealed.
The structural damage caused by the giant serpent churning beneath the earth had utterly destroyed Grove 26’s foundations.
The ground continued to crack and collapse, sending building debris plummeting into the dark waters below.
Sea water roared as it poured into the fissures from all directions.
The entire island was disintegrating, sinking piece by piece like a shattered cracker.
Near the harbor, a small boat was slowly pulling away from the crumbling coast.
A woman with a short, ear-length bob stood at the stern, silently watching the land sink.
Beside her, Rayleigh, soaked to the bone, leaned against the gunwale.
He coughed up a few mouthfuls of seawater and lowered his head with a bitter smile.
“…Sorry.
I couldn’t save them.” The woman didn’t answer.
She simply withdrew her gaze and looked out at the vast, open horizon.
The sea breeze tossed her short bangs, obscuring her expression.
Seeing this, Rayleigh could only remain silent.
It had seemed as though he’d been defeated, but he had actually used the chaos to escape.
Otherwise, he would have been in a tight spot once the Marines arrived.
Still, he had never expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent.
In another part of the sea, a massive Marine warship was anchored at a safe distance from the collapsing island.
Garp stood on the bow deck, hands gripping the railing as he gazed silently at the island’s ruins slowly sinking into the ocean.
His adjutant, Bogard, walked up behind him without a sound, holding a ringing Den Den Mushi.
The snail-phone’s shell was decorated with the unique insignia of the Fleet Admiral.
Its round eyes stared intently as its mouth opened and closed, emitting a persistent, urgent ring.
Garp glanced down at the Den Den Mushi, and his old face instantly soured, looking as if he had just eaten a mouthful of bitter melon.
“…He really won’t give me any face, will he?
And I even brought out my precious rice crackers to apologize.” He grumbled a few complaints but still reached out and took the Den Den Mushi.
Purupurupuru—Kachak.
The moment the call connected, an ear-splitting roar erupted from the other end, causing even Bogard to instinctively take a half-step back.
“GARP—!!!
I told you to protect the World Noble!
And what do you do?!
You go and attack him?!” Garp, having anticipated this, pulled the Den Den Mushi thirty centimeters away from his ear.
He dug his pinky into the ear that was still buzzing from the shock and replied with a completely nonchalant expression: “Ah, Old Kong, don’t lose your temper like that.
That World Noble brat is incredibly capable; he didn’t need my protection at all.
You should have seen it—he tore the whole island apart!
I just went along to join the fun…” The other end of the line went silent for three seconds, followed by the sound of teeth grinding.
“…Get back to Headquarters immediately!” “No.” Garp’s refusal was swift and absolute.
“I’m taking a leave of absence to go back to the East Blue.
My daughter-in-law is about to give birth, and I need to see my newborn grandson.” “You—!” Before Fleet Admiral Kong could finish his roar, Garp hung up with a sharp Kachak.
He tossed the Den Den Mushi back to Bogard, turned around, and resumed whistling as he gazed at the sinking island.
…
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, in the Fleet Admiral’s Office.
Fleet Admiral Kong gripped the disconnected Den Den Mushi, the veins on his forehead throbbing.
He glared at the innocent-looking snail for a full five seconds before violently hurling it— “That bastard—!” The Den Den Mushi traced a parabola through the air, slammed into the wall, bounced off, and rolled a few times on the floor before retreating into its shell in indignation.