Chapter 64

Back in Marineford, exhaustion weighed heavily on me, every movement a monumental effort against the leaden weight dragging me down. Even the simple act of wielding Kitetsu with my left arm felt like a Herculean task, my muscles screaming in protest with each swing. Blood pooled around me, obscuring my vision and adding to the already suffocating sense of chaos enveloping the battlefield. Yet, driven by sheer willpower and a stubborn refusal to yield, I pressed forward into the heart of the storm.

Above, the heavens roared their fury, the rumble of thunder echoing like the battle cry of ancient gods. Lightning streaked across the sky in jagged forks of blinding white, illuminating the tumultuous landscape below with a stark, otherworldly brilliance. The downpour intensified, transforming the once serene battlefield into a raging torrent of wind and rain, nature itself rising in defiance against the forces that sought to control it.

In the midst of this tempest, even Agana—the formidable Admiral standing before me—felt the pressure of nature's might bearing down upon her. Her blood domain, once a formidable barrier against all my escape attempts, wavered in the face of the relentless storm, the chaotic winds and driving rain threatening to tear it asunder.

Before I could react, Agana's blade sliced through the air with deadly precision, finding its mark in my throat. With a desperate resolve, I instinctively countered , my broken right arm grasping onto her weapon in a futile attempt to halt its deadly path. In a desperate bid for survival, my own blade found its mark in her neck, but the formidable barrier of her Armament Haki remained unyielding, rendering my efforts futile. Blood bubbled from my lips, a grim testament to the mortal wound that now threatened to consume me.

"Brave, kid," Agana's voice cut through the cacophony of the storm, her words carrying both respect and disdain in equal measure. "Originally, I wanted to take you back alive, but you are too dangerous. I am sure the elders will understand. You are just like them—your mere existence is a sin."

Despite the pain and exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm me, I refused to succumb, my spirit burning bright amidst the chaos. For in that moment, I knew that even in the face of death, I would not go quietly into the night.

As Agana withdrew her blade, poised to deliver the final, fatal blow, a surge of vitality rippled through the sea, echoing my unwavering defiance against the hands of fate. The very essence of the ocean stirred in response to my will, a primal force unleashed in my dying moments. The colossal sea kings, ancient behemoths that slumbered in the depths, felt the call of the world itself, their massive forms stirring with newfound purpose.

With thunderous roars that reverberated through the tumultuous waters, the sea kings surged forth, their immense bodies crashing through the crimson blockade with unmatched ferocity. The very ocean itself seemed to rise up in rebellion, a formidable army of sea creatures converging upon Agana with a relentless fury. Yet, even as she stood amidst the chaos, Agana remained undaunted, her blade flashing with deadly precision as she fended off the onslaught of massive beasts.

Amidst the chaos, Agana detected a sudden change on my side, a subtle shift in the tide of battle that drew her attention away from the encroaching sea kings. With swift reflexes, she collected herself and leaped towards me, her movements fluid and decisive as chaos erupted around us.

But even as she closed in for the kill, Agana sensed a faint glimmer of life within me, a vital sign that persisted despite the mortal wound that had pierced my throat. Disregarding the sea kings that surged towards her, she focused solely on her prey, her arm morphing into a crimson serpent aimed directly at my heart.

"Crimson Serpent," she uttered, her voice a chilling whisper as her hand surged forward with lethal precision. In that moment, as the gaping maw of a massive sea king loomed overhead, ready to engulf me, Agana's hand pierced through my chest with horrifying speed, tearing away a chunk of my beating heart.

Gasping for breath, I felt the last vestiges of life slipping away, my body consumed by the unforgiving depths of the sea. Agana stood triumphant, clutching half of my heart in her hand, while I was swallowed by the relentless embrace of the sea king.

Yet, even as darkness closed in around me, my will remained unbroken, a flickering flame of defiance amidst the encroaching shadows. In that fleeting moment of clarity, I found a strange sense of peace, knowing that my legacy would endure, carried forth on the ebb and flow of fate.

The sudden arrival of the sea kings not only brought an end to the chaotic clash on the sea but also quelled the conflict in the bay. Agana gazed upon the heart in her hand with a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She couldn't shake the memory of the kid's last defiant gaze, piercing through her with an intensity that mirrored the abyss itself. It wasn't that she didn't want to finish him off completely; she simply couldn't. Fear gripped her when the kid unleashed that final surge of power, as if the entire world itself conspired against her.

With a heavy sigh, she composed herself, thinking that there was no way that the kid would survive. Agana sheathed her blade and turned away, her gaze drifting towards the Marine Headquarters. The destruction wrought by the sea kings upon the battleships and the chaos engulfing the area meant nothing to her now. There were more pressing matters at hand, and she intended to see them through, regardless of the cost.

The final act of Ross's demise unfolded before the eyes of everyone in Marineford. Despite Agana's delayed reaction, she had managed to take down more than half a dozen of the massive sea kings. Each of these creatures was of a size that could only be found in the true depths of the ocean.

As Agana landed on the bay with half a heart in her hand, her instincts flared, compelling her to put her guard up as if her life depended on it. She mustered her entire armament haki, but she was unprepared for what followed. Garp, who had witnessed Ross's final moments, transformed into a bloodthirsty beast, consumed by the desire for vengeance. Agana's seemingly casual act of carrying the heart of his beloved disciple tipped the scales.

"Galaxy Impact!" Garp clad himself in armament haki and imbued the attack with haoshoku, launching an assault with the intent to kill. It was the first time since the battle began that he had unleashed such a lethal strike. But Agana was no pushover. Though she was not on Garp's level, she could hold her own against him.

"Crimson World!" She reacted swiftly, countering Garp's punch with one of her own. However, the outcome was devastating. A sickening crunch echoed as Agana's arm shattered. If she hadn't been a Logia user, she might have permanently lost her sword arm. Agana was sent hurtling through the air because of the momentum , crashing onto a battleship and breaking through its hull.

Garp's bloodshot eyes reflected his unbridled rage. He was consumed by a desire for vengeance, reminiscent of his reaction when Ace was killed by Akainu in the canon storyline. Back then, he was older and more composed, with Sengoku alone able to restrain him. But now, in his prime and fueled by fury, it took the combined efforts of Kong, Zephyr, Sengoku, and even Tsuru, using her fruit powers, to try and quell Garp's anger.

"Garp, have you gone mad? She's the new Admiral!" Kong's voice boomed, attempting to reason with Garp. With each passing second, the situation escalated, but somehow, Tsuru's fruit power helped to restrain him to a certain extent.

"Garp, if you keep this up, you'll be thrown out of the Marines!" Kong's voice thundered. He sought to bring the wild beast under control, knowing that the details could be discussed later.

Suddenly, Garp, who had been like a wild beast, paused and locked eyes with Kong. Without a word, he slackened his grip on the unconscious Vice Admiral in his hands and flung him it at the Fleet Admiral's foot. With one last glance in the direction Agana had fallen, Garp strode purposefully towards Bogard, who lay unconscious on the ground. The crowd surrounding Bogard keeping him restrained parted, intimidated by the sheer bloodlust emanating from the marine hero. No one dared to challenge him.

As days flew by, a seismic wave of news swept across the world, shaking the very foundations of power and order. First came the earth-shattering revelation of the fall of the Donquixote family. From the New World to Paradise and even the North Blue, the bases of the once formidable family were razed to the ground, leaving no survivors in their wake. Yet what sent shockwaves even deeper was the fate of the family's leader, shrouded in mystery and uncertainty.

In the heart of Mary Geoise, where the eyes of every descendant were fixated, the young Doflamingo lay crucified, a stark symbol of defiance silenced. Beneath him rested a small chest, within which lay half a heart—a chilling reminder to all World Nobles of the consequences awaiting those who dared challenge their supremacy. The elders, in their bid to maintain control, sought to suppress this grim event, along with countless others that unfolded in the chaotic aftermath of the Marineford battle.

Amidst the turmoil, whispers spread like wildfire amongst the higher ups of Marine communities of an admiral's defection—the creation of a newfound freedom fighter group led by none other than Dragon himself. The news rippled through the marine community, sending shockwaves of uncertainty and unrest. Yet, amidst the chaos, Garp, once a stalwart pillar of the Marines, retreated into the depths of Marineford his current stance unknown, his silence speaking volumes to those who sought answers.

But amidst the turmoil and unrest, one event eclipsed them all—the legendary Roger Pirates achieving what had been thought impossible for centuries. Their triumphant arrival at the final island ignited a frenzy of speculation and wonder as rumors of the ultimate treasure—the One Piece—began to spread like wildfire across the globe. Despite the World Government's efforts to suppress the news, the truth could not be contained, and Roger was crowned with the illustrious title of "Pirate King," forever etching his name into the annals of history.

As news of the Roger Pirates' historic achievement spread across the seas, the very waters themselves seemed to roil and churn with excitement and anticipation. Ships rocked on tumultuous waves as whispers of the legendary crew's triumph echoed from port to port. Mariners, pirates, and civilians alike found themselves swept up in the fervor, their imaginations ignited by the possibilities unlocked by the discovery of the final island.

Amidst the chaos, the World Government, recognizing the gravity of the situation, released an updated bounty notice for the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. The bounty, displayed in bold letters for all to see, surpassed all previous records, a testament to Roger's unparalleled notoriety and the magnitude of his latest achievement. Even the World Government itself was humbled due to the fact that they were not able to suppress the truth and was forced to acknowledge Roger with his new title "Pirate King".

Inscribed upon the wanted poster, in letters that seemed to seethe with authority and condemnation, was Roger's exorbitant bounty:

Gol D. Roger : Pirate King : Dead or Alive : Bounty: 5,564,800,000 Berries

The staggering figure served as a stark reminder of Roger's enduring legacy and the immense threat he posed to the World Government's control over the seas. As the bounty poster fluttered in the wind, its message reverberated across the world, signaling a new era of uncertainty and upheaval in the vast expanse of the Grand Line.

In the hallowed halls of Mary Geoise, the sanctum of the elders erupted into chaos. Just days earlier, they had reveled in their victory over those two little teenagersthey deemed as upstarts. However, the euphoria was short-lived as news of Roger and his crew's discovery of the long-hidden secret spread like wildfire. Summoned by the enigmatic ruler Imu-sama, the elders found themselves walking a precarious tightrope, unsure of what repercussions awaited them.

Imu-sama's summons were rare and not to be taken lightly. As they entered the supreme leader's presence, tension hung thick in the air. Yet, to their surprise, Imu-sama appeared nonchalant, almost indifferent to the news of the final island's revelation. With a mere glance at Roger's new bounty, Imu Sama dismissed the matter and returned to the serene garden, leaving the elders bewildered yet relieved.