As Ayr approached, his presence weighed heavily in the air.
The sheer force of his Haki sent tremors through the earth. Even from a distance, it felt like standing before a tidal wave of raw willpower.
Sengoku, a man who had stood tall for decades as one of the Marine's strongest, suddenly felt a chill crawl down his spine.
A deep, instinctual fear gripped him.
He couldn't believe it—but he was terrified.
The Admiral of Admirals, the Buddha himself, whose might once rivaled even the Pirate King's… now stood paralyzed with dread.
He realized with grim clarity:
If they kept fighting Ayr, all three of them would die.
This wasn't exaggeration—it was an iron truth carved into his bones.
Ayr drew closer.
The pressure from his Conqueror's Haki was no longer invisible. It felt solid, almost crushing, as if the very air was trying to force them to the ground.
Cold sweat streamed down Sengoku's temple.
His eyes flicked toward Garp, still lying unconscious, blood soaking through his uniform.
Even when the four of them had fought side by side, they couldn't lay a scratch on Ayr.
Now, with Zephyr wounded, Garp incapacitated, and their stamina depleted…
Continuing would mean death.
He couldn't even imagine the consequences anymore.
Ayr kept walking.
Sengoku's heart pounded. Each of Ayr's steps felt like a countdown to their end.
At last, Sengoku made his choice.
"We surrender!"
His voice rang out across the battlefield, sharp and decisive.
There was a stunned silence.
Crane, standing behind him, closed her eyes in silent despair.
Zephyr exhaled deeply, resignation etched across his face.
So this was the end of it…
Sengoku had chosen life—not for himself, but to protect the others.
He'd rather die, if it were just about him. But not like this. Not when Garp, Zephyr, and Crane would die too.
Across from them, Ayr halted, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
"What did you say?" he asked coldly.
Sengoku clenched his fists, his voice cracking with the weight of shame.
"We surrender. We're willing to give you the Op-Op Fruit."
"Just… let us take Garp and leave alive."
As he spoke, Crane stepped forward. From her satchel, she slowly produced the Op-Op Fruit—its red, heart-shaped surface glowing softly in the dim light.
Ayr's expression was unreadable. His eyes flicked between the fruit and the exhausted Marines.
Sengoku continued, trying to show sincerity.
"You have my word. We won't resist. Spare us, and you can have what you came for."
This wasn't negotiation—it was pleading.
A Sengoku reduced to begging… it was a sight no Marine would have believed.
But he had no other options.
If he didn't submit, all four of them would die—and Ayr would still take the fruit.
A pointless death.
Ayr stepped forward.
Crane didn't dare move.
Her heart pounded as he reached for the fruit in her hands.
Even the slightest flinch might be interpreted as aggression—and they would be annihilated before they could explain.
Ayr silently took the Op-Op Fruit.
His gaze lingered on it for a moment—then on the three standing Marines, and the unconscious Garp.
Sengoku and Crane were drenched in sweat.
It felt like awaiting execution.
Then… Ayr turned away.
"Deal," he said curtly.
"Take him and go."
For a moment, no one moved.
Then, like a prison door swinging open, the tension snapped.
Sengoku, Crane, and Zephyr rushed to Garp's side. They lifted him carefully and, without another word, fled the island with every ounce of strength they had left.
It was as if they had been given a second life.
Behind them, Ayr stood calmly, the Op-Op Fruit in hand.
He studied it—the fruit was beautifully grotesque, shaped like a red, glowing heart.
A small smile curled on his lips.
"Those who understand when to yield... they're the clever ones," he muttered.
"Sengoku and the others... they're not as stubborn as I thought."
He had originally intended to wipe them all out.
They were no longer threats. But exterminating them was no longer necessary.
They had submitted willingly, offered the fruit themselves.
That was enough.
Ayr slipped the fruit into a satchel.
Suddenly, his gaze snapped to the distant cliffside—like a beast sensing prey.
In his pupils, a cold gleam flashed like lightning.
His eyes locked directly onto a ridge overlooking the battlefield.
In that moment—
Doflamingo, hiding far away with his men, froze.
A chill ran down his spine.
His breath caught. Every instinct screamed: Danger!
It was like being targeted by a wild predator.
He turned to his crew.
"Quick... we need to get out of here! Now!"
Panic surged through Doflamingo.
Ayr had spotted them.
And Doflamingo knew—if he stayed even a moment longer, the next Conqueror's Haki that dropped would be the end of all of them.
{🥳 The Fanfic is now fully completed! 🎉
You can access 300+ advance chapters right now on Patreon—available for subscription or purchase! ✨
👉 patreon.com/Oreski
🥰 Your support keeps me motivated and eager to create even more amazing stories!}