Everyone quickly surrounded Trafalgar Law, who lay unconscious in the snow, and carefully retrieved the Op-Op Fruit from his hand.
Sengoku knelt beside him, resting his chin in one hand, deep in thought.
"If I recall correctly… this kid is one of Doflamingo's subordinates. Trafalgar Law, right?"
Although unsure of why Law was lying unconscious in the snow with the fruit, Sengoku's mind raced through the possibilities.
"What do we do with him? Should we bring him back with us… or leave him?"
It was snowing heavily. The cold bit into their skin, and the blizzard howled around them. Under such freezing conditions, the unconscious Law had no chance of surviving much longer.
"If Law is here, that likely means Doflamingo is on this island as well," Tsuru remarked. "After all, this child is—was—one of his family."
"Though young," Zephyr said, "he's a pirate. Still… it's strange. What happened within Doflamingo's crew that left a child like Law holding the Op-Op Fruit… alone, unconscious in this icy wasteland?"
Sengoku frowned. "Whatever internal disputes they're dealing with, it's not our concern. We've secured the Op-Op Fruit. That was our primary mission. Now we leave—before we're noticed."
He looked down at Law once more, considering the boy's fate, then spoke his decision aloud.
Their goal on this island was singular: retrieve the Op-Op Fruit.
Now that the mission was complete, lingering here any longer was unnecessary—and dangerous.
As for Law's life… yes, some of them had concerns. But the reality was clear.
Law was a pirate. And they were Marines.
They could not afford to get entangled in the internal affairs of the Donquixote Family.
"You're right. Let's go," Sengoku agreed.
Had it been just an ordinary child lying unconscious in the snow, the Marines would never have left them to die. They'd have brought him back to Marineford without question.
But Law was no ordinary child. He had joined the underworld. He had become a pirate.
And to become a pirate, one must accept the consequences of that choice.
The Marines had no obligation to save him.
Even if he was just a child.
The group spared him a final glance before, without hesitation, turning away. With the Op-Op Fruit secured, they began moving quickly toward the coast.
But before they could take more than a few steps—
A crushing, mind-numbing force suddenly descended on them.
It was as if the heavens themselves had collapsed, unleashing an invisible weight that warped the air around them. A pressure so immense that even the strongest among them felt it settle over their skulls—like the sky itself was bearing down.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Almost instantly, every Marine except for Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Tsuru collapsed to the ground. Eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth—they had been knocked unconscious in an instant.
"This… this is Conqueror's Haki!" someone gasped.
But this wasn't just any Haki.
It was a manifestation so strong, so refined, that only one man in the New World could possess such a monstrous presence.
"He's close… He's already here…!"
"Damn it!" Sengoku cursed. "We just secured the fruit, and he's already found us?!"
"If we'd had just one more minute," Tsuru muttered grimly, "we would've been back on the warship. Why now?!"
Even those few Marines who remained standing looked toward the forest with pale, horrified expressions.
These weren't weaklings. Every Marine on this expedition was at least Rear Admiral level—the elite of the Headquarters.
Yet Ayr's Conqueror's Haki had decimated them.
Even several Vice Admirals—combat veterans—had been completely overwhelmed and rendered unconscious by the sheer pressure.
Only a handful of seasoned warriors managed to remain on their feet—barely.
It was a scene of terror.
They had succeeded in retrieving the Op-Op Fruit from Law, and were so close to escaping.
But now… it was too late.
Ayr had arrived.
"Tread. Tread. Tread."
In the silence of the snowfall, the crisp echo of footsteps pierced the forest air.
All eyes turned toward the sound.
A tall, imposing man emerged slowly from the forest. His aura was suffocating, yet elegant. His presence undeniable.
It was him.
Ayr.
The strongest pirate in the New World.
"Long time no see… Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr, Tsuru," Ayr said with a calm, almost respectful tone, as if greeting old friends rather than enemies.
Before him stood four legends. Four of the strongest figures in the current world—each with the power to destroy nations.
Their combined strength was immeasurable. An alliance like this could even tip the balance of world power.
But Ayr? He showed not even a flicker of fear.
He stood alone—and he was confident.
Why?
Because he possessed power beyond the understanding of most.
Not just the legacy of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, but also the divine strength of the Sage of Six Paths.
That alone gave him the audacity to challenge even the mightiest forces of this world.
"So… you came after all," Sengoku murmured, cold sweat forming on his brow.
"No choice now," Garp said, cracking his knuckles. "We follow the plan."
Before landing on the island, the four had agreed: if Ayr showed up during the operation, Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr would hold him off while Tsuru escaped with the fruit.
"Go, Tsuru! Get the Op-Op Fruit to safety—we'll handle him!" Zephyr shouted.
"I understand," she replied, immediately turning and sprinting into the distance with the fruit clutched in her arms.
But just as she moved—
A crushing force seized her body mid-step.
An invisible gravity bound her limbs, rooting her to the spot like an anchor had fallen from the sky.
She couldn't move an inch.
"Universal Pull."
Ayr's voice echoed as his eyes glowed with unnatural energy.
It was one of his most terrifying abilities—granted by the divine chakra of the Rinnegan. The technique allowed him to manipulate gravity itself, pulling any designated target toward him with irresistible force.
Tsuru, despite her formidable combat power, was paralyzed under the effect of the technique. She was stuck—completely immobile.
"How do you expect to escape… with my fruit?" Ayr asked coldly, stepping forward.
He had searched for the Op-Op Fruit for nearly ten years.
Now, with it so close—so tangible—there was no way he would allow it to slip away.
"Ayr!" Garp roared, stepping forward. "We're not letting you get the Op-Op Fruit, you bastard!"
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