A/N: Sorry it took me quite a while to write this chapter, first I plan to double the chapter word count, previously I always write more than 1000 word count but this time I plan to double it to at least 2000 to 2500 word count.
Saint Figarland Garling had fought countless enemies throughout his long life, pirates, marines, kings, and even entire armies. None of them had ever managed to hurt him like this.
Not even Rocks D. Xebec nor Davy D. Xebec, monsters among pirates, had truly drawn blood from him. He had once been decapitated by Rocks himself, yet that injury had meant nothing. His head had simply grown back, his body restored as if he were a robot. Pain was something he had long forgotten, he only felt a bit of pain when the sword was coated by Conqueror Haki and it was done by Rocks.
But today… things were different.
When his hand was severed by that glowing sword, the one in Jack grip, Garling realized something was terribly wrong. The weapon didn't look dangerous at first, more like threads of golden light woven together into the shape of a blade. A toy compared to his sword that coated by conqueror haki.
He had even allowed Jack strike to land, confident in his superiority and it was a mistake that he shouldn't do.
The instant the blade touched his flesh, a white-hot pain ripped through him, this pain he had never felt it before. His eyes widened in disbelief as his arm fell away, and for the first time in centuries, blood spilled from his body.
Garling staggered back, clutching the wound and then, something even worse happened.
He felt it, the connection to the energy that had always filled him, the magic force that sustained his regeneration, this energy is the one that block physical attack from hurting him suddenly vanish. It was as if an invisible cord had been cut. The constant hum of power that pulsed through his veins… gone.
He gasped. The wound refused to heal. His body remained broken, his wound bleeding non stop.
"What… what is this?" he muttered, trembling. His own voice sounded panic.
The brand etched onto his severed hand had always been his source of power, a magic mark that connected him to that being, Imu Sama.. But now, that hand was gone lying on the battlefield, fingers twitching faintly before turning cold.
He felt empty, weak and vulnerable. This feeling is even worse than his fight with Rocks D Xebec.
For the first time in his life, Saint Figarland Garling felt the one thing he had never known before, it was fear.
***
Jack cosmic sword did more than just wound Garling it had severed something deeper, something that shouldn't be cut. The blade didn't merely cut flesh, it tore through the invisible link that connected the Holy Knight to the power that endlessly fed his body. The power that give the power of healing to every Holy knight who have brand or tattoo on their shoulder.
Luck on Jack side, he knows that Garling merely looked down on them so his first strike had aimed precisely at the hand that had that power, the one bearing the tattoo that tied him to Imu. The moment the blade cleaved through it, that magic connection was instantly severed.
Garling stumbled backward, clutching his sword with his remaining hand, face contorted in disbelief. "You… filthy mortal," he spat, voice trembling with rage and disbelief. "How dare you wound a Holy Knight! Do you even know what you've done!?"
Jack stood silently for a moment, his armor blocking his face softly. Then, with the sound of clacking metal, the nanotech folding away like liquid metal. The gesture was eerily reminiscent of Tony Stark removing his mask everytime he wanted to talk with someone.
His smirk was cold. "Guess your regeneration system's fried, huh? That fancy hand of yours… not growing back, is it?"
Garling's eyes burned with hate, but behind that fury was something else he never felt before, it was fear against ant.
Jack lifted the sword again. "You're no god, Garling. Just another parasite who do chaos in this world.
He swung the sword down, intending to end it right there, he hated this man when he saw he killed his wife and kidnapped her baby.
CLANG!
The strike was intercepted, a flash of black lightning bursting between them. Saint Figarland Shamrock, Garling son, appeared in front of his father, his own sword trembling with Haki.
"How dare a mere mortal raise his sword against the Holy Knights!" Shamrock growled, his face twisted in fury. Dark sparks of lightning danced along his blade as his Conqueror's Haki flared. The clash between the two blades wasn't on the scale of Roger and Whitebeard legendary battle, yet the collision still cracked the air and sent a violent shockwave through the ground.
The impact forced both of them back. Jack slid a few steps but kept his footing; Shamrock skidded and planted his sword into the earth to steady himself.
The brief interruption gave Garling time to recover or at least, to pretend he had. He gritted his teeth, forcing his trembling body to stand. His once strong body frame now felt heavy, drained, and fragile. His wound still bled heavily, staining the ground and his clothes with blood.
Then, in an instant, Sabo, Zoro, and Sanji closed in. Earlier, Shamrock manage to parried their attack and escaped from them to defend his father. Both father and son noticed that they have been surrounded.
Jack tilted his head slightly. "What now? You're trapped. No room to run. No healing magic tattoo to save you."
Shamrock jaw tightened. "You think this changes anything? You think you can kill us?" he spat.
"Yes," Jack replied simply, the single word make Shamrock become quiet. "You've already lost. Look at your father hand. That's not a wound that heals, it still bleeding heavily, is it?"
At those words, Shamrock froze. His eyes darted toward his father. Garling was clutching his arm, his entire body trembling. Blood continued to flow from the stump. It should have stopped. Even a Conqueror Haki strike shouldn't have caused this. Yet the wound remained open and it didn't stop the blood from flowing out.
"So that's it… when I stabbed the kid earlier, his wound healed right away." said Zoro. "Jack does that glowing sword can cut them down.
"Yes, this sword is something that can sever the connection that they have. On their shoulder there is tattoo that keep feeding them with healing magic, that is why they can heal instantaneously," revealed Jack
"That sword… it's something else," said Sanji while Zoro was looking a bit greedy looking at the Cosmic Golden sword on Jack hand.
Sabo's eyes flickered with both curiosity and unease. "A blade that severs magic?"
Garling's breathing turned ragged. He could feel it now, his body starting to become weak.. His power had vanished completely. For the first time in centuries, he felt the frailty of a mortal man.
His thoughts raced. Impossible. How can this be? That connection… that bond with Imu sama... it's gone. It's really gone.
He clenched his remaining hand tighter around his sword, but even his grip felt weak. What am I without that power? Without the blessing of the brand? Just another man waiting to die?
Jack's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. "That brand on your hand, the one that's supposed to keep you alive, won't heal you anymore." He raised his cosmic sword, its golden light reflecting in their terrified eyes. "This sword is your greatest weakness. If devil fruits are powerless before seawater… then this blade is your biggest menace."
The words hit harder than the pain itself. Garling and Shamrock both froze, disbelief written across their faces.
Even Sabo, Zoro, and Sanji couldn't hide their shock. They didn't know that the Holy Knights has tattoo that keep healing them.
Garling looked down at his trembling hand and then at his another side, the wound still bleeding freely, the ground beneath him soaked in red. For the first time in his life, he realized the terrible truth, he could die at here.
And that realization terrified him more than any enemy ever had.....
"Jack." His voice cut through the wind. "You held them long enough."
Jack exhaled, stepping back slightly. "You're late."
"I was busy keeping Akainu from melting the island," Dragon replied, glancing briefly at the Holy Knight. His eyes narrowed. "That one, he's not dead yet."
Garling staggered to his feet, blood dripping down his chin but his ego still keeping him wake and wanted Dragon… the bloodline of traitor… you dare raise your hand against the holy knights!"
Dragon's hand slowly reached for the sword on his side, Yubashiri, reforged with uru metal, now glowing with conqueror haki. The uru metal make the sword glimmer a bit it was because the haki works well with Uru Metal.
"You had killed many people and even use Marines as your pawns," he said, voice low and thunderous. "Now I will deliver through justice."
***
Atop the red earth continent, inside the pristine walls of Pangaea Castle, the atmosphere was tense enough to choke on.
"Still nothing?" barked a cold voice from the upper platform.
A Cipher Pol agent stood rigidly below, his uniform soaked with sweat. "No, sir!" he stammered, snapping a trembling salute. "We've lost all contact with the Marines stationed near Whiskey Peak. Attempts to reach Vice Admiral Onigumo, Vice Admiral Doberman, and even Admiral Akainu have all failed. There's… there's no response from anyone."
A wave of silence swept through the room, sharp, suffocating silence.
One of the Gorosei rose from his seat. Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the bald elder with eyes like dulled steel, slowly leaned forward.
"Repeat that," he said softly, his voice cold enough to freeze the marrow.
The agent throat tightened. "We… we've lost connection to all field units, sir. Even the Holy Knights are unresponsive."
The words hung in the air like a curse.
For a moment, nobody spoke. The elders exchanged dark looks. They had been called earlier by Imu sama that the connection to Garling had been severed, so something bad are happen to him.
"Garling is strong," muttered Saint Saturn, his tone low and uneasy. "But even strength has its limits."
The Cipher Pol agent hesitated, his voice trembling. "Then… what are your orders, Saturn-sama?"
Saturn gaze sharpened. "Deploy Admiral Kizaru. He's the fastest man alive and the only one who can reach Whiskey Peak before it's too late."
The others exchanged brief nods of agreement. It wasn't just about Garling anymore. Something had gone wrong at a level none of them could explain and they need Garling alive to uncover the mystery.
"Ok saturn sama," replied the agent. "Is Admiral Kizaru to engage the enemy?"
"No," Saturn replied, his tone cold. "He is to retrieve. If Garling and Shamrock still live, bring them back immediately. If they are dead…" — his eyes darkened — "then take the bodies and evacuate. No one else must know what happened there."
The room fell utterly silent. The implication was clear. Something really bad is happen and they need to save them before it is too late."
The agent nodded quickly, fumbling to activate the communication snail. "Understood, Saturn-sama. I will inform Admiral Kizaru directly."
The Den Den Mushi clicked, its little eyes narrowing into focus. The line buzzed for a moment before connecting.
***
"Yoi… what's this about losing contact again?" he asked lazily.
The voice on the other end was sharp, urgent. "Admiral Kizaru, orders from the Gorosei. You are to proceed immediately to Whiskey Peak. Saint Garling'life signal is gone. The Holy Knights may be compromised."
Kizaru's expression didn't change—but his tone grew quieter. "…Garling, huh?"
He turned his gaze toward the direction of Whiskey Peak, where the sun was setting in a violent red glow.
"Well… that's troublesome," he murmured.
The agent on the other end hesitated. "Your orders, sir?"
Kizaru sighed. "Orders, orders… so many orders. Fine then."
In an instant, his body burst into golden light, scattering photons into the air.
"Tell the Gorosei," his fading voice echoed through the receiver, "that I'll bring them back… one way or another."
A streak of light shot across the sky, fast enough to pierce the clouds, blazing straight toward Whiskey Peak.
Author Notes: There is 10 advanced chapter on my patreon.
-patreon.com/zerelix