Garp was right.
Griffin was a flower that bloomed through combat as nourishment and flesh as soil.
Humans possess the instinct to survive and avoid danger, yet the power of his bloodline drove him to embrace battles where one must either live or die.
Because...
The thrill brought by combat was simply too intense!!
...
With every swing of his blade, he could clearly feel power gushing out like a spring, his bones and muscles becoming tougher with each tremor, his blood flowing more fiercely as it boiled!
With every breath, the vision of his Sharingan expanded further, Kari's movements seemed to slow down, allowing him to capture every pause in his physical motions.
Even the reactions Kari would subsequently make would automatically form images in his mind.
And even...
He gradually saw Kari's hollow consciousness, glimpsing a body without a heart.
Griffin knew...
This was Observation Haki!
——
——
"What kind of monster is this..."
King stared at the devastated, gruesome battlefield amidst the broken walls and ruins, unable to utter a sound.
Only a few dozen minutes had passed since the battle began, yet he had witnessed Kari, who had initially completely suppressed Griffin, now reduced to mere defense.
...
Clang—
A heavily notched, broken blade forcefully pressed down on Spring Rain, and Griffin's voice echoed in Kari's mind.
"Kari, do you know the difference between you and me?"
"Even though we are two beings with identical essence, abilities, and power, why am I the dominator while you can only serve as a tool for auxiliary strength?"
...
"This was predetermined from the start."
Even as the scales of battle began to tilt, Kari remained expressionless, devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
"No."
"It's because... you have no heart."
Griffin's eyes lowered, deep and unfathomable, cold without a trace of warmth.
Like an invisible blade, slowly dissecting Kari's body.
...
"Without a heart, you cannot experience humanity's endless desires, malice, or joy."
"You cannot comprehend life's extreme yearning for evolution!"
...
"If you're referring to self-awareness, that is something not permitted to exist."
"History has already provided too many painful lessons. Once we, as puppets, gain will, it would be a catastrophe."
...
Heh heh...
Griffin laughed, his icy eyes swirling with... a vortex named madness.
"Then you should know that humans never learn any lessons from history."
"Do you know..."
"Someone of your level alone cannot satisfy me!!"
Crack—
The Marine-issued longsword suppressing Kari could no longer hold on, shattering explosively.
Griffin grinned ferociously, actually pressing his palm directly onto Spring Rain.
Boom!!!!!
Along with Kari's body, they were driven into the ground by the tremendous force erupting from his palm!
...
Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!!!!!!!!!!!
Fists fell like a storm upon Kari's body, pounding out deep craters one after another.
While Griffin threw punches like a madman, his voice in Kari's mind remained eerily calm.
"What good is a body that cannot even feel pain? What kind of high-end creation is a body that cannot even bleed!"
"I deliberately let you take the first step, hoping you would serve as the stepping stone for my awakening to a higher level."
"47 fatal wounds..."
"This is the answer you've given me."
"A mere fatal injury can't even kill me. How could I still place my hopes in you!"
"You've disappointed me so much, Kari!"
...
...
Kari struggled desperately to block Griffin's fists while continuously repairing the damage.
Never stopping Griffin's commands until completely broken.
But...
I don't understand.
Cannot comprehend.
What exactly is the main body disappointed about?
Isn't everything developing according to his wishes?
Isn't he growing stronger using me as nourishment?
Why the disappointment? Why place hopes in me?
No...
What is this 'me'?
Why do I have the concept of 'self'?
...
Griffin's voice sounded again.
"Chakra is a miraculous power."
"It contains my spiritual energy, carries my beliefs."
"Kari, you're the only one who knows everything about me. If you're just an empty shell that can't communicate, that would be too boring."
...
...
"Please give clearer instructions."
...
...
Griffin's punching motion paused, his fist coated with a layer of pale blue chakra.
...
"Still not working... forget it, we'll stop here for now."
Bam!!
Stepping on the wrist of Kari's sword hand, Griffin formed hand seals with one hand, raising it high above his head.
The surrounding ice crystals gathered through invisible energy waves, surging wildly toward Griffin as the temperature plummeted.
...
Not good!!
King, who had been focused on watching the battle, immediately became alert. He knew this Marine was building up power, undoubtedly to capture Kari.
Must not let Kari be arrested!!
Whoosh—
Just as he spread his wings to fly over, a black line filled with deathly aura appeared before him.
His Observation Haki told him that if he continued forward recklessly...
He would die!!
—
Barely avoiding Hawkeye's Black Blade, King roared angrily: "Get out of my way! Hawkeye!!"
Hawkeye stood with his blade before him, calmly stating.
"Their battle isn't over yet. Behave yourself."
King gnashed his teeth: "Bastard! Who was it that couldn't help but move when that Marine was about to lose just now!!"
Hawkeye remained expressionless: "I ultimately didn't intervene, did I?"
Damn it!!
Watching Griffin's raised hand about to descend, King grew increasingly anxious.
This might be his only remaining tribesman. Even disregarding tribal bonds, Kari's methods of using flames were something he absolutely needed to obtain.
Those were the secret techniques left by the Lunarian Tribe!
If I can master them, I can definitely help Lord Kaido ascend to the Pirate King's throne and change the world!!
...
"Hawkeye... if you dare block me... then it's a fight to the death between us!!"
Hawkeye raised an eyebrow, his mustache twitching slightly.
"Is that so? I accept your deathmatch. Shall we begin now?"
...
Threats are useless against this guy...
No choice now, even if it means suffering serious injuries, I must rescue Kari!!
The flames around King's body vanished, greatly reducing his defense but granting him greater speed.
Hope I can make it in time...
...
All eyes focused on Griffin's fingers.
As his two fingers slowly descended, deep blue ice crystals rose from the ground where the two stood, climbing up Kari's body.
His other hand was about to join the descending hand...
Ice Release - Thousand Years of Death—
...
"Perfume Femur!!"
An intoxicating sweetness cut through the cold air, carrying not gentle temptation but a sharp, lethal fragrance.
A graceful figure swept in like flowing light, her slender jade-like leg tracing an elegant arc through the air.
Before he could get close, the shockwave sent Griffin stumbling, breaking his suppression of Kari.
...
A moment of silence fell.
She stood at the center of the battlefield, glancing back at Kari in the deep pit with a gaze carrying resolve and unquestionable pride.
"You cannot fall here. I absolutely will not allow it!"
...
The Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!!
——
Griffin swayed slightly, shaking off the numbness the shockwave had sent coursing through his body.
...
"Hah... As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, you actually dare strike at me."
Griffin lifted his head, casting an even more arrogant gaze down upon the Pirate Empress. "You've made the wrong decision."
"Hancock!"