These Whitebeard Pirates still wreathed in red flames had been set ablaze by Hancock's power — including Jozu, commander of the Third Division.
"Is there any way to put out these flames?" Marco asked Hancock as he stepped over to Grimm.
Hancock glanced toward Grimm, who gave a quiet nod of approval.
With an air of cool disdain, Hancock walked up to Jozu. She cupped her delicate hands and blew softly over him, speaking in a low voice: "It ends now."
Almost instantly, the flames vanished, and Jozu and the others returned to normal.
During the burning, their minds had been trapped in agony, unaware of what was happening around them.
But the moment Jozu laid eyes on Hancock, he raised his fist to strike — only for Marco to grab his shoulder and shake his head, signaling that the fighting was over.
"All my sons — let us depart!"
Whitebeard climbed aboard the Moby Dick, which had been pulled here by his own power just moments earlier.
As the two islands now stood joined together, Hancock stared at Whitebeard's retreating figure, still shaken. "He truly is a monster."
"Pity he has lost his ambition — otherwise, he would have achieved far more," Grimm said as he sheathed his weapons.
With the Moby Dick and the other three Whitebeard ships setting sail, the battle officially came to an end.
Of the four vessels Hancock had brought, only three remained — one had been sunk during the fighting.
Pfft… pfft… pfft…
That familiar shuffling sound, like flatulence, echoed across the deck. Grimm turned to see Indigo's comical face grinning back at him.
"So you're still alive, Indigo," Grimm said with a faint smile.
Indigo threw his arms wide and strutted forward in a wide‑legged gait, looking every bit the clown. Few would guess that this man was both a skilled ship's doctor and a brilliant scientist.
When the portal had opened years ago, only the elite fighters of the Golden Lion's fleet had escaped — Grimm had never heard that Indigo had made it out.
"The shockwaves from Captain Shiki's final battle gave us the chance to slip away," Indigo explained, grinning broadly.
"For years I've been studying that 'virus' of yours. And now… I wish to join your crew."
"Join me?" Grimm's smile did not waver.
It was hardly unusual. Ever since leaving Mariejois, with the New World carved up between the Four Emperors, many crews had sought to serve under him — hence incidents like the one involving Moria.
Most were turned away or killed outright; Grimm accepted only those he deemed worthy.
"Lord Grimm — it has been a long time. The last time we met was before the assault on Mariejois," said Strugos the Swordsman, stepping forward.
Now in his forties, with his signature purple ponytail, he continued: "Matthias, Uldar, and I — we all wish to serve under you."
"Ugh… so many unpleasant men," Hancock muttered in disgust.
Grimm spoke clearly: "Joining me is no problem. But there is one rule: Marines, pirates, soldiers, or corrupt merchants — anyone who bears arms may be slain without hesitation. But if any of you harm an unarmed civilian, do not expect mercy from me."
"Of course! Anything you command, Lord Grimm!" Indigo replied eagerly.
"Good," Grimm said, smiling. "Then you will all travel with me from now on. I don't expect you to help build towns or maintain order — just try not to destroy anything, and I'll be grateful enough."
"Hooray for Lord Grimm!" Indigo cheered, unusually enthusiastic.
About an hour after Grimm's departure, the two Marine warships under Tsuru arrived at the scene.
Peachbeard hopped down from the deck and stared at the two islands now merged into one — one large, one small — and once again gasped in amazement.
"I hate to say it again, but Whitebeard is simply terrifyingly strong!"
"Grimm isn't any less impressive — he actually stopped such a massive shockwave!" White Fox said, stepping down beside Tsuru.
Peachbeard chuckled and turned to Tsuru. "But you predicted this perfectly, Chief Tsuru. As you said, they never fought to the death."
"Those remnants of the Golden Lion Pirates are no weaklings. If they joined Whitebeard, it would only throw the balance into greater chaos — what is there to celebrate?" Tsuru replied, crossing her arms.
"And it's not just Grimm and Whitebeard. Kaido and Big Mom will never fight to the death either."
"Eh? But they went into this with clear goals — why would they stop halfway?" Chaja asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"You'll see soon enough," Tsuru said, waving a hand. "Set course back to headquarters. Bring me a Den Den Mushi — I need to file my report."
As they reboarded, Chaja edged closer to Peachbeard. Everyone else had grown used to this routine and carried on walking.
"Peachbeard… to have survived such danger together… surely this means our fates are intertwined…"
"Not interested," Peachbeard cut him off in three short words, just as she always did.
Farther along the Grand Line, in another stretch of ocean:
Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp stood watch over the battle between the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates.
For ten days, the two sides had clashed without pause, as if trying to tear the land apart and pierce the sky itself.
"Kaido refuses to yield even an inch," Garp said, sitting at the bow. "Both sides must have suffered heavy losses by now."
"Not quite," Sengoku replied, shaking his head — his reasoning nearly identical to Tsuru's. "They will never fight to the very end."
The struggle over the rubbings of the Poneglyphs dragged on for fifteen days. Casualties mounted on both sides, until finally Big Mom called a halt and ordered a retreat.
Kaido, the battle‑obsessed Emperor, immediately moved to give chase — only to be reminded by his subordinates of the thousands of Marines waiting just a few nautical miles away, with Sengoku and Garp overseeing them.
After a long silence, Kaido too ordered his fleet to withdraw.
Both knew their strength was evenly matched. To continue fighting would only drain their forces and hand the advantage to the Marines.
The Road Poneglyphs leading to Laugh Tale were valuable, but not more precious than their lives and crews.
After ten days of brutal warfare, Big Mom's forces secured one of the red Poneglyphs. Kaido, meanwhile, could either rebuild his army and attack again, or seek out the remaining three pieces elsewhere.
Back aboard the distant Marine ships:
CRUNCH.
Garp finished the last bite of his rice cracker, peering through a long‑range telescope designed by Luke. "You were right, Sengoku. They've called it off."
Sengoku crossed his arms. "Of course I was. Only you fill your head with donuts and crackers. Do you really think they would exhaust themselves just to let us Marines pick up the pieces?"
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