Shakky stared with despair in her eyes, her heart filled with resentment.
"Saint Somaz, if you do this, Saint Jialin will definitely not let it slide!" the Marine guard behind Saint Somaz quickly advised.
Somaz stared at the top-tier rarity before him, not caring at all. "Shut up! As long as you stay quiet, this will just look like an accident!"
Inside the room, Somaz raised the iron bar high, about to strike, when Rayleigh's figure charged out from behind him.
Rayleigh, exuding a powerful Conqueror's Haki, appeared behind him. Seeing the scene in the room, Rayleigh's expression was filled with extreme rage.
Pluton's rage erupted instantly, and the Marine soldier standing behind Saint Somaz was knocked unconscious on the spot.
"What!" Somaz's body stiffened from the shock of the Haoshoku. He jerked his head back. "Rayleigh!"
"I'll send you to the underworld!!!" Rayleigh's right hand, gripping his sword, slashed at Saint Somaz with all his might. "Paramita Blade: Natta—!"
The strike, coated in Conqueror's Haki, instantly hit Saint Somaz, sending him flying away from Shakky.
Saint Somaz's body slammed into the wall, and he lost consciousness immediately.
Rayleigh's murderous gaze turned into one of pity as he looked down at her. "Shakky, sorry, I'm late!"
"I saw the note you gave me earlier." Rayleigh sheathed his blade and stood before Shakky, adding, "Now, I've come to get you."
He extended his right hand to Shakky, looking at her as seriously as a gentleman.
Lying on the ground, Shakky was so moved by the sight that tears flowed uncontrollably. She got up and threw herself into Rayleigh's arms, thanking him emotionally, "Mr. Rayleigh, you're way too slow!"
Overcome with guilt, Rayleigh finally broke the shackles in his heart that resisted being tied down by a woman. "I'm sorry you had to go through this."
The unique emotional secret belonging only to the two of them gushed out at this moment.
At that same moment, outside the open door, the group that had been facing the Rocks Pirates' executives gathered.
When Roger and Jabba reached the door, they saw Shakky snuggling in Rayleigh's arms, and their expressions turned painful.
"..." Rune, who had also repelled the Rocks Pirates' executives, arrived at the door. Although he didn't feel great seeing the scene inside, he still managed a slight smile.
Roger knelt at Rune's feet, clutching his leg and wailing, "My Shakky..."
"Who told you to let him go? Wouldn't it have been better to let Rayleigh block Shiki and the others, and let me go instead!" Rune subconsciously punched Roger. "And what are you crying for? Can't you stand to see your brother in a sweet relationship?"
Rune stared at Rayleigh inside the room with envy and jealousy, wishing he were the one Shakky was holding.
"We need to have a private chat later, Rayleigh, you bastard!" Jabba cried out in pain, also wishing he were the one holding the beauty.
After a moment of heartbreak, Roger suddenly pulled himself together and ordered the Roger Pirates' crew, "Brothers, Shakky has been rescued! Let's take the treasure and get out of this hellhole!"
"Those guys have gone to fight for the Devil Fruit!" Rune said to Roger. "If we go forward now, we'll run into Garp. If we retreat, we'll run right into Gibeck!"
"Forward!" Roger ordered without hesitation.
Together, they covered Rayleigh as he retreated while holding Shakky amidst the cannon fire.
Rune stayed by Roger's side the entire time. Any pirate or Marine who approached was sent flying or smashed into the ground by his fist.
Suddenly, a giant tentacle attacked the pirate group, injuring many crew members.
"Marcus!" Seeing his favorite Uncle Marcus injured, Rune rushed forward to check on him.
Seeing his comrades injured, Roger immediately issued a Captain's order: "Jabba, Rayleigh! You guys cover the retreat first. We'll come back once we've made sure it's safe!"
Spencer, sword in hand, wove through the enemies to cover the retreat and asked, "What about you guys?"
"Hurry, Spencer!" Rayleigh watched the backs of Roger and Rune as they ran deeper into the island, knowing they wouldn't stop fighting until everyone was completely safe.
"But, the Captain and the others!"
"Go! That was a Captain's order! Stop messing around!"
During the retreat, former enemies, pirates, and Marines all happened to converge in the center of the valley.
Roger and Rune fought their way here to protect Jabba, Rayleigh, and the rest of the crew, ensuring their safety.
"Rocks!"
"Roger!"
"Garp!"
"Whitebeard!"
"Rune!"
"Linlin!"
Everyone in the center looked at each other with surprised gazes.
Rune stood beside Roger, looking calm and serious as he looked up at the giant azure dragon in the sky.
This meant that Kaido, one of the future Four Emperors whom he had just beaten senseless, had already eaten the Azure Dragon Fruit.
"What on earth is going on! Why are the Marines and government officials slaughtering civilians!" Garp's rage was undeniable; everything happening on this island was beyond his comprehension.
As a representative of justice, he was witnessing justice committing acts countless times worse than those of evil pirates.
"Vice Admiral Garp, we don't know what happened either! Satan Saint suddenly transformed and began a mindless slaughter of everyone around him!" a soldier stationed in the center of the island reported to Garp.
"The Gorosei?!" Garp was shocked by the news. He looked at Satan Saint in his Ushi-oni form, completely possessed by Imu, in the center of God Valley. "The leader of the maggots? He certainly looks the part!"
The soldiers' eyes nearly popped out of their heads upon hearing this.
"Vice Admiral Garp, please watch your words!"
"What the hell was that giant tentacle just now! How dare it hurt my comrades!" Roger looked up at the incredibly massive spider in the center of the town. It was covered in terrifying black flames, waving its tentacles and attacking all life around it indiscriminately.
"That is exactly what this world is, Roger!" Rocks was sweating profusely as he watched the giant black shadow attached to Satan Saint, who was scanning everyone with its gaze.
All the powerhouses of the current era whom he acknowledged were gathered here.
Rune looked at Rocks. Although they had a grudge, they would likely have to set it aside temporarily in the face of this giant monster.
His gaze was serious and determined as he stared at Satan Saint's terrifying body. "An immortal monster?"
Thus, Rocks, who had just single-handedly defeated God's Knights, walked toward Satan Saint, who was possessed by Imu. Dead Marines and pirates, their bodies pierced by tentacles, lay all around.
"Are you come to kill me?!" Rocks grinned hideously, looking at the giant black shadow on Satan Saint's back. "King of the Sewer Rats!"