...
Hearing Rayleigh willing to escort him back to his old man, Dragon took a deep breath after a brief silence.
He looked at the two infants in his arms who had regained their smiles, then down at his own heavily wounded body, and finally nodded heavily.
"I understand."
Dragon's voice carried reluctance but was exceptionally clear-headed.
"Right now, I truly don't have the qualifications to confront an opponent of that level head-on."
Though he didn't know how to face his old man, the current situation left no room for recklessness.
Survive—and protect these two children!
That was the most important mission at this moment...
Seeing this, Rayleigh's lips curved into a relieved smile.
He swiftly bent down and lifted the injured Shakky in a proper princess carry.
A faint blush crossed Shakky's pale face, but she simply wrapped her arms lightly around his neck and buried her face against his solid chest.
"Let's hurry."
With those words, Rayleigh headed straight toward the center of God Valley.
Dragon securely fastened Shanks and Shamrock against his chest with torn strips of cloth.
He took one last glance at the war-torn island, a flash of determination in his eyes.
The three figures quickly vanished into the dense forest, speeding through scorched earth and ruined walls.
Rayleigh carried Shakky without the slightest strain, each step precisely landing on stable points amid the debris.
Dragon followed closely behind. Though his body had reached its limit, he still gritted his teeth to maintain pace.
In no time, the three arrived at the central area. Seeing Rayleigh burst onto the scene carrying Shakky, the pirates erupted in collective cheers.
But the expressions on the Celestial Dragons—and especially Saint Garling—were uglier than if they'd eaten shit...
"Shakky! You scared me to death!"
Seeing Shakky rescued, Gloriosa immediately rushed over and hugged her. Though they usually bickered, their bond was the deepest.
"Thank you all for coming to save me!"
Shakky patted Gloriosa's embrace, then thanked every pirate present. This scene won her another massive wave of devoted fans.
"Pops..."
Just as the pirates were all charmed by Shakky, Dragon finally arrived late. Completely exhausted, he stumbled and accidentally flung Shanks and Shamrock out of his arms!
Garp rushed forward to catch his son. Seeing Dragon covered in wounds, as a father, how could Garp not feel heartache!
Saint Garling's eyes flashed with a sharp glint the moment he saw the two infants. Just as he prepared to seize them, someone moved even faster!
"Hey hey hey! Garp, your son looks seriously injured!"
Roger caught the two infants in his arms, frowning as he looked at Dragon's battered body. Garp, equally worried about his son, quickly called for medics to provide aid.
Dragon was carried away on a stretcher. In the moment his consciousness faded, his gaze remained fixed on Shanks and Shamrock.
...
"Hey! Roger, hand over the infants in your arms!"
With Dragon urgently carried away, Saint Garling could no longer hold back. He bluntly demanded Shanks and Shamrock from Roger.
"Hmph—don't think I don't know what you're up to. One of these infants in my arms should be the future Four Emperor introduced on the light screen earlier—Red-Haired Shanks, right!"
Roger shielded Shanks and Shamrock in his embrace, coldly staring at Saint Garling. He'd noticed something off earlier.
Saint Garling's gaze on the two children was filled with greed—devoid of any humanity, only madness remained!
"They are my sons. You dare steal my sons?!"
Seeing the other refuse to yield, Saint Garling drew his blade and pointed it at Roger, his tone turning utterly frigid!
"They're your sons, sure—but their mother doesn't seem to want these two children handed over to you!"
Rayleigh saw the opponent ready to get violent and positioned himself on Roger's left with Scopper Gaban on the right. On the way here, Dragon had already told Rayleigh about the two infants' backgrounds.
Dragon wasn't foolish—he'd also gleaned some information from the light screen.
He knew the two infants in his arms would become major powers in the future. But right now, he lacked the strength to protect them, so before coming, Dragon had entrusted Rayleigh to look after the two children.
"You all..."
Roger's provocative stance was like lighting a fuse. Saint Garling instantly erupted with terrifying killing intent!
His blade gleamed coldly—battle imminent!
"Hey, you scum over there!"
Just as Saint Garling prepared to strike, an even more defiant voice cut in forcefully.
Rocks stepped forward several paces, holding little Teach in his arms, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Roger.
His lips curled into a malicious grin as he stared at Saint Garling.
"Though I'm fucking acknowledged as scum myself, right now it looks like you're even more rotten than me! Get the situation straight, huh!?"
Rocks' tone was flippant, but his eyes were ice-cold like blades: "Me? I hate self-righteous trash like you the most."
"If you dare make another move, I won't mind settling the score right now—for kidnapping my wife and child!"
In an instant, the battlefield formed an extremely shocking lineup.
Roger and Rocks—the two men representing the pinnacle of pirate strength—though not friends, temporarily stood on the same side due to shared disgust.
Behind them, members of the Rocks Pirates and Roger Pirates needed no words—they were already united against a common enemy.
One could say they hated the World Government even more than the Marines!
Countless gazes filled with killing intent, like tangible swords, locked onto the God's Knights and the group of Celestial Dragons.
This terrifying collective aura seemed to thicken the very air.
"S-Saint Garling! Have you lost your mind?! Put your weapon away! Don't you see how many of them there are!"
The Celestial Dragons in the rear, terrified by the horrifying formation, screamed in panic, desperately trying to stop Saint Garling's impulsive action.
They usually relied on Marine protection to act arrogantly, but deep down they were all bullies who feared the strong!
Now facing true death-defying outlaws, these so-called World Nobles—creations of the gods—revealed their true ugly colors.
The situation had escalated to this point. Saint Garling's chest heaved violently, his lungs feeling ready to explode from rage.
His "fiancée" Shakky had been taken, his own flesh and blood snatched away—endless humiliation and fury burned away his reason.
Yet reality was cruel. Even including Garp's combat power, they absolutely held no advantage here...
After weighing it repeatedly, the immense frustration nearly made Saint Garling grind his teeth to dust.
But ultimately, he forcibly suppressed his boiling killing intent and—extremely slowly and reluctantly—sheathed his weapon.
Shanks: "Waaah!"
Teach: "???"
Just as the tense atmosphere eased slightly, two untimely infant cries rang out.
In Roger's arms, Shanks and—in Rocks' arms—little Teach somehow locked eyes.
Unlike the adults weighing pros and cons, they acted like natural rivals. The moment their gazes met, they excitedly waved tiny hands and feet across the air, grabbing and swatting at each other
as if waging an incomprehensible infant declaration of war.
Seeing the other side back down, Roger and Rocks also withdrew their auras.
The two captains exchanged a glance—each seeing in the other's eyes a different emotion: assessment of the current situation and an unspoken refusal to compromise.
No words needed—they each retreated to their own side.
However, just as both groups had pulled back and the tension had not fully dissipated!
[Warning! Intense killing intent and intent to conflict detected! All forms of killing are strictly prohibited within the light screen area! Violators will bear unimaginable consequences!]
The light screen's display suddenly changed. Blinding red warning text covered all imagery, written as if in blood.
At the same time, an indescribable terror—acting directly on the depths of the soul—descended with crushing force!
This power surpassed Haki, surpassed any known intimidation.
Whether Roger, Rocks, or any other top-tier powerhouse present—they all clearly felt that unquestionable, rule-like absolute force!
It etched into everyone's marrow, coldly declaring: Here, you must obey its rules.
...