As White Fang pierced through his body, an ice-blue hollow appeared in Shamrock's chest.
Shamrock raised his hand to press against the void, his pupils beginning to lose focus.
The hollow grew larger and larger, irrevocable.
Time seemed to freeze.
The two God's Knights present, the Marines, and the Pirates were all shocked beyond measure by this scene.
They had imagined many possibilities.
The most likely outcome was that by the time they arrived, Griffin would still be fighting Shamrock, and they would step in to mediate.
Even in the worst-case scenario, it would be nothing more than being frozen like Kari.
Things could have been salvaged.
As long as Griffin admitted fault and explained the misunderstanding... a reconciliation was possible.
...
The situation that should least have occurred had happened.
A misunderstanding can be rectified, but can a mistaken killing be undone?
Even Garp had cold sweat on his forehead as he murmured under his breath, "You brat... you really killed him..."
Garp could already hear it—the sound of Shamrock's death.
The God's Knights, who supposedly possessed immortal bodies, had truly died!
...
Crrraack!
A terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted frantically, tearing through the heavens and the earth!
Shanks gripped Shamrock tightly with his single arm, turning his head with bloodshot eyes.
Word by word, his killing intent was so thick it almost overflowed.
"I! WILL! KILL! YOU!!"
...
The wild wind blew through Griffin's hair, which had returned to its pure black color. White Fang hovered behind him, and Cherry Ten Wood Withered were pulled back to his side.
On the surface of the sea came the mournful wail of Cerberus.
It seemed to understand that its master was about to vanish.
Griffin looked down at Shanks, appearing indifferent.
"To someone you truly want to kill, do not roar, and certainly do not let anger cloud your mind."
"Give the fatal blow at the right moment."
"I am right here."
...
"Sha... Shanks..."
Shamrock gripped Shanks's sleeve. His pupils were frozen, and his voice was very weak.
His hands were so cold.
"Don't..."
To hear Shamrock's words clearly, Shanks suppressed his surging rage and leaned closer.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
"I know... what you want to do..."
"Those two years, listening... listening to you talk..." A faint smile appeared at the corner of Shamrock's mouth. He almost never smiled; it seemed he was thinking of something beautiful.
"Go... don't let hatred occupy your heart, keep doing what you... want to do..."
"Mother... she must also..."
"Live... live well... Shanks..."
...
"Why..."
The great pirate who galloped through the New World was now crying like a child.
"Why?"
Shamrock's soulless eyes looked at the sky. After a long time, he spoke what were likely his last words.
"Because... you are my brother."
...
Psh—
In Shanks's arms, Shamrock turned into a handful of blood-stained ice crystals, shattering without a trace.
At the very end.
He didn't speak of his suspicions regarding Griffin's identity, he didn't curse the murderer, he didn't speak of his own dreams, and he certainly didn't mention that most respected "God."
Had he known it would end like this, would he still have descended to the lower world?
He probably would have.
...
"Aaah... ah..."
A sound that didn't seem human escaped his throat—the sound of despair crushing a chest.
Shanks tried to grasp the last piece of ice, but his nails only dug deep into his own flesh, drawing blood.
He gripped it.
The irreversible coldness of death.
Everything outside had nothing to do with him; a massive sorrow almost crushed him.
...
"The previous twenty-four years of my life were a complete waste, truly disgusting..."
In order to infiltrate the Holy Land and gather information, Shanks had kept talking.
That man hadn't given much of a response, only showing concern for his injuries and suggesting the mission could be delayed.
...
Even when Shanks defected to the lower world, the God's Knights, who were supposed to carry out a purge, did not move.
Shanks was different; he would come back once he had enough of his fun.
That was what he had told the members.
...
Scenes from the past flashed through Shanks's mind.
There were irreconcilable contradictions between the two.
Shamrock was a pure Celestial Dragon—arrogant, cold, viewing those from the lower world as inferior beings, and someone who would casually use those his enemies cherished as threats.
Shanks was warm and friendly, loved peace, and was keen on settling disputes.
Two people with completely opposite personalities, when reunited after twenty-four years, felt no sense of estrangement.
...
Griffin watched silently. With his hearing, he could hear Shamrock's final words.
"What are you thinking?"
A woman's cold voice rang out.
"It's too late for regrets, Uchiha Griffin! You have committed the world's greatest crime!!"
Gunko shouted in rage, "A mere inferior race! To dare murder a noble World Noble, to murder a god of this world!!"
"Sentenced to death! Effective immediately!!"
Swish, swish, swish—
Countless white arrows shot forth like a swarm of snakes, absolutely impossible to evade.
The Paramecia Arrow Arrow Fruit ability.
Once a target is locked, the subsequent attacks cannot be dodged no matter what.
The arrows gleamed with a cold light, crisscrossing to seal off every inch of space where one might evade.
Griffin raised his hand, his expression blank.
On a crimson backdrop, three Comma-shaped Jewels spun and twisted frantically, smelting into a series of complex and eerie patterns.
Mangekyou Sharingan—Open!!
Vwooom—
A resonance faster than sound rippled out as materialized Chakra wove into a dark purple skeleton.
Deep, violent, and shrouded in lightning and karmic fire, it erupted!
Power of God—Susanoo!!
...
Crack!!
A sudden explosion rang through the air!
The stream of arrows, sufficient to pierce rock and shatter steel, was completely annihilated the moment they touched that near-ink-colored armor, like snow hitting a scorching sun!
The Ancient Martial God's arms extended forward, its palms clapping together to crush countless arrows!
Between the chaotic arrows, Griffin's indifferent face was revealed within the Susanoo as he responded.
"I don't regret it, nor have I made a mistake."
"And it is certainly not your place to judge me!"
...
Griffin raised a hand toward Gunko, and within the Susanoo's palm, a giant blade of Chakra began to condense.
The terrifying power caused the very atmosphere to wail!
Under the gaze of the Mangekyou Sharingan, Gunko's body trembled.
An overwhelming sense of presence, an absolute arrogance that stood supreme.
It was as if...
A god had descended in person!!
—
"Do you see it now... the devil lurking within him..."
Rayleigh murmured.
"What evil and ominous power!"
...
"Griffin!"
Sengoku's expression was incredibly complex. "Don't attack again! Don't do anything, I will explain for you!"
"Think of your subordinates, think of Smoker, think of Zephyr who placed such high hopes on you!"
"Do you know what you are doing!!"
The bad premonition had come true... you really did it!!
Griffin turned his head to look at Sengoku, his brow slightly furrowed in silence.
Looking around at everyone, he gave a faint, detached smile.
...
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what I hate most about you is precisely this."
Sengoku was slightly stunned. He had heard these words not long ago; in fact, the person who had said them was right behind him.
Griffin continued.
"You think I've done something wrong, so why do you immediately link it to Smoker and the others..."
The Mangekyou turned in his eye sockets, his sharp gaze making Sengoku feel a stinging pain.
"Just like how you stubbornly believe the Pirate King's bloodline is sinful, forcing a mother to risk her life just to give birth to her child."
"Isn't the current situation caused by you?"
"You were the one who wanted to use Shanks to draw them out."
"You are always like this, calculating to expand the results of battle step by step, yet unable to bear the price generated by it yourself."
...
Griffin spread his hands, covered in blood, his smile appearing slightly crazed and feral.
"Clearly a man possessing Conqueror's Haki, yet you betray your own heart time and time again!!"
"Thinking too much has made you cowardly, Sengoku!!"
...
Sengoku took a deep breath. "Calm down... the world is far more complex than you imagine. I will negotiate with the Five Elders, I will definitely be able to protect you!"
"Trust me, Griffin!"
"Absolutely... absolutely do not say those words!!"
...
"Say what?"
Griffin gave a disdainful smile. "You think I'm going to defect from the Marines? Heh..."
He looked at Gunko again. "You aren't qualified to speak with me. Put me through to the Five Elders."
"You!!"
"Gunko!" Saint Killingham grabbed her hand and looked around at everyone present.
The Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral, the Hero Garp, the three Admirals... and people like Rayleigh.
And especially Griffin, who looked like a mad demon.
His ability leaned toward the mental side, capable of pulling the things others feared most into reality.
Just now, he had tried to use it on Griffin...
But he stopped halfway. Instinct told him that he absolutely could not bear the cost of continuing.
"The current situation... indeed, it is better to let the Five Elders handle it. I have already reported the situation to the Commander."
...
Bulu-bulu-bulu...
...
"Rear Admiral Griffin... are you certain you did not know Saint Sheperd's identity, and that this was a mistaken killing?"
The voice of the Five Elders came through the Den Den Mushi.
Griffin smiled faintly. "Of course. My lords are aware of my reverence for the World Nobles."
"If anyone is to blame... blame Lord Saint Shamrocks for not speaking up sooner."
...
...
There was a long silence on the other end.
"Uchiha Griffin, do you think we... are fools!"
...
"I wouldn't dare."
"I say this was an accidental killing. You can choose to believe it, or choose not to."
"The decision lies with you, my lords."
...
...
After an even longer silence.
"We... believe you!"