Sanji froze for a moment, then understood what Zoro meant.
He gritted his teeth, his expression grim as he stood in place, fists clenched so tightly his nails nearly dug into his palms.
Robin and Nami's eyes were already filled with tears as they looked at Luffy, their voices choked with sobs.
"Luffy, please stop fighting… we're begging you…"
But Luffy seemed not to hear them.
He staggered to his feet, the wound on his chest still bleeding, but his eyes remained resolute, fixed intently on Ron.
His voice was hoarse but filled with strength.
"As long as I can still move, I won't give up!"
Garp could no longer hold back upon seeing this.
He leaped directly to Luffy's side and roared angrily, "You brat, are you trying to get yourself killed? Stop this right now, you hear me?!"
Luffy seemed not to have heard Garp's words, still staggering forward, his gaze fixed intently on Ron as if telling him: no matter the cost, he would never give up!
Ron looked at Luffy with a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes, and slowly withdrew his sword aura.
With a tone tinged with helplessness and admiration, he said, "Luffy, your persistence is admirable. But this battle no longer needs to continue."
Luffy's body trembled slightly, but he still didn't stop moving forward.
His eyes burned with intense fighting spirit, as if telling Ron: as long as he was alive, he would never give up!
Garp watched Luffy, a flicker of heartache and helplessness in his eyes.
He knew his grandson had grown into a true man—one who would risk his life for his comrades.
He sighed and murmured under his breath, "This kid is as stubborn as an ox..."
Ron didn't make another move.
He simply watched Luffy quietly, as if waiting for him to make his final decision.
And Luffy continued to stagger forward, each step filled with unwavering conviction and fearless courage.
Akainu stood to the side as a cold smile curling at the corners of his mouth as he coldly observed the battle between Luffy and Ron.
The Pirates turning on each other was undoubtedly a scene he delighted watching it!
As long as Pirates died, he didn't care who did the killing.
He waved his hand and issued orders to the vice admirals behind him.
"Seal off the perimeter! No one escapes! Today, this will be their burial ground!"
The vice admirals swiftly moved into action.
Warships and soldiers surrounded the entire battlefield, their cannons aimed at Luffy, Ron, and the others in the center.
The atmosphere instantly grew even more tense, as if a chaotic battle could erupt at any moment.
Kizaru stood nearby, pursed his lips, and muttered to himself, "Sakazuki, always making things more complicated than they need to be."
His gaze fell on Ron, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
He knew Ron wouldn't kill Luffy—at least not here.
After all, Ron wasn't the type to create unnecessary trouble for himself.
Ron looked at Luffy's stubborn eyes and couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
Lately, he was starting to feel more and more like a villain.
Even so, he didn't halt his actions.
If Luffy wanted to stand up, then he would make him lie down.
"Slash!" Ron shouted lowly, gathering sword energy in his hand once more.
A blade of light sliced through the air like lightning, heading straight for Luffy.
This strike held no mercy, but he didn't use his full strength.
The sword light left another wound on Luffy's body, this time piercing through his chest.
Blood gushed out, staining his clothes crimson.
Luffy staggered backward, a distinct "X"-shaped scar now visible on his chest.
The sight made Ron's heart jolt violently—a familiar scene, a familiar scar, only this time, it was him who had delivered the blow instead of Akainu.
Though the process differed, the outcome was eerily similar.
'Is this the correction of history?' The thought suddenly crossed Ron's mind.
Whether there was outside interference or not, some results seemed predestined, impossible to change.
His mind grew somewhat dazed, but he quickly brushed it off.
Maybe just a coincidence—why overthink it?
He shook his head, casting aside those distracting thoughts.
What would happen if he truly tried to kill Luffy here?
The moment the idea surfaced, he decisively dismissed it.
Kill my ass!
The protagonist has that special ability to bounce back from near-death—the more you try to kill him, the stronger he gets, even more overpowered than any cheat code.
What would be the point of playing then?
Ron sneered coldly and withdrew the sword energy from his hand.
He looked at Luffy, his tone carrying a hint of coldness.
"Luffy, pointless stubbornness is not a sign of strength. There's no need to continue this fight. You can't win against me. Give up."
Luffy's body swayed unsteadily, but he still stared intently at Ron, his eyes burning with unyielding fire.
His voice was hoarse yet resolute.
"As long as I can still move, I won't give up! Nami is my nakama—I will definitely bring her back!"
Though he spoke these words, his body lay motionless on the ground.
Ron's sword strike had drained him of all strength.
Ron said nothing more, simply watching Luffy quietly.
He knew that Luffy's stubbornness couldn't be reasoned with through words.
But he also understood that this battle no longer needed to continue.
Just then, Akainu's cold voice cut through.
"Ron, since you won't act, let me carry out my justice!"
His body instantly transformed into magma, his fist raised high as he charged straight toward Luffy.
"Hell Hound!"
Akainu's attack carried devastating power, as if intending to completely consume Luffy.
However, just as his fist was about to strike Luffy, a golden flash suddenly appeared—Kizaru's figure blocking the path in front of Luffy.
"My, my, Sakazuki, why so impatient?" Kizaru said lazily, his light sword effortlessly deflecting Akainu's attack.
Akainu's face instantly darkened as he glared coldly at Kizaru.
"Kizaru, what is the meaning of this?"
Kizaru shrugged, his tone casual: "No particular meaning. I just feel this show isn't over yet—why end it so quickly?"
Ron watched this scene with a flicker of surprise in his eyes that he quickly concealed.
His gaze fell on Luffy as he spoke coldly: "Luffy, being a Pirate isn't child's play."
His tone carried both indifference and warning, reminding Luffy that the cruelty of these seas far exceeded his imagination.
Garp stood to the side.
Though his heart ached somewhat, he felt more gratitude toward Ron.
He knew that Ron's sword strike hadn't just snapped Luffy back to reality—it had also made him understand the true nature of the pirate world, where partings and deaths may occurred every moment.
And Luffy had to learn to face all of this.