Roger then also leaped onto the collapsed mountain peak, hung up the phone, walked over to Rune, and asked seriously, "We have to do something, Rune, or that guy Rocks will destroy everything."
"Be careful, some guys are lurking in the shadows." Rune walked with him towards Rocks's path of slaughter, encountering Garp along the way, who had also returned due to the massive casualties among his soldiers.
Both sides remained vigilant, eyeing each other.
Garp was the first to speak: "Are we still going to fight? You're here to stop that guy too, right?"
Upon hearing Garp's words, Rune did not respond verbally but instead watched Garp, standing quietly beside Roger.
"Too? You mean you also want to stop him?" Roger was somewhat surprised, remaining wary of Garp. "I'm only here to ensure my crewmates return safely to the ship. That guy Rocks is far too dangerous right now!"
"Who isn't? The soldiers I care about are dying in droves. That bastard must pay the price!" Garp responded to Roger's words. At that moment, their opinions seemed to align, and they temporarily lowered their guard.
"Then let's go together, Roger, Rune!"
Rune's expression was resolute. Even if everything changed, it couldn't alter the inevitable outcome of Rocks dying at God Valley.
Regardless of whether he was under control or not, this place would become his final grave.
"Right now, he's just a devil existing solely to slaughter the lives on this island. All we need to do is reach the center, then release our Conqueror's Haki to draw him over. What do you two think of that plan?"
As the group ran towards the island's interior, Garp proposed this to Roger and Rune.
"No problem, Garp!" Roger suddenly burst into laughter amidst this serious moment. "I never thought I'd be cooperating with you one day!"
Garp looked ahead and replied, "This is only temporary. The Marine casualties are just too high! I originally came here just to arrest you and Rocks. I never expected things to spiral out of control like this!"
"I also only came to rescue Shakky and plunder the island's treasure, thinking I'd grab it and run. I never expected something like this to happen either!"
"Given the situation on the island, haven't you realized how ridiculous the government you serve is?" Rune suddenly spoke to Garp. "The Celestial Dragons, the true face of the government... you should be able to see it clearly from everything around you."
Garp had long been aware of this and responded heavily to Rune, "I serve the Marines, Rune. Only the Marines!"
"The Marines are an organization subordinate to the government. Serving the Marines means serving the government!"
"You're wrong! My heart never belongs to the government, nor to the higher-ups! It belongs to the lowest ranks of the Marines, the soldiers who hold onto the most primitive dream of justice!!" Garp voiced his true feelings to his former enemy.
Seeing this, Rune stopped pressing aggressively. Everyone has their own stance and creed, and naturally, their perspective on things differs.
Not long after... the three of them arrived again at the ruined town in the center of God Valley, choosing it as their battleground because there was hardly a living soul to be seen.
The three stood side by side, simultaneously erupting with three bursts of Conqueror's Haki bursting from within, shouting in unison:
"Bring it on, Rocks!"
A black flash erupted in the center of God Valley. The Conqueror's lightning stretched for kilometers, shocking the many forces who were in full retreat out at sea.
Soon, Rocks, who was wantonly slaughtering outside the island, sensed their Haki, ceased his killing, resisted Imu's control, and rushed towards the central area.
He quickly arrived here, bearing demonic wings burning with black flames and fierce demonic fangs, confronting Roger, Garp, and Rune.
At that moment, a sorrowful, pleading voice entered the minds of the three.
"Hurry up and kill me!!!" Rocks's heartfelt plea was transmitted, heard by all three.
Even under control, he shed tears of unwillingness at this moment.
Rune clutched the side of his head, his face filled with disbelief. "How can I also..."
He couldn't believe he could also hear Rocks's inner voice. This meant... he also possessed the ability to hear the Voice of All Things.
The next moment, Rune shook his head, clenched his fist, and charged forward first, roaring at him:
"I'll do it without you having to ask!"
Boom——! The battle between the four shook the entire island. Intense Haki surged into the sky from the central area, even splitting the heavens like a crack in the gates of hell.
Out at sea, the eastern coast.
Having been sent flying for standing up for Kaido, Linlin and Kaido fled to this spot.
She was pointing at Kaido, who had reverted to his human form, and yelling, "Listen up, Kaido! You knocking me away to eat that fruit is a lifelong debt of gratitude. You absolutely must repay me in the future!"
"Idiot!" Kaido laughed at Linlin, his kanabo resting on his shoulder. "I won the competition to snatch the Devil Fruit! That's the fact!"
"Linlin, watch me! I'll form a pirate crew where violence reigns supreme, a massive organization where only absolute power rules!"
Hearing these words, Linlin angrily shouted at Kaido, "You're getting cocky! Don't forget who stood up for you after Rune beat you senseless and Rocks sent you flying with a single sword slash!"
Kaido fell into thought upon hearing this. Every time, it was Linlin who stood up for him first. He truly had no words to refute it.
Even in the cruel, cold-blooded world of pirates, chivalry and friendship existed.
"Even if the Rocks Pirates are finished now! You'll never beat me, Kaido! I'll come to collect on this debt sooner or later!"
"Linlin, stop messing around! This island is done for, we need to leave!" Streusen, hauling a large chest of treasure, shouted towards Linlin, who was arguing with Kaido.
Kaido wore a look of disdain. "Debt? If you dare come, I'll just beat you back!"
With those parting words, the pair with the best relationship in the Rocks Pirates went their separate ways.
The western coast of God Valley.
"Those Conqueror's Haki lightning bolts are practically solid! Are Captain Roger and the first mate alright?!"
"Hurry up and get the treasure chests onto the ship!" Rayleigh looked back towards the center of God Valley, now reduced to a single peak. "As long as we remain in danger, those two will fight endlessly! If you truly care about them, take good care of your own safety!"
As everyone fled towards the oro jackson, a blonde woman followed their trail all the way.
"Nice ship! Can you take me with you?!"
"Sis!"
Shakky, seeing the figure, immediately called out her identity.
That person was Gloriosa. With the Rocks Pirates disintegrating, she had nowhere to go and could only come to ask them for a ride.
"Weren't you with the Rocks Pirates? Why are you here?" Jabba asked her, somewhat curious.
Gloriosa responded, "The Rocks Pirates are finished internally. They're killing each other over the treasure. If I stayed in a place like that any longer, I might get killed too."
No one in the Roger Pirates expected the former Captain of the Kuja Pirates to end up like this.
"We can, but we won't set sail yet. We'll wait until Roger and Rune return before leaving."
"Then please, take me with you!"