Who could have imagined that the legendary Marine hero, renowned across the seas, would lose his left arm in such a manner?
It happened so suddenly.
So suddenly that even after Luffy and many Marines processed what had transpired, they still couldn't believe it was real.
"Why…?"
Luffy glared at Maude in fury.
Seeing his grandfather's arm severed right before his eyes—it didn't matter what the situation was, Luffy simply couldn't remain calm.
Maude ignored Luffy's naive question. With a flick of his left hand, a dark shadow emerged, silently swallowing Garp's severed arm into the Shadow Casket.
He knew full well that before launching this war, the Marines had surely prepared a comprehensive medical support system.
To eliminate any chance of Garp reattaching his arm, storing it within the Shadow Casket was the safest choice.
"The one thing I'll never forget… is how you punched Sol's left leg right in front of me."
Maude lowered his left hand, his gaze toward Garp growing sharper by the second.
The helplessness he had felt back then, the frustration of being unable to do anything—it was still fresh in his mind.
He never wanted to experience that kind of powerlessness again. That was why he had pushed himself to grow stronger.
"You took Sol's leg. I took your arm. Seems fair to me."
"..."
Garp pressed his bleeding left shoulder, his expression grim and silent.
Perhaps it was because Luffy had punched him so many times, or perhaps it was the pain radiating from his severed arm—but when Maude brought up the incident in Mad Hat Town from years ago, even the scars on Garp's face seemed to ache.
Who would have thought…
The boy Sol had once called a treasure would one day take his arm?
And then there was Gion's death…
Was this retribution?
Garp took a deep breath.
...
At the edge of the Plaza.
"Zeahahaha!"
In the midst of slaughtering Marines, Blackbeard happened to witness the moment Garp's arm was sent flying. He immediately burst into laughter.
"To think someone actually severed the arm of the Marine hero… Now that's interesting, zeahahaha!!!"
Crushing a Marine's neck with ease, Blackbeard's eyes gleamed as he stared at the standoff between Maude and Garp in the distance.
Whitebeard was dead. And now, the Marine hero who had once joined forces with Roger to bring down the Rocks Pirates had grown old and weary…
That man in the sky was also reaching his limit.
The fall of the old era was inevitable.
"I can't wait to usher in the new age!!!"
Feeling the tides of change firsthand, Blackbeard was ecstatic.
Once he obtained the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit…
The name that would define the new era—would be his!
"A single arm… hoho… cough cough."
Doc Q lifted his weary eyes, staring silently at Maude. With a sigh, he muttered, "Fate is the outcome, not the process or the future. Until the result is revealed, no one truly knows what will happen. However… destiny is fair to all."
"What the hell does that mean?"
Burgess looked at Doc Q in confusion.
"Cough, cough, cough…"
As if too exhausted to explain anything to someone as thick-headed as Burgess, Doc Q coughed violently, as though suffering from a sudden bout of pneumonia.
Burgess, undeterred, pressed on. "Hey, Doc Q, what are you talking about?!"
"Cough cough cough…"
"Why are you suddenly coughing so much?"
"Cough cough cough…"
"???"
Burgess was completely baffled.
...
Before the screens across the world, the watching crowds fell into stunned silence once more.
From his stunning entrance to the battlefield—his shocking battle against Whitebeard, his betrayal of the Marines, and now, severing the arm of the Marine hero—
Maude alone had thrown their emotions into chaos throughout the war.
While civilians watched in fear and unease, the pirates around the world roared with excitement.
This was the man who had once forced the Pirate King, Roger, to the brink.
Because of their opposing allegiances, the pirates felt exhilarated and vindicated.
"First he took down Whitebeard and Doflamingo… and now he's severed the arm of the Marine hero?"
"He's too strong! Absolutely terrifying!!"
"I've made up my mind—I'll follow him! Even if it's just as a lackey…"
As they watched Maude's imposing figure on the screen, countless pirates felt their blood surge.
In this world of survival of the fittest, following a stronger force—finding a banner to rally under—was a common instinct.
Many seasoned pirates, after witnessing Maude's overwhelming power firsthand, began seriously considering pledging allegiance to him.
They could already envision the events to come—the war ending, Maude storming into the New World, taking Whitebeard's territories, and eventually rising to replace him.
If they joined his ranks before he secured Whitebeard's throne, they would become his trusted subordinates, playing a key role in his conquest.
And once the Maude Pirates' name shook the New World—
They, too, would rise in fame and power under his flag.
The temptation was too great.
Compared to serving the old Emperors, following Maude was the quickest path to the top.
...
Sabaody Archipelago.
Three massive screens hung from the trunk of the Yarukiman Mangrove, displaying the war to the gathered crowd.
Below, a sea of spectators filled the area, including journalists from all over the world.
"When this war ends… Bacardi Maude's name will echo across the entire world!"
The reporters watched Maude on screen with unwavering focus.
If they had to choose one figure who dominated the spotlight in this war, there was no doubt—it was him.
Maude would be their top priority for coverage in the days to come.
Nearby.
On a raised platform, Shakky, Perona, and Urouge stood among their crew, each with a different expression as they watched the screens.
"Garp… never thought you'd see a day like this."
Shakky's expression was tinged with complexity. Smoke curled from her lips as she exhaled slowly.
Perona, covering her mouth in shock, whispered, "Maude's fought so many tough battles, but he doesn't even look tired…"
To her, Maude had been engaged in high-intensity combat since the war began.
Yet not only had he taken down Whitebeard and Doflamingo, but now, as the war reached its climax, he had also severed the arm of the Marine hero.
Such feats were not as simple as adding numbers.
Shakky glanced at Perona, sighing. "That's what makes Maude truly terrifying."
"Ha! Looks like I backed the right person!"
Urouge's eyes sparkled with excitement.
His crew members were equally ecstatic.
Once the Maude Pirates' reputation spread worldwide, those who had been the first to join would reap the greatest benefits.
In a hidden alley.
One of the Supernovas, Hawkins, tilted his head slightly, gazing at Maude's image on the screen.
"Perhaps I should have made my decision sooner."
Closing his divination cards in his hand, he reflected.
Before the war even started, he had already considered joining the Maude Pirates.
But to see further, he had chosen to wait.
Now, he regretted it.
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