Chapter 23
Ten days later, high in the sky above the Valley of the Gods, Figarland Garling Saint and Rocks D. Xebec clashed fiercely. Both were visibly exhausted, their movements shaky, barely holding their stance.
On the distant horizon, the sun slowly sank, dyeing the sky blood-red. The dying light seemed to foreshadow the end of this monumental battle.
Garling was covered in wounds. His stamina had reached its absolute limit—he no longer had the power to use "Holy Light Technique" to heal himself. In the crimson sunset, his figure looked lonely and tragic.
Rocks, though outwardly showing no major injuries, had eyes filled with extreme fatigue. Every breath, every swing, drained what little strength remained.
After another brutal exchange, the two separated.
"Rocks… I acknowledge you now. You are qualified to join the God's Knights. Surrender at this moment, and I will grant you the chance to become a noble Celestial Dragon. This is your only path to survival…" Garling's voice trembled—his breathing unstable.
Rocks threw back his head and laughed wildly. "Celestial Dragon? To me, you're nothing but lowly dogs! I won't kneel here. And I sure as hell won't die here. You, Garling—I'll bury you in the Valley of the Gods!"
Rocks drew a deep breath, gathering his last reserves. He charged forward with a roar: "Dark Tide: Super Tyrant Sea Fist!!"
Garling met the desperate attack head-on. He poured every ounce of remaining power into his sword, shouting: "Holy Light Sword: Judgment!"
This time, Rocks didn't block. He chose a life-for-life exchange—willing to take the hit, even if it left him with permanent, unhealable damage. He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer. If he collapsed from exhaustion, he didn't trust his crew to protect him.
Garling's sword finally drew blood—a deep gash across Rocks' chest. Razor-sharp sword intent ravaged the wound, preventing quick recovery. Blood soaked Rocks' clothes.
At the same instant, Rocks' fist slammed into Garling's skull. The impact drove Garling downward like a meteor—crashing into the ground with earth-shaking force.
"Lord Garling!" The God's Knights screamed in panic, eyes fixed on the crater.
Dust cleared. No movement. No sign of Garling.
Rocks swayed in midair, clutching his chest. Blood poured between his fingers. He slowly descended, face etched with exhaustion.
He had won—but at great cost. The treasure and Devil Fruits of the Valley of the Gods were now out of reach. The God's Knights still had over a dozen Emperor-level fighters. Even with Whitebeard and Golden Lion on his side, victory was far from certain.
Worse—some of his crew were already scheming.
"Retreat!" Rocks bellowed.
A weak but resolute voice rose from the crater: "Full assault… ignore me… You must… leave Rocks here… the rest… can go…"
It was Garling—barely alive, issuing his final order before unconsciousness claimed him.
The God's Knights surged forward. Karp and the others joined the chase.
Chaos erupted across the battlefield.
Ding Li saw his chance. He turned to Roger: "Please—take care of Koya for me!"
Roger nodded grimly. "I'll try. But the battlefield's a mess. I can't promise anything."
"I trust you!"
Ding Li vanished into the fray.
Rocks' crew held the advantage against the Knights—but Rocks himself was faltering. Even against Emperor-level Karp, he couldn't shake free. He was slowly being pushed back.
Ding Li reached the crater. Garling lay motionless—barely breathing, unaware of the figure above him.
"Let me send you off," Ding Li whispered, a strange excitement in his voice. "Heh… easier than I thought."
He gathered every ounce of qi and blood, black Armament Haki crackling with white Conqueror's lightning. He drove a full-power punch straight into Garling's skull.
BOOM!
The ground cratered deeper. A massive fist imprint caved in Garling's head. His breath faded rapidly.
"Damn… this guy's skull is tough. That punch should've exploded it."
Ding Li estimated: Ten seconds at most—Garling would be dead.
He turned to flee.
But the God's Knights had noticed.
"Slave! You dare harm the Lord?!"
Half the Knights abandoned their fights and charged Ding Li. The other half stayed to pin down Rocks' crew.
Rocks' disloyal members saw the chaos and bolted.
Ding Li ran—grabbing Koya and sprinting.
When the Knights reached Garling, he had no breath left.
"He killed the Lord! Chase him!"
Ding! Congratulations, Host. Main Quest 1 completed.
Hidden Quest: Kill God's Knights Leader — Completed.
Reward: +10,000,000 emotion points.
Ding Li paused for a split second—then kept running. He couldn't allocate points now. Adding 10 million would freeze him for a full minute. He couldn't afford that.
He glanced back at the pursuing Knights. They were fast—too fast.
"Electro Saint Kick! Die, slave!"
Ding Li saw the attack coming with Observation Haki—but the speed was overwhelming. He couldn't dodge while holding Koya.
He turned, shielding her with his back.
BAM!
Pain exploded through him. Blood sprayed from his mouth. He staggered but kept running—toward the sea.
He threw Koya into the water. "Run! Anywhere! I'll find you!"
He spun, throwing a desperate punch at the attacker.
Then—several shadows flashed past him.
A green beam of light pierced straight through Koya's chest.
She froze in midair.
"No…! Koya!!!"
Ding Li's scream tore through the battlefield. Blood poured from his mouth—he felt no pain from the kicks raining on him.
Koya's lips moved weakly: "Ding Li… I believe in you…"
Her body sank into the sea, blood trailing in crimson threads. A faint, peaceful smile lingered on her face.
She was gone.
Ding Li's world shattered.
The Knights closed in. He no longer resisted. Bones cracked. Blood poured.
"Don't kill him! Leave him breathing! He murdered the Lord—we need him alive for judgment!"
They dragged his broken body back toward the center.
Roger saw it all. Rayleigh whispered: "Captain… Ding Li…"
Roger clenched his fists. "I want to help. But look—he killed Figarland Garling Saint. If we interfere, the Knights will fight to the death. We'd lose half our crew at best. I can't sacrifice you all for him."
His voice was heavy with regret.
Ding Li, bloodied and broken, was hauled away—alive, but only just.
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