World slowly woke from his stupor, his mind still somewhat muddled.
But the severe injuries Whitebeard had inflicted all over his body soon jolted him fully awake with agonizing pain that shot straight into his brain.
Then World felt a heavy pressure on his chest, as though something weighty were pinning him down.
The moment World opened his eyes, a somewhat familiar face filled his entire field of vision.
"You're awake?"
Garen looked rather awkward.
"You bastard!"
World suddenly realized the humiliation he was suffering.
"A nameless brat actually dares to step on me!"
"I'll turn you—"
Before he could finish his threat, his throat seemed to be blocked by some invisible object, leaving him unable to speak.
Because when World looked down along the greatsword in Garen's hand, he could clearly see it.
That incomparably sharp blade tip was pressed against his chest. With the slightest push, it could pierce his heart.
World was a hardened pirate who had weathered countless storms, not the kind of man who would beg for mercy in a low voice.
But after enduring nearly thirty years of imprisonment before finally seeing daylight again, World still wanted to live a little longer.
"Young man."
World swallowed, his face turning red before he managed to force out a few conciliatory words.
"Put the sword down first—"
His words caught in his throat once again, and the reason was still the sword in Garen's hand.
Only this time, the greatsword had been pressed down several centimeters.
It pierced straight through World's flesh and ran his heart clean through.
"You?!"
Dark red blood spilled from World's mouth as he stared wide-eyed in deathless disbelief.
"Sorry."
Garen's expression did not change as he gripped the hilt and turned the greatsword still lodged in his enemy's chest half a