Brook Takes Action

On the execution platform, Fleet Admiral Sengoku took in everything.

Looking at Garp lying on the ground as if all life had left him, he let out a heavy sigh.

He knew this old partner and old rival of several decades far too well.

With Garp's monstrous physique, even if he stood still and let Luffy hit him, Luffy would never be able to budge him, much less knock him "unconscious."

That punch just now... Garp had clearly gone easy on him deliberately.

This was no longer merely going easy. He was practically letting the sea through.

Garp had actively thrust his face forward to meet his grandson's fist, then conveniently "collapsed."

In this nearly self-deceiving yet endlessly sorrowful and helpless way—

Between his duty as a Marine and his love as a grandfather, he had made the greatest silent "resistance" he could.

He could not openly defy orders and release Ace, but he could be "defeated" by his own grandson.

That old bastard...

He was suffering too much inside.

Sengoku's nose stung as well.

He also felt for this old comrade who had been unyielding his entire life.

But as Fleet Admiral, he could not let this "farce" continue.

The execution had to be carried out.

The Marines' dignity had to be upheld.

Just as Luffy's legs compressed like springs, ready to launch himself toward the execution platform with all his strength—

Sengoku's body suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light.

"Buddha Form!"

In the blink of an eye, Sengoku transformed into an enormous golden Buddha over ten meters tall, formed entirely from pure golden radiance and exuding immense pressure—the Zoan Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Great Buddha Form.

Though the giant Buddha wearing frog glasses did look a little out of place.

A massive golden palm rose and aimed at