Sensible to the point of being heartbreaking

Xi Yan found the little guy curled up in a dark corner, its body covered in cracks, looking like a porcelain doll about to shatter.

Seeing this, even the ninja Xi Yan's heart trembled. What a sensible little guy!

It looked like it was on the verge of death, yet it chose to silently endure the pain, curling up alone in the corner to await its end.

As if... as if it were afraid its partners would worry... It looked so small!

If he hadn't noticed something was wrong and used his Sharingan to search, they might not have even seen it one last time. Going Merry would have died!

"But I'm like this..." Going Merry said softly, "It will make them sad. I don't want to see them sad..."

"If everyone is sad... I'll be heartbroken."

"It's okay... it's okay... it'll be okay, Going Merry."

Going Merry opened its mouth, then finally sighed softly and slowly closed its eyes.

Now, it couldn't even resist if it wanted to.

Because all its strength was used to maintain this pirate ship. At least, it couldn't die until it had sent its partners to safety.

Once all its partners were safe, its mission would be over.

Upon reaching the deck, everyone immediately focused their gaze on Xi Yan's embrace, on that... little guy that looked like it was about to die.

The green raincoat, coupled with the name Xi Yan had just spoken... everyone instantly understood who this little guy was!

And Going Merry's appearance was the final straw that broke Usopp's mind.

"Going Merry!!!"

Usopp charged over like a madman. Even when he tripped and broke his nose mid-way, he paid it no mind.

Upon reaching Xi Yan, Usopp instinctively reached out to touch it, but then feared he might shatter the little guy and abruptly stopped himself.

"Going Merry?!" Luffy exclaimed excitedly, "Zoro, quick, give me a hand!"

"I want to see Going Merry!"

For some reason, he felt Going Merry's voice was incredibly weak, as if... as if it were about to die.

Zoro said nothing. He silently pulled Luffy up, placing the other's arm on his shoulder, and walked step by step towards Xi Yan.

The others also came closer, cautiously gathering around Xi Yan.

"This... this is Going Merry?" Nami covered her mouth and asked, "What happened to her?"

"Her condition doesn't look good..."

"Going Merry, Going Merry, what's wrong?!"

"Chopper, quick, see what's wrong with Going Merry!"

"Everyone, don't crowd too close, give us some space!"

The others complied, afraid of disturbing Chopper.

Chopper cautiously approached Xi Yan and said, "Give her to me."

"I'm not sure if you can touch her."

"What do you mean?"

Xi Yan didn't explain, merely gesturing for Chopper to do what he needed to do.

Chopper didn't waste words and immediately tried to assess the situation, but his hand passed through Going Merry's body without any obstruction.

"Huh?!!!"

"Why, why can't I touch her?!"

Disbelieving, Chopper reached out again, but this time, he still couldn't touch Going Merry's body.

Chopper panicked. What was going on?

If he couldn't touch its body, then there was no way he could find a way to save it.

"Chopper, what are you waiting for? Save her!" Usopp urged anxiously.

"But I can't touch her, it's like she has no substance."

Chopper was on the verge of tears. He wanted to save her, but he couldn't even touch her.

"How is that possible? Going Merry has substance!" Usopp exclaimed, "Back on Skypiea, she repaired the ship all by herself. How could she have no substance?"

"Perhaps it's because she doesn't have the strength to maintain her physical form anymore," Granny Kokoro said.

Usopp froze, his heart feeling like it had been struck by a heavy hammer, stopping abruptly.

Kimone looked at the little guy in Xi Yan's arms, unable to accept this for a moment.

This little guy, who looked even younger than her, was going to die?

"Then why can Xi Yan touch her?" Nami asked.

"Because I'm a ninja."

By utilizing the properties of Yin Yang Release, Xi Yan gained the ability to touch the little guy. Before activating this ability, Xi Yan also couldn't touch Going Merry.

"Going Merry... Going Merry, what's wrong?!" Luffy looked at the cracks appearing on Going Merry's body and said, "Why does her body look like it's being damaged?"

"It might have something to do with this ship."

Franky recovered from his shock. He pointed at the pirate ship and said, "Because the ship spirit was born from this pirate ship, her fate should also be linked to this ship."

Franky didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.

Once Merry was completely broken, Merry's life might also come to an end. This was probably why Merry was covered in cracks.

But how could they accept such an outcome?

"I don't believe it... I don't believe it!!" Usopp roared, "How can there be no way?!"

"She looks so young, why does she have to go through this!!"

Usopp was like a madman, he simply couldn't accept such a thing.

"I'm sorry... Usopp." Going Merry said, struggling to open her eyes, "I'm sorry, everyone."

"Please don't be sad for me. I have no regrets being able to save everyone from danger before disappearing..."

Even now, Merry wasn't thinking of herself. Her sensible demeanor was heartbreaking.

"No... we're the ones who should be apologizing." Usopp's body trembled, tears flowing uncontrollably.

"It's our fault, it's our fault for not protecting Merry."

"If anyone's to blame, it's us."

"Everyone, I've never blamed any of you." Going Merry turned her head, glanced at everyone, and smiled, "I can feel your love. Thank you, everyone."

"Going Merry!!"

Everyone burst into tears, their tears flowing uncontrollably.

"Why... why!!!"

Usopp's legs felt like they lost all strength, and he sat down on the ground. Then, he pounded the ground fist after fist, "Why does Merry have to go through this?"

Although this little guy looked a few years old, Usopp knew that the other party's true lifespan might only be a few months!

A few months... to die after only being born for a few months, how cruel was that?

Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Nico Robin looked at Xi Yan and said, "Xi Yan... do you have any way?"

Usopp leaped up from the ground as if he had grasped a life-saving straw and ran in front of Xi Yan, saying, "Xi Yan, save her!!"

"If you have a way, you must save her!!"

"That's right, Xi Yan is a ninja, you must have a way, right?!"

"You're the only one who can touch her body, is there any way?!"

"Xi Yan, save Going Merry!!"

Xi Yan was the only one who mastered all sorts of strange abilities. Perhaps he really had the ability to save Going Merry?!

Looking at everyone's hopeful gazes, Xi Yan was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll do my best."