Imu's Evaluation!

Deep within Leviathan's gaping maw, the dark vortex completed its final compression.

The black sphere, roughly the size of a fist, continued collapsing inward. It contracted, then contracted again, until only a pitch-black speck of light remained, no larger than a knuckle. The speck had no mass, yet it was heavier than the entire Red Line Continent. Spiderweb-like black cracks tugged outward from its edges, shredding the surrounding air.

Gravity surged.

Loose stones on the ice plain rose into the air. Broken weapons slipped from corpses' hands and slowly floated toward the sky. The remains of the Blackwater Monster lost their weight and twisted toward Leviathan's maw. Even the ice itself began to crack. Huge chunks were ripped from the ground and spun into the darkness.

Luffy dropped to both knees.

His fingers clamped around the hilt of the First Generation Divine Weapon. His knuckles turned white, and his bones creaked. The blade was driven diagonally into the ice, becoming his only anchor. Gravity tore at his body. Fragments of his coat and traces of blood peeled away from his hem and flew toward the maw. He gritted his teeth and pressed his entire weight against the sword, barely resisting that irresistible force.

He had tried.

Luffy closed his eyes and desperately urged the nearly extinguished ember deep in his chest to burn. Nika's white flames—even a single spark would do. As long as they could ignite, they could sustain his protective barrier. Even for one second.

The only answer from his chest was tearing agony.

Excruciating pain erupted from his heart. This was not ordinary pain, but the sensation of every meridian screaming as his life force was forcibly extracted. The Nika Form had been completely exhausted. There was nothing left in his body to burn.

The wounds on