Whenever this happened, Ace would tightly grip Luffy's hand, as if doing so could keep him from fading away. The medical team monitored Luffy's condition day and night, trying every possible method to stabilize him, but with little success.
However, to everyone's surprise, Luffy's willpower far exceeded their expectations. Even in his weakest moments, he never showed the slightest thought of giving up. Instead, he spoke in a weak yet resolute voice about his dreams, his adventures with his companions, and his hopes for the future.
At dawn on the fifth day, Mist Realm Island finally appeared on the horizon. True to its name, the entire island was shrouded in dense purple mist. Its outline flickered in and out of view, as though it stood on the boundary between reality and illusion. The sea around the island was unnaturally calm—no waves, no seabirds, everything swallowed by an eerie silence.
"We're here." Rayleigh stood at the bow, his sharp gaze piercing through the mist. "But getting onto the island won't be easy. Roger once mentioned that there were Guardians on the island—extraordinary beings."
Just as Rayleigh had said, when the ship drew close to the island, vague figures suddenly emerged from the purple mist—strange creatures appeared one after another. Their forms lay somewhere between solid and gaseous, their purple bodies translucent, their eyes like burning flames.
"Void Creatures," Rayleigh warned. "Prepare for battle!"
Ace immediately stepped forward, flames igniting around him. "Everyone, protect Luffy!"
A fierce battle erupted between the ship and the island. The Void Creatures attacked in bizarre, unpredictable ways. They could turn intangible and solid again in an instant, and ordinary attacks often passed through their bodies without causing any damage.
Yet Ace, Rayleigh, and Sabo's attacks proved remarkably effective. Ace's flames had been infused with some special