"Same here," Kuzan said with a nod. "Justice... must live on."
Sengoku looked at the two Admirals with relief, then sent a signal to their companions at the other three nodes through a mysterious mental link. Strange changes began to spread through Luffy's body. His skin turned translucent, revealing energy flowing inside him like blood. This was not the rubber transformation of his Devil Fruit ability, but the conversion of his very life essence into energy. He was changing from a flesh-and-blood existence into a being of pure energy.
"Luffy... your body..." Ace watched his little brother's transformation in anguish.
"It's all right," Luffy said, forcing back the pain and flashing his trademark grin. "If I can save you, if I can save the world, what's a little pain?"
The brothers held each other tightly, feeling their lives slip away. Strangely, though their bodies were fading and their vitality was draining away, their hearts had never been so calm or resolute.
"Ace," Luffy said softly, "do you remember the promise we made when we were kids?"
"Of course I do." Ace's voice held a gentle smile. "We promised to make each other proud and protect everything the other held dear."
"This world, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook..." Luffy listed his companions' names one by one. "And you, Ace. You're all precious to me."
"Same here," Ace said, hugging his little brother tightly. "Luffy, having a brother like you is the greatest pride of my life."
Nourished by both their life forces, the World Tree Seed finally awakened completely. An enormous, illusory tree began to take shape above the temple-the legendary World Tree that had given birth to the entire world. Though it was only a spectral image, the vitality it radiated was already enough to purify the void