A few days later
Galan frowned as he heard a report… He sighed and said "Olvia… Please take care of things." Olvia looked at him sadly and said "Do you want me to come, Galan?" Galan clenched his fist, replying slowly "No…" before leaving the office.
Olvia watched him go and looked at the report, really hating the world more and more… It was as though everything was just a joke to kick Galan when he's down…
'Zephyr killed 123 Marines and stole Dynastones before disappearing -Borsalino'
Another couple of days later
Galan was standing on an island, on top of a cliff, with a basin in front of him. There were purple Dynastones scattered everywhere as Luffy and Zephyr fought intensely. Galan sighed to himself, no wonder… Zephyr had gotten too used to his Mechanical arm and forgot about everything else!
Luffy punched a hole in the Seastone battle smasher, stunning Zephyr who started to get excited, throwing the Battle Smasher aside and using his fists with Haki to beat Luffy into oblivion.
But how could Luffy tolerate this?
Galan's eyes widened slightly as Luffy blew into his arm, turning into a bouncing balloon-like person, covered in colored Haki patterns.
However, the rest of his body was Dark Gray!
There was even a strange phenomena going on with his Haki and Iron Body. However, it was very small and unnoticeable.
Galan naturally knew what this was… This was the strongest state he could possibly reach. It was achieved by combining Iron Body and Haki to make something stronger, but this was something that he came up with by himself. How was it possible that Luffy knew how to do this?
Or maybe…
Galan thought of a shocking possibility, maybe Luffy just learned on his own?! That was a bit crazy. Even if he was Garp's grandson, wasn't this a bit unreasonable?
For Luffy, Galan had no qualms, at the same age Luffy would probably destroy him. This form alone boosted his power by 5 times! Although, at this very moment, Galan didn't even feel a hint of threat coming from Luffy.
The Boy was too weak to even scratch him, even in this new form. However, it was commendable that he came up with such a thing!
And judging by the battle, Zephyr was likely to be defeated… Not because of this form, but… Zephyr was holding back.
Galan sighed again, looking at Zephyr sadly, why did you have to turn to evil? We could've made a new era of peace together… He clenched his fists and grit his teeth, Zephyr was one of his oldest friends.
It's sad what happened to him, yes. But that doesn't give you a pass to commit evil! Galan was sad he had to kill a friend again, but he was angry that Zephyr turned to the evil path.
If he wasn't mistaken, Zephyr wanted to drown the New World in lava and kill everyone in it!
Even if it was Galan's daughter, Galan would still kill her.
This was outrageous.
In the end, Luffy beat Zephyr into the ground.
Zephyr said "Take the Hat… and my life." Luffy was carried by his crew, saying seriously "I don't want to take your life. I'm satisfied!" Zephyr was stunned before smiling gently, "You really are a good boy…" as he slowly got up.
Luffy was carried off as Zephyr looked up, smiling "I'm glad it was you!" Galan looked down at him and jumped from the cliff, landing in the magma filled pit.
However, he wasn't wearing his Fleet Admiral uniform… He was wearing his Delta Squad suit!
The vest with a big MARINES on the front, his tattoos and scars all revealed to the air… He looked at Zephyr, saying slowly "I'm not." Zephyr laughed and replied "I didn't think so! You've always been soft, Galan!"
Galan frowned slightly and the crew were stunned, him!
Before they could do anything, a giant wall of ice blocked them, freezing all the Dynastones and the magma, creating a battlefield as a girl smashed on the ice, crying "Sensei! SENSEI!"
Zephyr looked up and laughed, "You created my final resting place, eh Kuzan?! Perfect!" Zephyr turned back to Galan and clenched his fists, all his power erupting from his body in a second.
This time he wasn't going to hold back!
Zephyr said "From the day I saw you with the old man to now, you still haven't changed! Your weakness was always your heart, Galan! You are too soft! You take on too many burdens and it will kill you one day! But!" He grinned, "Maybe you don't mind. Knowing you… A final firework is the best result!"
Galan frowned and said "Zephyr…" Zephyr shouted "I'm not Zephyr! Zephyr died with his family! Call me, Z!" as he charged at Galan, throwing a punch.
Galan closed his eyes and said "I'm sorry, Zephyr. May you rest in Peace, old friend."
Time seemed to flow in slow motion as Galan caught Zephyr's fist with his bare hand, pulling back and stepping out of the way. Zephyr smiled gratefully, saying softly "Thank you, Galan… I'm sorry."
Galan squeezed his eyes shut as tears slipped down, "Good bye." he clenched his fist and a horrifying pressure made the island shake, Galan's fist turned an extremely dark black with dark gray cracks on it, electric arcs crackling in them as they pulsed.
His hand was like lightning, punching through Zephyr instantly!
Zephyr closed his eyes and smiled in relief, so that's your strength, Galan… Good…
Galan's fist pierced through Zephyr's chest and destroyed his heart, poking out of his back as Zephyr fell to his knees.
Galan grit his teeth and turned his head, not wanting to look at Zephyr…
However, the ice wall Kuzan made evaporated, everything behind Zephyr was gone!
A massive circular hole appeared behind Zephyr, there was nothing left, only a view to the sea!
The cliff was split in two with a round gap in it.
Everyone froze and Kuzan had his mouth open wide.
Galan took his arm out of Zephyr, everything going back to normal as he picked him up with his eyes closed. He didn't look at the crew or anyone else, just disappearing with Zephyr's corpse.
A while later
Galan was standing in front of a grave and left a bottle of Jerez on it. He looked at the grave and held the Sun Pendant out, muttering gently.
Kuzan, Ainz, and Binz appeared… Ainz and Binz ran over, collapsing in front of the grave and crying bitterly as Kuzan stood behind them.
Galan turned around, putting his Sun pendant away. He walked past Kuzan, who asked "What do you think, Fleet Admiral?" Galan replied slowly "I think…" he clenched his fists and went on, icily "This world needs to be cleansed." Kuzan looked at him and asked "Is that what you did? Clean the world?"
Galan looked at him and said "Kuzan, remember this very carefully. There is only Good and Evil in this world. If you compromise because of feelings and lose your way, then you will never truly see a world without evil. I don't do what I do because I like it. I do it because nobody else will. This world is sick. Some pirates save the world and are hunted like criminals, while some marines terrorize innocents and they're paraded like heroes."
He looked at Kuzan deeply, continuing "Think about the Justice in your heart and never compromise. If you betray the Marines and turn into a pirate, it doesn't matter. If you reveal everything to the World Government, it doesn't matter. Just because you don't follow orders, it doesn't make you evil. So, if you want to leave the Marines because of my actions, then do it. I can only hope that you won't degenerate to evil because then I will come for you."
He turned around and added, "If my mother committed evil, I would kill her! My daughter, granddaughter, wife, friends, whatever the case may be… Those who succumb to evil have no place in this world. This is what Justice means. This is what never compromising means. I'm not perfect, I know myself better than you do. But nothing can stop me, no matter who I have to put down, I will do it!"
Kuzan closed his eyes and asked "But why?" Galan looked up at the sky and sighed, "Because maybe one day, people will look outside at their children playing without having to fear that bad things will happen to them. Maybe one day, they can watch a beautiful sunset and feel true peace, without evil, without fear… This is my dream! And I will punish any and all evil that stands in my way!"
He looked back down and shook his head, "That's enough for today, Kuzan…" before disappearing.
Kuzan sighed to himself, thinking about what Galan said as he walked to the grave, saying "Don't cry." Ainz and Binz looked at him and he said firmly "He lived the way he wanted, he was an incredible man…" tears fell from his eyes as he grit his teeth, "Don't cry, no matter what!"
Ainz and Binz trembled and covered their mouths, closing their eyes as tears rolled down their cheeks, splashing on the dirt in front of the grave…