The Last Glimmer of Candle
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"Father, look! The Refuge Ship is coming! We might actually make it!" Farlan's voice rang out with excitement, his gaze fixed on the distant ship. The collective sense of relief filled the air, mingling with the sounds of hopeful chatter from the waiting crowd.
Amidst the enthusiasm, however, the former leader of Raduno Town stood still, his eyes fixated on the relentless barrage of firebombs raining down upon his beloved town, now engulfed in an inferno of destruction... Each explosion felt like a stab to his heart, a painful reminder of all that was being lost...
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The old man's mind became a kaleidoscope of memories. He saw the Social Club Tavern, the very heart of the community, where friendships were forged over countless drinks and lively conversations... He remembered the joyous moments of his grandsons' births, celebrated by the gathered neighbours and townsfolk, who had become an extended family... With every explosion that struck the town, the losses grew more profound. It was not just the physical structures that were being devoured by the flames, but the intangible essence of a thriving community... The bonds of camaraderie, the shared experiences, and the dreams of a brighter future were all being torn apart...
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His eyes empty and brimming with desolation... the most tormenting notion of all was his own helplessness to rescue anything— their country, Ashar's life and decades of his cultivation embodied within each Guardian Seed—all reduced to ashes...
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Tears streamed down his furrowed face as he whispered, his voice choked with excruciating pain,"I'm sorry, Ashar...My friend, I'm so sorry..."
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As The Surgeon of Death materialized within the Forbidden Forest one more time, the earth- shattering blasts echoed not so far off, coming from Raduno Town itself, reminding him of the imminent danger he had barely escaped by a matter of minutes. "This is worse than I anticipated!" he muttered with unease, urgency etched on his face. Time was of the utmost importance, if he wanted even the slightest chance of discovering the Guardian Seeds, he needed to reach the Hermit's house fast.
Quickly surveying the area, he assessed his surroundings before initiating another teleportation...
With a swift movement, the brunet landed near the house once again. However, just as he appeared, another firebomb struck dangerously close to him, unleashing a devastating shockwave and igniting a cluster of fires and debris. The force of the explosion immediately sent him sprawling to the ground. Pushing through the pain to regain his footing, the lean man's gaze hurriedly scanning the vicinity...
The forest had already begun to catch fire, and the flames threatened to spread rapidly... .
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Surrounded by the encroaching heat, Law felt the weight of the increasingly dire situation...
How could he possibly pinpoint the location of the elusive Guardian Trees amid this engulfing inferno?
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As soon as another bomb detonated nearby, worsening the situation, it dawned on him that not only were the seeds seemingly out of reach, but he also found his own life dangled by a thread by now... 'Again, why am I even doing this..?!' He found himself seriously wondering...
Instantaneously, however, a sudden vision raced through his thoughts—the three Sebaros cubs he had encountered during his previous visit in the forest...
"Scan!" he promptly commanded himself, his Haki-enhanced perception honing in on any signs of movement. He needed to give the cubs, resilient creatures like himself, a fighting chance at survival, no matter how slim... Memories of his savior echoed in his mind, 'Like what I was once given from Cora-san!'
With concentrated effort, he finally spotted the moving figures in the distance. They must have instinctively fled from the explosive sounds, seeking refuge in a relatively safe zone still not yet reached by the spreading fire...
The brunet wasted no time in teleporting himself towards the small creatures...
As he reached the spot, Law found the cub trio running around in a state of helplessness and fear, their tiny frames dwarfed by the thunderous sounds and scorching flames gradually enveloping the three closer by every passing minute. A sense of sudden relief washed over the doctor as he gently gathered them with his extended hands.
The cubs were indeed resilient, just as he had told them earlier... .
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Astoundingly, however, A moment of awe struck him as his eyes instantly fell upon a lone tree— the unmistakable, green pear-shaped fruit tree in only a few paces away, still miraculously standing amidst the ongoing devastation...
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Their plain green, pear-like fruits may appear unremarkable at first glance, but do not be deceived...
"Guardian Fruits!!" He uttered, stunned by the jaw-dropping coincidence. Glancing down at the oblivious cubs, "You guys are amazing..!" he incredulously whispered...
However, his elation was short-lived as he instinctively accessed their situations... The encroaching extensive flames had now sealed off all possible escape routes. His initial plan to search for the seeds and teleport to the nearest shore had become impossible by now. "Damn it!" He gritted his teeth. After ensuring the safety of the lives he had finally found, they had exhausted all other options...
His gaze then settled upon the high cliff, the earlier vantage point with the Red-Hair Captain. It offered a temporary sanctuary from the impending doom of the forest engulfed in flames...
"That might be the only fleeing path from here, but also another dead-end, facing the ocean on the other side..." Law fretfully murmured to himself...
With a sweeping gesture, the tattooed-man created an expansive "Room" encompassing the peak of the cliff. Cutting the trunk of the last Guardian Tree, he secured the innocent black cubs in his embrace, ready for the final attempt to teleport away from the inevitable demise rapidly coming their way...
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As the raging fires began to encompass them, "Brace yourselves!!" the dark-haired surgeon summoned every ounce of his strength and executed the last of his salvation, vanishing from the forest in a flash, carrying with him, the weights of his newfound companions and those of their uncertain fates altogether...
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