A lifeline

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"Hold on a second, don't overexert yourself! You've just recovered!!" Exclaimed Hongo as he emerged from the infirmary, hurrying to catch up with his friend who continued walking towards the main deck.

"Hey, Roux, how are you holding up, buddy?!" Bonk Punch, another executive of the Red Hair Pirates, greeted with concern upon seeing his rotund comrade.

"Chief, where is the doctor who saved me? I heard he was left behind in the ruins! Is that true?!!" Lucky's voice grew restless as he briefly learned of the perilous situation they all faced.

The triple scarred-faced captain, who had been standing rigidly still, his gaze scrutinised on the assaulted island before them, responded in a grave tone, "No, we would never abandon our savior, Roux!" The redhead's words carried a firm resolve, but deep within, his mind churned with growing anxiety... As he took in the devastated state of the island and the impending doom brought by the Buster Call, his worries multiplied...

If they couldn't timely locate the doctor within a short span that remained for this island's survival, no lives would be spared when it succumbed to the complete destruction...

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He concentrated with all his might, utilising his observation-Haki to scan for any traces of the missing doctor, despite seemingly an impossible feat amidst the continuous onslaught of the bombstrikes...

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As unrivalled as his Haki prowess was, he could perceive nothing beyond the powerful raining fires...

'Doctor, don't let it end like this, not when we've only just met you!' the Red Hair Captain pleaded... silently and repetitively within his mind, while directing his scans to cover the far- reaching areas of Raduno Town and the Forbidden Forest, all presently being ravaged by blazing fires...

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"No... if the Doc was still there, he wouldn't have made it at this point!" lamented Yasopp with distress...

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The rest of the crew members scattered to join in the vigorous search, straining their senses to the limits, looking for any signs or hints that could lead them to the missing surgeon...

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Until one pivotal moment, as if time itself had frozen... Shanks suddenly detected a faint surge of power emanating from somewhere within the enormously fiery forest... His keen senses caught a fleeting glimpse of a shimmering blue dome encircling one specific area... Disappearing as quickly as it had appeared, it was a sight imperceptible to even the best- trained eyes, yet the watchful captain's sharp attention did not let it slip away....

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He would recognise that power anywhere...

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And the single-armed man roared without wasting another second...

"REDIRECT THE SHIP!!! And head towards that far cliff RIGHT AWAY!!!"

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Standing on the precipice of the high terrain, the dark-haired surgeon gazed out over the endless expanse of the ocean, his heart heavy with the pressure of their seemingly insurmountable situation.

"Even if there was a Marine ship passing by, it might offer us a slim chance of survival, but..." Law murmured, his voice tinged with resignation. He cast a downward glance at the Saberos cubs in his arms and the severed trunk of the Guardian Tree lying nearby, a sense of defeat pouring over him, "I'm sorry, you guys...despite all our efforts, it looks like this is as far as we can go..."

Behind him, the inferno that had engulfed the Forbidden Forest below raged on, its searing heat intensifying with each passing moment. The whimpers of the cubs rang through the air, a creeping reminder of the peril they faced... "If we remain here, we may meet our ends simply from this scorching heat alone..!"

In a last-ditch attempt, he scanned the vast ocean once again, hoping against hope for a miracle...

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And then, as if on cue... at that instant, he saw it in his peripheral vision— a ship bearing the unmistakable flag of the Red Hair Pirates, appeared from the other side of the cliff, approaching them at the breakneck speed...

"DOCTOR!! over here quick!! We've come to get you!!" a loud voice called out from the deck of the ship. The sight was surreal, and Law could hardly believe his eyes... A chance for rescue, a chance to survive, had unexpectedly presented itself...

Big barrels were gathered up on the deck, easily visible and readily to be used for his power.

Overwhelmed by this unexpected refuge, Law's fatigue and injuries faded into the backgrounds. Without hesitation, he mustered the last remnants of his stamina and conjured up a huge "Room" covering the far-flung vessel, swiftly transporting himself and all the lives he had salvaged from certain deaths into the welcoming embrace of the Red Hair Crew...

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As they all landed on the safety blanket of the Red Force, the lean doctor instantly crumbled to the floor, completely spent from the ordeal... The world around him began to blur, and his vision gradually faded into darkness...

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