On the Noah's Ark—
Imu gazed at the fading virtual screen, lost in thought.
Around him, Esdeath, Historia, and the other women fell silent at the sight.
Imu was considering how the range of what was now called "general-level combat strength" had grown ever wider.
Aramaki, Crocodile, Fujitora—figures who, a few years ago, would absolutely have been considered general-level, and even now could still be counted as such.
The four Super Class Danger Beasts from the Teigu World, along with Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama from the Shinobi World, were likewise classified as having general-level combat strength.
Sakazuki, Borsalino, Bullet, Kaido, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Shiki—
—plus Kuzan, whose abilities clearly went a step beyond those of the others—were also counted among the general-level.
And now, there was Garp, who had stepped into the realm of Colorless Haki.
The meaning of the words admiral-level combat strength seemed to be growing blurred.
But as for what to do about it, Imu still had no clear answer.
"Stussy."
"Yes, Lord Imu!" Stussy hurried over. "Tell Garp to wait for me tomorrow in the Empty Hall of Pangaea Castle."
"And inform the Five Elders—Douglas Bullet's title as an Ōka Shichibukai is to be revoked."
Imu's tone was ice-cold.
"Yes, I will faithfully carry out Your will!"
Stussy gave a curt nod, expression stern, before turning and striding quickly away.
...
Holy Land – Mary Geoise.
Garp was walking alone beneath the shade of the trees.
Following the azure river beside him, he slowly approached the imposing and majestic castle ahead.
Garp could guess the reason for Imu's summons.
It was surely because he had awakened Colorless Haki.
What he didn't know was which way this meeting would go—
Good? Or bad?
That uncertainty left Garp uneasy. He was fond of his current life, and he liked the World Government as it was.
He wanted to watch his grandson grow up, train him into an outstanding Marine admiral, and perhaps even help him master Colorless Haki.
So if possible, he wished to avoid any conflict with Imu.
But who could say whether Imu, out of wariness, might decide to strike at him?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
Because of that, the ever-smiling Garp now wore an unusually serious expression—especially the natural, unrestrained pressure radiating from him.
It made the Holy Land's garrison knights standing watch before the massive iron gates suddenly feel their bodies lock up, an instinctive fear welling in their hearts.
"Hm?"
Garp frowned at the unmoving gates before him.
"Why aren't you opening the gate for me?"
He cast an impatient glance at a nearby knight who looked like the squad captain.
Just that one glance made the mid-ranked knight stumble back three steps, his grip on his spear trembling.
That made Garp pause for a moment, but he quickly understood why.
At once, he reined in his aura.
He had only stepped into the realm of Colorless Haki yesterday, so he was still unfamiliar with this new, higher level of power.
He had planned to spend a few days training after returning home to get accustomed to his greatly increased strength, but Imu had summoned him instead.
The instant Garp withdrew his aura, the dozen armored knights present all exhaled in relief.
Just now, even breathing had felt difficult—the nearly tangible fear was like sinking into the depths of an oceanic abyss.
They wasted no time in hauling the iron gates open, respectfully seeing Garp stride into Pangaea Castle.
But just as Garp reached the wide-open castle doors, he saw a distinguished-looking man in black robes inside, lounging with one leg crossed over the other on a lavish, gold-trimmed chair.
The man appeared to be about the same age as Garp, a Western sword hanging at his waist.
Yet what caught the eye most—
Was his hair and beard, styled into the shape of a crescent moon.
As if a golden crescent had grown right out of his head.
"Saint Figarland Garling?"
Garp frowned. Of course he knew the man, though they had met only once—nineteen years ago on God Valley.
"Garp, when you come out—have a bout with me."
Though Garling remained seated in his chair, the force in his tone and gaze made refusal impossible.
"Hmph. Coming after my Colorless Haki, are you? Sorry—no time!"
Garp curled his lip in disdain and strode past him without slowing.
He'd never feared these people before—let alone now.
"That won't be up to you."
Garling's eyes chilled as he watched Garp's back.
For a man who absolutely upheld the Celestial Dragon hierarchy, Garp's attitude was intolerable. Were it anyone else—even a Marine admiral—it would have been an unforgivable capital offense, and Garling would not have hesitated to cut them down.
But Garp was Garp.
Part of it was strength, yes—but more than that, Garling could not stop him from meeting Lord Imu.
"Tch… I wonder if that brat Shanks has received it yet."
Garling withdrew his gaze, looking out toward the sky beyond the gates.
Those brats still seemed to believe they'd infiltrated the Holy Land on their own, even thinking they'd hidden themselves well—
...
Two Giant God Warriors pushed open the massive, exquisitely carved doors of the Empty Hall together.
"Please, Admiral Garp."
Oimo rumbled down at Garp.
"Thanks."
Garp gave a nod, his mood heavy as he stepped inside, treading the familiar crimson carpet.
Behind him, the colossal doors closed once more.
Reaching the depths of the Empty Hall, he had yet to raise his eyes toward the triple-tiered dais above when—
Garp saw Imu already standing ahead, back turned toward him.
He hesitated for a moment, then chose to stop of his own accord, dropping to one knee on the crimson carpet and greeting in a deep voice, "Marine Admiral Monkey D. Garp, paying respects to Lord Imu!"
Imu turned, sharp golden eyes like an eagle's fixing on him.
"Congratulations on successfully stepping into the realm of Colorless Haki."
"This is all thanks to Lord Imu for granting us the method to train it!"
Garp bowed his head in heartfelt gratitude.
He truly was thankful that Imu had revealed the matter of Colorless Haki to them.
Imu seemed indifferent, giving a calm order: "Rise—then prepare to take a strike from me."
"What?!"
Garp's head snapped up, staring at Imu in shock, his guard instantly raised, thinking Imu truly meant to erase him.
"Heh… worried I intend to kill you?"
Though Imu could no longer read Garp's thoughts or memories, the expression on his face gave his mind away completely.
"Uh…"
Garp's face stiffened at the teasing tone.
"Take one strike from me, and you'll understand."
"Alright!"
Garp no longer dwelled on it, giving a firm nod before rising and taking a defensive stance.
At once, silver-speckled streams of gray light reappeared over his body.
Within the hall, the air itself thickened under the pressure of his aura, distorting and warping.
Faint, silver-gray gleams flickered into and out of sight.
In this tense and killing atmosphere, Garp's eyes brimmed with fighting spirit, and his face broke into a smile full of anticipation.
At last—he could cross hands with Imu!
Still… wasn't the man underestimating him far too much, telling him to take just a single strike?
After all, they were both—
In that instant, a brilliant golden light stabbed into Garp's vision.
He barely had time to cross his arms in front of himself—
Before an unbelievable force crashed into him, bringing with it impact, searing heat, paralysis, and pain.
Garp's mind went completely blank.
Utterly stunned.
He didn't even notice the deafening sonic boom that reached his ears only after the golden flash had already struck.
In that instant, it felt as though all of time and space had frozen.
He could clearly feel the force slamming into his forearms, blasting apart the Colorless Haki that shielded him, along with the flesh and bone that had been tempered over decades.
But how was this possible?!
How could someone like him, who had already mastered Colorless Haki, be so utterly overpowered?
Could there really be such a vast gulf between one's Colorless Haki and another's?
Garp could tell that the force Imu had struck him with contained no slashes, no Devil Fruit powers—just pure, concentrated Haki.
And still, he couldn't block it at all.
[BOOM!!!]
His massive frame was hurled through the corridor, sonic shockwaves rippling in rings around him.
He finally slammed into a golden wall of light less than a meter from the great doors.
For a brief moment, his body seemed to stick against it before sliding slowly to the ground.
That was Imu's Haki stopping him from being flung any farther.
When Garp opened his eyes and followed the trail of pain, he realized both his arms were gone!
Not broken. Not shattered. Almost as if they had been burned away.
He caught the scent of charred flesh in the air and understood.
He knew the lightning of Colorless Haki possessed all the properties of natural lightning.
High temperature was one of them. Clearly, after his arms were blasted apart, both bone and flesh had been seared into nothing.
The difference in power was… this great?
Taking a deep breath, Garp forced himself to move and slowly stood up.
And this had been from just a single strike!
[Swish!]
A second later, he suddenly found himself back in the exact spot he had been before.
This had to be some kind of Devil Fruit ability.
"Restore your arms first."
Imu calmly gazed at Garp.
"Huff—yes, sir!"
Garp's tone turned respectful.
He immediately used Life Return to take control of his own cells, burning through an enormous amount of stamina to regenerate a new pair of arms.
The process took no more than seven or eight seconds, yet sweat was already beading on his forehead.
"Do you understand now?"
"I understand—you have absolutely no need to hold back against me."
Garp shook his head bitterly.
He had realized that Imu's mastery of Colorless Haki had reached an unimaginable level, while he himself still stood at the starting line.
"Lord Imu, please… guide me. How should I train from here?"
Garp thought for a moment, then once again dropped to one knee, sincerely asking for guidance.
"Before reaching Colorless Haki, the focus is on physical training, which indirectly strengthens your Haki. After Colorless Haki, the focus shifts to mental training, supplemented by physical training—delving deeper into your sixth sense..."
Imu had no intention of keeping secrets, directly pointing Garp in the right direction.
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