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The massive size of the Titan form granted Garp immense strength, but in terms of speed and agility, he was no match for Arthur. Even if his mind could react, his colossal body couldn't shift into a defensive stance in time!
In a split second, Arthur soared into the air, hovering level with Garp's chest. He pulled his fist back and drove it forward with catastrophic force...
BOOM!!
An unstoppable, overwhelming power detonated directly against Garp's heart. Under the impact of the punch, the giant's chest caved in, leaving a deep, visible crater. Pain flooded his nervous system; he lost his footing, and his mountainous body toppled backward!
Pfft—
His heart severely damaged, the shockwave of Arthur's strike erupted through Garp's chest. The Titan finally couldn't suppress it any longer and sprayed a mouthful of magma-like blood, dyeing the snow-covered ground red and melting it instantly.
THUD!!
Unable to maintain his center of gravity, Garp's massive frame crashed heavily onto the earth.
Before he could struggle to rise, Arthur, still hovering in the air, bent his right knee. Lightning surged around his body, channeling all his remaining strength into that single point. He dropped like a meteor, driving his knee ruthlessly into the skull of the fallen Titan.
"Urgh..."
His skull crushed under the blow, Garp let out an involuntary groan. Lava-like blood gushed uncontrollably from his nose and mouth.
"Garp..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru screamed, unable to restrain herself. Her hand gripped the railing of the warship so tightly that the solid steel crumbled under her fingers.
On Minion Island, Garp's Titan form began to shrink rapidly under the severe trauma. The relentless assault had beaten him back into his human form.
"Old Man Garp... farewell!!"
Arthur bid him a cold, emotionless goodbye. He twisted his arm, formed his hand into a claw, and thrust it viciously toward Garp's head.
In his human form, Garp could no longer withstand such an attack. If this claw connected, his skull would explode.
Suddenly...
SNAP—
Arthur's rapidly descending hand was caught.
Garp, who appeared unconscious, had snatched Arthur's wrist. His tightly closed eyes snapped open, revealing a gaze that was bright, lucid, and unwavering.
"Arthur, you brat... do you still remember the punch that nearly killed you nine years ago?!"
"It was etched into my bones. How could I forget?" A smile broke across Arthur's cold face.
"Bwahahahahaha! Then take one more from me!!"
"Life Return!!"
The skin exposed outside Garp's coat began to flush a deep red. The blood veins on his arms, forehead, and neck bulged to the point of bursting. His blood flow accelerated to impossible speeds, giving his face the hideous, ferocious appearance of a demon.
His muscles rippled and began to expand wildly. droplets of blood seeped from his pores. He was using "Life Return" to burn his very life force as fuel, accelerating his metabolism to its absolute limit.
He transformed into the Titan once more—but this time, the obsidian skin turned a dark, burning crimson. The air around him distorted from the sheer heat of his boiling blood!
"I'm merely paying for my resolve with my life! I accepted this outcome the moment I joined the Navy!!" Garp grinned widely, though his face was now a blur of terrifying power.
Forced back by this extreme, horrifying aura, Arthur retreated slightly. His expression was grave, yet filled with unparalleled excitement.
Having consumed the Titan Fruit and now burning his life away, the power of this strike would far exceed the one from nine years ago.
But Arthur was no longer the man he was back then!!
An aura of absolute dominance erupted from Garp's giant form. He gathered every ounce of his conviction, will, and strength into a single punch—a strike carrying the invincible power to shatter everything in existence...
"GARP!!!"
On the warship rocking in the violent waves, Vice Admiral Tsuru wept, her mournful cry like a bird singing blood.
Drake, whom she had brought aboard, forgot to cry for his father. He stared wide-eyed at the scene, a look of longing and awe taking root in his gaze.
Meanwhile, Law sat before Corazon's cooling body. In his hand, he held an apple that Aurora had shoved at him earlier.
The next moment...
A mysterious, indescribable power—origin unknown—suddenly possessed the apple. Swirls and patterns appeared on its skin as it expanded rapidly.
"Ugh... Guegh!!"
Law took a bite, nearly vomiting from the vile taste. But seconds later, a miracle occurred. His white, translucent skin began to show a faint hint of rosy color.
The Amber Lead Syndrome... had begun to heal!
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Navy Headquarters, Marineford. The Fleet Admiral's Office.
Documents sent from Navy branches all over the world were piled up like mountains in front of Sengoku. Just looking at them was enough to cause a headache.
Any incident that couldn't be handled by subordinates or required a high-level decision ended up on his desk.
On a normal day, Sengoku would have leisurely cleared through most of them while sipping tea.
But today...
For some reason, he couldn't settle his mind. His right eyelid was twitching violently. No matter what he looked at, his thoughts drifted involuntarily to Garp's carefree, grinning face—thinking of all the times he had stolen his rice crackers.
"What is wrong with me? Am I just overthinking things? Do I need a break?" Sengoku rubbed his temples, frowning deeply.
He had never felt like this before. It was a looming dread, as if something momentous was about to happen.
"Garp and Tsuru have been on the mission to the North Blue for about twenty days. With their combined strength, it's almost impossible for anything to go wrong."
"Unless..." Sengoku pulled an intelligence report from the stack. It featured a portrait of the arrogant Thunder Emperor, Arthur.
"The Thunder God Sea just had a rebellion. Yet Arthur left without even settling his internal affairs immediately after returning. Did he really go to the North Blue for the Op-Op Fruit?"
Arthur's strength had reached terrifying levels. If he was there to snatch the fruit... could Garp stop him?
Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru Puru—
Puru Puru Puru Puru—
The quiet transponder snail on the left side of his desk suddenly sprang to life, sticking its tongue out and mimicking an expression that looked painfully like Tsuru.
Click—
"This is Sengoku. Tsuru, has something happened? Where is Garp? Put him on..." Sengoku answered immediately, firing off questions.
"Garp... Garp is...!" Tsuru fought to suppress her grief, but her body convulsed with sobs.
"What happened to Garp?" Sengoku's voice trembled slightly. He might have already guessed, but his heart refused to believe it.
"Garp... has been killed in action!"
"What are you saying, Tsuru? This is a joke, right?" Sengoku's face changed drastically. He roared in denial, his eyes instantly turning red as steam fogged up his round glasses.
The receiver slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. He sat there, dazed and unresponsive. In that single instant, he seemed to age ten years.
Joining the Navy together... training together... completing missions together... catching pirates together... becoming legends of the sea together...
"THUNDER EMPEROR!!"
A guttural, unintelligible roar tore from Sengoku's throat. He looked like a beast ready to devour a man whole.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what's wrong?!"
Just then, an adjutant walked in carrying another stack of files. Seeing Sengoku's terrifying state, he was frightened out of his wits and dropped everything on the floor.
"Pass down the order," Sengoku said, fighting back tears. "All Marines, regardless of their current mission, are to set aside their duties!"
"The entire army will observe three days of mourning! Anyone who disobeys... is no longer fit to be a Marine!"
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