The surface of the sea.
Lying on the wrecked boat, Luffy suddenly widened his eyes, staring up at Garp in the sky.
"Grandpa...?"
No...
Something's not right...!
This terrifying aura...
He had never seen his grandpa unleash power like this before!
"Impact——!!!"
A massive iron fist, like a meteor crashing down, carried a force terrifying enough to shatter everything, and struck fiercely toward the sea below!
Where Garp's fist passed, the air was squeezed and twisted, forming visible folds.
The next second, "BOOM——!"
This stretch of ocean was smashed into a massive, bottomless depression!
Seawater surged madly outward, raising waves a hundred meters high.
Marine patrol ships were thrown into the air by the violent waves, hurled further away.
The dilapidated little boat in the center of the fist's shockwave was crushed into splinters the instant it was touched.
Luffy and Buggy on the boat didn't even have time to scream before the terrifying impact blasted them into the pitch-black depths of the sea.
"Crash——"
The seawater roared back, filling in the void torn open by brute force.
"Thud——"
Garp's figure dropped from the air, landing on the deck of the Dog-Head battleship.
Then, "thump——"
A dull sound.
His adjutant, Bogard, flashed forward, leaping straight into the still-churning sea.
In moments, he surfaced, carrying the completely unconscious Luffy, and landed steadily on the deck.
"Vice Admiral, he's still alive."
"Mm."
Garp nodded. He looked at the soaked, unconscious Luffy, his eyes flashing with an incredibly complex expression.
There was pain.
There was anger.
But above all... there was deep guilt.
That punch—he had pulled back most of his strength.
Otherwise, the boy would already be a cold corpse.
And yet...
Garp's heart couldn't feel at ease.
Across these seas, monsters capable of unleashing power on par with that punch—within the Marines alone, there were at least five!
His old friend Sengoku, who had regained the majesty of a ruler.
Zephyr, who had shifted from "no kill" to "must kill."
His number-one disciple Kuzan, who, despite his laziness, was unstoppable once serious.
Then there were Borsalino and Sakazuki—one with a light-speed kick that pierced everything, the other with magma fists that could burn the world to ash.
And even more terrifying—one rising swiftly like a blood-red comet: the "Blood Hawk," Hawke!
That kid's methods were even more extreme than Sakazuki's!
Very soon, the Great Pirate Era would end, replaced by...
The Marines' reign over the seas—the "Great Marine Era"!
As Sengoku's comrade of decades, he knew too well—once that man made up his mind, there would be no compromise, no balance.
All pirates would be mercilessly crushed, erased!
In such a storm, my foolish grandson... you still chose to set sail as a pirate?!
Tell me, against such overwhelming power...
How do you plan to survive?!!!
"... "
Garp's fist clenched unconsciously, knuckles cracking.
Why won't you listen?!
If you had obediently become a Marine, your grandpa's iron fists could have protected you your whole life.
With the reputation and connections I've built over decades, your career would have been smooth and unshakable.
But...
Since you've chosen to be a pirate, to stand against justice...
Then don't blame your grandpa for being ruthless!
"Lock him up. Give him a Third-Class Marine uniform."
Garp's voice was icy, stripped of all warmth.
"Until he puts it on, give him only the bare minimum water and food to survive. No meat."
"Let him truly taste what it means to be at death's door."
"..."
"Yes, sir."
Bogard nodded.
Just then, "Splash——"
The patrol ship that had been swept away earlier quickly returned.
A Marine Captain stood at the bow. When he saw Garp, he straightened his uniform and saluted.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
Garp turned his head and nodded slightly.
"Apologies. I've caused you trouble."
"..."
"Not at all!"
The Captain stiffened his back, then cautiously asked,
"Vice Admiral, are you returning to Headquarters?"
"No."
Garp shook his head, gazing toward the Grand Line.
"To G-3 Branch."
He had already made up his mind.
Knowing that boy Luffy, mere hunger and confinement would hardly shake his dream of piracy.
As his grandfather, he could never truly kill him.
Then he would use a harsher method... to correct him.
Throw him into G-3 Branch. Let his old friend Zephyr and that kid Hawke deal with him!
He had only one demand... as long as the boy doesn't die!
If even that failed to change him...
Then the last resort remained—throw him into Impel Down!
With his old face, he could still ensure the boy survived.
Once the seas were cleansed, once all pirates were buried in history...
He could find a chance to release him.
By then, the world would be peaceful, the seas calm.
Let's see how you remain a pirate then!
"Yes, sir!"
The Captain saluted again. Then, as if recalling something, he quickly added:
"Report, Vice Admiral! Recently, East Blue recruited a batch of clean-background new recruits. They're interning on patrol ships. By procedure, they need to be sent to G-3 Branch for unified training. Would it be convenient...?"
"Send them here."
Garp nodded, waving his hand.
"Yes, sir!"
Soon, a group of young soldiers in crisp Marine uniforms, still carrying a hint of nervousness, boarded the Dog-Head battleship via gangplank.
Every one of them gazed secretly at the towering figure with awe and yearning.
Among them, one pink-haired boy looked especially excited.
Koby.
His fists clenched tight.
This was... the Marine hero, Vice Admiral Garp!
This was the goal of his dreams!
He would definitely become someone like that—a great figure who could protect countless people!
Koby's gaze drifted, catching sight of the unconscious boy with a straw hat slung over someone's shoulder.
He froze slightly.
That face... looked familiar.
"Set sail!"
Garp gave the order without further words.
The Dog-Head battleship turned its bow, sails unfurled, and it surged toward the Grand Line.
...
Impel Down.
Level 6 — Eternal Hell.
"Creaaak——"
The elevator leading to the lowest level screeched with metallic friction, settling slowly.
Light was swallowed completely, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.
Unlike the howls and chaos above, here...
The silence was terrifying.
Rows of massive iron cages stood quietly in the dim passageways.
Deep in the cages, vague figures lurked in the shadows.
Some sat still. Some swayed silently. But every gaze cast outward brimmed with malice.
These were legendary criminals who had once plagued the World Government.
Each possessed the power to topple a nation single-handedly.
"Tap——"
Hawke stepped from the elevator, with Zoro and Sanji following, into the eternal darkness.
"Ha——"
Zoro felt the chill in the air, his lips curling into an excited grin.
His hand was already gripping the hilt of Wado Ichimonji at his waist.
So strong!
Every presence imprisoned here made every cell in his body tremble.
"Fuu——"
Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, the haze lingering in the frigid air.
His expression was more solemn than ever.
So these are the prisoners of Level 6...
At that moment, a hoarse yet playful voice drifted out from the depths of a cage on the left.
"Hehehe... it sounds lively upstairs."
"Those beautiful screams... it's been a long time."
"Hey, Marine boy outside..."
"Why don't you let me join in that fun little slaughter?"
"Oh..."
Hawke stopped walking.
He tilted his face slightly, eyes narrowing at the endless darkness.
"Shiryu of the Rain?"
Shiryu of the Rain.
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