Garp's face was contorted with rage, his Justice cloak flapping violently behind him.
Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!
Leo had actually mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion as well!
At this critical juncture, there was no time for further thought. A look of grim determination flashed in Garp's eyes as he met the attack head-on with an unstoppable momentum.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!!"
Under the expectant and anxious gazes of everyone, Garp's Haki surged around him. His iron fist, wrapped in dual Haki, smashed through one hundred-meter slash after another, his momentum fierce. However, with each shattered slash, a portion of his power was consumed.
After breaking through several of the massive slashes, Garp's face was flushed, and he was breathing heavily. It was at that moment the final slash arrived with overwhelming force, growing larger in his pupils.
"BASTARD!!" Garp, with his remaining strength, roared angrily, condensing high-density Armament Haki all over his body in a final, desperate defense.
The next second, the hundred-meter-long emerald green slash mercilessly cleaved into Garp's body.
"AGHHHH!!!"
A piercing, miserable scream mixed with the sound of the impact as Garp was sent flying backward like a broken kite, blood spraying from his body as if it were free, staining large swathes of the ice crimson. Empowered by both Armament Haki: Ryou and Conqueror's Haki Infusion, the emerald slash had easily breached Garp's Haki defense and struck his physical body directly.
He flew hundreds of meters, colliding with and collapsing a watchtower before crashing heavily onto the ice surface.
Hiss~
Watching the dust-filled scene, every Marine soldier and officer present sucked in a sharp, cold breath, feeling as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over their heads. Nearly everyone was petrified, frozen in place. Even the Whitebeard Pirates, whose main mission was to rescue Ace, couldn't help but swallow hard.
After a brief, dead silence, the entire Plaza of Oris erupted into an uproar.
"That was Vice Admiral Garp who just flew past, right?!"
"This can't be real! How could Vice Admiral Garp lose to Leo?!"
"Damn it! Leo actually has Conqueror's Haki too?! Why wasn't that in the intelligence reports?!"
"It's not just Conqueror's Haki! What Leo used was the advanced stage, Conqueror's Haki Infusion!!"
"Even Vice Admiral Garp was defeated?!"
"Damn it all! Can justice truly not overcome evil?!"
Countless Marine soldiers roared hoarsely, venting their dissatisfaction with the scene before them. Garp, as the Marine Hero, his defeat wasn't just a personal failure; it symbolized the挫败 (setback) of justice and the collapse of belief for countless Marines. For a moment, the 100,000 elite Marines were thrown into disarray and panic.
This scene was faithfully recorded by the Den Den Mushis and broadcast to the entire world!
Sabaody Archipelago.
"Leo actually beat the Marine Hero Garp to a pulp?!"
"Damn it! Is there really no one who can defeat Leo?!"
"The legendary Garp, talked about in hushed tones, can't even beat a rookie brat? How ironic!"
"If the Marines only have this level of strength, how can they protect us and maintain order on the seas in the future?!"
"If things continue like this, Marine Headquarters is in grave danger!!"
The citizens' expressions were a mix of astonishment, shock, panic, and schadenfreude. Countless people clenched their sweaty fists, watching the scene with worry. They had thought this was a thunderous operation by the Marines to震慑 (deter) the pirates, but Leo's appearance had completely altered the course of events.
The reporters, however, had dollar signs in their eyes, frantically pressing their camera shutters. For them, they were witnessing history! Boss Morgans was right; wherever Leo appeared, it became the eye of the storm, with shocking developments emerging one after another. Every photo stored in their cameras was pure, white, spendable cash! Enough to make them rich, become millionaires... No, that was thinking too small. Become billionaires!
Marineford, the Icy Battlefield of Oris Bay.
After a brief moment of stunned disbelief, the Whitebeard Pirates seized the opportunity presented by the Marines' low morale to launch a fierce assault, pushing forward relentlessly. Opportunity knocks but once. While they too wanted to keep watching the fight between Leo and Garp, rescuing Ace was their primary mission.
"My sons, charge!!" A captain of a Whitebeard allied fleet seized the moment, cutting down a Marine Captain before raising his weapon and rallying his troops.
"OHHHH!!!"
"Let's go! Save Commander Ace!!"
"HAHAHAHAHA! Marines, today is your doom!!"
"Leo, well done!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates charged forward fearlessly, engaging the Marines in close-quarters combat. Despite being outnumbered two to one, with morale shifting in their favor, the 100,000 elite Marines were actually forced into a steady retreat.
"As expected of妾身's man~" Hancock's eyes were dreamy, filled with heart-shaped adoration.
"Captain~" Gecko Moria stared blankly at Leo's domineering figure, feeling increasingly grateful for his decision. He sneakily glanced at Perona, who was locked in combat with Kizaru, his heart swelling with excitement. As the saying goes, choice is greater than effort.
"Fufufufufufu~ Interesting, truly interesting." Donquixote Doflamingo let out a strange laugh, the veins on his forehead wriggling like worms. Who knew what he was thinking.
On the execution platform, a look of gravity finally appeared in Sengoku's aged eyes. His confidence in Garp had stemmed from his mastery of Conqueror's Haki Infusion—a trump card capable of dealing with any ability on the seas. But facing Leo, who also possessed Haki Infusion, all of Garp's advantages had vanished.
"Aokiji!!" Sengoku shouted.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Admiral Aokiji, who was locked in combat with Flower Sword Vista and Diamond Jozu, raised an eyebrow. An explosion of cold air repelled the two commanders, and he swiftly sped towards Garp's location. Just as Vista and Jozu moved to pursue, two Marine Vice Admirants, understanding the situation, stepped in to fill Aokiji's position and hold the line.
Watching Aokiji leave the battle, Sengoku still didn't relax. With Leo's appearance, the entire battle had slipped from his control, and Marine casualties were increasing at a visible rate. Thinking of this, Sengoku hesitated no longer. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and made a call.
Back at the Icy Battlefield.
Leo, holding the Shichiseiken, walked step by step towards the rubble that had buried Garp.
Cough Cough
Soon, coughing sounds came from within the billowing dust. A blood-soaked Garp pushed aside the stones pinning him down and staggered out.
"Not so easy to kill, as expected~" Leo stopped and looked coldly at him.
The current Garp was drenched in blood, his face pale, his aura weak and feeble compared to before. A horrifying wound ran from his shoulder down to his abdomen, blood flowing freely. He was practically a man made of blood.
"Le... cough... Leo!!" Garp's bloodshot eyes were fixed on Leo, a bestial growl emanating from his throat.
"Going to spout more tough talk? Let's hear it." Leo made a show of cleaning his ear, his tone mocking.
Pfft—
Overwhelmed by anger, Garp spat out another mouthful of blood.
"I'LL KILL YOU!!" Garp wiped the blood from his mouth roughly, then stomped his right foot down violently, launching himself into the air with a BANG! The hard ice surface was instantly cratered, spiderweb cracks spreading rapidly.
At this moment, Garp released his two Haki types without any reservation, pouring them all out.
BOOM! BOOM!
BOOM! BOOM!
Black and red lightning each occupied half the sky, facing each other in a stalemate. Countless venomous-looking lightning snakes ran rampant in all directions. Dark clouds gathered, the wind and clouds changing color. The originally clear sky was once again swallowed by darkness, a shadow gradually falling over everyone's heads.
Garp completely ignored his injuries, going all out. Everyone looked up at the descending darkness. Fear began to spread like wildfire.
"Garp..." Vice Admiral Tsuru clenched her fists tightly, her aged face full of gravity and tension.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" Aokiji, rushing to support, saw this scene and sped up even more.
"Garp..." Even with Whitebeard's temperament, he was drawn to this shocking, world-defying spectacle. This was a completely suicidal way of fighting. Clearly, Garp was staking everything, vowing to fight Leo to the death.
"Leo..." Hancock, who had been full of confidence in Leo, felt worry rise in her beautiful eyes as she sensed the climbing intensity of Garp's aura.
Hmm?! Noticing a certain figure, she immediately snorted coldly and swiftly left the Warlords' platform.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Leo moved.
"Garp, planning to end this with one move?! Suits me just fine!!" Sensing Garp's intent, Leo's desire for battle grew even stronger, his激昂 (soaring) fighting spirit piercing the clouds.
"Leo, this move will surely take your life!!" Garp's voice, like something from hell, pierced the sky, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Garp, everyone who's ever wanted to kill me has said the same thing! And they all ended up dead by my hand!" Leo laughed heartily, shaking his head in disdain. Talk was cheap.
"DIE, YOU BRAT! GOKEN: IMPACT!!!" Garp roared, descending like a meteor, diving straight down towards Leo from above. An advanced version of his Goken: Shock, its power multiplied several times. This move carried all of Garp's physical strength and Haki. If he won, Leo died. If he lost, he would have no fighting capacity left. Success or failure hinged on this single strike!!
Feeling the sharp, blade-like force of the fist, Leo took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, they flashed with a cold, fierce light.
"Garp, go keep your grandson company down below!" Leo roared. Using the demon blade Shichiseiken as a conduit, his Great Swordsman-level skill, the rampaging silver lightning, the pitch-black Armament Haki, and the dark red Conqueror's Haki all erupted simultaneously. A violent power rippled around Leo, sweeping outwards. A surging air wave, like a tidal force, crushed everything within several hundred meters into dust.
Leo stared fixedly at the diving Garp, also going all out. Defeating Garp wasn't hard, but to kill him, he had to pour in everything he had.
"BROGUN!!!"
Leo gripped the Shichiseiken with both hands and unleashed a massive energy pillar containing five different types of power!!
"Leo, STOP!!!" Aokiji, arriving belatedly, prepared to erect an ice wall to reduce Brogun's lethality.
"Ice—"
"Kuzan, GET LOST!!!" The next second, he was interrupted by Hancock, who had rushed to Leo's aid.
"Perfume Femur: Slice!!" Facing Aokiji, Hancock went straight for her ultimate move. A spinning kick imbued with pure Haki, packed with power, shot towards Aokiji.
Aokiji's pupils contracted. Cursing inwardly, he immediately shifted to defense. In that instant, he missed the最佳 (optimal) timing for support.
Under the varied gazes of everyone, Leo's Brogun swept out. Wherever the energy pillar passed, thunderous roars followed, the very atmosphere being punched through. Garp descended from the sky, his black iron fist menacing and powerful.
The next second, under the watchful eyes of all:
Garp's Goken: Impact and Leo's Brogun collided violently in mid-air!!
With a deafening BOOM!, Brogun, with the force of a wrecking ball, instantly obliterated Goken: Impact and, without losing momentum, struck Garp's body directly. The remaining power of Brogun easily tore through Garp's Haki defense. Accompanied by a violent explosion, Garp's body burst apart with a sickening POP!, transforming into a rain of blood that showered down upon the battlefield.
Silence.
A pin-drop silence fell over the entire Marine Headquarters!
In that moment, both Marine soldiers and Whitebeard Pirates alike stopped fighting as if by some unspoken agreement. Even Marine officers and the Whitebeard division commanders and allied captains seemed possessed, standing stunned in place, their gazes vacant as they watched the bloody rain fall from the sky.
"He's dead... Vice Admiral Garp is dead!!!"
After who knows how long, a shout suddenly rose from the crowd. It was like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, creating a thousand ripples!!!
The entire Marine Headquarters彻底哗然 (erupted in an uproar)!
"HOLY SHIT!! Vice Admiral Garp was killed!!"
"BASTARD! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!"
"It's over... it's really over this time!!"
"Leo actually killed Vice Admiral Garp!!"
"If even Vice Admiral Garp wasn't a match for Leo, what are we supposed to do?!"
"Is there even any point in continuing this fight?! Damn it, I never should've become a Marine!"
On a battlefield where life was cheaper than paper, death was a common occurrence. But why did it have to be Garp who died?! As a legendary veteran from the previous era, he was a hero in the hearts of countless Marines. His existence held immense significance for the Marines. And yet, a top-tier Marine powerhouse like him was just... killed by Leo? Who could accept that?!
If Garp's defeat had merely made them lose confidence, then Garp's death truly and genuinely made many Marine soldiers lose all hope. If a legend who had dominated the seas for two eras could be killed so easily, what chance did they stand?!
For every person in despair, there was one in joy. After a brief moment of shock, countless Whitebeard Pirates erupted into cheers, the sound rising wave after wave. Excitement, thrill, uncontrollable elation!! They couldn't comprehend Garp's status in the hearts of the Marines. They only knew one thing: Garp was a figure from the same era as their Pops. Garp was the man who once chased Roger across the world. And now... he was dead!!
"HAHAHAHAHA! My sons! The Marines are finished! Today, we won't just save Ace! We'll destroy Marine Headquarters itself!!" Blamenco, the 6th Division Commander and user of the Baggy-Baggy Fruit, pulled a giant hammer from his chin, smashing Marines left and right.
"Everyone, charge! Save Commander Ace!!!"
"HAHAHAHA! Commander Ace, we'll hold the victory banquet right here at Marine Headquarters tonight!!"
"Even Garp is dead! What do we have to be afraid of now?!"
Garp's death was like a shot of adrenaline for every Whitebeard Pirate. Countless men, veins bulging, charged forward with fierce roars. Forget just saving Ace; they now dared to challenge a Marine Admiral one-on-one! Anyone who stood in their way was dead meat!!
Carrying an indomitable fighting spirit, the Whitebeard Pirates quickly broke through the Marine encirclement, pressing closer to the inner bay.
"Gramps..." On the execution platform, the kneeling Ace's eyes were dim, tears streaming down his face. It was all his fault. All of this was his fault!! If not for his stubbornness, this war wouldn't be happening, and Garp wouldn't be dead. He regretted not listening to Pops's advice. But now, it was too late.
In reality, he was overthinking it. Whether this war happened or not, Garp was destined to die.
"Garp..." At the whale ship's prow, Whitebeard let out a soft sigh. The old guys from back then were either dead, crippled, or retired. Now, only a handful remained active on the seas. Though their stances differed, Garp's death still gave him a sense of 'when the hare dies, the fox mourns'.
"Garp..."
"Vice Admiral Garp..."
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T/N :
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