Boom.
The ground within a hundred meters buckled violently as if struck by divine punishment. In the blink of an eye, Garp appeared before Akainu as though he had teleported, his fist crashing brutally into Akainu's abdomen. Blood burst from Akainu's mouth as his body folded forward, and a terrifying shockwave erupted behind him, tearing through the land and flattening everything in its path. Men and horses were sent flying as a massive avenue of destruction was carved straight through Marineford.
Akainu had no time to react.
Garp's eyes were frozen with killing intent as his massive hand slammed onto Akainu's face, driving him straight into the ground. The earth split open as Garp pushed him horizontally across the battlefield. Surrounding hills rose unnaturally high before collapsing into rubble, dust and debris filling the sky.
The overwhelming murderous intent stirred violent winds, dark clouds swirling above as the entire world watched in stunned silence.
Many had expected Garp to intervene, but no one imagined he would act with such merciless brutality. This was not restraint, this was an execution.
"Meigou!"
Barely conscious, Akainu forced himself awake through sheer will. Blood poured endlessly from his nose and mouth as his right arm erupted with magma, unleashing the force of a volcanic explosion straight toward Garp's head.
Garp raised his right arm, Armament Haki coating it completely as he blocked the attack without flinching. At the same time, his foot snapped backward, smashing into Akainu's waist with a sickening crack. Akainu's eyes rolled back as his body was launched like a meteor, crashing deep into the ruins in an explosion of shattered stone.
Garp's rage showed no signs of subsiding as he strode forward relentlessly.
Akainu staggered to his feet, his face drenched in blood, his breathing ragged and uneven. He stared at Garp with eyes burning with hatred and killing intent.
"Since you want to betray the Marines," Akainu snarled, "then die!"
"Old man."
Akainu's hatred for criminals was absolute, but at this moment, his fury toward Garp eclipsed everything else.
"Great Eruption!"
A colossal lava fist surged forward, blotting out the sky like a volcanic tsunami. The atmosphere screamed as the molten mass tore through the air, racing toward Garp with unstoppable force.
Garp halted, lifting his right arm high. Veins bulged, muscles tensed, and boiling Armament Haki exploded outward, wrapping his fist in overwhelming power. He punched forward.
The air collapsed instantly.
The massive lava fist shattered midair, cracking apart before exploding into countless volcanic fragments that rained down in all directions.
From the chaos, Garp emerged unscathed.
His presence alone felt like a lone warrior standing against ten thousand enemies, his iron will shaking the hearts of all who witnessed him.
"This is the power of the Marine Hero."
"An iron fist worthy of legend."
"What kind of monster is he?"
"He destroyed Akainu's attack with a single punch."
"As expected of the man who once chased the Pirate King across the seas."
"Marine Hero?" someone scoffed. "Not anymore."
Across the world, reactions were divided between awe and ridicule.
What Garp was doing now was no different from treason.
"Old man!"
Akainu roared, veins bulging across his face as he charged forward without hesitation.
But he was already at his limit.
From the beginning of the war until now, Akainu had fought without restraint. Among the Admirals, he alone had borne the full weight of battle. His injuries were catastrophic.
Garp, by comparison, was still terrifyingly fresh.
Fist met fist.
Each collision sent Akainu coughing blood as he was forced back again and again. Still, he refused to retreat. Even as his strength dwindled, in the eyes of Marines across the battlefield, Akainu had fulfilled his duty to the very end.
(I low-key pity Akainu haha)
Crashing into the ruins once more, Akainu barely managed to stand. His stamina was nearly gone.
Garp advanced steadily, his aura crushing everything in his path. He casually picked up a shattered longsword from the debris. Armament Haki surged over it, transforming the blade into a bluish black weapon that radiated lethal intent.
Advanced Armament Haki allowed shockwaves to be generated and even altered the nature of weapons.
At this moment, even a single strand of Garp's hair could become an indestructible weapon capable of killing any Logia user.
Garp intended to kill Akainu.
"Damn it, Garp, what are you doing?"
Sengoku tried to rush forward, but Jabba blocked his path.
"Sengoku," Jabba said calmly, "why the rush?"
The tides of battle were shifting. This time, it was the Marines who were being restrained by the Whitebeard Pirates and the Revolutionary Army.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru, I suggest you don't interfere."
Tsuru's heart sank as Belo Betty, commander of the Revolutionary Army's East Army, appeared behind her, flag in hand.
Only a few people could stop Garp now: Sengoku, Tsuru, Kizaru, and Aokiji. Every single one of them was being held back.
The Whitebeard Pirates and the Revolutionary Army watched eagerly.
If Garp killed Akainu, the Marines would lose two pillars of power, and their faith would shatter. Such an opportunity could not be allowed to slip away.
"Damn it, Garp, snap out of it!"
Sengoku roared, joined by countless Marine officers.
Whether Garp heard them or simply ignored them, no one could tell. His steps never wavered.
Akainu met death head-on, hatred blazing in his eyes.
"Monkey D. Luffy and Monkey D. Dragon," Akainu spat, "your grandson and your son. You truly are disgusting. You don't deserve the title of Marine Hero."
Garp did not respond.
The bluish black longsword descended.
Boom.
A brilliant bolt of blue lightning crashed down from the heavens. Extreme lightning condensed into a massive hand, gripping the blade midair. Silver white lightning flared wildly as a terrifying repulsive force exploded outward.
"Shinra Tensei."
The area within a hundred meters was erased.
The longsword was blown from Garp's grasp, and even Garp himself was hurled backward by the overwhelming force.
As the lightning faded, a pale, bloodied figure appeared, clothes torn, breathing uneven.
"Silver Dragon."
Boom.
With a glare from his azure pupils, a violent storm spread across a thousand meters. Marines, pirates, and revolutionaries alike lost control, some attacking allies, others collapsing in despair.
"Not good."
"Damn it, the most troublesome Admiral is back."
"Brother!"
Emma's face turned pale the moment Silver Dragon appeared.
Fear gripped her heart, but after sensing carefully, she exhaled in relief. Her brother was alive, weakened but recovering steadily. His presence was moving rapidly toward Marineford.
"So," Silver Dragon said calmly, his gaze settling on Garp, "you've chosen betrayal."
"Enel," Sengoku's furious voice echoed, "stop Garp!"
"How troublesome."
Lightning filled the air as Silver Dragon's body dissolved into pure light. A luminous humanoid form hovered in the sky, power surging like a pillar that pierced the clouds.
Boom.
In a flash, he appeared before Garp, his foot sweeping out with earth-shattering force.
Garp's expression darkened as he drove his knee forward, Armament Haki reinforcing it.
The collision tilted the balance of power.
Garp was sent flying.
Whether he failed to block or chose not to, no one could say. But Akainu's life was spared, at least for now.
Still, Akainu was critically wounded.
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of Haoshoku Haki erupted, furious and feral, shaking the heavens themselves.
Luffy, kneeling beside Ace's body, slowly stood.
Blood covered him. His head remained lowered, fists clenched so tightly they trembled. Haoshoku rippled endlessly outward, crushing everything in its path.
This time, he did not collapse.
Instead, power surged through him.
He lifted his head. His eyes were bloodshot, Armament Haki patterns spread across his body, and his form expanded rapidly. Scalding steam wrapped around him as he transformed into something resembling a god and a demon.
His killing intent locked onto Akainu.
____
Patreon = _Zeph