Unsurprisingly, the shield slammed straight into Kaido's nose once again.
"AAAAHHH!"
Kaido roared in pain, baring his teeth, and swung his other arm violently.
A powerful elbow strike sent Grimm crashing deep into the earth, while the ground shook violently once more.
ROAR! ROAR!
Golden light rose gradually, like a massive portal. From within emerged Four Great Winged Angels, each wielding a longsword.
They towered to a size comparable to Kaido himself, staring back at him with ferocious, intimidating eyes.
Kaido was taken aback at first — when did these things get this big?!
Then his eyes turned blood‑red, and he sneered. "Is that all? Just a few winged freaks? Birds that learned how to fly?"
"Oh? Birds? And what does that make you, Kaido? A flying earthworm?" Grimm climbed out of the crater, his ability Avenging Wrath now fully active.
"HAHAHAHA… You've got guts, kid! Fine then — I'll show you just how powerful this earthworm can be!"
Kaido burst out laughing, perfectly displaying his erratic, unpredictable nature.
"Laugh all you want… but I don't want to see anything about your earthworm!" Grimm replied, inwardly cringing at how terrible that line sounded.
He commanded the four angels to charge forward and attack.
Meanwhile, Garp had just finished his rice crackers and tossed the empty bag aside. Suddenly, a terrifying aura exploded from his body.
For a moment, the very air seemed to freeze. Both Grimm and Kaido instinctively halted all movement.
Fifty meters behind them, Hancock and her sisters had just arrived. Sandersonia and Marigold fainted instantly under the pressure.
Hancock fell to her knees, her beautiful face pressed to the ground, pale and breathless, struggling just to breathe.
Grimm and Kaido remained frozen, their attention drawn toward an old man walking casually toward them from behind.
He looked like a tourist, dressed simply, with hair streaked black and white, moving as if nothing unusual was happening.
"Garp…"
Both names flashed through their minds at the same instant.
Grimm had known the Marines were hiding nearby. Kaido wasn't blind either — he had sensed their presence the moment he flew over.
What they had just felt was Garp's Conqueror's Haki — a warning. Since the fight served no purpose, he hadn't intervened directly.
And truth be told, he probably never intended to get involved anyway.
Seeing the signal, the disguised Marines quickly blended back into the crowd and withdrew.
Grimm turned and walked back, dismissing the four angels.
"We'll continue this fight another time and place. Hold yourself back until the others arrive, Kaido. Unless… you really want to get stunned unconscious again."
"Hmph! Mark my words… one day I'll kill you a thousand times over!"
Kaido turned and marched toward the coast. His crew and subordinates would be arriving shortly.
Grimm jumped down beside Hancock. "Hancock… can you stand?"
"I… I'm fine…" She forced the words out, struggling to straighten up. Then she noticed her sisters lying motionless nearby.
She gasped, rushing to check their breath and pulse. Only after confirming they were safe did she finally relax.
Grimm knelt down, touched both girls lightly, and used his power to wake them gradually.
"We're leaving."
He stood up and began walking back toward the flower fields.
During his stay in Dressrosa, he spent almost all his time there, except between 9:00 and 10:00 every morning, when he preached about the Holy Light at the Cathedral.
After taking a few steps, he realized Hancock hadn't immediately followed as she usually did. He turned back and saw her looking exhausted and drained.
"Heh… quite the stubborn little girl."
He smiled faintly. He understood exactly what she was feeling, then turned and walked away again. Under my protection… she might never truly grow strong.
"Sister! Sister!"
Only when Marigold called her twice did Hancock lift her head. Her beautiful face was clouded with deep disappointment — disappointment in herself.
"Do you think… we should keep going on like this?"
"Sister… why are you saying this all of a sudden?" Sandersonia asked, confused.
"It's fine staying with Lord Grimm," Marigold said. "He protects us."
Hancock shook her head and walked toward Grimm. "Never mind… let's hurry. We don't want Lord Grimm to worry."
---
About ten kilometers from Dressrosa — Open Sea
Sengoku sat inside a Marine battleship, a Den Den Mushi placed on the wooden desk before him. He held the snail's microphone and spoke to the person on the other end.
Is that so? Right now, you're the only one in the Marines capable of stopping them once they go out of control.
We just received intelligence — Kaido's subordinate Jack has entered Dressrosa waters with roughly five hundred men.
"It shouldn't be a problem for you, but just in case, I've sent Kuzan ashore too. We need backup in case things spiral out of control. After all… Grimm and Kaido are both monsters who defy all logic and common sense."
Dressrosa — Street Corner
Still dressed casually in his floral shirt and shorts, Garp held his own Den Den Mushi. His expression was unusually serious.
"Aye… I'll keep things contained so civilians aren't caught in the crossfire. But honestly… as Marines, it's embarrassing to admit, but that Grimm kid thinks ahead more clearly than any of us."
---
One Day Later
"Ara‑ara… Mr. Garp! Report from Admiral Sengoku on the ship — the Big Mom Pirates' fleet is almost here!"
Inside the temporary Marine camp, Kuzan yawned loudly as he reported to Garp, who was fast asleep nearby.
SLAP!
The bubble of snot hanging from Garp's nose burst with a sharp sound. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and smeared the residue messily across his face before waking up fully.
"That leaves only Whitebeard… though he's never coming, is he?"
"Exactly as Admiral Sengoku predicted," Kuzan said, scratching his head, acting every bit the perfect, dutiful Marine.
"Looks like only the 'Three Monsters' are gathering here in Dressrosa."
"Spread our forces out. They know we're watching their every move. Anyone with half a brain won't start trouble now." Garp said, suddenly sounding as stern and serious as Sengoku himself.
"Let's hope so…" Kuzan yawned again and sat down on the ground. "Ah… so sleepy. Think I'll nap some more."
"Good idea…" Garp agreed, lying flat instantly. "Nap time!"
The remaining Marines stared in total bewilderment. Uh… should… should we just lie down and sleep too…?
---
Dressrosa — City Gates
Disguised Marines hid inside nearby houses, too afraid to step out. Instead, they peeked through gaps in the curtains, watching the street.
Walking slowly toward the palace, escorted by King Riku, was an enormous, obese woman of towering height — accompanied by a massive crew of pirates.
"MAMAMAMAMAMA! Cyrus… I am so looking forward to those desserts you promised me!"
Charlotte Linlin and her entourage followed Cyrus and the royal guards deeper into the city.
Even while entering enemy territory, her mind never strayed far from her favorite sweets.
__________________
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