Chapter 4: When a Hero Chooses Rebellion?
"So what if I know?!"
Garp's voice wasn't loud, yet it completely overpowered the furious roar of the Golden Buddha, Sengoku.
He didn't even spare a glance at the towering Golden Buddha, as if the Fleet Admiral were nothing more than a noisy decoration.
He turned around, grabbing the weakened Ace with one hand, the muscles on his arm bulging.
"Old man..."
Ace barely got the words out before he felt an irresistible, colossal force launch him into the air.
His body formed a perfect parabola, soaring over the chaotic battlefield, flying straight toward the Whitebeard Pirates' formation.
"Marco!"
Garp's roar followed immediately.
High in the sky, a burst of blue flames erupted.
Phoenix Marco instantly transformed into his beast form, soaring upward.
He caught Ace with precision in mid-air and landed steadily back onto the deck of the Moby Dick.
"Ace!"
"Thank god! Ace is saved!"
The pirates erupted into earth-shaking cheers.
Whitebeard looked at the unharmed Ace, then turned his gaze to the lonely yet upright figure on the execution platform. His grip on Murakumogiri tightened.
He grinned, letting out a heroic laugh.
"Gurararara! Garp! You bastard!"
"Listen up, everyone!"
Whitebeard's voice resonated across the entire field. "Back up Ace! Coordinate with Garp and tear this place apart!"
On the execution platform.
Only after ensuring Ace was safe did Garp slowly turn back around.
He rotated his wrists and neck, his joints cracking with crisp, explosive sounds.
"My family is not for you to judge."
A single, flat sentence. Yet, through the Den Den Mushi broadcasted everywhere, it traveled clearly into everyone's ears..
Just then, a golden light flashed behind Garp.
Kizaru's figure condensed into form.
He adjusted his sunglasses, speaking in that distinct, punchable drawl of his.
"This is really scary~ Garp-san."
Before his voice faded, a kick charged with the light of destruction was already sweeping toward the back of Garp's head.
Garp didn't look back.
He simply continued his warm-up motion, throwing a backhand punch behind him.
No light effects. No visible Haki.
Just a fist.
The wind from the punch collided with the Light Speed Kick in mid-air.
BOOM!
A visible shockwave exploded outward.
Kizaru's figure tumbled backward through the air for dozens of meters before he managed to stabilize himself.
He landed on the edge of the execution platform, the relaxed ease completely gone from his face.
"This power..."
He looked down at his slightly numb right leg, the expression behind his lenses grave to the extreme.
The Marines in the plaza had their understanding of reality shattered once again.
"He... he blocked it again?"
"No! He didn't just block it! He forced him back! Admiral Kizaru was forced back by a single punch!"
"He didn't even look back! What kind of reaction speed is that?!"
"A monster! He's no longer human!"
"Vice Admiral Garp... no, Garp... what has he turned into?"
Marineford, Headquarters Command Center.
On the massive screen, the demon-like figure on the execution platform was clearly displayed.
Five old men sat at the highest point, their faces dark as water.
One of them, a bald elder holding a long sword, slammed his hand onto the table in front of him.
The solid wooden table instantly turned into powder.
"Announce it immediately!"
His voice carried zero warmth.
"Strip Monkey D. Garp of all duties and titles! List him as a Highest Level Traitor!"
"Bounty: 30 Billion Berries, effective immediately!"
"Kill on sight!"
The order, carried by the highest authority, reached every corner of Marineford instantly.
Garp's gaze swept across the field.
He looked at his former colleagues—faces filled with terror, confusion, and anger.
He spoke.
"Today, those who block me, die."
The moment his voice fell, a dense sound of objects cutting through the air came from the sky.
Dozens of figures, identical to Tyrant Kuma, descended from the heavens, crashing heavily onto the plaza and kicking up massive clouds of dust.
The Pacifistas.
Their cold mechanical eyes flashed red, instantly locking onto Garp on the execution platform.
The laser cannons in their chests began to charge, emitting ear-piercing hums.
In the next second, dozens of laser beams capable of destroying towns wove into an airtight net of light, completely covering Garp's position.
Garp didn't dodge. He didn't evade.
He simply took a step forward.
Facing the empty void in front of him, he threw a rapid succession of punches.
Simple straight punches. No technique.
The Marines and Pirates watching were stunned.
"What is he doing? Is he crazy?"
"Punching lasers? That's suicide!"
"Even Garp-san can't fight scientific weapons with flesh and blood!"
"It's over... he's going to be turned into a sieve!"
"No! Look! Look at the sky!"
A terrified scream forced everyone to lock their eyes on the net of light.
They saw the destructive laser beams hit something invisible halfway to their target. It was as if they had slammed into an unseen wall.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of violent explosions detonated in mid-air.
The lasers... were detonated by the wind pressure of his fists!
"You're lying, right...".
"Fist pressure... detonated lasers?"
"How is that possible?! That's not a solid object! That's light!"
"God... only a God could do something like this!"
"What is he? A demon?"
The worldview of countless Marine soldiers collapsed completely in that moment.
The weapons in their hands slipped to the ground, clattering loudly.
Garp's figure tore through the fire and smoke of the explosions.
He instantly charged into the formation of the Pacifistas.
One punch.
A Pacifista, known for its impregnable defense, had its entire chest caved in. Sparks flew as it crumpled into a pile of scrap iron.
Another punch.
Another Pacifista's head was blown clean off, spinning through the air before crashing down.
Crack!
BANG!
Garp's figure wove through the dozens of Pacifistas. Every punch was accompanied by the twisting of metal and explosions.
In just a few short breaths, the Science Unit that the Marines had placed such high hopes on was reduced to a field of wreckage.
"We can't let him continue!"
On the other side of the high platform, Vice Admiral Tsuru's wrinkled face was filled with cold resolve.
"All Vice Admirals! Attack with full force!"
"His stamina must have a limit! Use ranged attacks! Wear him down!"
At her command, over a dozen battle-hardened Vice Admirals attacked Garp simultaneously from all directions.
Blade lights, sword shadows, and sharp Finger Pistols sealed off all of Garp's escape routes.
Facing this combined assault, sufficient to kill almost any powerhouse, Garp stopped moving.
He let out a low shout.
A terrifying aura, far beyond anyone's comprehension, blasted outward from his body like a physical shockwave!
Conqueror's Haki!
The Vice Admirals charging at the front didn't even have time to react.
Blood spurted from their mouths as if they had been struck by invisible giant hammers, and they were sent flying backward!
The entire encirclement disintegrated instantly.
The remaining Vice Admirals froze in place.
Their legs trembled; even standing became difficult.
"Not enough."
"This level of chaos isn't enough."
The thought flashed through Garp's mind.
I must completely disrupt their formation to create an opportunity for Whitebeard and the others.
Most importantly, Ace wasn't the only grandson here!
He still needed to get Luffy out safely!
He took a deep breath, spread his feet, and sank into a stance.
He raised both fists high, then smashed them violently into the ground beneath his feet.
"Galaxy Impact!"
RUMBLE!!!
The very bedrock of the Marineford plaza let out a groan of being overwhelmed.
A massive fissure, centering on Garp's feet, spread madly in all directions.
The Marine formation was forcibly torn apart by this bottomless chasm.
Countless soldiers screamed as they fell into the crack.
Below the platform, Whitebeard saw this and laughed thunderously once again.
"Gurararara! Garp, you old bastard! Beautifully done!"
He swung his naginata, Murakumogiri, aiming at the air in front of him, and delivered a ruthless strike!
CRACK!
The atmosphere shattered. The terrifying vibration power intensified the collapse of the entire island.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford!
This island, the symbol of Absolute Justice, began to sink under the combined might of two legends of the old era.
Aokiji stood up from the ruins.
Looking at the chaotic battlefield and the pirates swarming toward the harbor, he raised his hand, preparing to freeze the entire bay completely.
Just then, a figure appeared before him like a ghost.
It was Garp.
Garp raised his fist, looking at him plainly.
"Kuzan. Move."
Aokiji's body stiffened.
In that split second of hesitation.
A roar filled with endless rage and agony erupted from the buried ruins in the distance.
"Monkey... D... Garp!"
BOOM!
The rubble exploded!
A figure, half of his body composed of rolling magma and his face twisted into a grotesque mask, stood up once again.
(To be Continued)