"Gurarara, the Marines are truly fortunate to have trained a newcomer after the three monsters of Marine!" Whitebeard chuckled.
Whitebeard scanned the surroundings, observing the carefree expressions of everyone on the boat. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of concern. In recent years, he had sensed a slight decline in his physical condition. As he contemplated his eventual passing, he wondered if Marco and the others could maintain such a relaxed demeanor. After all, he... would grow old eventually.
Whitebeard had contemplated training the next successor of the Whitebeard Pirates, but Marco's laid-back nature and lack of persistence in the pursuit of strength made it challenging. Supporting the Whitebeard Pirates after his death seemed somewhat uncertain.
"Dad..."
Marco saw Whitebeard suddenly become silent, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes.
"Gurarara... Okay, let's have a party!"
"Dad..."
...
New World, G-5 Base.
The expansive school grounds were teeming with Marines, rotating in and out. Standing amidst the dense crowd was Garp alongside Atlas.
Ever since witnessing Atlas's 'Tobu Shigan Bakuhatsu' the last time, Garp had become fixated on it. Convinced that Atlas's power wasn't from a Devil Fruit, he relentlessly challenged Atlas to spar with him every day. Atlas, feeling exasperated, was dragged down to the school field by Garp.
"Hey, who do you think would win in a match between Vice Admiral Garp and Commodore Atlas?"
"Aren't you talking nonsense? Vice Admiral Garp is a Marine hero, and he even captured Roger..."
"But Commodore Atlas is genuinely formidable. He managed to defeat Jozu from the Whitebeard Pirates at such a young age."
"Is our Marine's current target the Whitebeard Pirates? Or perhaps the Big Mom Pirates? It seems like we've been clashing with the Whitebeard Pirates quite frequently in recent months."
"I'm not sure, but this time, a significant portion of the headquarters' combat power has been deployed in the New World. It's estimated that a war might break out soon..."
The crowd of Marines, who were initially focused on the competition in front of them, gradually shifted the topic to the situation in the New World. Naturally, they were unaware of the true purpose of the Marine's deployment. They assumed that the Marines were gearing up to confront the dominant pirate groups in the New World, such as the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Hahahaha, Atlas, show me your special Shigan!" On the school field, Garp swung a pair of iron fists and charged forward.
"Tekkai ken (Iron body boxing)!" The blood in Atlas's entire body surged faster, simultaneously covering his fist with Armament Haki, hardening it. The enigmatic black and red Haki imbued the fist with formidable force.
Boom!
A powerful collision echoed, and visible cracks marred the previously pristine ground. Even though the two deliberately restrained their strength, the intense power still inflicted some damage to the surface.
"It looks like your strength and Haki have significantly improved!"
Garp felt a bit excited. He always held high regard for individuals with innate prowess in pure physical arts like Atlas. For those from the old era, fruits and other enhancements were foreign concepts. True strength, in their eyes, lay solely in one's own abilities. Of course, they wouldn't reject Devil Fruits. After all, fruits were the mysterious treasures of the sea capable of altering a person's destiny. However, not everyone possessed the monstrous physical talent of Atlas.
"People have to grow up, old man Garp!"
Atlas smiled somewhat complacently, and his arm suddenly swelled, with black and red Haki directly covering the entire limb.
Tekkai kenpo Bushinwan Kudaku (Iron Body Boxing Technique Martial God Arm Broken!
)
Countless fist shadows instantly enveloped Garp, and the extremely dense impact almost left people breathless.
"Hahaha, good move!"
Garp fought back with an iron fist, without dodging, and forcefully intercepted each of Atlas's punches one by one.
As Atlas' old strength dissipated and the new strength had not yet emerged, Garp lunged forward and struck Atlas on the chest with an iron fist.
However, Atlas was well-prepared and promptly covered his chest with his Armament Haki. Despite that, he was still sent flying several dozen meters away by the force of Garp's fist.
Atlas's Armament Haki has become terrifying both in terms of quality and quantity. However, if the entire body is covered in Armament Haki, the defensive power might still be dispersed. Partial arming remains the most efficient strategy.
"Hahaha, show me your special ability!"
Garp didn't wait for Atlas to catch his breath and immediately employed Soru, blitzing towards him with an iron fist.
"Tobu Shigan Bakuhatsu (Flying Finger Pistol Explosion)!"
The terrifying burst of flames surged directly toward the advancing Garp, yet Garp made no attempt to dodge. The color of his Armament Haki flowed across his body, and an unwavering aura emanated from him.
Boom!
A violent explosion resounded, and Garp slowly emerged from the fire and dust. The clothes on his body had long turned into strips of cloth hanging loosely. His once-black hair was now slightly curly. He appeared quite disheveled, but there was no sign that he had been seriously injured by the blast!
It can be said that Atlas's current utilization of the Dragon Talisman is limited, and he still falls a bit short against a top powerhouse like Garp. After all, Garp's mastery of Armament Haki is essentially top-notch in the world.
"What a remarkable ability, kid! Feel my fist of love!"
Garp laughed ferociously and charged forward once again. His iron fists danced like wildfire, creating a terrifying sound that echoed through the air, causing discomfort on Atlas's face.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed through the sky as Atlas helplessly rubbed his cheeks. He swiftly employed the ability of the Horse Talisman to eliminate all the large and small bruises.
"Old Garp, are you seeking revenge because I tore your clothes?" Atlas muttered with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Hahaha... Impossible! I just want you to feel my alove. After all, you are the wielder of Conqueror's Haki!"
Garp glanced at Atlas's cheek, which remained unscathed, and felt a bit surprised. This kid's recovery ability seemed much stronger than the last time he had seen it.
"Speaking of Conqueror's haki, I'm still confused about how to use it."
Atlas scratched his head in distress. Since the last time he awakened Conqueror's Haki under Whitebeard's influence, although he had secretly unleashed it several times, he still struggled to pinpoint the exact method of release.
As for causing physical harm with Conqueror's Haki, he hasn't mastered it yet, let alone the intricacies of entanglement skills with Conqueror's.
"Hahaha, let Sengoku teach you later. After all, I don't possess Conqueror's!" Garp said with a mischievous smile.
"Vice Admiral Garp! Vice Admiral Tsuru wishes to discuss something with you and Commodore Atlas!"
At that moment, a messenger hurried over, interrupting the conversation between the old man and the young man.
"Tsuru? Does it concern me? Is Whitebeard stirring up trouble again?"
Garp muttered somewhat oddly but proceeded to Vice Admiral's staff office without any hesitation, with Atlas quickly following suit.
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A huge thank you to ar4ngel for joining my Patr*on.
Read 20 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari