"Well, why don't you tell me exactly why you're here? You knew I would be here, so care to explain why you took the risk of exposing Rouge's whereabouts after the stunt you pulled at Ohara?" Garp's tone grew defensive, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.
"Stunt? So you're not going to speak about the genocide that happened in Ohara in the name of justice?" I shot back, my voice laced with mockery.
"But then, I guess they must have seen it coming from miles away. Defying the World Government was foolish without proper strength. And you sure are a cold-blooded man, Garp-san. Thousands of innocent infants are being slaughtered, and you didn't move a muscle." I addressed both Garp and Bogard, my gaze shifting between them.
"So you've shown yourself to be just like the others, sacrificing thousands just to save one. Even if you didn't want to fight against the World Government, wouldn't your justice be to give up Roger's child? You could have saved all this unnecessary bloodshed. Why, Garp-san? Where did your so-called justice go? What does this make you, Garp-san? Isn't all that blood on your hands? I'm sure you could have stopped it if you wanted. Is your pride as a Marine worth all these lives?"
Garp's hands clenched tighter, the cracking noise of his knuckles resonating in the quiet tavern. The metal from the broken tankard cut deeper into his palm, drawing blood.
"Kid, you should know better," Garp said, his voice low and strained. "The world isn't just black and white. Sometimes, when the ideals you've followed your whole life come crashing down, the only thing you can do is stand aside and watch. Because where we stand now, we don't have the right to judge someone else, as we ourselves are at a crossroads."
"You can justify it any way you want, Garp-san, but the blood of those innocents is still on your hands," I said, my tone unwavering. "You had the power to stop it, to stand up for what was right, but you chose not to. That makes you complicit in their deaths."
Garp's eyes flashed with a mixture of anger and regret. "You think I don't know that, Ross? You think I don't carry that weight with me every single day? I've sacrificed more than you can imagine for the sake of this so-called justice. But this world, this twisted sense of right and wrong, it's not something I can change on my own."
Bogard, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Ross, Garp-san did what he thought was best to protect Rouge and her child. It's not as simple as you make it out to be. The Marines, the World Government, they're powerful forces, and sometimes, sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."
"The greater good?" I scoffed, my voice filled with disdain. "Tell that to the mothers and infants who were slaughtered. Tell that to the families torn apart by your so-called greater good."
"Enough!" Garp's voice boomed, silencing the room. "You think I don't know the cost? You think I don't see the faces of those we've lost? I made the choice to protect Rouge and give Roger's child a chance. And I'll bear the weight of that choice until the day I die."
The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of our words hanging heavy in the air. Garp took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions.
"Will you really, Garp-san? Will you truly bear the weight of your choice?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence of the tavern.
"Tell me, what if someday you had to choose between Roger's child and the Marines? Will you bear the weight and stand by the child's side, or will you simply spectate, standing like a bystander as you are now? Words are easy, Garp-san, but a man must always keep to his word. And I'll be honest—I don't think you can keep them safe. So, I'm going to take them with me. Unlike you, I gave my word to Roger, and I'm willing to die for my choices. I would never be a bystander."
My words hung heavy in the air, and even Garp felt their weight. He began to consider them in earnest, contemplating what he would do if he ever had to choose between Roger's child and the Marines. Would he truly be able to bear the weight of his choices?
However, Bogard's eyes lost all their warmth as he glared at me. "Ross, you are crossing a dangerous line. You have no idea how much Garp-san has sacrificed. You don't see the bigger picture, at least not from his perspective. You're a pirate, and you'll never understand certain things. So, I hope you stop speaking and go back. Go back and come talk to us when you have truly changed the world."
Bogard's loyalty to Garp was evident, and he would not let anyone insult the man he had followed his whole life. Even though he understood why I said what I did, he couldn't let anyone disrespect Garp.
I turned to Bogard, my expression softening slightly. "Bogard-san, I understand your loyalty to Garp-san. I do. But this isn't about disrespect. It's about the future of the child, about protecting Roger's legacy. I've seen the atrocities committed in the name of justice, and I know sooner or later they will find out the child's true identity. It may take years, but I am sure they eventually will."
Garp's gaze remained steady, the lines on his face deepening with the weight of his thoughts. "Ross," he began, his voice softer now, "you've always had a way with words, a way of cutting through to the heart of the matter. You're right—words are easy, but actions are what define us. I've made my choices, and I'll bear the weight of them. But know this: The world isn't as simple as you make it out to be. And do you think you have the strength to protect them from the World Government, Brat?" Garp's tone became steady, and clarity returned to his eyes. The earlier doubt was now replaced with a strong resolve.
" I can say for certain that I am strong enough to face them—can you say the same? It seems like your growing notoriety has brought pride and arrogance to your head. Do you want to really see what happens when I am not bound by the rules? Fine, you have your wish. Let's settle this the old way. You can take the child if you can best me."
Garp stood up, his tone serious. He was not joking; he was dead serious about facing me, and this was not going to be like the countless spars we used to conduct back when I studied under him. Bogard tried to intervene, sensing the situation escalating out of hand too fast. Garp's anger had reached a tipping point.
"Bogard, stay out of this. Like he said, one needs to take responsibility for their words." Garp walked out of the tavern, his actions clear.
Bogard then turned to me, desperation in his eyes. "Ross, you truly are not planning to challenge Garp-san, right? This is madness. He won't be holding back. You can still walk away," Bogard advised, not wanting to see the child he taught being torn apart by his mentor. But it was too late.
I sighed, knowing this was inevitable. Sooner or later, I would have to face Garp. Today seemed as good as any.
Soon, Garp and I stood face-to-face on a large island far away from civilization. The island had a rugged landscape, dotted with towering cliffs and dense forests. The ground beneath our feet was a mix of rocky terrain and patches of vibrant green grass. In the distance, waves crashed against the shoreline, their roar a constant reminder of the island's isolation. The sky above was a deep azure, with clouds lazily drifting by, casting fleeting shadows on the ground. The air was thick with the scent of salt and earth, a testament to the island's untamed beauty.
The wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, creating a haunting melody that filled the silence between us. This was a place where nature reigned supreme, untouched by the hands of men. It was the perfect stage for a confrontation that had been building for years.
Garp's presence was as imposing as ever, his muscular frame radiating power and determination. His eyes, though tranquil, still held the fiery spirit of a warrior. I could feel the weight of his resolve, a testament to how far he was willing to go for Roger's child.
"Let's see if you have what it takes, Ross," Garp said, his voice steady and resolute. "Show me the strength of your convictions. Sow me if you have the strength to defend the child from the storm that he will come to face in the future."
I nodded, my resolve matching his. "I will, Garp-san. For Roger's legacy, for the future of that child, I will give it my all."
I unsheathed Shusui, gripping it tightly. Garp stood opposite me, a towering mountain, a formidable hurdle that I would have to pass to achieve my goals. Black lightning danced across my blade as I unleashed the full might of the Goro Goro no Mi, and I surged towards Garp's flank with blinding speed. Despite my rapid movement, Garp tracked me easily with his Observation Haki.
"Reaper's Edge!" I roared, Shusui coated with Armament Haki and crackling lightning, slashing at Garp's side. He met my attack with his own Armament Haki, his fist enveloped in a dense black aura. The clash was deafening, with a thunderous boom resounding throughout the island. The sheer force of our collision cracked the ground beneath us, sending shockwaves ripping through solid earth and boulders.
Shusui danced through the air as I swung my blade at Garp with monstrous speed, each slash imbued with the lethal combination of Armament Haki and lightning. Garp, however, defended against my attacks with remarkable ease. His fists moved like sledgehammers, countering my blade with precision and power that made even Admiral-level fighters pale in comparison.
"Meteor Smash!" Garp roared, creating an opening. Although I could detect his movements with my future sight, Garp's attacks were overwhelming in their sheer brute force. Knowing the future didn't make his attacks any less dangerous. I couldn't dodge; I had to face his assault head-on.
"LIghtning Nova!" I bellowed, slashing Shusui to clash with Garp's fist. The impact was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves through the island. The ground beneath us continued to shatter, with boulders splitting and trees uprooting from the force of our collision.
I leaped back, my breath coming in heavy pants. Lightning crackled around me, but I could see it was having little to no effect on Garp. He was still at his peak, his power undiminished by age. The realization struck me hard—Garp was leagues above even Yonko-level fighters. The gap between us was vast, a chasm that seemed insurmountable.
Garp launched himself at me with incredible speed, his fist cocked back. "Meteor Fist!" he roared, his punch descending like a falling star. I braced myself, reinforcing Shusui with Armament Haki and electricity, and met his punch with another powerful slash.
The collision created a shock wave that radiated outward, flattening everything in its path. Even the sea started churning dangerously as the pressure of the clash spread, and the ground beneath us cracked and fissured. I was thrown back, skidding across the broken terrain, but I managed to regain my footing.
Garp was relentless, pressing his advantage. He was a whirlwind of fists, each one backed by the weight of his immense strength and his armamnet haki, which seemed to have trnascended even beyond perfection. I weaved and dodged, using my future sight to anticipate his attacks, but it was like trying to avoid an avalanche. His blows were inevitable, each one carrying the force of a tidal wave.
I lunged forward, aiming a precise thrust at Garp's chest. He deflected it with a casual swipe of his arm, countering with a bone-crushing punch aimed at my ribs. I twisted my body, narrowly avoiding the full brunt of the blow, but the shockwave still sent me staggering.
"Is that all you've got, Ross?" Garp taunted, his voice a deep rumble. "Show me the strength that you think will defend the child on these cruel seas!"
I gritted my teeth, summoning more power from the Goro Goro no Mi. Lightning crackled more intensely around me, my muscles coiling with energy. I moved with blinding speed, Shusui a blur of black and blue as I unleashed a flurry of strikes.
"Lightning Tempest!" I cried, my blade dancing in intricate patterns, each slash aimed to exploit any opening in Garp's defense. But Garp was an impregnable fortress. He parried my attacks with brutal efficiency, countering with devastating punches that I barely managed to evade.
One of his fists grazed my shoulder, the impact sending jolts of pain through my body. I retaliated with a downward slash, aiming for his shoulder, but he blocked it effortlessly, his other fist already coming for my midsection.
"Lightning Dragon!" I yelled again, pouring more power into my attack. The collision this time was even more explosive, with the ground beneath us shattering completely, creating a crater from the sheer force.
I was thrown back once more, landing hard on my back. I struggled to my feet, my vision swimming due to the impact. Garp stood before me, seemingly unscathed, his presence an indomitable force.
*****
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Currently updated until Chapter 223.
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