"Come on, kid! This isn't the time to hold back," Garp roared, his voice echoing across the island.
"I think that should be a good enough warmup! Show me how much you have grown all these years. Let me see if you truly have the qualifications to change this world!"
Garp's Conqueror's Haki surged out in waves, red lightning sizzling around him like an ancient demon waking from its slumber. My body reacted instinctively, my own Conqueror's Haki bursting forth to clash with Garp's will.
Red lightning entwined with black and gold lightning, transforming the world around us. The sea responded to the will of the two Conquerors, the sky split in two under the force of our opposing energies. The once calm sea turned into a raging behemoth, with waves crashing into the island with ferocity, as if nature itself sought to extinguish the raging inferno between us.
The sky darkened as my lightning tore through it, creating massive thunderclouds. Lightning struck everywhere, but Garp stood firm, his presence growing more pronounced with each passing second. It was as if he were removing the shackles he had placed on himself, unleashing his inner demon.
Garp moved, and I steadied Shusui, my entire form coated with Armament Haki. He appeared above me, his fist descending with the force of a meteor.
"Blue Hole!" he shouted, and a massive maw of an ancient beast manifested and descended upon me.
I countered with my own attack, "Dragon's Ascent!" Lightning tore through the ground beneath us, and a massive lightning dragon roared, carrying all my fury. The two massive beasts collided, and after a few seconds of stalemate, Garp's attack tore through the lightning dragon with ease and descended upon me.
I was ready; I knew a single attack wouldn't stop Garp's assault. I sent another slash following the first one. The first attack had consumed much of the momentum, and the second attack managed to put Garp's attack into a stalemate. But Garp had already moved behind me, delivering a devastating punch.
Though I detected his attack with my future sight, I couldn't fully dodge the brunt of the impact. A sickening crunch echoed as one of my ribs snapped, but I didn't falter. I countered immediately, swinging Shusui coated with Haki, aiming for Garp's chest. Sparks flew as Shusui tore through the fabric but couldn't penetrate Garp's Haki armor. However, the sheer force of my attack carved a long ravine on both sides of Garp. Yet, he remained unfazed, his fists raining down at blinding speeds.
"Fist of Judgment!" Garp roared, his fists moving like blurs, each punch carrying the force of a cannonball. 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 weight of a mountain.
I leaped back, summoning more power from Goro Goro no Mi. Lightning crackled 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.
Garp's fists were like iron, each blow resonating with the force of a cannon. I countered with Shusui, my blade dancing in intricate patterns, each slash imbued with the lethal combination of Armament Haki and lightning.
"Thunderclap!" I shouted, summoning a massive bolt of lightning to strike Garp. The electricity crackled around him, but he shrugged it off, his Armament Haki rendering my attack ineffective.
"Is that all you've got, kid?" Garp roared, his fist crashing down like a massive mountain. I barely managed to deflect it, the impact sending shockwaves through my body. Every muscle and bone in my body was screaming, even though my physique was tempered with raw lightning, I could feel the pain from attack to my very bones, and Garp has not yet unfused his conquerors haki into his ttacks.
With a roar, I charged at Garp, my blade a blur of black and blue. I swung with all my might, each strike a testament to my determination. Garp met my attacks head-on, his fists moving with the precision and power of a seasoned warrior.
Our battle raged on, and the island bore the scars of our confrontation. The ground was torn asunder, trees reduced to splinters, and rocks shattered into dust. Each clash was a testament to our strength, our convictions, and our resolve.
"Blue Hole!" Garp shouted again, the maw of the ancient beast reappearing, descending upon me with even greater force. I gritted my teeth, summoning a massive bolt of lightning to intercept the attack.
"Thunder God's Wrath!" I bellowed, the lightning bolt striking with unparalleled intensity. The clash created a shockwave that radiated outward, flattening everything in its path. Trees were uprooted, rocks were shattered into dust, 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; his attacks became more ferocious with each passing second; it was as if he was trying to set a rhythm to the battle. When I thought I had caught up with the rhythm, he would take it up a level.
He was a whirlwind of fists, each one backed by the weight of his immense strength. 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. It felt like each of his fists held the weight of the world behind them, as was evident from the large, massive craters he left after each attack.
"Dragon's Descent!" I roared, unleashing another powerful attack. Shusui glowed with an intense blue light, the blade crackling with electricity. I slashed at Garp with all my might, aiming to pierce through his defenses.
Back on the island, Rouge had finally gone into labor, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation and tension. The clash of titans far away was having a profound effect on the world's weather.
Dark, swirling clouds gathered above, charged with the immense power radiating from the battle between Garp and Ross. Thunder rumbled ominously, and lightning forked across the sky, as if the heavens themselves were heralding the return of Roger's bloodline.
The seas around the island churned violently, waves crashing against the shore with a fury that mirrored the epic clash. The wind howled through the trees, bending them nearly to breaking points. Nature itself seemed to be reacting to the monumental events unfolding, as if the world were acknowledging the significance of this moment.
Inside the small house where Rouge labored, the air was thick with tension and desperation. Bogard, as instructed by Garp, stayed behind, knowing that he could not interfere in the clash between master and student. He stood guard outside, his senses heightened. The sky above the island was stirring ominously, with dark clouds swirling and lightning cracking through the sky, creating an eerie, almost apocalyptic scene.
Rouge's screams echoed from inside the house, a testament to the immense pain and suffering she was enduring. Her determination and resolve were unwavering; she was a mother fighting to bring her child into the world despite the odds stacked against her. Sweat poured down her face, mixing with tears of agony and determination. Each contraction brought her closer to the brink, but she refused to give in.
Bogard's sharp senses picked up on the approaching presences. He turned, on guard, and saw a tall man carrying a couple of people slung over his shoulders and a young boy carrying another unconscious man over his shoulders. There was also a little girl about the boy's age, carrying two dwarfs seated on her shoulder. Bogard immediately recognized them as the samurai Ross had spoken about, his trusted companions.
As the group reached the house, the midwife burst through the door in a panic. "Sir! Her condition is getting worse. I don't think she will be able to make it," she said, her voice trembling with urgency and fear.
"Master Ross asked us to help!" Lucci spoke, his face devoid of emotion, his warmth reserved only for the family. His voice was steady, almost mechanical, but there was an underlying urgency.
Before Bogard could respond, Mansherry, perched on Robin's shoulder, spoke up. "I have the means to save the woman. We know she is dying, and we don't have much time." Her voice, though small, was filled with determination and a sense of urgency.
Bogard stood defensively, his mind racing as he weighed what to do in this dire situation. The air was thick with tension, the sounds of Rouge's labor mixing with the distant rumble of thunder and the crashing waves.
Miyamoto stepped forward, his presence commanding and resolute. "We have instructions from Ross-Dono. Please let us pass; we are here to help. If you don't let us through, we can only resort to force." His voice was calm but firm, leaving no room for doubt about their intentions. His hand had already moved to one of his katanas to show how serious he was.
Bogard hesitated, his loyalty to Garp and his duty warring with the urgent need to save Rouge and her child. The urgency in their voices, the desperate situation, and the knowledge that Ross had trusted these people finally swayed him. He stepped aside, allowing them to pass.
Inside the house, the scene was one of desperate struggle. Rouge lay on the bed, her face contorted in pain, her body drenched in sweat. The midwife was doing everything she could, but it was clear that Rouge's life was slipping away. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, but her eyes were fierce with determination. She was fighting with every ounce of strength she had left.
Mansherry quickly jumped down from Robin's shoulder and rushed to Rouge's side. "Hold on, please," she said softly, her tiny hands glowing with a healing light. She placed her hands on Rouge's belly, the healing power of her Devil Fruit flowing into the exhausted woman.
"Gaia's Embrace!!!" Little Masherry started channeling the life force from one of the unconscious men into Rouge, and under the shocked gazes of the midwife, the unconscious man started turning into a husk, and Rouge's pale face started gaining colorr as the massive life force was rapidly repairing Rouge's almost completely destroyed body from the inside out.
Robin, who saw the midwife's shocked gaze, just shook her head, gesturing for her not to ask any questions regarding the matter, and soon enough, the first man turned into an empty husk.
Rouge's screams subsided slightly, her body relaxing as the pain eased. But the danger was not over. The child was still struggling to be born, and the storm outside mirrored the tumultuous battle taking place within.
Lucci and Miyamoto stood guard at the door, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. But what they didn't know was that the birth of this child was not just a personal moment for Rouge, but a significant event that could change the course of history.
"Push, Rouge," the midwife encouraged, as she knew that asking too many questions would only cause more problems. Her voice was steady but urgent. "You're almost there. Just a little more."
Rouge nodded weakly, her resolve unwavering despite the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm her. She took a deep breath, summoning all her remaining strength, and pushed with everything she had. The storm outside seemed to reach a crescendo, with the thunder roaring and the lightning striking with ferocious intensity.
Finally, with one last, agonizing push, the cries of a newborn filled the room. The storm seemed to pause for a moment, as if the world itself were holding its breath. The midwife quickly wrapped the baby in a blanket, her hands trembling with relief and exhaustion.
Mansherry continued to pour her healing energy into Rouge, stabilizing her condition as she drained the life force of more men and poured it into Rouge. Rouge's face relaxed, a tired but triumphant smile spreading across her lips as she reached out to hold her child.
Outside, the storm began to abate, the clouds slowly dispersing as if the world had accepted the new life that had just been brought into it. The waves calmed, and the wind died down, leaving the island in a serene, almost reverent silence.
Bogard let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He turned to the group, nodding in gratitude. "Thank you," he said simply, his voice filled with genuine relief. "You saved them both."
Lucci nodded, his expression still stoic, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. "We were just following orders."
As the group gathered around Rouge and her newborn child, their combined efforts had saved two lives. Mansherry, despite being completely drained and pale from the healing, still continued to transfer the life force of the remaining guy to make sure that Rouge's condition was completely stabilized.
Rouge held her baby close, tears of joy and relief streaming down her face. "Welcome to the world," she whispered, her voice filled with love and determination. "I'll protect you, no matter what."
The group stood in silent respect, knowing that this was only the beginning. The birth of Roger's child marked a new chapter, one that would be filled with challenges and dangers. But for now, in this moment of peace, they could celebrate the miracle of life and the strength of a mother's love.
*****
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Currently updated until Chapter 224.
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