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[Starting as a Class 5 Mutant]
"Mr. Garp, it's been a few months since you last returned to Windmill Village, hasn't it?" Zyhark asked, seemingly diverting from Garp's invitation to join the Navy.
"Now I'm inviting you to join the Navy, why bring that up suddenly?" Garp, scratching his head and munching on a cracker, didn't think much of it and replied, "Yes, especially since the Grand Line these days has too many pirates and too many issues to deal with."
"I prefer my freedom," Zyhark replied with a light chuckle, tactfully declining the offer.
Though the Navy's Six Styles were indeed practical, and staying at Marineford would be safe, allowing him to meet many strong people, he had too many secrets that must not be exposed.
Just the conditions of the Wishing Well alone meant he was destined to wander the seas.
More importantly, the mere thought of serving the Celestial Dragons made him feel sick, not to mention the highly self-regarded Aqua!
"Whoa! You're trying to trap me here, aren't you?" Garp, ever the straightforward one, covered his forehead in a delayed realization.
Seeing Zyhark's firm eyes, he scratched his head in frustration. "I've already boasted to Sengoku, and if you don't agree, it would be super embarrassing for me..."
The current Fleet Admiral Sengoku has noticed us too? Zyhark was somewhat stunned.
After all, he had been at sea for only about a month!
But looking at it from another perspective, defeating two notorious East Blue pirates and even a branch colonel in such a short time, it was unlikely he wouldn't attract attention...
"Sorry, Mr. Garp, I really don't have any intention of joining the Navy right now."
"I see."
Garp slowly swallowed his mouthful of cracker, and in the next moment, his easygoing and relaxed demeanor suddenly sharpened.
Whoosh!
As his words fell, with a flicker of an afterimage, Garp, who was sitting, appeared instantly behind Zyhark, his fist, hard as steel, raised high.
This was the classic move of the Navy's Six Styles, Soru!
Having been through several battles, Zyhark's reflexes were sharp. His leg muscles burst with power, dodging just a second before the iron fist could smash into his head.
Bang!
Garp's heavy fist fell, smashing the fragile wooden chair into pieces, sending wood chips flying.
Retreating to a corner of the restaurant, Zyhark steadied himself, his eyes flashing red, immediately sensing an intense aura of danger.
"Rankyaku!"
Sure enough, amidst the flying wood chips, a cold gleam surged, unleashing an attack as fierce as a slashing strike.
With his Observation Haki fully active, Zyhark quickly tilted his head, narrowly avoiding the oncoming Rankyaku whirlwind.
Boom!
The powerful attack hit the restaurant's side wall, blasting a hole in it.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Before Zyhark could even catch his breath, Garp, cloaked in the mantle of justice, rapidly approached using Geppo, his fingertips shooting out like bullets.
Facing such a fierce and rapid assault, Zyhark had no choice but to raise his slightly darkened arms in defense.
Bang!
Even with Armament Haki and robust defense, he was still sent flying by Garp's simple finger strike, smashing through the wooden wall and stopping just a step from the sea.
"Damn old man, you're trying to show off the Six Styles, aren't you?!" Zyhark shook his numb arms.
Given Garp's combat power, which hadn't yet declined from its peak, he probably couldn't have avoided that first punch if it had been serious.
The gap in their strengths was too vast!
"Hahaha! Zyhark, your perception and the power you've displayed have both shocked me immensely," Garp laughed heartily, showing no intent to continue the attack for the moment.
His tone carried an unabashed surprise.
The young floating restaurant owner before him had changed dramatically from the weakling who had humbly sought his advice months ago. "Try attacking me, and if you can make me move even half a step, I'll stop mentioning you joining the Navy!"
Garp activated the most practical of the Six Styles, Tekkai, and stood firm, his lips curling into the bright smile passed down through the Monkey D. family.
"Although you're indeed as strong as a monster, being too confident isn't always good, Mr. Garp..."
Zyhark clenched his fists, covered in Armament Haki, gathering all his strength into his arms.
His eyes burned passionately, filled with endless ferocious fighting spirit. "Come on!" Garp spread his arms wide.
"Don't mind if I do!"
Zyhark roared, lifting his power-charged arms high above his head, then suddenly changed his tone, "Never mind, I give up."
If it were Smoker or another Navy officer using Tekkai, he might have wanted to try, as the saying goes, "All strong opponents fall to Tekkai."
But Garp's Tekkai...
Better not even try, no chance!
"Huh?!" Garp was shocked.
All that momentum, and you were just planning to surrender?
That's terribly weak, absolutely pathetic! Seeing Zyhark with no fighting spirit, Garp lost interest and deactivated his prepared Tekkai, stepping forward, intending to properly scold Zyhark for his shameful fear of power.
However, just as his raised foot touched the ground, a cheeky laugh suddenly came from the side.
"Puhahaha! True to Luffy's grandfather, even the brain is a chip off the old block!"
Aqua, who had been watching the entire fight from the dining table, burst into laughter, pointing at a baffled Garp with her fair fingers.
Although it made sense, hearing a granddaughter claim a grandfather inherited traits from her was preposterous; what right did this blue-haired girl have to mock others...
Sitting opposite, Smoker suddenly realized that his initial impression of the wise and holy Aqua was greatly mistaken!
King, unsurprised, showed no obvious emotional reaction.
"Young lady, be careful with your words. Even Kuzan praises my strategic brain!" Garp, undisturbed by the mocking, nodded affirmatively, "But Luffy is indeed an idiot, always blabbering about becoming the Pirate King."
Probably only your little fanboy Kuzan would say that...
Zyhark felt Garp's Armament Haki was probably cultivated into his thick skin!
"Regardless, Mr. Garp, you lost the bet. Let's talk about joining the Navy some other time."
"Eh? Lost? Where did I lose?!" Garp's eyes widened.
Hearing this, Zyhark pointed to his feet, "Moving a step forward, doesn't that count as moving?"
"After all, you never said when it would end."
Facing someone as physically strong and simple-minded as Garp, of course, it was smarter to outwit him.
Only a fool would clash head-on with him!
(End of Chapter)