Garp moved away, and after a moment of silence, he looked into Carl's bloodshot eyes and said,
"Carl, do you really have to kill the Dragon?"
Carl slightly turned his neck and responded,
"I'll say it one last time, Dragon is guilty of a capital crime."
Carl paused, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Garp across from him, saying,
"As for you, you're no longer worthy of being a Marine."
Garp was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. After a few chuckles, he clenched his fists, waving them twice, and said,
"Boy, you're not qualified to say that to me!"
Carl no longer responded. He grabbed the cursed sword Muramasa floating beside him, blood boiling, and vanished in the next instant.
Garp shouted and punched toward the left, clashing with the cursed sword Muramasa.
The dark blade of Muramasa distorted the space around it. Garp felt his punch being sucked into a vortex, slowing down.
Carl twisted his wrist, lifting Muramasa upwards. Garp leaned back to avoid it but was struck in the abdomen by Carl's knee. His Geppo faltered, and he almost fell into the sea again.
Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Garp stopped underestimating Carl. He turned around and engaged Carl in combat once more. This time, Garp's attacks were more deliberate, aiming to drive Carl toward the sea, with his punches smashing downward.
Garp's plan was simple: no matter how powerful a Devil Fruit user is, once they fall into the sea, they become helpless. There were no landing points nearby, and Garp saw this as the fastest way to defeat Carl.
Garp was still concerned about Dragon, who was on the ship, and wanted to rush back to help him.
Carl seemed unaware of Garp's plan, allowing his body to gradually move closer to the sea under Garp's relentless attacks.
Seeing this, Garp secretly rejoiced, thinking,
"You're still too young!"
After landing a few more punches, Garp seized an opportunity, stretched his arm out, wrapped it around Carl's chest, and with all his strength, hurled him toward the sea, roaring,
"Fall into the sea!"
With immense force, Carl plummeted like a meteor. The sea erupted with a massive splash as Carl's body disappeared beneath the turbulent waters.
Garp stared at the sea, but his expression remained solemn. He sighed and muttered,
"I'll come back to save you later, if I can still find you."
With that, Garp turned and hurried toward the ship, focused on saving Dragon.
Just then, a blood-red light shot out from the sea, merging into the night.
Unaware of this, Garp continued moving, muttering to himself,
"Dragon, hold on, I'm coming..."
Suddenly, Garp's voice stopped. He widened his eyes in disbelief, looking down at the black sword tip protruding from his chest. Carl's figure emerged behind him like a ghost.
"Vice Admiral Garp, the battle isn't over yet."
Garp slowly turned his head, staring at Carl's wicked smile. He muttered,
"How... you fell into the sea..."
Carl pulled Muramasa from Garp's body and grabbed Garp's neck with a scarlet hand, laughing,
"Devil Fruit users may fear the sea, but what does that have to do with me?"
A red glow shone brightly in Carl's hands. Garp felt his strength rapidly fading, his hair turning gray. What once was only gray at his temples now spread across his entire head.
Garp sensed that something vital was being drained from him, and though he tried to resist with Haki, the effort barely slowed the process.
In those few moments, Carl had drained nearly 25 years of Garp's life. The once legendary Vice Admiral was now older than in the original timeline. Severely injured, Garp's body was weakened, and he could no longer resist, his hands falling limply to his sides.
Carl, however, looked rejuvenated after the battle. He glanced at the weakened Garp, a gleeful expression on his face.
Though Carl could have killed Garp outright, he refrained, understanding Garp's influence within the Navy. Killing Garp would bring unwanted consequences.
As long as he left Garp alive, Carl's actions could be justified. After all, Garp and his son were the first to commit crimes. Carl's retribution was simply justice.
Smiling slightly, Carl observed the unconscious Garp in his grasp.
He had seen through Garp's plan to push him into the sea. Carl deliberately exposed a weakness to lure Garp into dropping his guard. By using the abilities of his Vampire Fruit to become invisible in the darkness, Carl launched a critical attack on Garp, securing his victory.
Carl lifted Garp by the collar, flapped his wings, and flew swiftly toward the ship.
On the ship, Garp's men had already been dealt with by Ginny and the others. Dragon, however, was in a dire situation. His left shoulder blade had been pierced by Carl earlier, and he could now only fight with his right hand.
Dragon's body was covered in sword wounds, his clothes drenched in blood, a frightening sight.
Lucia, a Fallen Angel Fruit user, was too fast for Dragon to escape. If things continued like this, Lucia could finish him off without Ginny's help.
Even in this grim scenario, Dragon held onto hope, believing in his father's return.
As long as Garp arrived, all would be solved!
Dragon never entertained the thought of Garp losing to Carl.
After all, his father was the legendary Marine who took down Rocks and chased Roger across the seas. There was no way Carl, a newly appointed Admiral, could defeat Garp!
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+95 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg