"Go to the prison and have a party with your sons!"
Garp's jet-black fists gleamed with a metallic sheen as he charged toward Whitebeard like a cannonball.
"Recklessness is your weakness, Garp!"
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, his arm muscles bulging as shockwaves formed around his fists.
Boom!
The two clashed mid-air, and a terrifying shockwave erupted from the center. Oden, who had just shouted to confront Garp, now looked constipated as he suffered from the residual force.
Although Oden had been able to exchange blows with Whitebeard when they first met, it was only due to Whitebeard holding back, not using his full strength. If Oden had encountered Roger instead, he would have been taught a harsh lesson by Roger's formidable skills. Of course, that reckoning would come in a few years.
In short, Oden's strength was on the level of a newly minted Emperor's commander, far below the likes of Rayleigh, who served as the actual First Mate of the Roger Pirates.
Whitebeard, still locked in battle with Garp, caught a glimpse of Oden out of the corner of his eye and spoke in a deep voice, "Oden, go to the warship and assist the others."
After witnessing Garp's strength, Oden quickly became obedient and leaped toward the warship.
Garp suddenly realized the dire situation he was in. The only capable fighters on his warship were Bogart and a few Marines. They were already struggling against the Whitebeard Pirates' cadre, and with Oden joining the fray, the entire crew would soon be annihilated.
Garp wanted to turn back and defend his ship, but Whitebeard's overwhelming power kept him pinned down.
Regret washed over Garp, and the strength in his fists weakened involuntarily.
This was the most dangerous mistake in a battle between powerful adversaries. Whitebeard, who already had the upper hand, unleashed a shockwave that nearly knocked Garp into the sea.
On the warship:
With Oden's arrival, the battle became a massacre. The Marines suffered heavy casualties, including a Marine who fell under Oden's blade.
Oden was like a wolf among sheep, cutting down Marines left and right. Bogart, Garp's adjutant, was strong but not on the level of an Emperor's commander. Struggling against Nekomamushi and Inuarashi, he couldn't break free to confront Oden.
As Marines fell one by one, Bogart, usually reserved, let out an angry roar, pushing the two mink warriors back with a sword strike before rushing toward Oden.
"Damn pirate! Stop it!"
Oden grinned, crossing his swords before his chest as Haki coated the blades.
Swish!
Oden's figure blurred, passing through Bogart like a ghost, maintaining his stance after landing.
A moment later, Bogart trembled and collapsed, clutching his abdomen. Exhausted and at his limit, he was unable to continue the fight.
Seeing their strongest warriors fall, the remaining Marines were filled with despair, but none thought of surrendering. These were veterans who had fought alongside Garp for years, fully aware of their duty.
But this was a real battlefield, not some training exercise where no one dies.
Bogart tried to push himself up for one last stand, but Oden had lost interest. He slowly raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow.
Suddenly, a dark vortex appeared out of thin air in front of Bogart. To everyone's shock, the darkness condensed into a human form—Carl.
Bogart looked at Carl, who had his back to him, and asked hesitantly, "Who are you?"
Carl turned slightly and whispered, "Thank you for your hard work, Bogart. Leave the rest to us."
Bogart was stunned, but recognition soon dawned on him. "I remember now, you're Zephyr's student, Carl!"
Oden raised his chin, a smirk on his face. "So, reinforcements have arrived. Good, I was getting bored."
Carl ignored Oden, glancing at the shouting pirates around him before suddenly raising his arms. Dark vortices formed in his palms.
"Dark Universal Pull!"
Buzz!
A powerful gravitational force emanated from Carl's palms, pulling the pirates toward him before they even realized what was happening. As they neared Carl, darkness surged from the ground beneath his feet, forming countless sword-shaped spikes that skewered the unfortunate pirates.
By the time Oden realized what had happened, Carl stood surrounded by the corpses of pirates, blood spraying across the deck.
"Hmm?"
Carl raised an eyebrow, sensing life still lingering among the corpses. As he dispersed the gravity, the bodies fell away, revealing several young men about his age who quickly stood up.
Among them, two stood out: one with a pineapple-shaped head ablaze with blue flames, the other a human-shaped diamond, glittering with a dazzling luster.
Carl immediately recognized them as the future Whitebeard Pirates captains, Marco and Jozu.
Their Devil Fruit abilities had saved their lives, though the other young pirates bore bloody wounds.
They all stared at Carl with hatred, but Carl smiled and said, "Impressive, you're all promising young men from Whitebeard's crew."
As Carl spoke, he raised his right hand slightly, the sword-shaped spikes turning into fluid and flowing into his right hand, solidifying into the demon sword Muramasa.
Feeling the cold aura emanating from Muramasa, Marco and the others' expressions changed, and they instinctively backed away. At that moment, Oden, dual swords in hand, charged like a mad bull.
"Bastard! Marine brat, what have you done!?"
Carl, who had been preparing to strike down one or two of the big boys, had to change his plans. Instantly wrapping Muramasa in Haki, he slashed a jet-black wave of sword energy at the charging Oden.
As a member of the Figarland family, Carl's talent in swordsmanship was top-tier. Coupled with a month of special training from Garling, the sword energy he unleashed forced Oden to stop in his tracks.
Oden raised his swords to block the attack and was horrified. In his eyes, Carl appeared to be around the same age as Marco and the others, but the strange fruit ability and powerful swordsmanship he just witnessed were enough to snap him out of his rage.
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+60 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg
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