Chapter 84: The Marine Hero and the Strongest Man at Sea
Garp leaped in front of Sengoku, his sharp eyes locked onto Whitebeard. Seeing Garp's arrival, Sengoku sighed with relief, "You old rascal, would you only come if Tsuru asked?"
Garp remained silent, his focus entirely on Whitebeard. His right fist was enveloped in inky Armament Haki, exuding terrifying power and aura. The dense Haki condensed into black and red lightning, crackling around his fist.
"That's Conqueror's Haki?" Rayleigh mused, surprised. He didn't recall Garp possessing it.
"Chiba, when did your grandfather awaken Conqueror's Haki?" Rayleigh asked.
"I'm not sure," Chiba replied. "But it doesn't seem like Conqueror's. It's more like a form of Armament Haki."
Chiba's keen perception noted that the lightning lacked the spiritual deterrent typical of Conqueror's Haki. Instead, it was imbued with a raw, destructive force.
"Armament Haki?" Rayleigh pondered, noting the difference. Even with his deep understanding of Haki, this form was unfamiliar. Not even Roger's Armament Haki had manifested like this.
Rayleigh watched Garp and Whitebeard, intrigued.
Whitebeard grinned, his eyes alight with excitement and fury as he faced Garp. Their auras clashed powerfully, causing nearby Marines and pirates to pause in awe.
"Clear the area! Move back!" Sengoku commanded, and the Marines scrambled away, eager to witness the epic confrontation.
"Who will win, Vice Admiral Garp or Whitebeard?" Marines speculated.
"Vice Admiral Garp, of course! He pushed the Roger Pirates to the brink. He must be stronger than Roger, and Whitebeard only matched Roger."
"That's just speculation. Garp might not be stronger than Roger; maybe Roger didn't want to fight him. In a true battle, the outcome isn't certain. And did you see Whitebeard fight Roger to a draw?"
"Stop arguing. Vice Admiral Garp will win. He's younger and healthier than Whitebeard, who was terminally ill."
"Does Whitebeard look ill after fighting Akainu? He got Chiba's Qi Training Exercise and potions, healing him and boosting his strength."
"Damn profiteers! Selling secrets for money. I'd tear them apart if I caught them!"
"So, this battle is uncertain."
"Even so, Vice Admiral Garp must win."
"Why?"
"Garp is Chiba's grandfather. Chiba would give him the best techniques and potions first, so his strength must surpass Whitebeard's."
"Look at Hina and Peacock. They were colonels, now they're backup Admirals. That's thanks to Chiba's training methods and potions."
"What about Koby and Helmeppo? They were novices, now nearly Vice Admiral level. Can Qi training alone achieve that?"
"Notice Vice Admiral Garp's hair? It was white, now it's blacker than mine. His face is youthful, like a baby's. He's gained immense power, far beyond what we imagined."
"So, Vice Admiral Garp will win?"
The Marines' confidence swelled as they discussed Garp's potential victory.
"Yes, Garp will win."
Ace, watching his grandfather face his father, felt his heart race. He didn't want his family to harm each other.
"Grandpa, Dad, don't fight!" Ace shouted, rushing towards them.
Both Garp and Whitebeard glanced at Ace simultaneously.
"Vista, stop Ace," Whitebeard ordered.
"On it, Dad." Vista intervened, holding Ace back. "Don't be rash, Ace."
Ace struggled, trying to break free.
Jozu joined, restraining Ace. Not wanting to hurt them, Ace refrained from using his fruit powers.
"Let go! I can't watch them fight. Dad will die!" Ace protested.
Vista chuckled, "You weren't around, Ace. Dad's fully recovered, stronger than ever. He might not win, but he won't lose."
Ace shook his head, "You don't know Chiba's power. Dad can't win."
"Chiba? Your brother?"
"Yes."
"What does he have to do with this?" Vista asked, puzzled. Suddenly, he realized, "Is he planning an ambush?"
Jozu's expression changed, "Chiba's terrifying. He crushed my fruit ability. If he and Garp team up, Dad's in danger."
"No, no, no. I mean Chiba's talent is incredible. He creates amazing skills and potions."
"How did my strength increase so rapidly? In months, I went from quasi-Admiral to top-level Admiral, facing Akainu."
Jozu paused, recalling Ace's battle with Akainu. "Congratulations, Ace. Your improvement is astonishing."
Vista's face fell, "Chiba helped you achieve this?"
"Yes," Ace confirmed. "And more importantly, most of my progress came in a month at Impel Down."
"Grandpa Garp was always with Chiba. Imagine his strength now."
Jozu and Vista were stunned, "Chiba is a monster."
"So Dad can't beat Grandpa Garp," Ace said, shouting to Whitebeard, "Dad, don't fight him. Let's retreat!"
"Vista, Jozu, take Ace away," Whitebeard instructed, eyeing Garp intently.
Vista and Jozu dragged Ace towards the pirate ship. Ace protested, "Vista, Jozu, don't let Dad die here!"
Vista reassured him, "Even if Chiba's right, Dad won't lose or die."
Ace's expression shifted, "Let me go! I'll bring Dad back."
"Okay, Ace, we'll tell you. Dad's fruit power awakened."
"Dad's Tremor-Tremor Fruit?" Ace exclaimed. Vista covered his mouth.
"Quiet. It's Dad's secret weapon."
"Don't tell anyone. Garp can't know, or you'll doom Dad."
Ace nodded, Vista releasing him. Ace watched Garp and Whitebeard, uncertain who was stronger.
Marco, Skuyard, and others watched the titans, wondering who would prevail.
Whitebeard focused on Garp, gathering Tremor-Tremor power in his blade. The energy coalesced into countless fragments.
"Chiba, who'll win?" Rayleigh asked.
"My grandfather, Garp," Chiba asserted confidently. "Whitebeard can't withstand his punch."
Chiba had reason for confidence. Garp mastered the Giant Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, consumed foundation-building potions, and trained with advanced Haki methods.
Even Akainu, resilient under Whitebeard's blows, would fall to Garp's fist.
Whitebeard, though stronger than Chiba recalled, wasn't Garp's match.
"You're confident," Rayleigh noted, skeptical. He'd seen Whitebeard's might firsthand.
"Watch and see," Chiba replied, using Observation Haki to gauge the combatants.
Suddenly, Chiba's expression changed as Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor energy disrupted his Haki.
"Not good," Chiba warned, "Garp, watch out for Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor power!"
Sengoku also sensed the shift. "Garp, be careful!"
Whitebeard, fully charged, roared and swung his blade at Garp.
The blade crackled with red lightning, illuminating the sky blood-red. The Tremor-Tremor energy shattered space as it traveled.
Garp vanished, reappearing before Whitebeard. His fist, crackling with purple-black lightning, collided with Whitebeard's blade.
[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.