The rain poured relentlessly, turning into a torrent that blurred the battlefield. Heavy droplets fell in steady streams, soaking everything in their path. Yet no one on the battlefield paid it any mind—the fight was far from over.
Kaizen and Vice Admiral Garp stood locked in a brutal contest of strength and will. Their fists clashed with explosive force, sending shockwaves rippling across Marineford Square. The cracked ground beneath them bore witness to the intensity of their duel, while sparks flew with every strike.
Around them, Marines and onlookers stared in stunned silence, captivated by the spectacle. The sight of these two titanic figures—one a symbol of Marine heroism, the other a rising force of the New Era—was nothing short of breathtaking.
"Garp-san…"
"You brat…"
Both names were spoken in hushed tones by those watching, their voices swallowed by the sound of falling rain.
Kaizen and Garp's movements were a blur, their bodies weaving through the raindrops as they exchanged relentless blows. Fist met fist, foot met ground, and head met iron-like head. The battlefield resounded with the symphony of their violent contest.
It was a clash not only of strength but also of eras—the unwavering will of a veteran Marine legend versus the unyielding ambition of a young pirate who sought to carve his place in the New World.
With each impact, the heavens themselves seemed to tremble.
BOOM!
Another fierce exchange of fists sent ripples of Haki (覇気) energy surging outward, forcing the rain to momentarily pause midair. Kaizen's Conqueror's Haki (覇王色の覇気) clashed with Garp's Armament Haki (武装色の覇気), releasing a burst of energy that seemed to part the storm clouds above.
For the first time that night, the moon shone down upon the battlefield, bathing the scene in its pale, cold light.
"It's clear now," murmured one Marine, his voice trembling with awe. "The heavens themselves bow to their power..."
But the two combatants barely noticed the shift in weather. Their focus remained entirely on each other.
---
"Garp-san, you're starting to slow down!" Kaizen called out, his voice laced with mocking confidence.
"Hah! Not even close, you punk!" Garp shot back, grinning through gritted teeth.
Despite his words, the strain of the prolonged battle was evident in Garp's movements. His strikes had grown slightly less precise, his breathing more labored. Yet his spirit burned just as fiercely as ever.
The two paused momentarily, fists still raised, their ragged breaths audible over the now-gentle rain.
"Kaizen," Garp began, his tone unexpectedly serious. "Why don't you just join the Shichibukai? You've got the strength for it, and it'd save you from a lot of trouble."
Kaizen's expression hardened. "You think I'd say yes to that?" His voice carried an edge of steel.
"I already knew your answer," Garp admitted with a sigh, cracking his knuckles. "Still, it was worth a shot."
Despite the growing tension between them, both men found themselves grinning.
---
The fight resumed with renewed ferocity. Kaizen darted forward, his speed blinding, and appeared behind Garp in the blink of an eye.
"Behind you, Garp-san!" a Marine shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
But Garp's instincts were sharp as ever. Without turning, he threw a perfectly timed punch behind him, meeting Kaizen's attack head-on.
The resulting impact released another wave of Haki, scattering debris and leaving the surrounding Marines awestruck.
"They're still going strong after all this time?" murmured one Marine. "It's like they're made of iron…"
---
"Oh, what a marvelous fight!"
A shrill, mocking voice suddenly pierced the air, interrupting the battle.
Before anyone could react, a masked figure clad in a white suit and cape materialized on the battlefield. The insignia on his attire left no doubt—he was an agent of CP0, the World Government's secret intelligence force.
Kaizen barely had time to register the intruder's presence before the CP0 agent struck. In a flash of steel, the agent's blade pierced Kaizen's chest, drawing a gasp of pain from the pirate.
"Kaizen-dono!" shouted Shiki, who had been observing the fight from a distance.
Kaizen stumbled back, clutching the hilt of the blade embedded in his torso. His vision blurred, but he remained standing, his defiance unbroken.
"Who dares interfere?!" Garp roared, his anger palpable.
The CP0 agent, still holding his blade, straightened calmly. "This is an order from the Gorosei (五老星)—Kaizen must be eliminated."
"CP0, you damn dogs…" Garp muttered through gritted teeth. His anger only grew when he noticed the blade: one of the 21 Great Grade Blades (大業物), none other than Wadō Ichimonji (和道一文字).
The agent sneered. "Lieutenant General Garp, you would do well to remember your place. Marines are but tools of the World Government. You have no authority here."
The insult was too much for Garp to bear. He took a step forward, fists clenched, his rage barely contained.
"Garp-san, stand down!" came the sharp command from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Sengoku stepped between Garp and the CP0 agent, his expression grave. "You know better than anyone that we can't defy orders from above."
But Garp was unmoved. "I don't care about orders. No one interferes in my fights. Not even the Gorosei!"
The standoff escalated, the tension thick enough to cut with a sword. Kaizen, still struggling to remain upright, let out a weak chuckle.
"You all sure know how to ruin a fight…"
---
TO BE CONTINUED...