Golden Lion Captured

The three fought from the ground to the sky, then from the sky back to the ground. The wind grew fiercer, and the rain heavier.

Rumble... Garp and Sengoku blasted Golden Lion down from the sky. He crossed his twin blades in a defensive stance and planted his feet on the ground. The hard stone slabs shattered, and two deep trenches appeared beneath his sliding feet. At last, he crashed into a fallen slab, reducing it to powder.

Lion's Scatter!

Buzz, buzz, buzz... The two Meito, Sakazuki and Kiyomizu, trembled in Golden Lion's hands. At a glance, both blades seemed hazy. He swung both hands, leaving afterimages behind as several terrifying moon-white Sword Qi tore through the curtain of rain, slashing down at Sengoku and Garp as though connecting heaven and earth.

Bone Fist Iron Star!

Great Buddha Impact!

The two repeated their previous tactic and blocked Golden Lion's Sword Qi. This collision was slightly weaker than the last, but its destructive power was still extraordinary. The battle had only just begun, yet more than half of Marine Headquarters' vast plaza had already been destroyed.

The observing Marines had retreated far away, not daring to interfere in the battle between the three.

Carlos hid in the darkness, his face covered in smiles. He had gained a great deal this time. Anything he could not absorb for now could be stored away and digested gradually later.

And there was one thing Carlos could not wait to learn: Soru and Geppo from the Rokushiki!

The Rokushiki consisted of Finger Pistol, Tempest Kick, Soru, Kami-e, Tekkai, and Geppo. What Carlos most wanted to learn were Soru and Geppo. These two techniques would greatly improve his combat ability in his normal state—greater speed, stepping on air, and ignoring terrain!

The Rokushiki could be simple, yet it could also be difficult.

Whether in the Marines or the World Government's intelligence agencies, those capable of learning the Rokushiki were elites. Most trained from childhood, tempering their bodies and honing their skills. Depending on their talent, they mastered different levels of the six techniques.

Carlos knew the principles behind the Rokushiki, and his physical fitness was sufficient as well. What he lacked were the minute, precise techniques—and today, those techniques had been filled in.

Garp and Sengoku had demonstrated Soru, Geppo, and other Rokushiki techniques many times. Under the insight of the Byakugan and Sharingan, Carlos could clearly see every subtle detail: how their legs exerted force, how their bodies coordinated, and so on.

Carlos already understood these things. He could even begin practicing right away, but this was not the right time. Practicing now might make him miss even more valuable things. He could spend time on it after the battle was over. Since he had fully grasped the techniques, it would not take much time.

Lion's Roar: Ground Roll!

The earth trembled. Countless ruins created by the three men's battle rose into the air and compressed together. Even portions of ruins that had not been shattered floated up, forming two enormous lion heads. Each lion head was like a mountain, towering and majestic, radiating an overwhelming pressure!

Beneath the three enormous lion heads, Garp and Sengoku looked like ants, seemingly incapable of withstanding a single blow. Yet terrifying power lay hidden within them.

Bone Fist: Steel Meteor!

Buddha's Wrath Shockwave!

Garp's expression turned solemn, though he bared his teeth in a fierce grin. He stomped his right foot into the ground, causing a vast stretch of earth to collapse into fragments. His figure shot into the sky. He drew back his right fist, and before the punch was even thrown, its pressure had already appeared, violently sweeping away the wind and rain.

With one punch, an enormous, invisible, distorted fist imprint condensed into being. Like a falling meteor, it carried an unstoppable, indomitable momentum as it blasted toward the diving lion head!

Sengoku's golden figure stood out especially clearly in the night. He frowned deeply as his gleaming hands, seemingly cast from gold, pressed together. Vigorous white light emerged between them, continuously compressing, compressing, and compressing again until it became a single white point.

Then he clapped his hands together. Endless white light erupted from his palms, turning the sky white as snow, as though dawn had arrived. The white light was an intensely condensed shockwave. Wherever it passed, the wind ceased, the rain vanished, and even the black clouds in the sky were blasted apart!

This collision was even more terrifying. The shockwave it unleashed completely shattered Marine Headquarters' grand plaza, causing the Marines considerable losses.

"Phew... Garp, go all out and take down Golden Lion quickly. Otherwise, Marineford will suffer!" Sengoku let out a long breath and shouted. A battle at this level consumed stamina far too quickly.

"Yeah, got it!" Garp said with a wide grin.

"Ahahaha... You want to take me down?"

"Come on!"

"Come at me!"

Golden Lion clenched a cigar between his teeth, took a hard drag, and laughed madly and arrogantly.

Who were Garp and Sengoku?

How could they possibly let Golden Lion act so arrogantly?

Without another word, they unleashed a barrage of punches at Golden Lion.

The battle continued. The fighting at Marineford lasted an entire night, turning half of Marineford into ruins. Marineford's residents trembled in fear all night long.

In truth, it was normal for a battle at this level to last ten days and ten nights. But Golden Lion was alone, facing two powerful opponents who were no weaker than him. Not only did the two go all out, but they had known each other for years and worked together with perfect understanding. Their cooperation was far more than one plus one...

The fiery red sun slowly rose from the sea, casting countless crimson rays over Marineford, nearly half of which had become ruins. Golden Lion lay on the wet ground, surrounded by debris. The cigar in his mouth had long gone out. Blood covered his entire body, and he was severely wounded and utterly exhausted. He looked somewhat bedraggled, yet his lion's might remained. Not just anyone dared approach him...

Garp and Sengoku's black suits were torn to shreds, and neither was uninjured. Garp, who had charged the fiercest, had taken three of Golden Lion's sword strikes, while Sengoku had taken two. Their stamina was also greatly depleted. Even with their monstrous endurance, they panted heavily, unable to recover in a short time.

"Arrest Golden Lion. Put Seastone handcuffs and shackles on him, then send him to Level 6 of Impel Down," Sengoku ordered coldly after recovering somewhat.

"Pah! Sengoku, Garp, don't get cocky! I'll get out again!"

"You two may have defeated me together, but Garp alone, along with those useless Marines, will never be able to capture that bastard Roger!"

"He's a man acknowledged by me, Golden Lion! Once I get out, I'll bring my men and wipe out you worthless Marines!"

Golden Lion spat out the cigar in his mouth and roared as if insane. It seemed the stimulation had left his mind somewhat unstable.

"Hmph. Take him away!" Sengoku snorted coldly, reiterating the order.

Two Vice Admirals personally stepped forward, shackled Golden Lion with Seastone handcuffs and leg irons, and escorted him away.

Carlos had already left when the battle ended. He was busy digesting everything he had gained from observing the fight, especially eager to practice Soru and Geppo.

Moreover, staying any longer risked being discovered. Earlier, thunder had roared, wind and rain had raged, and Garp, Sengoku, and Golden Lion had been locked in fierce combat. Now that everything had quieted down, the risk had greatly increased. There was no need to remain.

After leaving, Carlos found a secluded forest near Marineford Town and silently practiced Soru and Geppo within it.

In half a day—just half a day—Carlos, who understood the principles of Soru and Geppo, met the physical requirements, and had grasped their minute techniques, initially learned both Soru and Geppo. His progress was astonishingly swift, and his learning efficiency was incredible. All he needed from then on was continued, deeper practice.