Execution of Ace! (14)

"Luffy..."

Garp stood before Ace in brown leather shoes, his broad back blocking their line of sight.

Watching the small figure racing toward the execution platform below and meeting those determined eyes, Garp drew a deep breath. "You two... are both a bunch of fools."

Ace fell silent at those words, then suddenly laughed through his tears.

"Tch! Didn't you know that a long time ago, old man?"

"..."

Garp said nothing. He merely slowly clenched his fist.

Whoosh!

Below, Luffy ran to the side of the execution platform, flung out his arm, and stretched it upward to grab the crossbeam before launching himself up.

"Move aside, Grandpa! I'm going to save Ace!"

"Impudent!"

In an instant, Garp's eyes widened as a terrifying aura surged forth.

Buzz!

Jet-black Haki wrapped around his fist, solidifying into armor. Garp took half a step back, watched Luffy continue flying toward him, and raised the iron fist that represented justice.

Bang!!

Two fists of unequal size collided heavily, detonating the air in an instant and sending shockwaves spraying outward.

"Grandpa, are you really going to stop me?!"

"Bastard! I'm a Marine!"

The two separated at the first clash. Luffy was smashed straight down onto the platform, but he stubbornly sprang back up and launched another flying punch.

"Then I won't hold back!"

Gum-Gum... Firework!

Bang!!

Scattered flames blocked their vision.

Looking at that tiny fist, Garp suddenly remembered a time more than ten years ago, when Luffy had just been born and they had shared a similar touch.

Back then, one had lain in a cradle while the other had crouched carefully beside it. Both had worn foolish smiles as they pressed their fists together.

"Pwahahahaha! This kid's perfect Marine material!"

Garp still remembered what he had said then.

But now, beneath the same