Zeff watched from afar and shouted sharply at Garp:
"That kid can control forces and space!"
"Once he locks onto you, he can forcibly drag you toward him!"
The words sent shock through the entire group of Marines.
Even Sengoku looked astonished. He turned to Zephyr and asked:
"Zephyr, are you saying Luo Tian's ability is... to control forces and space?!"
Zephyr's expression was grave.
"That's right! If my judgment is correct, the kid is controlling gravity!
"Once he locks onto you, you lose control of your body and are pulled toward him at incredible speed."
Sengoku suddenly asked, "Zephyr, when you and Tsuru fought him, did you find a weakness in this ability?!"
Zephyr seemed to realize something. He immediately shouted to Garp:
"Haki! Haki strong enough can break this technique! Garp—"
He roared with all his strength:
"Use your strongest Haki! Shatter that space!!"
"Got it—!!!"
In the air, Garp let out a furious roar, and his presence erupted!
The air within a hundred meters of him began to tremble violently, boiling before—
It exploded!
Dark red Conqueror's Haki swept out like a tsunami. Wherever it passed, the force field Luo Tian had created began to twist, shatter, and vanish!
So that was it... No matter how powerful a Devil Fruit ability was, Haki could still counter it.
If it couldn't, that only meant the Haki wasn't strong enough!
"Conqueror's Haki Infusion?!" Luo Tian's eyes narrowed.
He hadn't expected Garp to have developed his Conqueror's Haki to this level.
Although the system had rewarded him with advanced Conqueror's Haki after his battle with Rayleigh, it had only brought him to the threshold for using Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
Mastering an advanced technique like Advanced Conqueror's Haki would take more study and training.
But with his heaven-defying Void Manifestation skill, Luo Tian was practically invincible.
Luo Tian gathered his strength and swung his sword!
"One-Sword Style: Secret Art—Heaven-Splitting!"
The blade came down.
A black bolt of lightning extended from its tip and spread forward.
Space shattered and split like glass wherever the lightning passed.
"Come on, kid!!"
Vmmm—!!
Dark red flames of Haki roiled around Garp like a blazing fire. It was the telltale sign of Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
In that instant, he moved—
His figure shot toward Luo Tian like a falling star!
He roared, his voice like thunder from the heavens:
"Iron Fist: Fist Bone—"
"Galaxy Impact!!!"
His fist shot forward.
Like a galaxy pouring down.
Whoosh—BOOM!!!!
The two devastating forces collided violently, and each impact burst into a ring of white light.
The world seemed to lose its color. Countless streaks of purple lightning slashed in every direction, blasting towering columns of water from the sea.
The Marines on the warships clung desperately to the rails. Some dropped to their knees and prayed, some stood frozen in shock, and others vomited uncontrollably.
It was the instinctive terror and awe of living beings faced with a power far beyond their understanding.
On the Rocks Pirates' ship, the pirates held their breath as well.
Whitebeard gripped Murakumogiri, his eyes blazing with battle lust.
Shiki licked his lips, his pupils brimming with excitement.
Rocks... smiled.
His smile was full of ambition.
When the final white light faded, seawater rushed back into the enormous crater.
The sky, too, returned to calm.
But Luo Tian was nowhere to be seen.
Only Garp remained, standing alone a hundred meters in the air, his eyes still burning with the remnants of battle lust.
He looked around, spreading his Observation Haki to scan every inch of space.
Nothing.
Luo Tian's presence had vanished.
He hadn't died, and he wasn't hiding. He had... left the area entirely.
Garp slowly turned and looked into the distance.
The Rocks Pirates' fleet had disappeared, too, leaving only a fading black speck on the horizon.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The Fleet Admiral's office.
Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, and Tsuru, who was wrapped in bandages, came to the door.
Sengoku took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock.
"Come in!"
Kong's voice came from inside, his anger tightly restrained.
The four pushed open the door and entered.
"Sengoku, Zephyr, Garp, Tsuru—"
Kong began, his voice frighteningly calm:
"Did you go on a pleasure cruise?!"
"Failing the operation would have been bad enough, but you couldn't even protect the Heavenly Tribute!"
"And the three of you let a kid run circles around you. You watched as the Heavenly Tribute was stolen and your comrade was seriously injured.
"Did you buy your titles as Marine Admiral candidates?!"
Though they had expected it, the four were still shaken by the reprimand.
Faced with the Fleet Admiral's accusations, they could only lower their heads in silence.
Because he was right.
The failure of this operation had not only humiliated the Marines; it could also provoke the fury of the World Government's top brass.
A deathly silence fell over the office.
A moment later, Kong let out a long breath, and his anger began to subside.
He sat back in his chair, rubbed his aching temples, and asked in a low voice:
"Tsuru, how are your injuries?"
No matter how harshly he reprimanded them, these four were still officers he had personally trained—practically his students.
Tsuru in particular was one of the Marines' few senior female officers. She had earned everyone's respect with her intelligence and abilities, and was an indispensable member of Marine Staff Headquarters.
His concern eased the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
"I'm out of immediate danger, but the internal injuries will take time to heal."
"Good. Rest properly during that time, and put your work aside for now."
"Everyone, sit down."
Kong gestured for the four to take their seats.
"Tell me what happened. Was that new Rocks Pirates officer, Luo Tian, really as powerful as you said over the Den Den Mushi? Is his ability really that bizarre?"
From the brief message relayed over the Den Den Mushi, Kong still found it hard to believe.
After all, he hadn't witnessed the battle himself and couldn't imagine how a young man could hold off both Zephyr and Tsuru while even keeping pace with Garp in a fight.
"Fleet Admiral..." Sengoku gave a wry smile and took a Den Den Mushi from inside his coat.
"This is a special Marine Visual Den Den Mushi. It can record and play back battle footage."
"This Den Den Mushi recorded everything."
"Play the footage. I want to see for myself how the four of you handled things. With such a thorough plan, you nearly ended up completely wiped out.
"And that Luo Tian—is he really that much of a..."
Kong paused, then forced the word through clenched teeth:
"Monster."
The Visual Den Den Mushi was activated.
A translucent screen projected from its eyes, displaying a clear image across the office wall.
"So this is the bizarre ability you told me about?"
Kong narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slightly.
"How is it somewhat similar to Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Both abilities make space tremble and twist..."
Sengoku watched Luo Tian use his ability in the footage and analyzed it:
"That's right, but Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit 'shakes' space, creating destructive shockwaves.
"Luo Tian's ability seems more like... 'controlling' space, creating Gravity Fields, Repulsion, and even gravitational fields!
"In fact, I have reason to suspect he can control every kind of force and space!"
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