Garp's Iron Fist Sure Packed a Punch

Lynn had to admit that things were a little different from what he had expected.

Shanks had not shown up at Makino's bar.

Instead, the one who pushed open the door was the Marine Hero known as Iron Fist—Monkey D. Garp!

Garp still had a full head of black hair, though his temples had begun to gray.

Wearing a Marine uniform, he sat at the bar with Lynn's Bounty Poster in hand.

What exactly did Garp want?

Several possibilities flashed through Lynn's mind.

First, he ruled out orders from the Celestial Dragons.

After all, during the Reverie many years later, Garp would dare to call the Celestial Dragons idiots without a care in the world!

Had this been a chance encounter?

No, that was not right either. Garp was holding Lynn's Bounty Poster. He had clearly come prepared.

Lynn finished the last sip of orange juice and smiled. "What an honor. I never expected the Marine Hero to know my name."

"Can't be helped. That stubborn fool Zephyr kept going on about you," Garp said, picking at his ear with a helpless look.

But suddenly, Garp's presence changed. The air around them seemed to freeze.

He glanced sideways at Lynn and slowly asked,

"So, you still haven't answered my question."

"BOSS Lynn Barek, what is your purpose in coming to the East Blue?"

Faced with Garp's questioning, Lynn answered honestly.

"To learn Haki."

Garp looked somewhat surprised at Lynn's answer.

He had expected Lynn to give some excuse like "retirement" or "hiding."

But learning Haki?

Garp's expression darkened.

"I see. You're another ambitious fool with his sights set on this era."

"A wanted criminal dares to speak such big words before me. Is that confidence, or ignorance?"

Hearing that, Lynn suddenly burst out laughing and asked, "Mr. Garp, are you here to arrest me?"

Whoosh!

Before his words had even faded, Garp's fist swept toward Lynn, wrapped in a terrifying gale!

The strike was incredibly fast. Unable to dodge in time, Lynn could only raise both arms to block it head-on.

Bang!

Garp's fist slammed into Lynn's forearms, sending him and his barstool flying backward.

Bang!

Crash!

In that instant, Lynn felt as if he had been struck head-on by a cannonball. His arms throbbed and swelled with pain, while his head spun wildly.

When Lynn came back to his senses and opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the brilliant blue sky.

That punch had actually sent him flying out of the bar!

Looking up, Lynn saw Garp step over the shattered front door and walk toward him one step at a time.

"You arrogant brat, do you think I'm as easy to talk to as that stubborn fool Zephyr?"

As he spoke, Garp reached Lynn and brought down a fist!

Boom!

Garp's fist smashed a huge crater into the ground, but Lynn was nowhere to be seen.

The instant the fist came down, Lynn slapped both hands against the ground and launched himself up in an exaggerated pose parallel to the earth!

While suspended in midair, Lynn spent Energy Value to restore his swollen, numb arms, unable to stop himself from thinking,

Garp's Iron Fist sure packed a punch!

After all, this was the man who had chased Pirate King Roger all over the world.

He was also the one who had turned the people of the old era into mere remnants!

Just as Lynn was marveling at this, Garp suddenly leaped into the air and appeared beside him.

Lynn's eyes widened.

"..."

He had only gotten halfway through the word "wait" when Garp clasped both hands together and delivered another crushing blow at Lynn in midair!

Boom!

Garp smashed Lynn down from the air. He hit the ground heavily, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

Makino, who was in the back kitchen, heard the commotion outside and hurried out. Then her eyes widened, her pupils contracted, and she stared at the scene before her in disbelief.

The bar's front entrance had been smashed apart, while dust swirled across the open ground outside. Dozens of Marines surrounded the cloud of dust.

Oddly enough, the Marines looked just as confused, as though they had no idea what was happening.

Only after the dust settled did Makino see her old acquaintance, Mr. Garp, standing there. Lynn lay flat on his back in front of Garp, with a huge crater beneath him!

Before Makino or the other Marines could say anything, Lynn, who had been lying motionless, suddenly sprang to his feet with a backward flip. He then hopped backward several times in succession, widening the distance between himself and Garp.

Only then did Lynn have time to look around.

What was going on?

Why were there so many Marines around?

Had Garp really come to arrest him?

But Lynn soon noticed that the Marines around him also looked utterly bewildered.

The Marines' discussions reached Lynn's ears.

"Hey, didn't Vice Admiral Garp say he was thirsty and going in for a drink? Why is he fighting?"

"Who is that kid?"

"Forget who that kid is. Can someone really take Vice Admiral Garp's punch? Is he a monster?"

"Maybe Vice Admiral Garp didn't use his full strength?"

"Are you blind? That huge crater in the ground is no joke!"

The murmurs entering Lynn's ears only made him more confused.

The accompanying Marines did not even know he existed, so what exactly was Garp trying to do?

Though Lynn could not make sense of it, he still drew on Energy Value to restore his body.

Then Lynn half-clenched both fists, one held forward and one behind, assuming his usual fighting stance.

It was instinct.

At the sight of this, Garp could no longer maintain his grim expression. He suddenly slapped his thigh and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Just like Zephyr said, you're one crazy little brat!"

Lynn froze when he saw that.

Meanwhile, Garp laughed until tears came to his eyes. "Zephyr told me there was some brat who didn't even know Haki yet still dared to trade blows with him head-on. I didn't believe it at first, but such a brat actually exists!"

Hearing that, Lynn suddenly felt incredibly aggrieved.

It seemed Garp had been playing him for a fool!

Still, Garp apparently had no intention of arresting him, which was truly fortunate.

After all, Zephyr could barely be considered half a desk jockey, but Garp was a thoroughbred fighter.

After just two casual punches, Lynn was already having trouble standing steady!

He should catch his breath first, then ask what Garp wanted.

With that thought, Lynn was just about to lower his stance when Garp suddenly struck his fist into his palm.

Smack.

"Hey, brat, why are you dropping your stance? Don't you want to learn Haki?"

Lynn was taken aback.

But Garp continued, "That guy Zephyr said he owes you a huge favor."

"Then I'll repay it for him!"

"But learning Haki is difficult. I'm not as patient as Zephyr."

Garp rolled his wrists, producing a series of crackling pops.

He grinned broadly.

"So, brat, as your entrance exam, let's have a fight!"