Killing Teach

As a man standing at the pinnacle of this world, Marine hero Garp possessed Three Types of Haki at the world's highest level. Observation Haki that could learn of events from decades ago? Even Shanks could not do something like that.

"Fine."

Rune spread his hands. "I can't explain it to you. You can think of it as having many memories in my mind that don't belong to me. After I ate this fruit, I learned many things I shouldn't have known."

Garp frowned. He truly did not know much about Devil Fruits. Could eating a Devil Fruit grant someone the memories of its previous user?

Something like that...

Was a little absurd.

But if that was not the reason, how could a brat under twenty know about what happened at God Valley back then? He even knew who Rocks's son was, something even Garp himself did not know.

It was not as if Whitebeard had told him. Besides, even Whitebeard...

Probably did not know that Teach was Rocks's son.

Otherwise, given Whitebeard's personality.

He most likely would not have blamed Teach for attacking a companion. He would only have expelled him from the Whitebeard Pirates instead of treating him as an enemy.

"So... you also know everything that happened at God Valley back then..."

"What I know is even more than you do."

Rune smiled faintly. "I even know that you personally gave Dragon the key to leave the Marines."

Tashigi's eyes widened as she stared at Garp in disbelief. Garp said nothing, only looking seriously at Rune.

In theory, only he and Dragon knew about that matter. Dragon would most likely not tell anyone else, and Garp had certainly never told another person.

Yet this brat knew such a specific detail.

"You know all this. What do you intend to do?"

Garp looked at Rune, waiting for his answer. Rune merely smiled faintly and gently shook his head.

"I don't have grand ambitions. I don't want to become the Pirate King, nor do I want to become the king of the world. I'm not interested in the Pirate King's treasure either. All I want to do is protect my family."

Rune looked at Teach as Conqueror's Haki gradually gathered in his hand.

"Anyone who wants to hurt my family, no matter who they are—even that Imu who cares about nothing—I will crush them!"

The power of darkness covered Rune's fist. The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit surged to its limit, while layer upon layer of Rune's Conqueror's Haki wrapped around his fist.

"Originally, Thatch should have been the one to kill you. After all, your original plan was to kill Thatch and steal the Dark-Dark Fruit, wasn't it? But I figure that with Thatch's personality, he would probably forgive what you did."

Rune raised his fist. "Actually, if you had gone to Pops back then and told him who you were, that fruit would naturally have been yours. And you would have received the help of everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates.

"But you chose to attack a companion. You chose to obtain the fruit you wanted even if it meant starting a war and causing the Whitebeard Pirates to fall apart. The moment you made that choice, you sealed your fate today."

Rune looked at Marshall D. Teach, nearly all the strength in his body gathering at his fist.

"Rune! Rune, spare me! I acted on impulse back then. I never meant to harm you! I was wrong, spare me! From now on, I'll behave myself. I'll never set my sights on you again..."

Begging filled the air, but Rune remained unmoved. His fist, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki and carrying an aura like black lightning, came crashing down. The entire cage was shattered by that blow.

Teach, bound by chains, had half his body blasted away by Rune's all-out punch.

It was his upper body that vanished.

As half of Marshall D. Teach's body fell, blood stained the ground red. This ruthless and unscrupulous figure, who had been a formidable tyrant in the original timeline, left this world for good.

Tashigi turned her head away, seemingly unable to bear watching such a scene. Yamato, on the other hand, looked indifferent. She already knew what Teach had done and believed Rune had done absolutely nothing wrong.

Luffy still did not know what was going on, but Garp was currently beating him hard enough to make his head hurt. He had no mind to think about such complicated matters.

"The civilians on this island respect you greatly. After I arrived, quite a few people went all over the island to warn you."

Of course, Garp knew about the children who had secretly slipped away, but he did not care in the slightest. Besides, he had not come here to arrest Rune.

He had only wanted to ask Rune a few questions and see his grandson, Luffy.

To see how much Luffy had grown after being at sea for so long.

"If you keep acting as you have been, then aside from that Sakazuki fellow, no Marines should come looking to cause you trouble."

Garp suddenly burst into laughter. Honestly, he rather admired Rune. This fellow had gained such strength at such a young age, yet he had not used it to commit evil.

Instead, he was protecting the weak.

How wonderful it would be if there were more people like him among the Marine higher-ups.

"Before I leave... Luffy! Let Grandpa see how strong you've become. If you're still pathetically weak after being at sea for so long, then get back here and become a Marine!"

"I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King! I'm not going back!"

Luffy bit down on his wrist and instantly activated Gear Fourth. Filled with Haki, he shot toward Garp with a whoosh.

But in the next instant.

Garp laughed loudly, his right hand coated in Conqueror's Haki and Armament Haki. Facing Luffy's Gear Fourth fist, Garp threw a punch.

"Fist Bone!"

Luffy, in his Bounce-Man form, was instantly knocked flat. Garp looked at Luffy, who had crashed through several buildings, and laughed uproariously.

"Kid, you're still far from being a true powerhouse!"

"Old man Garp, remember to compensate them for the buildings you wrecked."

Rune smiled helplessly, but when he looked at Garp, a few more traces of fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.

"Old man, let me see just how strong your Fist Bone really is!"

Rune once again drew upon the Haki within his body and gathered it in his fist. The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit also covered his body as Rune charged straight at Garp.

Garp raised his fist again. Amid his booming laughter, a thunderous blast rang out.

The shockwave from their clashing fists nearly destroyed the entire plaza. Their Conqueror's Haki crushed against each other, like two needlepoints in direct confrontation, neither willing to yield.

"Haha, it's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying punch!"

Garp laughed loudly, appearing completely at ease. Rune, however, gritted his teeth and used all his Haki to try to withstand Garp's Fist Bone.