On the sea below, an old man stood on a raised stretch of reef. He had shed his cumbersome cloak and coat and wore only a blue-gray shirt. Muscles knotted across his broad frame as he raised his tigerish eyes to meet Loa's battle-hungry gaze.
Garp drew a deep breath and roared skyward.
"Loa!!!"
His voice echoed across the sea, stirring up waves that surged outward in every direction.
Someone was bound to attack me.
Loa had realized that long ago. It was why he had kept his flight path just a few dozen meters above the sea: to lure those people out and deal with them. Like the bearded man who had popped up earlier, Loa's existence had already crossed too many lines. His discussions with Osman and his dealings with the Antonio Family were enough to make every faction see him as a thorn in their side.
Was he an obstacle to peace?
In a sense, yes. If they won, then Loa, as their enemy, would naturally have been an obstacle to peace.
But Loa had never expected Garp to be the first to strike.
"Vice Admiral Garp, you don't actually think I'm afraid to kill you, do you?"
Loa's monstrous strength had smashed a deep crater into the Iron Ball. Layers of solid iron had crumpled like soft dough, folding over themselves. Some of the ridges could not withstand the strain, and fine cracks spread across them.
Boom!
The huge Iron Ball plunged into the sea, throwing up waves dozens of meters high. Sunlight fell across the water, raising a brilliant rainbow between the two men.
Spray pattered against Garp's face, but his expression did not change. He silently hauled in the chain, then turned, twisted at the waist, and hurled the Iron Ball at Loa again.