Pirates: A Family's Murder, a Celestial Dragon Massacre!

It had withstood his Rokushiki Ogi: Iron Fist.

At the very least, Rono's swordsmanship had reached Great Swordsman level!

Garp revised his assessment of Rono once again!

The man knew Haki, hand-to-hand combat, and swordsmanship!

Aside from a Devil Fruit power, he was formidable in every respect!

No. Garp had to stop him here!

"This isn't over, Rono!"

The next instant, Garp poured even more strength into his Iron Fist!

He channeled Armament Haki through his entire body, drove it into his knuckles, and unleashed it with abandon!

"That's... Advanced Armament Haki—Ryuo!"

Whitebeard, who had been watching with Observation Haki, froze!

Ryuo was the name for a form of Advanced Armament Haki in Wano Country!

It could pass through an object's surface and destroy it from within!

There was no defending against Armament Haki like that!

Ryuo was an advanced form of Haki that only a handful of the strongest people on the seas could use!

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Armament Haki acquired. Current progress: 100%!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Breakthrough successful. Armament Haki has advanced to the highest level!]

[Ding! Host's Armament Haki has reached the highest level. Congratulations, host. You have learned Ryuo Haki!]

At the same time, Rono felt a powerful current pass through his body, warm and comfortable.

"I've won, Rono!"

Garp roared, certain of victory!

Haki that destroyed from within couldn't be blocked!

But in the next instant...

Crack! Crack!

Garp felt the Haki surging through Kotetsu's blade and went rigid!

His Ryuo Haki had been blocked by the Haki on Kotetsu!

And only Ryuo Haki could block Ryuo Haki!

When had this guy...?!

Garp stared at Rono in disbelief!

Could he use Ryuo too?

Or had he just learned it?

"Garp, I really ought to thank you for such a generous gift!"

Rono smiled faintly!

Good. Very good!

His Armament Haki had advanced to the highest level: Admiral-Emperor level!

He had learned Ryuo along with it!

And his strength had grown again, reaching Admiral-Emperor level too!

"He learned Ryuo Haki in the middle of a fight!"

Garp was stunned by Rono's talent!

This monster kept growing stronger as he fought!

Unless you took him down in an instant, he would keep growing stronger and stronger!

What a nightmare!

"Someone else is coming! Marine reinforcements!"

Whitebeard suddenly called to Rono at the center of the battlefield.

With his Observation Haki, Whitebeard had sensed powerful fighters heading their way!

Marine reinforcements, without a doubt!

There were many of them, their auras tangled together!

But Whitebeard could clearly make out the aura of a fighter at Admiral level among them.

More than one, in fact!

"Then let's finish this, Garp!"

Rono had sensed the approaching reinforcements too.

He wanted to keep fighting Garp, but this was far enough.

He had gained plenty already. Getting bogged down by the Marines would only cause trouble.

"This isn't over, Rono!"

Garp plainly had no intention of letting him go.

Boom!

Garp poured on more strength, holding Rono in place.

Letting a monster like him escape would bring endless trouble!

And Garp's Observation Haki had picked up the reinforcements too!

Admiral Kong was racing here with Zephyr and Sengoku!

Garp only had to hold on until they arrived. Then they could keep Rono here.

Rono saw what Garp was trying to do.

In that case, he would have to end this fast!

Whoosh... whoosh...

Whoosh... whoosh...

Suddenly, Garp sensed something was wrong!

The temperature around them was climbing wildly, the air growing hotter by the second!

His skin was already burning!

Garp's eyes widened as he recalled the Heavenly Tribute incident!

Hadn't Rono stolen the Flame-Flame Fruit?

Could it be?!

Reinforcements Arrive: Kong, Sengoku, and Zephyr Hadn't this guy stolen the Flame-Flame Fruit?

Could it be?

Garp's heart sank!

Before Garp could react, the next instant...

Fwoooosh!

Scorching flames erupted from Kotetsu's tip, and the temperature around them soared to several thousand degrees, nearing ten thousand!

The flames swelled rapidly, becoming as vast as a Flame Emperor in the blink of an eye!

The enormous blaze swallowed Garp whole!

"Now's our chance. Let's go!"

Rono immediately headed to the Bell Tower, picked up the mutilated Celestial Dragon, and prepared to leave with Whitebeard.

"We made it! They're still here!"

At that moment, three figures appeared above Mock Town!

All three were using Geppo!

The man in front was tall and heavily muscled, with a fierce bearing and a distinctive beard shaped like three peaks!

Marine Headquarters Admiral Kong!

The other two were Admiral Candidates Sengoku and Zephyr!

But all three were stunned by what they saw!

Almost all of Mock Town had been flattened.

Terrible flames raged along the central street. Within them was an aura they knew all too well—Garp's!

"Garp actually... lost?!"

Their faces darkened at once.

Garp had lost to Rono?

Impossible!

Garp was firmly at Admiral level!

He could become a Marine Admiral right now without question.

How many days had Rono even been at sea? How could he already be strong enough to defeat an Admiral?

No... that was absolutely impossible!

"First, let's get Garp out of there!"

Desperate to save his friend, Sengoku charged straight into the flames!

"Zephyr, hold Rono back! Don't let him leave!"

Kong gave the order at once.

"Heh. Kong, take a look at this."

Rono sneered and held up the mutilated Celestial Dragon.

"A Celestial Dragon! Still alive!"

Kong was horrified and hurriedly stopped Zephyr.

"Tell me what it'll take for you to release the Celestial Dragon, Rono!"

Kong's face was grim. He wanted nothing more than to tear Rono apart!

"Oh? One look at a Celestial Dragon and you've lost your nerve, Kong?"

Seeing Kong squirm, Rono almost laughed.

For a Marine, reaching Admiral rank was as good as becoming the Celestial Dragons' lapdog!

Kong's behavior proved it!

"Goodbye, Kong. You'll find the Celestial Dragon at the harbor in five minutes!"

With that, Rono made ready to head for the harbor with Whitebeard.

"Gurarara! Is this the trump card you were talking about, kid?"

Whitebeard couldn't help laughing too!

He had been ready to fight, but now it looked as though he wouldn't have to.

"You've gotten too cocky, Rono! You're not leaving!"