Battle Against Jozu / Garp: Can Shigan Really Be This Powerful?

The New World, Marine Base G-5.

"Hahahaha! Not bad, kid. Looks like you haven't been slacking off on your training!" Garp rubbed his itching iron fists, seemingly eager to let Atlas experience his "fistfuls of love."

"Thank you for the praise, Vice Admiral Garp. I still have a long way to go." Atlas chuckled, pretending not to notice him flexing his fists.

"All right, all right. Sit down, Garp. Stop fooling around!" Seeing the first signs of Garp stirring up trouble again, Vice Admiral Tsuru hurried to stop him. Of everyone present, she was the only one who could keep him in line.

"Hahaha! I just wanted to give young Atlas a few pointers on her training." Garp obediently found somewhere to sit, scratching his head in embarrassment.

"Enough. If you really want a fight, go trade a few blows with Whitebeard later!" Vice Admiral Tsuru finally revealed why she had called everyone together.

A glance around the little office revealed nearly half the Marines' fighting strength in the New World: Garp, Akainu, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and Atlas. Tokikake and Gion would probably arrive before long, too.

"Whitebeard..." Atlas felt a little excited. Not because she admired him, of course, but because he was the man she intended to defeat someday. Whitebeard was still in his prime. Even over a decade later, when age began to catch up with him, he would remain firmly seated on the throne of the World's Strongest Man.

"All right, get ready to move out. Our target is the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Akainu had always been a man of decisive action. When it came to eradicating pirates, he naturally took his place on the front lines without hesitation.

The massive Moby Dick lay quietly on the sea. Behind it stood ships of every shape and size, belonging to the pirate crews that followed Whitebeard.

Whitebeard stood on the Moby Dick's whale-shaped bow, holding the Supreme Grade Sword, Murakumogiri. A white captain's coat hung from his shoulders, and his long golden hair fell freely.

"Hey, Garp! Have you come for a taste of my fists today?"

"Hahaha! Whitebeard, these loving iron fists of mine just can't wait!"

Garp refused to be outdone. He and Whitebeard were old adversaries. Back in the old era, although Garp had spent much of his time chasing Roger around the world, he had crossed paths with Whitebeard plenty of times, too.

"Hey, Whitebeard!"

Just then, Atlas stepped forward aboard the warship and shouted to him.

"Hmm?"

Atlas's shout immediately drew the attention of everyone aboard the Moby Dick, and they glared at her. Whitebeard was like a father to them. How dare this Marine brat yell at their Pops like that?

"My name is Kanos Atlas! Remember that name, because I'm the one who'll drag you off the throne of the World's Strongest someday! Stay alive. Don't go dying before then!"

Ignoring the pirates' hostility, Atlas openly declared her intention to challenge Whitebeard.

"Hahaha! That's the spirit, Atlas! Well done!"

Garp roared with laughter, making no attempt to conceal his pride.

"Gurararara! Interesting little brat. You want my head? Then let's see if you've got what it takes!"

Rather than getting angry at Atlas's arrogant declaration, Whitebeard burst out laughing. He clearly didn't consider her a threat, because... he was Whitebeard!

Suddenly, an overwhelming presence erupted from Whitebeard. For an instant, the whole world seemed to become a stark black-and-white painting. Black-and-red lightning flashed through the air. The crushing mental shock felt like a hammer slamming into the back of everyone's skulls. Marines with weaker strength or wavering wills dropped like flies.

Garp and the others, however, seemed completely unaffected by Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki. Atlas felt as though he was singling her out. A terrifying pressure engulfed her, far stronger than Kaido's Conqueror's Haki.

You think a little Conqueror's Haki can make me submit?

I'm the one who's going to challenge Whitebeard!

Get the hell out!

Thoughts of defiance flashed through Atlas's mind. This was a clash of spirit. She knew that if she fell here, she would never have a chance to challenge Whitebeard!

Crack!

Suddenly, Atlas felt something shatter inside her mind, and a powerful aura burst out of her body!

Atlas's own Conqueror's Haki had awakened!

In an instant, the skies shifted. Powerful Haki surged from Atlas, washing indiscriminately over almost everyone present. The Marines who had still been struggling to stay upright, along with the pirates watching the show on Whitebeard's side, toppled like dominoes.

For a few brief seconds, Atlas's Haki actually held its own against Whitebeard's oncoming Conqueror's Haki, before being brutally forced back into her body.

"Hahaha! You really are full of surprises, kid!"

Garp's and the others' pupils contracted, then laughter rang out. Conqueror's Haki of this caliber was truly rare!

"Gurararara! Not bad, brat. To think there'd be someone like you in the Marines. Come be my son!"

Whitebeard was a little surprised, too, and tried to recruit Atlas. Of course, this wasn't because he had begun to fear her. He genuinely admired her.

"Hey, Whitebeard! Don't act like we're not here!"

Seeing Whitebeard try to recruit Atlas right in front of a whole group of Marines, Garp voiced his displeasure.

"Tremor-Tremor: Tsunami!"

Standing tall, Whitebeard raised his right hand. A white sphere of light formed around it, and he smashed it into the air. Space itself shattered like a mirror, countless cracks appearing before their eyes. Waves hundreds of meters high surged from the sea, threatening to swallow the Marine warships in an instant.

Gulp!

Someone swallowed in fear. Tension spread through the warships. The Marines who had never fought Whitebeard before couldn't help trembling, swallowing frantically as they murmured in a daze, "Is this the power of the World's Strongest Man?"

Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit truly deserved its reputation as the strongest Paramecia Devil Fruit. His every move carried the force of a natural disaster. In Whitebeard's hands, the fruit had been developed to its absolute limit.

"Wash-Mirror!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru calmly raised one hand and activated her Devil Fruit ability. The towering waves instantly subsided like a tamed hound. The raging sea became a smooth mirror, unable to stir up another ripple.

"We're alive! Oh...!"

"Waves hundreds of meters high, calmed in an instant! It feels like a dream!"

"That's Vice Admiral Tsuru, Marine Headquarters' chief strategist, for you!"

The Marines cheered at their narrow escape, reassured by the mighty fighters on their side.

"Gurararara... You're as strong as ever, Tsuru!"

Facing Jozu

"Whitebeard! Are you prepared to die here today? Meteor Volcano!"

Akainu's arms rapidly swelled into enormous masses of magma, launching a barrage of molten fists at the pirates aboard the Moby Dick.

Whitebeard remained standing on the bow with Murakumogiri in hand, his expression unchanged.

"Azure Flame Goose!"

Suddenly, Marco, dressed like a street punk, flew out. Countless Phoenix Tail Feathers formed in his hands, then turned into a barrage of flaming fists that collided with Akainu's Meteor Volcano. Brilliant red-and-blue fireworks blossomed in the clear sky. Marco turned toward the Marines, a smile tugging at his lips.

"How could we... let you bother our king right off the bat?"

"Gurararara... Magma brat, are you trying to light the candles on a birthday cake?"

"Hmph!" Akainu snorted without replying.

"Hahahaha! Whitebeard, picking on the younger generation isn't a good habit!"

Garp launched himself into the air with Geppo, raising his iron fist as he charged toward Whitebeard.

"Gurararara... The warm-up ends here, Garp!"

Whitebeard swung his enormous Murakumogiri, activating the Tremor-Tremor Fruit as it crashed head-on into Garp's iron fist!

Boom! Boom!

Terrifying booms rang out across the chaotic battlefield. The churning waves and thunderous impacts spoke to the ferocity of the battle. Whitebeard and Garp clashed again and again, their sky-rending power keeping everyone nearby from approaching.

Elsewhere, Sakazuki fought Marco and Vista two against one. Marco's ability was downright unfair. His mythical Zoan Phoenix powers allowed him to keep fighting, though he had yet to reach the strength he would possess over a decade later, when he could briefly trade blows with an admiral.

In truth, the Whitebeard Pirates had a serious gap in their fighting strength. Marco and the others had yet to reach their peaks, while Whitebeard was already showing signs of decline. Only Diamond Jozu stood on Marco's level; the other commanders were considerably weaker.

The Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates on the battlefield were actually about evenly matched, with neither side able to overcome the other. Once Gion and Tokikake arrived, though, things would change.

Atlas roamed the battlefield, taking one pirate's head after another. Suddenly, she spotted a fat, dark-skinned man trading evenly matched blows with an ordinary Marine lieutenant commander.

Her eyes lit up, and she strode toward Blackbeard.

"Hey, Marine brat! I've had my eye on you for a while!"

Just then, a dark-skinned, eyebrowless man in armor that left his chest exposed blocked Atlas's path. It was "Diamond" Jozu, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' third division and wielder of the Glitter-Glitter Fruit!

Atlas studied the burly man before her, her expression growing serious. In terms of raw strength, she was indeed a little weaker than Jozu right now. But with the talismans on her side, she wasn't afraid in the slightest.

The more she used the talismans' power, the more she realized how shallow her understanding of them had been. As she grew stronger, their terrifying power revealed itself little by little. It made sense. The talismans performed entirely differently in Shendu's hands than in anyone else's. It was as though their power was gradually awakening inside her.

"Shining Charge!"

When Atlas didn't answer, Jozu's arm rapidly became covered in gleaming diamond, glittering beneath the sun. Then he charged straight at her!

"Tekkai: Armament: Hollow Wood!"

danger!

A heavy impact rang out across the sky. Atlas rubbed her aching chest. Well, she was hurt, but not really. With the Horse Talisman's powerful healing ability, she could completely ignore damage on this level.

"So you weren't all talk when you said you'd challenge Pops. You've got some skill!"

Jozu narrowed his eyes at the unscathed Atlas and spoke in a low voice.

"Diamond Jozu, I heard you were the quiet type who kept his wild side hidden. Why are you so chatty today?"

Jozu nearly fell flat on his face. What? He, Diamond Jozu, had a hidden wild side? What a joke! He just wasn't much of a talker!

"Shut up! What the hell are you babbling about, brat?"

Flustered and furious, Jozu coated his massive diamond arm in Armament Haki and abruptly punched at Atlas. "Bastard! Have a taste of Diamond Jozu's fist!"

"Ha! Iron Body Fist: Armament: Shatter!"

The blood coursing through Atlas's body accelerated. She hardened herself with Armament Haki and slammed head-on into Jozu's enormous fist!

"Not much to brag about! Are you trying to give me a massage with that soft little punch?"

Their fists locked in a stalemate, and Atlas and Jozu simply planted themselves there in a contest of strength!

"Ha!"

Atlas gave a scornful smile. Her arm muscles swelled, and a tremendous surge of strength poured into Jozu.

Ox Talisman! Divine Strength!

Boom!

Jozu's massive body flew backward and slammed into the Moby Dick's deck, kicking up a cloud of dust! Atlas didn't expect him to be hurt, though. Everyone knew that where there was smoke, there was no damage.

"No way! Commander Jozu..."

"Hey, hey, hey! You've got to be kidding! A brat that young?"

The Whitebeard Pirates stared in shock. Defeating Commander Jozu in just two exchanges? That was ridiculous!

"Hey! What... nonsense are you spouting over there? I haven't lost!"

Jozu slowly emerged from the dust with a dark expression, though perhaps his face had been that dark to begin with. The diamonds covering his body still glittered without a scratch, and the pirates let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Shining Charge!"

"Bring it on! Tekkai: Armament: Tieshan Kao!"

Bang!

Jozu's Glitter-Glitter Fruit gave him a diamond body, granting him tremendous defense even without Armament Haki. If Atlas hadn't possessed reserves of Armament Haki far beyond those of an ordinary person, he might really have worn her down to death!

Bang, bang, bang!

Atlas and Jozu exchanged furious punches, their fists raining down on each other. Jozu's sheer defensive power left Atlas unable to break through, while Jozu was equally helpless against her powerful Armament Haki and absurd healing ability. The two living tanks simply kept crashing into each other.

Relying on their powerful defenses, they all but abandoned guarding, trading punches and kicks in a furious melee.

"Gurararara... Not bad, brat! To think she could push Jozu this far!"

Whitebeard noticed Jozu's situation and spoke with some surprise.

"Fist Bone: Meteorite!"

Garp swung a fist at him. "Hahahaha! Whitebeard, didn't anyone ever tell you not to get distracted in a fight?"

Bang!

Whitebeard brought Murakumogiri across his body just in time, narrowly blocking Garp's iron fist.

Garp: Shigan can be this powerful?