Barn had slashed Akainu so many times that he had lost count. Akainu had given up crying out in pain and focused on hurling curses instead, even though that only made Barn's blade fall more frequently.
Nearby, Garp had regained his hearing. His expression was so dark that his features seemed swallowed by it.
"Hey, Barn, that's enough. What's the point of picking on someone who can't fight back?"
Garp spoke coldly.
"Relax, they're only flesh wounds. But I don't have much time. If you still haven't made up your mind, I can't promise I won't start hitting a little harder."
Barn's faintly mocking voice sounded in Garp's mind.
Then came Akainu's curses.
"Come on, Barn! Do it again!"
Garp's brows were already tightly knitted, but they twitched again as he recalled what Barn had said earlier.
"I have no intention of making an enemy of the Marines. I only came today to pick up an old friend. I hope you'll stop interfering. Leave."
Garp thought back over everything Barn had done since first coming to his and the Marines' attention. Apart from what had happened at the Sabaody Archipelago, he really hadn't seemed to do anything outrageous.
Akainu's shouts kept ringing in his ears. At last, Garp's tightly furrowed brows slowly eased, though his expression remained grim.
"I agree, Barn."
Garp spoke quietly, but those words seemed to drain every last bit of strength from him.
"Heh, Garp. You've made a wise choice."
Those were the last words Barn spoke in Garp's mind.
"World, let's head out."
Barn suddenly appeared behind World and spoke calmly.
"Yeah."
World said nothing more. He was now certain that he was no match for Barn. Perhaps Barn had deliberately drawn him into the Dark Sky Curtain when he activated it earlier, just to