To be honest, it's hard to reconcile the image of this short, stocky man from a few months ago with the person in front of me.
A few months ago, he kept saying he wanted to become a Marine, just like Luffy kept saying he wanted to become the Pirate King. He was just a fool with a dream!
That's why Xia Chen didn't attack Koby back then. He wanted to see if Koby would behave the same way as in the original story. If he did, it wouldn't be too late to deal with him then.
Now it seems...
It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature!
Being a deserter is one thing, but Garp risked his life to save him, and in the end, he says he's going to stop Luffy's dream!
Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? You didn't stop Blackbeard from capturing you, but you end up stopping your own teacher's grandson?
This is absolutely hilarious!
After a long pause, Xia Chen spoke up, "Since you're not going to say anything, then I'll make the choice for you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Chen grabbed Koby's neck with lightning speed and slowly lifted him off the ground.
"Ugh... Xia... Xia Chen... Mr., please... don't kill me!"
Koby's face turned bright red as Xia Chen pinched him, and he struggled incessantly, but the difference in strength between him and Xia Chen was too great, and no matter how much he struggled, it was all in vain!
"It's impossible not to kill you! Do you know how many people are hoping for your death?" Xia Chen said calmly.
He wasn't lying about that. In his past life, countless One Piece fans like him wished for Koby's death! What he did was truly despicable!
"So, your death is what everyone expected!" Xia Chen said calmly, then his eyes narrowed and his hand suddenly tightened.
At the same time, a roar came from over.
"Stop!!!"
Upon hearing the voice, Xia Chen instantly knew who it was, but he didn't stop what he was doing at all.
The next moment...
"Snap!"
With a cracking sound, Koby's neck went limp, and the light in his eyes dimmed, his eyes still filled with disbelief in his final moments.
Xia Chen casually tossed Koby's corpse towards the direction from which the sound had come. Then he looked in that direction as well.
The newcomer caught Koby's body steadily, and when he sensed that Koby's life force had completely vanished, an extremely ugly expression appeared on his face. He glared at Xia Chen and roared:
" Xia Chen!!!"
"Don't shout so loudly, Garp, I can hear you!" Xia Chen picked at his ear and said calmly.
Why did you kill him? Don't you feel ashamed of bullying the weak?
"Bullying the weak?? Hahaha... Garp, you're really funny!"
"First of all, he's 16, and I'm 16 too. Is that considered bullying someone younger than him?"
"Furthermore, this is war!!!"
"Don't you understand what war means? If what you're saying is true, does that mean none of you older than me can lay a hand on me?"
Xia Chen almost laughed to death at what Garp said, and looked at him with disdain.
Garp was taken aback upon hearing this, realizing that he had indeed said some thoughtless things in his haste.
He then stared silently at Koby's corpse for a long time before slowly pulling off his navy cloak and looking at Xia Chen, saying:
"Since you killed my disciple, then let me, as his master, seek justice for him!"
"Tsk tsk tsk!" Xia Chen clicked his tongue twice upon hearing this, then looked at Garp and asked:
"In your opinion, is the sense of justice you uphold more important than your own family?"
"I..."
Garp remained silent for a long time, but ultimately said nothing.
I know your choice!
Xia Chen waved his hand, and a stick appeared in his palm. He then pointed it at Garp and said:
" Garp, this is your choice, and I have nothing to say about it. But since you've made this choice today, a battle between us is inevitable!"
"Come on, let's finish the battle we didn't complete in Water 7!"
Xia Chen had nothing to say about Garp's choice; everyone has different ideas, and naturally, their actions will also differ.
Garp chose justice over his family, which is why he was able to watch Ace die even though he was in immense inner turmoil!
Therefore, he was able to single-handedly storm Hachinosu to rescue the Deserter King!
Saving the former would violate his sense of justice, while saving the latter would be perfectly reasonable!
Xia Chen wouldn't judge such behavior, because he couldn't say that Garp was wrong; he could only say that everyone has different beliefs.
Xia Chen narrowed his eyes, then suddenly exerted force with his legs, his figure instantly disappearing from the spot. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Garp, slamming the stick in his hand down hard on Garp.
Not to be outdone, Garp unleashed a powerful Armament Haki around his fist as he charged towards the club.
"Boom!"
A loud bang was heard, and an incredibly powerful shockwave spread outwards from Xia Chen and Garp, blasting everyone within a radius of several hundred meters away.
Luffy and Purple Rat, who were fighting not far away, were also affected by the shockwave and swayed slightly, both looking in the direction from which it originated.
" Xia Chen, Grandpa?"
Luffy tilted his head in confusion, seemingly not understanding why the two were fighting.
However, he only hesitated for a moment before losing interest. Xia Chen knew about his grandfather, so he would definitely go easy on him!
Luffy naturally thought that although he knew his grandfather was very strong, he didn't have a concrete idea of just how strong he was, but Xia Chen was different.
He was constantly tormented, so in his mind, Xia Chen's strength must be greater than his grandfather's!
Coming to his senses, Luffy punched the still-dazed Purple Rat.
Meanwhile, Purple Rat was still reeling from the aftershocks of Xia Chen's fight with Garp, and for a moment, he didn't react to Luffy's punch.
By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late; a fist gleaming with a dark, eerie light was already upon his face.
"Bang!"
A dull thud rang out, and the Purple Rat was sent flying backward, its face slightly distorted by the blow, showing the force of Luffy's punch.
Purple Rat flew through the air for an unknown amount of time before landing, but as soon as he stood up, he saw Luffy towards him again.
I was careless!
Purple Rat coughed up a smear of blood, his gaze fixed on Luffy, his eyes no longer showing the previous contempt, but rather a hint of seriousness.
It seems I can't afford to get distracted anymore. I'm already injured, and if this continues, I might really suffer a Waterloo!
The Purple Rat twisted its neck and charged towards Luffy as well...
Meanwhile, the clash between Xia Chen and Garp continued, and Xia Chen looked at Garp with a slight smile on his lips.
" Vice Admiral Garp, you're not quite up to par anymore!"
Xia Chen's strength has improved by another level during this period, so his second encounter with Garp was much easier than the first.
Then Xia Chen's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly exerted force again, breaking the balance between the two. The stick, carrying tremendous power, struck Garp.
In an instant, Garp's figure flew backward like an arrow released from a bow...