boom--!!!
Garp's figure shot out from his spot like a cannonball, tracing a straight trajectory in the air before crashing into the core battlefield in a few breaths.
The impact of the landing shattered the ice beneath their feet, revealing the still-churning lava beneath.
Garp straightened up and stood in front of Akainu.
Zephyr was to Akainu's left, Aokiji was to Akainu's right, and Garp was positioned directly in front of Akainu.
The four Marine Admiral- level combatants have officially gathered.
He shielded the Akainu behind him.
Roy watched this scene, the smile on his lips not fading.
He hovered in mid-air, with Shusui Shui in front of him, his Telekinesis Domain silently spreading out to protect all his companions.
Tesoro, Yamato, Savi, Jesus Burgess, Enel, Pea, Kazami, Bar... everyone was drawn back to Roy's side by Telekinesis.
Shanks regained his balance and, carrying Gryphon, walked back to Roy's side.
Blood was still seeping from his tiger's mouth, but an excited smile hung on his lips.
Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux also returned to Shanks' side.
The two captains stood side by side.
The officers of the two major pirate crews lined up behind their respective captains.
On the opposite side, the Navy's four top combat forces stood ready.
The air on the battlefield seemed to freeze.
Akainu's lips trembled as he glared angrily at the three people blocking his way.
He gritted his teeth and roared, " Garp!!! Why are you stopping me?! That man—"
"Shut up, Sakazuki."
Garp didn't turn his head, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"You've done enough stupid things. Now, stay put."
Akainu's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and magma dripped from between his fingers, burning charred holes in the ice.
He wanted to argue, to rush forward, to burn Roy's ambiguous, smiling face to ashes with the Hound of the Hell Hound.
But as soon as he took a step, a large gushing of blood gushed from the wound on his waist, and his knees buckled, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.
Zephyr reached out and supported him. His black fists, covered in Armament Haki up to his wrists, were simply resting firmly on Akainu's shoulders, without exerting force, but not allowing him to break free.
"Enough, Sakazuki." Zephyr's voice was low and complex.
Aokiji turned his head to look at Akainu: "Ara ara, Sakazuki. If you keep fighting, you'll really die here."
Akainu looked at them, at Garp's back as he stood in front of him.
Looking at Zephyr's hand on his shoulder, and at the rare hint of worry in Aokiji's eyes.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he said nothing.
It's not that I don't want to say it, it's that I can't say it.
That feeling wasn't just the pain of the injury, nor was it just the humiliation of being crushed by Roy.
It's a deeper, more profound sense of resentment, welling up from the depths of one's soul.
He killed Celestial Dragons.
He was prepared to bear all the consequences.
He wanted to use Roy's life to wash away his shame, and to prove his righteousness with victory in this battle.
But he lost. He lost completely.
Roy has barely used his full strength since the start of the battle.
Telekinesis Fruit, Conqueror's Haki Coating, Observation Haki Future Sight --
Roy only revealed these overwhelming trump cards at the last moment.
During that long battle before, Roy was simply wearing him down, observing him, and waiting.
When Akainu became enraged by his taunts, and when his rage caused him to expose an opening in his attack, Akainu was furious.
Then, a single strike will decide the outcome.
This feeling of being completely seen through, completely manipulated, and completely crushed was the greatest humiliation he had ever suffered.
Roy stood in mid-air, taking in all the changes in Akainu's expression.
He looked at the resentment, anger, and humiliation surging in Akainu's eyes, and smiled.
" Admiral Akainu, he's got a tough life."
Roy raised his hand and wiped away the lava stains on the blade, his movements as leisurely as if he were polishing a work of art.
"It's just that they're not thinking straight—knowing they can't win, but still insisting on going for it isn't bravery, it's stupidity."
The blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
His gaze passed over Akainu and landed on Garp.
Garp looked at him too, and in his rugged eyes, there was no anger, no fighting spirit, only a calm, almost ruthless, assessment.
Two men standing atop the vast ocean peak gazed at each other from afar.
No one spoke.
But everyone could sense that whether they would fight or make peace depended entirely on the decision of these two individuals.
The silence lasted a long time.
It might only take a few breaths, or it might last a full minute.
On this ruin, repeatedly ravaged by ice and fire, time seems to have lost its meaning.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Garp made the first move.
He didn't throw a punch, didn't unleash his Conqueror's Haki, and didn't adopt any fighting stance.
He simply raised his hand, patted the dust off his shoulder, then pulled a bag of rice crackers from his pocket, tore open the packaging, and started crunching away.
The sound was particularly jarring on the silent battlefield.
"Alright, alright."
With a senbei (rice cracker) stuffed in his mouth, Garp mumbled something indistinctly.
"We've already fought and made a scene."
The Celestial Dragons are dead, the auction house was blown up, you bunch of brats, haven't you caused enough trouble by now?"
Roy raised an eyebrow, watching Garp's "finished work and going home to eat senbei" posture, a hint of amusement appearing on his lips.
Akainu suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with disbelief. " Garp!!! What do you mean?!"
"What do you mean? It means retreat."
Garp didn't turn his head, his voice lazy but each word clear, "Make way, let them pass."
"You're insane!!!"
Akainu's furious roar echoed through the ruins.
He flung Zephyr's hand away from his shoulder, staggered forward two steps, and the wound on his waist tore open again, blood flowing down his trouser leg.
" Roy stole the Heavenly Tribute!!! Caused chaos in Sabaody!!! And now you're letting him go?!"
"First."
Garp held up a finger, his tone still languid, but his eyes had turned cold. " Sengoku gave us the task of stabilizing Sabaody's security, and what have you done?"
Akainu's body stiffened for a moment.
Garp didn't finish his sentence, but everyone present understood the unspoken meaning: Do you want me to clarify this in front of Roy?
Akainu's lips moved, as if he wanted to refute, but he found himself unable to utter any words of rebuttal.
Because he did indeed kill the Celestial Dragons.
Regardless of his purpose, whether he wanted to kill Roy or Celestial Dragons, the one who ultimately took action was Akainu Sakazuki himself.
"Second."
Garp raised another finger. "I'm asking you—do you think the four of us can keep Roy and Shanks here?"
Akainu fell silent.
He wanted to say yes. He wanted to say that with the Navy's four strongest forces gathered, it was impossible for them not to be able to keep two pirates.
But he couldn't bring himself to say it.
The battle just now had already provided the answer—he was completely outmatched in a one-on-one fight with Roy.
Shanks fought Garp one-on-one, and although he was at a disadvantage, he was at least able to withstand Garp's full-force attack.
Zephyr was held back by a group of young cadres, and his shoulder is still bleeding.
Aokiji was tied down by Beckman for the entire battle and was unable to break through his blockade.
If the four of them were to truly fight Roy and Shanks to the death, the best outcome would be a draw.
The worst-case scenario is that the navy will lose Admiral.
"Third."
Garp raised his third finger, turned around, looked at Akainu, and said, word by word,
"That's an order."
"As a naval hero, I command you—shut up and come with me."