On the Execution Platform, the two executioners were swept by Luffy's Conqueror's Haki, and their long swords stopped in mid-air.
Their eyes rolled back, and the long swords slipped from their fingers, clattering twice as they hit the stone slab.
Then the two men fell straight down, hitting the stone slab of the Execution Platform with two muffled thuds.
The pupils of the Sengoku contracted violently.
Standing on the Execution Platform, feeling the overwhelming shockwave of Conqueror's Haki sweeping across him, his fingers involuntarily clenched.
He was all too familiar with this feeling.
More than a decade ago, in the Sabaody Archipelago, someone else Awakening Conqueror's Haki in front of him in the same way.
That person's name is Roy.
At the time, Sengoku thought it was just a kid Awakening Conqueror's Haki's Haki, nothing serious.
But later, that kid gradually became the ruler of the New World, the Navy's most troublesome opponent, and an existence that even the Five Elders feared.
Now, another brat wearing Straw Hat Awakening Conqueror's Haki in front of him.
Sengoku's gaze fell on Luffy, specifically on the Straw Hat that was slightly upturned by the sea breeze.
It landed on those eyes burning with anger beneath the Straw Hat.
" Straw Hat Luffy."
Sengoku's voice was low and solemn, "Another one."
He looked at Garp, who had returned to the Execution Platform.
Garp stood on the edge of the Execution Platform, looking down at the rows of fallen Marines below, and then at the straw- Straw Hat standing in the middle of the unconscious crowd.
His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing.
" Garp."
There was a complex emotion suppressed in the voice of the Sengoku.
"Remember who you are."
"Snort."
Garp's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against stone.
"I know."
He squatted on the stone steps of the Execution Platform, arms crossed, eyes closed.
No one saw his hands trembling, no one saw his fingernails digging into the flesh of his palms, drawing blood.
Below the Execution Platform, Luffy was panting heavily.
He had no idea what had just happened.
All he knew was that he roared, and then all the surrounding navy soldiers collapsed.
He looked down at his hands, then at the naval soldiers lying on the ground around him, his face filled with bewilderment.
"What was that just now...?"
But he didn't have time to think about that problem.
On the Execution Platform, the Sengoku had already issued a new order, "Send two more executioners! Execute them immediately!"
Luffy suddenly looked up. He didn't care what that had just been; all he knew was that Ace was still on the Execution Platform, and the executioner would come again. He had to rush up.
" Ivan!"
"They're here!"
Ivankov rushed out of the crowd, making a strange gesture with his hands in front of him.
Ambrio's hormones surged wildly within him, causing his body to swell instantly, his muscles bulging so much that his clothes ripped.
"Hehe!"
Ivankov's gigantic fist slammed into the naval formation in front of him, sending seven or eight soldiers flying with a single punch.
He charged ahead of Luffy like a human road clearing machine, each punch clearing a small space.
Luffy followed Ivankov, charging forward with all his might.
But there are too many people in the navy.
As soon as a clearing is made, it is immediately filled with new soldiers; for every one that falls, three more rise up, an endless cycle.
Just then, a hoarse voice rang out beside Luffy.
" Straw Hat Boy, let me do it."
Inazuma – Devil Fruit User.
The prisoner, who had been transformed into a transvestite by Iva on the fifth basement level of Impel Down, now had his hands turned into two enormous scissors.
He crouched down, his Scissorhands digging into the ground.
"Click-click--!"
He cut a long gash in the ground.
Then he lifted it up with both hands, and the crack along with the stone slab was lifted up, flipped in the air, and slammed heavily onto the edge of the Execution Platform.
A straight passage appeared.
At the end of the passage was a stone bridge, the other end of which led directly to the Execution Platform.
"Thank you, crab!"
Luffy kicked a Marine Rear Admiral was trying to approach, then somersaulted in the air and landed steadily on the passageway.
He looked up.
At the end of the stone bridge was the Execution Platform.
On the Execution Platform, Ace knelt.
Luffy a deep breath and compressed his legs to their limit.
Then he rushed out.
On the Execution Platform, Garp stands in the Luffy Execution Platform must take to reach it.
The naval hero stood in the very center of the stone bridge, arms crossed, his cloak of justice fluttering behind him.
His face was expressionless, but the emotions in his eyes were more complex than ever before.
Behind him was Ace.
Luffy was standing in front of him.
One is an adopted grandson, and the other is a biological grandson.
Luffy sprinted across the stone bridge, each step making a dull thud on the stone slabs.
He saw Garp, the old man who had beaten him with iron fists since childhood, thrown him into the abyss, into the dark jungle, and into the lair of wild beasts.
"Old man—get out of the way!!!"
Luffy's roar echoed across the stone bridge.
Garp didn't move.
He stood in the center of the stone bridge, like an insurmountable iron tower. His fists were clenched, and Armament Haki was gathering on his knuckles, as black as ink.
" Luffy —I'm not letting you pass!!!"
Garp's voice was hoarse and deep, each word sounding as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.
"Unless you step over my dead body!!!"
Luffy did not slow down.
Instead, he sped up, his rubber legs creating two dents in the stone slab, and he launched himself forward.
His right fist clenched, and Armament Haki gathered on it.
The Haki color wasn't deep enough, nor pure enough, but it was already enough to unleash a real attack.
Garp watched as his grandson charged towards him.
I remember that little brat who was thrown into the valley behind the Foosha Village by him, crying and shouting, "The old man is so scary!"
I remember that little brat who ate and dashed at Dadan's house and got chased away.
I remember that kid standing on the dock shouting, "I want to be the Pirate King!"
He's throwing a punch at him now.
Garp closed his eyes.
His iron fist loosened.
Armament Haki dissipated from his fist.
Luffy's fist slammed into Garp's face.
The punch landed squarely on Garp's left cheek, the force of which sent Garp flying off the stone bridge.
He tumbled halfway through the air and crashed into the stone wall next to the Execution Platform, creating a huge dent.
Gravel fell down with a clatter.
Garp lay in the rubble, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.
He said something to himself, but didn't say it aloud.
" Luffy, Ace —I'm so sorry."
At this moment, no one is in more pain Garp.
One is an adopted grandson, and the other is a biological grandson.
He is a naval hero, but he is also a grandfather of two.
By choosing the navy, he was destined to lose his grandson.
But the one who actually threw that punch was Luffy, and the one who was actually sent flying was him.
Luffy didn't turn around.
He bypassed the spot where Garp had just been standing and rushed to the top of the Execution Platform.