When Vic launched his second attack, Garp had already unleashed his Observation Haki. The sight of the reef being annihilated inch by inch in the laser as it was hit completely astonished him; this power surpassed that of most attacks by Marine Admiral!
And this was just a casual strike from Vic. He couldn't be sure if there was a more powerful attack, but it was highly likely that there was, because given Vic's personality, he wouldn't use his strongest move right away.
Garp wasn't even sure if he could withstand Vic's strongest laser. This kid was terrifying! He'd casually developed such a frightening technique; he was truly a born Devil Fruit user! It would be a waste of his talent if he didn't eat Devil Fruit, Garp thought to himself, his gaze towards Vic brightening considerably. This was the future successor of the Navy!
" Vic! Promise me you won't use this trick to test me again, I'm scared!"
Rebecca's face was a little pale. Vic liked to test her abilities when he had nothing to do, so he could know where she was at in various aspects and whether she needed some guidance.
It could also improve her combat skills, but Rebecca was a little worried after seeing Vic use the laser. Vic usually used lightning to test her Armament Haki defense, so would he use that laser attack to test her again?
She had absolutely no confidence that she could withstand that. She estimated that her Armament Haki Hardening would instantly shatter, and then she would be melted by that beautiful laser. Just thinking about it was terrifying!
"Don't worry, this move is for the enemy. Testing you doesn't require using a sledgehammer, so don't be afraid!"
Vic knew the limits of lasers, so he naturally wouldn't use them on his own people. This thing was like a sharp sword that could quickly extend and retract, and if it pierced you, it would leave a hole; if it was sliced through, it would break in two. It was far too sharp!
If it weren't for the Black Blade or the Haki binding it, even Supreme Great Grade Sword would be instantly cut in half, and even with sufficient Haki, it wouldn't be able to withstand the Haki!
Although the Supreme Great Grade Sword are the highest quality weapons, they are still still within the realm of metal. Just like Zoro's Yubashiri was instantly corroded by the Rust-Rust Fruit, this is a characteristic of metal.
Supreme Great Grade Sword are man-made. Humans have a limit to the temperature of anything they can create. What difference is there between such a metal weapon and paper under Vic's laser? To say it can cut through iron like mud is an exaggeration.
If you're swept by a laser, what's the difference between that and being slashed by the Black Blade Yoru? So Vic wouldn't use such a domineering move on his own people. He didn't even use it when he fought the old man, who was the pinnacle of Armament Haki. But Vic still didn't dare to try it easily. There were plenty of powerful pirates in the New World; he could just find them to test his skills on later.
"From now on, I won't need to lift a finger when we encounter pirate ships. My Fist Bone Meteor Shower is no match for your move. In terms of attack power and efficiency, you're still the best!"
Garp sighed, recalling that in the past, when he encountered pirate ships that didn't require his direct involvement, he would usually just throw cannonballs at them by hand and sink them.
However, after seeing Vic's laser, he knew that his own projectiles were inferior to Vic's in terms of speed, quantity, and destructive power. If he encountered a pirate ship, Vic might only need one laser to sink it, making it difficult to dodge. The laser could hit wherever it was pointed, and without special Devil Fruit abilities to defend or dodge, it was no different from hitting a stationary target.
"Hehe! Grandpa! I won't fight you for these things anymore. Let's save them for Grandpa to stretch his legs!"
Vic is now using lasers as a killing move; some small-time pirates aren't even worth his time. Besides, the old man is getting on in years, and as he gets older, his strength and power will decline over time!
Although the old man is a bit eccentric, it has some influence. Throwing cannonballs with bare hands is a way to train strength. It's not about making him stronger, but just maintaining his strength is good enough. Strength is like rowing against the current; if you don't move forward, you fall behind. Vic doesn't want the old man to fade away in the future!
"You little brat! Are you implying I'm old? Come on, let's go! Let's go to the island and have another go. I'll make you call me grandpa, or I'll be letting down my Iron Fist."
Garp raised his fist and breathed hot air in front of his mouth, as if he was ready to teach Vic a lesson at any moment, but he was just putting on an act. Although he could be a bit childish at times, he knew that Vic was thinking of him.
Although Whitebeard is now recognized as the World's Strongest Man, his old injuries have started to cause problems, and he often needs to use various medications to suppress them. Time waits for no one, and getting old is getting old; this is a reality that must be accepted!
However, he never succumbed to the inevitable experience of old age and physical decline, so he always worked hard to strengthen his body and keep it in peak condition.
Throwing cannonballs with his bare hands is one of them. In his youth, he would engage in close-quarters combat during battles. He usually ate and drank to his heart's content, which made him feel more exhilarated and suited his tastes. His combat strength also increased rapidly.
But things are different now. He needs to spend time maintaining his form now. The naval ceiling isn't something you can achieve by doing nothing; it requires effort!
"Grandpa! We just got back from a battle, let's forget about it. I'm just afraid that my moves were too powerful and wiped out all the pirates. That's not our Navy's ultimate goal!"
How can the Navy's power be demonstrated without any survivors? How can it deter those who are eager to become pirates?
Even under the old man's cannon fire, pirates still have a sliver of hope. Not only will they witness the power of the Navy, but they will also be deeply traumatized, potentially discouraging some from becoming pirates. This is truly a win-win situation."
Vic had just been hit, and although he hadn't fainted, he didn't want to be hit again right away.
"What you say makes some sense, but I feel there's something wrong with what you're saying. I just can't figure out where the problem lies. Can you all tell?"
Garp stroked his beard, Vic's words. He felt there were some problems, but couldn't pinpoint exactly what they were. He focused more on the Navy's ultimate goal and didn't think much about the first part.
Rebecca, Wendy, and Frodeku were also clueless and naturally couldn't answer. Barnett, on the other hand, knew what the problem was, but he kept it to himself. He was afraid that if he boasted in front of the old man, Vic would get another beating.
"Old man! You're overthinking it. I'm only doing this for the good of our navy. If there are fewer pirates, more ordinary people can survive, and that's the most important thing."