"Ian, you're really wicked, aren't you?"
On the terrace of Onigashima's main keep.
Seated comfortably on a cushion, Ian sipped sake alongside two small dishes of appetizers. At Hancock's words, he turned his head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You deliberately sent Aokiji to block the Iron Fist, Garp."
Hancock, with her elaborate coiffed hair and a dazzling kimono, leaned gently against his shoulder.
Before others, she was always cold as ice, stingy with even the faintest smile. Yet now, her expression was soft and alluring, as if it might melt into liquid sweetness.
"Isn't it because you just want to see master and disciple clash?"
"Of course. It's far too entertaining to miss."
Ian chuckled softly. "When a teacher and student, whose paths in life have long since diverged, finally face each other in battle—it feels like fate, doesn't it?"
That was why he had ordered Kuzan to withdraw from Elbaf in haste and join the forces marching toward the North Blue.
"But Ian…"
Hancock's voice carried a trace of worry. "If the Charlotte Family joins forces with the Navy, then the White-Haired Girl and the others may be in real danger."
This time, the Beasts Pirates had mobilized an overwhelming force. Without exaggeration, their might rivaled that of the former Emperors' crews.
However, both the Charlotte Family and the Navy had dispatched formidable forces as well.
Facing either one alone wouldn't be a problem—but if the two powers combined, then Yamato and the others would struggle to withstand them.
"There's no need to worry."
Ian smiled. "I've already given Jack his orders. He knows what to do."
"It's simple, really. Do you honestly believe Linlin has the resolve to fight us to the death?"
Hancock said nothing more. Instead, her beautiful face gently rubbed against Ian's shoulder, her silence sweeter than any words.
North Blue, Kingdom of Stini.
"Oi, oi, oi! You've got to be kidding me!!"
Within the vast jungle conjured by Green Bull, Perospero craned his neck in disbelief. "Aokiji… actually joined the Beasts Pirates?!"
"You've got to be kidding! That guy was once a Marine Admiral!!"
Even if he's a former Admiral, he's still an Admiral!
Someone of that level already has one foot on top of the world—it's unthinkable that he'd join the crew of a pirate!
Even if he really wanted to align with a force, shouldn't he have joined his teacher's NEO Marines instead?
How could he end up under the Beast Pirates, who have nothing to do with him at all?
The shock of this news was no less than when it was revealed that Bullet had joined Ian's ranks!
"Kuzan… that previous Admiral?"
Green Bull roared in frustration, "Has he completely thrown away the justice he once believed in?!"
"Just imagine how disappointed Sakazuki-san must be!"
He always held the same Admiral, Akainu, in the highest regard.
"Kuzan!!"
But the one most shaken by this was, of course, Iron Fist Garp.
"Never in my life did I think my prized disciple would one day become a pirate!"
And not just any pirate—he became the subordinate of the most terrifying pirate in the world!
"This must be what they call the irony of fate, Garp-san."
Kuzan scratched the back of his head, his tone lacking any real embarrassment. "I just think that within the Beast Pirates, I might be able to find what I'm searching for."
"Utter foolishness!!"
Garp roared with fury. "Standing alongside criminals—you'll gain nothing but corruption!"
"Garp-san," Kuzan let out a quiet sigh. "How high and mighty you sound."
"Haven't you realized it yet? This surging tide—the tide stirred up by the Beast Pirates."
"Ha ha ha ha!!"
Bullet burst into wild laughter. "Enough chatter! If you've got the guts, then come at me together!!"
His massive fists, like twin mountains, were wrapped in overwhelming Haki.
With power that split the sky and shook the air itself, he swung them down with unstoppable force toward both Iron Fist Garp and Charlotte Linlin.
"You damned brat!!"
Garp was furious.
The loss of the Road Poneglyph had already made his blood boil, and seeing his disciple's fall was like adding fuel to the fire.
His rage turned into strength. On his tightly clenched right fist, Haki surged wildly, crackling like lightning as it jumped and sparked.
It was only Armament Haki wrapped around his fist, yet no one dared underestimate its destructive power.
"Supernova Impact!"
With all his might, Garp launched a punch that pierced through the sky. It was like a supernova exploding, radiating with infinite force.
"Mama's Assault!!"
Big Mom, who was equally enraged over the stolen Road Poneglyph, roared with fury and swung her massive blade down with all her strength.
Compared to Garp's fist wrapped only in Armament Haki, her weapon carried the added weight of Conqueror's Haki.
Though the difference in raw power wasn't overwhelming, the storm of crackling lightning from her Conqueror's Haki was far more ferocious!
Boom!!
The two monsters clashed against Bullet's colossal fists.
In an instant, even the sky trembled. The violent shockwaves turned into raging winds, sweeping across everything on the ground. The sturdy trees created by Green Bull were bent flat against the earth.
Rumble!
The deafening sound echoed as even the enormous giant form of Douglas Bullet was forced back under their terrifying assault. Deep cracks were blasted into his mighty fists.
"Hahahaha! Excellent!!"
Even as he staggered back, Bullet only laughed louder. "Now this is a fight!!"
The massive cannon on his chest fired beams in an instant, forcing Garp and Big Mom to defend instead of pressing forward.
And in that moment, Bullet's fists came crashing down once again.
"Ultimate Cannon!!"
His colossal fists hammered down like cannons that could shatter the world, blasting Garp and Charlotte Linlin back through the air.
"Hahaha! Who can stop me!!"
For a moment, Bullet had the upper hand, and his wild laughter spread like a storm.
"Such a massive body… I wonder how heavy it is. Let me add a little more weight for you."
Fujitora, riding a flying rock into the sky, silently swung his cane-sword. "Hell Voyage!"
Boom!!
The ground beneath the giant collapsed instantly.
The giant was already ridiculously heavy, and now, under Fujitora's gravity amplification, the earth could no longer support him.
In the next instant, he was nearly sinking into the ground.
"Ugh!"
Jack and the others on the giant's head were also affected by the gravity. Almost instantly, both Jack and Black Maria were about to collapse to the ground.
"Gravity?"
Jack struggled to lift his head. "As expected of a Marine Admiral… his abilities and strength are truly astonishing!"
Even an Admiral was no match for Ian.
But that didn't mean they weren't strong.
And now, it seemed like this guy's ability could counter Bullet!
**********
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