Aboard the Red Force.
"Boss, there are Marines ahead," Beckman said, exhaling a perfect smoke ring. "We're blocked. There's no way around them."
"Hm…"
Shanks fell silent for a moment. "Then we push through!"
No matter what, he had to stop the war that was about to shake the world.
The sails of the Red Force caught the sea wind, and the ship surged forward like a crimson arrow, cutting through the chaotic waves.
Soon, a wall of ten massive Marine warships loomed ahead a steel barricade blocking their path.
The lead ship stood out dramatically.
A massive dog-shaped figure roared silently against the crashing waves.
"This ship… could it be…"
Shanks and Beckman exchanged glances, seeing mutual shock reflected in each other's eyes.
At that moment, a hulking figure leapt from the dog-headed ship!
In an instant, he appeared above the Red Force.
"Puhahaha!"
His wild, unrestrained laughter rolled like thunder across the sky.
Scarlet and black Haki crackled violently around Garp!
"Red-haired brat, catch this!"
He hurled a massive punch toward the Red-Haired Pirates.
"Fist Impact!"
On the dog-headed ship, Luffy watched the punch descend and froze completely.
His mind went blank…
Compared to this, the punch his grandfather gave him in the East Blue… that wasn't a punch at all.
That had been a gentle touch of love.
This punch, however… was the true power of his grandfather!
Aboard the Red Force, Shanks' pupils contracted sharply.
That figure. That voice.
Impossible!
Standing in their path was Garp, the Marine hero who had chased Gol D. Roger across the world.
How could he be here?!
No time to think, Shanks shouted, "Avoid it!"
He drew his famed sword, Griffin, and leapt to the bow.
He could feel Garp's attack locking onto the entire ship. There was nowhere to hide.
The only way was to break through it head-on.
Scarlet Haki surged from within him like wildfire, enveloping the blade completely.
The edge of his sword glowed with a strange, blood-red aura.
"God's Evasion!"
Shanks unleashed a red slash against the terrifying punch!
"Boom!"
Scarlet sword energy collided violently with the black fist in midair.
A storm of destructive energy exploded, tearing the clouds apart!
Most of the punch's force was neutralized.
Still, stray blows rained down like meteors onto the sea around the Red Force, sending towering columns of water skyward.
The massive waves battered the ship, shaking it violently.
"Bang!"
Garp landed back on the dog-headed ship's deck.
He glanced at the Red Force, successfully blocked, and smirked.
"Red-haired brat, that move is nowhere near Roger's level!"
Shanks' grip on Griffin tightened slightly, his expression unreadable.
He could feel the pure, unrestrained anger radiating from Garp.
Was it because of Luffy?
Surely, he was angry with himself for inadvertently pushing Luffy onto the path of piracy.
With Garp here blocking them, today, escape might be impossible.
"Puhahaha!"
Garp grinned widely, but there was no joy in it only raw fury.
"Red-haired brat, ready to get beaten?"
His muscles bulged, veins popping, legs firmly planted. His aura surged once more.
Even stronger Haki now wrapped around his fists, crackling with scarlet lightning.
"Ha!"
Garp smashed his fists toward the sky!
In an instant, the sky was transformed.
Countless fist shadows, coated in black Armament Haki and crackling with scarlet lightning, filled the heavens completely.
There were ten times as many fists as before, and the force was multiplied.
"Boom!"
The fists plummeted toward the sea, each trailing long black streaks, turning the sky into a void of despair.
The entire sea shivered under this overwhelming pressure.
"Fist Impact: Meteor Storm!"
Shanks watched the sky-darkening barrage, his composure gone.
Cold sweat ran down his forehead.
Were they planning to trap the entire Red-Haired Pirates here?
He roared, "Get out of this sea immediately!"
The helm of the Red Force was slammed hard. The ship arced across the waves, trying to escape this death zone.
Shanks planted his foot firmly, propelling himself into the air like a red lightning bolt.
He hovered above, releasing multiple precise crimson slashes, like blood-red crescents cutting against the black meteor storm!
To protect the ship, Shanks abandoned all defense, exposing himself to the incoming barrage.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Red and black light collided violently above. Each clash unleashed a destructive storm of energy.
Even so, a few fists slipped past the barrier.
"Bang!"
Beckman raised his spear, the tip glowing with Haki, and shattered a fist midair that was about to strike the main mast.
"Retreat! Get the crew out of this sea!"
He shouted to the crew below, his calm replaced by grave urgency.
The clash ended quickly.
As the Red Force finally cleared the attack zone, Shanks descended slowly from the sky.
His breath was uneven, his black coat torn by the wind, and a streak of blood slid down his temple.
"Puhahaha!"
"Not bad, Red-haired brat! You can take a hit!"
Garp laughed heartily from the dog-headed ship.
"Come! Let's make this fun today!"
He assumed a stance, ready to unleash another meteor storm.
But then, a low rumble sounded.
A terrifying presence, full of brutality and destruction, swept across from another direction.
On the sea, a massive fleet appeared.
Countless pirate ships, menacing in design, advanced with overwhelming force.
"Wurooooo!"
A wild roar echoed from the flagship of the Beasts Pirates.
"Garp! Red Hair! How could I miss such a lively party!"
The world's strongest creature Kaido of the Beasts had arrived with his crew!
Garp lowered his fists and glanced at Tsuru beside him.
"Little Tsuru?"
She nodded calmly. "The battle at headquarters has started. Taking out the Whitebeard Pirates won't take long. According to plan, let one escape."
"Let one go…?"