Chapter 525: Elder Centipede
Da da da!
Rapid footsteps echoed at the edge of the Competitive Canyon.
Garp swiftly reached the base of a cliff. With a powerful leap, he ascended hundreds of meters to stand beneath a massive centipede coiled on the rocky surface.
Clatter!
As he began to descend, the Steel Rock Monster caught him with its hovering body. It then rose slowly, bringing Garp face-to-face with the giant centipede.
"Dragon, you're really hard to find!" Garp said. "You left your son with me and vanished without a trace. You're quite the irresponsible father!"
"I—" Dragon, his face obscured by a dark green coat and hat, managed only a single word before being interrupted.
Tear! Tear!
A fierce wind surged. Garp's right hand, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, crackled with lightning.
"Hahaha! Enough nonsense. Let me land a punch first, then we'll talk!" Garp said, leaping forward with a fist radiating terrifying force toward Dragon.
Dragon's face, hidden under the hood, twitched slightly. He hadn't expected his father's greeting to be so unrestrained this time. Did leaving Luffy in his father's care cause such resentment?
But there was no time to dwell on it, Garp's fist felt even more formidable than before.
Dragon didn't dare meet it head-on.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The surrounding air howled as a translucent wind dragon coiled around Dragon, enveloping him. Raising his right hand in a three-clawed stance, he summoned the roar of a wind dragon from the void, its claws aligning with his palm.
"Dragon Claw Fist: Mad Dragon King!"
His trained claws, capable of crushing tyrannical power, erupted instantly.
Rumble!
Garp's incoming strike collided with Dragon's claws, sending a deafening explosion through the sky. A massive shockwave rippled outward.
As the shockwave spread, the cliffs beneath and around them remained unscathed, as if the impact were mere waves crashing against a rock. The wind dispersed, and Garp's Conqueror's Haki, stirred by Dragon's wind, shot upward, splitting the clouds and cracking the sky.
The commotion drew some attention, but most eyes remained fixed on the three guardian Mythical beasts, where battles were also erupting. Compared to the clash between a legendary Marine and the Revolutionary Army's leader, the demigod-level fights against the terrifying Mythical beasts were far more captivating.
"Hahaha! Dragon, your strength has improved a lot!" Garp said with a laugh, increasing his force to push Dragon back several steps before landing back on the Steel Rock Monster's palm.
Dragon, hearing Garp's praise, lowered his trembling hand. His father's Conqueror's Haki was even more impressive than his own progress. The holy light potion's effects were remarkable, enhancing even Garp's already formidable strength.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A rotating wind formed a vortex around Dragon. Only then did he speak again. "Father, how is Luffy doing?"
Garp grinned broadly. "Hahaha, you haven't forgotten your son, it seems! Don't worry, my grandson is full of energy, though he's a bit annoying, always crying. It makes my fists itch."
Dragon's face twitched again. Luffy's tears likely weren't just because of him. He recalled how Garp used to tease him relentlessly as a child.
"Father—" Dragon began, but before he could finish, the giant centipede beneath them interrupted their heartfelt exchange.
"You two, why aren't you fighting?" the centipede said. "Let me remind you, this is the spectator area. If you want to fight, go down below. Otherwise, that Eight Snakes guy might come and cause trouble."
Garp was startled. Eight Snakes? And a rugged cliff like this was considered a spectator area? He glanced around, surprised by the centipede's claim.
Sensing Garp's confusion, the centipede continued, "This Competitive Canyon is where Mythical beasts duel. Usually, spectators, other Mythical beasts, watch from these cliffs. Some of them, like that big octopus over there, take up a lot of space."
Garp followed the centipede's gaze and spotted a massive orange octopus. It looked familiar—possibly the sea monster Kraken, which he'd heard of and seen at the ocean's depths. He hadn't expected it to become a Mythical beast on this island. The figure atop it gave Garp pause; their strength was rumored to rival a two-star gem hunter.
But, to be fair, Garp thought, the centipede itself took up plenty of space. He wanted to retort but held back.
The centipede, ignoring Garp's unspoken complaint, went on, "To be honest, if Dragon weren't my contractor, I wouldn't bother explaining. The Eight Snakes is the Lion Majesty down there. It's obsessed with the order set by the Yamata God Orochimaru. It's only because it's guarding the barrier during this special period that it hasn't come up here to scold you. Otherwise, you'd be in deep trouble for fighting here."
Garp blinked, momentarily speechless. Trouble? He was a legendary Marine, a hero of the seas from the old era, the pinnacle of power. Why would he worry about this?
Zira! Zira!
He glanced at the large swath of land below, corroded by glowing purple smoke, and felt an inexplicable pang of unease. Garp forced a smile. Fine, he thought. When in someone else's territory, it was only polite to follow their rules—not out of cowardice, but courtesy.
"Dragon, it seems you've gained something from this Mythical Beast Island. Why don't you introduce this big centipede?" Garp said, eyeing the massive creature at Dragon's feet. Its carapace gleamed with black and red armor, striking and imposing up close. Garp found it far more appealing than his own Steel Rock Monster, which resembled a lump of steel.
Dragon, seeing Garp's eager expression, sighed helplessly. His father's carefree nature was unchanged, and he hoped Luffy wouldn't grow up to mirror his grandfather's recklessness.
Soon, introductions were made. Garp's Steel Rock Monster and Dragon's Mythical beast, named Elder Centipede, were both contracted through Mythical Beast Contract Stones using equal contracts.
(End of this chapter)