Mihawk's curses and insults? Jack was completely unaware of them. If he had known, he might have turned around just to give Mihawk a lesson in personal conduct.
After obliterating a Marine base at G-3, Jack finally pinpointed Garp's location.
At the same time, Marine Headquarters also received word of Jack's movements. Akainu, who was in the middle of a mission debriefing, immediately stepped forward to request permission from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"I'll bring Jack in myself."
With unwavering confidence, Akainu set sail aboard a battleship.
"What's this nonsense about having a body like Kaido's?" he scoffed. "Even Kaido himself has been captured before!"
Sure, it took several people to do it, and sure, Kaido eventually escaped—but he, Akainu, had wounded him in battle!
"I am not like that slacker Borsalino who just wants to get by, nor am I like Kuzan, who'd rather sleep his way through work! I, Sakazuki, will never be inferior to anyone! No matter the opponent, I will uphold justice!"
"I will never coexist with evil!"
As Akainu departed, Sengoku turned to leave as well, only to hear Tsuru's calm voice from beside him.
"Sending only Sakazuki… Will he be able to take down Jack alongside Garp?"
"There was a report recently," she continued. "Jack ate two Devil Fruits. One of them is the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku."
"That should've belonged to Weevil."
"No idea how he managed it, but the intel is solid. Mihawk confirmed it himself."
"Mihawk? If he's being this cooperative, he must've suffered quite a bit at Jack's hands."
"I heard the entire Red-Haired Pirates had to mobilize to defeat Jack," Tsuru added. "And their strength is nothing to scoff at."
"But still…"
"Tsuru."
Sengoku turned to her with a firm gaze. "That fool Garp might be unreliable, but never forget his strength."
"The Hero of the Marines. Iron Fist Garp."
"You and I both know exactly how powerful he is."
"Tch. I really envy that bastard. He's getting old, but aside from his appearance, it's like nothing about him has changed."
Tsuru chuckled. "Heh, that's true… That ridiculous man."
After hearing that a base had been destroyed, Garp—who had been resting on an island—quickly learned that Jack was looking for him. Without hesitation, he ordered the surviving Marines to relay his location and had his subordinates leave on their battleship.
Leaning back, Garp casually chewed on a piece of roasted meat, waiting for Jack's arrival. He didn't need to think too hard about why Jack was after him. Kaido had done the same before—seeking him out just to pick a fight.
He knew these battles probably had something to do with their unique bodies, but that didn't mean he could refuse.
"Tch. This brat really does take after Kaido."
"But that bastard learned his lesson after I pounded him into the ground twice. He never dared to provoke me again!"
"I wonder how many rounds you'll last, kid?"
"This time, I'll make sure you never forget it!"
He didn't have to wait long. Right after finishing his meal and taking a trip to the restroom, a massive pink elephant flapped its tiny pink wings and flew toward him.
"GARP, HERO OF THE MARINES! I'M HERE FOR REVENGE!"
For a brief moment, Garp simply stared, struggling to process what he was looking at. But as soon as he recognized the voice, he burst into laughter.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Jack, you brat! What the hell happened to you?!"
"Pink? I gotta say, it suits you!"
"But those tiny wings—what's up with that? They look so damn ridiculous!"
"BAHAHAHAHA! I'm dying over here!"
Jack fumed as Garp clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he could barely stand.
"Enough!" Jack roared, flames flickering in his mouth. "Heat Breath!"
"Hmm?"
BOOM!
The sand beneath Garp's feet vaporized in an instant. As Jack surveyed the scene, Garp's figure suddenly appeared above him, his fist cloaked in pitch-black Haki.
BAM!
With a single punch, the enormous flying elephant was sent crashing into the ground, toppling trees and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Hmph…"
Jack shifted into his hybrid form, shaking off the impact. He looked up at Garp and grinned.
"Still got that punch, old man."
"You ever think about becoming a brand ambassador for all those stamina supplements? Seems like a wasted opportunity."
Garp cracked his knuckles, a chorus of cracks and pops echoing from his fists.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA! Quit running your mouth, brat!"
"You came looking for a fight, didn't you? Then come on!"
Jack dusted off his clothes and sneered. "Tch. I respect my elders—I'll let you have three free shots."
"You brat! Don't get cocky!"
Garp's eye twitched as he lunged at Jack in fury.
"You think I'm past my prime?!"
BAM!
Jack skidded back dozens of meters before finally stopping. He grinned.
"You call yourself 'old man' all the time. Isn't that proof enough?"
"I'll never understand you old-timers. You, Whitebeard—you're both pushing retirement age, yet you refuse to step back and let the next generation take over."
"What's the pay like, huh? Is it really worth it?"
"Or do you just have no heirs? No sons, no grandsons to carry on your legacy?"
For a moment, Garp's face turned red as he thought of a certain someone.
"Oi, you still owe me one more punch, don't you?" Jack taunted. "What's wrong, Grandpa Garp?"
After a long silence, Garp's expression hardened. His voice turned cold.
"You really are an arrogant brat."
"You wanna see my Iron Fist?"
"Do you even know why they call it that?"
Jack flinched as he felt the pressure around him intensify.
"…Wait, this feeling…"
His eyes widened in shock.
"Conqueror's Haki?!"
Garp laughed. "What, surprised?"
"Your strength has improved, I'll give you that."
"But you're still a hundred years too early to act tough in front of me, brat!"
"Iron Fist!"
BOOM!
A black lightning bolt split the sky. Garp vanished from sight, reappearing in front of Jack in an instant, fist crashing down.
BAM!
A deafening crack split the air. The ground shattered, the forest collapsed, and Jack—coughing up blood—was sent flying hundreds of meters.
As he struggled to his feet, a memory flashed in his mind—Shanks' strike from that fateful day.
"This bastard…"
"He's mastered both Armament and Conqueror's Haki to the peak."
"…So this is the Hero of the Marines."
"I finally understand why Kaido calls him the strongest force in the Navy."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg