Chapter 173: The Capture of Hina (3)
"How should we handle it if Esdeath gets the upper hand?" Although Kurumi deeply disliked Esdeath, she didn't want to see her comrades killed.
"If we intervene before the battle ends, I feel like even I would end up getting beaten by Esdeath..." Eric sighed. He didn't want Esdeath to get hurt, but he also didn't want to get beaten for no reason.
'Also, the mission's specific requirement is to show Hina my heroic combat figure. Why is Esdeath taking the lead?' Eric couldn't figure it out.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Esdeath's famous sword clashed against Garp 's iron fists, with the sound of steel meeting steel echoing in the air.
"Ha!"
With immense force, Garp 's punch flew toward Esdeath.
Esdeath blocked with the back of her sword with her left palm, and tightly gripped the sword handle with her right hand, using both hands to resist the punch's weight. However, she still couldn't withstand the force.
Esdeath's feet left the ground, and the sensation of weightlessness hit her as she was sent flying by the immense upward force.
"Ha, not strong enough! Little girl!" Garp stepped through the air, swiftly closing in on Esdeath, who was struggling in mid-air.
"Hmph!"
With a cold grunt, Esdeath quickly created several ice blocks in mid-air.
"Tap, tap" White boots lightly tapped the ice blocks, adjusting her position in the air.
"Take this, Gray Ice Horn!" A blue ice wall surged from the ice blocks at her feet, shooting toward Garp , who was rushing toward her.
"Not bad! You can even create stepping points in mid-air."
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The blue ice spears were knocked away one by one by Garp 's fists.
"The strength of your Haki isn't enough! Little girl."
The distance between them continued to shrink.
"Hailstorm Leap Strike!" With a sharp snap of her fingers, Esdeath formed a giant ice block behind her.
"Oh?" Garp said lightly, "You're quite capable."
It was hard to tell whether he was mocking or complimenting her, but Garp kept a light smile on his face.
"Fist Bone: Shatter!"
As Garp prepared to punch through the massive ice block, which looked like a falling meteor, Esdeath danced around it using her Moonwalk, holding her famous sword and heading straight for Garp 's back.
"You know how to use Moonwalk, but you didn't use it earlier. Did you intentionally let me think you couldn't use it, to surprise me with an attack at a critical moment?"
Garp calmly responded to Esdeath's attack, using his left fist to block her sword.
"Boom!"
The huge ice block above their heads shattered, sending countless ice shards falling onto the two of them.
The sword of Esdeath, which had clashed with Garp 's left fist, bent at a tremendous angle, making everyone worry it might break.
"White Ice Meteor!"
The ice blocks that were previously falling freely were now propelled by Esdeath and aimed directly at Garp , who was engaged with her.
"Hmm?" Caught off guard, Garp was suddenly showered with ice shards that were only inches away.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The continuous impact of the ice shattered the air, and Esdeath took the opportunity to distance herself from Garp .
Standing below and watching the fight, Hina anxiously shouted, "Vice Admiral Garp !"
"Don't worry, Vice Admiral Garp 's breathing is stable. He's not someone who'll easily die." Hina didn't expect to be comforted by the very person she had been trying to capture.
Hina glared at Eric, "Is it really okay for you to comfort the enemy like that?"
Eric shrugged, "I didn't do anything to you before, as for what happened with the urination..."
"Shut up!!" Hina shouted, using all her strength to cut Eric off.
If Eric mentioned the incident about her wetting herself, she would never be able to hold her head up in front of these people again in the future, unless she captured everyone present today.
"Hmm?" Kurumi's Eric radar started to activate, "What? You two met alone before?"
"...No." Eric immediately realized some things couldn't be said aloud and apologized, "I really did it on purpose last time."
Hina angrily yelled, "…It was on purpose, you scumbag!"
The others: "What did you do on purpose?"
"??" Eric realized his mistake and quickly corrected himself, "I misspoke, I really didn't do it on purpose!"
"Do you think I'd believe you?!"
Seeing things spiraling out of control, Eric closed his mouth and stayed silent.
"No words left, huh? You really are a bastard!"
"…"
" Hina will definitely capture you!"
"That's impossible." Eric looked up at the sky, and the white ice mist dissipated, revealing Garp 's figure.
Garp 's white suit had some holes, revealing his blue shirt underneath.
"Thud, thud," the two of them landed one after the other.
Esdeath's shoulders were heaving, and she was breathing heavily, her vast use of Haki had drained faster than her recovery rate.
"Is that it?" Garp tugged at his suit, tearing it off. "This fight isn't even a warm-up."
"Esdeath, it's your turn to rest!" Eric flashed next to Esdeath, "This old man has plenty of stamina, so you can rest and fight again after you're ready."
"..." Esdeath looked at Garp from across the battlefield, her face calm, breathing steady, and without skipping a beat, she nodded in agreement.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Garp said in dissatisfaction, "You kid, you're too inconsiderate of the elderly!"
"Here!" Eric tossed something to Garp , "Use this to recover your stamina."
"Hmm?" Garp didn't worry about Eric trying to trick him and casually caught it.
The bag made a faint "sizz" sound as Garp 's large hand tore it open.
"Oh! Isn't this Senbei?"
Eric provocatively said, "Hmm. What's the matter? Vice Admiral Garp , are you brave enough to eat it?"
Before Eric could finish his sentence, Garp quickly tossed a piece of Senbei into his mouth, chewing it loudly, "Crunch, crunch."
"You can't just eat Senbei, you need tea with it." Garp looked at Eric's empty hands, "Tch, no tea? You're unprepared, kid."
Eric: "…"
Not only Hina but even Eric's group was left speechless by Garp 's behavior.
Hina could only step forward to advise, "You should at least be wary of the enemy poisoning the food, Vice Admiral Garp !"
She finally understood why Garp 's subordinates always seemed so exhausted and sighed for no reason.
"This kid wouldn't poison the food. He's not that kind of sneaky villain."
"He's a sneaky villain," Hina gritted her teeth, "And a despicable, shameless scum!"
Garp stared at her, lowered his head, and leaned in, whispering, "What did this little brat do to you? Did he abandon you after messing with you?"
"No!" Hina denied vehemently.
"Eh~" Eric suddenly put on an acting performance, "It's not Hina's fault, it's mine. I promised her that when I got rich, I'd go back to my hometown and marry her..."
The women behind Eric exchanged suspicious glances, shifting back and forth between Eric and Hina.
" Hina didn't!" Hina's furious red face appeared even more like a bashful expression in front of everyone.
"But who would have thought that fate would turn, and I became a wanted criminal of the World Government while she became a Navy Lieutenant. We'll never be together again..." Eric dramatically continued, placing his left hand over his chest and his right hand extended forward, as if reaching for Hina's right hand.
After finishing this speech, Eric scratched his head and apologized, "Sorry, I couldn't continue the act."
The group, eagerly listening for gossip, immediately collapsed to the ground.
The only ones who weren't fooled were Kurumi and the calm Scáthach , who exchanged glances.
Hina angrily shouted, " Hina is going to kill you!"
(END CHAPTER)
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