Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 76: The Eight Inner Gates
ROAR!
The heaven-shaking roar, not a human voice, but like two magma beasts from the depths of hell, heralding the arrival of death!
Akainu's "Hound Blaze," in a form meant to incinerate all, lunged at Garp from both sides! The scalding magma fangs, before they even made contact, were already scorching and distorting the air, vaporizing the ice into a thick fog!
Facing this terrifying move, which could instantly melt a warship, the wild laugh on Garp's face did not recede!
"BWAHAHAHA!"
He didn't dodge. Instead, he stomped his feet and charged forward to meet them!
"Bring it on!"
He punched with both fists. His two massive iron fists were covered in Armament Haki so thick it was like ink. Violent blue-purple lightning danced outside the Haki, forming an armor of destructive light!
BOOM!!!
Lightning and fire!
Haki and magma!
The two lightning-wreathed iron fists, accurately and solidly, slammed into the two snarling magma hound heads!
There was no earth-shattering explosion.
Only a dull, heavy thud that made everyone's heart stop!
The next second, time seemed to slow.
On the heads of the two magma hounds, centered on the fists, a spiderweb of cracks appeared!
KRACHA, BANG!
The magma shattered, and fire shot into the sky!
The two unstoppable magma hounds... had been, by pure, brutish force, blown apart in mid-air by Garp!
A rain of magma, mixed with dark fragments, splashed in all directions!
"OOOOOOOHHHHH!"
On the Moby Dick, another tsunami of cheers erupted!
However, on the faces of Sengoku and Aokiji, there was no surprise.
The smoke cleared.
Garp's figure was still standing straight, but his arms... were charred black!
The Lightning Release Armour on his arms... had dimmed to its weakest point, letting out a faint crackle, as if it could go out at any second. Puffs of black smoke rose from his scorched skin, carrying the smell of burnt meat.
Taking Akainu's "Hound Blaze" head-on... even Garp, in his current state, had paid a price!
"Hmph!"
Akainu snorted, his face a mask of cruelty.
The moment Garp shattered the magma hounds, his aura faltered for an instant.
"Ice Ball!"
Aokiji's voice rang out, cold as ice.
Dozens of ice orbs, compressed from extreme cold, silently attacked from all directions, sealing Garp's escape routes!
At the same time, an invisible shockwave... blasted from Sengoku's direction, perfectly predicting Garp's dodge!
Teamwork!
Flawless teamwork!
Garp's expression, for the first time, turned grave.
The lightning on his body flashed. He turned into an afterimage, narrowly dodging most of the ice balls and the fatal shockwave.
But several ice balls... still slammed into his body!
KRAK!
The bone-chilling cold invaded his body. On his charred arms and chest, it left several deep, bone-visible ice wounds!
And Sengoku's shockwave... made his already churning blood... roil violently!
Garp's space... was shrinking.
His speed, under Aokiji's pervasive chill, was slowing.
The wounds on his body... were increasing.
Scorched burns, deep ice wounds, and internal bruises from the shockwaves...
The unstoppable monster, who had treated the Admirals as nothing, under the combined assault of the Marines' three strongest... was finally... showing weakness!
...
On the ruins of the execution platform.
Ace stared blankly at the back that was covered in wounds... all to protect him.
He looked at his charred arms.
He looked at the new wounds appearing on his body.
He looked at that spine, still ramrod straight, but trembling.
This man... was the Marine Hero.
He was his grandfather.
He was the grandpa who taught him with his "Fist of Love," but who would also bring back a whole wild boar from the forest when he was hungry.
He should have been on the other side of the world, receiving the admiration of millions.
But now... for him... for his "sinful blood"... he had betrayed everything. He was here, making an enemy of the world.
Why...
Why go this far...
A hot tear... slid from the corner of Ace's eye, splashing onto the cold ground.
Then a second, and a third...
The dam broke!
He could no longer suppress the pain and guilt in his heart. It was a despair that could tear his soul apart!
"Enough..."
His voice was hoarse and trembling.
"That's enough! Grandpa!"
He looked at that back, still fighting Akainu's magma, and used all his strength... to let out a heart-wrenching, sobbing scream!
"Go! Just go!"
"Don't worry about me!"
"I'm just a damned pirate! I'm Roger's son! I'm not worth this!"
"Please... just go!!!"
This desperate cry... was like an invisible hammer... slamming into the heart of everyone on the battlefield.
The charging Whitebeard commanders... faltered, their faces pained.
Marco, dueling Hawk-Eye, his blue flames dimmed for an instant.
And on the other battlefield.
The "Marine Garp," locked in his fated duel with Whitebeard... his iron fist, about to strike, trembled in mid-air.
The wild laugh on his face froze. His sharp eyes... flashed with an extreme, incomprehensible pain.
His fist... unconsciously... loosened.
"Gurarara..."
Whitebeard looked at his old rival's change. His low laugh... held a trace of empathy.
And on the highest battlefield.
Hearing Ace's cry... the "Pirate Garp's" movements... also paused for an instant.
It was this instant.
"Die!"
Akainu seized the fatal opening. A condensed magma fist... blasted toward Garp's chest!
However.
Garp... did something no one expected.
He didn't dodge. He didn't block.
Instead, he threw a punch... forcing Akainu back temporarily!
Then... he turned around, facing his back to the three strongest powers of the Marines, completely exposing himself to his enemies!
He looked back... at Ace, who was crying like a child.
His face, covered in blood and grime, held no pain, no anger... only the same... bastardly, yet incredibly warm... smile... from Foosha Village.
"BWAHAHAHA!"
He grinned, laughing, his voice drowning out the chaos of the battlefield!
"What stupid things are you saying!"
"I'm your grandpa!"
He used his good hand to scratch his messy white hair. He yelled, his voice full of "of course!"
"Your grandpa...!"
"Is here to take you home!"
His words... were iron!
Every single one... was like a brand... searing itself onto Ace's heart!
Finished.
Garp slowly turned back around. He once again faced the deathly grim faces of Sengoku, Akainu, and Aokiji.
His sharp eyes... all the mockery, all the wildness... was gone.
All that was left... was a pure... burning... madness!
"I'm not used to this move yet. I... didn't want to use it."
He muttered, his voice quiet, but they heard him.
His tone... held a trace of regret... and unshakeable resolve.
"What a shame..."
"What?"
Sengoku's heart... was suddenly seized... by a terrible premonition!
The next second!
GGarp took a deep breath. His muscles tensed, his bones letting out a series of pops!
A completely different power... exploded from his body!
It wasn't Haki!
It wasn't lightning!
It was... a green energy, full of life, from the deepest source of life itself!
VOOM!
A green aura... erupted from him!
All the wounds on his body... the burns, the ice... were healing at a visible rate!
The skin on his charred arms... flaked off, revealing new muscles, filled with explosive power!
His wrinkled old face... in the green glow... actually looked several years younger!
An aura... more terrifying, more violent than ever before... rose from him!
"What... What is this power?!"
Sengoku's pupils... shrank to their limit!
Garp slowly raised his head. His eyes... burned with a world-shaking, mad will!
He let out a roar... that would make the entire world tremble!
"Eight Inner Gates!"
"First Gate: Gate of Opening, OPEN!!!"