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Chapter 83: Koby's Intervention, Sent Flying with One Punch
Garp slowly raised his head. The jade-green steam roiled around him, and lightning danced on his skin. He looked into the distance, in the direction where he had punched Akainu through several walls. That kid.
"Hoo..."
Garp let out a heavy breath.
The scene from before he entered the dungeon flashed in his mind. Akainu's fist pierced Ace's chest. The flames were extinguished, the blood evaporated. That kid smiled, saying, "Thank you for loving me," and then collapsed in Luffy's arms.
That was supposed to be this world's future. It was an ending he could not accept.
"That damn magma brat..." Garp gritted his teeth, the green steam churning wildly around him. Since it had already come to this... why not go all the way?
Suddenly! Garp snapped his head up. In that instant, every hair on his body stood on end. An indescribable pressure came from the void. It felt as if he was being watched by some supreme existence. It wasn't Sengoku. It wasn't the Three Admirals. It wasn't Whitebeard. It was... something higher.
"This is..." Garp's breathing grew heavy. He could clearly feel the gaze... piercing space, piercing everything... landing right on him. There was no malice. No killing intent. Only... pure scrutiny. It was like looking at an interesting toy.
"Damn it..." Garp gritted his teeth, the green steam around him fluctuating violently. He didn't know where the gaze came from, but his instincts told him: he had to end this fast! No more delays!
He turned, looking at the boy on the distant platform, bound in Seastone.
"Ace!"
Garp's voice exploded across the battlefield.
Ace snapped his head up, his vision blurred with tears.
"Grandpa..."
Garp grinned.
"I'm here to take you home!"
His voice fell. His figure became a green flash, rushing toward Ace. On the ruins of the platform, Ace was still chained. Garp grabbed his collar, lifting him.
"Grandpa?!"
Ace's eyes were wide.
Garp didn't speak. He just glanced at Ace, then turned, and threw him toward Whitebeard. "Go on, kid." He threw Ace... straight at Whitebeard!
"Newgate!"
Garp roared.
"Catch your son!"
Whitebeard froze for a second, then laughed.
"Gurarara!"
He caught Ace, his old, wrinkled face full of relief.
"Well done, Garp!"
"Pops!"
Ace's voice trembled.
Whitebeard looked down at him, his eyes soft.
"Gurarara..."
He laughed softly.
"Don't worry, Ace."
"Pops won't let anything happen to you."
Marine Garp stood aside, watching Ace in Whitebeard's hands, silent. He didn't move. He just stood there, his gaze complex, watching the figure in green light. That was another him. A him that chose a different path.
"He's really..."
Marine Garp muttered.
"...insane."
And now, Garp had turned. His gaze locked onto Akainu's trajectory. Green steam roiled, and lightning danced on his skin.
"Kid."
Garp's voice was low.
"I'm not done playing yet."
His voice fell. His figure vanished. So fast, only an afterimage. The ice shattered, the sea recoiled. Garp became a green streak, chasing Akainu.
BOOM—!!!
Garp's figure vanished. So fast, even Kizaru narrowed his eyes.
"How scary..."
Kizaru scratched his head.
"That speed... is it faster than light?"
Aokiji sighed.
"Mr. Garp... are you really going to go this far?"
Sengoku's face changed. "Not good!" He roared, trying to give chase. But Garp was too fast. Too fast to react. "Sakazuki is in danger!" Sengoku gritted his teeth, golden light exploding. He turned into a Buddha, chasing Garp. But it was too late. Garp was gone.
Garp, like a green flash, tore the air, heading for Akainu. The ice shattered under his feet, green steam trailing behind him. "Sakazuki!" Garp's roar shook Marineford. "I'm not done with you!"
He got faster, so fast the scenery distorted. The Marines only saw a green blur, their voices full of fear. "So fast..." "Is that humanly possible?" "Vice Admiral Garp... no, that traitor..."
And just then, a figure appeared in front of Garp. It was a pink-haired boy. His face was covered in tears, his body trembling, but he still spread his arms, blocking Garp's path.
"Stop!"
The boy shrieked.
"Please, stop!"
Garp's figure stopped. He stopped, green steam rolling.
"Get lost."
Garp's voice was low.
"I don't have time for this."
The boy gritted his teeth, tears streaming.
"No!"
His voice trembled, but was firm.
"You've already done enough!"
"If this continues..."
He took a deep breath, his voice pained.
"If this continues, everyone will die!"
"The Marines will die!"
"The pirates will die!"
"This war... is meaningless!"
The boy's words echoed. Garp stared at him. Green steam... lightning...
"Who are you?"
Garp's voice was flat.
The boy froze.
"I... I'm Koby!"
He shouted.
"Marine Headquarters Master Chief Petty Officer (CPO), Koby!"
Garp narrowed his eyes. Koby? The name... I've never heard it.
"I don't know you."
Garp said lightly.
"And I don't want to."
He raised his hand.
"Last chance."
"Get lost."
Koby's body trembled. He could feel the terrifying aura... It made his soul scream. But he gritted his teeth, and didn't move.
"No!"
Koby roared.
"I can't let you continue!"
"This war..."
His voice choked.
"This war is already over!"
"Mr. Ace has been saved!"
"The Marines have lost!"
"If this continues... more people will die!"
Koby's words were full of anguish. He looked at the bodies on the ice. Marines. And pirates. They were all dead. For this meaningless war.
"So..."
Koby looked up, his vision blurred.
"So please... stop!"
"Don't kill any more people!"
Garp was silent. He looked at this pink-haired boy. He looked at his tear-filled eyes. After a moment, Garp suddenly smiled.
"What an interesting kid."
He said lowly.
"But..."
His smile vanished.
"I refuse."
His voice fell. Garp raised his hand, and slapped him.
SMACK—!
A crisp sound exploded. Koby's body was sent flying like a cannonball. He tumbled, smashing into the ice, plowing a long trench.
"Koby!"
Helmeppo's cry came from the distance.
Garp didn't look back. He just stood there, watching.
"I don't know you."
His voice was soft.
"And I don't care what you think."
"I only know..."
He turned, and continued toward Akainu.
"That magma brat... almost killed my grandson."
"So..."
The green steam exploded.
"I'm going to make him pay."
His voice fell. Garp's figure vanished again. Faster than before. So fast, he tore the air. BOOM—!!! A sonic boom exploded. Garp became a green streak, shooting toward Akainu. The ice shattered. The sea recoiled. Countless Marines were thrown off balance.
"That bastard..."
Kizaru scratched his head.
"He won't even spare a kid?"
Aokiji sighed.
"Mr. Garp... you've really changed."