Akainu's figure slowly withdrew from behind Garp.
The moment his lava-encased fist left Garp's body, the flesh was burned to a crisp, and a sickening smell of char permeated the air.
"Heh…"
Akainu chuckled lowly, his face twisted in a sneer.
"It's over."
He looked at Garp's pierced back, the killing intent in his eyes undiminished.
Traitors deserved to die.
Even if he was once a marine hero, he was now just a corpse.
But just as Akainu was about to turn around—
Garp moved.
He slowly straightened his body.
"Ha… haha…"
A low laugh escaped his throat.
The voice was hoarse, yet it carried a hint of madness.
Akainu's pupils suddenly contracted.
How could this be?!
"So many years have passed…"
Garp turned his head, a fervent fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
"You've made some progress, kid."
Akainu's face completely darkened.
"You…"
Garp stretched his shoulder, the pierced wound still bleeding.
He could clearly feel that his internal organs were almost cooked.
The high temperature of the lava almost carbonized his entire body.
As expected of the Devil Fruit with the strongest attack power.
"However…"
Garp grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
"This old man isn't finished yet!"
Akainu's rage was instantly ignited.
This bastard!
He still dared to laugh at this point?!
"Die!"
He roared, the lava all over his body boiling again.
Scalding magma coalesced on his arm, forming a burning giant fist that fiercely slammed towards Garp's head!
But Garp didn't even look.
He just stood there, head lowered, his body trembling slightly.
The next second.
A more violent aura erupted from within him!
"Eight Gates…"
Garp's voice was low, and the green steam on his body began to surge wildly.
"Second Gate…"
He suddenly raised his head, a 瘋狂光芒閃爍在他的眼中.
"The Gate of Healing, open!"
Boom—!
A jade-green energy storm instantly exploded!
The energy was denser and more violent than before!
Akainu's lava fist was still falling, but it was deflected by this shockwave!
"What?!"
Akainu was shocked, wanting to pull back his hand, but it was too late.
Garp's figure vanished from his original spot.
The speed was so fast that not even an afterimage was left!
The next moment.
Akainu felt a huge force impact his abdomen.
He lowered his head and saw only a fist wrapped in jade-green steam, imprinted on his stomach.
"Pfft—!"
Akainu spat out blood wildly, his entire body flying backward like a cannonball.
His body tumbled in mid-air, slamming heavily onto the ice, plowing a gully dozens of meters long.
"Cough… cough, cough…"
Akainu struggled to get up, but the sharp pain in his abdomen made his face pale.
That punch… almost shattered his internal organs!
He raised his head, staring intently at the figure bathed in jade-green light in the distance.
Garp stood there, his aura still climbing.
"It's still not enough!"
He roared to the sky, his voice shaking the entire battlefield.
"To bring Ace home!"
He clenched his fists, his muscles swelling.
"Third Gate…"
His voice grew higher and wilder.
"The Gate of Life, open!"
Boom—!!!
A jade-green energy storm exploded with him as the center!
The energy was almost tangible, forming visible ripples in the air that spread wildly in all directions!
The ice cracked!
The seawater surged back!
Countless Marines and pirates were shaken off their feet by this shockwave, retreating in droves!
"What… what kind of power is this?!"
"It's terrifying!"
"Is that old man… really human?!"
The Marine soldiers' eyes widened, their faces filled with fear.
Meanwhile, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates cheered excitedly.
"So strong!"
"As expected of Vice Admiral Garp!"
"That magma brat is finished now!"
Marco stared intently at the figure in the distance, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes.
This power… had already surpassed the realm of humans.
Kizaru also stopped his movements.
He scratched his head, his face full of entanglement.
"How terrifying…"
He muttered softly, looking at Garp with complex eyes.
How many trump cards did this old man still hide?
At this moment.
Akainu struggled to get up from the ground.
His face was pale, and blood constantly flowed from the corner of his mouth.
But in his eyes, a furious rage still burned.
"Garp…"
He growled, the lava all over his body boiling again.
"You traitor…"
He gritted his teeth, trying to condense a lava fist again.
But just then—
An unprecedented sense of crisis struck.
Akainu suddenly looked up, only to see Garp's figure already in front of him.
That speed… he couldn't react at all!
"When did—"
Akainu's pupils suddenly contracted.
Garp said nothing.
He just raised his fist, jade-green steam and lightning perfectly fused, coiling around his fist.
That power… made Akainu feel despair.
"Game over, kid."
Garp said in a low voice, without any emotion.
His fist slammed heavily into Akainu's abdomen.
Boom—!!!
A huge shockwave instantly exploded!
Akainu's body folded sharply, his lava-transformed body shattering inch by inch!
He spat out blood wildly, his eyeballs almost popping out!
"Ah ah ah ah—!!!"
Akainu let out a bloodcurdling scream, his entire body flying backward like a cannonball!
His body pierced through one wall of the Marine fortress!
Two layers!
Three layers!
Four layers!
Five layers!
Rumble—!!!
A tremendous crashing sound echoed throughout Marineford.
The fortress walls were continuously shattered, and dust rolled.
Akainu's figure completely disappeared from everyone's sight.
The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone's eyes were wide, their mouths agape enough to fit an egg.
They looked at the figure bathed in jade-green light.
They looked at the figure who had sent an Admiral flying with one punch.
Their minds were blank.
An Admiral… was one-shotted?
"Akainu… Admiral…"
A Marine soldier spoke tremblingly, his voice full of disbelief.
"With one punch…"
He swallowed, unable to utter the rest of the sentence.
Kizaru scratched his head.
"Tsk…"
He clicked his tongue lightly, his face full of helplessness.
This was really troublesome now.
Aokiji also stopped his movements.
He looked at the figure in the distance, a hint of complexity flashing in his eyes.
Mr. Garp… are you really going to be an enemy of the Marines?
Garp stood in place, jade-green steam surging around his body.
He looked down at his hands.
The skin on his fists had already begun to crack, blood seeping from between his fingers.
"What a pity…"
He murmured softly, a hint of regret in his voice.
"This state is already the limit."
The time was still too short.
From receiving the Eight Gates from White Night until now, it had only been a few days at most.
To be able to open the Third Gate in such a short time was already proof of his extraordinary talent.
But that was all.
The Fourth Gate, the Gate of Pain.
That was a true watershed.
After opening it, the body would begin to suffer irreversible damage… Mary Geoise.
The Holy Land of the World Government, the pinnacle of power.
Within the Empty Throne room.
It was perpetually shrouded in dim light, with the massive throne silently standing on a high platform.
In the empty hall, only faint candlelight flickered on the walls.
Suddenly.
A faint breathing sound came from the empty throne.
A figure slowly opened its eyes.
There was no emotion in those eyes, only bottomless indifference.
Imu.
The true ruler of this world.
His gaze penetrated space, penetrated illusion, and landed on the distant Marineford battlefield.
It landed on the figure bathed in jade-green steam.
"A different… kind of spark."
The voice was very soft, yet it echoed in the empty hall.
Imu's fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the throne, the rhythm slow and steady.
He could feel it.
That power did not belong to this world.
It was not a Devil Fruit.
It was not Haki.
Nor was it any known system.
It was… an external spark.
"Interesting."
Imu murmured softly, his voice devoid of any ripples.
His gaze lingered on Garp for a moment, then slowly moved away.
The next second.
In the Gorosei's office.
Five white-haired old men were gathered around a long table, discussing Ace's execution.
"Whitebeard has already moved, Sengoku should be able to handle it."
"Ace must die; this is the best opportunity to declare Marine justice to the whole world."
"Roger's bloodline must not remain in this world."
The old men's voices were low, their tones full of ruthlessness.
But just then.
All five stopped their movements simultaneously.
Their expressions changed slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.
It was an invisible summons.
From that Adult.
The Gorosei exchanged glances, and without any hesitation, they all rose.
A moment later.
Within the Empty Throne room.
The five old men knelt before the throne, heads bowed, their posture of utmost reverence.
"Adult."
They spoke in unison, their voices filled with awe.
Imu said nothing.
He just sat there, his fingers continuing to tap the armrest.
After a long time.
He slowly spoke.
"Use the power of the World Government to support the Marines."
The Gorosei were all stunned.