Chapter 74: The Hero's Fist
The dust from Garp's arrival swirled in the air. Admiral Kizaru felt the fierce, familiar aura, and so did Kaido. The Emperor's hybrid form tensed as he watched an old man, face like a thundercloud, shoot across the ruined plaza using the Navy's Moon Walk technique. He moved so fast he was almost a blur.
"Tsk… the old man's speed breaks the sound barrier," Satoru muttered, his Six Eyes tracking the movement perfectly. Even with his enhanced perception, he was reminded once again not to underestimate the raw physical power of this world's true monsters.
"KAIDO, YOU BRAT! IF YOU'VE HARMED MY GRANDSON, I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET IT!"
Garp's furious roar reached them before he did, the voice booming across the devastated base.
"Garp…" Kaido growled the name, his expression shifting from battle-fury to deep caution. Fighting the Yellow Monkey was one thing. But Garp… he knew this man. From his days as an apprentice on the Rocks Pirates, he had faced the Navy's "Hero." He knew exactly how much of a monstrous, relentless force Garp was. Even now, stronger than he had ever been, Kaido held no certainty of victory. And his current state was not peak. He was wounded, his energy depleted from the prolonged battle.
Kaido was not stupid. He calculated instantly. The fight was over. With a bestial snort, his hybrid form shifted. Scales erupted, his body lengthened, and in seconds, the massive, azure form of his dragon Zoan coiled into the sky. Without a single glance back, he flew away, his serpentine body vanishing into the clouds within moments.
Kizaru and Satoru stood amidst the wreckage, momentarily stunned.
"Well now… how unexpectedly prudent~" Kizaru remarked, his usual lazy tone laced with genuine surprise. They had expected a raging, final clash. Not a tactical retreat.
Seconds later, an afterimage slammed into the ground where Kaido had stood. The impact cratered the stone further. As the dust settled, Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp stood there, fists clenched, glaring at the empty sky.
"That damn dragon runs fast!" Garp barked, brushing debris from his shoulders. "If I'd caught him, I'd have pulled out his dragon tendons for a skipping rope!"
To others, Kaido was an Emperor, an untouchable peak. To Garp, he was still the troublesome rookie from the old days.
Having vented a bit, Garp turned. His eyes immediately found Satoru. He looked the boy up and down—clothes torn, covered in dirt and sweat, but standing firm with no major injuries. A wave of relief visibly washed over the old hero's face.
"Not bad," Garp said, walking over and landing a heavy, approving slap on Satoru's back that would have knocked a normal person over. "Holding your own against that brute Kaido. You've got my blood in you, boy!"
When the report of Kaido attacking G-8 had reached him, Garp's heart had clenched. His grandson was there.
"Tch. My strength is still too lacking," Satoru replied, clicking his tongue as he surveyed the utter ruin of his base. "Give me a couple more years. I'll skin that overgrown lizard myself."
"HAHAHA! That's the spirit!" Garp's laughter boomed. Then, his expression shifted. He turned his head, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Admiral Kizaru.
Kizaru felt the weight of that stare. He scratched his cheek idly, looking away at the destroyed headquarters building. "My, my…"
"Kizaru," Garp's voice was flat, a stark contrast to his earlier booming tone. "You've disappointed me."
"Oh?" Kizaru tilted his head, his voice a slow drawl. "How so, Vice Admiral?"
"A full Admiral. Couldn't even handle one Emperor properly." Garp crossed his massive arms. "You didn't just disappoint me. You disappointed every citizen who puts their faith in the Navy's strength."
It was likely only Garp who would dare call a Yonko "one Emperor" in such a dismissive tone. And Kizaru had a strong suspicion Garp's real disappointment wasn't about the citizens, but about the fact that Satoru had been put in danger on his watch. The man's favoritism was legendary.
"Looks like you need to go back to Zephyr for some remedial training," Garp grumbled.
"Ah, about that, Vice Admiral Garp…" Kizaru's body began to glimmer with golden light. "I just remembered some very pressing paperwork at Headquarters. We should… discuss this another time~"
In a flash of yellow light, the Admiral was gone, fleeing the scene at the speed of light.
"Hmph! Runs fast when it suits him," Garp snorted. "That's what's wrong with the new generation of Admirals…"
"Alright, old man, calm down," Satoru said, a tired grin on his face. He was starting to feel the massive strain of the battle. "Admiral Kizaru was plenty strong. Kaido is just… on another level."
"Bah. As long as you're alright, that's what matters," Garp said, his gruff voice softening.
The moment the words left his mouth, Satoru's eyes fluttered shut. The immense drain of using his Cursed Techniques, Advanced Conqueror's Haki, and surviving the clash with an Emperor finally crashed over him all at once. His legs gave way, and he pitched forward.
"Satoru?!" Garp's eyes widened. He moved in a blur, catching the boy before he hit the rubble. He shook him gently. "Hey! Kid! Wake up!"
Satoru was out cold, breathing evenly but deeply unconscious.
"MEDIC!" Garp bellowed, his voice echoing across the empty, shattered base. But Satoru had successfully evacuated everyone. There was no one left to hear him. Panic, a rare emotion for the Marine Hero, flickered in his eyes as he held his unconscious grandson.
Just then, a soft breeze stirred the settling dust. A figure draped in a dark, hooded cloak seemed to materialize from the shadows of a broken wall, standing a dozen feet away.
"I'll handle it, father."
The voice was calm, measured, and unmistakable. Monkey D. Dragon, the World's Most Wanted Man, lifted his head slightly, the hood shadowing his face but revealing his stern, tattooed features. His gaze was fixed on the unconscious form of Gojo D. Satoru in Garp's arms.
(End of Chapter)
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