"This guy…"
Dragon frowned deeply, secretly astounded.
"This guy's battle spirit is insane. Even when Roger faced off against my old man, he wouldn't have been this eager to fight him."
Clearly, this guy had just been blasted away by his dad's punch a blow that should have made him realize the huge gap between their strengths.
And yet, instead of fear or hesitation, this pirate named Ares only grew more fired up.
What a freak!
Garp also recovered from his initial surprise. His eyes lit up with admiration and he laughed.
"This kid would make a perfect Marine!!"
He perfectly matched the image Garp had always wanted his son, Dragon, to become.
What a shame…
He's a pirate.
Without hesitation, Ares launched his next attack. With a flick of his arm, the seawater still clinging to his body shot out like bullets.
Although he couldn't achieve the water projectile technique of the Fishmen whose water droplets could pierce like bullets the strength behind his strike was still enough to seriously injure ordinary people. Anyone struck by these would feel like they had been punched in the gut.
Following the barrage of water droplets, Ares charged forward, his massive legs propelling his giant frame with incredible speed, his huge muscular arms swinging up for an all-out attack.
Hundreds of water bullets shot toward Garp.
Garp's body shifted ever so slightly, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, dodging each one effortlessly.
In the blink of an eye, Ares had already closed the distance, swinging his colossal fist almost as big as his own head straight for Garp's face.
The power behind this punch was enough to demolish a truck.
Seeing the sheer momentum of the incoming strike, a spark of excitement flashed in Garp's eyes. Without holding back, he threw a punch to meet it.
No surprise.
Ares was once again sent flying, slamming into the ship's railing with a deafening crash. He almost fell into the sea again but managed to grab onto a section of the rail just in time.
"So strong… Even though I'm way bigger than him, the power gap is still massive! Is this because of Armament Haki?!"
Ares' body was easily twice Garp's width and more than a meter taller.
Yet in pure strength, the gap was obvious.
"No, it's not just Haki it's strength, technique, everything. I'm still way behind!"
His eyes sharpened as his arms once again underwent that unique hardening.
His arms turned blood-red, as if searing hot metal had been hammered into his flesh.
White steam rose from his body, making him look like a blood-soaked red demon.
"That's it!!"
Dragon immediately shouted.
That was the same strange state Ares was in when he kicked Dragon in the face.
The memory was burned into him he could never forget it.
Garp was equally surprised, though also puzzled.
"This kid shouldn't be a Devil Fruit user. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to swim over from the sea."
His expression was filled with confusion.
Such a strange kid.
He was sure Ares wasn't a Devil Fruit user. Devil Fruit powers are naturally suppressed by seawater. Anyone who ate one would lose all strength and become paralyzed in the ocean.
Yet the bizarre changes in Ares' body completely defied logic.
Garp's curiosity only grew.
But Ares, undaunted, launched another attack, recklessly charging at Vice Admiral Garp once more.
Under his unique Armament Haki, Ares' strength had soared, easily more than doubling his already monstrous power.
His fist tore through the air with a deafening roar.
This time, Garp took him seriously. His fist quickly hardened with Armament Haki and met the attack head-on.
Boom!!!
The explosive collision sent shockwaves blasting in all directions, sweeping across the deck like a storm.
Ares' enormous body stumbled backward, his giant feet crushing the wooden deck beneath him as he struggled to stay upright.
He staggered back several steps.
But this time, he didn't get sent flying like before.
"Again!!"
Ares roared in excitement and charged forward once more.
Like a raging bull, his thunderous steps pounded the deck like war drums.
"Bear's Hammer!!"
Clasping his massive hands together, Ares raised his arms high like a grizzly bear wielding a giant warhammer, then slammed it down toward Garp's head.
The air howled around the attack, its terrifying brute force evident from its overwhelming momentum.
Garp shifted slightly, narrowly avoiding the devastating blow.
Even just the residual pressure from the swing made him marvel.
"This kid's strength… It's even stronger than a giant's!!"
For the first time, Garp was genuinely intrigued by Ares.
Boom!
Ares' strike shattered the deck, blasting wooden debris everywhere.
Without hesitation, Garp countered with a heavy side kick to Ares' waist.
His rock-solid muscles visibly compressed under the pressure, like a squished ball.
Ares was sent flying again.
Meanwhile.
On the Rocks Pirates' ship, Wang Zhi's golden armor was battered and dented as his fierce battle with Byrnndi World raged on.
The ship was a wreck, with debris scattered everywhere. Even the mast had been destroyed.
A pirate shouted at Wang Zhi, "Captain Wang Zhi!! Ares… Ares just stormed Vice Admiral Garp's battleship all by himself!!!"
"What?!!"
Wang Zhi's expression instantly changed.
His mind was in turmoil.
What the hell?! Wasn't that brat supposed to be heading for Wald's ship?!
How did he end up on Garp's ship instead?!
His heart pounded in panic. He felt like he was about to cough up blood.
That brat…
Was the fight not chaotic enough? Were there not enough enemies already?!
His own side was barely holding on, and that kid had gone and picked a fight with Vice Admiral Garp on his own?!
Unbelievable…
The frustration nearly choked him.
Wang Zhi's brief distraction gave Wald the perfect opening.
Boom!!
Wald's punch slammed into Wang Zhi's golden armor, denting it deeply and sending him flying as blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Wororororo…"
Wald laughed maniacally, reveling in his success.
"Wang Zhi of the Rocks Pirates you're not enough to stop me, Byrnndi World!!"
"If Rocks himself were here, I would show him too no one can stand in my way!!"
In the pirate world, there's no official power ranking. This leaves room for countless illusions.
Many pirates fall into the trap of thinking they're the strongest.
Even the most famous pirates can't completely escape that blind confidence and delusion.
Having defeated Wang Zhi, Byrnndi World was full of pride and satisfaction.
On Wald's shoulder, the ever-cautious Byojack whispered in his ear, "Wald, we need to leave quickly!"
"The Marines are closing in. That's Vice Admiral Garp!"
"It's going to be trouble if we stay any longer!"
Wald, riding high on his victory, immediately bristled at Byojack's warning.
"So what if it's Vice Admiral Garp?!"
"I'm the World Destroyer, Byrnndi World!!"
----------------------------------------------------
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