"The sky is splitting!"
The marines couldn't believe their eyes as they gazed at the fractured heavens. Was this truly something humans were capable of?
At the center of the battlefield, as the released Conqueror's Haki dissipated, Gurd and Garp simultaneously leaped back to create distance. They looked up at each other and burst into hearty laughter.
"Puhahaha!"
"Gehahaha!"
After their laughter subsided, both men knelt on one knee, panting heavily.
Garp, exhausted, looked at Gurd with unreserved admiration. "Brat Gurd, I never expected you to reach that level!"
"I owe it to you, Garp. It's inevitable for the new generation to replace the old. You're already a relic of the past!"
Gurd gasped for air, his entire body wracked with pain. Fighting purely in his human form had left him at a disadvantage compared to his opponent.
But the gains were immense!
Combat was the best teacher!
Among the powerful fighters he had encountered, only the old man before him relied on fists and kicks. Their similar fighting styles made this battle an invaluable learning experience—especially when it came to Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
With his physique and Haki, he had long met the threshold for Haki Infusion. All he lacked was time or the right opportunity.
After catching his breath, Garp grinned.
"Kid, still got fight left in you?"
"Who do you think I am?!"
Gurd snorted coldly, straightening up and raising his fists into a fighting stance, glaring fiercely at Garp.
Just as the two were about to clash again, a cannonball landed on the battlefield.
"BOOM!"
A cloud of sand and dirt erupted.
Their expressions turned icy as they turned their gaze toward the sea.
Over a hundred Pirate Ships had appeared—the grand fleet of the North Blue Pirates!
"Annoying trash has arrived."
Disappointed, Gurd turned to leave, waving dismissively. "Old man, since you helped me train my Haki, I'll let you off this time. I'll even clean up this garbage for you!"
"Let me off? Help me?!"
Garp's veins bulged in fury.
"You damn brat, who the hell do you think I am?!"
"Gehahaha!"
Gurd laughed uproariously.
"Then let's make it a contest—see who can sink more Pirate Ships!"
"You bastard, don't underestimate me!"
Garp stormed back to his ship in a rage.
"Bring me the cannonballs!"
By now, the pirate fleet had drawn closer. The pirate captains raised their swords with savage grins.
"Those two monsters are spent!"
"Haha, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"If we take them down, our names will shake the world!"
"Quick, fire the cannons!"
The lead Pirate Ships unleashed their barrage.
Meanwhile, on one of the ships at the rear—a vessel adorned with eerie decorations—a man with flowing golden hair and a melancholic expression held a deck of tarot cards, divining the outcome of the impending battle.
"Probability of defeat in battle: 100%."
"Probability of successful escape: 77%."
"Probability of survival—"
His crewmates crowded around him, anxiously pressing, "Captain Hawkins, the fleet has already begun firing! We're falling behind!"
"Don't rush."
Hawkins stood up and surveyed the battlefield.
A great figure had come to the North Blue. It would be a shame not to witness this spectacle. Now that his goal was achieved—
And according to the divination results—
"Retreat!"
"Eh?!!!"
His crew was dumbfounded.
With such an overwhelming pirate fleet, and their targets exhausted, the odds seemed overwhelmingly in their favor.
But the captain's orders were absolute.
"Retreat!"
As the pirate fleet charged forward valiantly, a few ships quietly lagged behind—some even turning around to flee.
"Captain, it's the Heart Pirate Crew!"
"And the Drake Pirate Crew!"
"And more..."
The great pirates who ruled the North Sea had gathered together, a rare sight, seemingly all wanting to witness this war as a send-off before entering the Grand Line.
"Boom!"
The pirate ship at the front of the fleet exploded!
One after another, pirate ships began to blow up in succession, like a string of firecrackers with their fuses lit.
The sea was set ablaze.
The captains watched as their massive pirate fleet was annihilated in an instant by bare-handed cannonball throws, cold sweat instantly drenching their backs.
Even after such a fierce battle, he still possessed such terrifying strength.
"Monster!"
If not for their rationality, they might have fallen here too.
"BOOM!!!"
A pirate ship observing from a distance exploded.
Law, Hawkins, and Drake all paled simultaneously, shocked that they could still be attacked from such a distance.
"Retreat now!"
Amid the storm of cannonballs, the three great powers of the North Sea fled in disarray.
Groudon Ship, deck.
"Ran pretty fast!"
Gurd grinned, watching the pirate ships disappear from view, casually putting the cannonball back.
Meanwhile, Ulti and her brother had completed their mission, returning with a group of subordinates, each carrying a large sack of treasure.
A bountiful haul.
"Time to retreat."
The Groudon Ship turned and sailed away.
Behind them, the Dog-Head Warship gave chase relentlessly.
"You brat!"
Garp stood atop the dog's head, yelling furiously into the Den Den Mushi speaker, "Give back King Kuhn and the Princess right now!"
He had completely forgotten about this!
Rescuing the king and princess was his main mission.
Hearing the shout, Gurd smirked eerily.
"Antelope, go and..."
After hearing Gurd's orders, even Antelope felt a chill.
"Captain Gurd, you're really evil!"
"Shut up and get it done!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dog-Head Warship.
Garp and the marines watched the activity on the Groudon Ship, soon spotting the pirates rolling out two cannons.
"Huh? What are they doing?"
"Oh no—the pirates stuffed King Kuhn and the Princess into the cannons!"
"This is bad, they'll die!"
"BOOM! BOOM!"
With two cannon blasts, King Kuhn and the Princess screamed as they were launched from the barrels, soaring through the air before crashing into the distant sea.
"BOOM!!!"
A massive spray erupted!
"WAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The marines clutched their heads, shrieking in horror.
This is bad, bad, bad, bad!
If King Kuhn and the Princess died, they would definitely face severe punishment.
"Go save them now!"
The warship made a sharp 90-degree turn, speeding frantically toward the explosion site, no longer concerned with chasing Gurd.
"GYAHAHAHA!!!"
The Groudon Ship sailed off triumphantly.
Garp watched the Groudon Ship for a long time before finally sighing.
He wasn't confident he could stop Gurd.
"Vice Admiral Garp, a call from HQ!"
"Give it here."
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's office.
Sengoku sat with his hands clasped under his chin, his glasses reflecting light, revealing no emotion as he listened to the Den Den Mushi's report.
"Sengoku, I clashed with Calamity."
"Based on my judgment, Calamity Gurd is no longer an opponent the Marines can easily engage. Acting recklessly will only increase our losses."
"Sengoku, are you listening?"
Click.
Sengoku hung up the Den Den Mushi and walked to the window.
According to Garp'
s report, Calamity Gurd had reached that level—possessing power rivaling the Four Emperors.
This means the Beasts Pirates possess the combat strength of two Four Emperors. Even if the Marines go all out, it would be difficult to achieve victory.
The North Sea can't be held any longer!
(End of Chapter)