At that moment, Gaban, who was at the helm, rushed out of the wheelhouse, panic written all over his face.
"Captain! Something's wrong! The sea is completely frozen—Oro Jackson can't move an inch!"
Rayleigh frowned, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the smooth icy surface beneath their feet.
"Is this the work of a Devil Fruit user?"
Roger gripped Ace, his sword pointing toward the Marine ship. A flicker of concern crossed his eyes.
"This is troublesome. That bastard Garp came prepared this time… escaping won't be easy!"
Onboard the Marine ship, Garp had initially been laughing loudly, confident of victory. But when he looked down at the sea, his smile froze, and his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He immediately cursed loudly:
"Kuzan! You idiot! You froze our ship too!"
Kuzan, still releasing cold air, realized his mistake. Embarrassed, he scratched his head apologetically:
"Sorry… got a little carried away with the freezing!"
Beside him, Bogard put a hand to his forehead, exasperated, completely drained of the will to comment.
"Forget it. Let's just go teach the Roger Pirates a lesson!" Garp roared, his aura surging violently.
He swung his iron fists and charged toward the Oro Jackson, ice cracking under his immense force.
"Divine Depature!"
Roger shouted, his sword Ace crackling with black-and-red lightning. A massive slash surged toward Garp, tearing through the air with a deafening roar.
"Iron Fist!"
Garp bellowed, wrapping his right fist in both Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki. His punch glowed darkly, tinged with ominous red-black energy.
The two colossal forces collided, and the sky itself seemed to darken at the impact.
The ripples of black-and-red energy swept outward. Weaker Marines were instantly overwhelmed by the Conqueror's Haki, fainting and collapsing on the deck.
It was a clash of supreme willpower, a battle of Conqueror's Haki!
Shiro stood nearby, eyes wide with awe and determination. He stared at the collision of the two titans, unmoving.
"Shiro! Get back here! You'll get knocked out!"
Petermoo shouted, anxiety dripping from every word. He wanted to rush forward and pull Shiro to safety, but the surrounding energy waves stopped him.
Yet Shiro ignored the warnings. Step by step, he advanced toward the battlefield, the ice cracking under his feet.
"Is Shiro crazy? Is he trying to help Captain Roger? At this level, no one can interfere except Vice Captain Rayleigh or Uncle Gaban!"
Buggy trembled behind Shanks, terror and worry etched across his face.
"I think Shiro has his own plan. We should just watch!" Shanks said, eyes fixed on Roger and Shiro, anticipation glimmering. He gripped his sword, ready for any sudden danger.
The clashing waves of Conqueror's Haki twisted the air around them. Shiro's heart pounded violently, but he knew this: Conqueror's Haki is all about personal willpower.
If he lacked the courage and resolve, even with the potential of a king, he could never awaken it.
As more Marines were knocked unconscious, Shiro pressed forward. Energy waves struck his body, cutting deep, and blood seeped through his clothes.
Pain?
He felt none.
With his Paw-Paw fruit ability, he could heal instantly. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. If he didn't seize it now, who knew when he'd get another?
"I'll climb step by step, step by step… I will…"
"Damn it! That Conqueror's Haki is too strong, my head's spinning!"
"Again! The sun rises in the east, I am undefeated, with the sunflower in hand, the world is mine…"
Shiro's mind raced with chaotic thoughts and strange slogans. To clear his mind, he slapped himself twice, the crisp sounds echoing across the battlefield.
The hits brought clarity. His gaze hardened.
Thunder rumbled across the sky. Roger and Garp's clash of Conqueror's Haki raged on. Suddenly, a new wave of Conqueror's Haki surged into the battlefield.
"Who's that?!"
Both Roger and Garp shouted. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they saw only a ten-year-old boy nearby. They instinctively withdrew their Haki, and the energy around them slowly settled.
"Shiro… is that you? You awakened Conqueror's Haki?"
Roger's voice carried over the wind. Before he could finish, he leaped gracefully to Shiro's side like a hunting eagle.
Shiro was bloodied, crimson stains freezing in the sea breeze. His clothes clung to his lean, determined frame. His stubborn eyes shone with maturity beyond his years.
Roger looked at this trainee with infinite expectation.
Shiro nodded solemnly.
"Good job, Shiro. You've truly surprised me!" Roger lifted him high, spinning in joy, laughter ringing across the waves.
At that moment, Garp, casually picking his nose, walked over, his signature grin wide.
"Hey, you little brat from the Roger Pirates… forget being a pirate! It's a dead-end. Come join the Marines with me!"
His tone was casual, yet there was a hidden spark of hope behind his words.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
Thanks for reading! Be sure to collect and vote for more chapters!