Chapter 30: The Merciless Sun — Garp the Hero
"Benefactor, we should go. An Admiral will really be here any moment," Vivian urged.
The man before her felt like a god. His way of "talking" had been to pummel a Celestial Dragon.
"Go? Why go? I'm waiting here for the Admiral," Satan said. "Of course, you can leave. What I'm about to do will drag me into an abyss of no return."
"I won't go. I am my benefactor's handmaiden. Wherever my benefactor is, that's where I'll be," Vivian declared, accepting the place she'd chosen.
"Good. Since you're mine, you're under my protection. Rest easy. No one will bully you. From now on, call me Satan, or call me Master," Satan laughed.
Vivian's loyalty was beyond question. But why wasn't the task complete yet. He had rescued her from the Celestial Dragons' hands. Did he need to take her far from them to finish it. Yet he was deliberately waiting for an Admiral here; if he left, wouldn't his plan fall apart. If people learned he'd beaten a Celestial Dragon specifically to draw an Admiral, they would call him mad.
"A-ha-ha-ha. What a frightening youngster. You hit a Celestial Dragon," a hearty laugh rang out.
Satan looked over. A burly elder was striding up with a swordsman and a squad of Marines in tow.
"Well now, if it isn't the Marine Hero, Garp. You coming to stand up for the Celestial Dragons too," Satan laughed.
No one ignored an Admiral, but Garp was different. Though only a Vice Admiral, his strength surpassed Admirals. In the past he'd chased the Pirate King, Roger, all over the world. Since it was Garp, perhaps Satan's plan would actually be easier to carry out. He seized Saint Charlos off the ground, then cast Intrusion. He peeled back the scabbed-over memories. One move to overwrite them and make the man act according to the memories he implanted.
"Save me. Marines, save me," Charlos cried.
"What a headache. I've never seen anyone this young attack a Celestial Dragon. The youngsters these days are something else," Garp mused.
"Vice Admiral Garp, this isn't the time to praise him," the Marine officer at his back barked. "He attacked a Celestial Dragon. It's an unpardonable crime. He must be executed."
"Hey now, no need to make such a fuss," Satan said. "I only wanted a heart-to-heart with the Celestial Dragon. He slipped and fell. Execution sounds a bit much."
His tone stayed airy and calm, with not a trace of fear.
"Scum. That was a Celestial Dragon. Any act that insults them deserves death," the Marine commander snapped, chopping his hand down. In an instant, Marines raised muskets and leveled blades at Satan.
"What terrifying killing intent. But the thing I hate most is people pointing weapons at me," Satan said, voice steeped in pride.
Heat flared behind him like a rising sun. In that radiance he seemed a god walking beneath the light.
Ultimate Art, Sun.
"The power of the sun. A Logia-type Devil Fruit user. Mythical Zoan," Garp blurted, sensing the force roiling off Satan. "All of you fall back. He isn't your opponent."
"Vice Admiral Garp, but he attacked a Celestial Dragon," the commander protested. As the officer stationed at Sabaody, this was a perfect moment to curry favor with the Celestial Dragons. Heart-to-heart. As if talk could leave a Celestial Dragon in such a state. This was obviously assault.
"If you think you can win, go try him. Don't say I didn't warn you. The kid's power far exceeds yours," Garp said lazily, though his eyes kept measuring Satan. The boy didn't look that old, but his aura was frighteningly strong. Even the Seven Warlords might not match him. Another monster.
"Just a brat. Get him," the commander roared, and the Marines charged.
"Want a taste of the sun. Sun of No Mercy," Satan swept his hand. A massive fireball screamed forth.
A thunderous blast. It exploded like a bomb. The charging Marines were blown away. When the dust settled, a pit nearly ten meters deep yawned in front of Satan.
"What terrifying power. If he's loosed upon the seas, who knows what havoc he'll cause," Garp's face darkened. He had never seen a youth this strong. At Satan's age, even he had not wielded such might.
"Vice Admiral Garp, I can't find any wanted poster," the swordsman beside him cut in.
"No bounty. So, kid, you aren't a pirate," Garp asked.
"If I say I'm a pirate, then I am. If I say I'm not, then I'm not. That's up to me, isn't it," Satan laughed, the rising sun feeding his power even more. Even facing Garp, he showed no fear. If he could avoid a fight, so much the better. Exposing too much would affect future plans. The less the Navy understood, the more he could maneuver later.
"You've got guts, kid. Your identity is for me to define. You attacked a Celestial Dragon and didn't even run. Tell me, what should we do," Garp asked.
— Do you all prefer more fighting. How about this.
— The author excels at battle, but I heard One Piece readers don't like too many fights and prefer plot, so I've held back on battles.
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