Chapter 3: Garp Rampage
No warning. No sound.
Time seemed to be stretched into solidified amber at this moment.
Akainu's magma hound head halted less than an inch from Ace's chest.
It didn't slow down; it stopped completely.
Immediately after, under the gaze of the whole world, a hairline crack appeared on the magma body that was hot enough to vaporize steel.
The source of the crack was that plain, flesh-and-blood fist of Garp.
"Galaxy Impact!"
A low shout.
Like a horn signaling the end.
BOOM!
The deafening roar finally arrived, belatedly.
The terrifying impact force didn't leak out in the slightest; it poured entirely into Akainu's body.
Akainu's proud body of magma—the Logia power claimed to possess the highest offensive capability—shattered like obsidian struck by a sledgehammer under Garp's fist.
Starting from the point of contact, web-like cracks instantly covered his right arm, shoulder, and even half his body.
In the next instant, half of his torso exploded.
Turning into countless burning magma fragments, they shot backward like shrapnel.
Akainu was sent flying like a cannonball, leaving a wretched howl trailing in the air as he smashed heavily through the wall behind the execution platform, buried under countless piles of rubble.
The scattered magma struggled and writhed on the ground, unable to reassemble into a human form for a long time.
The entire Marineford plunged into a deathly silence.
The Visual Den Den Mushi faithfully transmitted this dead silence to the world.
Seconds later, an uproar like a tsunami erupted.
"You're kidding... Admiral Sakazuki was..."
A Vice Admiral's voice distorted with fear.
"What was that punch? Why could it hit a Logia's true body?"
"It didn't just hit him, it shattered him! I saw it with my own eyes! His magma body was smashed to pieces!"
"A hallucination, this must be a hallucination! Someone slap me, quick!"
"The Navy's Highest Power, the Three Admirals... heavily injured by the Marine Hero with one punch?"
Countless Navy soldiers felt their worldview completely shattered at this moment, their faith collapsing along with it.
On the high platform, Garp slowly retracted his fist.
He didn't even look at Akainu, whom he had just blasted away.
In the next moment, a bone-chilling cold struck from the side.
Aokiji's figure had already condensed, countless ice spears forming in front of him, poised to strike.
Garp turned his head and looked at him.
"Kuzan, have you still not found the Justice in your heart?"
His tone was flat, as if chatting about daily life.
Yet, it caused Kuzan, who was already hesitating, to shrink his pupils violently!
"Hmph!".
"Those who hesitate are weak as the wind!"
Before the voice faded, Garp's figure vanished from his spot.
The ice spears in front of Aokiji thrust out instantly, but they only pierced an afterimage.
In the next second, a large hand covered the entire top of his head.
The power transmitting from that hand made every bone in his body wail.
His proud freezing ability couldn't release even a wisp of cold air under that palm..
"How is that possible?!"
"Admiral Aokiji was caught?!"
"Why? Why didn't he use the Logia's elementalization to dodge?!"
Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Garp gave Aokiji no time to react.
The muscles in his arm bulged, he gripped Aokiji's head, and slammed him ruthlessly downward!
"Blue Hole!!!"
CRASH!!!
The terrifying power smashed a massive human-shaped crater into the sturdy execution platform floor!
Cracks spread wildly!
The entire high platform shook violently, looking as if it would collapse at any moment!
Aokiji's body was deeply embedded in the rubble and steel, motionless.
The second Admiral, defeated.
"Gurararara... That old bastard hasn't diminished a bit..."
Below the platform, Whitebeard—Newgate—grinned, letting out a laugh that shook the heavens.
But within that laughter was unconcealed shock.
"Pops..."
Phoenix Marco was completely speechless.
"In a single exchange... he took out two Admirals?"
Diamond Jozu's body was trembling slightly. "You're joking! Those are Admirals! The Navy's highest combat power!"
"Garp-san... Is he going to dismantle Marineford all by himself?"
"Ace... Ace is saved!!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates shifted from initial stupefaction to wild joy and shouts of disbelief.
Garp ignored the commotion below.
He turned and walked back to Ace.
"Old man..."
Ace opened his mouth, his dry lips spitting out a few words. "I have my own adventure... You clearly... You clearly didn't have to do this..."
Garp didn't speak.
He reached out with both hands and grabbed the Seastone shackles binding Ace.
Those cuffs, capable of turning any ability user into a mortal, groaned under the stress of his hands.
Crack... SNAP!
A crisp sound of fracture rang out.
The Seastone shackles were torn apart by his brute force.
"Because you are my family!"
He pulled the weak Ace behind him, using his own back to block the gazes of the entire world.
Having done all this, he finally turned around.
He faced the man on the high platform who had stood there like a stone statue from the very beginning.
Fleet Admiral, Sengoku the Buddha.
Garp's chest heaved violently. A rage suppressed for too long, mixed with all the regrets of his past and present life, turned into a roar that shook the skies.
"Sengoku!"
"My family is not for the likes of you to lecture!"
This angry roar, via the still-active Den Den Mushi, was clearly transmitted to the Sabaody Archipelago, to the Grand Line, to the entire world.
Everyone watching this public execution was petrified.
"Monkey... D... Garp!"
Sengoku finally snapped back from his extreme shock.
Boundless rage and a sense of betrayal twisted his face—the face of the "Resourceful General"—completely out of shape.
Golden Buddha light erupted from his body.
His form began to expand rapidly, his clothes tearing as he transformed into a colossal, angry Golden Buddha that propped up the sky.
"Do you know the consequences of doing this?!"
The Golden Buddha's roar made all of Marineford tremble.
And at this very moment, that brisk voice rang out in Garp's mind again.
[Warning: You have been listed as a Highest Level Traitor by the World Government. Bounty: 3 Billion Berries.]
[Title "Marine Hero" has been revoked. New Title
"Public Enemy of the World" has been unlocked.]
Listening to the System's notifications, a smile of utmost arrogance pulled at Garp's face.
He shielded Ace completely behind him.
Facing his former comrade-in-arms turned giant Buddha, he slowly rotated his wrists.
The joints collided, making crack-crack sounds.
The sound wasn't loud, yet it clearly overpowered the Golden Buddha's roar, entering everyone's ears.
"So what if I know?!"
(To be Continued)