Luffy could hold back no longer.
His hair instantly turned into white flames, his eyes transforming as a terrifying aura erupted from him.
His right arm stretched at blinding speed, friction igniting scorching flames that wrapped around his fist.
Coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, his blazing strike smashed toward Akainu!
"Hahaha! That's more like it—"
Akainu laughed wildly, his face twisted in triumph.
But the next instant, his grin froze.
The overwhelming force behind Luffy's punch left him stunned.
The Fire Fist, infused with both Conqueror's and Armament Haki, struck Akainu midair, bending his body backward.
He vomited a mouthful of blood before being sent flying, crashing onto a floating ice berg—nearly plunging into the sea.
Akainu propped himself up, spitting blood, his expression flickering with shock.
"Akainu… I'm not the same as before!"
Luffy clenched his fists, teeth gritted in fury as he prepared to charge again—only for Yasopp to grab him and drag him away.
"Luffy, you got your hit in! We need to leave now! Your grandfather's still here—don't throw everything away for momentary rage. There'll be plenty of chances to beat this trash-talking dog later!"
Akainu rose to his feet, licking the blood from his lips as if seeing Luffy in a new light.
'This guy… his Haki and strength have grown to this level already?'
It's completely different from two years ago.
For a moment, Akainu wondered if he had grown old.
How had the world changed so quickly?
"I acknowledge your strength, Straw Hat Luffy." Akainu said.
"Stay behind, and let's have a fair duel—no interference from others. What do you say? A fair fight to the death! I apologize for my earlier words here and now. Straw Hat, give me this chance for a fair duel, won't you?"
Akainu's tone was sincere, as if he had suddenly realized his mistakes and sought redemption.
Luffy hesitated, about to stop in his tracks, but Yasopp yanked him away desperately.
"Don't listen to him! That old dog's schemes could be smell from miles away. Look at them now—they don't even need strategists anymore, it's all this mutt's doing!"
"Yasopp! You bastard, I swear I'll kill you! How dare you slander me! I've lived my life with honor—when have I ever schemed?!"
Akainu's eyes burned with fury, wishing he could tear Yasopp to pieces.
"Hah! Old dog, if I make it out alive, I'll send a scoop to the World News Co. and expose all your dirty secrets! The headline will read: 'The Marine Fleet Admiral and the Goat—A Forbidden Tale'! Why did the village bitches mysteriously get pregnant during Akainu's childhood? And why do female Marines' underwear keep appearing in the Fleet Admiral's drawers?!"
Yasopp's wild taunts darkened Akainu's face further, even the magma on his body emitting thick black smoke.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you, Yasopp!"
Yasopp shuddered and picked up speed.
"Run! The old dog's lost it!"
Suddenly, even the floating ice fragments beneath their feet shattered as a massive golden shockwave erupted skyward, blasting through the ice.
A golden figure soared into the air, standing mid-flight as if stepping on compressed air.
"That... who's that?" Luffy froze.
"That's your grandfather! The Marine Hero, Garp!" Yasopp panted loudly.
"Grandpa?" Luffy's eyes widened, staring at the golden wrathful Buddha—its terrifying muscles bulging explosively, radiating boundless power.
Garp hovered mid-air, clutching Hawkeye, whose condition was unknown.
A gaping wound on Garp's chest still bled because of Hawkeye all out attack.
"Luffy! Release Shanks, and you may leave." Garp's voice thundered in everyone's ears.
Hearing this, Akainu's eyes flickered uncertainly.
He glanced at Garp in the sky, hesitating but keeping his thoughts to himself.
Akainu knew Garp still held resentment toward him.
Two years ago at Marineford, when Akainu had punched a hole through Ace's chest, Garp had nearly lost control, ready to tear him apart.
Even if Fleet Admiral Sengoku hadn't spoken of it then, Akainu understood perfectly.
And though Luffy was a pirate, he was also Garp's flesh and blood.
If Akainu insisted on keeping Luffy here, he might truly provoke this wrathful deity's fury.
The Garp before them now was entirely different from before.
Akainu could sense it—something about Garp's temperament had shifted.
Though it wasn't to the point of distortion, there was absolutely none of the previous hesitation or indecisiveness left. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on nοvelfire.net
Luffy's expression immediately darkened as he shouted angrily.
"Grandpa! What are you saying? Shanks saved my life! How could I possibly abandon him here? Grandpa, please move aside!"
Garp's face was icy cold, devoid of any joy at their reunion.
Hearing Luffy's words, he remained silent and simply raised his massive golden hand.
The enormous hand reached toward the sky like a divine Buddha from myth, unleashing a circular golden shockwave that instantly exploded across the sea beneath them, sending towering waves crashing in all directions!
Luffy and the others paled in horror as they were tossed about in the shockwave.
Luffy quickly stretched out his arms to grab his companions, then kicked off with all his strength, propelling them into the sky with a burst of air!
Even Akainu, who had been chasing them, was caught in the blast.
The shattered ice beneath his feet exploded, destabilizing him and nearly sending him plunging into the sea.
With quick reflexes, Akainu punched the sea's surface, using the recoil to launch himself upward.
His lower body erupted into a jet of magma, propelling him towards the sky.
"Hand over the Red Hair Pirates, Luffy!"
Garp kicked off, unleashing another golden shockwave that surged toward Luffy.
"Grandpa! Please let Shanks and the others go! They've already lost several of their crew they all died by Akainu's hand!" Luffy desperately propelled himself through the air, carrying Beckman and the others as they fled.
The golden Buddha paid no heed to his words, continuously blasting shockwaves beneath his feet to propel his massive body forward in pursuit.
"Pirates deserve death! Especially Red Hair Shanks—that bastard dared to lead you astray into piracy. Today, I'll kill him here. Luffy! If you insist on standing in my way, then either you kill me, or—"
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Garp suddenly roared with earth-shaking fury, his terrifying voice splitting the clouds above.
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