Barrett’s expression darkened, but he remained unmoved.
He directly blocked Rayleigh, pushing him back with a punch:
“Why aren’t you saying you’re innocent now?”
“They are innocent.”
“You must die today.”
With that, he charged at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh’s long sword sizzled as it was swung at Barrett.
Barrett did not dodge, taking the blow head-on.
A long, bone-deep gash appeared on his chest.
He sneered, unconcerned, and grabbed Rayleigh’s sword-wielding wrist.
BOOM!
The ground instantly cracked for dozens of meters under the immense force.
He took Rayleigh with him towards the desolate mountains.
A series of explosions erupted, and mushroom clouds bloomed from several points on the mountains.
CRACK!
Suddenly, the entire mountain was cleaved diagonally and slid down…
Meanwhile, just as the sword energy was about to strike the civilians.
Sakazuki appeared from the side:
“Meigo!”
A magma fist, extended infinitely and imbued with Haki, shot out.
It pierced through several sword slashes from the side, shattering them.
When the residual impact reached the civilians, only a strong wind remained.
Then, he flashed away, heading out of the island.
He had sensed Garp’s presence…
At this moment, the civilians finally got their hands on Rouge, their hatred growing.
A sword was brought down…
“Die!!!”
“I’ll avenge you ahhhh…”
“Kill, kill, kill!”
“Hahahahahaha!!!”
“Treya, do you see this!!!”
“Daddy avenged you ahhhhh!!!”
“Wuwuwuwu…”
Countless old people, children, and women surged forward…
Weeping as they swung their makeshift weapons.
The consequences of Roger’s slaughter of over five thousand people years ago finally erupted.
The death of those five thousand strong kingdom soldiers.
Was equivalent to the pillar of support for over five thousand families being directly broken.
This was also why there were so many elderly, children, and women here today…
The civilians who arrived later continued to tear at the pulp that was left…
Portgas D. Rouge died with unfulfilled regret…
The bloodline of the Pirate King was thus extinguished…
Outside the island.
Garp stepped on Soru Soru no Mi towards the rapidly approaching island, his unease growing.
On the sea below, various ships were converging on Baterilla Island.
Sakazuki’s aura erupted ahead.
Sakazuki transformed into his magma form and charged at Garp.
His right fist, covered in Armament Haki:
“Dai Funka.”
BOOM—
Their fists collided in mid-air.
Like thunder from a clear sky.
Boundless winds erupted from their fists, rushing towards the heavens and earth.
Garp, who was stalemated in mid-air with Sakazuki, his expression darkened:
“Sakazuki, what do you intend to do.”
Sakazuki looked at Garp and said indifferently:
“A sinful bloodline should not survive in this world.”
Garp gritted his teeth:
“He’s just an infant.”
Sakazuki looked at Garp indifferently:
“Say that to the families of the dead.”
“See the countless ships below?”
“The people on those ships are the families of the Kureha Island massacre.”
“I merely informed them of the news.”
“They rushed here from the Grand Line, risking everything.”
“Not knowing how many have already perished at sea in storms.”
“Yet, so many have still arrived.”
“You can go down there now.”
“If you can persuade even one person to let go of their hatred.”
“I will immediately step aside.”
BOOM—
A colossal, volcanic impact erupted from Sakazuki’s fist.
It directly smashed Garp down to the sea surface.
Like a bomb, it kicked up towering water spray.
Garp immediately surged back up, reluctant to face it:
“But an infant is innocent.”
Sakazuki said indifferently:
“I never said the infant was guilty.”
“I merely gave them a map, some information.”
“All these choices were made by the people of Kureha Island themselves.”
“But from what standpoint are you able to say such things?”
“Why do you prevent the people from taking revenge?”
“Innocent?”
“How do you account for the deaths of the pillars of support for those over five thousand families? Weren’t they innocent?”
Garp closed his eyes:
“Roger has surrendered.”
Sakazuki said indifferently:
“Easily said.”
“Since Dragon has left the Marines, I will find him and kill him myself, throwing his head at your feet.”
“Can you accept that?”
“He’s a traitor, and it’s only right that I kill him.”
“Don’t you think so?”
Garp’s eyes snapped open, his fists clenched:
“Sakazuki, I don’t wish to argue with you.”
“Get out of the way.”
Sakazuki’s expression also turned cold:
“I said.”
“As long as you can make anyone below let go of their hatred.”
“I will make way immediately.”
“Otherwise, we’ll talk about it another time.”
Garp’s mind was in chaos. He gritted his teeth.
He charged directly at Sakazuki.
CRACK—
Their fists collided, and the very air seemed to crack.
Both possessed immense Haki and powerful physiques.
They were evenly matched.
Veins bulging, they strained against each other for a moment.
A shadow flickered in Garp’s eyes as his immense Armament Haki compressed into a single point.
Just like the drill head that shattered Chinjao.
Sakazuki’s expression tensed. Damn it…
BANG!
His entire upper body exploded outward voluntarily.
Garp, with his entire body, half-lunged past Sakazuki towards the island.
Sakazuki’s exploded half instantly reformed.
His right fist, re-covered in Armament Haki, smashed fiercely into Garp’s abdomen:
“Ryusei Kazan.”
Afterimages streaked across, leaving multiple fist imprints on Garp.
Lava still clung to the imprints, erupting instantly.
It sent Garp flying backward.
Retreating hundreds of meters, Garp flicked his suit. The lava along with the suit was flung into the air.
BOOM—
A massive lava bomb detonated in mid-air.
Garp stomped his foot, and a several-meter-wide sonic boom erupted beneath his feet.
He moved as if teleporting, appearing before Sakazuki.
He threw a punch at Sakazuki’s head.
Sakazuki raised his right arm, blocking it to the right.
BOOM!
Simultaneously, his left hand intercepted the iron fist aimed at his abdomen.
Sakazuki flipped his hands, grabbing Garp’s arms.
“Magma Booster.”
His body instantly emitted thick black smoke and immense heatwaves.
He propelled himself and Garp backward into the sky.
Garp’s head instantly became covered in Armament Haki, and he rammed into Sakazuki.
Sakazuki’s expression darkened, and he also imbued his head with Haki and collided.
A crisp sound of metal clashing echoed.
Both were dazed and lost control of their bodies, falling downward.
Sakazuki shook his head and took a deep breath.
Looking at the sea below, his fury surged:
“You’re asking for death!!!”
“Magma yo’yo!!!”
Sakazuki’s body radiated intense light and heat, then exploded violently.
Instantly.
A thousand-meter-wide magma mushroom cloud formed.
The boundless shockwave erupted, assailing Garp.
Garp grunted, swinging his arms.
He instantly blasted a hole in the mushroom cloud.
Stomping his foot, he instantly broke through the mushroom cloud.
He burst out in a disheveled state.
Without a moment to catch his breath, Sakazuki materialized in front of Garp and punched Garp’s abdomen.
Endless red light flared, and the searing energy pierced through his body.
A pillar of fire shot out from Garp’s back, seemingly without end…
Garp grabbed Sakazuki’s fist, a fierce glint in his eyes.
He threw a punch at Sakazuki’s chest.
CRACK—
A bone-cracking sound echoed, Sakazuki grunted, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
His left hand instantly turned into compressed magma:
“Meigo!”
It struck Garp’s chest directly.
CRACK—
Then, the rapidly expanding magma erupted, instantly forming a thousand-meter-wide mushroom cloud…
BOOM!!!!
------------------
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The continuous rainy weather seemed to portend an impending disaster.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was not at headquarters, having gone to Mary Geoise for a conference.
Sakazuki and Garp were also nowhere to be found.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—
Following a series of explosions,
Ear-piercing alarms sounded.
“Invader!”
“At the port on the coast of Marineford!”
“Quick, quick, quick!”
“What is the enemy’s number?”
“O-one person!!!”
“Golden Lion, Shiki!!!”
“One person!”
The port of Marineford was piled high with the corpses of countless soldiers.
Every soldier in the port had been slaughtered.
The Golden Lion stood on top of the pile of corpses, a sword in one hand.
“How could Roger be captured by scum like you…”
“He was a man I recognized!!!”
At some point, Sengoku’s figure appeared at the port:
“Roger was the Pirate King.”
“He already defeated you in your fight and escaped.”
Shiki suddenly said madly:
“Pirate King?”
“So what!!!”
“If he had helped me, we would have ruled the world long ago!”
“Although we didn’t get along perfectly, I did go through an era with him.”
“If he is here, then bring him to me!!!”
“If you want to kill him, I will do it myself!!!”
Intense killing intent and Conqueror's Haki erupted. Sengoku let out a cold snort:
“The execution will be in one week.”
“It will be carried out in his hometown, the first town of East Blue, Loguetown.”
“Roger’s death will undoubtedly break the spirit of all pirates.”
Shiki said with manic, peculiar laughter:
“The legend of the Pirate King Roger will end in that weakest sea?”
“What a joke!!!”
“That’s the ultimate insult to that bastard!!!”
He charged into the sky, his long sword swinging repeatedly.
Hundreds of meters of golden sword energy were continuously slashed towards Marineford.
Sengoku flicked his cape, his entire body radiating golden light, transforming into a hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha.
He raised his hand to meet the colossal golden slash…