“He’s also Roger’s son.”
“Your captain’s child.”
“His only child.”
Garp glanced at Rayleigh.
His tone was calm.
He wasn’t saying this to recruit him.
He was simply curious about how things would unfold.
He wasn’t sure whether Rayleigh already knew Ace was Roger’s son.
After all, the entire world believed Ace was his own grandson.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
Even the Marines had only learned of it because Blackbeard revealed it.
If Rayleigh learned right now that Ace was Roger’s son, would he burn the last embers of his life to save him?
Would he gather Roger’s former crew members—
Scopper Gaban and the others—
And join the Summit War?
If that happened, it would undoubtedly be another event capable of changing the entire world order.
And the System would certainly reward him for it.
Of course, if Rayleigh had already grown tired of conflict and only wished to enjoy his remaining years in peace, that would be understandable too.
After all, he was old.
The sharpness of his youth had long since faded.
After fighting for so many years, he had only enjoyed a few peaceful days.
That was only natural.
“I know.”
“But I have no right to interfere with a man’s freedom.”
“If I, as one of Roger’s former crew members, tried to rescue Ace, it would instead be an insult to him.”
“That kid is proud.”
“Extremely proud.”
“He would never accept something like that.”
“But…
your appearance has changed my mind.”
“After this is over, I’ll go to Marineford with you.”
Looking into Garp’s sharp eyes, Rayleigh slowly let out a long sigh.
There were always moments in life that were difficult to choose.
Moments when someone else had to shatter the hesitation.
And Garp’s choice had left him ashamed.
Though Ace was called his grandson, they shared no blood relation whatsoever.
Yet Garp had still made a decision that shook the entire world.
All for the sake of the last trace of passion in his heart.
Rayleigh admired that.
Such courage was something he himself had never possessed.
That was why, when he learned Garp had left the Marines—
His own resolve had begun to waver.
Roger’s son.
Roger’s only bloodline remaining in this world.
Could he really ignore that?
“Have you thought it through, Rayleigh?”
“Once you take this step, there’s no turning back.”
“We might all die there.”
“The remnants of the old era wiped out together.”
Garp turned and glanced at him.
A teasing smile appeared on his face.
Though he already knew Rayleigh’s character, he couldn’t resist poking fun at him.
And he was speaking the truth.
The World Government had already deployed the Seraphim.
Who knew what other hidden weapons they would bring out later?
The upcoming Summit War would undoubtedly become even grander.
Even more magnificent.
It also meant one thing—
As things stood now, the Whitebeard Pirates had no chance of conquering Marineford.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“I’ll handle Kizaru.”
“You deal with those artificial brats.”
“Using someone else’s DNA to create clones.”
“What disgusting taste.”
Rayleigh glanced at Kizaru before looking at the four Seraphim in the distance.
Something about those children made him uncomfortable.
He had no desire to fight them.
But Garp’s answer completely stunned him.
“There’s no need.”
“They came for me.”
“I’ll fight all of them myself.”
“You and Bogard can watch from the sidelines.”
“It’s been a long time since we met anyway.”
“We can chat afterward.”
With that, Garp’s gaze focused forward.
He stepped into the center of the battlefield.
Alone.
Facing four Seraphim.
Facing a CP0 operative.
Facing Admiral Kizaru.
Yet there wasn’t the slightest trace of fear on his face.
“What?”
“You’re going to fight all of them by yourself?”
“Garp, even you can’t possibly do that!”
Rayleigh stared at Garp’s departing back in disbelief.
One man against all of them?
How was that possible?
He took a step forward.
But Bogard quietly stopped beside him.
“I trust Mr.
Garp.”
“But…”
“Fine.”
Rayleigh wanted to argue.
Yet after seeing the unwavering conviction in Bogard’s eyes, he remained silent.
Instead, he turned toward the battlefield.
Concern filled his gaze.
The killing intent had already begun to spread.
“Come.”
Two simple words.
Yet they perfectly reflected Garp’s fighting spirit.
Admirals.
CP0.
Seraphim.
He would overturn them all with a single hand.
Boom!
An overwhelming aura erupted from his body.
The surrounding space seemed to tremble violently under the pressure.
Even the air itself appeared to distort.
The sheer force of his presence caused the nearby CP0 operative to widen his eyes in shock.
What the hell?!
This old man…
This old man possessed such terrifying pressure?!
Impossible!
Grinding his teeth, he stared at Garp.
Whoosh!
The masked CP0 operative vanished instantly.
Appearing directly inside Garp’s aura storm.
His gaze locked onto Garp’s forehead.
“Finger Pistol!”
Armament Haki coated his finger.
His index finger sharpened like a spear.
It shot toward Garp’s forehead at incredible speed.
The attack flowed smoothly.
No wasted movement.
He intended to kill in a single strike.
But Garp merely glanced at him coldly.
“In front of me?”
“Have you forgotten who taught it to you?”
“Finger Pistol.”
At that instant, golden Armament Haki covered Garp’s right hand.
He raised a finger.
And thrust forward.
Needle against needle.
Spear against spear.
The two Finger Pistols collided.
Bang!
Armament Haki exploded outward.
And then—
A horrifying scene unfolded.
The moment the black Finger Pistol collided with Garp’s golden Finger Pistol—
The CP0 operative’s finger began deforming like soft clay.
Twisting.
Crushing.
Collapsing.
The golden Finger Pistol continued forward without losing any momentum.
It drove straight into the man’s arm.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
The sound of bones shattering echoed continuously.
From fingertip to forearm—
Every bone exploded apart.
Then blood burst outward.
Boom!
His entire arm exploded into a spray of flesh and blood.
Crack!
Crack!
Another violent series of explosions followed.
The already ruined hand completely detonated.
Unable to maintain his balance any longer, the masked agent was blown backward.
His left arm—
Destroyed.
His right arm—
Destroyed as well.
Thud.
A severed hand fell to the ground.
His right arm had been completely blown apart by the Finger Pistol.
Bang!
“AAAAAAAHHHHH!”
The overwhelming pain robbed him of all control.
He crashed heavily into the ground.
The loss of his arm sent agony surging through his entire body.
Blood scattered across the sky like crimson rain.
Accompanied by heart-rending screams.
The sound echoed through the heavens.
Never.
Never in his life had he been crushed so thoroughly.
Even when he lost before, he had never been defeated like this.
Damn it!
What was that golden Haki?
Why was it so terrifyingly powerful?
Only he knew the answer.
His Finger Pistol had felt as though it struck a piece of steel forged ten thousand times.
The instant they collided—
His finger shattered.
They weren’t on the same level at all.
In fact, he couldn’t even comprehend how far above him Garp stood.
A complete crush.
An absolute, undeniable domination.