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As Garp continued his assault, he seemed almost unaware of the giants' endless resurgence. Each punch was a direct hit, and each fallen giant melted into black liquid before regrouping and rejoining the fight. The more he struck, the more energized he became, almost as if he had been waiting for a chance to cut loose like this for ages. The intensity of his strikes grew, and his happiness was evident; the battle was pure, unrestrained, and allowed him to unleash the full force of his iron fists.
While Garp reveled in the battle, Sengoku observed with increasing concern. He noticed what Garp hadn't: that the giants didn't stay down. Every one of Garp's powerful blows was undone within seconds, as the giants regenerated from the black tide. Sengoku realized the situation was spiraling, understanding that the Kuroshio's strategy had shifted—it now aimed to kill Garp rather than bypass him for Whitebeard and Larson. This relentless regeneration wasn't typical; it was the Kuroshio's response to Garp's fierce resistance.
Reflecting on how he'd been manipulated by Larson, Sengoku felt frustrated. He had initially intended for Garp to retreat, recognizing the ominous nature of the black tide, but had fallen into Larson's trap. Larson's plan had indirectly thrown Garp into the fray, leading to Sengoku's current predicament. The thought that he had unwittingly pushed Garp into such peril because of Larson's deception gnawed at him.
Sengoku tried to pull Garp back, but Garp, fully absorbed in the fight, couldn't hear him. There was something exhilarating in these giants that spurred Garp on, and he struck with an enthusiasm unmatched in recent memory. The feel of his fists against these foes brought him more satisfaction than even a punch against a regular adversary. The only annoyance was the black tide that persistently tried to envelop his legs, forcing him to kick off the creeping shadows. He eventually discovered that covering his legs in Armament Haki prevented the black tide from clinging to him, allowing him to continue fighting with even greater intensity.
Larson, watching from afar, was deeply unnerved. He understood all too well the power of Garp's fist—if he hadn't shielded himself with his own techniques, he doubted he could have withstood even a few of those hits. This was the man who had once chased Roger across the seas, and the strength of the legendary "Hero of the Navy" was on full display.
Yet Garp's enthusiasm was a double-edged sword, as he hadn't noticed the endless cycle of resurrection within his enemies. To him, the battle felt like an infinite supply of giants to pummel, and he seemed blissfully unaware of their unending regeneration. Sengoku, however, could see it clearly. He knew that Garp's approach would lead only to exhaustion if left unchecked, which could turn the tides dangerously if Whitebeard or Larson moved in later.
In response, Sengoku activated his Big Buddha powers and entered the battlefield. With swift, decisive action, he pulled Garp out of the fray, who immediately protested.
"Why are you pulling me? Put me down!" Garp shouted, frustration clear on his face.
Sengoku had no choice but to explain, "You can't kill these things permanently. Haven't you noticed? They keep resurrecting. If you keep going, you'll only drain your energy. Let's withdraw before it's too late."
Sengoku quickly assessed the scene, realizing with certainty that the black tide, or Kuroshio, had been intentionally led here by Larson to harass them. There was no mistaking it now—this was Larson's plan all along. Determined to avoid any further involvement with Larson's schemes, Sengoku decided on a separate path, even if it meant taking the long way around. He bolted in the opposite direction, leaving Larson only a glimpse of his back as he disappeared into the distance with Garp in tow.
Larson watched Sengoku's retreat with a smirk. Did Sengoku really believe he could escape so easily? That was far too naive.
Although Sengoku and Garp managed to break away, the Kuroshio's fury followed them relentlessly, unwilling to release Garp from its must-kill list. As Sengoku and Garp distanced themselves, the black tide shifted, splitting into two: one half veered off to continue its pursuit of Garp and Sengoku, while the other half maintained its pressure on Larson and Whitebeard.
"Although the process had a few unexpected twists, the result is exactly as I wanted," Larson mused, nodding at the approaching Kuroshio. His plan to divert some of the Kuroshio's forces toward Sengoku and Garp had worked better than expected, giving him and Whitebeard the opportunity to strategize under reduced pressure.
Amused, Larson thought to himself, Sengoku, you've turned out to be an unwitting ally. Even Whitebeard hasn't helped me this much!
Whitebeard, watching Larson's calculating gaze, sighed and asked, "So, what's the plan now?"
Larson glanced at the remaining half of the Kuroshio. "We continue moving forward," he replied, his tone confident. "With Sengoku and Garp drawing part of the Kuroshio away, this gives us an opening. Let's make the most of it."
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