Clang!
Jack's spiked mace clashed against Garp's fist, the sheer force of impact making the sharp spikes flatten as though they'd been hammered down.
Garp's fist, coated in Armament Haki, didn't yield an inch to the massive, weapon-hardened teeth of Jack's mace.
Jack grinned through gritted teeth. Once or twice, he could brush it off. Three or four times, he could manage. But every single time? This old man just kept using his bare fists to block his attacks like it was nothing. It was starting to get on his nerves.
Even with the boost from Armament Haki, a bare fist should naturally be at a disadvantage against a weapon. Not everyone had a freakishly special body. Could it be that Garp, the Marine Hero, also possessed some unique constitution? Or was it simply that while most people refined their weapons with Haki, Garp refined his fists instead?
Wait... can fists even be refined? Jack glanced at Garp's pitch-black, gleaming fists and nodded to himself. If so, I guess we'd call them "Black Fists."
"Bwahahaha! Not bad, brat!" Garp's booming laughter snapped Jack out of his thoughts. "Taking this many hits from me and still standing? You've got good Haki, good strength. At your age, you're a real monster!"
Garp's teeth shone bright under the sun, a grin stretched wide across his face. Jack said nothing, calmly holstering his mace at his side before launching himself straight at Garp.
Boom!
Their fists collided—one large, one small—and after a few seconds of stalemate, both were forced to retreat.
Jack's gaze turned sharper. This time, he'd infused his strike with Conqueror's Haki, laced with Armament Haki's advanced ryuo technique. Even at such intensity, Garp had blocked it head-on with nothing but pure Armament Haki.
At this point, Jack was certain: Garp's mastery of Armament Haki far surpassed his own. It was even greater than that of Kaido or Whitebeard, reaching a level that could only be described as the pinnacle.
And that old geezer… How was his body still so ridiculously tough at his age? Each punch hit harder than the last.
Who's the real youngster here? Jack thought, excitement bubbling within him. But I like it!
Jack grinned. Compared to weird Devil Fruit users, he much preferred fights like this—raw, physical clashes that tested strength, endurance, Haki, and grit. This was the kind of fight he lived for: a one-on-one battle where the winner stood tall, and the loser hit the ground.
Not that it matters, Jack chuckled inwardly. Even if I lose, I'll just get back up. Taking hits only makes me stronger, after all. What's not to love?
"Bwahaha! Brat, you've got some guts!" Garp gave a thumbs-up, still grinning. "Out of all the fish-men I've faced, you're the first to make me enjoy myself this much. Even Jinbe couldn't hold a candle to you!"
"Considering your age, I'd say you're the real monster here." Jack smirked, drawing his mace once more. "What are you taking, old man? Some kind of miracle supplement? Or maybe it's your diet? Do you stay fit by dancing every morning?"
Garp's smile froze.
"You little brat!" Garp bellowed. "You've got some nerve teasing me!"
Garp's punch shot toward Jack, but Jack caught it in his palm, the force still forcing him to take a few steps back. Garp followed up with his left fist, only for Jack to intercept it as well.
Before Jack could counter, Garp planted his feet on Jack's chest, using him as a springboard to launch himself upward. With a mighty kick, he sent Jack's massive frame flying into the air, breaking free of his grip.
Jack stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and grinned.
"More! Let's keep going!"
As the sun rose and fell, Kuzan finally stirred, yawning as he sat up from where he'd been napping on the deck of the Marine warship. Stretching out his hands toward the sea, he muttered lazily, "Ice Age."
Meanwhile, Garp and Jack had been fighting for two full days and nights. It was a brutal clash of raw power and relentless endurance, with both sides refusing to back down.
The sheer force of their attacks had shattered and re-frozen the surrounding ocean multiple times, forcing Kuzan to reinforce the icy battlefield to prevent the ship from sinking.
"Whew…" Jack gasped for breath, his chest heaving. This was the toughest opponent he'd ever faced—an unyielding powerhouse with monstrous stamina.
Garp didn't have Whitebeard's overwhelming destructive force, but his resilience and endurance were on a completely different level.
And his stamina… it's insane!
Jack felt his legs tremble. His back ached from the sheer number of times he'd been slammed to the ground. But Garp? Aside from a faint wheeze, the old man was still full of energy, his punches landing harder than ever.
Is this guy even human? Jack thought, gritting his teeth as he charged back in.
Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed him. Jack stumbled, pointing a trembling finger at Garp before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
"Bwahahaha!" Garp's laughter echoed across the battlefield. "This brat… he's one tough fish-man..."
Panting heavily, Garp plopped down onto a chunk of ice, wiping the blood from his face. He winced, clutching his lower back.
"Ah, my back… It's killing me!"
Kuzan approached, flanked by a group of Marines. Glancing at the shattered ice and the sinking form of Jack in the ocean, he let out a low whistle.
"To think someone could go toe-to-toe with Vice Admiral Garp for this long… That's impressive."
"That brat…" Garp muttered, standing up and cracking his knuckles. "I need to confirm something about his body. Let's see if he's got the same monstrous constitution as Kaido!"
With that, Garp dove into the sea.
Kuzan placed his hands on the icy surface, melting the frozen battlefield back into open water. By the time the warship arrived, Garp resurfaced, dragging Jack's unconscious body aboard.
"Vice Admiral Garp, how is he?" Kuzan asked curiously.
"Hmph!" Garp snorted, tossing his soaked coat aside. "They wasn't kidding in that report. That brat's body really is just like Kaido's—damn near unkillable!"
Kuzan's expression turned serious.
"Another monster like Kaido appearing in the Beast Pirates... The future of this sea is looking grim."
Garp scratched his nose, grinning lazily. "Eh, not our problem. We just follow orders and fight when we're told to. No point worrying about the rest."
"Fair enough." Kuzan sighed, pulling his eye mask down and reclining on a deck chair. "Wake me up when it's time to eat."
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The fanfic is Finished on p@treon/tambeerg