"Creak! Creak!"
A surge of immense power erupted from the bodies of both men at that moment, colliding with the impact of the massive energy spheres. The surrounding air instantly twisted, scraped, then exploded with chaotic sounds.
"Hissss!"
With their hands forcibly blocking the energy orbs, the two men were pushed back a full hundred meters by the enormous impact force before they could come to a stop.
"AAAAH!"
Blazing flames clashed continuously with the shockwaves from Sengoku's palms, producing dull booming sounds. Sparks flew in strings, spreading the acrid scent of burning.
Garp, meanwhile, drove both hands, coated in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), deep into the pitch-black Gudōdama (Truth-Seeking Ball).
His aged face flushed red, his torso trembled as he stood firm against the sky. Every joint and muscle in his body burst forth with unstoppable strength in that moment.
The two sides were deadlocked. Both men were using overwhelming force to suppress the dangerous energy spheres in their hands from detonating. The energy rotated and pulsed, with crackling sparks constantly flashing out, radiating a continuous aura of danger.
"Ha!"
After ten breaths, the two let out a furious roar and raised their hands toward the sky.
"Whoosh!"
The two massive energy masses were instantly redirected and launched straight into the sky. In the blink of an eye, they soared higher and higher, and finally exploded with a thunderous boom in the sky above.
Multi-colored halos spread outward, slowly dispersing into threads of Dao light, radiating a hazy and beautiful glow.
"We stopped it!"
Sengoku exhaled a deep breath, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat. Garp's expression was equally serious, his gaze locked tightly on the two men before him.
Two versus two. And the opponents were both top-tier Powerhouses. If a true all-out battle erupted here, the consequences would be far too severe for the Marines to bear.
He had every reason to believe that these two were more than capable of sinking the Sabaody Archipelago.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Sengoku regulated his breathing and once again looked Qin Yi in the eye.
"My answer remains the same as before," Qin Yi said with a faint smile. "Let's save the next battle for another day, shall we?"
Beside him, Madara raised an eyebrow slightly, but said nothing. The earlier clash had also made him realize that the people of this world possessed great power as well.
"Next time?" Sengoku repeated grimly, voice deep with caution. "What exactly are you trying to accomplish?"
Qin Yi raised his eyebrows, then smiled lightly.
"I want to establish a Kingdom, one where everyone can truly live freely and pursue their dreams. A world that spans this entire sea. The World Government has already rotted. Watching it continue to rule this world is honestly giving me a headache."
Hearing these words, Sengoku's face changed, and he coldly spat out four words: "You are a Madman!"
Qin Yi merely smiled, saying nothing more.
"It seems, Sengoku San," he said with amusement, "that you don't want another fight with us right now."
"Next time we meet, I won't let you off so easily!" Sengoku growled coldly.
Fighting here in the Sabaody Archipelago was too sensitive. The battle had lasted less than half an hour, yet the island beneath them was already on the verge of sinking. Sengoku couldn't even begin to imagine the scale of casualties if things escalated.
And more than that, he couldn't explain it to the World Government.
"Heh." Qin Yi chuckled before he turned around.
"Madara, it's time for us to go!"
Madara cast a deep, lingering glance at Garp.
"Ace!" Garp clenched his teeth and was about to lunge forward, but was stopped by Sengoku, who gripped his shoulder firmly.
"Ace is fine."
Garp froze, the fury on his face dissipating.
"He's over there," Sengoku said solemnly, pointing toward the direction Qin Yi and Madara were leaving in.
Following Sengoku's finger, Garp first stared blankly, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! That brat! Had me worried sick, and he's alive and kicking after all."
From a collapsed street not far away, Ace and the Three Generals leapt out. When Garp saw him, Ace also spotted his grandfather.
"Grandpa Garp!"
"You know that old geezer?" Madara stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.
"Master, he's my grandfather."
Seeing the confrontation and the devastation on the island, Ace immediately understood what had happened.
"He's very strong," Madara said solemnly.
Ace grinned and waved at Garp.
"Long time no see, old man. You're still as loud and brash as ever!"
"You damn brat! Want another taste of my iron fist? Get your butt back and become a Marine!" Garp roared.
But his face was all smiles; clearly, he wasn't actually angry.
"It's time to go." Qin Yi walked over and said calmly.
"Your Majesty!" The Three Generals greeted him with respect.
Qin Yi nodded, smiled gently at Ace, and then quickly strode away.
"Old man! See you next time! I swear I'll shock you! As for becoming a Marine, no way! Not in this lifetime!"
With that, Ace quickly followed Madara.
With a master who could fight that old man to a draw, his strength was likely unfathomable. Ace knew very well that following him would allow him to learn even more.
Watching Qin Yi and his group leave, Sengoku finally let out a silent sigh of relief. But upon seeing the devastation around them, he began to feel another headache coming on.
"Hahahaha! That kid Ace really knows how to stir up trouble. Now he's hanging out with those people." Garp laughed heartily as he spoke.
"Garp, as a Marine, can't you take this seriously for once?" Sengoku held his forehead; he felt like his head was about to explode.
"That group… is extremely dangerous. If Ace sticks with them, do you even know what kind of fate awaits him? If something happens, it'll be your fault for not raising him properly!" Sengoku was losing his mind and shouted furiously.
Garp's eyes narrowed slightly, then he started chuckling again.
"I don't think they seem like bad people."
Sengoku was speechless. He snorted angrily and turned to leave.
Half an hour later, the Sabaody Archipelago finally calmed down. The Marines returned to their respective positions.
However, the world was once again thrown into turmoil. And this time, it was even more shocking than before. One explosive piece of news after another spread across the world, leaving countless people stunned.
"King Qin Ying Zheng possesses Yonkō-level strength, directly clashing with Marine Headquarters!"
"Asura of the Blood Eyes, Uchiha Madara, fights Vice Admiral Garp to a stalemate!"
"Two islands sunk in the chaos, shocking! That such Powerhouse still exist in the world!"
No one could believe it. This massive event instantly shook the entire world. People everywhere turned pale.
Since ancient times, the Grand Line has been a gathering place for Powerhouse. Comparatively, the first half of the Grand Line is weaker than the New World. But now, learning that someone with Yonkō-level power had appeared in Alabasta, in the middle of the Grand Line, left everyone both stunned and terrified.
A day later, thanks to the Marines' incredible efficiency, the bounties for Qin Yi and Madara were officially confirmed.
"The Usurper King, Qin Ying Zheng – Bounty: 1.6 Billion. Heinous crimes, contempt for world authority, ambition to rule the world!"
"Bounty Note: Extremely Dangerous! Life or death – doesn't matter!"
"Asura of the Blood Eyes, Uchiha Madara – Bounty: 1.8 Billion. Killer of Tenryuubito, countless Marines, destroyer of islands. Evil beyond redemption!"
"Bounty Note: Extremely Dangerous! Life or death – doesn't matter!"
As soon as the bounty posters were issued, they were quickly spread across the globe.
The entire world once again erupted into uproar and chaos.
(End of Chapter)
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