By the sea.
Makino looked toward the floating island in the distant sky above the ocean, her face full of worry.
Even though Garp had told her before leaving not to approach and to stay safely in the bar, she couldn't help but come to the shore, hoping to see something.
However, the floating island was very far from the coast. Apart from the faint sounds of explosions, all she could see were clouds of dust occasionally rising from the island.
For her, it was not easy to discern anything from this.
"Did Gramps really go up there?"
Luffy's eyes sparkled as he stared at the floating island, looking eager to join the fight.
"Luffy!"
Makino was angry.
That's your own grandfather. Not only are you not worried, but you even look like you want to fight?
Luffy grinned carelessly. "Don't worry about Gramps. There's no way he'd lose."
Makino facepalmed.
She had no idea what to do with this grandfather and grandson pair.
They were both too reckless.
As time passed, the island gradually crumbled.
Makino grew increasingly anxious, and even the usually carefree Luffy began to show signs of nervousness.
Dusk approached.
The island was in pieces, losing its ability to float.
Chunks of varying sizes fell into the sea one after another, stirring up massive waves that rolled toward the shore.
"Did we win?"
Luffy stared as the last piece of the island fell, swallowing hard.
"Mr. Garp..."
Makino's face was full of concern.
Soon, the two of them saw a small rock flying toward them from the distance.
On the rock stood two people.
One was tall and slender, wearing a white coat, while the other was a beautiful woman with long, striking legs.
In front of them lay an old man covered in wounds.
"Gramps!"
Luffy was shocked, unable to believe that his grandfather had actually been defeated.
Makino covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
It wasn't until Reddy and Hancock stepped onto the shore that she snapped back to reality.
"Give my grandfather back!"
As soon as Makino regained her senses, she saw Luffy charging toward the man and woman.
"Luffy, come back!"
Makino was horrified, but then she saw Luffy being sent flying back even faster than he had rushed forward.
"Disrespectful fool!"
Hancock slowly lowered her long leg, her face full of disgust.
In her opinion, after Reddy defeated Garp, they shouldn't have come ashore at all. They should have gone straight back to Loguetown—no, back to Amazon Lily to oversee work.
But Reddy had insisted on coming ashore.
She naturally wouldn't oppose Reddy's decision.
Yet the moment they stepped onto the island, they were attacked by this rude brat. She couldn't tolerate it.
"Monkey D. Luffy?"
Reddy stopped Hancock from advancing further and looked at Luffy, who had gotten back up and still looked ready to fight. He smiled. "You're no match for me right now. If you attack us again, be prepared to pay the price."
"Gum-Gum... Pistol!"
Luffy's right arm stretched back unnaturally before suddenly shooting toward Reddy.
"A Devil Fruit user?"
Hancock sneered and was about to strike, but Reddy stopped her.
Who could resist fighting the chosen one of this world?
Not even Reddy.
A hole suddenly opened in the air to the right.
Reddy reached in and pulled out the sword Shusui, swinging it faster than Luffy's fist and slashing the incoming punch.
Snap!
Luffy retracted his right fist, his expression serious.
Seeing that Shusui hadn't injured Luffy, Reddy shook his head. "The Nika Fruit is impressive. Without Haki, it's hard to break through its defense."
Although he had obtained Haki training methods from Amazon Lily, he hadn't had time to practice them yet.
After experiencing the Nika Fruit's power firsthand, he summoned the Maid.
"Another Devil Fruit user!"
The sudden appearance of the Maid startled Makino.
"I'm a rubber man who ate the Gum-Gum Fruit. Swords can't hurt me."
Luffy carefully examined the Maid before turning his attention back to Reddy. His next words nearly made Reddy burst out laughing.
"You're naive."
If Reddy had initially fought Luffy out of respect for Garp, now it was because of Luffy's naivety that he decided to personally defeat this world's chosen one.
"Shut up!"
Luffy charged forward again.
"What's your dream?"
Reddy reached out, and the Maid seamlessly transformed into a long sword in his hand, which he used to slash away Luffy's incoming fist.
"I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!"
Luffy, undeterred by his failed attack, retracted his fist and launched a barrage of punches at Reddy. "Gum-Gum... Gatling!"
"Are you prepared to die for that dream?"
Reddy moved even faster, effortlessly blocking every punch with his sword.
"Of course!"
Seeing that his Gatling attack had no effect, Luffy gritted his teeth and increased his punching speed. "I will be the Pirate King!"
"Then prepare to die."
Reddy smiled and suddenly vanished from his spot amid the flurry of punches.
The next moment, he appeared right in front of Luffy.
A flash of steel cut through the barrage of fists and struck Luffy square in the chest.
Blood sprayed!
Luffy's eyes rolled back as he was sent flying.
"Luffy!"
Makino covered her mouth in shock.
In her memory, aside from Garp's "Fist of Love," blades had never been able to hurt Luffy.
When she looked again, she was stunned to see that Reddy's sword had turned pitch-black at some point. He walked leisurely toward the unconscious Luffy.
"Stay back!"
Makino rushed over, spreading her arms and forcing herself to stand in Reddy's path despite her fear.
Reddy chuckled at her trembling form. "I respect anyone who has a dream and is willing to give everything for it. He's not dead yet."
Makino froze.
By the time she regained her senses, Reddy had already walked past her.
She quickly turned around and saw Reddy crouch beside Luffy, taking out a syringe to collect a blood sample from the wound on Luffy's chest. She was stunned once more.
"This is the price."
Reddy stored the genetic sample and walked back toward Hancock. As he walked, he said, "Vice Admiral Garp is a man I respect, so I came to inform his family..."
He glanced back at the unconscious Luffy and smiled wryly. "But it seems his grandson already knows."
"Well then... goodbye."
Reddy stood beside Hancock, and the rock beneath their feet rose into the air.
Both Garp and Dragon were idealists worthy of his respect, which was why he had only taken Luffy's genetic sample instead of taking the chosen one as an infinite genetic donor.
Besides, Luffy's naivety amused him.
Loguetown!
Fish-Man Island!
Dressrosa!
Reddy was curious how Luffy's future adventures would unfold after he had taken these three places for himself.
"Wait!"
Makino snapped out of it and ran to the shore, shouting at Reddy's retreating figure. "Is Vice Admiral Garp... dead?"
Reddy didn't turn back, merely waving his hand. "Don't worry about Vice Admiral Garp. I bear him no ill will... After all, in a way, we're the same kind of people."
Dockyard, Loguetown.
Smoker chewed on his cigar, his mood irritable.
Garp had chosen to face Reddy alone, which filled him with worry.
That was a man capable of fighting the entire Marine force!
"Vice Admiral Garp is a good man."
Ark, who had been sent directly to the dock by Reddy, stared at the floating island in the distance with determination. "Dr. Reddy is also a good man. He wouldn't kill Vice Admiral Garp."
Smoker looked down at Ark and said irritably, "Do you even understand what it would mean if something happened to Vice Admiral Garp, kid?"
Ark hesitated, then shook his head.
"Tch."
Smoker ignored the naive brat, a bad feeling growing in his chest.
As dusk fell, the floating island shattered and sank into the sea.
Smoker's expression darkened as he bit down on his cigar and turned toward the dog-headed Marine battleship. "Return to Marineford. The Marines have a problem."
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