"Don't think I'll thank you for this. The Shock-Shock Fruit thing isn't over." Blackbeard's voice was devoid of gratitude, his eyes flickering with a mix of fear and wariness. He couldn't decipher Adrian's intentions, but he knew for a fact that Adrian wasn't helping him out of the kindness of his heart. This kid had to have an ulterior motive.
And he was right. Adrian, however, didn't care about Blackbeard's thanks.
"There are no eternal friends or enemies, Captain," Doc Q said, looking half-dead. "We're at a crossroads. How will you choose?"
"Heh, Captain Teach, the enemy is the Marine Hero Garp. Can we really trust this handsome guy?" Katerina asked, cutting straight to the point.
The rest of the crew looked to Blackbeard for a decision: continue attacking Sengoku or use this chance to escape?
"Leave him be, little ones! Keep attacking Sengoku!" Blackbeard's decision was immediate. Greed had won out over caution. He wouldn't miss this golden opportunity again; he was tired of waiting.
The Blackbeard Pirates launched an even more ferocious assault on Sengoku.
On the other side of the fire, Garp's already grim expression twisted with rage. "Go away!" he snarled at Adrian. "I don't have time to deal with you right now. After I save Sengoku, I'll settle the score for Ace and Luffy with you myself."
But Adrian wouldn't let him pass. He stepped forward with a smirk. "Vice Admiral Garp, I hear your 'Iron Fist' is number one in the world. I'd love to see it for myself. Don't disappoint me!"
The sudden confrontation stunned everyone. The Marines stared at each other in confusion. Just moments ago, Adrian had been fighting the Blackbeard Pirates, and now they were working together against the two most powerful Marines. Was Adrian betraying the Warlords? What was happening?
"Damn it, that bastard Adrian is blocking Vice Admiral Garp!" Vice Admiral Momonaga, who had just returned, drew his sword and gave an order. "Listen up! The Corpse Collector Adrian's Warlord status has been automatically revoked. He is now an enemy on the same level as Blackbeard!"
Swish!
A purple figure suddenly appeared, blocking the Marines' path. It was Empress Boa Hancock. "How dare you disturb my sweetheart!" she cried, her face filled with fury. "Mero Mero Mellow!"
A pink light erupted from her heart-shaped pose, turning all the Marine soldiers it touched into stone statues.
"Empress, you're hindering us again!" Momonaga, who had narrowly dodged the attack, threatened. "Are you giving up your Warlord status to become a Marine enemy?"
"An enemy of the Marines?" The Empress scoffed, making her classic contemptuous gesture. "For Lord Adrian, I would become an enemy of the entire world without hesitation! My Warlord status means nothing."
Momonaga was speechless. The dignified Empress of Amazon Lily was acting like a servant to this kid. He'd never seen anything like it. "Empress, think about this," he said, frowning. "Your reckless actions may bring disaster to your kingdom. The Calm Belt is no obstacle for Marine warships."
"Hmph, haven't you heard 'love is like a hurricane'?" the Empress replied, perched proudly on her snake Salome. "With my beauty, even if every warrior in my kingdom dies, no one will blame this Empress!"
Meanwhile, Adrian and Garp's battle had begun.
"Get out of my way!" Garp leaped forward, his Haki-wrapped iron fist aimed directly at Adrian's head. Unlike his usual laid-back demeanor, Garp was serious and his aura was more terrifying than ever.
Boom!
Their fists collided with a deafening bang. A silver arc of energy, a product of their high-level Haki, radiated out, causing violent ripples that shook the ground. As they were locked in a stalemate, a white halo suddenly appeared around Adrian's fist, and a surge of shock-wave force erupted.
"What is this...?" Garp's eyes widened in astonishment. This was Whitebeard's power. How could this kid possess it?
Boom!
The full force of the shock wave hit Garp, sending him flying backward. He slid several dozen meters across the ground before he was able to stop.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" Momonaga and the other Marines watched in disbelief. The legendary Marine Hero, the man who had cornered the Pirate King, was sent flying by a mere brat. It was inconceivable. Not even Whitebeard could do that with a single punch.
Garp quickly regained his footing. Aside from some dust on his suit, he was unharmed, a testament to his incredible durability.
"What was that power?" Garp demanded. "Did you already get Whitebeard's Shock-Shock Fruit?" Though he didn't rely on his brain, Garp wasn't a fool. The fire and shock-wave abilities, combined with the golden coffin he'd seen before, led him to the undeniable conclusion that the boy could steal Devil Fruit abilities from the dead.
"Even Vice Admiral Garp has figured it out?" Adrian replied calmly. He wasn't surprised or flustered. He knew his secret would be exposed eventually. He had planned for this moment.
His plan for the Summit War was a success. He had collected all the Devil Fruits he needed. Now, it was time to show his fangs to the world and build his reputation.
"Since you've discovered it, there's no need to pretend," Adrian said. "I'll show my cards... Yes, I have the power of the Shock-Shock Fruit!"
A surge of terrifying power erupted from Adrian's body. He pulled his right arm back, mimicking Whitebeard's classic pose. His muscles bulged, and a destructive white halo formed around his fist.
"Ah, that pose is...!"