"Yes, we must use our strength to defend Marineford, which symbolizes justice!"
"Everyone, cheer up! The battle isn't over yet!"
"Although we can't intervene in the main battle, there are still a large group of pirates at the harbor..."
"Yes! We'll jump over this chasm and make sure they don't escape!"
Garp, the revered Marine hero, had just saved the day with a few simple words. The Marines' morale, which had been on the verge of collapsing, was instantly reignited.
Adrian watched, almost wondering if Garp had the ability of a "Pump-PumpFruit." It was clear that Garp's reputation within the Marine ranks was unmatched.
"Death Song, come back," Adrian waved. "Garp will be handled by Blackbeard's crew. Let's just watch the show for now."
"My lord, that old guy's fist hurts so much!" Death Song said, scratching his head like a child. He was immune to most attacks, but Garp's Armament Haki was so strong it caused him pain.
"Of course," Adrian said, smiling. "Garp's Armament Haki is extremely powerful. Once you have fully integrated his shadow, you will be able to exert that power as well."
The brief clash had reminded Adrian just how strong Garp was. He was an "on-again, off-again" powerhouse whose peak form spanned generations. It was a good thing he had chosen Ace's corpse and not someone else's, as Garp would have likely destroyed them before they could fully integrate.
"Xiehahahaha, you really are something, Vice Admiral Garp! Your fists really hurt..." Blackbeard said, getting back on his feet as his wounds healed. He grinned ferociously. "But if that's all you've got, you won't stop me from sinking this island! Little ones, come with me!"
He thrust his hand forward, and a massive shock wave exploded, continuing to tear the island apart.
"Hahaha, Captain Teach, we've had a great harvest today," Catarina said. "If we kill another Marine hero, we'll be leaders among the Four Emperors!"
"That's right! Those big pirates in the New World will be scrambling to join your crew!"
"Weihahaha, I'm going to be the captain of the No. 1 ship!" Burgess yelled.
The crew needed no more orders. They swarmed Garp, attacking him with a newfound cohesion they had gained from killing Sengoku.
"Hey, Shiryu, are you still not going to make a move?" Blackbeard asked, his eyes predatory as he looked at Shiryu watching them with his great sword, "Raiu."
"I've kept my original promise," Blackbeard said, pretending to be amiable. "If you miss this opportunity, you'll regret it!"
Blackbeard wanted Shiryu on his team. Shiryu was the strongest of his crew, and as a former Impel Down warden, he knew a lot about the inner workings of Marine and the World Government. He would be a great asset.
But Shiryu's attitude toward Blackbeard had changed.
"Teach, I'm sorry, but I've run out of patience. Your performance… it's really disappointing," Shiryu said with a sneer. There was disgust in his eyes.
If Adrian hadn't appeared on the battlefield, Shiryu would have likely joined Blackbeard like in the original. But now, he had found a new boss with far more ambition and cunning. Shiryu believed in good birds choosing good trees, and Blackbeard had just become his target for abandonment.
"Shiryu of the Rain, what do you mean?" Blackbeard asked, a flicker of resentment in his eyes as he glanced at Adrian. "You saw what happened. My Dark-Dark Fruit can steal anyone's Devil Fruit ability. Don't you want to have a powerful Devil Fruit yourself?"
"A Devil Fruit?" Shiryu scoffed, ignoring a stunned Blackbeard. "I have to die for a Devil Fruit now? You've fallen into someone else's trap, and you don't even know it. I'm not going to die with you."
"How despicable!" the Empress sneered, watching from a distance. "After getting all that power, that ugly trash still has to fight dirty."
"Don't look at Blackbeard's arrogance," Adrian said with a smile. "Every move he makes is extremely cautious. Garp is a greater threat to him than Sengoku ever was. Without the advantage of his Devil Fruit, besieging Garp is the most logical choice."
"However," Adrian's smile grew wider as he watched the huge, black figure of Blackbeard. "Conceited, reckless, greedy... no wonder Whitebeard thought so little of you. Blackbeard, you've chosen the wrong opponent this time."
Even with the siege, Adrian wasn't optimistic about Blackbeard's chances. Garp was not Sengoku. His power came from his body and Haki, not a Devil Fruit. Blackbeard was bound to be defeated, and few of his carefully recruited crew would survive. This would save Adrian the trouble of dealing with them later. He didn't want Blackbeard to take all those powerful pirates to the New World; he only needed Blackbeard himself. The rest could die.
"Hey, Corpse Collector, do you have any plans to recruit a crew?" Shiryu's voice suddenly came from a short distance away.
BAM!
Death Song, who had been guarding Adrian and the Empress, shot off like a cannonball. A moment later, his fist struck Shiryu's face. Shiryu's eyes narrowed. He drew his sword, "Raiu," to block the blow, but the sheer force of Death Song's punch pushed him back several feet.
"You little brat! I'm not here to fight! I'm here to see your Captain!" Shiryu said, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his forehead. How is this resurrected guy so strong?
"Hmph, you'd better be careful," Death Song said coldly. "If you dare to talk to my king with that tone again, I will never forgive you!" He then turned to Adrian, and with a nod from his king, he stepped aside, his sharp gaze still locked on Shiryu.
"Please allow me to apologize for my reckless behavior," Shiryu said, tipping the brim of his hat to Adrian. It was a gesture of respect he rarely gave.
"Mr. Adrian, I have been looking forward to meeting a man like you," he said with a grin.
"Me too!" a quiet voice said. Van Augur appeared, holding his rifle. "Me too!"