Yoriichi Tsugikuni was a man guided by an inexplicable sense of mission.
He had stood on the beach for a long while, sorting through his thoughts. Just as he was ready to move on, a flash of white appeared far across the sea. Moments later, masts emerged, and then a flag bearing a seagull emblem fluttered into view.
The enormous dark-blue, dog-headed destroyer surged toward the island.
"Marine… The Navy… And that bow… is that… Garp?!"
Like the tardy messenger of justice in every story, the Navy's warship had finally arrived after a string of tragedies.
As it drew nearer, Yoriichi halted, observing the ship in detail.
"Ah… this is going too far."
"Someone like him… in the East Sea?"
Garp's warship closed on Ryugin Island. Hundreds of meters away, Garp spotted the red-haired boy standing on the cliff. His Observation Haki flared, sending a surge of perception toward Yoriichi.
"I will not let such a villain disrupt the peace of the East Sea!"
With a flick, Garp Untied his tie, tore off his white cloak of justice with one hand, and bent his legs, leaping into the air. Hundreds of meters from the island, he soared straight toward Ryugin Island.
"Vice-Admiral Garp!" his lieutenant shouted, but Garp ignored him. In an instant, he became a tiny black dot hurtling through the sky.
"What is that?!"
Yoriichi lifted his head just in time to see the small black figure racing toward him. Identification hit immediately, despite the haziness of his memories.
"It's Garp… Middle-aged?!"
Garp's head of black hair surprised him. Then, without warning, Garp's fists gathered immense power, dense black lightning crackling in the air.
Yoriichi, stunned, drew his long sword and called out: "I'm a civilian, not a pirate!"
Though his voice was low, Garp heard it clearly—and a broad smile spread across his rugged face.
In a blink, Garp was in front of Yoriichi, fist Full with unstoppable force. Yoriichi reacted instantly, thrusting his flaming long sword forward.
"Sun Breathing—Seventh Form: Yang Hua Thrust!"
The clash was Immediate. Garp's black lightning-shrouded fist struck the blade tip directly, transferring immense force. Yoriichi staggered, his defense faltering. His midsection opened under the impact, the sheer power overwhelming him.
The sandbag-sized fist slammed into Yoriichi's chest. His breath hitched, vision dimmed, and unconsciousness claimed him.
"Bang!"
Garp observed the boy collapse, then approached.
"Is this kid… wearing animal skins? Barefoot?"
"His Conqueror's Haki… just awakened. Scattered, unfocused… he's a rookie."
"But his swordsmanship… not from Longyin Island, that's for sure."
Garp chuckled. Despite Yoriichi being the cause of the previous tragedy, his words and behavior earned him mercy. At the last moment, Garp had simply rendered him unconscious.
He lifted Yoriichi effortlessly, slinging him over his shoulder, and retrieved the boy's sword. Slowly, he carried him toward the ruined town.
The battlefield's horrific sight darkened Garp's expression. Examining the Marines' fatal wounds, he relaxed slightly, then led Yoriichi back to the cliff.
Meanwhile, Garp's warship reached Ryugin Island. Marines gathered on the cliffs, alert and ready. Lieutenant Bogard, assembling his troops, froze when he saw Garp approach carrying a "savage in animal skins."
"Vice-Admiral Garp!"
"Who is this? What happened to him?"
Garp casually tossed Yoriichi and his sword toward Bogard. Confused, the lieutenant caught them.
"Take this kid and his sword aboard."
"The battlefield is over there. E-23 troops have been wiped out. Gather your fallen comrades and return them home for burial."
"Send teams to inspect the town and the island. Report any survivors immediately."
Bogard straightened, obeying. Then, looking at the red-haired boy, curiosity broke through:
"Vice-Admiral Garp… who is this boy?"
Garp smirked, picking at his nose casually. "Consider him a survivor. That aura you felt… it came from him. He likely awakened it by accident. Now, let's move—pirates dare stir trouble in the East China Sea. I won't let them get away."
The Marines obeyed. Garp's orders were precise, his men reliable. They dispersed to survey the island.
In the year 1497 of the Sea Circle Calendar, an atrocity unfolded in the East China Sea: the E-23 Marine Unit was annihilated while suppressing pirates on Ryugin Island. Thousands of islanders were killed; women and children Kidnapped.
Vice Admiral Garp, returning to Marineford from a family visit, had coincidentally encountered the pirates, delivering a decisive blow. Flames erupted across the sea, illuminating half the sky.
All kidnapped women and children from Ryugin Island were rescued.
By the time Garp's warship returned to Marineford, there was one notable change: among the crew was a red-haired boy, brought safely to Marine Headquarters.
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(End of Chapter)