CHAPTER 52 — Garp vs Zemo: The Wolf That Challenged a Legend
📅 22 July, S.C. 1510 — Late Afternoon
👦 Ren — Age 7
📍 Foosha Village → Training Clearing
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The bar was chaos.
Makino chased Garp with a broom.
Villagers scattered.
Tables shook.
The floor trembled.
Ren and Zemo stood outside, both exhausted from Garp's "courage test."
Ren rubbed his forehead where the pebble had hit him.
"…He's a monster."
Zemo huffed in agreement.
Then—
A massive hand grabbed Zemo by the scruff.
Ren froze.
Garp lifted Zemo off the ground like a cat.
"Oi, wolf pup."
Zemo's tail stiffened.
His claws extended.
His growl was low and dangerous.
Ren panicked.
"Garp!! Put him down!!"
Garp ignored him.
He stared into Zemo's eyes.
Zemo stared back.
A silent war of dominance.
Then—
Garp smirked.
"You got guts too, furball."
And tossed Zemo into the air.
Ren screamed.
Zemo twisted mid-air, landing perfectly on all fours.
Hackles raised.
Teeth bared.
Echo Sense activating—
Zemo charged.
Straight at Garp.
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PART 1 — THE FIRST CLASH
Ren stumbled back in horror.
"NO NO NO—ZEMO!! STOP—!!"
Zemo didn't stop.
He launched himself at Garp with blinding speed.
Garp simply stepped aside.
Not fast.
Not aggressively.
Just casually—like moving away from a lazy dog.
Zemo landed, spun, and attacked again.
Claws slashed the air.
Teeth snapped.
Growl deep and feral.
Garp blocked everything with—
One finger.
Ren nearly fainted.
Makino, watching from the doorway, let out a scream.
"GARP!! STOP TORTURING THAT POOR BOY'S PET!"
Garp corrected:
"He's not a pet.
He's a fighter."
Zemo snarled, charging again with even sharper precision.
Garp flicked him lightly on the forehead.
DOINK.
Zemo skidded three meters back, fur puffed out.
Ren rushed to him.
"ZEMO!! Are you okay?!"
Zemo shook off dust, growled again, and charged for the third time.
Ren's jaw dropped.
"…Why is he like this?!"
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PART 2 — A DISPLAY OF POWER
Garp cracked his knuckles.
"All right, pup.
Show me your best."
Zemo's Echo Sense pulsed—
his eyes sharpening, predicting every movement.
He bolted left.
Then right.
Then low.
Then high.
He circled Garp, becoming a blur.
Ren's eyes widened:
"Zemo… you're evolving in real time…"
Zemo lunged—
Garp grinned—
And vanished.
Ren blinked.
"…Huh?"
Garp reappeared behind Zemo.
Tapping his shoulder.
Zemo spun.
Too slow.
Garp poked Zemo again.
Zemo spun.
Too slow.
Garp poked again.
Makino shouted:
"STOP BULLYING HIM!!"
Garp laughed.
"He's learning!"
Zemo snarled, responding faster.
Each step more controlled.
Each leap more precise.
Ren's heart pounded.
"Zemo… you're reading him."
But Garp suddenly raised one finger.
"Alright. My turn."
He flicked Zemo on the nose.
BOOP.
Zemo stumbled back, dazed.
Ren nearly cried.
---
PART 3 — ZEMO'S STRONGEST MOVE
Zemo stopped moving.
His pupils narrowed.
His tail stiffened.
Ren's breath caught.
Echo Sense fully activated.
He lowered his body completely—
muscles coiled like springs—
then launched himself with terrifying force.
Even Garp blinked.
"Oh?"
Zemo aimed straight for Garp's face.
Speed—
power—
precision—
Everything combined.
Ren shouted:
"ZEMO!! WAIT!!"
But—
Garp caught him.
With one arm.
Effortlessly.
Mid-air.
Zemo hung helplessly, legs kicking.
Garp lifted him like a puppy.
"Not bad, furball.
Not bad at all."
Zemo protested furiously.
Ren rushed over.
"Please don't kill him!!"
Garp laughed.
"Haha! Kill him?
Kid, if I used one percent of my strength—"
Makino yelled from behind:
"DON'T YOU DARE USE ONE PERCENT!"
Garp coughed.
"Ahem.
Right.
I mean if I used HALF A percent—"
Makino's broom flew.
Garp dodged it effortlessly.
---
PART 4 — UNEXPECTED RESPECT
Garp gently put Zemo down.
Zemo shook his fur, proud despite losing horribly.
Garp crossed his arms.
"That pup's got instincts you don't see often."
Ren blinked.
"…He does?"
Garp nodded.
"Fast learning.
Predictive movement.
No fear of stronger opponents."
Zemo puffed his chest.
Garp crouched and poked his head again.
"You'll be strong someday."
Zemo licked his hand.
Garp laughed.
"Haha! Good boy!"
Ren sighed.
"Zemo… you scared me…"
Zemo nuzzled his hand.
Makino approached, still shaking with stress.
"Garp. What was the point of all this?"
Garp looked at Ren.
Then at Zemo.
Then back at Ren.
"Simple."
He pointed at Ren's chest.
"That kid will need protection someday.
Real protection."
Ren blinked.
"…Protection from what?"
Garp smirked.
"You'll find out."
Ren gulped.
Makino frowned.
"Garp, stop terrifying him."
Garp patted Ren's head.
"Don't worry, brat.
With that brain… and this wolf…
you'll survive most things."
Ren didn't feel reassured.
But he felt… stronger.
Or maybe more determined.
He hugged Zemo tightly.
"Let's become worthy of those words… okay?"
Zemo barked softly.
Garp smiled faintly—
a genuine one this time.
Then he stood up.
"Alright! Time to eat the rest of Makino's food!"
Makino screamed.
"NO YOU DON'T!!!"
Ren and Zemo just watched as chaos resumed.
For once, Ren didn't feel scared.
He felt ready.
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END OF CHAPTER 52