On the execution platform—
The kimono-clad elder glanced toward Kizaru, a faint glimmer flashing in his eyes as his hand lightly stroked the blade of the First Generation Kitetsu.
"So it seems the Navy isn't just incompetent… they're also unreliable."
It was obvious.
Kizaru's hesitation might fool ordinary people—
but to monsters on the level of the Five Elders, it was painfully easy to see through.
The other four elders standing beside him all looked displeased.
"After this battle ends," the man in the black suit said coldly,
"the Navy will need a thorough restructuring."
"I said long ago that the Navy cannot be fully trusted," the elder in the dark-green suit muttered angrily.
"Enough."
The kimono elder interrupted them.
"We can discuss that after the war."
His eyes turned icy.
"This battle is being broadcast to the entire world. There's no time to waste."
"We end it quickly."
"Today we reclaim the authority the World Government lost forty years ago."
The moment he finished speaking—
his figure vanished.
The other four elders released their auras as well and disappeared from the platform.
Ace froze.
Only for an instant—
but when those five moved, he felt an overwhelming power erupt.
A terrifying pressure.
Even stronger than Pops…
His heart sank.
Whitebeard, Shiki, and Kaido were already fighting at a disadvantage.
If these five monsters joined the battlefield—
The outcome would be disastrous.
"Damn it!"
Sweat poured down Ace's face.
He struggled violently against the shackles.
"Pops! Luffy!"
"Leave me!"
"Don't throw your lives away for me!!"
But the cuffs binding his wrists were made of Seastone.
No matter how hard he struggled—
they didn't budge.
"Don't move!"
The two execution soldiers beside him pressed their blades against his neck.
"Stay still!"
"Damn it…!" Ace snarled.
Below the platform—
the moment Garp saw the kimono elder move—
his face turned pale.
Because the elder's target…
was Luffy.
"Five Elders…"
Garp clenched his teeth, fury boiling in his voice.
"Garp!"
Beside him, Sengoku reacted instantly.
He leapt forward and grabbed Garp's arm.
Cold sweat poured down his back.
If he hadn't stopped him—
who knew what Garp might have done.
This was a global broadcast.
If the world saw the "Hero of the Marines" fighting the Five Elders to protect a pirate—
the Navy's reputation would collapse overnight.
The World Government's justice would become a joke.
"Garp…!"
Sengoku said urgently.
"We're Marines. Stay calm!"
It was his ultimate argument.
"Get lost."
Garp's reply was a low, furious growl.
The next instant—
a terrifying force exploded from his arm.
Sengoku hadn't expected resistance.
He was blasted backward, crashing into a fortress wall dozens of meters away.
"GARPPP!!"
Sengoku roared in shock.
He never imagined Garp would actually attack him with full strength.
"Damn it!"
Golden light burst around Sengoku as he shattered the wall and transformed into his Buddha form, rushing after Garp.
This was a worldwide broadcast.
He absolutely could not allow the Navy to tear itself apart in front of everyone.
But Garp ignored him completely.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward—
BOOM!!
The ice beneath his foot shattered into fragments.
He shot forward like a black comet, racing straight toward the kimono elder.
Ace's death…
he could accept it.
Ace was his adopted grandson.
He had raised him well, and Ace had grown into his own man.
In that sense—
he had fulfilled the promise he made to Roger.
But Luffy was different.
Luffy was his biological grandson.
The last inheritor of their family's D bloodline.
He would never allow anyone to kill Luffy.
Especially not right in front of him.
Duty—
or family.
This time,
Garp chose family.
He stepped off the body of a Marine who had been blown aside by cannon fire—
and his speed exploded again.
His movement broke the sound barrier.
A sonic boom echoed across the battlefield.
"Hm?"
Sensing the terrifying energy approaching from behind, the kimono elder showed mild curiosity.
But before he could even activate his Observation Haki—
Garp had already passed him.
"Made it."
Garp felt relief flood his chest.
But seeing that the elder had no intention of stopping—
Garp immediately came up with a plan.
His expression twisted into fury.
He raised his massive fist and roared:
"Prepare yourself!"
"LUFFY!!"
Luffy froze.
His grandfather was charging straight at him.
Shock flashed across his face.
But the next moment—
rage ignited in his eyes.
"Damn it!"
He couldn't understand it.
Why wouldn't his grandfather save Ace?
Why was he even stopping him?
Ace was his brother.
And Garp had raised both of them!
"Second Gear!"
Steam burst from Luffy's body.
His skin turned crimson as his power skyrocketed.
"Gomu Gomu no—"
"BAZOOOKA!!"
His arms stretched dozens of meters behind him—
then snapped forward like coiled springs.
His massive fists rocketed toward Garp's face.
"Fist of Love!!"
Garp didn't dodge.
He roared and swung his own iron fist forward.
BOOOM!!
A massive explosion of air erupted between them.
White smoke engulfed the battlefield.
In less than a heartbeat—
two dark figures blasted out of the cloud.
Garp.
And Luffy.
Both had been thrown backward.
The surrounding Marines were stunned.
"What?!"
"Vice Admiral Garp got knocked back by Straw Hat?!"
"That's impossible!"
"No way! How could Straw Hat possibly be that strong?!"
Seeing Luffy clash evenly with the legendary Marine hero—
everyone watching felt their worldview collapse.
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