Inside the barrier, the air was so heavy it felt like it could drip. The frenzied lightning, the angry beast's roar, and... a man's wild, unrestrained laughter all intertwined, forming a bizarre overture to war.
The Lightning Release Armour on the Third Raikage crackled, each dancing arc of electricity containing destructive power. He stared intently at Garp, his sharp eyes filled with a mix of vigilance and fighting spirit.
"You..."
His voice was low and hoarse, like two rocks grinding together.
"Just who are you?"
"Did you appear here for the Eight-Tails?"
As soon as this question was asked, the atmosphere in the gorge tensed to the extreme.
However, Garp's reaction to the Raikage's question made everyone's jaw drop. He stuck his pinky finger into his nostril, dug around vigorously, and then flicked his finger.
"Hm?"
He looked at the Third Raikage with a bewildered expression, tilting his head. His expression was as innocent as a three-year-old child's.
"Eight-Tails?"
Garp repeated, still picking his nose.
"What's that?"
"Is it tasty?"
Boom!
This sentence was like pouring a barrel of gasoline on the Third Raikage's already blazing anger.
Playing dumb? Mocking him?
A monster strong enough to knock back the Eight-Tails with one punch doesn't know what a Tailed Beast is?
In his eyes, this was just blatant contempt! It was the most thorough contempt for him and for Kumogakure!
"Bastard..."
The Third Raikage gritted his teeth, making a keke sound. The Lightning Release Armour on his body, formed from Chakra, suddenly surged with electricity! The blue-purple arcs became thicker, more violent!
Crackle!
Amidst the ear-piercing thunder, the ground around him was crushed by the powerful energy, and rubble began to float upwards!
"It doesn't matter anymore!"
The Third Raikage let out a low roar, suppressing his extreme anger. He abruptly lowered his body, taking a charging stance, his entire person turning into a blue cannonball ready to be fired.
"I don't care where you came from!"
"And I don't care what your purpose is!"
His eyes were bloodshot with anger, locked firmly on Garp's figure.
"I will beat you half to death first!"
"And then interrogate you slowly!"
Before his voice had even fallen, the ground beneath his feet exploded!
BOOM!
The Third Raikage transformed into a blue bolt of lightning. The ground he passed over cracked and left a charred ravine! That speed had completely surpassed the limits of what the naked eye could capture!
"Die!"
An furious roar exploded in Garp's ear.
However, facing this thunderous strike, the smile on Garp's face grew even more manic.
"BWAHAHAHA!"
"Suits me just fine!"
He didn't retreat, not even thinking of dodging!
Garp also lowered his body, the muscles on his right arm instantly knotting and bulging, veins like small snakes writhing wildly under his bronze skin. He forcefully pulled his fist back, accumulating power! Then, he slammed it straight at the blue lightning bolt that was shooting towards him!
"Hah!"
No flashy move name, no dazzling energy effects. Just a simple, unadorned punch!
The next instant. The fist wrapped in lightning, and the iron fist covered in calluses, brazenly collided in the center of the gorge!
VMMMM!
There was no earth-shattering explosion. Only a terrifying hum loud enough to make the whole world go deaf!
Centered at the point where their fists met, a destructive shockwave exploded outwards in a sphere! The ground beneath their feet, like a lake into which a giant object had been thrown, stirred up waves of earth tens of meters high!
The entire massive barrier formed by the "Four Violet Flames Formation" trembled wildly under this force, violent ripples spreading across the purple energy wall!
Outside the barrier, all the Kumogakure ninjas were sent flying by this terrifying aftershock. They were scattered everywhere, blood trickling from their mouths and noses, their faces filled with incredulous horror.
Inside the barrier.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Crisp cracking sounds were heard. The ground beneath the Third Raikage and Garp could no longer withstand this brutish force. It cracked instantly like a spider web, and then caved in, forming a giant, deep pit!
Dust filled the air.
The two figures separated on impact, each blasting backwards several dozen meters.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Third Raikage's every step left a deep footprint in the hard rock ground. He retreated more than ten steps before he barely managed to stabilize himself. He raised his head, staring at the man opposite him, his eyes filled with an unprecedented solemnity.
He glanced down at his slightly trembling right arm. His fist, wrapped in the Lightning Release Armour, was actually sending waves of numbing, stabbing pain.
How is this possible?
My Lightning Release Armour is called the Strongest Shield! My Nukite is called the Strongest Spear! Offense and defense in one!
But this man in front of me, using only pure physical strength, fought me to a standstill?
No!
He even... slightly overpowered me!
The Third Raikage now had an even more accurate assessment of Garp's strength.
This guy...
Definitely has strength that rivals my own!
And this monstrous strength... it's simply terrifying!
On the other side.
Garp also shook his fist, pursing his lips. On his fist, a faint white mark was left, along with a slight numbness from the electric shock. The wild laughter on his face slowly faded, replaced by a seriousness mixed with surprise and annoyance.
"Damn it..."
Garp muttered in a low voice, his whole expression changing.
"This thing is called a beginner dungeon?"
As one of the strongest people standing at the pinnacle of the pirate world, he had come in with the attitude of "experiencing life" and "just playing around." After all, for one million Beri, what kind of earth-shattering challenge could he expect? But that punch just now had truly taught him a lesson. The opponent's power and speed had completely exceeded his expectations.
"Looks like I have to get a little serious," Garp cracked his knuckles, which let out a series of pop-pop sounds. "Otherwise, I might really capsize in this little ditch!"
Inside the dungeon, the battle had already reached a fever pitch!
"BWAHAHAHA! Now this is getting interesting!"
Garp's wild laughter subsided, replaced by an extremely excited seriousness! His muscles bulged, his bones and sinews sang, and the aura emanating from him was even more terrifying than before!
"Don't get too full of yourself!"
The Third Raikage roared, the Lightning Release Armour on his body glowing to its brightest, the blue-purple light almost becoming substantial!
These two monsters had now completely entered the zone!
However, they had both overlooked the third presence on the field. The Eight-Tails Gyūki, having been punched, trapped by a barrier, and then completely ignored by two tiny humans, its anger level had already broken through the heavens!
ROAR!!!
It opened its bloody maw. Black and purple energy began to converge and compress madly, forming a sphere that emanated an aura of destruction.