The Straw Hat crew froze.
Every single one of them wore the same dumbfounded expression, like their brains had collectively short-circuited.
Three lazy-looking men in Marine uniforms stood not far away, yawning, scratching their heads, or talking into black Den Den Mushi — and apparently, they were… Admirals?
Usopp, who had been boasting proudly moments ago, was now trembling behind Zoro, clutching his legs like a child hiding from a ghost.
"W-Wait a sec! Did I just hear someone say Vice Admiral Garp?" Nami asked, her face going pale. "As in… the Hero of the Marines?"
BOOM!
That name hit the crew like a thunderclap.
Monkey D. Garp — the Hero of the Marines!
The man who, thirty-eight years ago at God Valley, singlehandedly stood against the Rocks Pirates, the same man who fought side by side with the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, to annihilate the most fearsome crew in history.
The man who, even after that, cornered Roger multiple times, earning his legendary title: "The Iron Fist of Justice."
It was a name that echoed across every sea.
Even the waves seemed to hold their breath.
Luffy, drenched in cold sweat, whispered in horror:
"Crap… it's Grandpa! Run!"
"Y-Yeah! Let's get the hell out of here!" Usopp yelled instantly, already halfway turned around.
Everyone blinked, confused. Something about that exchange didn't sit right.
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, frowning.
"Luffy. Say that again."
"I said Grandpa's here! If we don't run now, we're dead!"
A long, awkward silence followed.
Then—
"GRANDPA?!"
Their collective scream shook the sky.
"Uh, yeah," Luffy said innocently, scratching his head. "Garp's my grandpa. What's wrong with that?"
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?!" Usopp smacked him on the back of the head. "You're a pirate, idiot! And your grandfather is the Marine hero! You don't think that's a problem?!"
"Now's not the time for family drama!" Sanji barked. "Move your ass before he finds you!"
The crew scattered immediately, looking for any escape route possible.
Pop!
The air bubble on Garp's nose finally burst. The old man blinked awake, stretching as if he'd just had the best nap of his life.
"Ah crap. Guess I dozed off…"
He leaned over the railing and spotted a calm, purple-haired youth standing on the bridge below, hands folded across his chest.
Arthur looked up at him with a faint smile.
"Still here, huh? Good."
Then Garp's eyes flicked to the side — and froze.
There they were. His grandson and the entire Straw Hat crew.
"LUFFY!! You little brat! What are you doing here?!"
"He saw me! RUN!"
Luffy bolted instantly, feet pounding the bridge.
His crew didn't even hesitate. They followed like startled cats, scrambling for the tunnel entrance.
Only Robin paused.
She looked back — just once.
Her gaze met Arthur's, soft and fleeting, carrying a mixture of gratitude, wonder, and something deeper.
Something she herself didn't quite understand.
Then she ran.
And just like that, the Straw Hat crew's brief cameo on Enies Lobby came to a close.
"Damn brat! Running off without even greeting your own grandpa?!"
Garp's furious roar echoed through the sky. He glanced at Arthur and his group, then barked to the two figures beside him.
"You two handle these guys! I'm going after Luffy!"
He leapt from the deck, the air cracking beneath his feet, and chased after the Straw Hats. As he passed Arthur, he shot him a death glare but didn't stop.
Arthur just spread his hands with a grin.
"Well, that saves me the trouble."
At least Garp would keep the Straw Hats busy.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Cannon fire erupted from the horizon.
The Buster Call had begun.
Enies Lobby — the Judicial Island — was engulfed in chaos. Explosions rocked the sky, flames devoured the city, and smoke rolled across the water like storm clouds.
The noise was deafening enough to stir even the two sleeping Admirals.
Kuzan — Admiral Aokiji — yawned, removed his eye mask, and stood.
He stretched lazily before hopping down from the ship, hands buried in his pockets.
Borsalino — Admiral Kizaru — put away his black Den Den Mushi, his expression finally losing that joking tone. A golden flash rippled around him as he appeared beside Aokiji in an instant.
The air changed.
Gone was their earlier carelessness.
Now, both Admirals stood side by side, hands in pockets, their presence alone heavy enough to make the air tremble.
Even Crocodile and Bundy World — battle-hardened monsters in their own right — felt their hearts tighten, a sheen of sweat forming on their foreheads.
The oppressive pressure of two top-tier Marines was suffocating.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
More figures appeared behind them — five Vice Admirals.
Momonga, Strawberry, Doberman, Dalmatian, Bastille.
Each one radiated lethal intent, their coats fluttering in the wind.
Originally, Onigumo and Burning Mountain should have been among them — but both were still recovering from their injuries courtesy of Arthur back at Impel Down.
Now replaced, the new team stood ready, forming a perfect semicircle around Arthur's group.
Seven against four.
For the first time since he'd set foot in this world, Arthur found himself outnumbered.
Though to be fair — he'd only been in this world for four days.
And in those four days, he'd already fought his way through some of the strongest names the seas had to offer.
Instead of fear, a grin spread across his face.
His blood boiled.
His eyes lit up with the thrill of battle.
Aokiji studied him quietly.
This kid… what's his deal?
Even standing before two Admirals and five Vice Admirals, Arthur didn't flinch. Not a twitch, not a bead of sweat.
Was he just arrogant? Suicidal? Or truly that confident?
When Magellan's report had first reached Headquarters, Aokiji had thought it exaggerated — some excuse to cover a humiliating failure.
But now, seeing Arthur with his own eyes, feeling the pressure radiating from him — Aokiji began to think Magellan might've undersold it.
He frowned slightly and spoke.
"Bastille, Dalmatian, Momonga — handle Crocodile and Bundy World.
Kizaru, you take the Redfield.
I'll deal with this kid myself.
Strawberry, Doberman — you'll provide support."
The Marines nodded sharply.
On Arthur's side, the air hummed with anticipation.
"Redfield, you take one Admiral. I'll take the other."
"Crocodile, Bundy — stall the Vice Admirals. Just buy time."
Bundy scowled.
"Boss, this is Marine territory. They'll have reinforcements coming fast. We shouldn't go head-to-head with them like this!"
Crocodile and Redfield exchanged glances — they agreed.
Arthur chuckled, flexing his fingers as lightning began to arc across his arms.
"Relax. We're not here to die. A ship's already on its way. You just need to hold them off."
He raised his head, that confident smirk returning.
"Besides…"
Lightning flared, wind swirling around him as the ground beneath his feet cracked.
"It's about time I find out how strong a Marine Admiral really is."
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