"I got it! I got it on camera!"
In the shadows—
The young reporter who had risked his life to come here was trembling.
Not from fear, but from extreme excitement. He hugged the video phone bug tightly, as if holding a priceless treasure.
"Big news! Unprecedented big news! The world will be shaken!"
He fumbled to direct communication with President Morgans.
Meanwhile, at the World Economic Times headquarters—
President Morgans was excitedly directing his subordinates to an extra edition about the public execution of Fire Fist Ace. White feathers scattered everywhere from his excitement.
He couldn't wait.
"Quick! Quick! Let the world see! The storm of a new era is coming!"
Just then, a special Den Den Mushi on his desk rang.
He answered impatiently. "Who is it?! If it's not bigger news than the execution of Whitebeard's son, don't bother me!"
"P-President! It's me! The special correspondent on the Sabaody Archipelago!"
A voice, so excited it was distorted, came from the Den Den Mushi. "Big news! I have absolutely huge news! Even more explosive than Ace's execution!"
Morgans frowned. While looking at the typewriter, he said dismissively, "Sabaody? That's about the gathering of those dozen or so Supernovas, right? Just put that news somewhere in a corner."
In the past, Morgans would have been somewhat interested in that kind of news. But now?
That kind of news could only go in the margins.
There were Supernovas every year. What was the difference between this year's and last year's?
He had to admit, recent big news had been much more explosive.
A Warlord of the Sea defeated.
The legendary pirate Shiki sent to Impel Down.
The Straw Hat crew storming Enies Lobby and declaring war on the World Government.
And now, the news of the public execution of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander. As a newsman, he keenly sensed the major events that might be involved.
Perhaps something that could change the pattern of the world was about to happen.
At a time like this, news about Supernovas was completely uninteresting.
"It's not just Supernovas! Admiral Kizaru has arrived! Marine Hero Garp has also arrived!"
"Oh?"
Morgans's action paused slightly. He was a bit interested. "Two top combatants appear on Sabaody at the same time? To suppress the Supernovas? That's not a small story. Is the Navy that tense right now?"
"That's not all, President!"
The young reporter knew this was the critical moment. His voice carried a hint of temptation. "There's even more explosive news! But, President, you know... I haven't had a raise in a long time."
Meaning—
Need more money.
"What image?"
"Absolutely shocking! I stake my career as a reporter on it!"
Morgans didn't hesitate. "Money is not a problem! Talk! If it satisfies, I'll give you ten times your salary."
The young reporter took a deep breath. Why had he risked coming here?
For money, of course!
Otherwise, who would risk their life for a fixed salary?
"Celestial Dragons have been kidnapped! The Straw Hat crew did it! They tried to negotiate with the World Government using the Celestial Dragons. It seems the negotiations broke down!
Also present at the scene is a suspected legendary pirate—the vice-captain of the Pirate King's Roger Pirates—'Dark King' Rayleigh.
Then, Straw Hat Luffy, right in front of Admiral Kizaru and Marine Hero Garp, personally killed three Celestial Dragons with his sword! I captured the moment he swung his sword to kill them! The photos are right here!"
"WHAT?!"
Morgans leaped from his seat. The coffee cup on his desk was knocked over, unnoticed. His white feathers puffed out like a ball. He practically roared into the Den Den Mushi, "Are you sure?!"
"I'm sure!"
Straw Hat Luffy killed Celestial Dragons?
'Dark King' Rayleigh was also there.
In front of Garp and Kizaru, and with images?
How did those names and words connect?
Even Morgans was momentarily stunned.
Was his own newspaper's reporter that good?
"Quick, quick, send the image over! Immediately! NOW!" Morgans shouted impatiently.
When the photo, instantly printed using the Den Den Mushi's special technology, was transmitted to Morgans' hand, this King of News looked at the freeze-frame scene in the photo.
Luffy swinging the black-red lightning-wreathed supreme grade blade Magi, unleashing a huge sword spirit. And on the opposite side, the frozen terror and arrogance on the faces of Charlos and his family.
He trembled with excitement, his beak opening and closing, letting out silent screams.
"Insane! This world is truly going insane! Hahaha!"
Morgans shouted in ecstasy. "Stop! Stop all the layouts about Fire Fist Ace! Replace everything! Front page, top headline, with the largest font and the most prominent position! For the title, think of..."
He paused, then his eyes lit up.
"OUTRAGEOUS! WORST GENERATION SUPERNOVA STRAW HAT PUBLICLY SLAYS WORLD NOBLES ON SABAODY ARCHIPELAGO!"
"Yes! Like that! Immediately typesetting and printing! Print as many as you can! Send them out to the world as fast as possible!"
He knew that the World Government would exert tremendous pressure on this kind of reporting, possibly even directly intervening to destroy it.
But as long as he could get ahead and get even part of this news out, it would be enough to trigger a tsunami that sweeps the world!
This was definitely a shocking event comparable to—even surpassing—the execution of Fire Fist Ace.
Back to the battlefield on the Sabaody Archipelago—
The moment Luffy raised his sword to cut down the Celestial Dragons, Kizaru's body shifted almost imperceptibly—a reflex, as if something in him still moved to intervene. But Rayleigh had never once let his Haki slip from the admiral. With nothing more than a lazy flick of his long blade, an invisible wall of sword Haki materialized across Kizaru's path, quiet and absolute.
"Don't move, Kizaru."
"Oh, how troublesome~"
Kizaru pursed his lips, spread his hands, and looked at Rayleigh. "Now things are completely beyond redemption. Even we will have a hard time explaining this to our superiors."
Rayleigh's face was calm as he said, "Since the negotiations from the beginning may have been a pretense, or has already broken, do you still expect us to obediently hand over our bargaining chips and then stick our necks out?"
The World Government wanted to have its cake and eat it too. There was no such good thing in the world.
Kizaru tilted his head. "Well, we still have to go through the motions."
From start to finish, Garp never once moved to stop the slaughter of the Celestial Dragons. He didn't even flinch.
He simply watched Luffy with his unreadable eyes. Then, slowly, he exhaled a long, quiet breath as though setting down a burden he had carried for far too long.
"Trash disposed of," he said, his voice low and unhurried. 'Ears are finally clear. Now then—" he paused, deliberately and heavily, "—time for the real business."
The next instant, Garp was gone.
No Devil Fruit. No tricks. Nothing but raw, explosive physicality honed to absolute perfection and a body that moved as if the laws of nature didn't apply to him.
Almost simultaneously, he had already crossed a distance of dozens of meters, abruptly appearing in In front of Luffy.
His enormous, cauldron-like fist, covered in Armament Haki condensed to its absolute limit, even seemingly causing the surrounding air to flow.
Garp raised it to chest level and grinned at Luffy.
"Brat, are you ready to take your grandfather's Fist of Love?!"
Luffy had already experienced his grandfather's utterly unreasonable and terrifying strength back at Water 7. He had mentally rehearsed for this moment.
Almost the moment Garp's figure disappeared, his Kenbunshoku Haki was fully deployed, anticipating Garp's position.
SHING!
Luffy did not retreat. Instead, he advanced. The supreme-grade blade Magi traced a strange arc, wrapped in Armament Haki, slashing straight at Garp's face!
The speed was extremely fast, the angle was tricky!
Completely merciless.
Anyone would think they were sworn enemies.
It hit!
Facing this sharp slash, Garp didn't even bother to dodge. He just tilted his head slightly, letting the sharp blade cut into his shoulder blade, which was covered in top-armor color.
CLANG!
A piercing loud noise, like striking divine steel, bursting out.
Sparks flew!
The blade of Magi, sharp enough to cut steel, only left a faint white mark on Garp's skin. It couldn't even fully break the epidermis.
"Your fighting spirit is weak. You won't save anyone like this!"
Garp roared at Luffy. "Did you forget that we're enemies now?!"
He gripped Magi firmly with one hand, while his other hand formed a fist, like a cannonball, aimed at Luffy's abdomen.
The fist wind hit his face. The Haki defending his abdomen dissipated. Luffy's pupils shrank. He instantly understood that with his still-immature swordsmanship, he couldn't effectively threaten his grandfather.
"Your half-baked swordsmanship isn't even a third as good as Bogart's! Who taught you? It's a mess! This old man doesn't remember teaching you to play with swords!"
His mouth kept lecturing.
Without hesitation, Luffy sheathed Magi.
To deal with Garp, he couldn't use showy swordsmanship.
In many people's eyes, it was strong swordsmanship. But without reaching the pinnacle, it was just showy in front of Garp.
"Then let's try fists!" Luffy shouted.
His arms instantly covered in pitch-black Busoshoku Haki, and black-red lightning-like energy, like living things, jumped on his arms.
Haoshoku Haki – Infusion!
"I'll beat you, then go rescue Ace! You bastard grandfather!" Luffy roared.
"What?!"
Garp obviously hadn't expected that in such a short time, Luffy had not only mastered advanced Busoshoku Haki but had also touched the threshold of Haoshoku Infusion.
He knew that black and red lightning all too well.
Their fists met.
BOOM.
The impact sent out a shockwave that was so strong it went all around the air, spreading out in all directions. The shockwave was like concentric circles of pure force that came from the place where knuckle had met knuckle.
Even Rayleigh and Kizaru, who were fighting each other from a distance, felt it. Their coats whipped and cracked like flags in a storm. Both men had to dig in, using all their strength just to keep going. They looked towards the source, even though they didn't really want to.
Then everyone started laughing.
Garp's voice was low and rough, and he was completely out of control. He threw his head back and roared.
"Ha! So you've actually made it to this level, brat!" He grinned widely, showing his teeth, and looked very proud and a little wild. "Then don't hold back! Let your old grandfather see exactly what you're made of—come on, you little bastard!"
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!