Backtracking a little bit in time.
New World, G14 Branch.
Ever since it was completely destroyed over a decade ago.
During the reconstruction of the G14 Branch, Fleet AdmiralCook poured his heart and soul into it.
Unlike most Marine bases in the New World that were built against mountains and had cramped interiors.
The brand-new G14 Branch was a paragon of militarized architecture; its cyan walls stood over fifty meters high, riddled with firing ports. With a sentry every five steps and a cannon every ten, their dark muzzles pointed directly at the sea. The entire branch resembled a giant beast lurking on the island, armed to the teeth.
It was further guarded by three large warships and ten medium warships, with small patrol and surveillance boats numbering in the hundreds, bringing the waters for hundreds of nautical miles around the G14 Branch under surveillance.
Atop the G14 Branch's gate tower.
"This weather... it's not looking good."
Garp gazed at the gathering clouds above, his brow furrowing with a hint of unease.
"Vice Admiral Garp, that's just how the New World is. The weather is as fickle as a woman."
Vice AdmiralLawrence, who was responsible for guarding this place, picked his nose, looking unconcerned. "A storm is a good thing. Not only will pirates be afraid to travel, but the brothers drifting out at sea can also come ashore to rest."
"No, that's not right. Something is definitely wrong."
Garp never doubted his intuition. His invisible Observation Haki spread out like radar, carefully sensing the surroundings.
Beneath the surface of the sea, an extremely massive and violent presence appeared within his perception.
Carrying a world-destroying malice, it was even purer than the Rocks he had encountered before.
"Oh no!!!"
Looking at the harbor bay, Garp's pupils constricted. With a boom, his figure vanished instantly from where he stood.
In the next instant, he appeared in the air over the distant sea. He pulled his right hand back high, and the buzzing, gathered Haki almost completely covered his arm as he punched downward with a roar: "Fist Bone Impact!!!"
Wherever the wind of the punch passed, the air was instantly compressed and torn, letting out a piercing shriek.
Layers of the atmosphere sank under the pressure of the punch, forming a massive depression like a giant net being pressed down.
The sea surface below was forcibly parted by this terrifying force, creating a massive semi-circular cavity as seawater surged frantically in all directions.
Revealing the ink-black, menacing, and dangerous metallic hull beneath the sea.
pluton had already approached silently.
"What a warm welcome, Garp-chan!"
Loki stepped out from the upper exit. His iron thunder, wreathed in Haki, swung toward the sky like a golf club: "Impact!!"
"Boom!!!"
The deafening sound shook heaven and earth, as if the world itself were trembling at this moment.
The atmosphere that had been pressed down by Garp's punch was instantly halted by the strike of the iron thunder.
Two terrifyingly extreme forces collided in mid-air. Haki and air currents squeezed and tore at each other, shattering in layers and turning into a violent hurricane that swept frantically in all directions.
The seawater surged, kicking up waves dozens of meters high. The medium warships surrounding the G14 Branch were tilted by the pressure, and the elites on deck were pinned down by the powerful wind pressure, unable to move, only able to let out cries of despair.
"So huge!" Even the well-traveled Garp couldn't help but be momentarily startled by Loki's physique.
Harald's body was already that of a giant among giants.
Yet compared to the giant before him, Harald seemed somewhat small.
No wonder Harald lost.
No wonder he feels so dangerous to me!
This was the giant who had wounded Rocks.
Things have become troublesome!
"Giant, we Marines are not your enemies. Your compatriots are serving at Headquarters, upholding justice with us. Elbaf finally began to integrate into this world through Harald's efforts. Wake up! Don't be blinded by Rocks' words and drag Elbaf back into the quagmire of war."
Garp stood in the air, his alertness pushed to the limit as he secretly gathered his strength.
"Garp-chan, do you think I'm like those giants at Headquarters? That I'd be so easily deceived?"
A playful smile curled on Loki's lips. Conqueror's Haki surged from his body like a tide, intertwining with the lightning around him and emitting a world-destroying sense of oppression.
"Your justice is even more laughable! If the World Government's rule is so-called justice, and if the Marines exist to uphold that justice, then why is the sea still in such chaos? Why are countless innocent people bullied by pirates and killed, enslaved, and tortured by the Celestial Dragons? Your justice is nothing more than a loincloth to cover the tyranny of the World Government!"
Garp's breath hitched imperceptibly.
Although he didn't want to admit it.
He had harbored doubts about this as well!
Loki's innate Observation Haki keenly perceived this. His mouth split into a grin as he laughed and issued an invitation: "Garp-chan, I admire you. The old man said you have issues with the World Government too, right? Join me! Create a New World with me!"
"The sea is in chaos precisely because of reckless bastards like you! Wouldn't it be better to use your power to uphold justice?"
Garp suppressed the turmoil in his heart. The Haki around him instantly surged to its peak as he punched out with his right arm, which was so heavily wrapped in Haki its outline was blurred. The wind from the punch tore through the air with a deafening shriek.
"Fist Bone Crash!!!"
As the punch was thrown, the heavens and earth changed color!
The air was pressed by this terrifying force into rings of white Mach cones, stacking layer upon layer and spreading out like ripples. The surrounding clouds were instantly torn apart, revealing the dim sky behind them.
"Garp-chan, you disappoint me."
Loki's smile vanished. He crouched slightly, and under the pressure of his power, pluton beneath his feet sank slightly, sending ripples across the sea.
Then, his iron thunder, entwined with both lightning and Conqueror's Haki sparks, swung toward the sky with all its might!!
"Ragnarok!!!"
Though his words were dismissive, Loki went all out from the start.
The Marines had to be crushed as quickly as possible in this war.
Only then would there be a chance to find out if Imu was a drag queen or some other species.
"Boom!!!"
The air currents collided first, followed by the radiance of the clashing Haki, which made the world lose its color.
The clouds piled up a thousand meters high were torn asunder.
"Clang!!!"
The piercing sound of metal clashing echoed across the entire sea. The moment the fist met the iron thunder, an unstoppable force flowed from the fist like a rushing flood into Garp's limbs and bones, and a sharp pain instantly swept through his entire body.
"Crack, crack, crack!!" Garp's face turned beet red, the veins on his forehead bulged, and the bones in his arm let out an overburdened cracking sound, as if they were about to break at any second.
"Uphold your so-called justice and the world remains as it is, but I shall create a New World!!!"
Loki's will was firmer than ever, his confidence more abundant than ever, and his domineering intent was one with his actions.
The muscles in Loki's arms bulged, veins popping as he pushed the iron thunder, easily overwhelming this fragile balance!
Feeling the even more surging power, Garp, who was already standing in the air, appeared even more disadvantaged. He made a split-second decision to adjust his strategy, deflecting the force to dodge. The price was being sent crashing like a streak of light into the fortress behind him.
This scene left the Marines who witnessed it dumbstruck.
Although Vice Admiral Garp's rank was only Vice Admiral, his strength was absolutely top-tier within the Marines.
Not only was he a rare user of all three types of Haki in the Marines, but he had also mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion. His physique had been honed to its peak, and his strength was enough to shake mountains and split islands. Even if he were promoted to Admiral immediately, he would be more than qualified; he even had the credentials to vie for the position of Fleet Admiral.
Yet, in a head-on clash with this giant, he actually fell behind and was even sent flying by a single hammer blow?!
"Fire!!!"
Lawrence was the first to react. As he gave the command, fur sprouted on his face as he transformed into a werewolf. His claws danced, sending out dozens of sharp cutting waves.
He followed his own attacks, stepping through the air toward Loki.
Attempting to buy time for Garp.
"Boom, boom, boom!!!"
At the same time, the other Marines woke up as if from a dream and sprang into action.
Cannon after cannon fired in unison, sending solid shells raining down on Loki like a blanket.
A sinister smile played on Loki's lips. "It's been a while, Marines! You've improved a bit since last time!"
As his voice fell.
Bolts of lightning flowed down from the clouds like celestial water, forming an insurmountable curtain of thunder.
Simultaneously, it submerged both the iron thunder and Loki within.
Then, Loki transformed into a God of Thunder. His figure leaped high like an arrow from a bow, his massive body tracing a giant arc in the sky. The iron thunder in his hand, wrapped in lightning and carrying world-destroying power, slammed down toward the shore of the G14 Branch.
"Rumble!!!!"
Plasma burst out like fireworks, dangerous and brilliant. Lawrence, who had barely managed to dodge the scattered lightning, was instantly turned to charcoal.
A massive crater appeared instantly where the iron thunder struck. The once-sturdy trenches and dense batteries were all crushed into dust by this force, soaring into the sky as a cloud of debris.
Dense cracks spread out from the crater like a spiderweb, extending to every corner of the G14 Branch.
Even the branch fortress that Fleet AdmiralCook had painstakingly built and claimed was indestructible developed shocking cracks on its walls. The cracks widened, and rubble continuously fell from the structure, as if the entire fortress would completely collapse in the next second.
Marines were buried under the brick and stone, their blood trickling out.
"..."
"Cannons are completely useless!!!"
"Just a simple swing of his hammer is like an earthquake."
"How are we supposed to block an attack like that?"
"It's... it's impossible!"
The surviving Marines trembled, fear filling their eyes as they looked up at Loki's terrifyingly tall stature.
"A fine taste."
Loki made a grasping motion with his large hand, and souls full of fear were drawn into his body.
"Bang!"
Rubble exploded outward. Covered in dust and with blood at the corner of his mouth, a slightly disheveled Garp soared into the sky. Seeing the scene, he was even more infuriated: "You bastard, what do you take the Marines for? What do you take life for?"
"All of you, retreat!!!"
Garp issued the order and charged toward Loki.
"If you dared to take the words you used to question me and used them to question the Celestial Dragons and the World Government, I would think more highly of you!"
Loki replied coldly, drawing the lightning from the sky to surround Garp. At the same time, he commanded: "Those who surrender shall not be killed; leave none of those who flee alive!!!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!!"
Long Bread, Shark, Panda, and several accompanying giants had already landed and were hunting down the fleeing Marines.
As for those in the sea, pluton was very interested in them.
"Damn it, how could Harald have a bastard descendant like you!!!"
Garp let out an angry roar. The Haki around him surged again, and a purple-tinged Armament Haki encased his entire body. Facing the incoming lightning, he chose the most direct response, repeatedly throwing Haki-infused iron fists to forcefully blow the lightning apart.
As he spoke, Garp's figure closed the distance like a bolt of lightning, arriving in front of Loki's head and throwing a heavy punch!!
If he wanted more Marines to survive...
...he had to strike down the enemy before him.
"A bastard? He should feel honored to be my father."
Loki had already lowered his head. His long horns, covered in Haki, were like giant blades as he swung them heavily toward Garp!!
"Clang! Clang, clang, clang!!"
Having missed with one strike, Garp used Shave to move at high speed, dodging the incoming lightning while continuously launching attacks around Loki's head.
What he didn't notice...
...was that the flames at the back of Loki's head were growing more intense along with the crashing lightning.
"Hum!"
Garp launched another attack, this time at the back of the head.
But to his suspicious and surprised eyes, the flames at the back of Loki's head connected with the lightning, forming a face identical to Loki's but even more cold and ruthless.
"Thunder-Fire Grand Burial!!!"
Violent plasma exploded outward.
The distance was too close. Even with Garp's speed, he couldn't escape and could only muster his Haki to tank it.
This created an opening.
Loki turned and swung his heavy hammer.
With a thud, Garp was driven into the ground like a nail by the hammer, smashing a crater of unknown depth into the earth.
At the same time.
The lightning and flames around Loki's body merged.
An elemental clone was born from the fire and instantly vanished into the hole where Garp had disappeared.
Then.
"Boom!!!"
Plasma energy exploded underground, erupting from the hole into the sky as if the earth were trying to blast the heavens.
Meanwhile, Loki's body, entwined with lightning, expanded like a balloon, instantly exceeding a hundred meters.
Wherever he passed, clear footprints appeared on the compacted ground.
The power gained from burning his soul was as vast as mountains and seas.
It caused Loki's mouth to split into an involuntary grin: "Jie jie jie~ Let's see how you run now!"
Gripping the iron thunder, which now felt much more natural in his hand, Loki surged his Haki and slammed it mercilessly toward the ground: "Ragnarok: Zenith!!!"
"Boom!!!"
With Loki as the center, a world-destroying shockwave erupted instantly. The entire island began to shake violently, like a small boat in a wild storm.
After undergoing successive rounds of devastation, the surface of the island completely shattered, with massive cracks crisscrossing and extending to every corner of the island.
A massive amount of seawater poured frantically into the island through these giant fissures.
A moment later.
The former G14 Branch was turned into a reef zone.
"Shark."
He could feel that Garp's life was already like a candle in the wind.
If it were Garp in his prime, he would have finished it with one blow.
But the current Garp seemed to have a state of mind somewhat similar to his future disciple.
Perhaps he could be swayed.
"I understand, Your Majesty Loki. Please leave it to me!" Shark did a water splash and dove directly into the water.
The first half of the New World.
Ten warships were advancing at full speed.
Kong sat in the Captain's quarters with a heavy expression, listening to the intelligence gathered by the personnel from various locations.
"Admiral Kong, the smuggler Ganze who invaded Punk Hazard has been driven out by AdmiralFazt."
"Aside from the initial reports, the G12 Branch has completely lost contact. It is suspected that all personnel have perished."
"The G10 Branch has also been defeated."
"..."
Kong couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Even if they ultimately crushed the Rocks Pirates and the New Giant Group led by Loki this time...
...the cost of rebuilding the Marine branches and restoring their suppressive power over the New World before the war would not only be an astronomical sum of money but would also take a decade to achieve.
The future situation in the New World is going to be completely ruined.
Hopefully, everything can go according to plan.
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~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter!
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]