Bullet’s expression darkened, but he remained unmoved.

He stepped directly in front of Rayleigh, swinging a fist that sent him flying:

“You don’t seem so concerned about the word ‘innocent’ now.”

“Weren’t they innocent?”

“Today, you must die.”

With that, he charged straight at Rayleigh.

The long sword in Rayleigh’s hand crackled with energy as he slashed at Bullet.

Bullet didn’t dodge or flinch, taking the blow head-on.

A long gash appeared across his chest, deep enough to expose bone.

He let out a cold laugh, completely unfazed, and grabbed Rayleigh’s sword-wielding wrist.

Boom!

The ground beneath them split open with a thunderous crack, fissures spreading dozens of meters.

With Rayleigh in tow, Bullet charged toward the barren mountain.

A series of explosions erupted, mushroom clouds rising at several points across the rocky hills.

Crack!

Suddenly, the entire mountain was sliced clean through at an angle and began to slide…

…

On the other side, just as the sword energy was about to strike the crowd—

Sakazuki appeared at the flank:

“Dark Hound!”

A stream of magma, coated in Haki and stretching infinitely, burst forth.

It pierced through multiple slashes from the side, shattering them instantly.

By the time the residual shockwave reached the civilians, only a gale of wind remained.

Then, in a flash, Sakazuki vanished, darting off toward the edge of the island.

He had sensed Garp’s presence…

…

Meanwhile, the civilians had finally caught Rouge, and their hatred continued to swell.

A blade came crashing down—

“Die!!!”

“I’ve avenged youuuuuuu!!!”

“Kill kill kill!”

“Hahahahahaha!!!”

“Treya, did you see that!!!”

“Papa avenged youuuuu!!!”

“Waaaahhhh….”

Countless elders, children, and women surged forward…

Crying as they swung whatever weapons they could hold.

The aftermath of Roger’s massacre years ago—where over five thousand were slaughtered—was finally erupting.

The deaths of those five thousand kingdom soldiers, mostly young and strong.

It was as if the pillars of over five thousand families had been shattered in an instant.

That’s why, today, this place was filled with so many elders, women, and children…

Even as more civilians arrived, they continued tearing at the bloody remains…

Portgas D. Rouge died, filled with unwillingness and regret…

The bloodline of the Pirate King, ended here…

…

Beyond the island.

Garp used Geppo to charge toward the approaching island, unease gnawing at his heart.

Below, on the sea, ships of every kind were converging on Baterilla Island.

Suddenly, ahead, Sakazuki’s presence flared.

Sakazuki, in his Magma Mode, charged straight at Garp.

His right fist was coated in Armament Haki:

“Great Eruption.”

Boom—

Their fists collided midair.

It was like thunder exploding across the flat earth.

A violent shockwave burst from the clash, surging into the sky and sea.

In midair, locked in a standoff, Garp’s expression turned grim:

“Sakazuki, what are you trying to do?”

Sakazuki looked at Garp coldly and replied:

“That’s what I should be asking you, Vice Admiral Garp.”

Garp gritted his teeth:

“He’s just a baby.”

Sakazuki looked at him indifferently:

“Then tell that to the victims’ families.”

“Do you see all those ships below?”

“Every person aboard is a survivor of the Kegesi Island massacre.”

“I merely told them where to go.”

“They came, fearless and desperate, across the Grand Line.”

“Many of them were lost to the storms, their bodies claimed by the sea.”

“And yet, this many still made it.”

“You can go down there right now.”

“If you can convince even one person to let go of their hatred…”

“I’ll step aside immediately.”

Boom—

A volcanic force erupted from Sakazuki’s fist.

It sent Garp crashing into the sea.

Like a bomb detonating, a massive spray of water burst into the sky.

But Garp immediately surged back upward, unwilling to back down:

“But the baby is innocent!”

Sakazuki responded calmly:

“I never said the baby was guilty.”

“I simply handed over a map and a document.”

“Whether or not to take revenge—that was the people of Kegesi Island’s decision.”

“But you—what right do you have to speak on their behalf?”

“You have no right to forgive anyone for them.”

“Innocent?”

“Were the breadwinners of those five thousand families not innocent?”

Garp closed his eyes:

“Roger already turned himself in.”

Sakazuki said coldly:

“How convenient.”

“Since Dragon betrayed the Marines, if I ever find him again, I’ll kill him and throw his head at your feet.”

“Would you accept that?”

“He’s a traitor. Killing him is just.”

“Don’t you agree?”

Garp’s eyes shot open, fists clenched tightly:

“Sakazuki, I don’t want to argue with you.”

“Move aside.”

Sakazuki’s expression chilled further:

“I’ve said it already.”

“If you can get even one person down there to let go of their hatred—”

“I’ll let you pass.”

“Otherwise, forget it.”

Garp’s mind was a whirlwind. He bit down hard.

Then he charged at Sakazuki.

Crack—

Their fists collided again, the air itself fracturing from the impact.

Both men wielded immense Haki and powerful bodies.

They were equally matched.

Veins bulging, they held the standoff for a moment.

A dark glint flashed in Garp’s eyes as he compressed a vast amount of Armament Haki into a single point.

Just like he had crushed Chinjao’s drill-head back in the day.

Sakazuki’s face tensed. Damn it…

Boom!

Half of his body exploded instantly.

Garp’s entire figure surged past Sakazuki, charging toward the island.

But Sakazuki’s molten body quickly reformed.

His right fist, again coated in Armament Haki, slammed hard into Garp’s abdomen.

The afterimage streaked by, leaving several fist marks across Garp’s body.

Lava clung to the imprints and erupted.

The force sent Garp flying backward.

Hundreds of meters away, Garp shrugged off his suit, flinging it into the air along with the magma.

Boom—

A massive lava explosion detonated midair.

Garp stomped the air, creating a white sonic boom beneath his feet.

Like teleportation, he shot toward Sakazuki.

He punched at Sakazuki’s head.

Sakazuki raised his right arm to block.

Boom!

At the same time, he caught Garp’s iron fist with his left hand.

Then, he flipped both hands, locking down Garp’s arms.

Black smoke and intense heat surged from his body.

He rocketed backward into the sky, dragging Garp with him.

Garp coated his head in Armament Haki and slammed it toward Sakazuki.

Sakazuki’s eyes narrowed; he met the attack head-on with Haki as well.

A sharp clash of metal echoed.

Both men were dazed, spiraling out of control and falling from the sky.

Sakazuki shook his head, taking a few deep breaths.

Staring at the sea below, his fury reignited:

“Courting death!!!”

His body radiated searing light and heat, then exploded violently.

In an instant—

A magma mushroom cloud nearly a kilometer wide bloomed.

The devastating shockwave slammed into Garp.

He let out a muffled grunt and swept his arms.

Inside the cloud, a clearing was blown open.

He stomped down, burst through the cloud, and emerged in tatters.

Before he could catch his breath, Sakazuki reappeared in front of him and punched his abdomen.

A red flash lit up, and the searing energy pierced through.

A column of fire shot out Garp’s back, vanishing into the sky…

Garp grabbed Sakazuki’s fist, eyes flashing with ferocity.

He punched Sakazuki’s chest.

Crack—

The sound of breaking bones echoed. Sakazuki grunted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

His left hand instantly turned into compressed lava:

“Dark Hound!”

He struck Garp’s chest directly.

Crack—

The swelling magma exploded immediately, forming another thousand-meter mushroom cloud…

BOOM!!!!!!

…

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Endless gray rain fell, as if foreshadowing the disaster to come.

Fleet Admiral Kong was absent, having gone to the Holy Land for a meeting.

Sakazuki and Garp were also missing.

Boom boom boom—

A series of explosions rang out.

Blaring alarms pierced the air.

“Intruder alert!”

“At the Marineford coastal port!”

“Move, move, move!”

“How many enemies?”

“O-Only one person!!!”

“Golden Lion! Shiki!!!”

“Just one man!”

The port of Marineford was littered with the corpses of countless Marines.

The entire port garrison had been wiped out.

Golden Lion stood atop the pile, sword in one hand.

“You think someone like Roger could be caught by trash like you…”

“He’s a man I respect!!!”

At some point, Sengoku had appeared at the port:

“Roger is the Pirate King.”

“He already escaped your battle and fled.”

Golden Lion suddenly roared with madness:

“Pirate King?”

“So what!!!”

“If he’d just helped me, we could’ve ruled the world long ago!”

“Sure, we didn’t get along—but we lived through the same era.”

“If he’s still alive, then bring him to me!!!”

“If he’s going to die, it’ll be by my hand!!!”

A storm of killing intent and Conqueror’s Haki burst forth. Sengoku snorted coldly:

“His execution is one week from now.”

“In his hometown—Loguetown, in the East Blue.”

“Roger’s death will crush the spirit of all pirates.”

Golden Lion shouted maniacally:

“Pirate King Roger’s legend will end in the weakest sea?!”

“What a joke!!!”

“That’s the final insult to that bastard!!!”

He soared into the sky, slashing madly with his blade.

Hundreds of meters of golden sword energy rained down on Marineford.

Sengoku tossed his cloak aside as golden light burst from his body, transforming into a hundred-meter-tall golden Buddha.

He raised his hand to meet the incoming golden slash…

—

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