"Garp, looks like you're really going all out this time. But my family is still on this island. Garp, are you really going to go through with this?"
"Roger, you still have a chance—as long as you come back with me. I'm doing this for your own good. Your dream... it's impossible to achieve!"
"Sigh, what a headache. For the sake of my family, I guess I'll overdraw my life force this time."
"Roger! If that's the case, then take my strongest punch! If you can't withstand it… you'll die!"
As Garp spoke, black Conqueror's Haki rapidly surged around him, expanding into a massive black energy sphere, accompanied by crackling black lightning.
Roger's pupils contracted sharply upon seeing this! His tiger-like eyes turned completely blood-red! His muscles swelled slightly, making him appear much stronger. A massive black-and-red Haki energy sphere formed around him as well, also crackling with lightning.
Even before clashing physically, Roger and Garp's Haki collided in the air. The resulting shockwave was far more violent than anything seen before—the entire island was trembling.
"This is bad! Everyone falls back! That force could destroy the entire island!"
Sengoku gave the order, and the group quickly flashed back to the warship.
"What's going on…"
Reid's face turned pale in shock. The tremors now were far worse than earlier, and cracks had started splitting the ground.
"That was close! I almost fell in!"
Buggy leaped to the side—where he had just been standing, a large crack had opened in the earth.
"What the hell is happening up ahead? Is the battle really that intense?"
Shanks exclaimed in shock, deeply worried about Roger.
"We need to fall back even more!" Elio said quickly.
"Right."
Reid nodded. "Everyone, fall back farther—but don't stray too far from me!"
On the Marine warship—
Kizaru drooped his face, scratching his head lazily. In a mocking tone, he said:
"So scary~ Good thing I didn't act impulsively. That's really terrifying~"
"Impressive. I don't want to get myself killed."
"Oi, Aokiji, stop saying such depressing things."
Sengoku commented with exasperation. Aokiji had always been close to Garp, and his carefree personality was clearly influenced by him.
Akainu watched the collision of the Haki spheres, his face showing anger and frustration.
"Damn it! I can't even intervene!"
Zephyr, nearby, said:
"That's expected. Roger is incredibly powerful—strong enough to threaten the World Government. Garp, that bastard, has long surpassed Fleet Admiral Kong in strength, but he refuses to do any serious work and won't accept promotion to admiral."
"Then why send us here in the first place? Just send Garp alone and be done with it. This so-called Buster Call is laughable—completely useless against someone like Roger."
Everyone felt a bit awkward after hearing Akainu's complaint. But there was no other way—this wasn't a battle of the same league. The Buster Call was more of a display to intimidate others.
Kizaru and Aokiji both glanced at Akainu but said nothing. Among the three of them, only Sakazuki (Akainu) had such a hot temper.
"Garp, I won't let you destroy this island! I'll stop you even if it means betting everything I believe in!"
Roger was no longer acting casual; he was serious and solemn.
"Roger! To stop you from doing something stupid, I'll use my strongest strike today!"
Garp roared and smashed his fist down at Roger with full force.
"Roger! Fist Bone: Galactic Impact!!"
Seeing this, Roger's face twisted, and his blood-red eyes looked demonic. He roared louder than ever before—
"Ultimate Divine Evasion—Ace!!"
Roger swung his Supreme Grade Sword with fury—the strike looked as if it could split the sky in half.
The massive Conqueror's Haki-based Galactic Impact shot down from the heavens and clashed with Roger's Ultimate Divine Evasion—Ace. This was another Haki clash, but its destructive power was magnitudes stronger than before.
Previously, the island's residents had only felt the earth tremble, and the battle hadn't reached the island's center. But now, it felt like the entire island was about to explode.
"Aah! Is the island going to be destroyed? What's happening?!"
"Waaahh!! Waaahh!!"
"Oh God, please save us! I don't want to die yet—I haven't even gotten married!"
"Help! Somebody helps us!"
"Stop it! Please stop it!"
The island was filled with screams, fear, and children crying. Everyone ran further away in panic, sweating profusely, faces filled with terror, praying for the calamity to end soon.
"So, this is what a top-tier battle in the pirate world looks like… such overwhelming force. Roger alone is going up against six admiral-level Marines, and Garp the Hero is there too. I really want to go and watch. If I could witness it all, I could learn the skills of six major figures in one go."
Reid was deeply shocked, but also slightly tempted. However, after glancing at the pregnant Rouge beside him, he dismissed the idea.
"No matter what, I have to stay by Rouge's side. The ground is splitting, and debris is flying everywhere. Just in case, I can't leave her even for a second."
Reid moved closer to Rouge, face tense with concern.
On the other side, the massive Haki clash between Roger and Garp continued. The two were like planets colliding, creating thunderous explosions.
"Roger!!"
"Garp!!"
Though they had clashed using Haki before, they had always done so with grins on their faces. But now, both had grim, twisted expressions, and their eyes showed no emotion at all.
...completely blood-red.
At this moment, they were no longer Roger and Garp—
They had transformed into two merciless gods of slaughter, their eyes filled with nothing but the intent to kill.
Clang... hissss... crack!
The entire Baterilla Island, along with the surrounding sea, was completely shrouded in darkness.
The sky was thick with storm clouds, lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled violently.
It felt as if the heavens above the island were about to be torn apart.
"Roger..."
Rouge's heart was in her throat. She had been closely following Reid all this time,
and she was deeply worried about the child in her belly.
Reid held tightly onto Rouge's hand—without him, it would have truly been dangerous.
"Captain Roger, you must return safely. I still remember what you said—now that your illness is cured, you better not go back on your word."
Shanks silently prayed for Roger, his heart pounding, worry for Roger clearly written all over his face.
Buggy's expression was full of shock, his eyes scanning everything around him in awe.
His heart trembled, and at the same time, a feeling of envy and desire took root.
"This kind of power... I, Buggy, will obtain it too. One day, I'll definitely have that kind of strength."
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—
Roger and Garp's ongoing clash of ultimate Conqueror's Haki continued to explode with devastating force...