Chapter 196

Seeing the battle unfold, shock spread across the faces of those watching—Marines, pirates, and even members of the World Government.

They had known about Kai's strength ever since the events at Water 7, but back then, the reports claimed that Kai had only held a slight advantage over Garp.

Now, as they watched the legendary Marine hero struggle against him, they realized—the reports had been wrong.

Whitebeard, who had been keeping an eye on Kai, narrowed his eyes. As an old rival of Garp, he knew exactly how powerful the man was.

But now, Kai had managed to overpower Garp in a direct clash.

"Gurarara… This brat's something else!" Whitebeard rumbled, a mix of admiration and amusement in his voice.

After landing a solid blow, Kai didn't give Garp a chance to recover. Riding his somersault cloud, he shot toward the airborne Marine and slammed another punch into him.

"BOOM!"

Garp crashed into the frozen ground like a meteor, sending cracks splintering outward in a massive web that stretched for kilometers.

From within the crater, a groan escaped Garp's lips.

"GARP!"

Hearing the sudden shout, Garp reacted instantly. Ignoring the pain in his body, he rolled aside on instinct.

"CRACK!"

A jet-black staff smashed into the spot where he had just been lying, sending shards of ice flying. The already fractured battlefield gave way, and an entire section of the ice collapsed, exposing the dark, churning seawater below.

Above, Kai floated effortlessly on his somersault cloud, his staff resting on his shoulder. His gaze was calm, almost indifferent.

Then, from the swirling sea beneath, a figure emerged—Garp, using Moonwalk to rise to Kai's level once more. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, a clear sign that he had taken serious damage.

Garp's expression darkened.

"How the hell did you get this strong?!"

His voice carried a mix of disbelief and frustration. Back in Water 7, Kai had been powerful, sure—but not this powerful.

Had he been holding back? No, that didn't make sense.

Garp shook his head. "There's no way you've improved this much in just a few days! What kind of rocket did you hitch a ride on?!"

Kai simply smirked. "What do you think?"

Then, without another word, he vanished.

Garp's instincts screamed at him—Move!

But just as he tried to dodge, a strange force locked his body in place for a fraction of a second.

A fraction of a second was all Kai needed.

"BANG!"

Another devastating punch landed square on Garp's face, sending him flying once again.

Kai didn't stop. He chased after him like a predator, knowing that Garp's monstrous durability meant he couldn't afford to let up.

The battlefield had gone silent. The sight of Garp the Fist—one of the strongest Marines in history—being beaten back without being able to fight back left everyone in stunned horror.

Some Marines muttered in disbelief:

"Mr. Garp… he's getting overwhelmed?"

"How is this possible? He's a Marine hero!"

"Demon King Kai… is he really this strong?"

Fear and doubt spread like wildfire.

Then—

"ENOUGH!"

A thunderous voice boomed across the battlefield.

All eyes turned toward the execution platform, where Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood, his presence commanding as ever.

"Listen well, Marines!" Sengoku bellowed. "Yes, Garp is a hero, but he is also seventy-six years old! At that age, most men would have retired!"

"This isn't about Kai being strong—it's about Garp being past his prime! Don't be fooled by appearances!"

"We still have our three Admirals! The World Government's strongest warriors haven't even moved yet!"

"These pirates will NEVER defeat us! Hold your ground!"

His words rippled across the battlefield, reigniting the spirits of the shaken Marines.

Even Whitebeard, standing on the deck of the Moby Dick, chuckled.

"Gurarara… Still the same old Sengoku—spitting lies just to keep his men from pissing their pants."

And yet, Sengoku's words worked.

The Marines who had been losing their nerve suddenly straightened their backs.

"That's right! The Fleet Admiral is right!"

"Garp's old—it's only natural his strength isn't what it used to be!"

"We still have the Admirals, the Vice Admirals, the CP agents! We're far from beaten!"

As the morale among his troops recovered, Sengoku allowed himself a small, hidden smile.

But deep down, his mind was racing.

Because he knew the truth.

Garp's age wasn't the problem.

Yes, age could dull a warrior's edge—but Garp's strength had barely declined over the years. His body was still a powerhouse.

No—Garp wasn't struggling because of age.

He was struggling because Kai was that strong.

And that realization sent a cold shiver down Sengoku's spine.

Without hesitation, he leaped into the air, using Moonwalk to reach the Five Elders, who stood in the shadows, watching the battle unfold.

A quick, hushed exchange.

Then, Sengoku returned to the execution platform.

His gaze swept across the battlefield before settling on one person.

Then, he picked up the loudspeaker and shouted:

"The execution… begins NOW!"