[105] : Clash with Garp, Again
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Deep within the anglerfish's first stomach—
"Arthur, come quietly back to Impel Down and repent!" Garp roared, flanking Arthur with Akainu.
Tsuru stayed close to the two, wary of Arthur's speed. This time, however, her caution was misplaced. As Arthur grew stronger, his interest in weaker opponents waned. While Tsuru was formidable, she wasn't on the same level as Garp or Akainu.
He'd targeted her before out of desperation, wanting to take someone down with him. Now? He couldn't be bothered. His focus was singular—Myskina Olga and the Pure Gold.
Olga, seeing no one paying attention to her, seized the opportunity. She scrambled behind a pile of rubble, hopped onto her lizard steed, Elizabeth, and fled.
——
"Repent? You talk too much, old man." Arthur's intense gaze was fixed on Garp, blue electricity flickering beneath his striped prison uniform, his black hair practically glowing with power.
Zzzzzzt!
The crackling intensified as Arthur vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Garp.
His lightning-wreathed fist shot out like a thunderbolt.
His overall power hadn't increased drastically, but his improved defenses meant he no longer feared a direct confrontation.
His electrically charged fist, like a meteor, hurtled towards Garp.
Garp's reflexes were even faster. He raised his arm instinctively, his bulging muscles ripping through his sleeve as he hardened it with Armament Haki.
BOOOOOM!!!
The impact reverberated through the air, like a cannonball striking its target.
Arthur's fist, lacking the protection of his Isolation Field, slammed into Garp's hardened arm, a jolt of pain shooting up his arm.
Garp, sent flying by the force of the blow, crashed into a pile of rubble.
He quickly recovered, dusting himself off, a grin on his face. "You're becoming a real problem for the Marines, kid."
Arthur, shaking his wrist, laughed. "Thanks to you, I've taken my powers to the next level!"
Their gazes locked, an invisible pressure radiating outwards, the air thick with tension.
Seeing Garp's rare display of seriousness—a focus she'd only witnessed during his battles with Roger—Tsuru discreetly retreated.
Akainu, fuming, unable to intervene in this high-level clash, his body smoldering, looked on.
Arthur vanished again, engulfed in a surge of electricity, transforming into his Thunder God form, his lightning-clad foot stomping down with tremendous force.
BOOOOOM!
Crack!
The ground beneath his feet shattered, fissures spreading like a spiderweb as his fifteen-foot-tall form hurtled towards Garp.
Zzzzzzt!
His massive, lightning-wreathed fist slammed towards Garp's face.
Garp, a wide grin on his face, his excitement matching Arthur's, stood his ground, meeting the attack head-on with a Haki-hardened fist.
Bang!!
Garp experienced the same sensation Arthur had moments before—his fist striking an impenetrable surface, a jolt of pain shooting up his arm.
A shimmering wave of energy rippled out from Arthur's fist, as if neutralizing Garp's attack, dissipating the force into nothingness.
"Impressive strength—Vice Admiral." Arthur remained motionless, his smile unwavering. But a closer look revealed beads of sweat on his forehead.
The Isolation Field, while deflecting all attacks, drained his stamina rapidly, and Garp's monstrous strength amplified the drain.
He had to end this quickly. If his stamina ran out, he'd be captured again.
Garp, sensing Arthur's struggle, shifted his tactics. Instead of another direct punch, he reached out, his hand transforming into a claw, attempting to grab Arthur and force him out of his elemental form.
Arthur, his eyes gleaming beneath his wild mane of lightning, saw Garp's intentions, but didn't flinch.
Bang!
Garp's hand clamped down on Arthur's lightning arm, but his triumphant grin faltered. He'd grabbed something—but it felt like a thick, impenetrable barrier, unyielding even under his immense strength. He couldn't reach Arthur.
"HAHAHAHA! What do you think, Vice Admiral?" Arthur's laughter boomed through the cavernous space. He was proud of his perfected defense.
"One Hundred Million Volts—Discharge!"
Zzzzzzt!
A massive surge of electricity erupted from the point of contact.
"Hardening!"
Garp roared, reinforcing his Armament Haki, enduring the electrical onslaught. He grabbed Arthur's other arm with his free hand.
"Get up!"
He roared again, exerting his monstrous strength, lifting Arthur off the ground. Then, still holding Arthur's arms, he swung the giant lightning form, slamming it into the ground.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The impact shook the entire island, shattering the floating debris.
"You crazy old man—" Arthur, protected by his Isolation Field, was unharmed, but Garp's raw strength was undeniable.
"Bwahahaha! How many more of those can you take, Arthur?" Garp laughed, lifting Arthur again.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust and debris filled the air, the island crumbling under the repeated impacts.
Tsuru, wisely, had abandoned the fight to pursue Olga. Akainu, his face grim, watched from a nearby island.
"Enough playing around, old man!" Arthur roared, unleashing his Conqueror's Haki.
Garp felt the pressure increasing, Arthur's lightning-wreathed hand pushing back against his grip.
"HAAAAAAA!"
They roared in unison, then Arthur, reverting from his Thunder God form to conserve stamina, his face flushed with exertion, locked in a test of pure strength against Garp.
Their muscles bulged, straining against the immense pressure—
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