Chapter 143

**Chapter 143**

Garp took a step back, his breathing steady. His sharp eyes met Carl's bloodshot gaze.

After a brief silence, Garp finally spoke.

**"Carl… do you really have to kill Dragon?"**

Carl tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.

**"I'll say it one last time—Dragon is guilty of a capital crime."**

He paused, his eyes narrowing.

Then, with an air of absolute certainty, Carl declared—

**"As for you… you are no longer worthy of being a Marine."**

Garp was stunned.

Then—

He laughed.

A deep, hearty laugh that echoed over the sea.

After a few chuckles, he clenched his fists, throwing two practice swings before pointing one at Carl.

**"Boy, you're not qualified to say that to me!"**

Carl didn't respond.

He simply extended his hand—

And the **cursed sword Muramasa** floated to his grasp.

His **blood boiled.**

And in the next instant—

**He vanished.**

---

**CLANG!**

Garp's fist met the **dark, twisted blade** of Muramasa.

A vortex of **distorted space** erupted from the impact.

Garp felt it immediately—his punch was being **sucked in**, **slowed down** by the cursed sword's pull.

Carl twisted his wrist.

Muramasa's edge swung **upward**, nearly slicing Garp in half.

Garp **leaned back** to avoid it—

But that left him **open.**

**BANG!**

Carl's **knee slammed into his abdomen.**

Garp's **Geppo faltered**.

His body wavered—

And he nearly **fell into the sea.**

For the first time in this battle—

Garp understood.

**Carl wasn't someone he could take lightly.**

With newfound focus, he **adjusted his stance** and launched himself at Carl again.

This time—

His attacks were **sharp, calculated.**

Each punch forced Carl **downward**.

**Toward the sea.**

---

Garp had a **plan.**

No matter how **strong** Carl was—

He was still a **Devil Fruit user.**

And Devil Fruit users—

**Sank.**

There was **no land** nearby.

No footing.

If Carl hit the water—

**It was over.**

Garp's priority was **Dragon**.

The sooner he finished this fight, the sooner he could **return to the ship**.

And Carl?

Carl seemed **unaware** of his plan.

Blow by blow, he allowed himself to be **pushed closer and closer to the ocean.**

Garp felt a **hint of satisfaction.**

**"You're still too young!"**

Then—

**His chance came.**

---

After landing a series of **devastating blows**, Garp **lunged forward.**

His massive arm **wrapped around Carl's torso.**

And with **all his strength—**

**He threw him toward the sea.**

**"FALL INTO THE SEA!!!"**

Carl's body shot downward **like a meteor.**

**BOOM!**

The ocean **erupted** as Carl disappeared beneath the surface.

---

Garp watched.

Waited.

His expression **remained stern**.

Even as the water **settled**, he didn't let his guard down.

Then, he sighed.

**"I'll come back to save you later… if I can still find you."**

With that, he **turned away**, heading back to the ship.

His only thought now was—

**"Dragon, hold on. I'm coming—"**

Then—

**A blood-red light burst from the sea.**

It streaked into the night sky, vanishing **into the darkness.**

Garp didn't see it.

He kept moving.

**Unaware of what was coming next.**

Until—

His footsteps **halted.**

His eyes widened in **disbelief.**

A sharp, **black blade** had **pierced his chest.**

Carl's voice whispered behind him—

**"Vice Admiral Garp… the battle isn't over yet."**

---

Slowly, painfully, Garp turned his head.

Carl stood **right behind him**.

Grinning.

**"H-How…"** Garp muttered, **"You fell into the sea—"**

Carl pulled **Muramasa** from Garp's body.

His **scarlet hand** grabbed Garp by the throat.

**"Devil Fruit users fear the sea,"** Carl said, laughing.

**"But what does that have to do with me?"**

A **red glow** pulsed from Carl's palm.

Garp felt it immediately.

His **strength drained.**

His **hair turned gray.**

At first, the white strands only spread to his temples.

Then—

His entire head.

**He was aging.**

Carl's **Vampire Fruit** was stealing his very **life force.**

Garp gritted his teeth.

He tried to resist—tried to coat his body in **Haki**.

But it was **too slow**.

By the time he managed to gather his strength—

Carl had already stolen **25 years of his life.**

---

The legendary **Vice Admiral Garp**—

**Was no longer the same man.**

His body was **frail**.

His arms **trembled**.

He was still strong—but nowhere near **his prime.**

His hands fell **limply to his sides.**

Carl, on the other hand—

**Looked refreshed.**

Younger.

Stronger.

He gazed at Garp's **weakened** state with amusement.

**He could have killed him.**

But he didn't.

Not yet.

Because **Garp's life was valuable.**

If he died—

Carl's actions would be **harder to justify.**

But if he lived—

Then Carl could frame this as **justice.**

After all—

Garp and Dragon were the ones who **betrayed the government first.**

Carl had merely **delivered punishment.**

Smirking, Carl **grabbed Garp by the collar**—

Flapped his wings—

And **flew back toward the ship.**

---

Onboard, Ginny and the CP agents had **already won**.

Garp's men were either **dead or captured.**

Dragon—

Was in **bad shape.**

His left **shoulder blade was ruined**, and he could only fight with his **right arm.**

His body was covered in **sword wounds**.

His **clothes drenched in blood.**

Lucia, with her **Fallen Angel Fruit**, was **too fast**.

Dragon had **no escape.**

If the fight continued—

**Lucia could kill him on her own.**

She didn't even need **Ginny's help.**

And yet—

**Dragon still had hope.**

Because he **believed.**

**"As long as my father returns, I'll be saved."**

To him, the idea of Garp **losing** was impossible.

After all—

Garp was **the hero of the Navy.**

The man who defeated **Rocks**.

The man who chased **Roger across the seas.**

There was no way—

**No way—**

That Carl, a newly appointed **Admiral**, could **ever** defeat Garp.

---

Then—

A **shadow** loomed over the deck.

Dragon's body **froze.**

He looked up.

And his **heart sank.**

Carl **landed.**

And in his grasp—

Was Garp.

**Unconscious.**

**Defeated.**