CHAPTER 21

Ayr gripped his newly acquired blade with one hand, his aura steadily rising. With a sharp flick of his wrist, the sword cut through the air, creating a violent friction that seemed to distort space itself. The sheer velocity and devastating force of the swing caused the very atmosphere to tremble.

Before Ayr, a brilliant arc of light burst forth, a terrifying slash of sword energy shooting across the landscape.

"Boom!!!"

The devastating wave of sword energy carved through the ground, uprooting trees, splitting boulders, and leaving a deep, jagged scar on the earth that extended beyond the horizon. The force of the attack was so immense that the very air seemed to reverberate with its might.

Surveying the aftermath, Ayr exhaled slowly.

"The quality of the sword does affect swordsmanship." He mused, gazing at the destruction before him.

Had he wielded a lesser blade, the released sword energy wouldn't have reached such heights. Now, he wondered—what if he wielded a Supreme Grade Blade? Would his swordsmanship transcend to another level entirely?

The thought excited him. If an opportunity arose, he would seek a more powerful weapon.

---

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island…

Ayr's powerful sword strike had not gone unnoticed. The Marine scouting unit stationed in the back mountain was immediately alerted.

Among them, Garp, who was crouched in a concealed area, raised a brow at the approaching scout.

"Who caused that?" he asked with an amused grin.

"Colonel Garp, sir! The disturbance was caused by a pirate named Ayr—current bounty, 100 million Berries. According to our reports, he's a confirmed member of the Rocks Pirates."

The Marines had been keeping close watch on the movements of the Rocks Pirates, and Ayr had been spotted leaving their ship. That, coupled with his devastating display of power, had made him a clear subject of interest.

"A member of the Rocks Pirates, huh?" Garp muttered, rubbing his chin.

"Colonel Garp, this could be a serious risk," one Marine spoke up nervously. "If Ayr realizes we're here, the entire operation could be compromised. We should report this to Colonel Sengoku immediately."

"It doesn't look like he's noticed us," the scout countered. "He seems to be… training."

The Marines exchanged wary glances. If Ayr had been aware of their presence, he wouldn't be randomly swinging his sword—he'd be mobilizing his crew to hunt them down.

"Regardless, we should still inform Colonel Sengoku. If Ayr's here, that means the Rocks Pirates might—"

"No need." Garp cut in, his usual grin widening.

"Sir?"

"The whole reason we came here was to gather intel on the Rocks Pirates, right?" Garp cracked his knuckles. "Well, what better way than to capture one of their own?"

The Marines stiffened.

"But Colonel Sengoku—"

Garp waved them off. "Sengoku's too cautious. If we tell him, he'll just order a retreat."

Technically, Garp wasn't wrong. Sengoku was a strategist—one who preferred calculated risks. If he learned that a Rocks Pirate was near, he'd likely call for a withdrawal rather than risk confrontation.

But to Garp, that was boring.

Besides, 100 million Berries? That was hardly a threat. Back when he was in the first half of the Grand Line, he had already taken down pirates worth far more.

"If you're worried about getting scolded, relax," Garp continued with a laugh. "I'll take all the blame."

The Marines hesitated.

"Colonel Garp, if we act recklessly—"

"Think about it," Garp said, leaning in. "If we capture Ayr and get valuable intel, Marine HQ will have enough reason to launch a full-scale operation against the Rocks Pirates. That means we'll be the ones who paved the way for their downfall."

His words struck a chord.

The chance to be a part of something so monumental… The chance to contribute to Marine history…

One by one, the hesitation in the Marines' eyes turned to determination.

"Colonel Garp is right!" one soldier shouted. "Capturing a Rocks Pirate would be a huge win for the Marines!"

"Even if we risk our lives, we must seize this chance!"

"I'm not in it for the promotions, but protecting the world from pirates is our duty!"

"Agreed!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

A chorus of voices rose in unison, their fighting spirit ignited by Garp's confidence.

Ayr had no idea what was coming.

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