Chapter 20: Garp: Galaxy Impact!

At the same time that Daemon returned to Mary Geoise, Akainu also returned to Marine Headquarters aboard a warship.

For Akainu to return unscathed, the higher-ups of the Marines were honestly quite surprised.

But then, something even more shocking happened.

"What? You're saying Sakazuki is to be directly promoted to Admiral, without any trials or observation period?"

"This breaks protocol! By all rights, he shouldn't be eligible for another seven or eight years—only after Sengoku replaces me as Fleet Admiral!"

"What... what the hell is going on?"

"...Fine. I understand."

In the meeting room, Kong, the current Fleet Admiral, hung up the Den Den Mushi with a sullen expression, feeling things were slipping out of his control.

According to his original plan, he would ascend to the World Government as Commander-in-Chief within the next decade. Then Sengoku, whom he had personally groomed, would take over as Fleet Admiral.

Following that, it would finally be time for the three Logia prodigies—Akainu (Sakazuki), Kizaru (Borsalino), and Aokiji (Kuzan)—to rise to the rank of Admiral.

But Daemon's interference changed everything.

Akainu was promoted nearly a decade ahead of Aokiji and Kizaru, placing him on equal footing with Sengoku himself.

What did that mean?

Did this imply that once Kong was promoted to Commander-in-Chief, that Celestial Dragon—Saint Daemon—intended to make Akainu the next Fleet Admiral?

What did they think the Marines were? A plaything for the Celestial Dragons?

Watching Kong's shifting expression, the others at the table exchanged glances. As senior officers and strategists, they could see the political implications immediately.

Akainu, the youngest among the trio, had just leapfrogged the others and become a direct rival to Sengoku.

"Bang!"

The door swung open with force, and an intense heat surged in.

Akainu stepped into the room, his expression unreadable and aura burning.

"Sakazuki… such a terrifying presence," Kizaru muttered lazily, his tone laced with sarcasm but his eyes narrowed in genuine caution. He could feel it—Akainu had become even more powerful.

Across the room, Aokiji, Garp, and Tsuru showed no warmth in their expressions.

They were staunch supporters of Sengoku's more measured, balanced justice, and none of them approved of Akainu's extreme, absolute justice. They certainly weren't about to welcome him back with smiles.

Only Zeffe (Z), who had personally trained Akainu, stepped forward and smiled.

"Congratulations, Sakazuki. Becoming an Admiral so young… you've already surpassed your teacher."

"Thank you, Teacher Z. I couldn't have done it without your training." Akainu nodded respectfully but remained stoic.

He approached the conference table and declared, "Saint Daemon has ordered my inauguration ceremony to begin soon. But until then, I already hold full Admiral authority."

He recalled what Daemon had whispered to him on the warship and spoke gravely,

"As my first command, I am requisitioning five Vice Admirals, ten warships, and 10,000 marines to search the South Blue for the pregnant wife of Gol D. Roger."

"WHAT?!"

Garp's jaw dropped, the rice cracker falling from his hand unnoticed.

Aokiji's face turned darker, his voice heavy,

"That's Demon-Slayer-level force. Are we really using that kind of power to chase a pregnant woman? This is overkill, Sakazuki."

Tsuru and the others said nothing, but their silent nods aligned with Aokiji.

The Buster Call—or Demon-Slayer Order—was no joke. It was a scorched-earth protocol meant to obliterate islands tied to great pirate threats.

To unleash that on one powerless woman?

But Akainu remained unmoved.

He knew Daemon had already located Portgas D. Rouge on Baterilla Island, but he wanted the Marines to make an example.

He even had a plan in mind to force Rouge to surrender herself.

"This is the will of Saint Daemon… and my first command as Admiral!"

He glared across the room, voice rising:

"If any of you object, you can contact Saint Daemon directly—or challenge me here and now!"

"Sakazuki! How dare you call yourself a Marine when you kneel to the Celestial Dragons like a dog licking their filthy boots!"

Garp suddenly exploded.

Roger had entrusted him with the protection of his wife and unborn child. He wouldn't allow this betrayal—not even from a fellow Marine.

And with the political situation threatening Sengoku's claim to Fleet Admiral, the volatile Garp had finally had enough.

He leapt from his seat.

"GARP!!"

Akainu turned, but Garp was already mid-air, right arm drawn back.

"Galaxy—IMPACT!"

His arm muscles burst from his uniform, haki-infused, as he launched a punch straight at Akainu.

"Garp?!"

"Sakazuki, look out!"

No one had expected Garp to attack first.

Had he lost his mind?

Even Fleet Admiral Kong tensed. If this came to blows, could Akainu really withstand the man who helped defeat Rocks D. Xebec alongside Gol D. Roger?

Kong prepared to intervene.

Akainu may have been chosen by Daemon, but Kong would not allow internal chaos in Marine HQ.

Garp might not intend to kill Akainu—but this punch wasn't about Sakazuki.

It was a message to Daemon.

---