So that was it.
The four finally understood why Roldyhad been so brazen—why he had brought only the four of them to cause chaos at the Sabaody Archipelago, fully expecting the Marines to deploy overwhelming force.
Manpower?
In front of Roldi, that was a joke.
His Conqueror's Haki alone could clear the battlefield of anyone below Rear Admiral rank.
He could face three Admiral-tier combatants by himself.
And with a single strike, he had already halved the enemy's effective strength.
This wasn't recklessness.
It was absolute confidence born of absolute power.
The four had no doubt now—
Even if Roldyhad co alone, the outco would have been no different.
More than half of Grove 29 had been sunk into the sea by that one punch. And that was only because Garp and the two Admirals had resisted with everything they had. The three of them had absorbed most of the remaining force themselves.
They had "eaten" the blow.
And in doing so, saved countless Marine lives.
Watching seawater rush inward where the island had collapsed—and seeing Garp and the two Admirals struggle back to their feet—the four exchanged glances.
Then they turned back to their own battles.
The Marines had suffered heavy casualties, but in terms of Vice Admiral numbers, they still held overwhelming superiority.
The four were quickly forced into hard combat.
Yet with Mihawk and Sheen joining the fray, Vice Admirals soon began to fall.
The death of comrades ignited Marine fury.
Even the more dovish officers abandoned thoughts of capture.
The hawks showed no rcy.
And to the hawks—
The doves now seed gentle.
When that black blade flashed downward—
Thought ceased.
Clang!
A one-ard Vice Admiral stared in despair at the descending black blade.
Then—
A seemingly ordinary katana blocked Yoru mid-swing.
The strike was halted.
Looking up, the Vice Admiral saw a man dressed like a Western detective, eyes hidden beneath a wide-brimd hat.
"R-Rear Admiral Bogard!"
"Fall back and get treated. I'll handle this."
His low voice radiated calm authority.
Though only a Rear Admiral—
He stood like a wall.
Mihawk studied him carefully.
Then—
A smile crept across his face.
"I've long heard that the Marines have an unnad master swordsman. A man who refused promotion in order to remain at Vice Admiral Garp's side. Stronger than most Vice Admirals despite holding the rank of Rear Admiral."
"So it's you."
It had been a long ti since Mihawk felt this excitent.
Finally—
A worthy swordsman.
Bogard said nothing.
Their eyes t.
The next instant—
Steel collided with steel.
Sparks burst in torrents.
Blade light danced.
For a ti, neither could claim the upper hand.
But this was rely a side note.
Everyone knew—
The true climax was elsewhere.
Roldyvs. Garp, Sakazuki, and Borsalino.
"Old man, those punches you gave back then really hurt. So? Satisfied with the return gift after twenty-odd years?"
Roldi's grin was impossible to suppress.
He was in a wonderful mood.
Garp had beaten him countless tis growing up.
Teacher or not—
Roldyheld grudges.
Just a little payback.
Garp's mouth twitched.
"Hmph! Still soft. No strength at all! Brat, if you think you can defeat like this, you're far too green!"
"Oh? Then let's do it again."
"Ten more tis wouldn't change anything!"
Watching the two argue red-faced—
Sakazuki and Borsalino fell silent.
"Fine. Then a hundred tis—"
Roldybent his knees, about to leap skyward again.
Borsalino's face turned pale.
He hurriedly clamped a hand over Garp's mouth before the old hero could escalate things further.
With a bruised face and an oddly strained smile, Borsalino spoke.
"Now, now, Roldi… for everyone's sake, maybe let's not use that move again? You wouldn't want your own companions to accidentally sink with the island, would you?"
Roldi: …?
He paused.
Scratched his head.
Why did that sound… strange?
"Your opening's exposed, Roldi!"
Sakazuki's eyes flashed.
Seizing the mont of distraction, he surged forward at blazing speed.
His right arm transford—
A massive crimson hound lunged forward.
"Inugami Guren!"
The magma hound shot straight for Roldi's chest.
BOOM!
A fist coated in Armant Haki descended like a hamr.
Sakazuki was driven into the earth like a nail.
Most of his body embedded underground.
He stared blankly ahead.
Garp: …Where was the opening?
Roldi: Did I just punch him stupid?
Borsalino: So scary… he even saw the opening… Wait a minute. I think I forgot to ntion sothing.
"Oh right~ I forgot to say," Borsalino added lightly, "Roldi's Observation Haki has already reached the level of Future Sight."
Sakazuki slowly turned his head, glaring.
Borsalino whistled and looked away, pretending he'd just rembered sothing amusing.
"Need a hand?"
Roldycrouched down and grabbed Sakazuki by the wrist, hauling him out of the crater without waiting for consent.
The atmosphere beca… delicate.
And at that very delicate mont—
Several sharp sounds cut through the air.
A group of figures appeared not far away.
Their attire was unusual.
Swords at their waists.
An aura of nobility—
And sothing darker.
"Oh? The Holy Knights have arrived too?"
Roldysmiled again upon seeing the man at the front—
Saint Figarland.
But this smile was different from the one he wore when facing the Marines.
Garp and the others turned to look as well.
Then—
Sakazuki suddenly noticed sothing odd.
The Holy Knights' gazes were… focused sowhere peculiar.
Oh.
Right.
Roldywas still holding his wrist.
From a distance—
It looked suspiciously like they were shaking hands.
…Wait.
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