Chapter 34

"Hahaha, Roger, it seems like your crew member lost. He couldn't even fight my apprentice, who is just a kid. Your quality of crewmates seems to be declining day by day." Garp couldn't help but mock Roger regarding Bullet's loss. Roger's face was grumpy, despite knowing that Bullet fought against a little monster. He would have liked it if it had at least ended up in a tie, but in the end, the kid had won with a handicap. The kid had yet to use his sword; he had just used his fists to take down Bullet.

"Garp, you simply lucked out with the kid. Are you sure that you don't want him to join my crew? I promise to take good care of him. I'm sure you are quite busy with your Marine duties," Roger countered. It was always him who made jest of others, and he didn't like to be on the receiving end, even against Garp. He was petty that way, so he once again brought up the topic of recruiting Ross to piss off Garp.

"Roger! You bastard! Stay away from my student. I will kill you if you try something underhanded," Garp roared, his voice reverberating across the island as he resumed the battle, which had momentarily paused due to Bullet's defeat.

"Blue Hole!" Garp unleashed another devastating attack, his powerful fist enveloped in swirling currents of energy as he aimed directly at Roger, who responded with equal ferocity.

The clash between the two legends intensified once more, each blow sending shockwaves rippling through the air and shaking the very ground beneath their feet. The sky darkened as ominous clouds gathered overhead, a testament to the sheer power being unleashed in their duel.

As Garp and Roger continued their epic confrontation, the spectators watched in awe and anticipation, fully aware that they were witnessing history in the making. The Roger Pirates and Marine soldiers alike held their breath, their hearts pounding with excitement as they witnessed the clash of titans unfold before their eyes.

I had already returned to Bogard's side, who was spectating the epic clash between the two legends from the safety of the Marine battleship. A few hundred meters away, Oro Jackson lay anchored, with the Roger Pirates gathered aboard to witness the spectacle. Bullet had already been sent off to heal from his injuries sustained in our earlier battle.

On Oro Jackson, Gaban sat next to Rayleigh, both observing the confrontation between Roger and Garp with intense focus. Despite the distance between us and the battling titans, Rayleigh seemed poised to intervene at a moment's notice if necessary. Gaban provided Rayleigh with a detailed summary of my fight, ensuring that he was kept informed about the developments.

As Rayleigh listened attentively, his eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced briefly in my direction. Our eyes met, and a subtle smile crossed Rayleigh's face as he nodded in acknowledgment. In return, I nodded back, a silent understanding passing between us in that moment.

The battle raged on relentlessly, with the moon casting its radiant glow upon the scene. What had begun in the early hours of the morning, as dawn painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, now continued under the serene light of the night. Amidst the tranquil sea, the clash of titans echoed like thunder, reverberating through the stillness of the night.

Under the ethereal illumination of the moon, the confrontation between the two legendary figures unfolded like a mesmerizing dance of death. Each clash of their formidable powers left a lasting impact on the surroundings, forever altering the landscape in their wake. Despite the intensity of their battle, there was a strange beauty to their struggle, as if their conflict had transcended mere violence and transformed into a form of art.

Remarkably, amidst the chaos of their clash, there was an unexpected harmony between the Marine ship and the infamous pirates anchored nearby. Despite their opposing allegiances, there was no hostility between the two sides. Instead, there existed a rare form of mutual respect, upheld by the unwavering determination of their respective leaders, who fought with a fierce desire to emerge victorious at any cost.

A Marine captain on Garp's ship came running towards Rear Admiral Bogard, who was still immersed in the fight.

"Rear Admiral Bogard, we have an emergency mission from HQ," the captain said, sweat dripping down his forehead.

Intrigued, I quickly read the captain's thoughts, finding them amusing. Bogard noticed my reaction but ignored it, turning his attention to the Marine captain.

"Haven't we already updated them regarding our clash with the Roger Pirates? What could be more important than apprehending an Overlord pirate crew from the New World? Spit it out; what are you not telling me?" Bogard's authority within Garp's ship was second only to Garp himself. Sometimes, he even refuted Garp's orders, earning immense fear and respect from everyone on the ship.

"This... Bogard-san, we just received an update that Kaidou has escaped. He sank nine battleships and escaped from the prison fleet along with most of his crew. HQ wants us to pursue the enemy and capture them again if possible," the captain conveyed, sweating buckets under Bogard's gaze.

As Bogard listened to the report, he unconsciously released his strength, crushing the steel railing he held onto. He now understood why I was laughing so hard. It was a rare sight to see Bogard visibly angry; he was usually as calm as a cucumber, maintaining a neutral expression in any situation.

"Ross, shut up...this is not a laughing matter, despite how amusing it may be for you. And don't you dare say 'I told you so' to either my face or to Garp-san later? Is that understood?" Bogard's frustration was evident. He knew I had a penchant for taunting them whenever my predictions came true, yet he couldn't scold me, as my warnings could have prevented the loss of nine Marine battleships and the lives lost with them.

I simply nodded, knowing that, despite my knowledge of such an event occurring, rubbing it in Bogard's face was not the right thing to do. I remained quiet, returning to the fight and letting Bogard deal with the issue.

"Tell HQ that we are occupied. We will currently be unable to assist them regarding the issue. Have them dispatch an Admiral if they cannot wait. Let them know we had offered to escort the prisoner, but it was their decision to have us hand over the prisoner and pursue Roger. And now they want us to let go of Roger and pursue Kaidou again. Ask them if they take us for fools. Ask them to go and shove that order up their own..." Bogard's voice was full of frustration as he vented his anger. The Marine captain and a few other Marines around him dared not even breathe. The poor Marine captain was turning blue, holding his breath, unsure of what to do. If he relayed Bogard's message back to HQ, he was sure to face repercussions when he returned to Marineford from his superiors in the communication department.

"Bogard-san, let the poor guy go, will you? If he relays such a message, then I am sure they would transfer him to some remote corner of this world, burying him beneath paperwork." I intervened, sensing the tension in the air. I turned to the captain.

"Just let HQ know we will look into the matter immediately after we deal with the Roger Pirates. Let them know that Garp-san is currently locked in combat with Roger, and if possible, ask them to dispatch reinforcements, preferably Zephyr-san or Sengoku-san," I instructed the captain, offering a solution to the situation. The captain, as if grabbing a lifeline, quickly ran into the ship to relay the message to HQ. Everyone within the ship knew I was Garp's apprentice, so despite my age, my words held great weight.

As the fight entered its third day, the ferocity between Garp and Roger showed no signs of waning. Both fighters continued to clash neck-to-neck, their stamina and combat prowess seemingly endless. I marveled at their ability to maintain such a high level of intensity for three continuous days. Meanwhile, Bogard had noticeably calmed himself over this time, though the tension still lingered.

Amidst the relentless battle, news from the outside world reached us. The first report detailed Kaidou's daring escape. However, the narrative spun in the news leaned heavily on blaming the Marines for Kaidou's freedom. It portrayed Kaidou as an unstoppable force, almost glorifying his escape while condemning the Marines for their apparent negligence. The paper insinuated that a stronger Marine figure should have escorted Kaidou alongside such a formidable pirate, questioning the judgment of the Marines.

The second news item concerned the capture of Byrnndi World by the World Government, a significant development that seemed to pale in comparison to the chaos unfolding between Garp and Roger. Yet, it added to the complexity of the situation, showcasing the intricate web of events unfolding in the world beyond our battlefield.

As the clash between Garp and Roger reached its crescendo, the air crackled with anticipation.

"You're pushing yourself too hard, Roger," Garp grunted, his voice strained with effort as he unleashed his mighty fist.

"Galaxy Impact"

Roger grinned, his eyes gleaming with determination. "And you're holding back, Garp," he retorted, meeting Garp's attack head-on with his own counterattack.

"Divine Departure"

The collision of their techniques sent shockwaves rippling through the air, shaking the very foundations of the island. Lightning danced across the sky, illuminating the fierce determination etched on both their faces.

But then, a sudden jolt coursed through Roger's body, causing him to cough up blood. He stumbled for a moment, and in that split second, Garp's Galaxy Impact surged forward with renewed ferocity, slipping past Roger's defenses.

Gritting his teeth, Roger managed to summon his Armament Haki, to defend against Garp's onslaught. But the force of Garp's punch was overwhelming, sending Roger hurtling towards the ground with bone-shattering force.

With a thunderous impact, Roger was sent hurtling towards the ground, crashing into the mountain below. Rayleigh, who had been watching the battle with keen eyes, swiftly moved to Garp's side, his sword drawn in readiness to intervene, and stood between the two. But as the dust settled and the rubble cleared, Roger emerged from the wreckage, bloodied but unbowed, his sword in hand.

As Roger struggled to rise from the rubble, Rayleigh approached cautiously, concern etched in his features. "Are you alright, Roger?" he asked, his voice laced with a rare hint of worry.

Roger chuckled weakly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I've had worse," he replied, his gaze defiant despite the pain, and he shouted at Garp. "But I'll be damned if I let you have all the fun, Garp!."

Rayleigh, ever watchful, turned around towards the Marine Hero, his sword drawn but his expression grave. "Enough, Garp," he said firmly, his gaze flickering between the two titans.

Rayleigh stood between them, his presence commanding attention. "This fight is over," he declared firmly, his gaze unwavering.

Garp nodded reluctantly, his fists unclenching as he took a step back. "Fine," he conceded, casting one last glance at Roger. "But don't think this is over, Roger. We'll settle this once you're back on your feet."

It had been an hour since Rayleigh had put an end to the fight and escorted Roger back to the safety of Oro Jackson. Earlier, when I observed the worried expressions of the Roger Pirates, it was clear they had never witnessed their captain in such a disadvantaged state. Despite Roger's desire to continue the fight, Rayleigh had forcefully taken him back to the ship. Even Garp had lost his urge to fight, sensing that something was wrong with his longtime rival.

With Oro Jackson now out of sight, Garp was deep in thought, pondering over the events that had transpired. No one dared disturb him as he contemplated the unexpected turn of events.

A week had passed since the intense clash with the Roger Pirates, and Garp's mood remained somber. News of the Oro Jackson's departure from the New World waters towards the first half of the Grand Line reached him, indicating their likely destination to find Dr. Crocus near Reverse Mountain, where the Twin Cape Lighthouse stood.