35. Miserable Kizaru, Garp's Shock

Sabaody Archipelago.

Even though chaos reigns outside and many big names are reacting to Marine's announcement to the world, there's a moment of calm around Naval Headquarters and Sabaody.

This calm is part of the Marine's plan, progressing steadily as intended. The only unpredictable factor is the battle on Sabaody.

Garp, with steady footsteps, passes through the Marine soldiers' cordon to reach the battlefield recently rocked by a great battle. He couldn't help but sigh at the devastation before him.

"It was quite a fight," he remarked.

What once an island now resembles a vast lake, scattered with enormous floating earth and rock fragments, along with broken pieces of layman mangroves. The scene was even more devastating than an island hit by Buster Call, resembling the aftermath of colossal Sea Kings crashing down from the sky.

With a calm expression, Garp navigated what little remained of a path amidst the wreckage. Though the sight would shock any Marine soldier seeing it for the first time, Garp remained unfazed.

When he was younger, Garp encountered strong individuals who could create the impressive battlefields he now beheld.

As a seasoned Marine hero, Garp had witnessed countless battles and scenes. Yet, seeing Kizaru, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

The calm demeanour on Garp's face softened slightly, replaced by a hint of solemnity.

"What a mess, Kizaru," he remarked.

Garp wasn't as detached as before, especially seeing Kizaru sitting amidst the debris with blood staining his upper body and evident wounds on his face.

Faced with a seriously injured colleague, even Garp refrained from making any comments that might dampen the atmosphere.

"What happened? Who did this? Rayleigh shouldn't have been able to cause such damage," Garp inquired in a deep voice.

He couldn't fathom who in the sea could inflict such harm upon Kizaru.

After all, Kizaru was one of the peak Admirals, the eldest among the current trio. Although not as renowned among Marines as Akainu and Aokiji due to his demeanour, his strength was arguably the greatest among them.

Kizaru had risen to the rank of Admiral due to both his formidable strength and his devil fruit ability.

Garp had never seen Kizaru so battered before. Even during battles against the Four Emperors, Kizaru had never appeared this beaten up. His clothes were only slightly disheveled then, nothing compared to his current state.

What struck Garp the most was the short duration of the fight. Kizaru had only arrived at Sabaody two hours ago, with actual combat lasting less than an hour. For Admirals accustomed to battles lasting days, such brevity was unheard of.

In such a short span, someone had managed to overpower Kizaru, wielding the power of the Pika Pika no Mi fruit. This fact astonished Garp. It couldn't have been Rayleigh, despite his legendary status. Garp knew Rayleigh's strength intimately, having faced him numerous times during his encounters with the Roger Pirates. Even in his prime, Garp doubted he could have bested Kizaru, let alone now, when Rayleigh was nearing eighty.

"Would you believe me if I said it was Straw Hat?" Kizaru asked, his tone no longer jesting but tinged with a wry smile.

Garp burst into laughter. "Come on, Kizaru, I didn't expect you to tell jokes like that."

But Kizaru remained silent, wiping a trickle of blood from his head.

Garp's laughter faded as he looked at Kizaru, a realization dawning. "You're not joking, are you, Kizaru? How could I underestimate Luffy's strength? He's nearly a match for two Shichibukai, even when he's exhausted. How could I expect him to face you head-on?"

Garp, though sceptical, couldn't deny the truth, staring him in the face.

You should know that the Water Seven incident is less than a month away.

Back then, in Water Seven, Garp had tested Luffy's strength, finding it lagging behind most of the Shichibukai. To think Luffy could now face an Admiral head-on and even defeat Kizaru like this—it was as believable as claiming Lucci had suddenly returned to life.

"I'm not joking about this," Kizaru sighed. "Everyone underestimated Luffy, the Straw Hat Kid. He's a true monster. His ability isn't just a simple Rubber Fruit power; it's the most cunning and potent ability I've ever seen."

"We'll discuss the details after meeting with Sengoku," Kizaru added, rising to his feet.

An Admiral's defeat so close to Naval Headquarters was a serious matter. Additionally, the escape of the Straw Hat Pirates, who had attacked the Celestial Dragons, required Kizaru to report to Sengoku for an explanation.

Kizaru inwardly sighed at the potential repercussions of Luffy's newfound strength at such a critical juncture. After all, intelligence indicated a close relationship between Luffy, the Straw Hat Kid, and Fire Fist Ace, who was slated for execution at headquarters.

"Is there another Admiral-level force at play? This is truly troublesome," Kizaru pondered before making his way to the port.

Despite his injuries appearing severe, Kizaru's Admiral-level physique ensured they weren't as serious as they seemed.

Kizaru couldn't shake off the feeling of misfortune as he made his way back. He used to be known for his laid-back attitude, always finding the path of least resistance at work. But this time, he had hit a wall.

Garp trailed behind Kizaru, still perplexed by what had transpired. He pinched his nose, watching Kizaru's figure ahead of him.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind, one even he found hard to believe. Could Luffy have really defeated Kizaru like this? But almost immediately, Garp dismissed the notion with a shake of his head.

"No, no, it's impossible," he muttered to himself. "That kid, Luffy, no matter how you look at it, it's just not possible."

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