At the same time, he cleaved through every cannonball in his path, splitting them in half before they could detonate.
Hades watched as Gliner displayed his overwhelming strength on the deck, his eyes filled with admiration and yearning.
He wanted to be as powerful as Gliner!
Although he had long known that Gliner carried a high bounty—proof of his formidable strength—he never expected his abilities to be so overwhelming.
How awe-inspiring it must be to stand against a warship alone, to face an entire fleet without faltering—even one carrying the legendary naval hero, Monkey D. Garp!
Suddenly, Hades noticed several high-ranking Marines leaping off their warship, stepping through the air with Geppo (Moonwalk).
Presumably, Gliner's bold assault had provoked them.
For them to be outmaneuvered by a pirate aboard their own ship was a humiliation they could not tolerate.
Four Marine elites surged forward, their presence exuding strength. But how did they compare to Gliner?
"Captain, should we assist?" Hades asked anxiously.
He couldn't help but worry—Gliner was about to face four powerful Marines alone.
"Don't panic, but brace yourself," Caesar warned.
"What?" Hades asked, puzzled.
But before Caesar could answer, the truth revealed itself.
As the four Marines approached, Gliner smirked and released a terrifying wave of Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki).
"Get lost. I don't have time for you." His words carried absolute confidence—he was no mere stepping stone for the weak.
The moment his Haki erupted, even these hardened warriors faltered.
Two of the weaker Marines instantly lost consciousness, their bodies going limp as they plummeted toward the sea.
On Garp's warship, nearly 90% of the sailors collapsed on the spot, rendered unconscious by Gliner's sheer will.
Even those who remained standing were visibly shaken, swaying on unsteady legs, drenched in cold sweat.
Only about a dozen endured fully, their expressions grim.
"Interesting... Is that Caesar's ally?" Garp muttered as he hurled another cannonball. Then, without hesitation, he vaulted into the air, ready to fight.
Gliner's expression grew serious. He immediately coated his rapier in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and slashed at Garp's throat.
But Garp didn't even flinch. With a burst of speed, he vanished and reappeared above Gliner in an instant.
By combining Geppo (Moonwalk) and Soru (Shave), he moved at speeds beyond normal perception.
His mastery of the Rokushiki (Six Powers) was impeccable.
Not only had he completely evaded Gliner's strike, but he had also positioned himself for a devastating counterattack.
A massive fist, coated in Busoshoku, came crashing down toward Gliner's head.
With no time to dodge, Gliner instinctively reinforced his skull with Busoshoku: Koka (Hardening).
Had his Haoshoku been more advanced, he might have been able to repel Garp's strike with infusion.
[91]A Battle That Shakes the World
BOOM!
Garp's punch connected, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Even with his defenses up, Gliner's vision blurred. His eyes rolled back, nearly losing consciousness.
His body rocketed downward, crashing into the sea with such force that a towering wave—over ten meters high—erupted from the impact.
The sheer force was magnitudes greater than the explosion of a cannonball.
"Is that... the strength of a Marine hero!?"
Hades' pupils shrank in horror.
"Too strong! The Vice-Captain was taken down with a single blow!"
"The top brass of the Marines are on a whole different level... I used to think I was strong enough to protect myself."
Caesar cast a glance at Hades and finally understood why he had once been captured as a slave.
It wasn't just a matter of strength—overconfidence and ignorance of the world's true power were equally dangerous.
But there was no time for reflection.
More than anything, rescuing Gliner was the priority.
With a swift motion, Caesar used his mind power to pull Gliner from the sea, placing him back onto the deck.
Gliner groggily shook his head, his face a mixture of shock and frustration.
150—Caesar had once told him that his strength was on par with an elite Vice Admiral. He had believed that was enough.
Yet, the gap between him and a true top-tier powerhouse was immeasurable.
Caesar observed Gliner, who was still processing the overwhelming difference in strength. He then turned to Hades.
"Garp may already be a top-tier fighter, but he still has room to grow. With his potential, he hasn't reached his peak yet."
"Just like me—I'm also a top fighter, but my limits are still far ahead."
"What?! He can already take down Brother Gliner with one punch, and he can still grow stronger?" Hades gasped.
His entire worldview was shattering before his eyes.
Meanwhile, Garp, still hovering midair, had noticed Caesar rescuing Gliner.
With a booming laugh, he stomped the air with Geppo, causing a sonic boom as he rocketed toward Caesar's ship.
Caesar's expression tensed.
The sheer speed Garp displayed—combining Geppo and Soru in the air—was beyond anything Gliner could react to.
And Garp's Busoshoku wasn't just strong—it was one of the most powerful in the world, unmatched on the surface.
Unparalleled durability!
"Rankyaku!" (Tempest Kick)
Garp suddenly executed a lightning-fast kick in midair, unleashing a massive vacuum slash aimed directly at Gliner.
With Garp's monstrous strength, if Gliner were hit directly, the outcome would be catastrophic.
Even Caesar wouldn't be able to brush it off easily.
Hades shouted in alarm. "Captain!"
Without hesitation, Caesar unsheathed Wado Ichimonji and coated it in Busoshoku, slicing through the attack with ease.
Garp smirked. "Your strength has improved, Caesar!"
At the same time, the four Marine elites who had tried to engage Gliner earlier attempted to surround Caesar.
But before they could close in, Garp waved them off.
"Hahaha! Stay out of this!" Garp barked.
"This guy—don't be fooled by his age—he's not someone you can handle!"
"Even Gliner's Haoshoku affected you—Caesar's is on a whole different level!"
"In my lifetime, I've only seen Rocks D. Xebec surpass him in Haoshoku! Even Roger was merely his equal!"
The Marines froze in disbelief.
They had never been part of the God Valley Incident, so the name Rocks was nothing more than an elusive legend to them.
To think that this seventeen-year-old before them was being compared to such monsters...
Still, despite their pride, they had no choice but to obey Garp's command.
Caesar, gripping Wado Ichimonji, met Garp's unwavering gaze.
"Letting them stand aside… isn't that a bit too lenient?" Caesar asked.
Garp grinned. "As long as I defeat you, your crew is done for."
"And to be honest, they wouldn't stand a chance anyway."
"Your subordinates are strong, sure, but you? You're on a whole different level. It's terrifying, really."
Garp's expression grew serious.
"Come, Caesar! Show me how much stronger you've gotten!"
"As you wish."
Caesar's fighting spirit surged, and he charged in.
The clash of titans had begun.
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