For seven days, the battle between the Kaiser Pirates and the Navy warships had come to a standstill. Both sides were waiting for the outcome of the intense clash between Caesar and Vice Admiral Garp.
Caesar, wielding his mastery of Haoshoku Haki-infused Ba Dao (Tyrant's Blade) and the unique domain it created, had significantly enhanced his combat abilities. Even a legend like Garp found himself unable to gain the upper hand and, at times, was forced onto the defensive. The prolonged battle had left Garp's body covered in wounds, a rare sight for the hero of the Marines.
At the same time, newspapers across the world spread the news of their renewed confrontation.
This revelation shook the world.
"The Kaiser Pirates, who had vanished for half a year, have resurfaced? Where have they been all this time?"
"With such a long period of silence, they must have grown even stronger."
"But why are they in the East Blue? What could possibly interest them there?"
"I heard Vice Admiral Garp has also grown stronger. Can Caesar still match him?"
---
On a distant island, amidst a grand banquet, Gol D. Roger scanned the latest newspaper, his brows rising in intrigue.
It wasn't the battle itself that surprised him, nor was it the fact that Caesar could now contend with Garp on even ground. Rather, it was the location—East Blue.
Roger knew the East Blue well; it was his homeland. And yet, he couldn't fathom what could have drawn Caesar there.
The rest of the Roger Pirates debated Caesar's strength, speculating on his disappearance and the Kaiser Pirates' movements over the past six months.
---
Back at the battlefield, after seven days of relentless combat, both Caesar and Garp began to feel the futility of their clash.
They had come to an unspoken agreement—neither could decisively defeat the other.
Caesar, standing with his Ba Dao resting on his shoulder, exhaled deeply before speaking.
"Garp, let's end this here," he said bluntly. "You've taken some damage, but considering the gap in our strength, I still can't kill you. Continuing this fight is pointless."
Garp remained silent, fists clenched.
As a Marine hero and a vice admiral, his duty was to arrest Caesar. He had spent years refining his Busoshoku Haki to strengthen his fists for battles like this.
And yet, Caesar's growth had outpaced his own.
Ensuring he didn't lose outright was difficult enough. Defeating Caesar? That would require another Marine of admiral-level strength to assist him.
But what truly made Garp waver was the nature of the Kaiser Pirates.
"They're not a band of ruthless murderers," Garp thought. "Their actions don't cause massive destruction. And when I lured Caesar away from the town, he followed without question… That proves he's not the type to harm civilians."
In Garp's eyes, the people mattered more than the Celestial Dragons. His sense of justice was for the people, not for those who ruled from above.
If Caesar wasn't a direct threat to that justice, was there any point in continuing the fight?
Fighting for a fruitless cause wasn't Garp's way. He let out a heavy sigh and remained still.
Understanding the silent truce, Caesar turned and flew back to his ship.
---
When the crew of the Kaiser Pirates saw him return, they erupted in surprise.
"Boss, you're back! So, you really couldn't take down Garp, even with Ba Dao?"
"Caesar, why isn't Garp chasing us? Did he give up? Is it because you're just too strong?"
"As expected of you, Captain! You seemed way more relaxed than the last time you fought Garp."
"Garp might have gotten stronger, but there's no way he can keep up with your rate of improvement."
The crew's chatter overlapped, chaotic but united in their confidence.
Caesar merely smiled. "Garp realized there was no point in continuing. He knows he can't stop us."
Then, he ran his hand along the blade of Ba Dao, his eyes filled with ambition.
"But even with its power, it's still too difficult to kill someone like Garp. We'll try again once Ba Dao evolves into a Supreme Grade blade."
Brad nodded and immediately set sail.
From the stern, Gliner watched Garp return to his warship and smirked.
"He's really not chasing us?"
Hades laughed. "What's wrong, Gliner? Miss the thrill of being hunted by Garp?"
"Of course not," Gliner replied, shrugging. "But it's a bit boring, don't you think?"
"Yeah… No more adrenaline rush from running for our lives."
Their banter made Caesar roll his eyes. "Isn't it better this way?"
Being pursued by Garp was more annoying than dangerous. And more often than not, escaping from him fell on Caesar's shoulders.
---
Back on the warship, Garp issued orders to his men before heading into town.
He had more pressing matters to deal with—his son.
Since the battle started, he hadn't had a chance to speak with him. If Caesar had filled his son's head with dangerous ideas…
Muttering under his breath, Garp clenched his fists.
"If that bastard Caesar convinced my son to become a pirate, I'll chase him to the ends of the earth!"
Meanwhile, as Garp worried about his son's future, the Kaiser Pirates had already set sail once more.
Unlike previous escapes, Caesar and his crew weren't fleeing.
For the first time, they were leaving a battlefield with dignity, unchased.
Their next destination? The Reverse Mountain.
---
[101] Reaching Reverse Mountain Again—A Massive One Piece-Class Vessel?
As they sailed, Brad suddenly shouted from the helm.
"There's something ahead!"
Brad, the navigator, rarely panicked, so his alarm meant trouble.
Arnold, the sniper, leaped onto the mast for a better view.
At first, all Brad saw was a black dot. But Arnold, with his sharp eyes, identified it immediately.
"Just another pirate ship."
A grin spread across his face.
Reaching for his rifle, he murmured, "They don't look like good people. Should I take the first shot?"
Before anyone could respond, he pulled the trigger. A bullet sliced through the air.
The others couldn't even see what he hit, but as the distance closed, it became clear—
A perfect hole had been shot through the forehead of the enemy crew's Jolly Roger.
The enemy pirates exploded with rage.
"You damn Kaiser Pirates! Do you think having a captain who fought Garp makes you invincible?!"
"No matter how strong your captain is, he's still just one man! What's the big deal?"
"How dare you defile our flag! We'll make you regret it! Board their ship!"
Brad and the others stared blankly.
Arnold scratched his head. "Wait… weren't they the ones who stopped in front of us?"
Hades burst out laughing. "Typical rookies who've never seen real power. Who wants to play with them first?"
As the enemy pirates latched their hooks onto the Kaiser Pirates' ship, a sudden surge of water shot into the sky.
A towering figure leaped into the air, wielding a trident.
It was Hades.
With a single thrust, he split the enemy ship in two.
The enemy pirates watched in horror as their vessel crumbled beneath them.
"How… how can a trident destroy a ship like that?!"
They were still trapped in their naive belief in firepower.
But as they stared at Hades, they finally understood—
Monsters like him didn't need cannons.
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