"AAAAAHHHH!"
The Celestial Dragon, engulfed in black flames, writhed on the ground, his twisted face contorted in sheer agony. The unbearable pain coursing through his body felt like thousands of needles piercing his flesh, an agony he had never known in his privileged life. It burned deep, scorching through muscle and bone, revealing charred remains beneath.
He desperately clawed at the flames, trying to extinguish them, but it was futile. The black fire clung to him like a curse, consuming him inch by inch. He wanted to die—to escape the agony—but under Kaguya's control, even death was a luxury beyond his reach.
The townspeople, hidden away in their homes, shivered at the horrifying screams. Just hearing them was enough to understand the sheer magnitude of suffering he was enduring.
Yet, for the first time in their oppressed lives, they felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
The Celestial Dragons had long tormented them, treating them as disposable playthings. Many had lost their loved ones to their cruelty. Now, to see one of their tormentors reduced to such a pitiful state—it was cathartic.
Did these so-called "gods" ever consider that they, too, might one day be the ones suffering?
Meanwhile, Shalria sat paralyzed on the ground, her wide, terrified eyes locked onto the nightmarish scene before her. Watching her father and brother suffer such gruesome fates, her face drained of all color. She had never known hardship, never tasted fear—until now.
A deep, gut-wrenching terror gripped her as she looked at Kaguya.
The silver-haired woman before her was no mere human.
She was a demon from the abyss itself.
Her entire body trembled. She wanted to run, to escape—but her legs refused to move. Her limbs had gone numb with fear.
Finally, the screams ceased. The Celestial Dragon, once bathed in divine arrogance, was now nothing more than a charred corpse, twisted and unrecognizable, filling the air with the acrid stench of burnt flesh.
Kaguya sneered. "For all the evil you've done… did you ever imagine this day would come?"
Shalria gulped, slowly inching backward, dragging herself across the ground in a desperate attempt to escape.
She didn't want to die.
She still had so many things she wanted to do.
She couldn't die here.
But before she could crawl far, a chilling voice rang out.
"Oh? Seems we still have some leftovers." Kaguya turned to her, an amused smirk playing on her lips. "How should I deal with you? I'm rather curious."
Shalria's blood ran cold.
Her teeth chattered as she stammered, "P-please… don't kill me. I'll do anything! Just… please spare me!"
Kaguya stepped closer, reaching down and lifting Shalria's chin with a firm grip. "You're quite the pretty little thing," she mused. "Hmm… I happen to be in need of a maid."
Shalria froze.
A maid?
Did that mean she would be… ordered around? Treated like a lowly servant?
She was a Celestial Dragon—how could she possibly be reduced to such a humiliating status?
"Oh? Were you just lying earlier?" Kaguya asked casually. "If that's the case… I might as well kill you now."
Shalria's face turned ashen. In sheer desperation, she lunged forward, clinging to Kaguya's leg, sobbing uncontrollably. "I-I'll do it! I'll be your maid! Just… please don't kill me!"
She could still see her father's and brother's scorched remains in the corner of her vision. The horror was too fresh, too real. She had no choice—she had to survive.
Kaguya looked down at the sobbing girl and smiled faintly. "Good. From now on, you're my maid, little ojou-sama."
Before Shalria could respond, a sudden commotion erupted in the distance. A cloud of dust billowed into the air as the rhythmic pounding of boots echoed through the streets.
Naval officers in full uniform, armed with rifles and swords, stormed toward the scene.
"Move, move! Hurry up!"
"Protect the Celestial Dragon!"
"Apprehend the criminal who attacked the nobles!"
"Seal off the area immediately! No one is allowed to enter or leave!"
"Yes, sir!"
A massive battalion of Marines surged forward, numbering in the thousands. Among them were high-ranking officers, their eyes sharp and focused.
Kaguya turned, amusement flashing in her eyes. "So, they've arrived. The World Government's loyal lapdogs are rather quick."
At the forefront stood a burly middle-aged officer, his powerful frame radiating authority. His square jaw and piercing eyes exuded an unshakable presence, and the Marine coat draped over his shoulders bore the word Justice in bold letters.
"Who dares to cause trouble here?! Get out, now!" The officer bellowed, his voice carrying like a thunderclap.
"Vice Admiral Garp! It's Vice Admiral Garp!"
Shalria's eyes sparkled with newfound hope. Strength surging through her trembling body, she scrambled to her feet and dashed toward the Marines, tripping and stumbling in her haste.
"Save me! Help me!"
Kaguya watched with disinterest, making no move to stop her. Instead, her gaze lingered on the approaching officer.
So, this is Garp?
Garp's sharp eyes locked onto Kaguya. "So, you're the one who attacked the Celestial Dragons?"
"Yes! It's her! This filthy commoner murdered my father and brother!" Shalria wailed, tears and snot running down her face. "Why did you take so long?! Kill her! Avenge them!"
Garp's eyes flicked to the charred remains nearby. His pupils contracted slightly, though his expression remained unreadable. "Why did you kill them?"
Kaguya's voice was light, almost bored. "Because I wanted to. You have a problem with that?"
Garp's voice dropped, heavy with warning. "Do you even understand what you've done? Killing Celestial Dragons…"
Kaguya scoffed. "To me, they were nothing more than disgusting worms. Or… are you saying you want revenge for them?"
"The Marines have a duty to protect the Celestial Dragons," Garp stated firmly. "Since you've committed such a grave crime, I can't just let you walk away."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Garp stomped the ground with enough force to crack the earth beneath him. His massive figure shot forward like a cannonball, closing the distance between them in an instant. With a roar, his fist swung down with the force of an avalanche.
Kaguya, unfazed, tilted her head slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smirk. "So, this is the legendary hero, Garp? Impressive. But…"
She raised her fist.
"You're still not quite there."
Their fists met with a thunderous boom, shaking the very air around them.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the air as the ground beneath them collapsed. Cracks spread across the rocky street like a spiderweb, sending debris flying in all directions. A violent shockwave surged outward, shattering windows along both sides of the street, filling the air with glimmering glass shards.
The arriving Marine soldiers widened their eyes in disbelief at the sheer destruction before them.
It was just a single punch.
And yet, the sheer power behind it was terrifying. This was the might of the legendary Iron Fist Garp.
But what shocked them even more was the silver-haired girl who had withstood Garp's punch head-on.
Garp, while holding the title of vice admiral, was a warrior whose strength rivaled, if not surpassed, that of an admiral. He had once fought the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, on equal footing.
And yet, this young girl—this impossibly beautiful yet deadly force—had matched his strike without faltering.
Recognition dawned upon the Marines as they stared at her face. Their minds flashed back to a recently issued wanted poster. The features were identical.
She was the same girl who had been placed under a five hundred million beri bounty. The one who had effortlessly defeated five vice admirals and ten rear admirals.
"Hoho, possessing such strength at such a young age..." Garp grinned, rubbing his fist. "I think I can believe you really did take down those greenhorns."
Kaguya smirked playfully. "Should I take that as a compliment?"
"I don't make a habit of complimenting my enemies." Garp scoffed. "But don't think I'm like those reckless brats. If you think you can beat me, you've got another thing coming."
Before his words had even finished echoing, Garp propelled himself forward in a blur. His arm pulled back, his fist darkening as it became coated with Busoshoku Haki—Armament Haki.
So this is Armament Haki?
Kaguya's eyes gleamed with interest. She tightened her own white-knuckled fist and met his attack head-on, launching a strike of her own.
BANG!
Fists clashed in mid-air, sending a ferocious shockwave rippling outward.
The watching Marines were blown off their feet by the sheer force of the impact. Only a handful of rear admirals managed to remain standing, but even they trembled at the raw power on display.
Just a simple exchange of punches—yet the force behind it is monstrous!
Garp's sharp gaze locked onto Kaguya's arm. "You're not using Haki?" His voice was gruff, but there was a note of incredulity.
Kaguya chuckled. "If you're referring to Haki, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."
"You don't know how to use Haki?" Garp's brow furrowed.
Had she really blocked his attack using pure physical strength alone?
"That's right," Kaguya admitted with a grin. "If we ever get the chance, why don't you teach me?"
Garp burst into laughter. "Hah! Sure thing—once you're rotting away in a prison cell, I'll teach you whatever you want."
"Prison?" Kaguya's lips curled into a smirk. "I'd like to see the person who could put me there."
Garp's eyes gleamed with battle-hardened excitement. "Arrogant brat. Let's find out, shall we?"
Garp charged forward once more, resuming his battle with Kaguya.
His massive iron fists thundered down like artillery shells, each strike carrying devastating force. The sheer pressure of his punches created powerful shockwaves, leaving a suffocating aura in their wake.
In contrast, Kaguya's movements were far more fluid. Her slender frame looked delicate next to Garp's bulky arms, yet her seemingly fragile fists met his blows head-on, neutralizing them effortlessly.
The watching Marine soldiers were left in utter disbelief, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
This is Vice Admiral Garp, the legendary hero of the Marines! His strength is undeniable, one of the highest in the entire Navy! And yet, this unknown young girl is holding her own against him?!
Many of them started doubting their own eyes.
"Watch yourself, girl," Garp warned, his eyes narrowing. His muscles tensed as his arm swelled, veins bulging. "If you plan to surrender, now's the time. You won't get another chance."
Kaguya smirked. "Sorry," she said playfully, "but surrender isn't really my thing."
"Good answer!" Garp barked out a laugh, before his expression hardened. His arm suddenly darkened, now cloaked in an intense layer of Armament Haki.
"Iron Fist!"
With a roar, Garp swung his fist forward, the sheer force ripping through the air. The sheer shockwave preceding his attack kicked up a raging whirlwind, obliterating everything in its path and reducing the surrounding area to rubble.
Kaguya's eyes gleamed with focus. No wonder they call him a hero. His strength is monstrous. His Haki is so refined it's almost tangible. Compared to him, even Akainu and Aokiji in their younger years would pale in comparison.
Seeing Garp go all out, Kaguya felt the infectious thrill of battle. Clenching her fists, she exhaled and whispered:
"Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack."
In an instant, her fist blurred into motion, unleashing a storm of phantom blows that shot forward like a hurricane to meet Garp's attack.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosive collisions shattered the air, each impact birthing shockwaves that rippled outward like tsunamis. The very ground crumbled beneath them, deep fissures spider-webbing outward. The force of their battle reduced entire buildings to rubble, sending debris raining down like falling stars.
Thankfully, the town's civilians had fled the moment they sensed impending disaster, minimizing casualties. However, the nearby Marine soldiers weren't as lucky—many were thrown into the air like ragdolls, completely overwhelmed by the violent aftershocks.
After several long seconds, the relentless gusts finally subsided.
The surviving Marines, covered in dust and rubble, shakily climbed out from the wreckage, only to be left speechless at the sight before them.
The once-bustling town had been completely leveled. The streets, once paved with stone, were now littered with jagged debris, the remnants of what had once been buildings. But that wasn't even the most shocking sight.
One of the colossal trees that towered over the island had been split in half.
This was no ordinary tree. Its sheer girth exceeded a hundred meters in diameter. The level of power needed to bring down such a behemoth was beyond comprehension.
Silence gripped the battlefield as the realization sank in.
This wasn't just a fight.
It was a cataclysmic clash between monsters.
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