Chapter 487: Storm Before the Battle

“Voom!”

“Demonic Aura—Nine Sword Style—Asura!”

Zoro, battered and covered in wounds, unlocked the hidden demonic aura within him at the edge of crisis, awakening a new, devastating power.

“Oh? A samurai from Wano, is it?”

Rayleigh’s eyes were sharp. After all, besides the samurai of Wano, hardly anyone else on the seas could wield techniques based on demonic aura. Wano’s warriors really had made quite a name for themselves across the world.

“But just that alone isn’t enough to impress me.”

“Divine Departure!”

Once again, a blade laced with Conqueror’s Haki burst forth, its aura crackling as it sliced straight toward Zoro.

“Gum-Gum—Giant Kong Gun!”

A massive fist crashed through like a bulldozer from Rayleigh’s flank, aiming to take him out during that fleeting opening.

“Don’t tell me you thought that was my only move? I just wanted you both to get a clear feel for the true power of Conqueror’s Haki wrapping.”

“Iai—Slash!”

Clang!

A flash—one impossibly swift slash appeared right before Luffy, blocking his charge.

Crack!

Blood spurted from a fresh cut as a sword mark split open across Luffy’s waist. He hadn’t even registered what happened.

“Nani?!”

“How can a sword strike that fast?” Zoro’s eyes went wide in disbelief at the sight of the brilliant attack.

“What?”

Only after Zoro exclaimed did Luffy look down in confusion and reach with his left hand to dab at the blood. His face drained of color. “When did that happen?”

But his giant fist wasn’t stopped by the blow. It plowed ahead, sending Luffy flying into the woods up ahead.

Zoro seemed caught in a moment of epiphany after witnessing that slash. Over and over, he replayed the move in his mind, unconsciously mimicking Rayleigh’s exact stance.

“Iai—Slash!”

“Oh, to figure it out that quickly… You really have the makings of a great swordsman. Shame you still haven’t unlocked Conqueror’s Haki wrapping.”

“Divine Departure!”

Boom!

Before Zoro could even get close, that terrifying force blasted him away, sending him rolling across the ground until he slammed into a tree.

“Voom!”

“Voom!”

Once Luffy regained his footing, he fixed his gaze on Rayleigh across the clearing, unleashing his own Conqueror’s Haki. Zoro, in tune with him, let out his own torrent of Haki.

“Interesting. Thinking outside the box, I see!”

Rayleigh immediately saw through their intentions. The two were using their Conqueror’s Haki releases to better sense the technique behind his advanced Haki—hoping to learn by observation. Clearly, these two weren’t just all brawn and no brains—their minds were surprisingly sharp.

“Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got!”

…

Half a day later, as night fell, a group of unexpected visitors arrived at Impel Down.

“Vice Admiral, sir!”

“Take me to see Ace.”

“Yes, sir!”

Garp had come in person, with Magellan leading the way. When they reached the Fifth Floor, Garp sensed a familiar presence inside one of the cells and turned to look.

“You are…?”

That feeling was so familiar Garp couldn’t help but approach for a closer look.

“Vice Admiral Garp, the man in there is the Straw Hat Pirates’ first mate, Ye Fan.”

Magellan spoke respectfully from the side.

For all Magellan’s strength—Fit for an admiral, really—even he dared not act tough in front of Garp.

After all, Garp had earned his “Navy Hero” title through iron fists and iron will. If he hadn’t refused promotion, he’d have likely become an admiral long ago.

“You all step back for now.”

“Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!”

Magellan waved the other jailers away and even he stepped back dozens of meters. As a group, they headed toward the elevator deeper in the Fifth Floor.

“Should I call you Ye Fan, or Karl?”

No wonder that aura seemed so familiar—wasn’t this his old nemesis, Karl?

Ye Fan had planned for everything—except this old fox Garp coming to Impel Down to check on Ace personally. Back at Water 7, for fear of bumping into Garp and blowing his cover, Ye Fan had gathered Luffy and the others and made a quick escape after just three days of rest.

“You’ve got the wrong guy. Name’s Ye Fan.”

“Hahaha, Karl, there’s no point pretending between us. That aura of yours—I’d recognize it anywhere.”

“Back then… If Sengoku and I had just acted a little faster…”

“Regrets, old man?”

Garp barely hesitated before going back to his usual stoic self. “What’s your scheme in joining Luffy’s crew?”

“If you weren’t after something, you wouldn’t come to a hellhole like Impel Down of your own free will, would you?”

Even as he spoke to Ye Fan, he was replaying Ye Fan’s entire history in his mind. With Karl’s strength, how could he possibly have been captured by Moria?

“What’s my aim? That’s none of your business.”

“Maybe you should look after your grandsons. The pain of burying a child isn’t something I ever want to feel.”

Bang!

Garp smashed a thick iron pillar with a single punch. “My family’s none of your concern. If any harm comes to my grandson because of you, I swear—even if it costs me everything—I’ll make sure you never know peace again.”

Ye Fan just shrugged. “Who knows? The real show hasn’t even started.”

“Hmph!”

Having vented his anger, Garp turned and walked deeper into the Fifth Floor.

“Hey, Garp—maybe think on what your son told you. Time’s running out.”

Garp didn’t break stride, but whatever he was feeling inside, he kept to himself.

Step, step, step…

Alone, Garp approached a cell.

“Clang, clang!”

“Ha… ha… ha…”

Ace, covered in scars and gasping for breath, looked up at the cross-armed Garp and croaked out, “O-old man…”

“You’ve taken so many wounds and yet you’re still alive.”

“Ace!”

“Thanks to you, Marine Headquarters—no, the World Government itself—is in complete chaos now.”

“Heh… hahaha!”

Garp burst out laughing.

“Go on, kill me! Hurry and finish me off!”

From Garp’s tone, Ace could tell Whitebeard had definitely done something major to throw the Navy and World Government into turmoil.

At this point, only death could prevent the coming disaster.

“You want me to kill you? Idiot. It wouldn’t change a thing. Even if you die, Whitebeard won’t let this go.”

“No one can stop it now.”

“We’ve angered the King of the Sea.”

Garp said this in a low voice.

He knew the Whitebeard Pirates were moving out in full force—and even Shanks, Kaido and Karl were watching this battle unfold. If the Navy and World Government made the wrong move, war could engulf the entire seas in an instant.

“Drip, drip, drip!”

Ace clenched his teeth, tears falling one by one onto the floor.

“Sigh!”

“I wanted you and Luffy to become great marines together. Now look at you—both brothers, wanted criminals instead.”