Back at the Holy Land, the peak strength Beltz displayed was by no means inferior to legends like Roger or Garp—it was arguably superior. Due to the nature of his Vollständig, he could partially bypass the immortality of the Holy Knights and continuously replenish his Haki. Even after using desperate moves like "Maximum Haki," he maintained the stamina to keep fighting. In terms of endurance, he had the edge.
Of course, he had sacrificed a portion of his power to create two clones, but taking on Garp in a head-on clash was still well within his capabilities.
Seeing the black wings sprout from Beltz's back, Garp grinned. "So this is that 'Dark Angel' form from Mary Geoise? Truly ridiculous." Although news of the battle at the Holy Land was strictly suppressed, Garp knew of this winged state.
Garp leaped into the air, his fist turning pitch-black as Conqueror's Haki lightning trailed behind him in a long arc. Beltz didn't take the hit directly; he retreated, drawing Garp further away in a high-speed pursuit.
"That idiot..."
Sengoku watched Garp get lured away and turned his gaze toward Rukia. He wouldn't leave his post; his duty was to guard the Op-Op Fruit at all costs.
Rukia knew Beltz's true target was the fruit inside the ship. While she didn't know its specific power, she understood that anything Beltz valued was critical. Beltz had told her that her greatest advantage in this world was flight. Without specific fruits, most enemies could only stay airborne briefly. She just needed to use that mobility to kite them.
She drew her Zanpakutō, and the temperature began to plummet.
"Hmm?" Sengoku tilted his head. Cold-based Devil Fruits were one thing, but the physical transformation of her blade was distinct. Upon releasing Sode no Shirayuki, her blade revealed its true, elegant form.
Sengoku didn't underestimate her. He immediately entered his Daibutsu (Great Buddha) mode!
BOOM!
A massive golden Buddha stood atop the warship, thrusting a palm forward. A Shockwave imbued with Haki tore through the air toward Rukia. She couldn't dodge in time and swung her blade downward to parry. The impact forced her back dozens of meters, the sheer weight of the blow rattling her bones.
Meanwhile, the duel between Garp and Beltz erupted on a nearby island. Against Garp, Beltz didn't use a sword; he met the "Hero" with his bare fists.
They traded blows—not parrying, but striking each other's heads simultaneously! Beltz felt a surging force penetrate his dragon scales and the reinforced defense of his Bronze Throne.
Internal Destruction! It was a Haki technique that bypassed external armor to destroy from within. But Beltz remained standing. Between the Azure Dragon's mythical constitution, the Bronze Throne's physical reinforcement, and the Quincy defensive art Blut Vene, his internal durability was as monstrous as his exterior.
Garp's Haki pierced the scales, but it hit an internal barrier of spirit-infused blood. Beltz's head snapped back and blood leaked from his mouth, but the damage was superficial. His own fist had connected squarely with Garp's face, drawing blood from the Vice Admiral as well.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of Haki sent them both skidding back. Beltz stabilized and lunged with a fist! Even without a blade, he could channel his techniques through his fists. Garp met him with another punch.
This time, it was a pure clash of Conqueror's Haki. The collision shredded the thick clouds above, splitting the sky open.
"This kid... has some thick skin!" Garp spat, wiping blood away. "No wonder you caused such a mess at the Holy Land. Why is a powerhouse like you following Shiki?"
"It's not following; it's a partnership," Beltz replied mid-combat. "We share a common goal."
"Is that so? Don't forget, the last person who gathered a bunch of Conquerors was Rocks. You know how that ended!" Garp knew Beltz had been at God Valley. He respected Beltz for saving civilians but despised him for the mass slaughter of Marines during the attack on Marineford.
Beltz didn't care for Garp's "Justice." He shouted back, "If Conquerors gathering leads to collapse, shouldn't the World Government fall first? The Five Elders, you, Sengoku—you all have it!"
"People with Justice in their hearts are nothing like you pirates!" Garp roared.
"Your justice is just evil in my eyes," Beltz sneered. "And... the time is up."
"?" Garp felt a sudden chill. As his fist lunged toward Beltz, the Dragon's figure vanished instantly.
Before Garp could turn back to the ship, a terrifying pressure erupted behind him. He whirled around to find a colossus standing where Beltz had been.
"Harald?!"
Garp was horrified. The King of Elbaf stood before him. He was supposed to be dead—killed by Beltz, according to the news.
"Long time no see, Garp," Harald rumbled.
"Whether you're dead or alive, are you here to stop me?" Garp's face fell.
"Yes," Harald said bluntly. "As long as I am here, you go nowhere."
Garp broke into a cold sweat. He knew Harald's strength all too well. With the Giant King here, he couldn't get back to Sengoku in time. He realized his mistake—luring him away was a setup for a tactical swap.
While Garp was occupied with Harald, Beltz utilized Psychological Invisibility combined with a new technique: Kotodama: Dark Shroud. By using his control over wind to refract light, he achieved true physical invisibility.
Layered with his mental cloaking, he became a ghost. Unless a Haki master focused entirely on his specific position, he was undetectable.
Back at the ship, Rukia had unleashed her Bankai: Hakka no Togame. With the Snow-Snow Fruit, she could handle the strain. The sea for ten kilometers was flash-frozen, and the warship was encased in ice. Sengoku, in his Buddha form, was focused on suppressing her.
Beltz slipped into the ship undetected. He found the chest.
Got it. He smirked, clutching the Op-Op Fruit.
"Erensig, Garganta!"
Through the black rift, Beltz vanished from the North Blue and reappeared at Sphinx.