Chapter 174: The Capture of Hina (4)
Hina shouted and unexpectedly charged at Eric, extending her slim arms, attempting to lock him in place using her abilities.
"Come back! You're not his match..." Garp suddenly fell silent.
'There's no killing intent from the other side…' Garp stopped his advance, deciding it was best to let the freshly graduated officers get a taste of reality.
He began eating Senbei, crunching loudly with each bite.
"You should know, without Haki, you can't touch me," Eric said, watching Hina closely.
Hina ignored Eric's words, swinging her arm toward his chest and abdomen.
"Beep beep."
Eric partially elementalized his body, and the expected feeling of impact never came. Instead, Hina's right hand passed through a surge of blue electricity.
At the same time, her left hand, hidden behind her, threw something at Eric.
"Is the right hand just a feint, and the left hand the real attack?" Eric created another hole in his body, letting Hina's thrown object pass through him.
"Clink."
The crisp sound echoed as the object hit the ground—it was a pair of handcuffs.
"Made of Sea-Prism Stones?" Eric asked a smile , "It should've been used to lock me at the moment of contact, then touch me with the Sea-Prism to prevent me from escaping. That way, the murderer of the Celestial Dragons, Eric, would be captured by Lieutenant Hina."
Hina's face darkened as she stared intensely at Eric. "Why didn't you let me lock you this time?"
"..." Eric was taken aback. "You already know my ability, doing this again might backfire."
"You don't intend to leave the outcome of the fight to the mistakes of the enemy, do you? When you start thinking that way, you've already lost, Hina."
"Cling!" Eric's words pierced Hina's heart like a sharp sword, making her eyes widen.
'Right... I was actually hoping he'd be locked like the first time…' Hina thought, regretting her mistake. "I messed up."
"Hey," Eric grumbled, "You don't even take me seriously, zoning out in front of the enemy."
"Hmph." Hina opened her arms. "Kitsune Tengu!"
"Too slow!" Eric moved to Hina's back in a flash and grabbed her slender right shoulder.
"What!"
"I won't wait for you to release your move, Over-the-shoulder Throw!"
"Ugh!"
The heavy impact hit her back, pressing the air from her lungs, and saliva sprayed out with the exhaled force.
Eric used just the right amount of force, causing Hina to lose her ability to move for the next few seconds but without causing significant injury.
Eric picked up the Sea-Prism handcuffs that had fallen to the ground earlier, twisted Hina's arms behind her back, and cuffed them together.
"This is humiliating, Hina won't forget this!" Hina's delicate face was pressed against the dirty ground.
The Navy was captured by pirates, a spectacle that would be another viral video if it happened in Japan.
"Justice without power is hollow. Lieutenant Hina, do you understand the meaning of this?" Eric asked.
"Justice without power is violence!" Hina shot back, her breath kicking up dust from the ground.
"Oh? Does that mean the brutal actions of the Goa royal family, burning their citizens alive, were justified?"
"The World Government refuses to punish the royal family and nobles who commit evil acts, so I'll do it myself. There's nothing wrong with that."
"You're neither a god nor a judicial officer, you have no right to judge criminals!"
"Which is why I'm wanted by the World Government, isn't it?"
"When the law fails to deliver justice, private revenge becomes legitimate, even noble, from this point onward!"
Eric's words left Hina speechless, causing her to clench her teeth in anger.
"Even Vice Admiral Garp refused promotion to Admiral because he didn't want to follow the Celestial Dragons' orders, didn't he?" Eric glanced over at the still-silent Garp .
Garp quietly munched on his Senbei, not responding.
As Eric was preparing to take Hina back to the group, Garp finally spoke: "Kid, I can't just stand here and watch my men get captured by pirates."
After finishing his last piece of Senbei, Garp wiped his beard and grinned, revealing his white teeth.
[Shave]
At an unparalleled speed, Garp appeared beside Eric.
"That's fast!" Eric immediately assumed a defensive stance, backing away.
But Garp didn't pursue the advantage. Instead, he reached down and helped Hina up from the ground. "Where's the key to the handcuffs?"
"It's in the pocket on the right. I'm sorry for the trouble, Vice Admiral Garp ."
"At least you now realize you're not a match for Darren Eric. Just stay on the sidelines and watch."
Hina wiped the dust off her magenta suit and stood up.
"Hey, kid, I'm up next!"
Garp 's voice and fists simultaneously struck toward Eric's face.
"That's heavy!" The long spear almost slipped from Eric's hands as blue electricity burst out from him, shooting in multiple directions toward Garp .
"Don't underestimate the Navy, kid!"
With one punch, Garp scattered the gathered electrical current.
"Even intangible electrical currents can be dispersed..."
"Kid, you were criticizing the Navy earlier, weren't you? Then first beat me before talking!" Garp continued to throw punches, "If you can't even beat my fists, don't even think about changing this world!"
"Ughhh!" Eric yelled in frustration, launching an attack at Garp without bothering to defend.
"With that much strength, it'll take you a hundred years to beat me! Damn kid!" One punch from Garp bent Eric over, sending him flying toward the trash pile behind him.
The debris from the mountain of refuse buried Eric beneath it.
"Eric!"
"Captain!"
Eric's crew panicked and rushed to save him.
"Beep beep."
Light beams shot from the gaps in the trash mountain, followed by larger beams of light, tearing through the sky and consuming the garbage above.
Garp looked down in mockery, "Kid, your ability's perfect for cleaning up trash."
At that moment, a white bird flew to Garp 's head.
"Ha!"
"Boom!"
The bird exploded, and the smoke enveloped Garp completely.
"Vice Admiral Garp !" Hina exclaimed in shock, angrily shouting at Eric, "Wasn't it supposed to be one-on-one?! Using numbers, that's despicable!"
"Hey hey," Deidara, riding the bird's back, spoke up, "Aren't we a criminal organization? Hmm?"
Hina immediately closed her mouth at his brazen comment.
"You should've at least given a warning before attacking. This counts as a sneak attack."
"It was Scáthach 's idea to call me here, hmm," Deidara glanced at Garp with a bewildered expression, "Such a monster, not a scratch after an explosion that close."
Eric noticed Scáthach 's eyes glowing red and realized she was using her foresight ability. If he continued the one-on-one fight, it could end badly.
Was it time to proceed with the battle strategy they had planned?
"Hahaha!" Garp smacked the smoke away, "The explosion's too weak. Was the bird itself an explosive, or was it carrying a bomb? A new face not on the wanted posters? You're a new recruit?"
"Ah, nice to meet you, old man. Hmm."
"This time it's my turn." Garp charged at Deidara.
"Whoosh!"
Garp 's punch went straight into the detonating clay in Deidara's stomach.
"Tch."
As the bird lost its ability to fly, Deidara quickly swapped to a newly shaped owl and raised his index and middle fingers together.
"Ha!"
The bird in front of Garp exploded in a brilliant flash, enveloping Garp in orange flames.
(END CHAPTER)
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