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Chapter 167 - Sparring 4 (Garp Steps In)

At first, the Foosha Village people thought pirates had arrived.

They were whispering: Which pirates are crazy enough to show up when Vice Admiral Garp's ship is parked here?

But as things unfolded, it didn't look like a raid.

If it were pirates, the Navy would've started blasting.

After the village chief spoke to Garp and confirmed it was "old colleagues sparring," everyone finally relaxed.

And then… the village turned the harbor into a viewing party.

People brought fruit, drinks, and snacks.

When Kuina and Bai Hezi transformed, mouths fell open.

No one even ate anymore.

Some villagers just made stunned sounds—"Ah… oh… amazing…"—as if language had stopped working.

When those huge sword waves appeared, some genuinely wondered if humans were even supposed to be capable of that.

Urouge watched as the two sword duels drifted farther away, clearing open space at the center.

"The arena's open now," he said.

Then he leapt down onto the ice, gripping his massive pillar, and stared at the shore.

"Let me see the man called the strongest in the Navy."

Garp grinned, showing all his teeth.

"Ace. Luffy."

He stood, removed his coat, and loosened his tie.

Ace and Luffy blinked up at him.

"Today," Garp said, "I'm going to show you what the human body looks like at my level."

"So you don't get lazy and neglect your training."

Luffy exploded with excitement. "Grandpa's gonna fight?! So cool! Grandpa, win!"

Ace folded his arms, acting tough. "Let's see your real strength, old man."

Makino looked worried. "Mr. Garp… you're really stepping in yourself?"

"Don't worry," Garp said casually, cracking his knuckles. "I'm not that old yet."

Urouge was already charging.

Garp stomped—

CRACK!

The ground burst under his foot.

Then he disappeared.

To Luffy it looked like teleportation.

"So fast!" Luffy shouted, starry-eyed.

Ace's expression was dead serious. "I knew that old man never showed his real level before."

Urouge jumped mid-run, Armament Haki coating his pillar.

"Let me see it—Navy's strongest!"

He swung down.

Garp laughed and punched upward.

BOOM!

A violent impact shook the ice.

Then—

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Urouge stared as his reinforced pillar began to fracture.

"What…?" His face went blank.

This has Haki on it… why is it breaking?

His hesitation lasted a heartbeat too long.

Garp was already in front of him, fist cocked.

Urouge tried to guard—

Too late.

"Didn't White Ghost teach you not to freeze in battle?"

Garp drove a punch into Urouge's chest.

Urouge shot backward like a cannonball, flying toward the ship.

Enel caught him with his power before he smashed through the deck.

Urouge coughed, dropping to one knee. "Forgive me, God… I lost."

White Ghost flicked a thread of red-gold flame to heal him. "That's not on you."

"That old man is just built wrong."

"Train your body more. Don't neglect Haki either."

Urouge pushed himself upright and knelt respectfully. "Understood."

Garp rolled his shoulders and looked across the ice.

"Next. One at a time or two at once—doesn't matter."

"Let me remind you what real strength looks like."

Enel started to step forward—

But two shadows moved first.

One of the numbered beasts dropped down and transformed with a roar.

The other took to the air, wings spreading.

Luffy grabbed Ace's sleeve and shook him excitedly. "Ace, look! A dinosaur!"

Ace didn't even glance—his eyes stayed locked on Garp, like he was trying to burn the image of power into his brain.

Garp looked at the ground beast, then the flying one.

"Ancient Zoan—Allosaurus, huh?"

"And a… Pteranodon."

He whistled through his teeth.

"That brat White Ghost… quietly collecting a lot of dangerous toys."

The Allosaurus charged. The Pteranodon dove from above, timing it to trap Garp—

"Come," Garp said, delighted.

Luffy shouted, "Grandpa, watch out!"

Garp vanished.

Two heavy impacts hit only air.

The two beasts froze, wide-eyed.

He's gone?! Too fast!

Garp's voice dropped from above.

"What are you looking around for?"

A punch sent the flying beast tumbling away.

The ground beast roared—

and Garp appeared at its chest.

"Too weak."

One punch.

It flew too.

Garp stood in the center laughing, hands on hips.

Villagers cheered wildly.

"Vice Admiral Garp!"

"So strong!"

"Our protector!"

The Dadan Family trembled in the background.

"That old man's still a monster…" Dadan whispered.

"If that fist hits us… we'll ascend straight to heaven," her men agreed rapidly.

Enel caught the two Ancient Zoans as they flew back and stepped down onto the ice.

His Observation Haki told him everything he needed to know:

That old man felt like a human-shaped dragon.

Garp looked at him, grinning.

"So, kid—what kind of Devil Fruit are you?"

Enel raised a hand, liquid metal sliding across his body.

"My lord says you're the strongest in the Navy."

"From what I just saw… I believe him."

When the silver finished forming, Enel's full "Unit-00" shape appeared.

"Oh?" Garp watched without stopping him. "Paramecia—silver manipulation, huh."

Luffy bounced in place. "So cool!! Ace—robot!"

Ace finally snapped.

He punched Luffy on the head. "Didn't I tell you to be quiet, idiot?!"

Luffy whined, clutching the bump again.

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