Hera felt a bit helpless toward her grandfather. After all, he was the kind of person who acted on whatever whim struck him.
Garp then said cheerfully, "I thought to myself that I hadn't been to the East Blue in a long time, so I went to take a look. I even checked out your New Navy. I didn't expect to see several familiar faces there."
Hera's expression changed. In the current East Blue, the leadership of the New Navy was basically comprised of the Revolutionary Army. Where would Garp have familiar faces? Even if he did, they would be acquaintances from the Revolutionary Army's side.
Garp patted Hera's head with a sigh of emotion. He had originally just wanted to visit Dadan in Foosha Village and see how the New Navy Hera started was developing. He hadn't expected his sudden visit to yield such a surprise.
He might not recognize others, but how could he fail to recognize Sabo, whom he had paid so much attention to? That was supposed to be one of the 'Four Marine Admirals' in his imagination. He had been heartbroken for a while when Sabo joined the Revolutionary Army.
When he saw Hera join the Marine, Garp was truly happy. One of the children he cared about had finally joined his camp, and he would be able to protect her.
But seeing the situation of the New Navy in the East Blue, he also understood that Hera had her own plans. However, seeing the four seas being secretly controlled by the Revolutionary Army wearing the skin of the Marine still made him a bit worried.
Finally, Garp sighed and said, "Let's have a match. Let me see if your current strength is enough to support your ambition."
Hera nodded. 'Saikū' was already gripped in her hand as she slashed out a rift leading to the training grounds.
Since Grandpa Garp wanted to know her strength, Hera would go all out. She would use her power to let Garp understand that she was no longer a child.
The news that the hero of the marines was going to test the strength of the strongest of the new generation, Hera, quickly spread through Marineford via the surrounding spectators. Fleet Admiral Sengoku also rushed over quickly upon hearing the news.
Sengoku looked at Hera and Garp warming up in the center of the training ground and shouted angrily at Garp, "Garp, you bastard! You cause so much trouble the moment you get back!"
Garp said, "What's wrong with me testing my granddaughter's strength? Don't worry, I know when to stop."
Sengoku's face turned red with rage as he looked at Garp, who seemed to want to get a bit serious. "You don't know when to stop at all! Do you want to smash Marineford to pieces, you bastard?"
Garp stopped his preparations, feeling a bit awkward. He had been so focused on testing Hera's strength that he forgot about the environmental destruction a powerhouse like him would cause when going full throttle.
A blast of cold air came from the entrance of the Marine training camp, and Kuzan walked out.
"Oh, I was wondering why it was so lively as soon as I got back. So Garp-sensei is going to fight Hera. Come to the pier; I'll create the arena."
Everyone followed Kuzan to the pier. Kuzan placed his hand on the sea's surface, and with 'Ice Age,' the sea was frozen solid. He even generated spectator stands made of ice on both sides.
Zephyr also walked over after hearing the news. He patted Sengoku's shoulder and said, "What are you worried about? Aren't we here too?"
Garp looked at the frozen arena and patted Kuzan's shoulder. "Good lad. Remember to reinforce the ice layer at any time."
He then said to Hera, "This won't be just a casual scrap this time. I'm going to get serious." Red and black Haki coated his fist, bringing immense pressure to Hera.
Hera felt the pressure coming from Garp's fist, and her expression became solemn. The City of Devouring Time no longer expanded outward but instead wrapped around Hera's body, entering the 'Shadow Assembly: City of Devouring Time' state.
Hera's body appeared to be wrapped in layers of black bandages; this was a manifestation of the City of Devouring Time's fusion. In this state, both the strength of Hera's spirit dress and her physical attributes rose significantly.
Her height of 157cm shot up to 180cm. In the City of Devouring Time state, she could mobilize the power of Zafkiel at will. With a flash of light in her hands, she had already taken out 'Saikū' and 'forging sky'.
As the ice block thrown by Kuzan hit the ground, the battle began.
Garp did not strike immediately. After seeing through the future with 'Fifth Shot' and her Observation Haki, Hera knew that Grandpa Garp probably wanted to give her the first move, so she didn't hold back.
The muzzle of 'forging sky' gathered black and white light. A 'Lions Bullet' combined with Armament Haki fired from the muzzle, circled in the air, and launched a surprise attack on Garp from behind.
Hera herself flew into the air. The blade of 'Saikū' was wrapped in black and white light as the 'Cancer Sword' converged on it. Using the downward momentum, she slashed toward Garp.
At the same time, her Observation Haki, combined with 'Fifth Shot,' operated frantically, seemingly trying to discover any weaknesses on Garp's body.
Garp looked at Hera's attack, and the black on his fist deepened a few shades. He laughed loudly and said, "Good one!"
Garp felt Hera's attack and moved as well. Ignoring the 'Lions Bullet' that was about to hit him from behind, he stomped his foot hard on the ground. His right fist met Hera's 'Saikū' with 'Fist Bone: Impact'.
Even though Hera was coming from above with the advantage of gravity, she still couldn't gain the upper hand in this clash. This was even with Garp only using an attack coated in Armament Haki, without using Haoshoku.
Garp's expression changed. The black shadows from the City of Devouring Time wrapped around Hera were closing in on him. He felt several mysterious forces within them, as if there would be big trouble if he didn't use Armament Haki to isolate this power.
He threw a right punch coated in Armament Haki, dispersing the black shadows. Taking advantage of the moment Hera was blown back, he threw another punch at the incoming 'Lions Bullet,' repelling Hera's first round of attacks.
Hera tapped her toes in mid-air and stabilized her figure.
Facing Garp, Hera didn't dare to be careless in the slightest. She knew well that against such a powerhouse, giving up the initiative was equivalent to defeat. She fired another 'Lions Bullet,' but this one was shot into the black shadows wrapped around her.
Garp felt something wrong with his own shadow and quickly dodged. The 'Lions Bullet' that had just entered the City of Devouring Time actually shot out from Garp's shadow.
It turned out that when Hera was blown back by Garp just now, she hadn't done nothing. Using the power after devouring the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, she had actually attached a small piece of the City of Devouring Time to Garp's shadow.
While the 'Lions Bullet' drew Garp's attention, Hera's Haoshoku emerged simultaneously, pressing down toward Garp.
Aokiji, who was acting as the referee and blocking the aftershocks, quickly thickened the ice surface beneath his feet. Every time Garp stepped to pursue, he would leave a large crater in the ice.
Garp laughed. His heroic laughter made the people around feel as if they were seeing the hero of the marines from years ago return.
Garp's Haoshoku was also released. The sight of the two's Haoshoku clashing caused even the spectator stands Aokiji had frozen to shake.
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