Sengoku watched Garp crouch slightly to build up power, his expression twisting slightly. "He wouldn't be planning to use that move, would he? This is far beyond the scope of a test..."
Garp kicked off the ground violently, gathering Haoshoku on his fist for a 'Fist Impact'. Red and black energy condensed on Garp's fist as he struck toward Hera.
Seeing this, Aokiji froze the seawater several layers thicker. Even beneath where Hera stood, the ice spread downward in a massive block.
He didn't want Hera to fail to catch this blow just because the arena he made couldn't withstand it; an Admiral still needed to save face, after all.
Kuina felt the momentum of the two combatants. "Is this the legendary Haoshoku?" Under the collision of their auras, it felt as if something within Kuina's body was about to awaken as well.
Sengoku quickly ordered the weaker Marines to retreat, moving from the ice spectator seats back to the walls of the headquarters. Only a few Vice Admirals who could proficiently use Armament Haki remained on the ice.
Ain and Reiju, who had donned her Raid Suit, stood in front of Perona and Nami, shielding them from the shockwaves.
In Hera's eyes, Garp—with his white hair and beard—seemed to have regained his youth. He was still that hero of the marines who dared to swing a fist at Imu.
Hera saw Garp's expectations for her. His powerful fist seemed filled with confidence in her, his aura conveying: "I believe you have the strength to take this punch."
Sensing Garp's emotions, Hera did not rely on her speed to dodge. She knew that only by taking this punch head-on could she prove herself.
She had to prove she was qualified to trade blows with the strongest in the ocean. Much like how the Four Emperors greet each other with Conquerors Coating—you can only talk if you can take the hit.
Hera was undoubtedly gifted in combat. After transmigrating, this body brought not only zafkiel and the ability, but also the innate talent of a Spirit.
From Shanks at Foosha Village to Garp now, having encountered it twice and even having clashed with Golden Lion Shiki once, mastering it was only a matter of time for Hera.
Hera calmed her mind, feeling her Conqueror's Haki and the weapon in her hand, 'Saikū'. Black and red Conqueror's Haki coated the blade of 'Saikū'.
Sensing this momentum, the blade of 'Saikū' trembled slightly. The two clock faces of zafkiel and the ability manifested behind Hera, and three forces were simultaneously poured into the blade.
Feeling the power of Hera's strike, Garp intensified his aura even further. At this moment, the hero of the marines was finally showing his true skill.
As the ice surface cracked under Hera's foot, she swung her blade. Her new power collided with Garp's 'Fist Impact', and a shockwave radiated outward from the point of impact.
Ice walls rose up around them, attempting to block the spreading shockwave, but the hastily raised walls were instantly pulverized. Sengoku transformed into a giant Golden Buddha to block the aftershocks.
Kuina looked toward the center of the battlefield with worry. She hadn't expected Garp to use such an advanced technique as Conquerors Coating, nor had she expected that Hera, who usually seemed a bit frivolous, already possessed such strength.
The weaker Nami and Perona secretly resolved to work hard so they wouldn't be left too far behind by their Captain.
The Vice Admirals watching from the side could barely stand even after the shockwave was weakened by Sengoku. Only then did they realize that this young girl's strength was at least in the top ten of the Marine.
Vice Admiral Momousagi gripped her sword, already simulating in her mind whether she could have blocked that punch from Garp.
As the two remained in a deadlock, zafkiel and the ability continued to provide power for the strike, making up for Hera's disadvantage in Conqueror's Haki technique. She was actually able to stand on equal footing with Garp's punch.
Under the continuous output of Hera and Garp, the energy contained in the clash gradually increased. Sengoku, in his Buddha Form, roared at the deadlocked pair:
"Do you two want to destroy Marineford?!"
Only then did Hera and Garp realize they were in front of Marineford. With tacit understanding, they simultaneously guided their power toward the sky. The destructive aura finally found an outlet and vented toward the heavens.
The two forces seemed to cut the sky apart. The venting spatial power even churned the sky, causing black cracks to appear.
A bird that happened to fly by seemed to touch some invisible force; it became old one moment and young the next, finally being frozen in mid-air as its age continued to fluctuate.
Aokiji looked up at the terrifying sight in the sky and the constantly changing bird, unable to help but comment: "Truly... two monsters. Who could imagine this scene was caused by an old man and a child?"
Sengoku hurriedly looked toward the two in the battlefield, knowing that the fight wasn't over yet.
A black light flashed on Hera, and she returned to her original state. She was panting slightly, but the two clock faces still stood behind her, continuously replenishing her energy.
Garp, as usual, began to laugh heartily. He appeared to have no injuries, though the sweat on his forehead betrayed his exertion.
Garp did not pursue further after that strike. If they continued, it would be a contest of his stamina against Hera's energy reserves.
Although Garp had subconsciously held back some strength when his 'Fist Impact' neared Hera, the fact that she could block it with an attack proved her strength.
Even if Garp used his full power, he might not necessarily break through Hera's Armament Haki and her spirit dress, which was as sturdy as Kaido's Mythical Zoan Azure Dragon form.
Garp certainly wouldn't use a life-risking move like 'Infinite Bone' on Hera; he already felt bad enough using 'Fist Impact'.
Her Observation Haki sensed that Garp no longer had any fighting intent, so zafkiel and the ability dissipated. Garp laughed and patted Hera twice. "Not fighting anymore. I'm old; I can't do anything to you."
Hera also retracted the City of Devouring Time. The black shadows returned to her shadow, and her height shrunk back down.
Exiting 'Shadow Collection: City of Devouring Time' left Hera a bit unsteady, and Kuina quickly supported her.
Hera then checked her own state and found that the side effects this time were much less than when she used it against Golden Lion Shiki.
Although she still felt some discomfort, it was much better than fainting immediately like last time.
Sengoku looked at the two and exited his Buddha Form. He came up and gave Garp a heavy blow first, which Garp blocked.
"You old geezer, why use so much force against our own? If you have this much energy, why don't you go fight pirates at sea? What's the point of slacking off at Marineford every day!"
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