"Challenging me?"
The old Marine's voice echoed across the clearing.
"My Iron Fist is no joke!"
"Are you challenging me with the resolve to die?"
"Junior!"
Standing before her was none other than the legendary Marine hero,
Monkey D. Garp.
His expression was grave and serious.
Yet his eyes gleamed with excitement like a warrior who had just discovered a promising opponent.
Saint Roselith Seraphina stood opposite him, her posture calm but firm.
The long silver blade Winter Solstice rested quietly at her waist.
"Then, Vice Admiral Garp."
"Do you accept my challenge?"
Seraphina's tone was solemn.
She clearly understood the overwhelming pressure coming from the old hero before her.
Even without opening her eyes, she could sense the terrifying presence radiating from Garp's body.
It was like standing before a raging mountain.
"If you are ready…"
"Then come at me!"
Garp laughed loudly.
He had already sensed the determination within the young Marine.
Without hesitation he threw a punch.
The fist shot forward like a cannon.
The wind pressure alone shattered the sound barrier, sending a violent shockwave through the air.
This was not a casual punch.
This was the true strength of the Marine Hero.
"CLANG!"
In the same instant, Seraphina's sword vanished from her waist.
The blade of Winter Solstice flashed like falling snow under the morning sun.
Her slash cut through the air with precise elegance.
Seeing the strike approach
Garp coated his fist in Armament Haki.
Black lightning-like energy erupted around his knuckles.
The two attacks collided.
BOOM!
A violent shockwave exploded outward.
The ground trembled as a powerful gust scattered dust and leaves.
Seraphina was forced several steps backward.
Garp remained motionless.
Even so the old Marine felt something stirring within his heart.
How should he describe it?
To borrow the words of that troublesome Admiral candidate…
"So young… yet truly terrifying."
With just that single clash, Seraphina understood something clearly.
The man before her was a monster.
However
She had not yet used her full strength either.
Seeing Garp remain still, Seraphina realized he had shifted into a defensive stance.
Her body blurred instantly.
Using Rokushiki — Soru, she vanished from sight.
In a fraction of a second she appeared behind Garp.
But the old Marine had already sensed her movement through Observation Haki.
Before her blade could descend, a gust from his fist shattered her attack trajectory.
What terrifying reflexes!
Seraphina's slashes continued like flowing water.
Yet every strike was effortlessly neutralized by Garp.
He truly deserved his reputation as the man who had cornered the Pirate King countless times.
Seraphina's Armament Haki surged.
Her snow-white sword released waves of icy aura.
The air around them began to chill.
"Winter Solstice"
"Second Form!"
"Blizzard!"
Her blade moved like a storm of silver light.
Even the humid sea breeze surrounding Foosha Village seemed to freeze.
The sword technique descended like a cutting snowstorm.
Garp responded with a simple word.
"Tekkai."
His massive fist hardened like steel.
The countless slashes struck against it.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
White streaks appeared across his fist.
But none broke his defense.
Then the Marine Hero counterattacked.
"GARP IRON FIST!"
His arm surged forward.
This time the strike was infused with Armament Haki and monstrous physical strength.
The attack carried unstoppable momentum.
The moment arrived too fast.
Seraphina barely had time to react.
She raised Winter Solstice with both hands to block.
BOOM!
The impact blasted her backward across the ground.
From beginning to end Garp had dominated the battle.
Seraphina had almost no opportunity to counterattack.
Yet Garp himself was already shocked.
She's still standing?
The old Marine looked at his own fist with disbelief.
This was the same fist that had once clashed with the Pirate King
Gol D. Roger.
Could it be…
Had he really grown old?On Seraphina's side, the pressure was unprecedented.
She drove Winter Solstice into the ground to support herself.
Her breathing became heavy.
For the first time since joining the Marines she had truly felt the gap between herself and the absolute monsters at the top of the sea.
Garp deserved his title as one of the strongest Marines alive.
After a prolonged exchange, Garp had already grasped Seraphina's level.
Such strength was already sufficient to survive in the New World.
Among the corrupted nobles known as the Celestial Dragons, a true prodigy had appeared.
Yet during these past days of interaction, Garp had realized something.
Saint Roselith Seraphina was nothing like the other Celestial Dragons.
The difference between them was like clouds and mud.
The two stood silently for a long time.
Finally Garp spoke.
"Let's stop here."
He could clearly see that Seraphina had exhausted most of her strength.
Seraphina did not answer.
She had no strength left even to speak.
When she heard Garp declare the end of the duel, she did not stubbornly insist on continuing.
A loss was a loss.
The truth was simple.
Her body collapsed.
Not far away Kuina had been watching the entire battle.
When she saw her teacher gradually losing ground, anxiety filled her heart.
The moment Seraphina fell, Kuina rushed forward.
But the distance was too great.
She arrived too late to catch her.
With a face full of guilt, she lifted Seraphina onto her back.
Then she carried her back toward their lodging.
Garp silently watched them leave.
Only after their figures disappeared did he wipe imaginary cold sweat from his forehead.
Last night he had received a late-night call from
Sengoku.
It was about understanding Seraphina.
Sengoku had described her as a monster among geniuses.
Garp believed it.
But he hadn't expected this level of monster.
At this rate it wouldn't be long before she surpassed the current generation.
Fortunately…
She was a Marine.
If she had become a pirate
Wait.
She was a Celestial Dragon.
How could she possibly become a pirate?
Garp shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought.
Still if no one guided her properly…
Even that future might not be impossible.
Inside the room.
Kuina gently laid Seraphina onto the bed.
She soaked a towel in warm water and carefully wiped her teacher's face.
The battle had drenched Seraphina in sweat.
Again and again, Kuina rinsed the towel in the basin.
Then wiped her face once more.
Back and forth.
Over and over.
Finally the dust on Seraphina's sleeping face disappeared.
Her complexion improved slightly.
Kuina briefly considered letting her teacher bathe in a wooden barrel.
But the thought quickly vanished.
She slapped her own flushed cheeks.
She is my teacher…
When Seraphina did not wake for a long time, anxiety filled Kuina's heart.
If she had seen even a single serious wound she would have already lost her composure.
At that moment
Makino entered carrying herbal medicine.
Makino ran the bar in Foosha Village, but she also understood some basic medical treatment.
Looking at Seraphina's steady breathing, she made a quick judgment.
"It's alright."
"Your teacher is simply exhausted."
"She only needs rest."
"Really?"
Kuina still felt uneasy.
If only she knew medicine herself…
Not long after Seraphina slowly opened her eyes.
Her hand gently reached toward Kuina.
She stroked the girl's tightly clenched hands.
"Teacher!"
"You're finally awake!"
Kuina's voice was filled with relief.
Seraphina closed her eyes again briefly.
So… I lost.
The realization came calmly.
She still had a very long road ahead.
After resting several days in Foosha Village, Seraphina prepared to depart.
Coincidentally, Garp's vacation had also come to an end.
At the pier, two small figures waved energetically.
Monkey D. Luffy and
Portgas D. Ace.
"Goodbye, Big Sister Seraphina!"
"Thank you for saving Ace!"
Luffy shouted loudly.
"Why didn't you say that when I left?!"
Garp immediately delivered a Fist of Love to Luffy's head.
"Idiot Luffy!"
Ace looked embarrassed beside him.
Being saved by a girl was still something difficult for him to talk about.
But deep down he was genuinely grateful.
"Colonel!"
"Please confirm the route!"
Fran saluted from the deck.
After the duel with Garp, he had finally reunited with Seraphina at Foosha Village.
He had also personally experienced the terrifying pressure of the Marine Hero.
And received Garp's comment:
"Young people these days are really impatient."
When did Vice Admiral Garp start sounding like
Borsalino?
Fortunately Fran had no idea who that was.
He was only a Marine from a branch base.
Seraphina stood at the bow of the warship.
The wind carried the scent of the sea.
Her voice rang out clearly.
"Soldiers!"
"Set the course!"
"Target"
"Straight ahead!"