A battle was taking place in Area 42 of the Sabaody Archipelago.
And the Marines stationed in Sabaody had already received word of it.
After all, one of the people involved was the Celestial Dragon, Aurelius D. Virel Is. They had no choice but to take it seriously.
The Marines reported the information about the battle to the Marine Vice Admiral stationed in the Sabaody Archipelago.
The Vice Admiral didn't dare make decisions on his own and immediately reported the matter to Marine Headquarters.
Fleet Admiral Kong received news that Aurelius D. Virel Is was fighting in Sabaody.
"Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is has come into conflict with the Red Count, Patrick Redfield, in the Sabaody Archipelago."
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Kong looked toward Garp not far away and informed him.
"Patrick Redfield, huh? I've fought him before. That guy's definitely not weak," Garp said while drinking tea.
The Red Count mostly operated in the first half of the Grand Line, while Garp frequently returned home, so the two had crossed paths once.
After a brief clash, the Red Count had escaped.
During that battle, Garp hadn't underestimated him in the slightest, yet the Red Count still managed to fight him evenly.
That alone proved how powerful he was.
"Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is is fighting a pirate within Marine jurisdiction. We have to send someone over, if only to show our stance," Kong said while eating snacks.
Though both of them acknowledged Is's strength and believed he wouldn't lose—
The Sabaody Archipelago was, after all, Marine territory.
If Aurelius D. Virel Is were injured there, Kong would inevitably be reprimanded by the Five Elders.
"Say, Kong, when I'm forbidden from eating snacks, don't you think it's unnecessary to eat them right in front of me?"
Seeing Kong—someone who usually didn't care much for snacks—eating them openly before him, Garp's face darkened as he complained.
Because of the God Valley incident, he had been punished and forbidden from eating snacks for a month.
These days, all he could do was drink tea.
Yet Kong was casually munching away in front of him.
"These snacks are surprisingly good," Kong replied with a smile, putting them down.
"Damn it. Once my punishment ends, I'm making up for every snack I missed this month," Garp muttered through gritted teeth.
"Enough, Garp. We're discussing Saint Aurelius D. Virel Is right now," Kong said sternly.
"Let me go, Kong. The Red Count may never have attacked Marine bases, but he's still a pirate. This time, I'll throw him in prison."
Garp stood up and draped his Justice coat over his shoulders with a grin.
He had always been interested in powerful pirates.
The Red Count was one of the pirates Garp respected.
"Then go," Kong said with a slight nod while sipping tea.
This trip was mostly for appearances anyway.
Though the Red Count was strong—
Neither of them believed he could defeat Aurelius D. Virel Is.
Marine Headquarters wasn't far from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Garp departed quickly and would likely arrive within a few hours.
Meanwhile—
Back in Sabaody, Is and the Red Count continued their fierce battle.
However, Is maintained the upper hand while the Red Count remained under constant pressure.
Swish!
After fighting Is for a long time, the Red Count finally found an opening.
His bat umbrella, coated in Haki, slashed toward Is and left a bloody wound across his abdomen.
"So even gods aren't invincible."
"You still got injured by me."
An unconscious sneer appeared on the Red Count's lips.
"Gods aren't invincible... but they're close."
Is spoke calmly.
The wound on his abdomen healed at a visible speed, white steam rising from it.
"How is that possible?!"
The Red Count's pupils contracted violently upon seeing the scene.
He knew people in this world possessed vastly different constitutions, and many monsters existed.
But recovering from injuries instantly—
Wasn't that a bit too outrageous?
"Surprised?"
"The gap between us is an abyss you can't cross."
"I said it before—if this is all your strength amounts to, you'll pay the price, Red Count."
Is's expression remained indifferent as he spoke coldly.
His original intention today had merely been accompanying Rem and the others shopping.
But the Red Count insisted on challenging him.
He needed to be taught a lesson.
"There really is a considerable gap between us."
"Whether it's Haki, swordsmanship, physical ability, or powers... none of mine compare to yours."
"As expected of the man who ended Rocks, ruler of the seas."
The Red Count smiled as he praised him.
If possible, he would have liked to be friends with Is.
Because in this world, encountering someone with a pure heart and little malice was exceedingly rare.
Unfortunately—
Their identities stood worlds apart.
He was a pirate.
And Is was the Celestial Dragon crowned with the title of God.
The two were destined never to become friends.
"I've heard enough praise already."
"Even if you flatter me, I won't go easy on you, Red Count," Is replied calmly.
From the moment he arrived in this world as a Celestial Dragon—
He had stood at a position ordinary people could never reach in their entire lives.
And now, carrying the title of God—
Words of praise had long since become tiresome.
"I'm praising you sincerely."
"Being able to exchange blows with a god is my honor."
"Trading blows with me comes at a price," Is said coldly.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The moment his words fell—
A gigantic wooden dragon with a hooked nose and spikes covering its body burst from the ground and charged toward the Red Count.
Swish!
The Red Count swung his bat umbrella with both hands, releasing a slash that struck the Wood Dragon heavily.
Yet the dragon was incredibly sturdy.
It remained unharmed and continued rushing toward him.
Bang!
The dragon's claw collided with his umbrella, unleashing a powerful shockwave.
But in the next instant—
An overwhelming sense of danger surged through him, causing his body to tremble instinctively.
"It's over, Red Count!"
At that moment—
Is suddenly appeared at his side.
Sheets of paper separated from his body, rapidly forming into a long blade.
The sword was coated with Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, carrying terrifying power.
Slash!
Holding the blade with one hand, he brought it down from above toward the Red Count.
Bang!
The Red Count's figure vanished like a phantom.
Is's blade struck the ground instead.
A crisp explosion rang out—
And before him appeared an enormous canyon stretching endlessly into the distance, bottomless and still extending farther.
Numerous buildings along the way were destroyed.
"Too close..."
The Red Count appeared atop a distant building, cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Had that strike landed—
He estimated he would've been gravely injured.
His greatest advantage was speed.
Avoiding the attack didn't make him proud in the slightest.
Because today's battle had taught him something:
This...
Was the difference between humans and gods.
The man who ended Rocks possessed strength beyond his imagination.
"Running is all you know, Red Count?" Is mocked.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!
Suddenly, the Red Count pulled three silver needles from his pocket.
Coating them with Haki, he flicked them toward Is.
Is merely tilted his head slightly and dodged.
What a joke.
His Observation Haki had already reached the level of briefly seeing the future.
How could a few silver needles possibly injure him?
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