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OPI Chapter 64: Garp's new mission and Level 5.5 of Impel Down
🕑 Added 2023-11-23 17:13:08 +0000 UTCThree days have passed since the combined fleets of the Navy Headquarters and the South Blue Marine Bases launched a siege on the Kingdom of Thutmose.
Looking at the interior of the island from the sea, one can clearly see that in the sky above the central area in the distance, there is no longer a khaki sandstorm alone, but a green wind that seems to represent vitality to compete with it.
As for the desert battlefields on all sides of the coast, the brutal hand-to-hand combat also came to an end with the retreat of the navy's warships. Only the yellow sand soaked in blood and the broken limbs, dried remains, cracked axes and folded knives all over the ground remained silent. It proves everything that happened before.
On the Navy's side, Rear Admiral Irwin ordered the entire military to temporarily withdraw from the battlefield about a day ago.
The slave legion was overwhelming, with strong young soldiers constantly emerging from the ground, all wearing green collars. The Navy's own strength was limited, and its endurance and numbers were constantly decreasing.
In fact, Rear Admiral Irwin really didn’t think about retreating at first.
But after Dragon's raid on Shabak City, the ten officers from the headquarters came back in an underground rail car and brought detailed information, they finally had a detailed understanding of the situation of the slave legion.
First, underground there are tens of thousands of young slaves ready to join the battle at any time.
Second, they are controlled by the ability of the Pet-Pet Fruit, and their bodies can exert their maximum strength. Without new orders from King Taklama, they will not surrender in combat.
Third, Rear Admiral Dragon, after facing King Taklama, did not manage to defeat him immediately, but is fighting him fiercely.
Based on these points, Rear Admiral Irwin decided to withdraw the fleet, as continuing would only result in certain death for them and the total annihilation of the Marines.
Most of the Navy fell back to heal the wounded and regroup on their warships, while the Slave Legion found itself in a bewildering situation.
His order was to stop the Navy and resist until a new order came from the King. But now that the Navy has withdrawn, they lacked opponents. Their only option was to return to the trenches and wait for the next Marine attack and a new order.
In this way, the Slave Legion was trapped within the trenches of the coastal battlefield.
It was all thanks to the power of the Pet-Pet Fruit, both his success and his defeat.
As for a new order, it would take a while to arrive, since King Taklama is busy at the moment...
"Huff... Huff...."
Heavy, hurried breathing is heard.
Each inhale seemed to turn his chest into an old bellows, further fueling the anger within him.
"Why, why can you still move?!"
The Slaver King was squatting on the back of the 'Sand King' high in the sky. His red eyes were staring at Dragon in the distance. He could no longer suppress his anger and became hysterical.
His golden mask was split in half, his white robe was stained with blood, and his right hand, which held the golden scepter, trembled.
King Taklama clearly remembered that in these three days, he knocked down Dragon several times using the power of the Sand King and his own Haki.
But every time he thought that the battle was over and that he would soon have a slave with Logia-type devil fruit abilities, this guy would inexplicably get up, stand up, and attack him again.
That wasn't all. Why was it that every time she got up, she unleashed various and even more powerful abilities, becoming stronger and harder to defeat?
"You... I have said that justice will triumph over evil. Your fate is already sealed, you will be caught by me and taken to Impel Down..."
Dragon, remaining in his elemental form, floated in the air, each word an effort. His appearance was truly heartbreaking, with his cloak of justice in ruins, no trace of his elegant green suit, his bare torso full of bruises and cuts, pale and sweaty, as if he were about to faint.
However, from time to time, flashes of dark green electric current ran through his body, his eyes shining with determination.
"Stop talking nonsense, what nonsense is justice and evil!" That's not what King Taklama wanted to hear at all.
"The first time you fell, you awakened your Haoshoku Haki!"
"The second time you fell, your Busoshoku Haki are on par with mine!"
"But now, after this third time, you awakened your devil fruit?!"
The Slaver King roared in fury, looking up at a sky filled with green winds, trembling with rage.
"You do not have enough?"
The Haoshoku Haki was the skill he had always longed for. Ironically, although he had been King for decades, he had never been able to manifest it.
And now this brat awakened him before him, showing what it meant to awaken the Haoshoku Haki while lying on the ground.
Uncontrollable envy, extreme jealousy and deep hatred...
Facing King Taklama's crazy roar and questioning, Dragon raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and a smile appeared on his originally indifferent face, and said: "Now the fight is getting interesting, don't you think?"
[Whoosh! Whoosh~]
As soon as he finished speaking, in the midst of the endless wind, a vivid and shining green dragon slowly appeared, with shiny scales. He let out a loud and majestic roar as he moved with his imposing body, observing the Sand King in front of him.
"This is the real Storm Dragon King!"
…
Outside the island, the arrival of the dog-headed warship had already been discovered by Rear Admiral Irwin, who headed to meet Vice Admiral Garp using Geppo.
At this moment, Irwin was standing next to Rear Admiral Bogard, listening with a shocked look to the latter's explanation of Dragon's situation. Suddenly, he raised his head and looked at the sky of the island.
"The awakening of the power of the Storm Fruit?" Irwin said, surprised. "Jeez, didn't the Haoshoku Haki recently awaken?!"
It is curious, although the military ranks of Rear Admiral Irwin and Rear Admiral Bogard are similar, the perception ability of the latter's Kenbunshoku Haki has a much greater range than that of the former.
"Yes, although it is said that the awakening of devil fruit powers is not related to strength, but to the understanding of abilities, the awakening of the Rear Admiral Dragon in just over a year is amazing."
After hearing this, Garp shook his head and said: "The awakening of the Devil Fruit's power is surprising, but it is not crucial. He will not be able to defeat the Slaver King with that alone."
"What do you mean..." Irwin asked puzzledly.
"The key is that the kid's heart is changing!"
Garp crossed his arms, feeling the changes in Dragon's Haki, as he continued his explanation.
"Before, this kid was full of anguish, anger, resentment, and hesitation because of the darkness of the Heavenly Dragons' trash. Furthermore, his rebellion plan was intercepted on the spot."
"To be honest, if he continues like this, his Haki will become weaker and weaker, and he may not even be able to use it any day, because his heart is no longer firm."
"Haki comes from the heart, it is the manifestation of the will. Only with a strong enough will can Haki be mastered. And the firmness of that will and the inner strength determine the strength of the Haki."
Irwin's face turned pale when he heard Garp's first words, and he complained wildly in his heart: 'What the hell? Who insults the Celestial Dragons to their faces like that? Isn't this looking for death!'
But Bogard, beside him, didn't seem worried at all. Instead, he mused: "You mean Dragon's heart is constantly getting stronger in battle, and that's the fundamental reason why he can get up again and again?"
"No." Garp shook his head again and said: "The change in his heart has only strengthened his Haki, which is key to defeating powerful opponents, but it is not enough for him to last that long."
"So?" Bogard asked.
"The potential of the body."
Garp calmly uttered these words.
"Although the Haki originates from the heart, in the final analysis it is also the materialization of the heart. Power is fundamentally material, which is often referred to as physical strength and vitality."
"This kid Dragon has received my 'special love training' since he was a child. Seimei Kikan has become instinctive when he was ten years old."
"Now, his control over his body is far beyond most who have mastered the Seimei Kikan. In addition to a considerable amount of vitality stored in his body. This is the power that helps him rise again and again."
After hearing this, Bogard fell silent once again and looked into the distance, where the windstorm and sand were still clashing. Irwin also showed a sympathetic expression.
"So, it is the body's unusual stamina that gives him time to continually improve his Haki."
Garp nodded and said with a smile: "Exactly. Whether it is the Haoshoku Haki or the awakening of the devil fruit, although these may seem impressive, they are just shows."
"In the final analysis, the boy's strongest point is the physical skills I taught him since childhood. This is also the difference between him and Sakazuki and others."
At this moment, a marine ran over quickly, saluted first, and then reported loudly: "Report to Vice Admiral Garp, the Fleet Admiral orders you to return to Marineford immediately. There are important tasks that need to be performed!"
"Oh?"
Garp turned around and raised his eyebrows, while Bogard on the side was thinking about what could happen, because it was rare for the Fleet Admiral to personally give the order.
Generally speaking, Sengoku will notify them in the form of ‘discussing/cursing’.
The last time they were personally notified by the Fleet Admiral, it was when they went to South Blue last year to capture Pirate King Roger.
...
The Grand Line, the Underwater Prison, Impel Down.
Magellan, who is now the Vice Warden, was with Chief Warden Columbus, on a fairly common level within Impel Down.
The reason why it is said that this is a common level is because there is nothing in this place, it is just a very ordinary dark space.
But now there is a group of workers from the Construction Department, and they are recording the dimensional data of various places with measuring tapes. It is said that they are going to build some kind of research institute here.
"This... between the fifth and sixth floors, there is such a big place, and we didn't know it?" Magellan looked around in disbelief.
Chief Warden Columbus smiled bitterly and said: "Even I wouldn't have known if Cipher Pol hadn't told me. I've been here in Impel Down my whole life, and there's still a supposed level 5.5."
Not far away, Coulson, the senior director of the Administration Department, was accompanying a scientific researcher in a white coat to inspect the surrounding situation.
"Professor Fritz, after the Special Science Group is restructured, the Biochemistry Research Institute will be located here. From now on, this will be the place for research, experimentation, and storage of all biochemistry-related materials and products."
"If human experiments are needed for research, you can apply to the Chief Warden here to provide criminal materials. Similarly, if there is a problem of leakage of biological and chemical weapons, please ask them for help as soon as possible. I believe Vice Warden Magellan will handle it well. He is a Paramecia-type Venom-Venom Fruit ability user."
As Coulson spoke, he pointed in the direction of Magellan. Professor Fritz nodded excitedly repeatedly, saying, "Good, good, good."
In his opinion, this place is simply the best secret research base. He really can't think of a safer, more secret place with more human materials than this.
"Also, the first task of the Biochemistry Institute will be to find a solution to Amber Lead Syndrome, the data related to the disease will be sent to them later. As for the patients, they will be sent here once the facilities are completed."
Just when Professor Fritz was about to say something, a boy nearby who looked a little too excited came over and asked curiously: "Master, what is Amber Lead Syndrome?"
He had a young face but a height of close to two meters, dense long hair that fell on his shoulders and even ram horns on his head, he did not seem to be a normal human.
Professor Fritz looked helplessly at his fourteen-year-old student, but this boy's talent was really outstanding, and he actually doted on him very much.
"Be careful, Caesar."
