After nding, Garp clenched his fist slightly. Even though he had the upper hand in that csh, Charlotte Linlin's toughness was undeniable.

  "It's been a long time, Linlin," Garp said, his expression serious, with a hint of nostalgia in his tone.

  Was he perhaps recalling the time he teamed up with the Roger Pirates during the Battle of God Valley?

  "Garp..." Shiki muttered, his expression darkening as he gazed at him.

  Garp shifted his eyes toward Shiki and sighed helplessly. "Since you escaped from prison, why not just retire and live as a legend? Why come back and cause trouble again?"

  "I'm the Golden Lion!" Shiki retorted arrogantly.

  As his voice fell, Shiki's figure moved with surprising speed, leaping toward Garp with both swords in hand, the two renowned bdes he had recently recovered.

  "Gravity Bde: Tiger!"

  At that moment, Fujitora stepped forward with a calm smile. With a low growl, he swung his cane-sword downward.

  A surge of gravitational force exploded from his strike. Shiki crossed his swords in an attempt to block it, but the sheer force sent him hurtling into the sky.

  It looked like he was at a disadvantage, but just as Fujitora moved to press the attack, the gcier beneath his feet transformed into a massive lion's head that lunged at him with jaws wide open.

  Fujitora's reaction was swift. A violet aura radiated from beneath his feet as immense gravitational pressure shattered the ice lion to pieces.

  However, in the moment of distraction, Shiki was already upon him again.

  "Lion's Cut: Howl!" Shiki roared, sshing with both bdes.

  Fujitora raised his cane-sword, forming an 'X' across his chest to block the attack. The force pushed him backward, his sandals grinding across the ice, leaving deep grooves.

  At the same time, Garp and Linlin cshed once more, and the entire battlefield erupted into chaotic combat.

  Suddenly, a massive figure burst from the smoke and wreckage of the destroyed warship, charging toward the execution ptform like an unstoppable tank.

  His eyes, however, were locked on Cudius, and his aura grew more ferocious with each step.

  A giant Vice Admiral moved to intercept, swinging a colossal battle-axe down at the intruder.

  The figure didn't slow down. As the axe descended, he threw a punch, bare-fisted, without even coating it in Armament Haki.

  The giant's axe shattered with a single blow.

  The Vice Admiral, momentarily stunned, reached out to grab him. But the figure sprang upward, using the giant's head as a foothold to unch himself even higher into the air.

  "Out of my way!" he growled.

  The giant Vice Admiral was smmed face-first into the ice with a thunderous crash.

  Meanwhile, Cudius, who had returned to his seat after Fujitora moved out, tilted his head and squinted at the approaching figure.

  "Dougs Bullet," Cudius murmured softly, recognizing the man.

  Unlike their st encounter, Bullet showed no signs of disinterest. His arm was coated in jet-bck Armament Haki as he prepared to strike.

  But before Cudius could react, the man beside him moved.

  Rob Lucci.

  Lucci's body shifted as the buttons of his shirt popped off. His slender frame expanded with muscle, transforming into his leopard-human hybrid form. With a single step, he shot forward, leaving cracks in the ice beneath him.

  Armament Haki coated his arms as he intercepted Bullet mid-air.

  The moment their fists collided, the air seemed to crack. Sparks flew from the point of impact as their Haki cshed, sending a shockwave rippling outward.

  Neither side held back. Lucci's body flew backward from the force, skidding across the ice, but Bullet was also sent crashing into the spot where Garp had just stood.

  Both men nded heavily, cracking the ice beneath their feet. Lucci knelt, one hand on the ground to steady himself, while Bullet stood tall, surprise fshing in his eyes.

  The giant Vice Admiral had been an insect in comparison, but this leopard-man... he was different. Strong.

  "A new face," Bullet said, his voice filled with battlelust. "Name yourself."

  Lucci straightened his tie, raised his chin slightly, and spoke coldly: "CP-X, Rob Lucci."

  "CP-X..." Bullet repeated, eyes narrowing. "Looks like Cudius has gathered quite a few monsters."

  He shifted his gaze to Cudius, who remained seated on the execution ptform, calm as ever.

  "Fujitora... and now this one," Bullet muttered. "Never heard of them before. Just how many more monsters are hidden in CP-X?"

  Cudius finally broke his silence. "I expected Shiki to show up. I even figured Charlotte Linlin would make a move. But you... What brings you here, Bullet? You've never cared for grudges. What's driving you?"

  Bullet chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "You're right. I have no personal vendetta against you. In fact, my time in Impel Down only made me stronger, physically and mentally."

  His voice dropped an octave as he raised a single finger toward Cudius. "But I don't like owing debts."

  "I escaped that prison thanks to a certain someone," Bullet continued. "So I'm here to repay that favor, with one hour of carnage."

  "One hour?" Cudius raised a brow, then waved dismissively. "You think you can come and go as you please? Lucci, he's yours."

  "Understood, Your Highness," Lucci said, rolling his shoulders.

  Bullet didn't take offense. He recognized Lucci's strength and welcomed the challenge.

  Lucci shot forward without hesitation, his hand forming a cw as he aimed for Bullet's throat, his fingers wrapped in Armament Haki.

  Bullet leaned back just enough to avoid the strike and retaliated with a powerful roundhouse kick.

  Lucci didn't dodge. His tail shed out to brace himself as both feet lifted from the ground.

  Bullet's kick struck Lucci's chest, but at the same time, Lucci's feet smmed into Bullet's torso.

  The impact sent both men flying in opposite directions.

  As they nded, the ice beneath them shattered into spiderweb cracks.

  ***

  This book is complete. Support me on Patreon to read all advanced chapters: patreon.com/Blownleaves.