"Will this destroy the Sabaody Archipelago!"
"Who knows?"
"I heard Admiral Kizaru and Vice Admiral Garp have arrived."
"Wow! Vice Admiral Garp is here too?"
"He's my idol!"
"What's the point of them arriving? Looking at this situation, they can't possibly capture the silver-haired crew anytime soon."
On Island 2, outside the Marines' cordon, many people who weren't in a hurry to flee and were instead staying to watch the spectacle leaned forward, propping themselves up on the Marines' arms, their heads craning towards Island 1.
Hearing that an Admiral and Vice Admiral Garp had arrived, they no longer feared the constant tremors, which felt like an earthquake, nor the earth-shattering impacts and thunderous roars that continued to emanate from Island 1.
"Damn pirates, to think they'd kill Saint Chordwood on Island 1. Now look, my home is gone, and I'll have to spend money to rebuild it again."
"Exactly, exactly! These pirates are so detestable. If you ask me, they should all be captured and executed."
The once fearful civilians were now no longer afraid. Thinking of their houses and the things they hadn't managed to bring with them, they were filled with anger and pain.
Having lived on Sabaody Archipelago for generations, their sense of subservience was deeply ingrained. They would never blame the Celestial Dragons, no matter how evil the Celestial Dragons were.
Instead, they would resent those who offended the Celestial Dragons. Moreover, the silver-haired crew had not only offended them but also killed one, thereby attracting the attention of a Marine Admiral, which made them resent them even more.
Human hearts!
It's often like this.
Only when the rule of the Celestial Dragons truly ends will the people here gradually change their mentality.
"Hey! Back up, back up! Aren't you trying to die if you don't hurry and leave?"
The Marines' cordon was still expanding, just at a slower pace now.
"Didn't Vice Admiral Garp and the Admiral arrive? I say, you Marines, why aren't you going to help? Do you want to watch all our homes collapse?"
Civilians might fear Celestial Dragons and pirates, but they didn't fear the Marines.
Knowing that a Marine Admiral and the hero Garp had arrived, their fear gradually dissipated. While watching the spectacle, they also worried about their homes, which naturally slowed their departure.
The Marines wouldn't explain to civilians what peak powerhouses were. Even if they did, the civilians wouldn't listen or understand. They only knew that their houses were damaged, the Marines had the upper hand, and with so many of them, capturing the silver-haired crew would be a piece of cake.
However, the Marines could sense the oppressive aura emanating from behind them and knew that going forward would be suicidal.
Therefore, they could only adhere to their commander's orders, their faces solemn, pushing the civilians and slowly moving them outwards.
Due to the arrival of Kizaru and Garp, the civilians and Marines who expected the battle to end quickly never imagined that the island's tremors, the constant impacts, and the thunderous roars would continue from daytime, through dusk, and until the full moon rose, without ceasing.
It was only the next day, as the first rays of the sun rose in the east, a golden light piercing the darkness of the night, and streaking across the sky, landing on Sabaody Archipelago.
It then spread, illuminating the entire island and the entire sky.
The sounds of battle in the center of Island 1 finally began to subside.
Outside the auction house.
It had completely turned into a wall of ruins.
Above the auction house, Ah Hua and the others stood like carved wooden statues, gazing motionlessly at the ruins outside.
Their sight passed over the ruins to reveal a massive circular crater. The crater spiraled downwards, and at its center, it split into two rings.
In the left ring, blue light continued to clash with golden light, but the intensity of the collision was clearly not as fierce as yesterday.
In the right ring, Kong Tai was drenched in sweat, looking as if he had just emerged from water.
He looked up, panting, at Garp, the 74-year-old old man before him. The elder's condition did not resemble someone who had engaged in high-intensity combat for a day and a night; rather, he looked as if he had just finished a morning run, with only slight panting.
"What's wrong?"
"Tired already?"
Garp chuckled, his heaving chest gradually calming.
His body, grazed by Kong Tai's blade during the fight, had its clothes torn into strips, making him look like a beggar.
Yet, beneath the tattered clothing, his body bore not a single scar.
His formidable muscles bulged high, and due to the intense exertion, his muscles appeared blood-red. A faint mist surrounded his body, swirling like ribbons, making him appear like a living war god.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Garp stepped forward, his arms crossed, his left hand gripping his right, his right hand gripping his left, making cracking sounds.
"Kid, if this is all you've got, then you'll come with me nicely to the deep-sea prison 'Impel Down'!"
"Oh..." Kong Tai straightened up, grasped the Zankon planted beside him, and pulled it out.
He steadied his rapidly beating heart, tilted his head, and looked at Garp, chuckling lightly, "I killed two Celestial Dragons, and the World Government still allows me to stay in prison. Besides, I'm not a Devil Fruit user, aren't you afraid I'll escape tomorrow if you lock me up today?"
"Hahahahaha!!"
Garp paused his steps and scratched his head, "That's true, your teleportation is indeed quite troublesome."
If it weren't for this kid's ability to teleport, he would have managed to injure him many times.
He could feel that Kong Tai's combat experience was definitely richer than that of an ordinary pirate, but due to his innate talent, he probably hadn't experienced many battles, which was why he was easily suppressed at the beginning.
However, after a day and a night of exchanges, he had recognized the terrifying potential of Kong Tai's talent.
From being easily suppressed at the start, and occasionally using teleportation to evade attacks he couldn't dodge, to rarely using teleportation later, and then, not using it at all just now.
The progress was evident.
After all, he had fought his entire life.
For people like them, who relied on nothing but their fists, their combat experience was no joke.
It was already remarkable for the kid to keep up with the rhythm of his full-power attacks in such a short time.
But no matter how remarkable, it could only go this far.
As he said, if Kong Tai only had these means and didn't use teleportation to escape, he would be no match for him.
"However..." Garp looked up, his smile fading, and continued forward. "That's a matter for other departments. We Marines are only responsible for capturing you."
"Are you sure you can catch me?"
Kong Tai's left hand swept across his waist, pulling down his wine gourd. He took a sip, then hung the gourd back at his waist.
He then lowered his head, staring at Garp, the corners of his mouth curling upwards as he spoke arrogantly, "Old man, I admit you are indeed the strongest person I've encountered since I set sail, perhaps even stronger than that Mythical Zoan Celestial Dragon, but..."
"But you are facing me now!"
"Be careful next, don't blame me if you die!"
*Ding—!*
He twirled his right hand, sheathing his sword.
Kong Tai's body sank, his left leg bent, his right leg extended backward, his right hand gripping the hilt of the Zankon. He was like a sword about to be drawn, in a drawing stance.
The true battle for life and death was about to begin.