One Piece : Brotherhood

"Blue Hole...!!!"

Garp's entire arm pulsed with an overwhelming aura, his Conqueror's Haki spiraling violently around his fist as he drove it downward with enough force to crush mountains. The very air trembled as the blow descended, splitting the sky and sea alike.

"Dark Descent...!!!"

With a roar of his own, Rayleigh countered, his sword gleaming with a fierce, dark energy. His blade cleaved upward, meeting Garp's fist with an explosive clash that tore through the sea, splitting it apart in a colossal wave that surged violently in all directions.

The sheer power of the two legends shook the world as their auras collided, like primal forces of nature waging war.

Garp's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched as he recognized the man before him. "Rayleigh, you bastard...!" he growled, his voice filled with a mixture of fury and frustration. "Why are you here? Do you want the World Government to know about Rouge?!"

Garp's heart pounded, not with fear for himself, but for the dangerous implications of Rayleigh's presence. His mind raced, knowing full well that if the World Government caught even a whisper of Roger's bloodline, they would stop at nothing to extinguish it—Ace was more than just a boy.

He was a symbol, a direct challenge to everything the World Government stood for. And Garp, even with all his authority and strength, wouldn't be able to protect him if they learned the truth.

Rayleigh stood tall, his sword still humming from the clash, his eyes locked onto Garp with unyielding determination. The playful, laid-back demeanor that once defined the Dark King had vanished, replaced by a steely resolve that even Garp hadn't seen in decades.

Garp's voice rose, a growl filled with genuine concern. "You know what your presence means, Rayleigh! The moment they catch wind of you being here—if they even suspect you've set foot in East Blue— they'll start digging. And when they find out the truth about Ace, about Rouge... not even I can stop what's coming! They'll hunt him down, tear the whole island apart if they have to!"

The words hung heavy in the air, a grim truth they both knew too well. Garp wasn't just fighting an old friend; he was battling fate itself, trying to protect the one secret that could unravel everything.

Rayleigh's eyes burned with defiance, his knuckles white as he gripped his sword tighter. "Garp, you don't understand! I'm not here to play games with the World Government or start a war. I'm here for one reason, and one reason only... to see my godson. To see Ace!"

His voice, usually so calm and measured, now carried a raw edge of desperation and guilt. "I wasn't there for Roger when he needed me most. I didn't stand by his side at the end. I will not fail him again. Not this time."

Garp could see it—the pain, the regret in Rayleigh's eyes. But there was something else, something far more dangerous: a resolute fire that no words could extinguish. Rayleigh was ready to walk through hell to reach Ace, even if it meant standing against Garp himself.

Rayleigh's voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone, his Conqueror's Haki flaring once more, clashing against Garp's in a violent storm. "Step aside, Garp. I won't ask again. If you don't... then one of us will fall here today."

Garp's teeth gritted, his muscles tensing. He didn't want this. Rayleigh wasn't just an old rival—he was an old friend, one of the few people who understood the weight of the era they had lived through. But Garp couldn't back down. The risk was too great. If the world learned about Ace's heritage, the boy would be marked for death.

"Do you think I want to fight you, Rayleigh?!" Garp bellowed, his fist trembling as raw power surged through it. "But I won't let you doom that boy! He's been given a chance to live free, away from the sins of his father! And I'll be damned if I let your recklessness ruin that!"

The entire sea was thick with tension, the very air heavy with the weight of their wills. It wasn't just a battle of fists and blades anymore; it was a battle of convictions, of two men standing for what they believed in, willing to tear the world apart for their ideals.

Rayleigh's eyes softened for just a moment, a flicker of sorrow crossing his face. "Garp... I know what's at stake. I know what Ace means to you. But I have a duty to Roger. He entrusted Ace to you, but I made my own promise to him. And I will not abandon that boy."

Garp's breath came in heavy bursts, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared down the Dark King. The storm of haki around them surged, creating a maelstrom of energy that seemed to warp the very world around them.

Finally, Garp exhaled, his voice low, filled with the weight of years of sacrifice. "If you step forward, Rayleigh... there's no turning back."

Rayleigh's grip on his sword tightened. "I've already made my choice, old friend."

The air grew still for a heartbeat, and then—

"So be it..." Garp whispered, before charging forward with all the strength of a man who had fought gods and legends, his fist glowing with the power to split the seas.

Rayleigh braced himself, his blade ready to carve through anything that stood between him and his godson.

The wind howled as Garp and Rayleigh stood facing each other on a small island nearby, their auras clashing in an invisible yet violent storm.

Their Conqueror's Haki flooded the battlefield, creating a suffocating pressure that sent cracks through the island and ripples across the sea. Neither man flinched—both were legends, veterans of a time when true monsters walked the world, and now, they were poised to tear each other apart.

Without warning, Garp exploded into motion. His massive frame seemed to vanish from where he stood, reappearing a split-second later right in front of Rayleigh. His fist, covered in an impenetrable black sheen of Armament Haki, swung toward Rayleigh's face with the force of a meteor.

"Blazing Meteor…!"

The punch tore through the air, creating a shockwave that flattened the surrounding landmass and sent waves of tsunami crashing onto the shore.

But Rayleigh's eyes, sharpened by decades of battle and honed by Observation Haki, saw the attack coming. He leaned back just in time, the tip of Garp's knuckles grazing the air in front of his nose.

In the same fluid motion, Rayleigh brought his sword around in a wide arc, aiming for Garp's midsection. The blade gleamed with Armament Haki, black as night and sharper than death itself.

"Reapers Edge…!"

Garp twisted his body, his massive forearm meeting the blade in a shower of sparks. The impact sent tremors through the ground beneath them, but Garp's defense held.

His fist was already coming down again, this time aimed at Rayleigh's sword arm. Rayleigh spun, using the momentum of his blocked slash to duck beneath Garp's punch, bringing his sword up in a deadly counter aimed for Garp's ribs.

The strike was fast—lightning fast—but Garp's instincts kicked in. With Observation Haki guiding him, he pivoted just enough to avoid the worst of the blow. Still, the tip of Rayleigh's blade grazed his side, cutting through his shirt and drawing first blood.

Garp grunted but didn't slow down. In a blur, he spun around, his elbow crashing toward Rayleigh's temple like a sledgehammer.

"Guillotine…!!"

Rayleigh raised his sword to block, but the sheer power behind Garp's strike was overwhelming. The force of the blow rattled Rayleigh's bones, driving him back several feet, his feet carving deep grooves into the earth. The shockwave sent a piece of the island flying into the air.

Before he could recover, Garp was on him again, launching a barrage of punches that came faster than cannon fire. Each fist was wrapped in Armament Haki, every punch capable of shattering islands.

But Rayleigh was no stranger to overwhelming power. His sword flickered like a phantom, deflecting Garp's strikes with near-perfect precision.

Sparks flew as blade met fist, each impact sending out a shockwave that reverberated for miles. The clash of their haki crackled in the air, creating a sound like thunder as they fought at blinding speeds.

Suddenly, Garp ducked low, driving his fist into the ground with a roar.

"Blue Hole!!!"

The ground shattered beneath Rayleigh's feet, chunks of earth flying into the air as the force of the punch created a crater. Garp's haki-infused strike sent a shockwave through the earth, destabilizing the ground beneath them.

Rayleigh leaped into the air, flipping backward just in time to avoid being swallowed by the destruction. As he flew through the air, his eyes glinted, seeing Garp's next move before it even began.

"Too slow, Garp!" Rayleigh grinned, swinging his sword down from above.

"Divine Departure…!!" The blade sliced cleanly through the air, cutting Garp's attack in half.

Garp's eyes widened as Rayleigh descended on him with terrifying speed. The sword, wreathed in black haki, sliced through the air, aimed straight for Garp's head. Garp raised both arms to block, catching the blade between his forearms.

The impact was deafening, a massive shockwave radiating outward as the ground beneath Garp's feet shattered further. The sea roared, splitting apart from the clash of their auras.

For a moment, it seemed like they were deadlocked. Rayleigh pushed down with all his strength, his sword humming with deadly intent, but Garp held firm. His muscles bulged, veins popping as he fought back against the pressure.

With a grunt, Garp suddenly surged forward, his haki-infused strength overpowering Rayleigh's downward slash. The sudden force broke their deadlock, and Rayleigh was thrown back, flipping mid-air to regain his balance.

As soon as Rayleigh's feet touched the ground, Garp was there again, faster than a cannonball. His fist rocketed forward, aimed at Rayleigh's chest. Rayleigh sidestepped with speed that defied his age, his Observation Haki guiding his movements. He swung his sword in a swift horizontal slash, aiming to break Garp's momentum with a clean cut across the arm.

Garp, sensing the danger, coated his arm in a deeper layer of Armament Haki, the black glow intensifying to an almost impenetrable level. The blade struck his arm but skidded off the hardened haki, unable to cut through. Garp smirked, using the momentum to swing his fist upward in a devastating uppercut.

Rayleigh barely had time to react. The uppercut grazed his chin, sending him stumbling back. He gritted his teeth, tasting blood, but his eyes remained sharp, unwavering. He wiped his lip, his Conqueror's Haki flaring in response to Garp's unrelenting assault.

"You're tough as ever, old friend," Rayleigh growled, tightening his grip on his sword.

Garp's grin widened, his fists crackling with energy. "You're not half-bad yourself, Rayleigh. But I'm not done yet!"

With a roar, Garp launched himself at Rayleigh again, his fists a blur of motion as he unleashed another barrage of haki-infused punches. Rayleigh's sword danced in response, deflecting blow after blow, each clash sending shockwaves across the battlefield. It was a contest of raw power versus precision, each fighter pushing the other to their limits.

But neither man could gain the upper hand.

Rayleigh's Observation Haki allowed him to anticipate Garp's next move, dodging strikes by mere inches, while his sword lashed out in precise counterattacks aimed at exploiting any opening Garp left.

But Garp's sheer durability and overwhelming Armament Haki made him nearly impossible to injure, and his relentless offense left Rayleigh with little room to capitalize on those openings.

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed. His Observation Haki flared, and in an instant, he saw Garp's strike before it even happened. With a lightning-fast movement, Rayleigh sidestepped, letting the punch crash into the earth. The ground exploded beneath Garp's fist, debris flying in all directions.

Rayleigh seized the moment. In one swift, fluid motion, he brought his sword down in a deadly arc, aiming straight for Garp's exposed back. His blade, wreathed in Armament Haki, cut through the air with lethal precision.

But just before the blade could connect, Garp's head snapped around. With an instinct honed by decades of battle, he twisted his body, bringing his elbow up to meet Rayleigh's sword. The impact was a blinding flash of energy as haki collided, sending shockwaves in all directions. T

he ground beneath them split apart, massive cracks snaking out from the epicenter of their clash.

Both men stood frozen for a moment, their auras clashing violently. The air between them crackled with energy, and for a brief second, it seemed as though the world itself would tear apart.

Their Conqueror's Haki swirled around them, clashing like two titans locked in a primal struggle for dominance. The very world seemed to quake beneath their feet, the sky above them darkening as the sheer force of their battle warped the very atmosphere. The sea roared, waves crashing violently as the two legends fought with everything they had.

In the midst of the chaos, Garp slammed his fist down once more. "I'll end this!"

His fist slowly raised toward the sky, glowing with an ominous black hue as Armament Haki coated his hand, making it look as if it had been forged from iron. But that wasn't all.

His Conqueror's Haki flared to life, crackling around him like an electric storm, making the air around him feel heavier, denser. The ground beneath him began to tremble, splitting apart as the sheer pressure of his haki weighed down on everything in the vicinity.

Garp's eyes burned with intensity, his jaw set in determination. And then, with a roar that seemed to shake the heavens, he brought his fist down.

"Galaxy Impact!!!"

The very sky seemed to split apart as Garp's fist crashed down with unimaginable force. The impact didn't just strike the ground—it was as if a meteor had slammed into the earth. A shockwave exploded outward in every direction, flattening everything in its path.

The sheer force of the punch tore through the landscape, sending massive chunks of earth, stone, and debris flying into the air. The seas in the distance roared, waves splitting as if struck by an invisible force, while the sky above them cracked and rumbled with the shockwave.

As Garp's fist came crashing down with the force of a falling star, the devastating power of his Galaxy Impact tore through the landscape. The sky seemed to break apart, the earth quaking violently as a massive shockwave rippled outward.

Everything within the reach of Garp's punch—stone, sea, air—was about to be consumed by the sheer force of the attack.

But Rayleigh, the Dark King, was undeterred.

With a calmness that belied the chaotic energy swirling around him, Rayleigh's eyes narrowed. His Observation Haki flared, reading every subtle shift in Garp's attack, allowing him to see the moment just before impact. In a swift, fluid motion, Rayleigh shifted his stance, his hand reaching for the hilt of his blade.

His face, usually so composed and relaxed, now bore a look of intense focus. His Conqueror's Haki ignited, clashing fiercely against Garp's, the air between them warping from the collision of their wills.

"Divine Departure..." Rayleigh muttered, his voice low, filled with the weight of his resolve.

In a single, breathtaking movement, Rayleigh drew his sword, the blade singing as it was unleashed from its sheath. His Armament Haki surged, coating the blade in a deep, jet-black aura that hummed with unimaginable power.

But it wasn't just Armament Haki—the sword was wreathed in Conqueror's Haki as well, crackling violently with raw, destructive energy that radiated from the blade's edge.

With a powerful swing, Rayleigh unleashed Roger's signature attack, Divine Departure.

The moment the blade cut through the air, a shockwave of unparalleled force erupted from it. The strike seemed to rip through space itself, as though Rayleigh's slash could sever the very fabric of reality. The air screamed as the sword cut through Garp's approaching shockwave, splitting the overwhelming force of the Galaxy Impact in two.

The world stood still for a heartbeat.

Then, with an ear-shattering explosion, Rayleigh's Divine Departure clashed head-on with Garp's Galaxy Impact. The two attacks met with a force that defied belief, the sky darkening as if the heavens themselves recoiled from the sheer power of the collision.

The ground beneath them shattered instantly, a massive chasm ripping open as the sheer pressure of their combined haki tore through the earth.

Waves that had once roared from Garp's attack now recoiled in all directions, their sheer momentum reversed by the incredible power of Rayleigh's counterattack. The air itself seemed to distort, as if the atmosphere couldn't contain the magnitude of the clash between the two legends. Bolts of black lightning danced through the sky, the result of their Conqueror's Haki clashing, sending violent ripples across the battlefield.

Garp's eyes widened, just for a moment, as he realized the sheer precision and power behind Rayleigh's slash. Rayleigh's Divine Departure wasn't just a counter—it was a statement, a testament to the strength of the Dark King. The impact zone of Garp's fist had been cleaved apart by Rayleigh's sword, the destructive force of Galaxy Impact neutralized in a spectacular explosion of haki.

The shockwave from the clash expanded outward in a massive dome of energy, flattening everything in its path, the sheer weight of their combined power felt miles away. The force was enough to tear apart entire islands, sending ripples across the sea that would be felt continents away.

As the dust began to settle, the ground still trembling beneath them, Rayleigh stood firm, his sword glowing with residual haki. His breathing was steady, his gaze locked onto Garp.

The battlefield around them was a wasteland, the ground carved and split by the incredible power of their clash. Garp's arm, still glowing with haki, was lowered now, his expression unreadable as he surveyed the damage.

For a moment, all was silent.

Then Rayleigh sheathed his sword in one smooth motion, the blade sliding into its scabbard with a soft click. His eyes met Garp's, a silent acknowledgment passing between them.

They were equals—two titans who had fought through ages of war and peace, and now they stood, neck and neck, neither backing down.

"Go back, you bastard!" Garp roared, his voice booming like thunder as his fist clenched tighter, veins bulging in his forearm. The air around him quaked from the sheer intensity of his Conqueror's Haki, mixing with his rising frustration. He was dead set on keeping Rayleigh away from Ace—his grandson, the child he had sworn to protect.

Though Garp knew in the back of his mind that it was irrational, that Rayleigh wasn't an enemy to Ace, his true fear gnawed at him. It wasn't the World Government or their relentless pursuit of Roger's bloodline that terrified him most—it was something deeper.

A fear that Ace, despite everything Garp had tried to teach him, would one day follow in Roger's footsteps. That Ace would embrace the mantle of the Pirate King's son, and sail down the same path that led Roger to his death.

He couldn't allow that. Not for Ace. Garp had long since come to accept the boy as his own grandson, and he would be damned if he let the Dark King, one of Roger's closest companions, influence him in any way. His fists shook, not from weakness, but from the sheer willpower to stand his ground, to protect the child he loved like his own blood.

"Like I said earlier, Garp," Rayleigh replied, his voice steady, though there was an unmistakable edge to it. His usual calm, easygoing demeanor had shifted, replaced with the deadly seriousness of a man who had lived through countless battles.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, ready, but he didn't draw just yet. His eyes locked onto Garp, both understanding and challenging him at the same time.

"If you try to stop me, then one of us is going to be buried here today...!" Rayleigh's voice carried an unshakable resolve. His words weren't a threat—they were a promise.

The tension between them was palpable. The air around them thickened, electrified by the clash of their wills. Both men stood unyielding, like two ancient titans on the brink of an earth-shattering collision. The weight of their Conqueror's Haki bore down on the battlefield, the ground beneath them groaning under the pressure.

Rayleigh understood Garp's fear, as irrational as it might seem. He had known Roger better than anyone, had sailed with him through storms and battles, and had seen the burning spirit within the Pirate King—the same spirit that now lived on in Ace.

The world didn't know yet, but Rayleigh knew it was only a matter of time. If Ace's lineage were ever revealed, the boy would have a target painted on his back for the rest of his life. The World Government wouldn't stop until they wiped out every trace of Roger's bloodline, and every enemy Roger had ever made would come seeking revenge.

Rayleigh was willing to take that risk. He wasn't blind to the dangers, but Roger's dying wish burned within him just as strongly. He had failed to be there for his captain in his final moments, but he could still be there for Ace. He could still honor Roger's legacy by watching over his son, even if it meant clashing with the likes of Garp.

If he had to walk through fire and face a thousand enemies, Rayleigh would do it if it meant he could be part of Ace's life, no matter how brief or dangerous it might be.

"You think you can protect him from the world, Garp?" Rayleigh's voice cut through the tension, filled with an almost sad understanding. "The World Government won't care about your status, about what you've done for them. If they ever find out about Ace, they'll hunt him down without mercy. And you know it."

Garp's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding together as the truth of Rayleigh's words pierced through him. He knew. Of course he knew. But admitting it—accepting that Ace might be drawn to the sea, to the same life as Roger—was something Garp couldn't stomach. Not after everything he had done to keep Ace away from that path.

"It doesn't matter, Rayleigh!" Garp shouted, his voice filled with the fury of a man who had faced down entire fleets, emperors, and monsters but was now fighting the battle of a grandfather protecting his family.

"I'll make sure Ace never knows that world! He's not Roger's son anymore—he's my family! And I won't let you or anyone else drag him into that cursed life!"

Rayleigh's eyes softened for a moment. He respected Garp's resolve, even admired it. The man had taken on a burden heavier than most, raising Roger's son in secret, trying to steer him away from the inevitable pull of the ocean. But Rayleigh also knew the truth. No matter how much Garp tried, Ace had Roger's blood in his veins, and sooner or later, that fire would ignite.

"You can't keep him caged forever, Garp," Rayleigh said, his tone no longer challenging but firm with conviction. "He's Roger's son. Sooner or later, he'll set sail. The world will come for him, and when it does, he'll need people like me, people who knew Roger, to stand by him."

Garp's fists tightened, his knuckles turning white as the weight of those words sank in. The thought of Ace setting sail, of becoming a pirate like his father, was enough to twist Garp's insides with fear and anger. He couldn't lose Ace—not to the sea, not to Rayleigh, not to anyone.

"You're not taking him, Rayleigh," Garp growled, his eyes burning with determination. "I'll stop you here and now if I have to."

Rayleigh's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his expression hardening as he prepared for what was to come. "If that's what it takes, Garp, then so be it. But I won't back down. Not now."

In that instant, the air between them crackled with the full force of their Conqueror's Haki, the sky above darkening as if nature itself was reacting to the clash of these two titans. The ground trembled beneath their feet, deep cracks splintering through the earth as their haki battled for dominance.

Garp took a step forward, fists raised, his body exuding an aura of unstoppable force. Rayleigh responded in kind, drawing his sword from its sheath in one smooth motion, the blade gleaming with Armament Haki as he prepared to meet Garp head-on.

Neither of them would back down. Two legends, two unyielding wills, both fighting for the future of Ace.

In that moment, the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the cataclysmic clash that was about to unfold.

*****

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