Chapter 39: CH 39: MEETING
The warship slowly approached the colossal gates of Marineford, its battered state and the grim expressions of its passengers sending an eerie silence across the harbor. The sight of Vice Admiral Garp and several high ranking Marines stepping onto the docks, covered in bandages and bruises, sent murmurs rippling through the gathered soldiers and staff.
"Vice Admiral Garp… injured?" a young Marine whispered.
"Not just him look at Rear Admirals, Vice Admiral Momonga and Bogart!" another added, wide-eyed.
The murmurs grew louder as the Marines disembarked, their movements sluggish, their faces worn with exhaustion and grief. To everyone's shock, the ship carried no captured pirates, only the shrouded corpses of fallen Marine soldiers.
"What happened out there?" someone asked in disbelief.
"Who could've done this? And Garp of all people…"
The whispers didn't go unnoticed. Garp, ever the enigma, simply laughed as he walked through the gates, scratching his head. "Bwahaha, looks like I'm getting old. Hunting pirates isn't as easy as it used to be!"
But his laughter only deepened the unease among the onlookers.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice boomed through the halls of Marineford, summoning the high ranking officers to the meeting room. The gravity of the situation was clear. Moments later, the room filled with the steady footsteps of the summoned: Rear Admiral Momonga, Rear Admiral Bogart, and Vice Admiral Garp.
As they entered, the eyes of every Marine in the room fell on them, scrutinizing their injuries and exhaustion. The air was thick with tension, and the murmurs of disbelief persisted.
"Garp…" Sengoku began, his voice stern, "tell me what happened."
Garp yawned and began to pick his nose nonchalantly, as if the entire ordeal had been a minor inconvenience. "Eh, not much. Just got into a scuffle with a young pirate," he said casually before glancing at Momonga. "You explain it. I'm too tired."
Sengoku's face turned red with irritation. "GARP!"
Before Sengoku could continue, Admiral Akainu's icy voice cut through the room. "Momonga, report. What happened out there?"
Momonga straightened his posture despite his bandaged shoulder. "Fleet Admiral, we encountered a pirate crew on Cactus Island. The captain… Yuji. He possesses immense strength and abilities far beyond ordinary humans. He was accompanied by Boa Hancock and Trafalgar Law."
The room fell silent at the mention of those names.
"Yuji?" Sengoku repeated, his brow furrowed.
Momonga nodded. "He transformed into a mythical zoan a three-headed dragon of extraordinary size and power. His regenerative abilities were unlike anything we've ever seen. He utilized Lunarian traits as well, manipulating flames on his body to alternate between increased defense and heightened speed. He defeated me very easily, I thought at first I am getting an upper hand but suddenly he summons a storm that devour me"
Sengoku's eyes widened slightly. "A Lunarian… and a mythical zoa also controling storms?"
"Yes," Momonga confirmed. "Yuji and his crew engaged us in battle. Boa Hancock's abilities turned many of our soldiers to stone, and Trafalgar Law use his devol fruit to support a talking bear. Despite Vice Admiral Garp's overwhelming strength, Yuji's abilities and tactics allowed him to escape."
As Momonga spoke, Garp snored loudly in the corner, drawing sharp glares from Sengoku and Akainu.
"GARP!" Sengoku shouted, throwing a snack at him.
Garp caught the snack mid-air without even opening his eyes and began munching on it. "Relax, Sengoku. I'm here, aren't I?"
"Take this seriously!" Sengoku bellowed.
"Fine, fine," Garp said, waving a hand dismissively. He leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious. "That brat Yuji… he's something else. Strong, clever, and stubborn as hell. We clashed for hours, but I held back. There were civilians in the area, and Hancock's abilities kept turning Marines into statues. I couldn't risk unleashing my full strength."
Akainu scowled, his face darkening. "So you let them escape because of some weak Marines?"
Garp's eyes narrowed dangerously as he turned to Akainu. "Don't lecture me about protecting my men, Sakazuki. Those 'weak Marines' are still part of our forces. I won't sacrifice them for a single victory."
The tension between the two was palpable, but Sengoku quickly intervened. "Enough! Garp, tell us everything."
Garp leaned forward, his tone more measured. "Yuji used the chaos to his advantage. He manipulated the battlefield, forced me to divide my attention, and used the soldiers against me. His crew was coordinated, and their retreat was planned. He's not just a brute with power he's got a sharp mind too. But that's not important, he can use the 3 types of haki"
Hearing this all of the admiral couldn't help to feel shock.
Sengoku stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A mythical zoan, Lunarian traits, and intelligence to rival his strength but more importantly he possesses the quality of a king"
"Conqueror's haki, tch" Akainu murmurs.
"Scary," Kizaru said lazily, leaning back in his chair. "He~ sounds like quite the handful."
"Arara," Aokiji added, his tone light but tinged with respect. "Garp-san, it's not like you to struggle against a rookie."
Garp smirked. "Bwahaha, don't push your luck, Kuzan. I could still beat you into the ground."
"Garp," Tsuru interjected, her calm voice cutting through the banter. "Were you holding back for the Marines' sake?"
Garp's expression grew serious once more. "At first, yes. There were civilians on the island, but they evacuated during the fight. Even then, I couldn't risk going all out because of Hancock's abilities. And Yuji he's no ordinary opponent."
Tsuru nodded thoughtfully. "If what you're saying is true, then Yuji is likely the one responsible for the destruction of the World Government warship years ago. He is also one of the last remnants of that race."
The room fell silent at her words, the weight of their implications settling over the gathered officers.
Sengoku sighed heavily, his gaze shifting to the gathered Marines. "We need to act quickly. If this Yuji truly possesses these abilities, he could turn the world upside down if left unchecked."
"We'll issue him a bounty," Tsuru said firmly.
"A high one," Sengoku agreed.
Akainu's jaw tightened. "He's a threat to the World Government. We need to eliminate him before he gains more power."
Sengoku nodded, his mind already racing with strategies. "Garp, do you have any other information on him or his crew?"
Garp shrugged. "Not much. He's got spirit, I'll give him that. And he's not afraid to stand up against ne. But if you're thinking of sending someone after him, make sure they're ready. He won't go down easily."
The room was filled with a heavy silence as the implications of Garp's words sank in.
The meeting adjourned, and Sengoku immediately began issuing orders to the bounty office. The details of Yuji's abilities, his mythical zoan form, and his Lunarian traits were carefully documented. The destruction on Cactus Island and the deaths of countless Marines added weight to his crimes.
Within hours, the first bounty posters were printed, bearing Yuji's name and a staggering number that sent shockwaves across the Grand Line.
WANTED: YUJI. CAPTAIN OF THE ABSOLUTE PIRATES. DEAD OR ALIVE. BOUNTY: ??? BERRIES.
As the posters were distributed, the Marineford officers could only hope they had not underestimated the storm that was about to engulf the world.
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Hey if you are wondering why would I pick the word Absolute to use as their crew name well a week before while I was in a club I remember drowning myself in alcohol called ABSOLUT VODKA.
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