SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

"Surrender, kid, or I won't be merciful," Garp said, a confident grin spreading across his face as he cracked his knuckles, his imposing presence exuding the might of a Marine Hero.

Kaito, standing unfazed, smirked. "Do you take me for a fool, Garp?"

"Then I'll take that as a no." Garp's tone turned steely, his grin fading as he barked, "Marines, fire!"

At his command, the soldiers behind him raised their rifles, their movements sharp and practiced.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Dozens of bullets tore through the air, a black storm of projectiles aimed directly at Kaito, filling the battlefield with deafening roars.

Kaito stood motionless, his hands at his sides. He didn't draw his blade, didn't coat his skin in Armament Haki, nor did he move to dodge. He simply waited, his calm demeanor unsettling.

"Fool," Garp muttered, shaking his head. "I thought you had some skill, but you can't even react to gunfire?"

Yet, as the bullets struck Kaito, Garp's mocking grin froze. The rounds ricocheted off his skin like raindrops against steel, their impacts powerless to penetrate.

"Impossible!" a Marine gasped, his voice shaking. "He's not even using Armament Haki!"

The sight of hundreds of bullets failing to harm Kaito left the soldiers paralyzed with shock. The faint glow of an unnatural aura emanated from Kaito, subtle yet otherworldly.

Garp's gaze narrowed. "This reminds me of the steel body of Charlotte Linlin and Kaido's unyielding flesh. But even so..."

Kaito chuckled. "Garp, do you really think your fists will fare better than their weapons? Even in your prime, you'd barely make me flinch."

The Marines murmured among themselves, their belief in firearms as humanity's equalizer shattered.

"Stand back," Garp ordered, throwing off his Justice cloak. His muscles rippled as he took his battle stance, his fists encased in blackened Armament Haki so dense it crackled faintly with Conqueror's energy.

"I wasn't expecting this to be so fun," Garp said, the grin returning to his face. "You're tougher than most pirates I've met. Maybe even tougher than Kaido...but let's see if you're tougher than me!"

With a burst of strength, Garp launched himself at Kaito, the ground cracking beneath his feet from the force. His fist, wrapped in a ferocious torrent of Armament Haki, hurtled toward Kaito with a thunderous roar, splitting the air with the sheer force of his strike.

Kaito raised his hand calmly, catching Garp's fist in his palm. The shockwave from the clash rippled outward, shaking the earth and tossing debris like a raging storm.

Garp grinned through the force of the clash. "Finally, a real fight!"

To say what Garp's strongest attribute is would be an understatement if it isn't his unparalleled physical prowess and the devastating power of his fists.

Garp holds no interest in swordsmanship or any other form of combat. To him, only a fist that is strong enough to shatter mountains and break wills is truly powerful. Even in his youth, Garp dedicated himself to training his iron fists relentlessly, forging them into the unyielding weapons they would become renowned for in the future. It's no wonder he would eventually earn the moniker "Garp the Fist."

The battlefield echoed with the terrifying power of Garp's punch as it crashed toward Kaito. Though Kaito's defenses were bolstered by a thick layer of Armament Haki, the force behind Garp's strike promised to leave a mark.

Kaito, wielding his blade in one hand, stared at Garp with an intense, icy gaze. His blade, wrapped in a dense coating of Haki, slashed toward Garp's incoming fist.

"Bang!!!"

The clash of fist and blade sent shockwaves in all directions, shaking the battlefield. The momentum of their duel roared like two titanic beasts colliding. The ground beneath their feet cracked and crumbled, sinking several meters from the sheer force of their confrontation.

Neither combatant held back. Every moment of their exchange unleashed waves of destructive power, reverberating through the air.

"It's been a while since anyone's stopped my iron fist. You truly are an opponent worth fighting!" Garp said with a grin, his voice filled with excitement.

Garp's motivations for joining the Marines were twofold. First, his unshakable sense of justice drove him to protect the weak and stand against the forces of evil. But there was another side to Garp: his love of fighting the strong. Titles, promotions, and prestige didn't excite him as much as the thrill of clashing against powerful opponents. Facing Kaito now, Garp's blood boiled with exhilaration.

For Garp, this battle was no longer about arresting Kaito or gathering intelligence on the Rocks Pirates. All that mattered now was the fight itself.

"As expected of a man who will one day be hailed as a Marine hero!" Kaito thought to himself.

Kaito's slash, amplified by his mastery of Armament Haki, had the power to cleave through mountains and tear the earth apart. Yet, Garp's fist—unyielding and indomitable—managed to block it. The two combatants remained locked in a fierce struggle, but as Kaito poured more power into his attacks, the balance tipped slightly in his favor. Bit by bit, Garp began to falter, his footing shifting as Kaito forced him back.

The Marines watching from a distance were stunned.

"How… how is that possible? He's overpowering Colonel Garp!"

"That's insane! This is the first time I've ever seen Colonel Garp struggle against a pirate!"

"Garp's strength is legendary! Even Colonel Sengoku can't match his raw power! How is this pirate, with only a 100-million-Berry bounty, managing to push him back?"

Whispers spread like wildfire among the Marines. Garp, one of the shining stars of the Marine Headquarters, had always been unparalleled in his age group. His unstoppable iron fists and overwhelming strength were the foundation of his reputation. Yet here he was, pushed to the brink by a member of the Rocks Pirates.

"Could this guy be a top officer of the Rocks Pirates? Otherwise, how could he possess such monstrous strength?"

For the first time, the Marines saw their indomitable Colonel Garp in a position of disadvantage. The sight left them speechless. Was this the day that Garp's iron fists would meet their match?