One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

Two fists, wrapped in violent black and purple lightning, clashed fiercely through the air.

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted, sweeping across the entire uninhabited coastline in an instant. In the sky, black and purple lightning intertwined like ancient beasts, their ferocious energy biting and tearing at each other. With every clash, powerful ripples of force shattered the atmosphere.

The sea churned with monstrous waves, rocking Garp's warship violently.

"Stay alert! This is a clash of Conqueror's Haki! Keep your distance from the ship! If it gets caught up, the warship won't hold!" shouted Bogart, Garp's adjutant.

"Ah la la, what a frightening kid," Aokiji muttered from the deck, observing the distant battle. His eyes, filled with shock, revealed the depth of his unease as his Observation Haki sensed the sheer intensity of the confrontation.

Though he had been warned by the Fleet Admiral Sengoku that Portgas D. Ace could now unleash attacks on par with the Four Emperors just through martial arts and Conqueror's Haki, only now, feeling the raw force firsthand, did Aokiji fully comprehend the magnitude of Ace's power.

BOOM!

Another clash of fists. The resulting shockwave tore apart the coastline, and the air buzzed with the endless collisions of Conqueror's Haki. Purple-black lightning lashed out, biting at each other furiously.

"To think you've grown this strong..." Garp mused inwardly. His martial prowess, fully unleashed, was being met head-on by Ace's martial prowess and Haki. Ace wasn't just surviving; he was holding his own—and even pushing Garp back at times. A hint of pride tugged at the corners of Garp's mouth.

Just relying on his martial arts and Conqueror's Haki alone, Ace had reached such heights. And that was without the Mera Mera no Mi or Ace's ultimate technique—Flame Sword Burial. With all of his abilities combined, Ace truly stood atop the world's strongest. Garp could already foresee it: Ace would one day surpass even him at his peak.

Yet a flicker of worry crept into Garp's mind. He recalled Ace's bold declaration at the Shichibukai meeting in the Holy Land: that he would take down Kaido.

Garp knew his grandson all too well. If Ace had said he was coming for Kaido, then Kaido's days were numbered in his mind. Still, even with Ace's incredible power, Kaido was no ordinary foe. Known as the strongest creature in the world, Kaido of the Beasts stood at the pinnacle of strength—his Devil Fruit ability, physical prowess, and Haki all at their absolute peak. Even Garp, with all his might, could only capture Kaido after a long, grueling battle—and even then, Kaido could not be killed.

Ace was undoubtedly heading into a war on a scale few could imagine, and the outcome was uncertain.

"Hey, old man," Ace called, snapping Garp from his thoughts. His eyes shone with confidence, and he grinned with Haki.

"Why is your Haki wavering? At this rate, it looks like the Marine hero might just be captured by the Entei Pirate Captain!" Ace taunted, his grin widening.

"Don't get cocky, brat!" Garp barked back, his smile just as fierce. "Do you think you can defeat me just because you've shaken up the seas a little?"

Garp's eyes gleamed, and the purple-black lightning around him surged wildly.

"Shaken up the seas?" Ace laughed as lightning crackled around him, more violent than ever. "That's not nearly enough!"

BOOM!

The sky itself seemed to tremble under the force of their clashing Haki.

"Hahaha!" Garp laughed loudly, his worries vanishing in the face of Ace's overwhelming confidence.

Yes, his grandson was no ordinary man. He was Portgas D. Ace, the Flame Emperor. In the coming battle with Kaido, the one who would emerge victorious would undoubtedly be Ace.

Their fists collided once more, a final clash of wills and Haki. After nearly an entire day of battling, leaving the uninhabited coast in ruins, both fighters finally withdrew their fists.

"Hahaha, Raki, get the banquet ready!" Ace called out, his voice brimming with excitement as he led Garp toward the group of girls waiting nearby. "Old man, today you're in for a treat—the best cook on my ship is making dinner!"

Raki's face flushed with pride, and she smiled brightly.

"A-Ace, is this... is this really your grandfather?" Nami stammered, still processing the battle she had just witnessed through her Observation Haki.

"Hahaha, that's right!" Garp roared with laughter. "I'm Ace's grandfather, Monkey D. Garp!"

"Monkey D. Garp?! As in...?" Kaya's hands flew to her mouth in shock.

"The Marine Hero! Vice Admiral Garp!" Tashigi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she stared at Garp, the legend himself.

The girls were stunned into silence. The man standing before them, a Marine legend who had once hunted the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, was Ace's grandfather?!

"Oh? You're Tashigi, the former officer from Loguetown, aren't you?" Garp said with a grin. "Hahaha, whether you're a Marine or a pirate, it's important to uphold the justice in your heart."

"That's what I've always done," Tashigi said earnestly, "and with the Entei Pirates, I can truly uphold that justice."

"Oh?" Garp chuckled, clearly pleased.

Aokiji, who had landed ashore and was approaching the group, had a complicated look in his eyes. He had heard all about Tashigi from Smoker and knew that she was a Marine officer of exceptional conviction. Now, she believed that justice could be better upheld under Ace's command. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but he couldn't argue.

Since Ace had set sail, he had never harmed innocent civilians. In fact, he had done the opposite—freeing villages like Cocoyasi from the tyrannical rule of Arlong, a fishman allied with corrupt Marines. He had also saved Alabasta by stopping the coup orchestrated by the Shichibukai Crocodile.

All these actions were glaring failures on the part of the Marines. To the world, Ace, a pirate, was the one upholding justice.

Aokiji's face remained impassive, but inwardly, he was conflicted. Though countless Marines still upheld justice, it was hard to ignore that the World Government often prioritized its own interests over true justice.

The Shichibukai system stands as the clearest evidence of the problem. It directly opposes the true justice Aokiji believes in.

"This Marine system must change!" he thought. "It should uphold justice, not serve as a violent tool for the World Government's rule."

However, merely being an Admiral is not enough to transform the Marine. To enact real change, one must become the Fleet Admiral. Only then can there be hope for a Marine that stands for true justice.

"Sakazuki… this is the one thing I won't let you achieve," Aokiji thought, clenching his fists, with an uncharacteristic fire in his eyes—an intense determination, despite his body cold from the effects of the Ice-Ice Fruit.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts. "Aokiji!" 

Seeing the figure approach, the girls around Ace instantly became alert.

Aokiji raised his hands nonchalantly. "Ah la la, I'm not here to fight. Still recovering from the last one." A lazy smile crept back across his face.

The girls, after a moment, relaxed slightly. After all, he was here with Ace's grandfather, Garp. There didn't seem to be any intention to arrest anyone.

Robin smiled gently and said, "Grandpa, the food will be ready soon. Let's go."

Garp blinked in surprise, staring at Robin. "Grandpa?!"

Aokiji too raised an eyebrow in disbelief. The "Demon Child" Nico Robin was calling Garp... grandpa?

Robin turned to Ace with a playful smile. "It's alright to call him that, isn't it?"

Ace just laughed. "Yeah, I call him old man anyway."

Both Garp and Aokiji were momentarily dumbfounded, exchanging looks of confusion.

"Well then, Grandpa," Robin continued with a smile, "let's start the party soon."

"Uh… right, sure…" Garp nodded, still a bit dazed. His mind raced as he processed everything.

"Ace.. with Nico Robin?" Garp shuddered at the realization. His grandson was certainly... impressive!

"Grandpa, the party is about to start, and I've prepared some medicinal wine," Kaya, with a gentle yet confident smile, chimed in. "It's great for your health."

Kaya's bravery made Garp's expression soften, clearly appreciating her gesture.

Then, Nami and Nojiko spoke up, beaming, "Grandpa, we've brought oranges from our hometown. You'll love them!"

Vivi, not wanting to be left out, added with a smile, "And I've made some Alabasta pastries, just for Ace."

Garp, still stunned by the warmth and attention, nodded weakly. "Ah, sure, I'll try everything…"

He glanced at Ace once more, overwhelmed. "Vivi… the princess of Alabasta, too?! My grandson… he's capable, but this is too much!" 

Aokiji rubbed his temple, his expression unreadable. "This guy's more dangerous than I thought…"

Seeing Robin's genuine smile, Aokiji felt a wave of relief. "You've finally found where you belong, Robin," he thought. Saul would be happy.

"A banquet, huh? Guess I'm staying," Aokiji chuckled as Ace grabbed him by the neck, pulling him down despite their height difference.

"Hey! I'm a Marine Admiral, not here to party with pirates!" Aokiji protested half-heartedly.

---

Later, at the Banquet

"Hahaha! Drink, Kuzan, drink!" Ace laughed as he nudged Aokiji, who reluctantly downed another glass.

"Ha…" Aokiji sighed, then took a bite of the barbecue.

"How is it, Kuzan? My crew's cooking skills, huh?" Ace grinned, slapping Aokiji's arm playfully.

"…World-class," Aokiji mumbled, now slightly tipsy.

"Hahaha, Kuzan, I've never seen you drink this much!" Garp laughed heartily.

"Well, Ace didn't really give me a choice… a fight or a party," Aokiji replied, sounding resigned. "Didn't want to die just because I didn't want to attend a banquet…"

The absurdity of the situation was too much even for him—an Admiral forced into a party with pirates!

"But that's right, Garp-san," Aokiji continued. "We did come here for business."

Garp turned serious, looking at Ace. "So, Ace. How about it? Do you want to become a Shichibukai?"

Aokiji's gaze sharpened as well. If Ace's immense power could be channeled as a Shichibukai, it could mean the end of the era of pirates.

Even Iceburg, observing from afar, was taken aback. So that's why they're here...

The girls, too, looked to Ace expectantly, some biting their lips in anticipation.

Ace, however, simply smiled and replied, "I refuse."

Garp nodded, unsurprised. "As expected."

Aokiji let out a long sigh. "It makes sense. A man like you wouldn't settle for being a Shichibukai, with ambitions like yours."

"Ambitions?" Ace looked at him curiously. "You misunderstood something, Kuzan."

Aokiji furrowed his brow. Wasn't Ace's ambition to become the "King of the World," like Rocks?

Garp chuckled and took a swig of his drink. "No, Kuzan. Ace's ambition isn't like Rocks'. It's something far greater."

Aokiji's frown deepened. What did Garp-san mean?

Ace then laughed loudly, "Let me tell you what I really mean by being the 'King of the World!'"

Aokiji's eyes widened, and the girls around Ace leaned in, curious. Garp just smiled knowingly, as he drank.