Yoriichi was the kind of person who, at times, would be gripped by a sudden and inexplicable sense of duty.
He stood by the shoreline for a long while. Just as he had composed himself and was about to leave, a streak of white emerged on the distant horizon.
Moments later, a mast pierced the sea's surface—followed by a flag bearing the image of a seagull, flapping crisply in the wind.
A massive navy-blue dog-headed battleship sped toward the small island where Yoriichi stood.
"MARINE."
"The Navy, huh…"
"And that figurehead—is that... Garp's?!"
Like the justice that always arrives late in the movies, the Navy warship made its appearance only after the devastation had already run its course.
Eventually, the ship drew near.
Yoriichi, who had been about to leave, paused and narrowed his eyes to study the approaching vessel.
"Yare yare…"
"This is… way over the line."
"To think such a monster would appear in the East Blue…"
Garp's warship surged toward Longyin Island. Though still hundreds of meters offshore, Garp had already spotted the red-haired youth standing atop the sea cliff. He unleashed his Observation Haki, letting it ripple toward Yoriichi like a tidal wave.
"I won't allow bastards like this to destroy the peace of the East Blue!"
As Garp spoke, he loosened the tie around his neck, grabbed his white coat of justice by the shoulder, tore it off, bent his knees slightly, and leapt—with explosive power. Despite the great distance, he vaulted straight toward Longyin Island.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The voice of his aide echoed behind him but was swiftly left behind. In the blink of an eye, Garp had become a small black dot hurtling through the sky toward the cliff.
"Something's coming?"
Yoriichi sensed a disturbance and looked up.
A dark speck shot through the sky toward him. In that instant, the silhouette became clear. Though his memory was hazy from another lifetime, Yoriichi immediately recognized the man's face.
"Garp!"
"And... he's in his prime?"
Garp's full head of black hair caught Yoriichi off guard. But before he could process it, Garp's body shifted midair—he drew back his fist, muscles coiling, black lightning crackling with deafening fury.
The surprise on Yoriichi's face hardened into focus. He tossed aside his scabbard, drew his long blade, and declared firmly:
"I'm a civilian—not a pirate."
Even though his voice wasn't loud, Garp—soaring through the sky—clearly heard him. Yet a wide grin spread across his rugged face.
In a flash, Garp was nearly upon him, his fist cloaked in overwhelming Haki, crashing down toward Yoriichi with unrelenting might.
Yoriichi reacted instantly. His breath steady, his blade burst into roaring flames as he lunged forward.
Breath of the Sun – Seventh Form: Blazing Sun Thrust!
Garp's lightning-wreathed fist met the tip of Yoriichi's sword head-on. A terrifying force surged into Yoriichi's arms.
In the next moment, he felt his strength falter. His blade wavered.
An opening.
He simply couldn't match Garp's sheer power.
Garp's fist punched straight through Yoriichi's guard, slamming into his chest like a battering ram. Yoriichi gasped, vision darkened—and lost consciousness.
BOOM!
The blow drove him into the earth.
As Yoriichi lay unconscious in the dirt, Garp strolled over casually.
"Kid's wearing animal hide… and barefoot too."
"That Conqueror's Haki just now… must've only recently awakened. All over the place—what a rookie."
"Good swordsmanship, though. Doesn't seem like a local from this island."
"A civilian? Pffft—ha!"
"No 'civilian' draws a blade like that!"
Garp chuckled as he inspected Yoriichi's outfit, recalling the boy's earlier protest. Although he strongly suspected Yoriichi was the culprit behind the island's carnage, Garp hadn't used lethal force.
At the last moment, he'd held back—just enough to knock the kid out cold.
Reaching down, he grabbed the animal pelt Yoriichi wore and hoisted him effortlessly onto his shoulder. After picking up the long blade, he turned toward the ruined town in the distance.
With Yoriichi slung across his shoulder, Garp walked slowly through the desolate settlement. A brief search led him to the battlefield.
The scene was horrific—and Garp's face darkened.
After inspecting the fatal wounds on the fallen Marines, his expression softened slightly. Glancing at the unconscious boy on his shoulder, he turned back toward the sea cliff.
As Garp examined the aftermath, his warship finally docked at Longyin Island. Marines swarmed up the cliffs in formation. Among them, his aide—Bogard—saw Garp approaching with a half-naked "wild child" slung over his shoulder and rushed over.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
"Who is this? What happened to him?"
Garp ignored the question and tossed Yoriichi—and his sword—into Bogard's arms. Bogard instinctively caught them, eyes full of confusion.
"Take the kid and his sword onboard."
"The battlefield's over there. Looks like the E-23 squad was completely wiped out. Gather our comrades' bodies—make sure they're buried properly in their hometowns."
"Search the town thoroughly. Sweep the island. See if there are any survivors."
"Report any findings to me immediately."
Bogard snapped to attention and saluted. But before carrying out the orders, he glanced down at the red-haired youth and couldn't help but ask:
"Vice Admiral Garp… Who is he? That Conqueror's Haki earlier…"
Garp, picking his nose with his pinky, replied nonchalantly:
"Oh, him? Let's just call him a 'survivor.'"
"And yeah, that Haki surge? Probably from him. Awakened by chance, most likely."
"Now quit gawking and get to work."
"Some pirate dares stir up chaos in the East Blue while I'm around? I'll crush them myself!"
He cracked his knuckles—pop, pop—as the Marines scattered across the island to carry out their tasks.
Say what you will about Garp being Luffy's grandfather—his men were efficient and reliable. Soon, they were combing every inch of Longyin Island.
Year 1497 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
The East Blue witnessed an unprecedented atrocity. The E-23 Marine squad was wiped out in its entirety while combating pirates on Longyin Island. Thousands of islanders were slaughtered. All women and children were taken.
Returning from a family visit, Marine Headquarters' Vice Admiral Garp "accidentally" encountered the pirate crew en route back to Marineford—and struck with overwhelming force.
In that battle, the seas erupted in blazing fire, painting the skies in scarlet.
In the end, all the captured women and children were rescued.
Garp's warship returned to Marineford. But this time, there was one extra passenger aboard—a red-haired youth.
(End of Chapter)