Settsetse! The Pirate Nemesis

When Sett recaptured Garp's figure, what appeared in front of Sett was that calloused iron fist.

The heavy blow struck Sett squarely in the face. Feeling the raging pain coursing through his body, Sett felt his heart begin to beat again—he forcefully rammed his face back against Garp's fist, which seemed embedded in his cheek. And with that almost distorted face, Garp saw a wild, savage grin.

Without dodging, Sett's jet-black fists slammed mercilessly into Garp's face right in front of him. The dog-head hat he'd been wearing was instantly shattered. The power boost from Sett's "Subduing the Enemy's Might" ability and the explosive attack speed after triggering "Haul of Blades" caught Garp completely off guard.

With two punches, feeling the fighting spirit residing in his fists, Garp suddenly felt a sense of excitement—since the execution of Pirate King Roger and the defeat of Shiki in Marineford, Garp had not seen anyone like this who dared to throw a punch at him, let alone challenge him!

With this thought in mind, Garp did not hesitate when faced with Sett's counterattack, and immediately raised his leg and kicked without saying a word.

bump!!!

It struck the abdomen squarely, shooting out like a cannonball, and upon contact with the sea surface, a huge wave caused the entire sea to surge.

Garp was initially excitedly waiting for Sett to come up, but after a moment, he suddenly realized that Sett seemed to be a Devil Fruit user according to the information.

Upon realizing this, Garp slapped his forehead, then quickly took out a Den Den Mushi and said to the warship beside him, "Prepare for salvage!"

As he spoke, Garp tossed aside his red and black epaulettes, the symbol of justice of the Navy, making a gesture as if he wanted to jump into the water.

But just as Garp was about to jump in to save people, suddenly, within Garp's Observation Haki, a hostile aura rapidly approached from the seabed.

Highland lineage!!!

His heart pumped, his blood intensified. Faint wisps of crimson steam rose from Sett's body. Wind resistance and water pressure became nonexistent concepts for Sett in that instant. With his upper body still leaning towards the water's surface, Garp quickly realized, upon seeing the golden-red glow beneath the surface, that Sett's abilities did not originate from a Devil Fruit.

A pair of thick, veiny arms suddenly emerged from the water, their immense strength making Garp wonder what this young man had eaten to grow up—it far exceeded the limits of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users of the same age!

What impressed Garp even more was Sett's speed.

From the moment the first attack was triggered, to being kicked into the water, and then emerging from the water like this, the entire process took 1.5 seconds.

In other words—Fatal Tempo, triggered!

In a daze, a golden light seemed to flash across Sett's eyes. Immediately afterwards, Sett forcefully grabbed Garp's body and threw him into the air.

Sett took a deep breath, and his lungs expanded rapidly. In everyone's sight, the outline of his chest magnified, like a lifebuoy filled with air.

Then, using Moonwalk, Sett silently soared into the air. His amber eyes shimmered with a golden hue as he unleashed his explosive power.

The duration of Fatal Tempo is very short, at most six seconds in the game's setting—in the previous battle with Judge, even though I deliberately reduced my power output in order to maximize the combat thrill, Fatal Tempo still established an absolute advantage in a short moment.

It was because of that experience, and through continuous development along the way, that Sett mastered the method of extending Lethal Tempo—the essence of Lethal Tempo is to maximize the stimulation of the body's muscle response and coordination ability while being essentially harmless.

Based on this, what if we maximize the stimulation of the body's fighting instincts before setting off or at the moment of triggering the attack?

In the process of attacking, maintaining power output usually requires coordinating with breathing. Only by mastering the rhythm can one ensure the speed and power of their attack.

And on this basis, simply give up breathing...

With a chest that seemed to inflate, Sett's attacks instantly filled every corner of Garp's vision.

The dense frequency of attacks felt more than just afterimages; it was as if dozens of arms had appeared on top of the original attack, delivering a high-frequency, continuous barrage!

The barrage of attacks, like a storm, rained down on Garp, but before he could retaliate, they were already withdrawn and landed on another part of his body.

The fierce attack elicited gasps from the Marines—this was the first time they had ever seen Vice Admiral Garp at a disadvantage in close-quarters combat!

But Garp is Garp, and a naval hero is a naval hero. Your grandpa will always be your grandpa.

With his Observation Haki activated, the entire world seemed to fall silent for a moment. Sett's attacks remained relentless, but Garp could now clearly see the trajectory of each attack.

"Kid... I'm Garp the Iron Fist!!!"

Suddenly opening his eyes, a glint of light flashed in Garp's grey eyes. Immediately afterward, Sett felt a sharp, shattering pain in his arm—Garp had caught the trajectory of his attack, and the moment their fists collided head-on, even though the forces were evenly matched, the heavy blow caused a crack to appear in Sett's bones.

"Ha! Your bones aren't strong enough! You brat!!!"

He laughed heartily, but there was absolutely no mockery in his words. On the contrary, they were full of admiration for Sett.

While still breathing, Sett revealed a chilling grin. In the next instant, somewhat unexpectedly, the iron fist, fractured and dripping with blood from the clash, was swiftly withdrawn, then struck him squarely in the face, where he was still smiling!

"Really? Then how come you didn't know I deliberately showed a weakness so I could punch you in the face? You old geezer!!!"

143. Giant Wave

Although he didn't speak, Sett's expression told Capsettle what he was thinking.

Possessing strength far exceeding that of ordinary admirals, Garp's physical abilities are simply monstrous. Even with Sett's current physical abilities, he pales in comparison to Garp in his prime.

The relentless attacks made it seem like Sett had the upper hand, but that wasn't actually the case—Garp hadn't even used Armament Haki from beginning to end!

The instant Karp attacked Sett, Sett's consciousness, relying on the terrifying speed boost from Lethal Tempo, immediately launched a counterattack.

A heavy, powerful fist slammed into Garp's cheek like an iron hammer. A surge of blood rose, and two streams of blood gushed from Garp's delicate nose—everyone has weaknesses, like the tip of the nose, a boneless organ. Even a strongman like Garp, without the reinforcement of Armament Haki, couldn't escape the fate of a nosebleed!

Sensing Sett's surging fighting spirit and smelling the blood, Garp was not angry. On the contrary, his smile deepened.

With a surge of heroic spirit in his eyes, Garp suddenly turned his gaze towards Sett. Before Sett could react, a sonic boom accompanied Garp's iron fist, which almost grazed Sett's cheek. Although it missed, the force of the punch alone caused Sett a sharp pain.

Even so, Sett didn't create any distance—the period when Lethal Tempo is activated is also when Sett's destructive power is at its peak. If it were against someone like Judge or Doflamingo, a weakling, it wouldn't matter; in his normal state, six seconds would be enough to establish a significant advantage. But this time is different.

Garp's strength is on a completely different level from theirs!

If a certain rhythm is maintained, Sett's relentless, breathless attack could last for about twelve minutes. But against a powerhouse like Garp, he can only sustain it for a maximum of five minutes—any longer and while other bodily functions might not be significantly affected, his lungs will definitely suffer damage from overexertion!

Amidst Sett's storm of attacks, Garp, a veteran of countless battles and a man who had seen it all—pirates, marines, and independent powerhouses—quickly realized, with his long-honed insight, that something was amiss with Sett's unusually high frequency of attacks.

Upon closer inspection, the bulging chest seemed to lack the slightest rise and fall of normal breathing—suffocation… no, it was a complete cessation of breathing!!

Deadly rhythm, highland blood, the Undying Grip, double strikes… all within this storm of boxing. No, it wasn't just boxing; Sett's continuous, high-frequency attacks, his thick, pole-like thighs, were also sweeping like guillotines.

Knee strikes, front kicks, side kicks... with each swing of his limbs, Sett would burst out a puff of steam-like blood mist from his body.

His heart raced, oxygen was being transported. His pumping heart, like a water pump, relentlessly circulated blood throughout his body. His muscles, strong as dragons, worked in perfect harmony with every strike from Sett, unleashing terrifying power that caused the capillaries connecting his arteries and veins to burst.

Sensing something, Garp's gaze suddenly narrowed. Then, enduring Sett's barrage of attacks, Garp's right arm retracted behind him. Power rose from his heels, then his thighs, then his spine, and finally, through the dense muscles of his back, all of it was channeled into his right fist.

"Fist of Bone - Iron Fist of Love!!!"

Overwhelmed by a domineering aura, Garp's flesh-colored, calloused hands were instantly covered in darkness. Despite Sett's relentless, storm-like attacks, Garp's iron fists, though seemingly following only a single trajectory, gave the impression of absolute indestructibility.

A tremendous sense of crisis flooded Sett's mind through the feedback of his Observation Haki. Although he could sense the threat, Sett was completely powerless to stop it—once the Breathless Combo was activated, even Sett couldn't stop it immediately. Otherwise, the intense clash from both ends would be enough to rupture the inside of Sett's lungs!

With a determined look, Sett turned his gaze to Garp's fist.

Click!

Sett's arm, already fractured from the previous punch, shattered completely in this collision. Fragments of bone pierced into his flesh, but even so, Sett didn't stop. On the contrary, even without bones, Sett's arm continued to strike relentlessly.

The Gathering Storm caused Sett's muscle density to increase continuously, while the Grasp of the Undying strengthened his internal organs. In comparison, although Sett himself was also constantly growing, the strength of his bones was not as significant as the muscle growth rate under the Gathering Storm!

Against his past enemies, this might not be a problem. Even with normal training, Sett's physique far surpasses that of his peers, and even those of the new generation of naval officers. But against a monster like Garp, Sett's skeletal shortcomings are laid bare!

Similarly, Garp also noticed this: "I told you... your bones aren't strong enough!!!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the tide of battle turned instantly. The Iron Fist of Love struck him squarely in the abdomen. For the first time in this world, Sett experienced what it felt like to vomit bile after a severe blow to the stomach.

He suppressed the urge to vomit and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.

Under Garp's somewhat excited gaze, Sett raised his face once more.

"It's easy to boast... especially when you still have all your teeth!"

"Ok?"

Upon hearing Sett's words, Garp raised an eyebrow slightly. Then, Sett leaped from the deck with a sudden burst of speed. The explosive force was beyond even Garp's expectations—because it wasn't a suitable stance for exerting force.

Immediately afterward, by the time Garp came to his senses, Sett had already wrapped his arms around him.

Immediately, an undeniable force lifted Garp up as if he were pulled from the ground. He leaped into the air, and the surrounding scenery rapidly spun before Garp regained his senses. When he came to, the landscape had transformed into an endless expanse of azure blue, the crescent-shaped horizon a breathtaking sight. But Garp had no time for appreciation. During his descent, he could feel that the more he struggled, the faster and more forcefully he fell. Sensing the threat, Armament Haki enveloped his entire body. In the instant he struggled to break free…

The next moment, the intense friction of the air generated a high temperature that instantly ignited Garp's clothes.

Raising his fist, Garp tried to make Sett let go by hammering him. But unfortunately, no matter how Garp attacked, Sett's body remained unmoved.

Rumble!!!

Like a giant meteorite striking Earth, it fell from the sky, the intense air friction instantly igniting the clothes around the person. Finally, with a resounding airburst, the dot finally made contact with the sea level in people's sight.

boom!!!!

The breathtaking destructive power wasn't just Sett's own strength, but also took into account the enemy's physique. As one of the world's top powerhouses, Garp's physical strength was undoubtedly the strongest in the world—other top beings often had some form of Devil Fruit ability to aid them. But Garp was different; he had trained his mortal body alone to the point where he could rival them, and even defeat them!

Upon impact with the water, the speed and force were so immense that the surface of the sea initially remained undisturbed. Only after several seconds did the seawater begin to expand from within. A gigantic bubble burst from the bottom with a deafening roar. In an instant, the turbulent sea rose hundreds of meters high, a terrifying wave seemingly poised to swallow the entire world!

Located right in the center, even though Garp had made ample preparations to withstand the impact, the moment he made contact with the water, the originally soft surface felt like a steel plate to him. He was slammed into the water, the high-speed impact vibrating through his flesh and bones, shaking his internal organs. Even with his teeth clenched, thin streams of blood still uncontrollably spurted from between his teeth.

Meanwhile, the fish, who had been peacefully swimming on the seabed, suddenly felt a violent storm erupt from somewhere, its radiating shockwaves sweeping outwards. Before they could move away, the storm-like shockwaves, carrying chaotic currents, instantly shredded their soft bodies! In an instant, the entire seabed was engulfed in crimson. Wherever the chaotic currents passed, the immense force they carried pulverized even the seabed reefs upon contact!

That brat!!!

Feeling excruciating pain, Garp kept his eyes tightly shut, his face etched with grief. This was the first time Garp had suffered such severe injury since the fall of Pirate King Roger. Broken bones, ruptured internal organs, contused tissues… his blood and qi surged with the impact, an indescribable sense of chaos constantly assaulting Garp's mind. Wave after wave, like tidal waves.

Forcing his eyes open, Garp called Sett a brat, but there was no trace of contempt in his eyes. In fact, when he looked at Sett, there was a hint of unspoken fear and affection.

What's frightening is that Sett possesses such terrifying destructive power at such a young age. What's endearing is that, at least Sett didn't become some kind of revolutionary like his bastard son!

Meanwhile, upon witnessing the colossal wave, both the navy and Hawkeye stared in disbelief—the ability to alter climate, celestial phenomena, and terrain had always been the entry standard for the world's top powers. And now, these hundreds-of-meters-high waves were fortunate to have appeared on open sea; if they had occurred near a nation's borders, Hawkeye had no doubt that it would have been a catastrophic disaster!

However, Hawkeye was also aware of Sett's strength. While Sett was indeed strong, he shouldn't be that strong!

That terrifying power was due to Garp's formidable physical attributes. If it were Hawkeye, even ten of them probably wouldn't be enough to kill him—a swordsman's body is inherently less resilient than that of a pure physical cultivator!

But now, there was clearly no time to concern themselves with such matters. A hundred-meter-high wave crashed down amidst the surging waves. The entire sea churned and churned—before, Hawkeye had only taken the title "Sett's Sunken Kingdom" as an exaggerated amusement. After all, compared to ships floating on the water, even a small island was connected to deep ley lines; how could it sink so easily?

But now, Hawkeye believed it—this was still on the water, and the impact of Sett and Garp was transmitted back to their original location by the current of the sea, dissipating most of the force. If this were on a smaller island, the tremor alone would have been enough to cause it to disintegrate from the inside and crumble!

Even a kingdom island the size of Flevans, subjected to such a terrifying impact, would be shattered from a large island into either dense or scattered archipelagos!

Compared to Hawkeye's thoughtful analysis, the navy personnel watching the massive wave crashing towards them were filled with despair—hundreds of meters high, completely obscuring the sun. A colossal shadow enveloped the entire fleet; judging by the wave's momentum, once it made contact with a ship, the impact would likely snap it in two!

Seeing this, Hawkeye sighed helplessly.

The next moment, to the despair of the sailors, a cold light ripped through the sky. Immediately afterwards, a huge gap appeared in the giant wave that was falling from the sky.

Behind that massive gap, Hawkeye, wielding the Black Shield, was faintly visible.

Before the navy could cheer, a giant wave crashed down, and the sea became even more turbulent. The warship, tossed about by the wind and rain, did not have the oppressive feeling it should have. On the contrary, it looked more like a battered little boat that seemed to be about to sink at any moment due to the impact of a wave!

Climbing out of the sea, Garp grabbed a wooden barrel floating on the surface due to the ship's rocking. He wiped the blood from his beard and looked back, his eyes still burning with fighting spirit, as Sett stubbornly swam out from the water. They fell simultaneously, and although Garp took the majority of the impact damage, they were connected at the moment of impact. Although Sett suffered less than a tenth of the damage Garp received, it still caused Sett considerable injury. His right arm, chest, left calf, and ribs were all broken. A gash appeared on his forehead, and crimson blood instantly stained half of Sett's handsome face. The salty seawater clung to his skin, constantly creating a stinging sensation, but standing on a broken plank, the fire in Sett's eyes did not extinguish in the slightest.

He spat, and although Sett didn't say anything, Garp already knew what he was thinking through Sett's eyes—the eyes of a pure warrior.

"Again."

"Again!!!"