Chapter 354: Iori Yagami's Berserk State
Buzz buzz buzz
As Iori Yagami's final strike came to a halt, he didn't attack again.
The sand and rocks kicked up by the shockwave of his attack, the bent grass and trees, and the tidal waves surging back into the sea gradually settled.
The civilian paparazzi in the forest near the coast felt the trembling ground slowly stabilize.
Steadying themselves, they held their camera and quietly watched the figure that had fallen from the sky onto the ground.
Their wide eyes didn't miss a single detail.
Had Marine Garp really lost just like that?!
If he had lost, would Iori Yagami kill him?!
As their thoughts swirled in their minds, the motionless figure lying on the sandy beach suddenly twitched, before he abruptly sat up.
"Hahaha! Hey, you little punk, you really don't hold back, do you?!"
Garp reached up and patted his head, shaking off the dizziness from earlier.
Now, facing Iori Yagami, who was coldly staring at him from a distance, Garp didn't bother with formalities and just called him a "punk."
This guy had the audacity to hit a nearly sixty-year-old man so hard—what a jerk!
If it were anyone else, they'd have been beaten to death by now.
Even for him, it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.
That power was too bizarre. It had somehow severed his connection to Armament Haki, forcing him to take such heavy blows with his bare body.
Luckily, he could still instinctively tense his muscles, greatly enhancing his resistance to damage.
Even so, he'd sustained some injuries not severe, but even minor wounds were too humiliating.
To think that he, facing a kid who'd only recently made a name for himself, had been beaten into such a sorry state right from the start.
Especially with those civilian paparazzi still lurking in the forest. He could already imagine tomorrow's headlines featuring him.
Thud thud thud!
Garp stood up from the beach, brushing the sand off his body with his hands, though as he did so, new grievances bubbled up in his mind.
Under his gaze, his clothes were torn in several places, the tattered fabric making him look a bit like a beggar.
This image made Garp's face twist as if he was constipated.
Rip! Rip!
He simply tore off his upper garments entirely and tossed his cape aside.
His muscular, robust upper body was now fully exposed.
Next, he was going to get serious.
He had to teach this punk a lesson—no, give him a taste of the "Fist of Love."
Otherwise, this kid might get too full of himself and soar to the heavens.
"Punk, I'm getting serious now. I'm a legendary Marine, don't underestimate me!"
Garp shouted passionately at Iori Yagami, who stood silently staring at him from a distance. He felt a rush, as if he was experiencing a second youth, back in his prime.
Though his opponent was a young man, his physical skills were not to be underestimated, and paired with that ability, he was incredibly tricky to deal with.
An opponent like this made Garp's blood boil with excitement.
Such an outstanding young man wandering the seas like this was such a waste!
He'd be better off joining the Marines, training with him every day by punching warship sandbags, wouldn't that be great?!
"Stop blabbering! You're wasting time!"
Hearing Iori Yagami finally speak, Garp's old face flushed red, instantly irritated.
"Is that so? Punk, as you wish."
Boom!
Garp immediately used the Six Powers' Soru, leaping forward at blinding speed, he was so fast that he was in front of Iori Yagami the moment his words fell.
He swung a powerful fist wrapped in terrifying Armament Haki toward Iori Yagami.
Facing Garp's charging figure, Due to his incredible speed, Iori Yagami immediately assumed a blocking stance.
Crack!
Boom rumble rumble!
The terrifying force passed through Iori Yagami's body, piercing toward the forest behind him.
The forest was swept by the shockwave Garp transmitted through Iori Yagami, instantly uprooting and sending dozens of trees flying.
The sight made the watching paparazzi jump in fright. As expected, the Marine Hero Garp is no joke.
What a monster!
"Hahaha! How's that? Doesn't feel too good, does it?!"
Garp laughed as he threw another punch, his attack speed growing faster and faster.
He was mimicking how Iori Yagami had comboed him earlier, launching his own flurry of strikes.
Bang bang bang!
Boom boom boom!
The air exploded, and shockwaves tore apart the ground beneath their feet.
The massive impact caused waves to rise on one side of the sea, while the coastal forest on the other side bent over as if hit by a typhoon.
Sand and gravel swirled around the two fighters, making it impossible for the paparazzi to see clearly.
Only the bang bang bang of powerful strikes reverberated in their ears.
Boom!
After a short while, With Garp's final attack, Iori Yagami was forced back, his feet digging deep into the ground.
Garp watched as Iori Yagami was pushed back but didn't seem to take much damage.
He was inwardly surprised. Though he hadn't held back much with his Armament Haki just now, this guy had been completely suppressed and unable to fight back.
Yet his durability left Garp inwardly exclaiming in amazement.
Whoosh whoosh!
A gust of wind blew, dispersing the sand and dust kicked up by their clash. The two stood facing each other.
Feeling Garp stop, Iori Yagami lowered his arms.
Though Garp had landed quite a few hits, he hadn't taken much damage.
It's thanks not only to his use of Armament Haki and instinctive force-deflection skills, But more importantly, the power of Yasakani no Magatama was incredibly useful.
Beyond its sealing and suppression abilities, it also had healing properties.
This healing ability kept his body constantly recovering, and the damage Garp had dealt clearly couldn't outpace his regeneration speed.
Even so, it hadn't caused Iori Yagami significant harm, but it had forced him into a position where he couldn't strike back.
With his current base stats all at A-rank, Iori Yagami was still somewhat outmatched by Garp.
Earlier, he'd caught Garp off guard and landed a hit with his ability, but now Garp was not only attacking proactively. He was also wary of Iori Yagami's strange power.
In this situation, he had no chance of winning in his normal state.
So, to avoid being on the defensive, Iori Yagami prepared to unleash a more ferocious form.
Whoosh whoosh!!
The sea breeze blew, but its coolness couldn't suppress the oppressive atmosphere around them.
Gulp!
The paparazzi in the distant forest, along with Bogart, who had arrived at some point, felt the shifting aura.
That wild, violent aura made the paparazzi tremble and left Bogart's face full of shock.
And Garp, facing Iori Yagami head-on, could feel this terrifying power even more acutely.
Moreover, the look in the man's eyes had changed, blood-red light now swirled in the young man's gaze.
This was?!
Sensing Iori Yagami's aura surge, Garp's expression grew solemn.
Fortunately, though it was dangerous, it was still within a range he could handle.
At this moment, Iori Yagami's eyes glowed red, and he began to pant slightly. In this state, his strength and speed surged dramatically, a combination of his Orochi Blood Flame ability and his Instincts erupting together.
It felt a bit like the "Berserk Iori" from Kai's previous life, though the essence was different.
Now, with the Orochi Blood Flame as his innate ability, Iori Yagami wouldn't lose control.
So he remained conscious, though in this state, his emotions became more frenzied, his instincts were unleashed, urging him to roar and vent.
"Waaarghhh!"
A somewhat inhuman roar echoed through the sky, shaking the air and kicking up a wave of force.
Seeing Iori Yagami like this, Garp felt as though he was facing a savage, ferocious beast.
He adopted a serious stance, ready for what was to come.
Bring it on! Let's see what kind of surprise this young man could give him!
( End of this Chapter )