At that moment, Roger suddenly glanced into the distance. "Someone's coming!"
The others immediately followed his gaze.
For a brief moment, everything was still—until, without warning, a figure burst into view.
The newcomer's target was clear. It was Garp, or more precisely, the bear fighting against Garp.
"Sengoku is here as well" Whitebeard exclaimed, a wave of emotions flickering in his eyes.
Indeed, the man who appeared was none other than Sengoku, a prominent figure of the same Navy as Garp.
Larson wasn't particularly surprised by Sengoku's arrival. He had anticipated that the Navy wouldn't send Garp alone. Reinforcements were almost certain, though he hadn't been sure whether it would be Sengoku or Zefa. Now, seeing Sengoku, he had clarity about the situation.
'It seems Sengoku and Garp didn't come from the same direction,' Larson mused inwardly. 'Garp likely arrived from the New World, while Sengoku must have come directly from Navy Headquarters. That explains why they weren't together earlier.'
Turning his attention back to the ongoing fight, Larson's gaze hardened.
The bear, powerful though it was, stood no chance against Garp. And now, with Sengoku joining the fray, defeating it became a simple matter.
Within moments, the combined force of Sengoku's shockwave reduced the bear into a lump of quivering flesh.
Before Garp could even speak, Sengoku turned to Larson and the others with a sharp, wary expression.
"Come out," he called out coldly. "You must be exhausted from lurking in the shadows for so long."
Garp's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly activated his Observation Haki to confirm Sengoku's claim. To his astonishment, he sensed several concealed presences around them—presences he hadn't noticed until now!
The tension escalated as Roger, Whitebeard, and the rest of Larson's group emerged from their hiding spots, one by one.
When Sengoku and Garp saw who had stepped forward, their faces froze, expressions momentarily blank with shock.
The next second, both Sengoku and Garp had the same thought flash through their minds: Turn around and run!
Sengoku silently cursed himself. He had known there were people hiding, but he never expected them to be the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates! If he'd realized this earlier, he would've pretended not to notice and dragged Garp away. Calling them out was practically inviting disaster!
'Why did I have to open my mouth?!' Sengoku thought, resisting the urge to slap himself.
"Long time no see, Garp, Sengoku," Whitebeard greeted with a smirk, his deep voice carrying an ominous familiarity.
Garp clenched his fists, grinding his teeth in frustration. "Whitebeard! Roger! Why are you two together?!"
Garp had been roaming the New World recently and wasn't aware that Roger had traveled to the East Blue in search of Whitebeard. Sengoku, however, knew all too well.
Sengoku's expression darkened as he recalled reports he'd received earlier—Roger and Whitebeard had secretly formed an alliance. 'And now they're both here, on Yerug Island?' His mind raced with possibilities.
Just as Sengoku was analyzing the situation, his gaze landed on a familiar figure standing among the pirates. His face twisted with fury, veins bulging across his forehead.
"Larson!"
His voice was filled with rage, and his teeth clenched so hard that it sounded like something cracked.
Larson gave Sengoku a polite smile, the kind that could easily be mistaken for genuine. "Long time no see, Mr. Sengoku."
Sengoku's blood boiled. 'Long time no see?! I'd prefer never to see you again in this life!'
The very sight of Larson was enough to reopen old wounds. Sengoku's first chance to be promoted to Admiral had been ruined because of Larson—and he had yet to recover from that failure, still stuck at the rank of Vice-Admiral.
This mission on Yerug Island had been intended as his redemption—a straightforward task arranged by Fleet Admiral Kong to finally secure his promotion. Sengoku had been confident. After all, the strange creatures on the island posed no real threat to someone of his caliber.
At least, that's what he believed—until Larson showed up.
Sengoku now found himself gripped by an ominous premonition. 'The first time I lost my promotion because of Larson... Who's to say it won't happen again?'
Meanwhile, Roger chuckled warmly, as if oblivious to the growing tension. "Hahaha, Garp! What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."
In stark contrast to the Navy officers' anxious expressions, Larson and the others seemed utterly relaxed. There was an obvious reason for that—the sheer difference in power between the two sides.
Sengoku took a deep breath, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. "Our Navy is here on behalf of justice. I advise you all to leave this island immediately. There are things here beyond your comprehension. Don't say I didn't warn you when you regret it later."
Whether Sengoku was genuinely trying to scare them off or just bluffing, Larson's expression remained unchanged.
"Your advice is appreciated, but whether we leave or not isn't your concern." Larson smiled. "In fact, I'd like to extend an invitation—why don't the two of you join us? Explore the island together."
The unexpected invitation caught both sides off guard. Even the Roger and Whitebeard Pirates exchanged curious glances, as if they hadn't anticipated Larson's bold offer.
Sengoku's eyes narrowed. "There's no need."
Having crossed paths with Larson several times, Sengoku knew better than to underestimate him. Larson was no ordinary pirate—he was both a brilliant strategist and a fearsome fighter. Among pirates deemed most dangerous by the Navy, Larson ranked alongside Whitebeard.
Sengoku took a cautious step back, unwilling to engage further. The longer he stayed near these men, the greater the risk. 'The best move now is to leave. Anywhere away from these monsters is preferable.'
Just as Sengoku was about to suggest a retreat, a deafening roar echoed across the island.
Everyone's attention snapped back to the center of the battlefield.
Garp's face froze, his expression turning grim. 'No way…'
The bear they had reduced to pulp just moments ago had somehow reassembled itself.
Its body was now larger, and the flames burning within it blazed even more fiercely than before. The beast's newfound strength was no longer contained—it radiated from its entire being, empowering its physical form.
Larson studied the creature, quietly adjusting his estimation of Yerug Island's danger. 'This place is more troublesome than I thought.'
But what truly unsettled Sengoku was the bear's behavior. After regenerating, it ignored the pirates entirely, locking its furious gaze onto him and Garp. It remembered—it remembered who had destroyed it moments earlier.
The beast's fiery eyes burned with vengeance, and it was clear that its sole focus was now on Sengoku and Garp.
Larson, watching the scene unfold with amusement, couldn't resist a sly smile. "Well then, I suppose we'll leave you two to handle this."
His tone was light, but the message was clear.
Sengoku's heart sank. 'Damn it.'
With an air of nonchalance, Larson and the pirates began to walk away, leaving Sengoku and Garp to face the monstrous bear alone.
"Good luck, gentlemen," Larson added over his shoulder, his voice dripping with irony.