"Buster Call, huh? This is going to be huge."
Hearing they were joining a Buster Call, Pemberton was visibly excited.
As a Marine, he was naturally familiar with the legends surrounding the Buster Call.
But hearing about it was one thing—very few Marines ever actually experienced it.
The last known Buster Call had been against the Rocks Pirates. Even the large-scale manhunt for the Roger Pirates afterward never officially triggered one.
"But launching a Buster Call just for one pirate—don't you think that's a bit overkill?"
"That's because you haven't seen what he's capable of. If we let him run wild, he may not quite reach Roger's level, but he'd still be a massive threat. Eliminating him before that happens is the smart move."
Jon didn't think a Buster Call was overkill. Even if it was a bit much, as long as it got the job done, it was worth it.
"Let's pick up the pace. This time, we're moving with Sakazuki."
"It'll still take some time to mobilize the full force—we'll make it in time."
Returning to the G1 base didn't take long. Jon and the others were back within a few days.
"Jon, you were right. Barrett really isn't someone an average fighter can handle. The G7 base commander tried to apprehend him and ended up critically wounded—barely escaped with his life, but he'll likely never recover."
Sakazuki looked grim. Jon had previously suggested a Buster Call, but Sakazuki hadn't followed through at the time.
The G7 base had only recently been rebuilt, and it was now hit again. The new Vice Admiral in command had gone head-to-head with Barrett.
The result was brutal—an entire warship's crew wiped out. The Vice Admiral survived, but his body was broken beyond repair.
In the Marines, Vice Admirals are essentially the highest-level combatants after Admirals. Losing one was a huge blow.
That incident made Sakazuki finally decide to contact Admiral Sengoku and request a Buster Call.
Sengoku didn't hesitate for long and, as a Marine Admiral, personally authorized the Buster Call—this one aimed at a single man.
"It's not too late. Barrett hasn't caused irreversible damage yet. If we act quickly, we can still stop him."
"This time, Admiral Sengoku authorized the call but won't be joining himself. The five Vice Admirals leading the charge will be Garp, Borsalino, myself, Saul, and Dominok."
Garp was a Marine hero—his presence alone meant things would go smoothly.
Borsalino and Sakazuki were rising stars among Vice Admirals, Dominok was a seasoned veteran in his sixties, and Saul was a Giant and senior Vice Admiral.
"That's more than enough."
Such a lineup was more than capable of taking down Barrett.
The Buster Call wasn't just about firepower—it was also a show of Marine determination, a statement.
Realistically, Garp alone might be enough. Barrett was strong, but not on Garp's level.
It took time to mobilize the troops from the New World. While they waited at G1, preparations were underway.
A few days later, the fleet led by Garp arrived at G1.
"Sakazuki, kid—do we know where that little punk from the Roger Pirates is?" Garp asked, unusually efficient due to the urgency of the Buster Call.
"We've narrowed it down to a specific area. If we all move out, we can trap him." Sakazuki replied.
"Then let's get moving immediately. We need to capture him as fast as possible."
The Buster Call's deployment shook the New World. Five Vice Admirals and ten Marine warships—such a large-scale movement didn't go unnoticed.
The Marines thought finding Barrett would take time—but in truth, it wasn't difficult at all.
Barrett was too brazen. He had no fear of being hunted, continuing to rampage across the seas.
When they found him, he was in the middle of chasing down another group of pirates. Upon spotting the Marine fleet, he didn't run—he attacked first.
Barrett's pirate ship was an unusual submarine, fully customized. Thanks to his powers, he could pilot it solo. It was loaded with weapons and metal, perfect for enhancing his ability.
Boom... boom...
Barrett's ship packed a punch, but he was facing ten state-of-the-art Marine warships.
As soon as the battle began, the bombardment was intense. Barrett fired and maneuvered constantly to avoid being pinned down.
Then suddenly, he dove underwater—like he was fleeing.
"Jon, find his position, now!" Garp barked.
The Marine warships had no submersible capability. With Barrett's sub gone from sight, Garp immediately turned to Jon.
Jon activated Observation Haki to sense his presence—and his expression changed instantly.
"He's not fleeing—he's heading west! He's going to attack a warship!"
Garp's face hardened. He grabbed a Den Den Mushi and issued immediate orders, instructing the westernmost ships to change formation and reposition.
But Barrett's submarine moved faster underwater. It broke the surface near one ship and rammed it with full force, flipping the massive vessel.
Jon turned to Garp, saying, "Vice Admiral Garp, let me handle the rescue. You all focus on keeping him from launching another sneak attack."
Barrett's submarine was a menace. Its hull was so strong that even Marine shells barely left a scratch—using firepower to beat him was unrealistic.
As one ship flipped and its crew fell into the sea, Garp gave the command: "Don't give him another opening—force him back!"
The moment the order was issued, a red figure launched into the sky.
"Great Flame Commandment!"
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