Ares plunged into the sea and quickly swam toward the approaching Navy battleship, using the swimming techniques he had just learned from Sebastian.
On the Navy battleship.
A tall, muscular man in a black suit, his frame bursting with power, stood straight and steady. The white "Justice" cape on his back billowed in the sea breeze.
A broad grin spread across his face, revealing a row of pearly white teeth as he muttered excitedly, "To think I would run into both the Wald Pirates and a cadre of the Rocks Pirates at the same time!"
"Perfect!!"
"I was getting bored out here on the open sea. Let's have some fun!"
"I'll send them straight to prison!"
He cracked his knuckles, his joints popping loudly as he flexed his wrists and fingers.
"Finally, a real fight. Let me, Monkey D. Dragon, wipe out these evil pirates!"
Just then, a somewhat immature but spirited voice chimed in.
It was a pale-skinned teenager, a little over a meter tall, with sharp, fierce features and a determined fire in his eyes.
But before he could finish his sentence, a fist the size of a cannonball slammed into his head with a loud thud.
Dragon instantly dropped to the ground, clutching his bruised, throbbing head in agony.
"Ah!! That hurts!!"
The surrounding Marines stood frozen, cold sweat dripping from their brows.
Vice Admiral Garp's booming voice rang out right next to him, "When you've mastered Rokushiki, then you can join the fight!"
"You're still just a kid! Battles like these are way out of your league!"
The enemies they were facing included the powerful Wald Pirates and a cadre of the Rocks Pirates. With Dragon's current level, he would be charging straight to his death.
Garp didn't hesitate to give Dragon a painful lesson the infamous "Fist of Love!"
Completely unfazed by Dragon's resentful glare, Garp casually picked his nose and side-eyed his son.
Dragon turned away, fists clenched tightly, grumbling through gritted teeth, "He still treats me like a kid. Damn it!!"
At this time, Dragon was only thirteen, wearing a plain white sailor uniform without rank.
Garp shifted his gaze toward the distant pirate ship, where Byrnndi World was battling Wang Zhi, a cadre of the Rocks Pirates.
His expression burned with excitement. "This time, we'll catch them all in one sweep!!"
Suddenly, Garp's sharp instincts caught something.
His grin widened. "Looks like trouble's coming our way!"
Dragon's head darted around, searching in confusion.
Right as Garp finished speaking, a huge, shiny, bald head popped up over the ship's railing.
Ares moved fast.
In just a few moments, he had flipped over the railing and landed squarely on the Navy battleship's deck.
His enormous, muscle-packed frame and the wild, primal aura radiating from him created an overwhelming pressure.
Panic swept across the deck.
"A pirate!! How did he get here?!"
"Who is this guy? Doesn't he know this is Vice Admiral Garp's ship?!"
"He's huge! Does he have giant blood?!"
"Those muscles look like polished bronze!!"
In an instant, dozens of rifles were raised and aimed at Ares.
Dragon frowned as he stared at the man who had just boarded. "Why did he come here alone?"
Weren't the other pirates still fighting over there?
Garp, however, just casually waved him off and called out, "Hey kid, wanna join the Navy?"
"You've got a great build! You'd make an outstanding Marine!"
The faces of the Marines on deck, including Dragon's, instantly darkened, black lines forming across their foreheads.
Ares looked at Garp. As expected, this was the commanding officer of this ship.
Surrounded by dozens of rifle barrels, he remained calm and replied, "No, I won't join the Navy."
"I am a pirate."
His fierce gaze swept over the entire deck as he asked, "Who's the strongest here?"
"Let that person fight me!!"
His arrogant words made Dragon instantly furious. He turned to glare at his old man, but Garp was already fast asleep, a huge snot bubble inflating from his nose.
He's asleep? Seriously?!
Dragon was speechless. How could his dad fall asleep right now with such a loudmouth pirate onboard?
"Why are you just standing there? Fire!!" Dragon roared at the Marines on deck.
Immediately.
The Marines frantically squeezed their triggers.
Bang bang bang!!
Bang bang bang!!
Dozens of lead bullets tore through the air, all targeting Ares.
Ares instantly activated his unique Armament Haki. His arm turned a deep crimson, steaming white vapors rising from his skin, making the sight all the more terrifying.
With a single sweep of his arm, the bullets clattered to the deck.
"What... what kind of monster is this?!" Dragon's eyes widened in disbelief at Ares' bizarre transformation and the fact that even rifle bullets had no effect on him.
The surrounding Marines were just as shocked.
Ares moved, leaping into the air and slamming his fist directly toward the sleeping Garp.
His punch sent Garp flying straight into the ship's cabin with a thunderous crash.
Ares frowned in confusion.
"Vice Admiral Garp!!!"
"Vice Admiral Garp!!!"
The Marines stood frozen, staring at the pirate who had just punched Garp off the deck.
"Damn you!!"
"Die, pirate!!"
Fueled by righteous fury, Dragon punched Ares square in the thigh.
Thud!
A dull, heavy sound echoed out. Dragon felt like he had just punched a steel wall. His hand throbbed in pain.
Is this guy even human?
Suddenly, Ares' leg turned red-hot, radiating an intense heat that made Dragon instinctively recoil in pain.
"So hot!!"
"Is this a Devil Fruit power?!"
Before he could react, a burning-hot foot slammed into Dragon's face.
The scorching hiss of searing flesh rang out.
A searing pain shot through Dragon's nerves, his mind instantly going blank as he lost consciousness.
His body shot through the air like a meteor.
Just as Garp was stepping out of the cabin, Dragon's unconscious body flew right past him, smashing through several wooden walls.
Garp casually picked his nose, looking around with a puzzled expression. "What just happened?"
Scanning the deck.
He felt like something was missing. Then it hit him.
"Where's Dragon?"
"Did that brat get scared and run off?"
----------------------------------------------------
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