Night fell, and the warship was anchored quietly on the sea.
Roy sat on the deck, holding a training plan handwritten by Garp. After reading it, his vision went black, and he nearly fainted.
"Garp-Style Elite Training Regimen"
Daily Basics: 10,000 punches (while wearing Seastone).
Special Physical Training: Drag a small warship while running on the beach (extra training if you stop).
Endurance Course: Stand still and let Garp hit you for ten minutes (no crying allowed).
Combat Instruction: Spar with Marine veterans (no food if you lose).
Roy trembled all over, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. "This... this isn't training an elite? This is training a punching bag!!"
Garp walked over, laughing, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Hahaha! We start tomorrow, kid!"
Under the night sky, the boy's indignant roar echoed across the deck—
"STUPID GODDESS! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!!!"
Three days later, on the warship's deck.
Roy was drenched in sweat, his fists tightly wrapped in bandages, as he furiously punched a specially made iron post.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight!"
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!"
"Ten thousand—!!!"
With the final punch, the iron post split in half with a CRACK. Roy collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, a stubborn light shining in his eyes.
The surrounding soldiers were dumbfounded. "This kid... he adapted in just three days?!"
"Back in the day, it took Vice Admiral Kuzan half a month to keep up with Vice Admiral Garp's pace!"
"A monster, he's a real monster!"
Bogard held his teacup, a hint of approval in his eyes. "He really is a good prospect."
As the evening sun cast its glow on the deck, Roy lay exhausted on the ground, every muscle aching, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
Garp walked over and casually tossed him a bottle of water. "How's it going? Still alive?"
Roy took the water, chugged it down, and said between breaths, "Still... still okay... But, old man Garp, I have a question!"
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Go on!"
Roy struggled to sit up and said seriously, "Armament and Observation Haki... how do you actually train them?"
Garp was slightly taken aback, then burst into a wide grin. "Finally asking the important questions!"
He sat down cross-legged, a rare seriousness on his face. "Listen up, kid!"
"Armament Haki is a manifestation of will!"
"Imagine your fists are harder than steel, that your skin can block any attack!"
"It's not about brute force, but the will to believe you can do it!"
Garp swung his fist, demonstrating an aura that seemed capable of shattering mountains.
"Observation Haki is an extension of your senses!"
"Close your eyes. Don't see with your eyes, but feel the presence of everything around you with your spirit!"
"The enemy's movements, the flow of the wind, even the fluctuations in their emotions... you can 'hear' them all!"
Roy's eyes widened in thought. "So, when you were beating me up, you were actually training my Observation Haki?"
Garp laughed. "That's right! Get hit enough times, and you'll naturally learn to predict attacks!"
Roy's mouth twitched. "What a simple and brutal teaching method..."
Garp clapped his shoulder. "But once we get back to Headquarters, you'll have a better teacher!"
Roy's heart pounded, his breath quickening. "A better teacher?"
Garp nodded with a smile. "That's right. Former Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr. He's now the head instructor for all new Marine recruits!"
"With his teaching methods, you'll be able to master Armament and Observation Haki even faster!"
That night, Roy lay in his cabin, replaying Garp's words.
'Zephyr, a former Marine Admiral, now the head instructor!'
'If I can learn from him, I'll definitely master Armament and Observation Haki faster!'
Roy's eyes shone in the moonlight. He clenched his fists, a fire of determination burning within him.
'Since I'm already on this ship, I have to become strong enough that no one can defeat me!'
Just as he was filled with heroic ambition, the cabin door creaked open. Garp's head poked in, grinning widely. "Kid! Don't slack off! Tomorrow we're adding 'Armament Haki Endurance' to the training!"
Roy: "AHHHH! MORE?!"
Garp: "Hahaha! It's for your own good!"
Under the night sky, the boy's desperate wail once again echoed from the warship—
"STUPID GODDESS! AT LEAST GIVE ME A SYSTEM!!!"
Marineford
Two days later, Garp's dog-headed warship slowly sailed into the port of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.
Under the night sky, the lights of the port were like a river of stars, illuminating the magnificent fortress that symbolized justice. The sea breeze blew, and the Marine flag fluttered high.
Roy stood on the deck, gazing at the majestic military bastion before him, a tremor in his heart. "So this is Marine Headquarters, Marineford?!"
At the port, a tall, skinny man who looked like a beanpole was leaning lazily against a railing. He wore an eye mask, had an ice pop in his mouth, and one hand in his pocket, his expression listless.
"Arara~ Gramps, I heard you brought back a little monster from the East Blue?"
Roy looked up. "The future Admiral Aokiji, Kuzan himself!"
Garp laughed and held Roy up in front of him like a kitten. "Kuzan! Take a look at this kid. What do you think?!"
Kuzan opened his eyes slightly, a flicker of interest in his ice-blue pupils. His gaze fell on Roy's bandaged fists and his stubborn expression, and a small smile formed on his lips. "Oh? To be able to withstand your 'special training,' he's certainly not ordinary!"
Garp looked proud. "This kid can send a Sea King flying with his bare hands!"
Kuzan raised an eyebrow. "Hoh? That's much better than I was back in the day!"
He stretched lazily. "By the way, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wants you in his office as soon as you get back. Says it's urgent."
Garp's smile stiffened slightly. "Ah? Is he angry again?"
Kuzan shrugged and slowly licked his ice pop. "Who knows~"
In front of Sengoku's office.
Roy followed behind Garp. Before they even got close, an angry roar erupted from the office, making him tremble.
"GARP!! YOU IDIOT!!"
"What time do you think this is?! The Great Pirate Era is in chaos, the entire Navy is overwhelmed, and you run off to the South Blue for a stroll, then wander over to the East Blue?!"
Garp pushed the door open with a grin. "Sengoku, don't be so angry~ Look, didn't I find you a good prospect?"
Sengoku slammed his desk, his pet goat's beard trembling. "Don't change the subject!"
Roy peeked in from the doorway. He saw Fleet Admiral Sengoku's hair standing on end, his eyes behind his glasses wide as saucers, looking like he was about to breathe fire.
Roy thought, Kowai ne~ So this is the pressure of a Fleet Admiral?!
Garp nonchalantly scratched his ear. "Well, I had some private business in the South Blue. Coming back to the East Blue was just on the way!"
Roy's eyes flashed. South Blue? Private business? Could he mean Ace?
Sengoku took a deep breath, staring hard at Garp, then glanced at Roy. His tone finally softened slightly. "So this is the 'good prospect' you mentioned?"
Garp grinned. "That's right! A Teleport Fruit user with monstrous strength, and he can even withstand my fists!"
Sengoku was startled. "Teleport Fruit?!"
He stared intently at Roy, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "Kid, what's your name?"
Roy stood up straight and answered loudly, "Reporting to the Fleet Admiral! My name is Roy!"
Sengoku's gaze softened, and he nodded. "Since you were chosen by Garp, train hard and don't disappoint the Navy's expectations!"
"Yes, sir!"
After leaving the office, Roy realized his back was soaked in cold sweat. He secretly clenched his fist. "So this is the pressure from the highest level of the Marines..." he vowed internally, "One day, I will also..."
Garp laughed heartily. "See? Sengoku isn't as scary as you thought, right?"
Roy gave a dry laugh. "...You two have a really good relationship!"
Garp waved his hand and said cheerfully, "Come on, I'll introduce you to the others at Headquarters!"
Just as they rounded a corner in the hallway, a lazy voice came from the shadows—
"Ooh~ So this is the little monster Garp-san brought back from the East Blue?"
"Kowai ne~" Roy looked up to see a tall, thin man in a yellow-striped suit leaning lazily against the wall, holding a cup of coffee and smiling faintly.
"The slacker Admiral, Kizaru Borsalino!"
Borsalino slowly walked over, bending down to stare at Roy. "I hear you can teleport? Must be very convenient for slacking off, hmm?"
Roy broke into a cold sweat and shook his head with a forced smile. "...No, no, I-I never slack off!"
Garp threw an arm around Roy's shoulder. "Don't mind him! This guy is always goofing off. Don't learn his bad habits!"
Roy let out a sigh of relief. "Phew..."
Garp laughed. "Come on! I'll take you to meet 'Black Arm' Zephyr!"
Roy's eyes lit up, his heart pounding. "Zephyr, the legendary Marine head instructor!"
Garp grinned. "That's right! Don't be nervous. He won't beat you up the moment he meets you, hahaha!"
Roy gulped. "But, didn't you say the same thing?!"
Garp looked innocent. "My fists are filled with love!"
Roy: "..."
-------
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