Under the endless azure sky, a lush, unnamed island stretched outward, its dense jungle spilling down toward pristine white sands. Crystal-clear streams wound through the greenery, their gentle gurgle mingling with the distant calls of exotic birds. The Oro Jackson floated serenely in the bay, anchored amid the calm waters, its massive hull glinting under the sun.
Crew members moved in small groups, hauling barrels of fresh water from the shoreline onto the ship. Laughter and playful bickering echoed across the deck.
"Hey! You guys, hurry up!" Jabba's booming voice cut through the noise as he strode across the sand, carrying two enormous barrels effortlessly. "Or Roger will start complaining again about having no booze!"
"We know, we know!" Nozdon called back, struggling alongside Sanbel to lift an oversized water barrel. It swayed precariously, threatening to spill at any moment. "Mr. Jabba is the most impatient of all, isn't he?"
Kyle, however, did not join the labor. He wandered toward a high rock overlooking the bay, closing his eyes as the sea breeze teased his black hair, tied back neatly but loose enough to sway with the wind.
His senses extended outward, invisible waves sweeping across the island. He felt the gentle current of the wind, the rhythm of the water, and even the subtle heartbeat of the creatures hidden in the dense foliage. For a moment, the world was quiet, and Kyle savored the rare peace.
That tranquility, however, was short-lived. A familiar, headache-inducing energy flared across the horizon, snapping Kyle's golden pupils open.
A tiny black dot on the sea rapidly grew larger, unmistakable even from miles away. Its iconic figurehead—a snarling dog—stood out against the waves.
"Seriously… he's like a persistent ghost," Kyle muttered, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
On the deck, Rayleigh set down his wine glass, eyes narrowing. "Everyone, attention!" he called. "An 'old friend' is arriving."
The crew halted instantly, their chatter dying mid-sentence. New members, like Ellio, who had only recently joined the ship, stiffened, recognition dawning as the massive warship approached.
"It's the Marines! And… that figurehead is… Vice Admiral Garp!"
"You've got to be kidding me! Running into him in a place like this?!" Ellio exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice.
Older crew members, however, remained unfazed. Jabba and Spencer exchanged subtle glances, expressions quietly saying: Ah, here he comes again.
Before anyone could react further, a figure launched from the dog-head warship, cutting through the sky with unmatched speed. The roar that followed was thunderous, a seismic declaration that rolled across the island.
"Roger—!! You bastard! I finally caught you!!"
Roger, standing atop a water barrel and directing the crew, didn't flinch. His wide grin broadened as his hearty laugh echoed across the bay.
"Kuhahaha! Garp! You always find such unique ways to say hello!"
Even as he spoke, Garp's mid-air form clenched his fist. Dark Armament Haki spread across his hand like black ink, coalescing into a terrifying sphere of potential destruction. The raw power in his palm seemed capable of leveling the island itself.
Kyle observed calmly. A big display to show respect, perhaps? Hajika… you bastard.
"Less talk!" Garp bellowed. "Today, I'm taking you back to Impel Down! Galaxy Impact!!"
A massive shockwave erupted from his fist, tearing apart the air itself. It expanded outward like a silent meteor, threatening to annihilate the entire island along with the Roger Pirates.
"Oh, you really aren't holding back!" Roger replied, laughter rumbling in his chest. He drew Ace, the saber hanging at his waist, and infused it with Haki, sparks of black and red lightning crackling along its edge.
"Want to catch me? Wait another hundred years! God Avoidance!"
The collision of their two ultimate powers froze the surrounding space for a heartbeat. Then, the shockwave split into two violent currents, grazing the island's edges, shooting skyward, and tearing massive rifts in the clouds above.
"Boom—!"
Garp landed heavily on the sand, leaving a crater the size of a small hill. He didn't glance at the surrounding pirates. His gaze was locked on Roger, a wide grin flashing his teeth.
"Not bad, Roger. Your Haki has improved again."
"You're not bad either, Garp! Your fists are still as hard as ever!" Roger replied, Ace resting casually on his shoulder. His fighting spirit radiated from him, fearless and audacious.
The next instant, both vanished, reappearing as two blurry shadows colliding deep in the jungle. The resulting impact shook the entire island violently. Birds scattered in panic, and massive trees splintered under the force of their attacks.
Their battlefield moved deeper inland, leaving the beach behind. Here, the chaos took on a new form: pirates and Marines were now side by side, gathering firewood, cooking food, and setting up bonfires.
Young newcomers and fresh Marine recruits were frozen in shock, unsure whether to draw their swords or simply enjoy the absurdity.
"Um… Mr. Rayleigh," Ellio stammered. "Shouldn't we… go help? Captain—he—"
Rayleigh, calm as ever, patted dust off his robes and replied to Spencer beside him: "Stop staring. They won't stop for three days and three nights. Spencer, go get someone to bring down all the best rum from the ship."
"Huh?" Ellio and the other new recruits froze, mouths agape.
Elsewhere, a seasoned Marine officer barked similar orders to his subordinates.
"Land ashore! Bring down spare provisions, grills, and medical kits! Hurry! Don't wait for those two idiots to destroy everything!"
"Yes, sir!" the veterans called back, moving efficiently.
The young Marines, fresh from boot camp, were left floundering, their sense of justice tested as they watched pirates and Marines working side by side. The philosophical questions of "Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?" crossed their minds in waves.
And so, on the beach, a scene unfolded that the World Government would never dare print in their official records: laughter, bonfires, cooking, and camaraderie among sworn enemies.
Deeper into the island, black and red lightning clashed continuously, and every blow of Haki from Roger and Garp reshaped the terrain. Mountains trembled, trees fell, and rivers hissed as shockwaves carved new channels.
Back on the beach, the scent of roasted meat and alcohol mingled under the sun. Pirates and Marines sat together, sharing food, clinking cups, and exchanging stories of battles past.
"…You just get used to it," Spencer explained to the newcomers, pushing his glasses up. "The Captain and Vice Admiral Garp… their relationship is unique. Their battles are rivalries and greetings at once. Interfering would only make things worse."
Nearby, an older Marine veteran patted a recruit on the back, slurring slightly.
"Hic… Listen, kid! Vice Admiral Garp said Roger can't starve halfway to Impel Down. Eat! You'll need all your strength to catch pirates!"
The recruit trembled, taking a bite of roasted meat, eyes wide as he glanced at a Great Pirate with an 80 million Berries bounty, casually clinking cups with him. His worldview shifted irreversibly.
Even Jabba joined the absurdity, arm-wrestling a Marine Rear Admiral as pirates and Marines cheered wildly. Max cornered a Marine clerk, lecturing furiously on the relationship between Haki and the economic base, leaving the clerk nearly unconscious.
Kyle found a clean wooden crate, settling down with a glass of orange juice in hand. He observed the chaos with amusement.
Damn it, family… I've been played by the Gorosei! After ten years, I can't live without orange juice anymore!
He sipped quietly, glancing up at the stormy sky, now streaked black and red with Haki, feeling the rhythmic tremors beneath his feet.
"Seriously," he muttered with a wry smile, "they always make such a huge commotion. Who's going to pay for the island's repairs?"
Turning back to the feast, he shouted toward Nozdon, currently winning a drinking contest, "Hey! Don't drink all my orange juice! Save some for me!"
The island, the pirates, and the Marines—all of it was alive in this absurd, chaotic, yet harmonious moment.
And Kyle, golden eyes glinting under the sun, quietly savored it all. This was family, chaos, and adventure… all rolled into one.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn (Gk31)