Chapter 3: First Day at Marineford
Night fell, and the warship anchored silently on the sea.
Roy sat on the deck, holding a handwritten training plan from Garp. He took one look at it, his vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.
Daily Basics: 10,000 punches (while wearing Seastone cuffs).
Stamina Special: Drag a small warship around the beach. (No stopping, or you get extra laps).
Durability Class: Stand still and let Garp hit you for 10 minutes. (No crying allowed).
Combat Practice: Spar with veteran soldiers. (If you lose, you don't eat).
Roy trembled, his mouth twitching uncontrollably. "This... this isn't an 'elite' program! This is a 'how to make a punching bag' program!"
Garp walked over, laughing, and slapped him on the back. "Bwahahaha! We start tomorrow, brat!"
Under the night sky, the boy's anguished howl echoed across the deck—
"USELESS GODDESS! YOU'VE DOOMED ME!!!"
Three days later, on the warship's deck.
Roy was drenched in sweat, his fists wrapped in thick bandages, smashing them against a reinforced iron post.
"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-eight!"
"Nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine!"
"TEN THOUSAND—!!!"
With the last punch, the iron post cracked and split in two. Roy collapsed, gasping for air, but his eyes were shining with a stubborn light.
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 just to keep up with Vice Admiral Garp's pace!"
"A monster. He's a total monster!"
Bogard, holding his tea, allowed a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "He really is a quality recruit."
As the evening sun set on the deck, Roy lay sprawled out, his whole body too sore to move, but his gaze was exceptionally bright.
Garp walked over and casually tossed him a water bottle. "How's it going? Still alive?"
Roy caught the bottle, tilted his head back, and chugged it, panting. "Still... breathing... But, Old Man Garp, I have a question."
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
Roy struggled to sit up, his expression serious. "Armament and Observation Haki... how do you actually train them?"
Garp paused, then burst out laughing. "Finally asking the important questions!"
He sat down cross-legged, a rare look of seriousness on his face. "Listen up, brat!"
"Armament Haki is a manifestation of your will!"
"Imagine your fist is harder than steel, that your skin can block any attack!"
"It's not brute force. It's the absolute belief that you can do it!"
Garp pumped his fist, demonstrating an aura that looked like it could shatter mountains.
"Observation Haki is an extension of your senses!"
"Close your eyes. Don't see. Feel the presence of everything around you."
"Your enemy's movements, the flow of the wind, even the shift in their emotions... you can 'hear' all of it."
Roy's eyes widened in understanding. "So... when you were beating the crap out of me, you were actually training my Observation Haki?"
Garp laughed. "Exactly! Get punched enough, and you'll naturally learn to predict the hits!"
Roy's mouth twitched. "That's... a really crude way of teaching."
Garp clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, once we're back at Headquarters, you'll have an even better teacher."
Roy's heart skipped a beat. "A better teacher?"
Garp nodded with a grin. "That's right. Former Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr. He's the head instructor for all the new recruits now."
"With his teaching methods, you'll master Armament and Observation in no time."
That night, Roy lay in his cabin, replaying Garp's words.
"'Black Arm' Zephyr. A former Admiral, and now the head instructor."
"If I can learn from him, I'll master Haki for sure!"
Roy's eyes gleamed in the moonlight. He clenched his fists, a fire igniting in his heart.
"Since I'm already on this ship, I'm going to become so strong that no one can stand against me!"
Just as he was filled with determination, the cabin door creaked open. Garp's head poked in, grinning. "Brat! No slacking! Tomorrow we're adding 'Armament Haki Durability' to the schedule!"
Roy: "AGAIN?!?!"
Garp: "Bwahahaha! It's for your own good!"
The ship was once again filled with the boy's desperate wail—"USELESS GODDESS! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST GIVE ME A SYSTEM!!!"
Marineford
Two days later, Garp's dog-headed warship slowly pulled into the port of Marineford, the Marine Headquarters.
Under the night sky, the harbor lights glittered like a river of stars, illuminating the grand fortress that symbolized Justice. The Marine flag flew high in the sea breeze.
Roy stood on the deck, staring at the magnificent military base, his heart pounding. "So this is it... Marineford?!"
At the edge of the port, a man as tall and thin as a bamboo pole was leaning lazily against a railing. He wore an eye mask on his forehead, had an ice pop in his mouth, and one hand in his pocket.
"Ara rara~ Old man. 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 by his collar like a kitten. "Kuzan! Take a look at this brat! What do you think?!"
Kuzan's eyes opened slightly, his blue pupils showing a flash of interest. His gaze fell on Roy's bandaged fists and stubborn expression. He smirked. "Oh? He can survive your 'special training'? He must be something special."
Garp looked proud. "This brat can one-shot a Sea King!"
Kuzan raised an eyebrow. "Hoh? Better than I was, then."
He stretched lazily. "By the way, Fleet Admiral Sengoku said to report to his office the second you got back. Sounds urgent."
Garp's smile stiffened. "Ah? Is he mad again?"
Kuzan shrugged, slowly licking his ice pop. "Who knows~"
Outside Sengoku's Office.
Roy followed Garp, and before they even got close, a furious roar echoed from inside, making him jump.
"GARP!! YOU IDIOT!!"
"What time do you think this is?! The Great Pirate Era is in full swing, the entire Navy is overwhelmed, and you run off to the South Blue, then take a detour to the East?!"
Garp cheerfully pushed the door open. "Sengoku, don't be so angry~ Look, I brought you back a quality recruit!"
Sengoku slammed his desk, his braided goat-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 wide as saucers behind his glasses. He looked like he was about to breathe fire.
Roy thought: Man, that's scary... Is this the pressure of a Fleet Admiral?!
Garp just dug at his ear. "Ah, well, I had some private business in the South Blue. East Blue was just on the way back."
Roy's eyes flashed. "South Blue? Private business? Don't tell me... he was checking on Ace?"
Sengoku took a deep breath, staring daggers at Garp. He glanced at Roy, and his tone finally softened. "This is the 'quality recruit' you mentioned?"
Garp grinned. "Yep! A Warp-Warp Fruit user, has monstrous strength, and he can even take my punches!"
Sengoku froze. "The Warp-Warp Fruit?!"
He stared intently at Roy, his gaze sharp as a knife. "What's your name, boy?"
Roy snapped to attention. "Sir! My name is Roy, sir!"
Sengoku's gaze softened. He nodded. "Since Garp scouted you, train hard. Don't fail the Marines' expectations."
"Sir, yes, sir!"
After leaving the office, Roy realized his back was soaked in cold sweat.
He quietly clenched his fist. "So this is the pressure from the very top... One day, I'll..."
Garp just laughed. "See? Sengoku's not as scary as you thought, right?"
Roy gave a dry laugh. "...You two seem like good friends."
Garp waved his hand dismissively. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the others!"
Just as they turned a corner, a lazy voice drawled from the shadows—
"Ooh~ Is this the little monster Garp brought back from the East Blue?"
"So~ scary~"
Roy looked up. A tall, thin man in a yellow pinstripe suit was leaning against the wall, sipping a cup of coffee and smiling faintly.
"The 'Slacker Admiral,' Kizaru Borsalino."
Borsalino slowly ambled over, bending down to look at Roy. "I heard you can teleport? That must be very~ convenient for slacking off, wouldn't you say?"
Roy broke into a cold sweat and shook his head frantically. "...N-n-no, I-I never slack off!"
Garp threw an arm around Roy's shoulders. "Ignore him! This guy is nothing but a slacker. Don't pick up his bad habits!"
Roy let out a breath of relief. "Phew..."
Garp laughed. "Let's go! I'm taking you to see 'Black Arm' Zephyr!"
Roy's eyes lit up, his heart pounding. "Zephyr, the legendary Head Instructor!"
Garp grinned. "That's right! Don't be nervous. He won't beat you up the moment he meets you, bwahahaha!"
Roy gulped. "But isn't that what you said, too?!"
Garp put on an innocent face. "My fists are filled with love!"
Roy: "..."