Warship Jump

Three years later, in the year 1506 of the Sea Circle Calendar, at the G-3 Branch training ground.

"Boom!!!"

The entire training ground shook violently. Dust flew, and broken stones tumbled.

The soldiers around it staggered from the shock, each staring wide-eyed at the towering figure in the center of the field.

Roy was sixteen years old and stood a full three meters tall. His muscles were as perfectly defined as a sculpture, full of power, every inch containing terrifying explosive strength.

His upper body was bare, veins bulging on his arms as he held an immensely heavy iron ball in one hand. Garp had specially made it and compressed it to the utmost.

The iron ball weighed at least two thousand tons. Its surface was covered in iron rivets Garp had specially made, reflecting a cold light.

"Thud!"

Roy gently set the iron ball back on the ground. The moment it landed, the paving stones across the square were jolted upward, as if by a small earthquake.

"Senior Roy... isn't that a bit much...?"

"That's the two-thousand-ton iron ball Vice Admiral Garp specially made! He's actually training with it in one hand?!"

"Damn it, I've trained for three years and still can't lift even three tons..."

The soldiers gazed at Roy's back, their eyes filled with both admiration and deep envy.

Roy merely wiped the sweat from his forehead and calmly looked at Garp, who was walking slowly toward him.

Garp had his arms folded, his mouth stuffed full of Senbei. His eyes narrowed into crescents. "You brat, you've improved again!"

Roy nodded. "Not bad."

Garp laughed and, as usual, slapped him on the back. There was a muffled bang, but this time Roy didn't budge.

Garp's grin widened. "That old geezer Sengoku has urged me several times to send you back to headquarters for promotion to Rear Admiral."

Chewing on Senbei, he bumped Roy with his shoulder and gave him a sly grin. "You've wiped out so many pirate crews these past few years that even the ones with bounties over a hundred million would rather detour through G-5 than come past our branch. Hahaha!"

Roy raised an eyebrow. "Should I go back to headquarters now, then?"

Garp waved a hand, suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice. "No rush."

His eyes darted about, and he gave a mischievous grin like an old fox. "Actually, I want to go back to the East Blue for a bit... Your fruit ability should be able to teleport an entire warship now, right? Take me back for a look!"

Roy was slightly startled. "The East Blue?"

He thought to himself, Luffy probably hasn't been sent there yet at this point... Does he want to see Ace?

After pondering for a moment, he nodded. "All right."

Garp's eyes lit up as though he had spotted a new toy. They gleamed with excitement. "That's my disciple! Come on, let's set off right now!"

At the G-3 Branch harbor, the iconic Dog-Head Warship lay at anchor.

His adjutant Bogard stood on the deck with his sword in his arms. Seeing Garp and Roy approach, he raised an eyebrow and spoke calmly. "Mr. Garp, where are you going this time?"

Garp waved. "Bogard! You're coming with me too!"

Bogard paused. "...Yes, sir."

The three boarded the warship. Roy walked steadily to the center of the ship, placed both hands on the railing and closed his eyes to feel the sea breeze.

He took a deep breath and activated his fruit ability. "Hum—!"

The hull trembled slightly. For an instant, it seemed to rise as if breaking free of gravity, and a faint distortion rippled across the ship as though it were melting into the air.

Garp stood on the deck, his eyes shining as he called out in anticipation like a child. "Quick! Let me see your limit!"

"Whoosh!"

Space twisted in an instant. The entire warship seemed to be kneaded into a canvas by an invisible giant hand, then unfolded again a hundredth of a second later. Amid everyone's startled cries, the entire warship vanished!

Only faint ripples spread across the surface of the sea, as though nothing had just happened.

The harbor soldiers of the G-3 Branch stared wide-eyed at the warship that had suddenly vanished, utterly baffled. "...What just happened?!"

The sea breeze blew several sheets of paper that had been swept up by the residual energy, sending them fluttering like butterflies.

On the warship's deck, the sea wind still howled.

Roy breathed a sigh of relief, a little sweat beading on his forehead. "Just as I thought, teleporting an entire warship takes a lot more effort than teleporting alone."

Bogard held his sword, unable to hide the shock on his face. "Teleporting dozens of kilometers in a single jump... If you use it several times in succession, you can reach a target sea area quickly without following a sea route. This is already close to 'Spatial Jump.'"

Garp, however, was already overjoyed, crunching Senbei. "Hahaha! This is so convenient! From now on, I can go wherever I want!"

Roy's mouth twitched. "This isn't a taxi..."

Garp slapped him on the shoulder. "Since it's on the way, let's teleport a few more times! We'll cross the whole distance in one go!"

Roy took a deep breath. "Yes, sir!"

"Whoosh!"

The warship shook violently again, becoming a streak of pale blue light. It crossed dozens of nautical miles and appeared in an entirely new stretch of sea.

"Whoosh!"

The successive teleports sent the warship darting across the sea like a ghost, as though it were leaping straight over the waves.

The next day, offshore from the Goa Kingdom.

"Splash—!"

The sea burst open, and a warship appeared as if out of thin air, floating steadily on the water.

Garp laughed, acting just like a child. "Hahaha! That felt great! Roy! I love this move!"

Bogard showed a rare hint of a smile. "We crossed from the Grand Line to the East Blue in less than a day... If word reaches headquarters, I expect even Admiral Sengoku will be shocked."

Roy panted slightly and wiped away his sweat. "It does take quite a bit out of me, but it's still manageable."

Garp threw an arm around his shoulders and grinned like a child. "Come on, come on! There's someone I want you to meet!"

Roy paused. "Who?"

Garp grinned mysteriously. "My grandson!"

"So it is Ace..."

The sea breeze brushed Roy's face. His heart stirred slightly as he looked toward the familiar coastline.

Mount Colubo, in the forest behind the mountain.

A light breeze blew, rustling the leaves.

A little boy with black hair and freckles was swinging a wooden stick, desperately striking a thick old tree.

"Damn it! Stronger! Stronger!"

He looked no more than six or seven, and he was small and thin, but his amber eyes held an obstinacy and wildness that could not be ignored.

"Ace!!!"

A booming voice suddenly rang out like an exploding cannonball.

Ace jolted all over and whipped around. The moment he saw who it was, he bristled. "You old bastard?! Why are you here again?!"

Garp laughed heartily and rushed up to Ace in the blink of an eye, moving as fast as the wind. He brought a Fist of Love straight down on Ace's head. "Show some respect! Call me Grandpa!"

"Bang!"

A large bump swelled on Ace's head, and he bared his teeth in pain. "That hurts like hell! You bastard old man!"

Roy stood to the side, calmly watching the boy who would one day become "Fire Fist" Ace and silently comparing him with the image in his memory.

Ace soon noticed Roy. His gaze sharpened at once. "Who are you?"

Garp laughed and planted a hand on Ace's head. "This is my disciple, Roy! He's ten thousand times stronger than you!"

"Let go of me! I'll definitely be stronger than him someday!" Ace shouted, struggling.

Roy smiled slightly and crouched down. "Want to get stronger?"

Ace glared at him, teeth clenched. "Of course!"

Roy nodded and said calmly, "Then you'll have to work harder than ordinary people."

Ace was stunned. He stared blankly into Roy's deep eyes.

"Hmph! I know that without you telling me!" He gave a stubborn snort and turned his head away.

Garp grinned from ear to ear and ruffled Ace's hair. "You brat, you've got spirit!"

Then he turned to Roy. "Hey, Roy, show this kid your 'best trick'!"

Roy felt a little helpless, but slowly stood up.

His gaze swept over the surroundings and finally settled on a huge boulder in the distance.

He raised his right hand, his five fingers spreading slightly.

"Whoosh!"

The boulder vanished into thin air without warning. The next second, it appeared a hundred meters up in the sky!

"Boom!!!"

The boulder crashed down like a meteor, smashing a huge, deep crater into the ground and sending dust flying.

Ace's eyes went round, and his mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. "A-amazing..."

Garp put his hands on his hips and grinned proudly. "Well? Want to learn?!"

Ace suddenly came to his senses, a defiant light bursting from his eyes. "I want to learn!"

Roy silently watched the scene and sighed inwardly. The course of history... can it really be changed?

That evening, the campfire illuminated the three figures.

Starlight streamed down, and the breeze carried a hint of sea salt.

Ace had long since fallen asleep, both arms wrapped around his wooden stick, his brow slightly furrowed as though he were still fighting in his dreams.

Garp's smile faded. His eyes half narrowed, he looked at Ace in the firelight and spoke in a low voice. "Roy, what do you think of this kid?"

Roy was silent for a moment, then answered solemnly. "He's very talented, and he's strong-willed too. But... his personality is too extreme."

Garp nodded slowly. "Yeah. With a personality like his, he's destined to take a difficult path."

He turned to Roy, his familiar smile returning. "That's why I've got to raise him to be a Marine! Hahaha!"

Roy smiled too. "I'll help as well."

Garp reached out and slapped him on the shoulder. "Now that's my disciple!"