First Arrival at Marine Headquarters

Night fell, and the warship lay quietly on the sea.

Roy sat on the deck, holding a handwritten training plan from Garp. When he finished reading it, his vision went dark, and he nearly fainted.

"Garp-style Elite Training Plan"

Daily basics: ten thousand punches (while wearing Seastone)

Physical training: drag a small warship around the beach (extra training if you stop along the way)

Beating resistance course: stand still and let Garp hit you for ten minutes (no crying)

Combat training: spar with Marine veterans (no food if you lose)

Roy trembled all over, the corners of his mouth twitching wildly. "Th-this is training elites? It's obviously training punching bags!!"

Garp came over laughing and patted him on the shoulder. "Hahaha! We start tomorrow, kid!"

Under the night sky, the young man's indignant roar echoed across the deck—

"Stupid goddess! You really screwed me over!!!"

Three days later, on the warship's deck.

Roy was drenched in sweat, his fists wrapped tightly in bandages as he punched a specially made iron post over and over.

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight!"

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!"

"Ten thousand—!!!"

His final punch smashed into the post, splitting it down the middle with a crack. Roy collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, a stubborn light shining in his eyes.

The soldiers around him stared in astonishment. "This kid... he adapted in just three days?!"

"Back then, Vice Admiral Kuzan took half a month to keep up with Vice Admiral Garp's pace!"

"A monster. He's a real monster!"

Holding a cup of tea, Bogard's eyes flashed with approval. "He's certainly a promising talent."

The setting sun cast its light across the deck. Roy lay sprawled on the ground, too sore to move, but his eyes were unusually bright.

Garp walked over and casually tossed him a bottle of water. "Well? Still alive?"

Roy caught the bottle and tipped his head back to gulp down the water. Panting, he said, "I'm... I'm okay... but, old man Garp, I have a question."

Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Go ahead."

Roy struggled into a sitting position and asked seriously, "Armament Haki and Observation Haki... how exactly do you train them?"

Garp paused briefly, then broke into a loud laugh. "You're finally asking the important question!"

He sat down cross-legged, a rare serious expression on his face. "Listen up, kid!"

"Armament Haki is a manifestation of will!"

"Imagine your fists are harder than steel, and your skin can block any attack!"

"It's not brute force, but the will to firmly believe you can do it!"

Garp swung his fist, demonstrating an imposing force that seemed capable of splitting a mountain.

"Observation Haki, on the other hand, is an extension of perception!"

"Close your eyes. Don't use them to look; use your heart to feel the presences around you."

"The enemy's movements, the flow of the wind, even fluctuations in emotion... you can 'hear' them all."

Roy's eyes widened, and he looked thoughtful. "So when you were beating me, you were actually training my Observation Haki?"

Garp laughed. "That's right! Get hit enough, and you'll naturally learn to predict attacks!"

The corners of Roy's mouth twitched. "What a simple and brutal teaching method..."

Garp patted him on the shoulder. "But once we get back to headquarters, there'll be a better teacher for you."

Roy's heart jolted, and his breathing quickened. "A better teacher?"

Garp smiled and nodded. "That's right. Former Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr is now the chief instructor for Marine recruits."

"With his teaching methods, you'll be able to master Armament Haki and Observation Haki faster."

That night, Roy lay in the cabin, thinking back on Garp's words.

Zephyr, a former Marine Admiral and the current chief instructor.

If I can learn from him, I'll definitely master Armament Haki and Observation Haki faster!

Roy's eyes lit up in the moonlight. He clenched his fists, his fighting spirit blazing.

Now that I've boarded this ship, I'll get so strong that no one can defeat me!

Just as he was brimming with ambition, the cabin door creaked open. Garp poked his head inside and grinned. "Kid! Don't slack off. Tomorrow we're adding an 'Armament Haki beating resistance' course!"

Roy: "Aaaah! More of that?!"

Garp: "Hahaha! It's for your own good!"

Under the night sky, the young man's despairing wail rang out across the warship once again. "Stupid goddess! At least give me a system!!!"

Marineford

Two days later, Garp's Dog-Head Warship slowly sailed into the harbor of Marineford, home of Marine Headquarters.

In the night, the harbor lights shone like a river of stars, illuminating the magnificent fortress that symbolized justice.

The sea breeze blew, and Marine flags fluttered high above.

Roy stood on the deck, gazing at the imposing military fortress before him, his heart stirring. So this is Marineford, Marine Headquarters?!

At the edge of the harbor, a tall, skinny man, thin as a bamboo pole, leaned lazily against the railing. He wore a sleep mask, held an ice pop in his mouth, and had one hand in his pocket. His gaze was listless.

"Arara~ old man, I hear you brought a little monster back from the East Blue?"

Roy looked up. Kuzan himself, the future Admiral Aokiji.

Garp laughed and lifted 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 passing through his ice-blue pupils. His gaze fell on Roy's bandaged fists and stubborn eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose. "Oh? He managed to withstand your 'special training'? He really is something."

Garp looked proud. "This kid can slap Sea Kings flying with his bare hands!"

Kuzan raised an eyebrow. "Whoa? That makes him a lot stronger than I was back then."

He stretched lazily. "But Admiral Sengoku said you're to go straight to his office as soon as you get back. He said it's urgent."

Garp's smile stiffened slightly. "Huh? Is he angry again?"

Kuzan shrugged and leisurely licked his ice pop. "Who knows~"

Outside Sengoku's office.

Roy followed Garp, but before they got close, a furious roar erupted from the office, making him shudder.

"Garp!! You bastard!!"

"Do you have any idea what's going on right now?! The Great Pirate Era has thrown everything into chaos, and the entire Marine force is run off its feet, yet you went wandering around the South Blue and then sauntered over to the East Blue?!"

Garp pushed the door open and walked in with a grin. "Sengoku, don't be angry~ look, didn't I bring you back a promising talent?"

Sengoku slammed his hand down on the desk, making even his goatee tremble. "Don't change the subject!"

Roy peeked inside from the doorway and saw Admiral Sengoku's hair standing on end. Behind his glasses, his eyes were as wide as saucers, and he looked so angry he might breathe fire.

Roy thought, How scary~ is this the pressure of a Marine Admiral?!

Garp scratched his ear unconcernedly. "Ah, I had a little personal business in the South Blue. Going back to the East Blue was just on the way."

Roy's eyes flickered. The South Blue? Personal business? Could it be Ace?

Sengoku took a deep breath and stared hard at Garp, then glanced at Roy. At last, his tone softened slightly. "This is the 'promising talent' you mentioned?"

Garp grinned. "That's right! He has the power of the Teleport-Teleport Fruit, monstrous strength, and he can even withstand my fists!"

Sengoku froze. "The Teleport-Teleport Fruit?!"

He stared intently at Roy, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Kid, what's your name?"

Roy straightened up and answered loudly, "Sir, Admiral! My name is Roy!"

Sengoku's gaze sharpened slightly. Then he nodded, his tone gentler. "Since Garp has taken a liking to you, train hard and don't let the Marines down."

"Yes, sir!"

Only after leaving the office did Roy realize his back was drenched in cold sweat.

He quietly clenched his fist. Is this the pressure of the Marines' highest ranks...? He swore to himself, One day, I'll...

Garp laughed heartily. "Well? Sengoku isn't as scary as you imagined, is he?"

Roy gave a strained chuckle. "...You two really get along well."

Garp waved a large hand and laughed heartily. "Come on, I'll introduce you to the others at headquarters!"

They had just rounded a corner in the corridor when a languid voice came from the shadows—

"Yo~ so this is the little monster Mr. Garp brought from the East Blue?"

"How scary~"

Roy looked up to see a tall, thin man in a yellow striped suit leaning lazily against the wall. He held a cup of coffee and wore a faint smile.

The slacker Admiral, Kizaru, Borsalino.

Borsalino strolled over and bent down to peer at Roy. "I hear you can use Teleportation? Must be pretty convenient for slacking off, huh?"

Cold sweat poured down Roy's face. He gave a strained laugh and shook his head. "...No, no, no, I—I never slack off!"

Garp threw an arm around Roy's shoulders. "Don't listen to him! This guy's always fooling around. Don't pick up his bad habits!"

Roy breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew..."

Garp laughed. "Come on! I'll take you to meet 'Black Arm' Zephyr!"

Roy's eyes lit up, and his heart began to pound. "Zephyr, the legendary Marine chief instructor!"

Garp grinned. "That's right! Don't be nervous. He won't beat you up the moment you meet, hahaha!"

Roy swallowed. "But didn't you say the same thing?!"

Garp looked innocent. "My fists are full of love!"

Roy: "..."