Oykot Kingdom
At sunset, on the training ground.
The last rays of the setting sun spilled across the training ground, painting it red.
Only Roy and Zephyr remained on the grounds.
Zephyr rolled his wrist slightly. The muscles of his callused right arm bulged, gleaming like steel. "The final test: attacking with teleportation."
His tone was serious, but held a hint of anticipation. "The rules are simple. Hit me three times in a row to pass."
Roy's breath caught for a moment, and his gaze sharpened. "Understood!"
Zephyr lowered his stance and assumed a fighting pose. "Begin!"
Whoosh!
Roy appeared to Zephyr's left like a flash of lightning, his pitch-black Armament Haki-coated fist cutting through the air!
Without turning his head, Zephyr swung a fist back to meet it. The air exploded!
Bang!!
The tremendous force of the impact drove Roy back several steps, and a little blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. But he immediately gritted his teeth and activated his ability, using Teleportation a second time!
Whoosh!
This time, he dived down from above Zephyr, bringing a fist gleaming like metal crashing toward the top of his head!
Zephyr raised an arm to block, a corner of his mouth curling as he sneered. "Too slow!"
"One more chance!"
The last rays of the setting sun shone on Roy's face, but a sly smile curled his lips.
"Then... try this!"
The next moment, Roy vanished, and silence fell over the training ground.
Zephyr frowned and instantly spread out his Observation Haki, but this time, he couldn't sense Roy's presence!
"Where?!"
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Zephyr caught sight of a training sandbag appearing out of thin air and flying toward him!
"A distraction?!"
Zephyr swung a fist back and sent the sandbag flying. The next moment—
"Here!"
Roy's voice came from behind him. Zephyr spun around, but in that instant, three afterimages of Roy flashed before his eyes, throwing punches almost simultaneously!
"Flash: Afterimage Chain Fist!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
Three fist shadows struck Zephyr's chest, shoulder, and waist almost simultaneously, sending him staggering back several steps as the blue bricks beneath his feet cracked!
The glow of the setting sun fell between them as dust filled the air, as though time itself had stopped for a second.
The whole place fell silent.
Zephyr steadied himself and looked down at the fist marks on his chest, then burst out laughing. "Good one, kid!"
He raised his head and fixed his bright gaze on Roy, his eyes full of shock and admiration. "You actually used the Teleport-Teleport Fruit to move an object and draw my attention, then used multiple instances of Teleportation to create afterimages and launch a chain of attacks. You've practically pulled off Logia tricks with a Paramecia!"
Roy was panting, but his eyes shone and his smile was exuberant. "I did it!"
Zephyr nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Your fruit development has already gone beyond the scope of an ordinary Paramecia. With the Six Powers' teleportation footwork, your control of Armament Haki, and your use of psychological warfare on the battlefield, you've passed this test!"
The setting sun shone on Roy's face. The boy's face was covered in sweat and scars, but it also showed unmatched resolve and sharpness.
Zephyr's gaze softened slightly for a moment. "Kid, next comes real combat."
Roy took a deep breath and clenched both fists. "Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"
In the distant viewing area, Smoker, Hina, and several senior training camp cadets, who had appeared there at some unknown point, were dumbstruck.
The corner of Smoker's mouth twitched, and he muttered, "Just how much more monstrous is this guy going to get?"
Hina's eyes sparkled. "Hina thinks he's gotten even stronger."
Sea Circle Calendar, year 1502. Marine Headquarters training camp.
Morning light fell across the tidy training ground, where the recruits were drilling in formation.
A cigar clenched between his teeth, Smoker stared intently at Roy, who stood before him. The kid was only twelve, yet he was already nearly two meters tall, while Smoker, at sixteen, had only just passed 1.7 meters!
"Hey, Roy..."
A vein bulged on Smoker's forehead, and a wisp of white smoke rose from his head as he gritted his teeth. "Have you been secretly taking hormones or something?!"
Roy scratched his head, looking innocent. "No, I've just been eating normally."
(Under the influence of a giant's physique, he definitely wouldn't be limited to 1.8 meters, a height considered a disability in the world of the Pirate King!)
Standing nearby with a glass of chilled juice, Hina couldn't help laughing. "Smoker, Hina thinks you look so funny when you're jealous!"
Smoker glared at her. "Shut up!"
Zephyr folded his arms and let his gaze linger on Roy for a moment behind his sunglasses. Appreciation and deeper meaning flashed in his eyes before he said calmly, "Roy, at the rate you're growing, you could actually graduate in two years."
Roy blinked. "That soon?"
Zephyr nodded. "But I want to keep you here for another year to help you build a solid foundation. After all... you're still too young, and the waters out there run deep. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle them."
Sensing the concern in Zephyr's words, Roy smiled and saluted. "I'll do as you say, Instructor."
Smoker snorted from the side. "Hmph. I'm applying to graduate next year anyway. Don't come crying when I surpass you."
Hina glanced at him, swept back her pink hair, and laughed softly. "Hina suggests you beat Roy first."
Smoker: "... (White smoke explodes.)"
As they bickered, a crunching sound came from a distance, and the strong aroma of Senbei spread through the air.
Garp strode over with a large bag of Senbei slung over his shoulder, chewing as he called out, "Zephyr! Lend me that kid Roy for a bit!"
Zephyr frowned. "What are you up to now?"
Garp picked his nose and grinned broadly. "A little something came up in the East Blue. Pirates attacked the Oykot Kingdom. I happen to be heading back to the East Blue, so I'll stop by and take a look."
"The Oykot Kingdom?!"
Roy's pupils contracted sharply as images from his memories surfaced in his mind. Nami's hometown! The kingdom where Bellemere was! A pirate attack... could it be?!
Roy's heart jolted, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he looked first at Zephyr, seeking his permission.
Zephyr noticed his gaze and considered it for a moment before asking, "Do you want to go?"
Roy nodded, his tone steady. "I'm from the East Blue too. If it's convenient, I'd like to go back and have a look while we're there."
Smoker clenched his cigar and shot him a suspicious glance. "You're not trying to slack off, are you?"
"Hina doesn't think Roy is that kind of person." Hina blinked, speaking up for him.
Zephyr thought for a while before finally nodding. "All right, go. Remember to come back soon."
"Yes, sir!" Roy answered solemnly, only then turning to Garp.
Garp grinned and threw an arm around his shoulders. "Come on, come on! My Dog-Head Warship doesn't wait for dawdlers!"
Whoosh!
Roy gently grabbed Garp's arm and activated the Teleport-Teleport Fruit's ability—
In an instant, the two vanished into thin air, leaving Smoker and Hina staring at each other.
Smoker curled his lip. "That guy's teleportation is getting more and more convenient."
Hina rested her chin in her hand, looking thoughtful. "Hina wants to try it too."
Zephyr gazed in the direction they had vanished, his expression profound as his sunglasses reflected a faint glint of light. "The Oykot Kingdom... Still, with Garp there, nothing should go wrong," he murmured to himself.
Garp's Dog-Head Warship cut through the waves across the blue sea.
On deck, the sea breeze whipped past, gulls circled overhead, and waves beat against the hull.
Roy stood at the edge of the deck, gripping the railing as the sea breeze brushed his face and his heart surged.
If I remember correctly, the Oykot Kingdom is Nami and Nojiko's hometown... where their life as Bellemere's adopted daughters began.
Garp munched on a Senbei, his shoulders shaking as he laughed. "Kid, you seem especially interested in the Oykot Kingdom, huh?"
Roy came back to his senses and said calmly, "I just heard things haven't been very peaceful there lately."
Garp grinned, dropping Senbei crumbs onto the deck. "Don't worry. With me around, no pirates can stir up any waves!"
Roy looked toward the distant horizon, his gaze gradually growing resolute.
Perhaps I can... interfere with this so-called fate ahead of time?
Garp's hearty laughter rang out in the sea breeze. Roy's fist tightened slightly, his gaze blazing—that was the first time the boy had faced the test of fate.