Young Sea Ice, Eat My Spear!

In the following days, Austin focused most of his training on physical conditioning.

While he couldn't compare to geniuses who trained two hundred times harder, he could learn sniping skills, swordsmanship, and combat techniques with twice the efficiency of a genius like Shanks. He was already monstrously talented.

Therefore, developing his physical strength and Haki earlier was paramount.

Time flew by.

Two months had passed since he left home. Austin's life was fulfilling yet uneventful.

Shortly after dawn, Austin was woken up by Buggy and Shanks to clean. Last night, because Captain Roger's bounty had increased again, the ship had held yet another banquet.

Everyone was merry, except for The Three Worst Supernovas.

Damn it!

Who could stay energetic and not get tired from banquets every single day!

Austin was helpless against these hot-blooded idiots, and also against Roger, who had a personality somewhat similar to King Luffy.

It wasn't that he didn't want to join them, but the so-called Rum was truly undrinkable. Austin, who had no addiction to alcohol, couldn't appreciate it.

This was different from the passionate Pirate King journey Austin had imagined. Apart from occasional storms, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and hurricanes, there were no exciting adventure plots at all.

As expected, the grand journey of the Pirate King was just a gathering of top-tier strong men.

They continued cleaning until almost lunchtime, and Austin and the others finally finished clearing the wine bottles and residue.

Just as they were about to eat some food and then go train, Suddenly, Austin seemed to sense something and froze in place, looking towards the distant sky.

Something was flying over!

Austin was the first to hear the sound.

Buggy ran to the ship's railing and took a closer look, only to realize it looked like a Cannonball!

Holy crap!

He immediately looked into the distance and saw a White Sail appearing in his vision.

What kind of Cannonball could be thrown so far?

A missile?

Austin vaguely guessed who it might be.

Ignoring the urgent call for alert, under the nervous gazes of Shanks and Buggy, Austin immediately drew the long spear on his back, aiming at the black dot in the sky.

At the same time, Captain Roger's figure appeared at the bow of the ship at some unknown time. He looked at Austin, who was aiming his spear, "Kid, that guy's cannonball is very fast. Can you hit it?"

Roger grinned widely, watching Austin still trying to find his aim.

Who does he think I am?

I might not be able to beat him, but can't I hit a cannonball?

Austin pouted, aligning the crosshairs with the black dot, and assisted by Observation Haki.

"Got it!"

In his Observation Haki perception, the cannonball was hit by his bullet dozens of meters outside the ship, striking directly in the center of the sphere.

However...

He hit it, but not entirely.

To Austin's ghost-like expression, this cannonball not only didn't explode in mid-air as expected, but instead, like nothing happened, it deflected his bullet and continued on its original trajectory.

"Six hundred sixty-six, this cannonball is a cheat!"

"No, this is definitely a cannonball imbued with Haki!"

Seeing that he couldn't do anything about it, Austin decisively put away his spear and retreated behind Buggy and Shanks.

He wasn't flustered, because if the sky were to fall, the taller ones would hold it up; it wasn't their place as three little radishes.

As expected, "Divine Departure!!!"

With Captain Roger's furious roar, a slash imbued with black-red lightning from his blade cut through the sky, It seemed as if the sky itself would tear apart!

Except for the one Austin was aiming at, several closely following cannonballs also exploded violently in mid-air before they even landed.

Austin was dazzled by this incredibly powerful strike.

Although he knew this move was exaggerated in anime, seeing it in person was a different experience.

Splitting the sky with one slash?

Divine Departure is great, I must learn Divine Departure!

Austin's scalp tingled, and he almost drooled. He used his Observation Haki to carefully sense every movement Captain Roger made as he unleashed his power.

However, perhaps he was too weak now, only able to sense a very powerful force circulating within Roger's body, unable to discern more details.

Austin felt regret.

This was probably the same reason why Sharingan couldn't copy Forbidden Jutsu; the level was too low to paste.

But before he could react, Shanks and Buggy pulled him back, behind the many crew members who had rushed over.

"Hahahahaha!!! My lads, prepare to face the Marines!" Roger drew his sword and laughed heartily.

"This Mad Dog, we finally got rid of him, how did he catch up again in just two months?" Gaban, wearing a vest and holding Dual Axes, said irritably.

"Then let's give them a welcome gift too." Rayleigh was more direct, unleashing a massive sword energy that split the sea with a single slash.

As Austin expected, it had no effect, being scattered by a Black Fist from the warship!

Austin was quick, scrambling onto the crow's nest and greeting his Sniper Master, Bitam. "Yo, Uncle Bitam!"

Bitam was plump, but his reactions and movements were not slow. Seeing Austin also climb onto the crow's nest, he smiled. "Oh, it's Austin. Be careful, the one we're facing this time isn't some small fry."

"I'll take care of myself," Austin replied with a smile. Through the scope of his gun, he looked at the figure on the distant warship.

It was a stout man with short hair and a beard, wearing a Vice Admiral's Cape and a Black Suit. He was casually holding a few Cannonballs.

The Cannonballs that had previously rendered Austin helpless were sent out by this guy with his bare hands.

If you asked Austin, current Cannons were too weak; Automatic Gear couldn't even beat Manual Gear.

"As expected of King's Chicken-chan..."

"Hey, hey, hey! Can you hear me, Roger? Surrender now!"

From a great distance, they could see Garp holding a huge Megaphone, shouting.

"Hahahahaha, that won't do, Garp!"

Roger responded with a smile, and the two Old Rivals began shouting at each other from afar.

The two of them were exchanging their Full of Bromance Old Opening Lines.

What followed was the usual Chase Battle and the exchange of Armament Haki.

Since the Roger Pirates had many experts and were highly agile, it was unrealistic for Garp alone to capture them all.

And Roger and the others didn't want to clash head-on with Garp, this Tough Bone, on the sea.

After all, if even a little of the Armament Haki from either side leaked out, it would result in Ship Destroyed, People Not Dead, and they would have to Collective Swimming to the Next Island.

Occasionally, some overconfident Marines would use Geppo to try and approach the Oro Jackson, only to be knocked into the water by Rayleigh and the others, or shot by Austin's sniper rifle.

Among this group of Hot-headed Youth Marines, Austin spotted an unusual figure through his scope.

A curly-haired stickman.

"Hey, hey, hey, this guy is mixed in with the regular Marines, he's definitely up to no good!"

If Austin hadn't recognized him, this young man would have really slipped through.

It was definitely not good news for their ship to have an Ice-Ice Fruit user trying to get close.

Silently taking out the only Seastone Bullet he had managed to coax from Bitam, Austin began to aim, a slight grin forming on his lips.

Consider this a welcome gift.

The young Sea Ice—Kuzan.