Ares: Who's the Strongest Among You?

Ares plunged into the sea and, using the swimming techniques he had just learned from Sebastian, quickly swam toward the Marine warship.

On the Marine warship.

A man in a black suit stood tall and straight, his well-built muscles stretching the suit taut. The white cloak of justice on his back fluttered in the sea breeze.

He grinned, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth, and an excited smile appeared on his face. "I didn't expect to run into the Byrnndi World Pirates and a commander of the Rocks Pirates at the same time!"

"Excellent!!"

"I was getting a little bored sailing across the sea, so let's have some fun with them!"

"Then we'll send them off to prison!"

He held his hands in front of him and flexed his fingers and wrists, producing a series of crackling sounds from his joints.

"Can we finally fight? I, Monkey D. Dragon, will eliminate those evil pirates!"

At that moment, a slightly immature voice rang out, filled with intense courage and fighting spirit.

The speaker was a boy a little over a meter tall, with a somewhat "fierce" face and fair skin.

But the moment he finished speaking, a fist the size of a sandbag landed on his head with a thud.

A large purple bruise immediately appeared on Dragon's forehead.

"Ow!!! That hurts!!!"

The punch made Dragon clutch his head with both hands, crouching down and crying out in pain.

The Marines nearby were so frightened that they fell silent, cold sweat streaming down their faces.

Marine Vice Admiral Garp's booming voice rang in Dragon's ears. "You can join the battle once you've learned the Six Powers!"

"You're still just a child. This isn't a battle you can take part in!"

The enemies were the powerful Byrnndi World Pirates and a commander of the Rocks Pirates. With Dragon's strength, charging in would only amount to throwing his life away.

Garp had given Dragon a painful lesson without hesitation: Iron Fist of Love!

Garp paid no attention to Dragon's resentful glare. After punching him, he calmly raised a finger to pick his nose, casting a sidelong glance at Dragon.

Dragon immediately turned his head away, his fists clenched tightly. His face filled with unwillingness, he muttered, "You still treat me like a child. Damn it!!"

At this time, he was only a thirteen-year-old boy, wearing a white sailor uniform without any rank insignia.

Garp also turned his gaze toward Byrnndi World and Ochoku, a commander of the Rocks Pirates, who were fighting on the pirate ship in the distant sea.

He said excitedly, "This time, we'll wipe them all out in one go!!"

Suddenly.

Garp's expression shifted. His keen senses seemed to have detected something, and he grinned. "Looks like someone's come looking for trouble!"

Dragon immediately stretched his neck and looked around, puzzled.

As Garp's voice fell, a huge, bald head reflecting the sunlight rose over the side of the ship.

Ares moved quickly.

After a few swift motions, he vaulted over the side and appeared on the deck of the Marine warship.

His appearance, the huge body covered in bulging muscles, and the savage, violently ferocious aura radiating from him created an overwhelming sense of pressure for the Marines.

It immediately caused a panicked commotion among the Marines on deck.

"It's a pirate!!! But how did he get here?!"

"Who is this guy? Doesn't he know this is Vice Admiral Garp's warship?!!"

"He's so tall and huge! Does he have Giant Tribe blood?!"

"Those muscles are enormous! They're practically made of bronze!!"

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In an instant, dozens of muskets were aimed at Ares, their dark muzzles pointed straight at him.

Dragon stared at the man who had appeared before him and muttered, "Why did this guy come aboard a Marine warship by himself?"

"Aren't the pirates over there still fighting?"

Garp, meanwhile, addressed Ares in his usual blunt manner. "Boy, want to join the Marines?"

"You've got an excellent physique!! You'll definitely become an outstanding Marine in the future!!"

At those words, the faces of every Marine on the ship, including Dragon, darkened at once, black lines appearing across their foreheads.

Ares looked at Garp. If nothing unexpected happened, this man was the highest-ranking officer aboard the Marine warship. Facing dozens of muskets, he said calmly, "No. I won't join the Marines."

"I'm a pirate!"

Then his fierce gaze swept around him as he asked, "Who's the strongest among you?"

"Have him come fight me!!"

Hearing those arrogant words, Dragon instantly grew furious. He turned toward his father, only to see a huge bubble of snot forming beneath Garp's nose.

He was asleep!!!

Dragon was speechless. The big pirate's voice was so loud, yet his father had still managed to fall asleep.

He was utterly defeated.

"What are you waiting for!! Shoot!!" Dragon shouted angrily at the Marines on the deck.

In an instant.

The Marines on deck pulled the triggers of their muskets.

Bang bang bang!!

Bang bang bang!!

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Dozens of black bullets shot rapidly toward Ares!

Ares reacted immediately. His arm instantly took on his unique Armament Haki, suddenly turning crimson as wisps of white steam rose from it, making the sight terrifying.

He swung his arm in front of him, and the bullets fell to the ground with a series of clinks.

"What... What kind of monster is this?!" Dragon stared wide-eyed at Ares, more than ten meters away, as his arm suddenly transformed into such a bizarre state.

He was utterly shocked and shaken. Even the musket bullets were completely ineffective against it.

The Marines around them were also badly frightened.

After blocking all the bullets, Ares moved. With a single leap, he appeared in midair and punched down hard at the sleeping Garp.

Garp, completely caught off guard, was sent flying by the punch. With a boom, he crashed into one of the cabins.

All of this left Ares confused and bewildered.

"Vice Admiral Garp!!!"

"Vice Admiral Garp!!!"

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The soldiers aboard the ship stared dumbfoundedly at the pirate who had sent Marine Vice Admiral Garp flying.

"Damn it!!"

"Go to hell, pirate!!"

Filled with fiery passion and a sense of justice, Dragon punched toward Ares's thigh.

Bang!

A dull impact rang out. Dragon felt as though he had punched steel, and his hand hurt terribly!

A thought rose in his mind: Is this guy even human?

Just then.

Ares's leg suddenly turned red and hot, and Dragon instantly felt a scorching pain in his hand. He subconsciously pulled his arm back.

"It's hot!!"

"Is this a Devil Fruit ability?!"

Before he could react, a reddened, burning sole of a foot, hot as a branding iron, struck him in the face with a bang.

A sizzling sound rang out.

Dragon suddenly felt an intense, searing pain sweep through his nerves. Immediately afterward, his mind went blank and he lost consciousness.

His body shot away like a meteor.

He happened to fly past Garp, who had just walked out of the cabin, and crashed into the wooden walls with a boom, smashing several of them.

Garp picked his nose and asked with a blank expression, "What happened?!"

Looking at the deck, he felt that something was missing. Then he suddenly realized and asked, "Where's Dragon?"

"Was that boy frightened away?!"

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Thank you for all the gifts, my dear readers. Love you all!

Writing away (serious face!)

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