A Punch to the Face, Knocked Unconscious

Faced with someone like Garp, a true man of action who started fighting at the slightest disagreement, Wright actually admired him... my ass!

What was with this damn old man? Did he enjoy beating up kids?

But... I wasn't just any ordinary kid!

Wright's gaze sharpened. Ashes left its sheath and met Garp's fist. "Just what I wanted! Please instruct me, Vice Admiral Garp!"

Golden Armament Haki wrapped around the longsword. Ashes, infused with Holy Light Power for three years, seemed as though it had been forged from gold, radiating a faint golden glow. It was breathtakingly beautiful, like a work of art.

Wright's Armament Haki had been unusual from the moment it awakened. Perhaps because both were forms of bodily energy, his Haki combined with Holy Light Power and developed additional effects.

Observation Haki, combined with the spiritual properties of Holy Light Power, gained the ability to sense living beings' emotions and hear their thoughts. Armament Haki, meanwhile, combined with the three major traits of Holy Light Power—Punishment Power, Protection Power, and Healing Power. Its color changed from black to gold, and it gained Holy Damage, enhanced defense, and enhanced self-recovery from Holy Light Power.

Wright's Armament Haki now gave any Haki-covered area the effects of weakened versions of Seraphim Holy Seal, Holy Protection Spell, and Eternal Fire. He no longer needed to spend additional Holy Light Power to activate those skills, allowing him to use it instead to restore his stamina and keep his Haki flowing endlessly.

Terrifying indeed!

And so—

Clang!

Boom—!

Before the Marines could even react, Garp and Wright had exchanged a few words and started fighting? Was this Pirate Hunter really that fearless? Didn't he know how absurd Vice Admiral Garp's Fist of Love was?

The longsword and fist collided, their Armament Haki clash sending out waves of violent storms. Many Marines on the deck could not withstand it and were blown away. Even the warship's massive sails were blown askew. Bogart hurriedly directed the Marines to lower the sails and drop anchor, planning to set off again after Vice Admiral Garp had finished stretching his limbs.

"Not bad, brat!" Garp grinned. "Is that golden stuff a Devil Fruit ability? Not bad, not bad. This old man is going to use more force!"

Boom!

Wright did not dare slack off. He activated King's Blessing and Seraphim Holy Seal at full power. His enhanced stamina and surging Holy Fire barely withstood Garp's heavier punch.

So this was the strength of a Marine Hero? Armament Haki that could be called unmatched in the world?

Wright secretly marveled at the terrifying strength Garp had revealed, though it was only the tip of the iceberg. He had no choice but to cast Holy Protection Spell to strengthen his defense, preventing his arms and body from collapsing under the overwhelming force. Golden mist swirled around him—an actor had to crank the special effects to the max even while getting beaten senseless!

"He actually blocked Vice Admiral Garp's punch, and the Vice Admiral has already increased his strength... The title of 'East Blue Strongest Pirate Hunter' truly suits him." Bogart's Justice Coat whipped violently in the wind, yet his body remained completely still. "And that golden... is it a Devil Fruit ability? Why does it resemble Armament Haki so much? It would be impossible to block Vice Admiral Garp's fist without Armament Haki... Could it be a combination of Devil Fruit power and Haki?"

Unaware that someone had quietly guessed the truth about him, Wright struggled to withstand Garp's increasingly heavy punches. Before long, he was on the verge of collapse. So this was the strength of a top-tier powerhouse? Even Shanks would have to obediently take a beating if he ran into him!

This was why I said I should lie low first. What kind of coincidence was this, making me run into a huge boss like Garp already?!

"Good brat! At your age, there are only a few people in the entire Grand Line who could take this old man's punch!" Garp's smile gradually turned sinister. "But you only have one sword, while this old man has two fists!"

Wright's expression changed instantly. Before he could start cursing, a fist wrapped in Armament Haki appeared before his eyes.

Don't hit my face!

That was Wright's final thought before losing consciousness. His previous thought had been: This shameless old bastard!

"Vice Admiral Garp, you broke the deck again." Bogart shook his head helplessly. Looking at the huge hole in the deck and Wright, who had been punched into the ship's hold and lay unconscious, the corners of his mouth drooped even further. He called for the Marines to carry Wright back up, then swiftly repair the deck.

"He withstood your punches for so long... You didn't beat him to death, did you?"

"Hahahaha! It's rare for this old man to meet a brat who interests me. I just used a little too much force. He won't die." Garp scratched his head and waved a hand. "For a kid his age, in the East Blue, to develop such skills—and still hesitate about joining the Marines... Since we've met him, he's coming back to Headquarters with this old man! With talent as monstrous as his, perhaps the Marines will gain another figure capable of deciding the future!"

"Indeed. Wright's talent is terrifying. He is a healing-type ability user like Whitebeard's ship doctor Marco... perhaps even stronger. And his abilities are remarkably balanced, combining offense, defense, and healing into one..." Bogart paused, and the corners of his mouth seemed slightly less downturned. "Rumor has it that he can see the good and evil in people's hearts, possibly a special form of Observation Haki."

"Dawn Divine Healer hates evil with a passion. He shows no mercy toward wicked pirates, exterminating them completely, yet he is like the dawn's light to ordinary civilians. Regardless of status or position, as long as someone sincerely wishes to be good, he treats all manner of difficult and incurable illnesses without taking a single coin. It is said that his dream is 'World Peace'..."

"Oh?" Garp's playful expression vanished. He turned and returned to his seat, instinctively reaching into his clothes, only to discover that he had long since finished his Senbei. "...At such a young age, he already possesses such character. Judging by what he has done, this so-called wish does not sound like empty talk... Has his background been investigated?"

"Intelligence indicates that Wright was originally the second son of a noble family in the Goa Kingdom. Since childhood, he disliked noble schemes and politics, preferring art and swordsmanship, especially swordsmanship." Bogart still wore the same expressionless face, but a sharp glint flashed beneath the shadow of his hat brim. Clearly, he had done his homework. "After gaining some proficiency in swordsmanship, he secretly left home and apprenticed himself to a certain dojo, where he devoted himself to studying the sword. He began becoming active three years ago. The first thing he did after making his debut was save an entire ship's worth of people during an accidental poisoning incident, without taking a single coin. The title of 'Divine Healer' was spread voluntarily by the grateful people aboard that ship. From then on, he traveled the East Blue as a Pirate Hunter and made a great name for himself."

"So he's a fellow townsman of this old man?" Garp threw back his head and laughed. "This old man is getting more and more interested in the kid. With such a background, yet such character—and even amid the tides of this Great Pirate Era, he can still hold fast to his true heart. He's a born Marine!"

"Just as I said, leaving talent like his in the East Blue is a waste! At his current level, the East Blue can basically no longer provide him with the pressure and drive to keep growing—the Grand Line holds far more possibilities!"

"Ah, my grandson must become like Wright in the future too. This old man will definitely raise Luffy into an outstanding Marine filled with a heart of justice!"