The Embryo of a New Skill

Lynn really wanted to say:

Just as expected of you, Garp!

Compared to a proper teacher like Zephyr, Garp's teaching method was pure Spartan-style training.

A fight for the entrance exam?

You called those two punches a "fight"?

If the Hero Fruit had not given Lynn monstrous regenerative abilities, those two punches alone would have been enough to keep him bedridden for over half a month!

What was even worse was that Garp was laughing heartlessly nearby:

"Hahahahaha! Just as expected of the brat Zephyr thinks highly of—your body really is tough!"

"..."

Annoying.

Lynn was extremely annoyed right now.

But after that brief irritation, another thought took its place:

In a sense, Garp's teaching style seemed even more suitable for him!

During his time in Foosha Village, Lynn had also been reflecting on why the rate at which his strength improved had slowed.

Thinking it over carefully, he felt that perhaps it was because he had lost the high-intensity combat environment of the coliseum.

Foosha Village was simply too peaceful. Even the beasts in the forest were merely food in Lynn's eyes; they could not be called "opponents" at all.

Lynn had to admit that he truly was a fanatic who craved and loved battle to the extreme!

I fight, therefore I am!

For that very reason, Garp's Spartan teaching method, which emphasized "learning through personal experience," was exactly what Lynn desperately needed.

A man who had driven the Pirate King into desperate straits several times was actually willing to become his opponent. That was a blessing beyond anything he could ask for!

Excitement gleamed in Lynn's eyes. The Energy Value within his body began to drain, and the power contained in his body gradually rose.

Bang!

Lynn suddenly kicked off with his rear foot, launching himself forward. His left straight shot toward Garp at astonishing speed.

Facing that heavy punch, Garp suddenly shifted to the side and grabbed Lynn's forearm!

Realizing something was wrong, Lynn was about to swing his right fist to break free when Garp's other incoming fist struck him squarely in the face.

Bang!

Lynn's nose stung sharply, and he was sent flying once again.

Every Marine around them was stunned by the sight.

Too fast!

Whether it was Lynn's punch or Garp's movements, both men were far too fast!

They were elites selected from various Marine branches to study Rokushiki under Garp, yet they had to admit that they would not be able to emerge unscathed against Lynn's fists. They would not even stand a chance of winning!

Just where had that young man come from? Why did he seem to know Black Arm Zephyr? And why was he so terrifyingly strong?

Soon, some Marines with good memories recognized Lynn.

"He's the major criminal with a 100 Million Beli bounty who caused the Sabaody Coliseum riot—BOSS Lynn Barik!"

At those words, the surrounding Marines could not help discussing it among themselves.

That major criminal who had declared war on the Celestial Dragons, whose name had resounded across the world, had actually come to the East Blue!

Not far away, Makino also heard what the Marines were saying.

"How could this be? Lynn is actually wanted! Is Mr. Garp going to arrest him?"

Thinking back on the time Lynn had spent in Foosha Village, Makino could not help feeling deeply worried.

Whether it was Mr. Garp or Lynn, Makino did not want either of them to get hurt.

While Makino was still silently praying over here—

On the other side, Lynn, who had been punched away by Garp and had fallen face-first onto the ground, was feeling something entirely different—

Excitement.

Almost there. I'm so close to finding it!

Lynn could not help replaying the scene from just now over and over in his mind.

Only his nose had been hit, leaving it sore and swollen. His head had not suffered much damage.

That was because, at the instant Garp grabbed his forearm, Lynn had faintly sensed Garp raising his other fist.

So he had tilted his head back in time, deflecting part of the force and reducing the damage that punch caused him.

Was that what Observation Haki felt like?

Lynn was not entirely sure, because some top-tier combat experts could predict their opponents' actions to a certain extent.

He could not determine whether it had merely been his battle instincts at work, or whether he had truly just touched upon the threshold of Observation Haki.

"Brat, how long are you going to lie there? Can't even make me move half a step?"

Garp's voice rang out again.

And a thought arose in Lynn's heart:

Try again!

Lynn slammed both hands against the ground and leaped to his feet with the rebound force.

Garp's strength was absolutely monster-level, so Lynn did not probe him at all. He immediately used his strongest move—

Hero Skill: Astonishing!

Back on the Sabaody Archipelago, when Lynn had faced Zephyr blocking his path and had been driven into a corner, he had considered using this move as a desperate last gamble. In the end, however, it had been interrupted by the Celestial Dragons' indiscriminate bombardment.

Strictly speaking, Lynn had never used this move against a true powerhouse before!

With such a perfect opportunity right before him, Lynn naturally could not let it slip away.

The Energy Value within his body rapidly drained.

Energy Value: 900/1500.

800...

700...

400!

Ten points of Energy Value were equivalent to the energy contained within an ordinary person's body.

Five hundred points—an enormous amount equal to the energy of fifty people—poured into Lynn's body in an instant. An incomparably violent and ferocious power surged into all four of his limbs!

This was the greatest energy output Lynn could unleash in a single burst so far!

Lynn stepped toward Garp, every step leaving a deep footprint in the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang...

Lynn's advancing steps grew faster and faster.

A dark golden light flowed deep within his eyes, leaving behind a straight "line" through the air.

Even though Lynn was not targeting them, the surrounding Marines who witnessed the scene could not help taking half a step back.

It was the same feeling the spectators in the coliseum had experienced before.

The surrounding environment was simply too "small" for the terrifying aura of this move.

Yet Garp—Lynn's true target—remained standing where he was, smiling without the slightest hint of hesitation.

In fact, from the beginning of the battle until now, Garp had not moved a single step!

In an instant, Lynn had charged to Garp's side.

He opened his right hand and pressed it against Garp's chest. Without the slightest hesitation in his footwork, he continued charging forward!

This time, Garp's expression finally changed.

What tremendous strength!

Garp steadied his breathing and tried to stop Lynn's advance with his body, but Lynn's sudden monstrous force pushed him backward. His feet carved tracks in the ground like wagon ruts!

One step!

Two steps!

Thre—

The moment he lifted his foot for the third step, Lynn's forward charge stopped.

Because he discovered that he could no longer move at all!

Lynn's palm was still pressed against Garp's chest, but when he tried to keep pushing him, an image suddenly came to mind—

It was as though he was trying to push a mountain!

Under normal circumstances, Astonishing could carry an opponent forward for more than ten steps.

Yet against Garp, even with Lynn giving it everything he had, he had only forced him back two and a half steps!

But—Lynn's attack was not over yet.

Astonishing had two stages:

The first stage: carrying the opponent forward.

The second stage: smash!

Lynn let out a low roar. Every muscle in his body tensed to the limit as the hand pressed against Garp's chest suddenly pushed downward!

It would not move!

No matter how much force Lynn used, Garp stood there like a towering mountain, utterly unmoving!

Lynn gritted his teeth, and the whites of his eyes began to redden.

He mobilized every remaining point of Energy Value in his body, preparing for one final desperate attempt!

At that instant, even Lynn himself failed to notice that the temperature of the surrounding air had suddenly dropped by several degrees.

Something was changing!

But Garp noticed it.

He grabbed Lynn's arm and flashed a satisfied grin.

"That's enough, brat."

"You passed the entrance exam."

Two updates every day, at noon and six in the evening, with a minimum of four thousand words.

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