Noki's Father's Past

"Vice Admiral, what is this?"

"Noki, didn't you want this old man to teach you boxing? I'm about to teach you." Garp was still warming up, swinging his arms and shaking his legs.

"Uh, shouldn't you first explain some training principles and experiences before we begin actual combat training?"

Noki stared at Garp's fist, which was even bigger than a sandbag, and instinctively felt afraid.

A few years ago.

He had nearly died beneath those iron fists. It had been the closest he had ever come to death.

Ever since eating the Dark-Dark Fruit, Noki had tried his best to avoid getting hurt, because double the pain was truly torture for the mind. Even someone as strong-willed as him did not dare let his guard down.

If he took one of Garp's punches, he could hardly guarantee he would not scream in agony in public.

"Principles and experiences? The method this old man used to forge these iron fists can be summed up in four words: tempered a hundred times into steel. To train these fists, this old man used mountains instead of sandbags. I smashed eight whole mountains before I succeeded.

Noki, you did this old man a huge favor. I'd feel too bad making you punch mountains, so let this old man be your sandbag and help you train your fists! Hahahahaha..."

For a moment, Noki was speechless. After a brief silence, he asked, "So you'll stand still and let me hit you?"

"No, no, no!"

Garp raised his fist high, a strange smile appearing on his rough face. "This old man has always believed that only when your life is on the line, when you face the danger of death, can you unleash your endless potential. That's when you improve the fastest. So, Noki, use your fists and fight this old man!

This old man can reassure you first—I'll control the strength of my punches appropriately."

Noki hesitated at his words. What troubled him was still the issue of double pain. It was not as though he had never trained this way before, but back then, he had not had that nasty double-pain debuff!

After a moment of mental struggle, Noki gritted his teeth, bent his knees, and launched himself forward like a cannonball. "Vice Admiral Garp, watch out! Iron Body Fist!"

"Heh heh."

Garp bared his white teeth, took a step back with his right leg, focused his gaze, clenched his fist, and threw a fierce punch.

"Boom!"

Their fists collided, and their Haki clashed.

A violent gale erupted.

"You've got a decent foundation, brat."

The muscles in Garp's arm bulged, veins protruding as he exerted force once more.

What tremendous strength!

Chills ran down his spine as the fist in Noki's vision grew larger and larger.

With a deafening bang.

Garp's simple, brutal, yet seemingly invincible iron fist slammed heavily into Noki's devastatingly handsome face.

"It hurts!"

Although Noki had eaten the Dark-Dark Fruit nearly a year ago, he had spent most of that time in the East Blue, where he rarely encountered powerful enemies. This was practically the first time he had suffered an attack capable of threatening him!

"Urgh..."

Noki rolled across the ground several times, his eyes bloodshot. He clamped a hand over his mouth with all his strength, barely keeping himself from crying out.

Only then did Vice Admiral Garp remember. "This old man nearly forgot. You're a Dark-Dark Fruit user. This training must be quite unbearable for you. Do you want to stop?"

"No! Need!"

Noki forced out the words through gritted teeth, one by one.

The power of darkness circulated within his body, absorbing the damage and healing him, while also returning the terrifying pain to his nerves.

The Dark-Dark Fruit was different from other Logia abilities.

Whether an attack was coated in Haki or not, it absorbed them all while inflicting double the pain. It could be said to be the Logia ability least affected by Haki.

Noki deeply felt that the Dark-Dark Fruit's ability was indeed powerful, but it was far too self-torturing!

It was fine when facing opponents weaker than himself.

But once he encountered an enemy stronger than him, or even one of equal strength, if his willpower was not strong enough, this power would not only fail to help him—it could even become his greatest burden!

"Continue."

After adapting for a while, Noki's expression became abnormally calm, so placid that it was frightening. He bit his lip tightly to keep himself from losing control too badly.

He was still someone who cared about his dignity, even though he understood the saying that pride only brought needless suffering.

"Good!"

Garp was extremely decisive. "This old man will start attacking continuously now. Prepare yourself."

"Here it comes!"

Noki steeled himself and watched the fist draw ever closer. It looked like a plain, unremarkable strike, yet it contained limitless experience and skill.

Whether it was the angle of the punch or the point of impact, it was nearly flawless.

Under that terrifying fist pressure, time and space seemed to freeze. Even if Noki wanted to dodge, it was difficult.

He could only bravely step forward and raise his fist to meet it.

How could mere physical pain stop his advance?

Noki repeatedly exchanged fists with Garp, getting sent flying every time. The agonizing pain in his mind had gradually numbed him.

He had to endure. He had to endure!

Only then could he become stronger!

The Navy training grounds were open to everyone, and anyone could enter.

The passing Marines noticed Noki and Garp. These two famous figures at Headquarters quickly drew a massive crowd.

"Has Rear Admiral Noki returned?"

"He's getting beaten up so badly..."

"Well, his opponent is Vice Admiral Garp, the Hero of the Navy!"

By chance, Gion happened to pass by. The moment she heard others mention Noki and Garp, she immediately put down her work and rushed toward the training grounds, her voice filled with anger. "That old man Garp is bullying my Noki again? This time, I'm going to have a proper word with him."

She clearly remembered the state Noki had been in after Garp beat him back then.

She absolutely could not allow that to happen again!

"Brat, you can really endure. Not bad, not bad. You suit this old man's taste."

Seeing Noki struggle back to his feet after falling again and again, Garp was deeply satisfied with that unyielding spirit.

Noki endured wave after wave of unimaginable pain, as though his entire nervous system had gone numb.

A sentence gradually surfaced in his mind: To suffer endlessly without weariness—this is the path of Asura!

Asura...

Demonic aura?

Noki seemed to gain some insight.

Just as Noki was seriously contemplating this amid Garp's fist winds, a sharp feminine cry interrupted them both. "Stop right now!"

Immediately afterward.

An incomparably fierce pink sword slash flew toward Garp.

"Gion, what are you doing?" Garp coated his fist in thick Haki and shattered the sword slash with a punch.

Gion stood in front of Noki, who was gasping for breath and swaying unsteadily, and shouted sternly, "Garp, I absolutely will not allow you to attack little Noki again."

Garp scratched his head. "Gion, did you misunderstand something? This old man is training him."

"Training?" Gion turned and looked at Noki in confusion.

Noki took several deep breaths. Waves of pain still plagued his body, but he forced a stiff smile. "Sister Gion, I was the one who asked Vice Admiral Garp to teach me boxing."

"But this training is far too grueling."

Gion frowned deeply. She had watched Noki grow up, and this was the first time she had seen him in such pain. Even though Noki deliberately hid it, how could it escape her eyes?

Even when Sakazuki had first begun training him, it had not been this extreme.

"Hiss~"

Noki clenched his fists, a smile still on his face. "Sister, I'm really fine."

"How does that look anything like being fine!"

Gion grew anxious and reached out to support Noki's body. Her hands moved over him, only to discover that, in terms of injuries alone, they were indeed not that serious.

Garp picked up his coat from the ground and draped it over himself, digging into his nostril with his pinky. "Noki, you did well today. Let's stop the training here for now. Would you like to have some tea with this old man? Gion can come too."

"Mm..."

Noki refused Gion's support in front of everyone and insisted on following them on his own.

Garp led the two of them into a tea shop.

Along the way, Noki explained the reason for his suffering to Gion.

"So it was caused by your Fruit ability. As expected, every advantage comes with a disadvantage."

Garp expertly brewed a cup of tea and said, "Gion, seeing you reminds this old man of that brat Rogers. If I remember correctly, you two dated for a while back then, didn't you?"

Noki had only just managed to lessen the pain in his body when he sprayed out the tea he had just sipped.

Sister Gion and his father had once been in a relationship?

Gion's fair face instantly flushed crimson. She raised her brows and snapped, "Little Garp, you... don't spout nonsense. We were only slightly closer than ordinary friends back then, not boyfriend and girlfriend. Noki is right here!"

Garp burst into laughter. "Fine, fine, whatever you say."

It was the first time Noki had heard of this. He cautiously asked, "Sister Gion, were you very close to my father?"

"W-We were alright. Your father was like you back then, an outstanding Marine. I just happened to know him a little better."

Garp said, "Noki, you must have heard quite a lot about your father's past, right?"

Noki shook his head. "Quite the opposite. Very few people have mentioned it to me. Even Uncle Sakazuki only brought it up occasionally."

Gion let out a long sigh. "Rogers's death was far too sudden. Even now, it is something we do not wish to recall. It is only natural that no one mentioned it to you."

Once the tea had brewed, Garp picked up the teapot and poured it into a cup. "That brat Rogers rose from humble beginnings. Unlike officers such as Kuzan and Sakazuki, he was not one of Zephyr's disciples.

At first, he was merely an insignificant junior officer at Headquarters. Later, for reasons unknown, his strength soared, and he repeatedly earned military achievements. In the end, he leaped all the way to Vice Admiral.

If not for the accident that came later, he would have had a place among the three Admirals by now."

"What kind of accident was it?" Since it concerned his father, Noki was exceptionally attentive.

Garp drank his tea and fell silent.

A deep sorrow flashed through Gion's beautiful eyes. "The pirate Rogers fought back then was named Catarina Devon, known as the Silver Moon Hunter.

With Rogers's strength, leading a force to defeat her should not have been a problem. But she seemed to have prepared in advance and set an ambush. Your father and his subordinates fought desperately, ultimately perishing together with the enemy. By the time our forces found him, not a single living person remained on his ship. There were only the bodies of pirates and Marines..."

Hearing this, Noki could not help but sigh.

Because of his appearance in this world, there seemed to be some kind of butterfly effect.

For example, according to the original story, there had never been anyone named Cudilia Rogers. The Silver Moon Hunter, Catarina Devon, had not died either, but had instead been imprisoned.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about such sad things. How have things been between you and Ain lately?" Gion rubbed her reddened eyes and asked with a smile.

"Not bad." Noki strategically drank his tea.

"Just not bad? I heard you two lived together in the East Blue for over half a year. Did nothing happen between you?"

Gion revealed a sly smile.

"Of course not! Sister, what kind of person do you take me for?"

Gion muttered softly, "Anyway, I'm starting to wonder whether you're actually a man."

"Sister!!"

Gion's words undoubtedly touched Noki's sore spot. If it had been anyone else, Noki would have struck already.

"Ah!"

Gion suddenly remembered that Chief Staff Officer Tsuru had assigned her a task. She had been so busy talking with Noki and Garp that she had completely forgotten about it.

"I'll be leaving first. Little Garp, remember not to bully my Noki." Gion hurried away.

With no one else around.

Garp brought up Ace.

Although the Den Den Mushi had already made it very clear, Garp still wanted to confirm it face-to-face.

"Ace said he wants to settle things with you again on the Grand Line. That stubborn refusal to admit defeat hasn't changed at all. Hahaha..."

Noki said seriously, "Vice Admiral, you should know my attitude toward pirates. If I truly encounter him on the Grand Line someday, I will not show mercy again."

"This old man understands. This old man would do the same in your place. If Ace truly dies by your hand one day, this old man will not hate you for it.

After all, he chose that path himself."

Noki and Garp chatted for a while longer. When it was time for dinner, they finally left the tea shop and went home separately, agreeing to continue training at the grounds tomorrow.

Nearly a year later.

Noki stepped through his front door once more.

"You're back."

He had expected the place to be covered in dust.

But Ain had returned before him and cleaned the room in advance.

"Have Tashigi and the others been settled in?"

"Mm-hm, everything's arranged. I took them to their respective dormitories, gave each of them a copy of Headquarters' rules and a map, and told them where you and I live so they can contact us anytime if they have questions."

Ain brought several plates of fragrant dishes out from the kitchen. "Noki, you haven't had dinner yet, right? I made these especially for you. Training with Vice Admiral Garp must have been hard, so eat more and replenish your strength."

"How did Ain know I went to train with Vice Admiral Garp?"

"Because... I happened to hear rumors on the street that you and Vice Admiral Garp were at the training grounds, so I quietly went to take a look.

Seeing Noki like that broke my heart. But I also knew Noki was working hard to improve. If I appeared, I would definitely distract you.

So I thought I would come back early and help with some chores. This is the only way I can support you. Noki, you won't blame me, will you?"