God Valley's Afterimage

Hachinosu · Shakuyaku's Extortion Bar

The once thunderously noisy tavern seemed to have had its mute button pressed, and everyone's emotions cooled at once.

Rocks, Roger, Linlin, Newgate... all those monsters capable of stirring the New World into a boiling mess fell silent.

Even though sparks still flew between the Roger Pirates and the Rocks Pirates, all conflict naturally died down when Shakuyaku collapsed.

—Because the rules of One Piece Shakuyaku were the absolute law of Hachinosu.

"Any guest visiting this establishment is forbidden from engaging in private fights on the island. If you want to fight, get the hell out to sea."

Even a tyrant like Rocks had to obey obediently.

After Gloriosa helped Shakuyaku upstairs to rest, the tavern's atmosphere returned to its rowdy, uninhibited state.

Roger looked at the tightly shut door in the distance, sighed softly, and patted the silent Rayleigh on the shoulder.

Meanwhile, West Blue · God Valley

The sea breeze was gentle as sunlight filtered through white clouds and spilled across this tranquil, prosperous nation.

A figure strolled leisurely down the broad streets.

His hairstyle was so exaggerated that it was unforgettable at a glance, curling forward in a peculiar crescent-moon shape.

A platinum Holy Knights cloak fluttered softly in the wind.

—He was a member of the Holy Knights.

—Figarland Garling.

Though he was a member of the Celestial Dragons' most secretive and powerful force, he was merely a young man out for a stroll at the moment.

"I never expected... that I could find such a peaceful country just by wandering around."

Garling's gaze swept across the streets: clean stone roads, carefree smiling children, diligent merchants at work...

"An excellent location, and abundant resources as well..."

He looked at the beautiful scene before him and quietly assessed it in his heart. A nation capable of sustaining itself...

Just as he was lost in thought—

"Ah!"

A red-haired woman came rushing in from the side and nearly fell. Garling immediately reached out and caught her steadily.

The red-haired woman looked up and saw that handsome face with its hint of wildness. Her cheeks immediately flushed red.

"Sir... thank you." Her voice was soft and shy.

Garling smiled faintly, his smile both elegant and heart-stirring. "Think nothing of it."

Sunlight fell across the red-haired woman's shoulders, making her seem to glow. Garling froze for a rare moment.

"Interesting..."

A thread of fate quietly began to stir from that moment onward.

Time flew by · Marine Headquarters training grounds

The sea wind howled beneath the blazing sun.

Yet deafening explosions rang out from the center of the training grounds.

"Bang!!!"

"Thud!!!"

"Boom—!!!"

"Iron Fist" Garp, the symbol of the Marines' strongest physique, was trading blows without holding back against Rock—the youngest rear admiral in Marine history!

Both of their arms were coated in Armament Haki. Their fists struck flesh, and dense shockwaves erupted from every collision.

Garp's iron fists were brutal and direct. Every punch fell like a mountain, making even the air tremble.

Rock, meanwhile, moved as fast as lightning. His Observation Haki predicted Garp's attack trajectories, allowing him to keep up with this monster's speed even without using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's power.

"Bang!!!"

Rock's fist slammed into Garp, but Garp did not budge. Grinning, he countered with a punch that fell like a meteor and struck Rock squarely on the shoulder.

"Thud!!!"

Rock let out a muffled groan. The ground beneath his feet instantly collapsed, sending shattered stones flying everywhere. Yet instead of retreating, his smile grew even more excited.

Garp burst into laughter. "Wahahaha!! Brat, you've improved quite a bit!!!"

"Last month, one punch from me would leave your whole arm numb, but now you can actually take it head-on!!!"

Rock licked the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Don't let your guard down... I haven't stopped training."

"Then come on! Try this punch again!!!"

"Gladly!!!"

The two figures collided once more!

"Boom! Boom! Boom—!!!"

The continuous explosive gusts of their punches turned the watching Marines pale.

After several months of training, Rock's Armament Haki had become highly proficient and incredibly hard. Combined with his exceptional Observation Haki, he could often trade the smallest cost for the greatest counterattack.

But the gap between their Haki was still obvious—

With the same force behind a punch, Rock needed to land five punches to equal the damage of one from Garp.

That was the terror of "Iron Fist Garp," of course, on the condition that Rock did not use the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to enhance himself.

The Marines at the edge of the training grounds watched with their scalps tingling. "Rear... Rear Admiral Rock can actually trade blows with Vice Admiral Garp like that?!!"

"His Armament Haki... he's only trained it for a few months, right?!"

"Keep your voice down! What if he turns into lightning and gives you a blast later?!"

Someone swallowed hard. "Now, whenever I see lightning, I instinctively want to kneel..."

Although no thunderclouds descended over the training grounds today, the scene of Heavenly Punishment that had shaken Marine Headquarters was already deeply seared into every Marine's heart.

After training · Marine Headquarters cafeteria

Garp and Rock had just spent an hour beating each other up in the training grounds, and now they sat in the cafeteria devouring food like ravenous beasts.

The cafeteria auntie watched them eat and began to question her entire life.

Garp grabbed an entire roast and tore into it, sending grease flying everywhere. "Wahahaha!! Nothing feels better than a hearty meal after training!!!"

Rock had been completely corrupted by his eating habits and ate just as wildly. "Yeah! This is awesome!!!"

As they ate, they shook the table, like two giant beasts that had gone hungry for three days fighting over food.

Just then, Zephyr approached carrying a tray. Seeing this scene, he frowned deeply.

"You two, do you really need to make eating look like a second round of dueling...?"

Even so, he sighed and sat beside them. The three exchanged greetings.

Garp sprayed food as he spoke. "Zephyr, you're here too!"

Zephyr rubbed his forehead. "Don't talk while you're eating! You old fool..."

Rock slurped from his bowl of soup. "Big Bro Zephyr!"

—The cafeteria continued to shake.

After a whirlwind meal, the three finally wiped their mouths and sat up straight.

Rock suddenly turned to Zephyr. "Big Bro Zephyr, do you have any missions lately?"

Zephyr raised a brow. "Me? Nothing recently. Why?"

Rock's lips curled up. "Then come out with me."

"Since joining the Marines, I've been staying at headquarters to learn. I've already mastered everything I needed to learn—"

"It's time to go out and take a look. My hands are itching."

As soon as he spoke, Zephyr froze. A scene flashed through his mind: over the past few months, Rock had either been trading blows with Garp or trading blows with him.

Sengoku had already come to complain countless times, telling him to hurry up and "let Rock out to get some exercise."

Thinking of that, Zephyr silently rubbed his forehead, then nodded. "Fine."

Garp snorted in dissatisfaction. "Hey, brat, why aren't you asking me to take you out for some fun?"

Rock glanced at him. "You? Are you kidding?"

"If I go out with you, pirates will see your Dog-Head Battleship from several kilometers away and run for their lives."

"You little brat..."

Rock spread his hands helplessly. "I'm going out to clear out pirates, not to travel around and sunbathe with you."

Garp glared furiously. "Say that again!!!"

Zephyr watched the pair of restless "living treasures" and could not help shaking his head with a laugh.

"Alright, alright. You two, this is the cafeteria. If you want to fight, take it outside. If you break the tables and chairs, it'll come out of my allowance."

Then he turned to Rock. "Rock, let's leave tomorrow. We'll take my ship."

Rock answered simply, "Alright."

However, a sharp gleam that was difficult to catch flashed through the depths of his eyes.

That subtle change did not escape Garp's notice.

He was stuffing a rice cracker into his mouth, his cheeks bulging as he chewed. His chewing paused for an almost imperceptible beat before he resumed his usual carefree manner.

His gaze merely drifted thoughtfully between Zephyr's broad back and Rock's profile before he ultimately said nothing.