One Piece: The Undying Me Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First

Laughter tore through the storm and reached Xia Le's ears. The grave look on his face suddenly eased.

With that laughter, the storm that had hung motionless across the sky began to move again.

The figure, no bigger than a black speck, landed on the Dog-Head Warship.

"Vice Admiral Garp!"

"It's Vice Admiral Garp! Thank goodness!"

"We're saved now!"

Beside Xia Le, every officer burst into cheers.

In this era, Hero Vice Admiral Garp was the strongest man in the Navy. His very presence steadied hearts and lifted morale.

He had earned his glorious record in real battles. None of it was for show.

A moment later, the two warships met.

Xia Le and the others were brought aboard the Dog-Head Warship. Only then did Simboo, Saron, and the rest breathe easy and smile.

"Hahahaha!"

"Well, Xia Le? What do you think after seeing those two?"

Garp strode over and asked with a laugh.

"I still have a long way to go!"

Xia Le drew a deep breath, his voice solemn.

Yes. Merely watching the battle had shown him the gulf between himself and the world's strongest fighters.

Maxed-out Conqueror's Haki might narrow that gulf considerably, but it did not mean he stood on their level.

Observation Haki, Armament Haki, physical strength, reflexes, and combat experience all mattered.

"You're right. You still have a long way to go!"

"But one day, you'll be every bit as strong as they are!"

Garp's smile faded as he spoke in earnest.

He firmly believed Xia Le could inherit his teachings and become a fighter on his level.

Xia Le nodded hard.

"Strong fighters are forged through battle after battle, on the edge of life and death!"

"And you have the most important quality it takes. You'll grow faster and go farther!"

Garp reached out and patted him on the shoulder.

Then he looked up at the storm ahead and broke into a grin.

"I'm going after Roger."

"Got the guts to come with your teacher?"

Xia Le's eyes narrowed.

Go after Roger?

The sight of those two fighting had left him shaken and afraid.

Could I really stand against someone that powerful?

But a moment later, he nodded.

"I'm coming!"

Garp laughed again. With his back to Xia Le, he spoke softly into the storm.

"You have the potential to become one of the strongest in the world, a monstrous ability, and extraordinary talent."

"But your foundations are weak. You haven't even received proper Navy training."

"Sengoku thinks you should have a safe place to grow, and only face the storms once that fine seed has taken root."

"But..."

Garp paused, then grinned.

"I disagree. You were never meant to be like everyone else. Not even Kuzan, Sakazuki, or Borsalino can compare to you."

"You can't die. You've been shot, beheaded, shelled, poisoned, and more. Nothing has managed to kill you. Instead, it's forged your Iron Will."

"You even awakened Conqueror's Haki before learning a single combat technique!"

"You were born to grow one step at a time through desperate odds, without fearing death."

"A sheltered life could never raise a monster like you!"

Xia Le's expression tightened as he listened, then he smiled.

"I'd rather stay by your side and learn everything you can teach me, Teacher Garp!"

Garp laughed and patted his student's shoulder again.

"I'll make you the strongest Navy man in history!"

With that, the Hero Vice Admiral, then at the height of his powers, turned and walked away.

In the storm, Xia Le watched his straight, powerful back, his thoughts in turmoil.

Looking at Garp's life as a whole, Xia Le could think of few in the Navy that were more difficult or more heartbreaking.

He had raised his son, his student, and two grandsons, hoping they would all join the Navy. Every attempt had failed. Three became pirates, and one joined the Revolutionary Army.

All his life, Garp had worked to preserve a false peace.

Everything he did was a fight for the justice he believed in.

Roger was his closest friend, yet Garp had pursued him time and again for the sake of that justice.

When the grandson he had raised with his own hands was about to be executed before his eyes, he could only sit and watch. Then, when a fellow officer struck the boy down, he roared at a friend of many years.

"Hold me down, Sengoku!"

"Otherwise, I'll kill him!"

Two years after the Summit War, he would face Kuzan, the student he had raised himself, on Hachinosu.

Xia Le's expression grew complicated. The Garp he remembered had graying hair. His body was still strong, but his back had begun to stoop. He looked old, with grief and loneliness always hidden behind his smile.

But the man before him was different.

This man was commanding, wild, and forceful!

He was at the peak of his life. For all his unruly ways, he lived more freely, happily, and passionately than he would on any day twenty years later!

These were Garp's youngest, happiest years!

They were also his strongest.

This was his era—the era of Garp, the Hero of the Navy.

"And it's my era too!"

Xia Le lifted his head into the raging storm and murmured the words.

A Clean Break

Boom!

It was almost the wildest storm Xia Le had ever seen.

It was as though a god atop the dark clouds were pouring the sea back down, turning the Milky Way into a waterfall from the highest heavens. Wind shrieked overhead, and the warship beneath his feet could do nothing but drift with the waves.

Worse still, the storm showed every sign of growing stronger.

"Quick! Get the water out!"

"Don't let the rain flood the ship!"

"This storm's too fierce! The weather in these waters changes without warning!"

Shouts rang in Xia Le's ears, and he soon joined the work.

Rain hammered his back and forehead until they ached. When he looked out at the sea, he saw bubbles rising through its violently heaving surface.

It was as if a massive tsunami were gathering strength.

"Xia Le, head to the stern!"

Kuzan was soaked through. He shouted over the storm, a wooden bucket in his hand.

Boom!

Thunder deafened them. Lightning threw their faces in and out of shadow. Xia Le nodded, stamped through the rainwater on the deck, and vanished from the spot.

When he reached the stern, he found Sakazuki there too.

"Hmph. Xia Le."

Sakazuki glanced up at him and snorted. Then he lowered his head again, rapidly scooping water into his bucket and flinging it overboard.

Xia Le gave him a sidelong look. A sword hung at Sakazuki's waist, and his expression was cold. Xia Le bent to scoop water too.

Gradually, both of them worked faster.

Then they looked up and locked eyes, sparks flying between them.

A silent contest began. Sakazuki's hands moved so fast they blurred, and the water at his feet visibly receded. Xia Le let out a low growl.

At last, when the water on the deck had fallen to its lowest level, Xia Le dropped to the planks with a thud and panted for breath.

Sakazuki was exhausted too, but he forced himself to remain standing. Arms folded, he looked down at Xia Le with a trace of contempt, as if to say, Is that all you've got?

"What a childish contest."

After a long moment, Xia Le stood and spoke.

Sakazuki's expression shifted. He was about to retort, but Xia Le had already turned away.

The storm raged on, bringing everyone no end of trouble.

They could barely see, and even their heading had become uncertain. From the ship, there was no landmark in sight.

They had also lost track of Roger and his crew.

"Bogard! Was this the direction Roger went before he disappeared?"

Garp shouted over the storm.

"I'm certain of it."

Bogard wiped the rain from his face and nodded.

"Damn storm!"

Garp cursed, then turned and shouted at Xia Le, who stood staring into the rain.

"Kid, what are you staring at?"

Xia Le did not answer. He pointed ahead, where more than a dozen pirate ships had appeared in the rain, scattered and listing every which way.

Garp froze. Then his expression changed, and he laughed.

"Hahahaha!"

"Looks like this storm scattered Shiki's fleet!"

The rain was so heavy that neither side spotted the other until they were almost on top of each other. The nearest pirate ship was about to collide with them.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Garp's roar rang out.

Even the storm seemed to fall silent. Everyone aboard snapped to attention.

"Clear those obstacles out of my way!"