Destiny: Sun God Nika

Chapter 50: Fate: Sun God Nika

"Damn it, that hurt! Who hit me?"

"Grandpa!"

Upon seeing Garp's grim expression, Luffy stumbled back, hitting the cold wall. He rubbed his eyes hard, finding it hard to believe.

Huh?

Grandpa?

Usopp and Nami's eyes widened. Judging by the old man's attire, he was a Marine, right?

"Luffy, why did you set out to sea and become a pirate without my permission? It seems you've completely ignored my words."

Garp was frustrated, like a parent disappointed in their child.

That rebellious son was like this, his elder grandson was like this, and this younger grandson was also like this. Didn't they know he was protecting them by acting this way?

Veins bulged on his neck, but the moment he saw Luffy's miserable state, the anger that had just surged within him vanished.

"I said I'm going to be the Pirate King."

Luffy mumbled, but he was happy to see Garp here. He instinctively wanted to lean on him, as he was at his wit's end with no other options.

Although he usually acted carefree, his heart was filled with regret.

Because of him.

Nami and the others might never escape this place.

"Grandpa, are you here to save us?"

"No."

Garp answered curtly as Luffy, who had eagerly approached, sat down beside him.

Luffy's expectant face immediately fell, quickly turning to disdain.

Bang--

Garp's eyelid twitched. He delivered another punch to Luffy's head. For a moment, Luffy, with two steaming red lumps on his head, lay on the ground, rolling back and forth.

"To show such an expression to your own grandfather."

Usopp and the others exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. They could see the disbelief in each other's eyes. Luffy's father was a rebel leader, and his grandfather was a Marine.

Someone who could casually visit Impel Down to see Luffy must hold a high position, right?

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Monkey D. Garp, Luffy's grandfather."

After lecturing Luffy.

Garp scratched his head and introduced himself to Nami and the others with a gentle smile. "Since Luffy considers you his nakama, you must all be trustworthy. But this kid is a handful, so you've really gotten yourselves into a lot of trouble by getting involved with him."

Nami and the others opened their mouths, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

The first part of his statement was accurate, but the latter part sounded increasingly insulting.

"It hurts."

"Damn you, Grandpa."

Luffy wailed, tears and snot streaming uncontrollably. He was very unhappy with Garp kicking him while he was down. What did he mean by getting themselves into a lot of trouble?

Who would gloat and mock their own grandson like that?

"Do you have any complaints?"

Seeing Luffy's defiant look, Garp's face drooped, stretching long like a donkey's. He then snorted coldly, "Look at your situation. Since Impel Down was established, very few have successfully escaped. They were all top powerhouses who dominated the seas."

"Tell me, how do you plan to get out? And how do you plan to save your nakama?"

"In the end, only two fates await you: either you die here, or you grow old and die here."

Facing Garp's cold and ruthless revelation of reality, Luffy's expression froze, and his face turned ashen. Zoro and the others also fell silent.

"Grandpa, you're a Marine hero. Can you save Zoro and the others? I can stay here forever."

After struggling for a long time.

Luffy clenched his fists, like a deflated balloon. He looked at Garp, almost begging.

"No."

Garp's answer was as firm as ever. At that moment, the light in Luffy's eyes vanished, and he lost all his usual spirit.

Sigh--

With a sigh.

Garp was silent for a moment. Seeing that Luffy had been sufficiently demoralized and detecting no prying observers with his Observation Haki, he subtly shifted his position and gestured for Nami and the others to gather around.

Although Nami and the others didn't know what Garp was going to say next, they instinctively huddled together. Luffy, in his despair, was also forcibly pulled over by Usopp.

"If you want to get out, you can only rely on yourselves. Whether it takes ten years or twenty years, you must persevere. Harsh environments often lead to faster progress."

"Since you're already in here, find a way to become stronger and escape on your own, rather than easily giving up hope."

"On this great sea, the only things you can rely on are each other and your own strength."

"Therefore, becoming stronger is your only way out."

"I will stay in Impel Down for half a month and secretly teach you Rokushiki and two types of Haki. This is also your only chance to escape or achieve your dreams."

Garp gritted his teeth, ultimately going against his own sense of justice.

Facing his own grandson, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.

"Grandpa."

Luffy pursed his lips, unsure of what to say.

Zoro, Nami, and the others also clenched their teeth. Although they didn't know what Rokushiki and Haki were, they knew they must be very important and powerful if they were their only hope of escape.

"Cheer up. Every second from now on is crucial for you."

"Understood."

Everyone nodded firmly. The despair that had previously seemed endless suddenly gave way to a sliver of hope. No matter what, they would desperately cling to it.

And so.

Garp began staying in Impel Down. Magellan, out of respect for Garp, didn't make things difficult for the Straw Hat Pirates. Instead, he turned a blind eye.

As long as Garp didn't violate any principles and forcibly take Luffy away, many things weren't really issues. After all, the Straw Hat Pirates weren't famous yet.

Their influence was almost zero.

They hadn't yet provoked the World Government with the Enies Lobby incident, so their crimes weren't severe. At most, it was their identity as pirates.

Impel Down was full of small-time pirates with bounties of 30 million Berries.

Even if Garp used his authority to rescue the Straw Hat Pirates, he'd at most be scolded, and then nothing would come of it.

After all, who would pay attention to a minor character?

If it weren't for his powerful father and his ridiculous grandfather, who would Monkey D. Luffy be?

It had to be said that Garp was truly ruthless to choose such a hellish environment as Impel Down to temper Luffy, or perhaps to try and change Luffy's mind about being a pirate.

Everything behind his actions was born of good intentions.

Flowers in a greenhouse cannot withstand storms; only by enduring pain that ordinary people cannot bear can they emerge transformed.

It also fully illustrated that in this world, whether ordinary or extraordinary, it all comes down to strength and background.

Garp knew the cruelty of this world all too well. Only the ultimate victor is just, and currently, the Celestial Dragons are the ultimate victors.

This world serves the Celestial Dragons.

For centuries, no one has been able to break free from their dominant influence.

The only thing he could do was join them and do his best to preserve some hope and embers.

The Marines were merely aiding and abetting evil, and his own hands were stained with the blood of the innocent. He and the other Marines had wanted to change things, but they were powerless.

As Dragon said, the Marines have no true justice.

Garp knew this, and everyone else knew it too.

The Celestial Dragons have a tradition: every three years, they hold a human hunt. They choose an island in a non-member nation, conduct a slaughter competition, kill all the natives, and then declare the island belonging to the World Government.

The role of the Marines in this is to protect the Celestial Dragons. How laughable is that?

Everyone is waiting, waiting for the legendary Sun God Nika.

Luffy.

From the moment you ate that Devil Fruit, destiny has been upon you.

My ancestors, how should I develop the Ton-Ton Fruit? Please share your thoughts so I can shamelessly copy them.