The ashes of Gray Terminal had yet to cool, but the atmosphere on Mount Colubo had already begun to change quietly.
Sabo's injuries gradually stabilized, but his left leg had suffered permanent damage, leaving him with a slight limp. The boy who had once been the most agile had to accept that he could no longer run and jump as he had before.
"It's okay!" Luffy tried to comfort him in his own way. "Sabo's still really strong!"
Sabo managed a smile, but he could not hide the dejection in his eyes. Allen noticed more guilt and anger in Ace's gaze whenever he looked at Sabo-anger at himself for failing to protect his brother, and even greater hatred for the nobles who had set the fire.
Early one morning, just as dawn was breaking, Allen discovered that Ace was already out of bed. He got up quietly and followed the faint sounds to the clearing behind the house.
Ace was practicing frenzied swings with a stick, every strike carrying an almost self-destructive ferocity. Sweat had long since soaked his clothes. Clearly, he had been training like this for a long time.
"You'll hurt yourself training like that," Allen warned.
Ace paused, but did not turn around. His voice held suppressed anger. "I have to get stronger... strong enough to protect everyone!"
Allen walked over to face him and said calmly, "You don't gain strength by abusing yourself. You need proper training methods."
He picked up another stick. "I'll teach you."
Over the following days, Allen began systematically guiding the three brothers' training. He held nothing back, sharing all the experience he had gathered aboard Garp's ship and while training alone in the South Blue:
"Ace, your attacks are too straightforward. Learn to feint and switch moves." "Luffy, don't just charge in relying on your rubber abilities. Watch your footwork and get a firm footing before putting power into a blow." "Sabo, your leg injury doesn't stop you from training your upper body. You can develop a new fighting style, too."
The four boys set up a makeshift training ground at their secret base. Allen even secretly used the Torch Dragon's power to level a patch of ground and carve out several wooden posts for training.
During a break one day, Sabo suddenly asked, "Allen, how do you know so many fighting techniques?"
Allen had long since prepared his story. "My father was a swordsman with something of a reputation in the South Blue. He taught me all this. Later..." He let a trace of sadness show at the right moment. "After he died, I had to figure things out myself."
The half-true story successfully won the boys' sympathy and understanding. In these troubled times, stories of losing loved ones were all too common.
The training produced clear results. Under Allen's guidance, Ace's attacks became more flexible and varied; Luffy began learning to control how he applied force through his rubber abilities; even Sabo gradually found a fighting rhythm suited to his current condition, his steel pipe whipping through the air.
Yet Allen noticed that whenever night fell, Ace would stare alone toward the Goa Kingdom, cold flames burning in his eyes.
He knew what Ace was thinking-revenge.
Sure enough, late one night a week later, Allen's keen hearing caught a faint noise. He rose silently and saw Ace carefully pushing open the door, his pipe clutched tightly in his hand.
"Where are you going?" Allen asked softly.
Ace stiffened and turned around, a resolute gleam in his eyes. "Those nobles... they have to pay."
"And then what?" Allen asked calmly. "Kill a few nobles, then get hunted down by the entire army? Drag the Dadan Family and your brothers into it?"
Ace bit his lip. "I can't worry about all that!"
"Then find a way that lets you." Allen walked up to him. "Real revenge isn't a moment of impulse. It's waiting for your chance and delivering a fatal blow."
He lowered his voice. "If you really want to do something, at least have a thorough plan. Don't rush off to your death like a reckless fool."
Ace fell silent, his knuckles white around the pipe. At last, he loosened his grip on the weapon. "Then what do you think I should do?"
"First, keep getting stronger." Allen's gaze was sharp. "Second, learn about your enemies. What habits do those nobles have? When is their guard weakest? What secrets are they hiding?"
From that day on, Allen began teaching them more: how to move stealthily, how to observe, and how to gather information from the slightest clues. He even secretly used the Torch Dragon's power to enhance his night vision, taking them to the outskirts of High Town to observe the nobles' lives.
These "extracurricular lessons" showed the boys a truer, crueler world: the nobles' lives of unbridled luxury, their contempt for and oppression of commoners, and the filth hidden beneath the Goa Kingdom's glittering exterior.
One moonlit night, the four lay on a cliff outside High Town, watching a brightly lit noble banquet in the distance.
"They're enjoying themselves over there, while Sabo..." For once, Luffy did not shout. His voice held a despondency beyond his years.
Sabo patted his younger brother's shoulder. "It's okay, Luffy. At least we're still alive."
Ace said nothing, but the flames in his eyes burned colder.
Allen said softly, "Remember this feeling. The anger, the resentment-but don't let them consume you. Let them drive you to grow stronger."
On the way back, Allen brought up the rear. He closed his eyes, trying to extend his Observation Haki to its limit. His range of perception had expanded considerably through his recent training.
Suddenly, he sensed several unfamiliar presences rapidly approaching, carrying unmistakable malice.
"Hide!" Allen barked, shoving the three ahead of him into the roadside bushes.
Almost at the same instant, several crossbow bolts whistled into the spot where they had just stood.
Eight masked figures emerged from the woods, carrying assorted weapons. They clearly meant them harm.
"Bluejam's men?" Ace tightened his grip on his pipe, ready to charge out.
"Doesn't look like it." Allen stopped him, his golden slit pupils gleaming faintly in the darkness. "These people... they're well trained."
The masked leader sneered. "Sharp little brat. Too bad you crossed someone you shouldn't have."
Before he had finished speaking, all eight attacked at once! Their coordination was seamless, their assault fierce-nothing like Bluejam's rabble.
"Protect Sabo!" Allen shouted, moving first to meet the enemy.
The battle erupted in an instant. Allen quickly determined that these men were far stronger than expected, certainly no ordinary mountain bandits or pirates. Their moves bore signs of some form of formal training.
The Power of Zhulong surged within him, abruptly boosting his speed and strength. Allen brought down the first attacker with a single move, seized the man's long blade, and swung it back to parry another attack.
Ace and Luffy were also locked in a bitter struggle. Despite their special training, both soon suffered wounds against these powerful, well-coordinated enemies. Leaning on his steel pipe, Sabo barely managed to defend himself, his injured leg severely hampering his movements.
This can't go on! Allen's thoughts raced. He had to draw on more power while avoiding revealing his Torch Dragon Model.
In a flash of inspiration, Allen suddenly brought the Power of Zhulong fully into play—not to strengthen himself, but to bend light!
The light around him suddenly grew strange. The moonlight seemed to bend and refract under some force, creating a broad area of visual distortion. The masked men's movements were immediately affected, and they repeatedly misjudged their attacks.
"Now!" Allen shouted.
Though Ace and Luffy did not understand what had happened, they seized the chance to counterattack. The battle turned around in an instant!
Amid the confusion, gold flashed in Allen's eyes as he precisely spotted each enemy's opening and swiftly took them down. In the end, only the leader remained, still resisting.
"Who sent you?" Allen demanded, holding the long blade against the man's neck.
The masked man grinned viciously. "You'll soon kno..." Before he could finish, his body suddenly stiffened and black blood seeped from the corner of his mouth-he had taken poison to kill himself.
Frowning, Allen examined the corpse and discovered a peculiar tattoo beneath the man's underclothes: the World Government's emblem!
His heart sank. Why would the World Government take an interest in a few children from the mountains? Unless...
Unless they had discovered Ace's identity. Or discovered his abilities.
"Who were those people?" Ace asked, panting, with wounds across his body.
Allen quickly steadied himself. "I don't know. They might have been a noble's private guards." He could not reveal the truth about the World Government. It would only cause panic.
The four dragged their battered bodies back to the bandits' hut. Seeing their sorry state, Dadan launched into another furious scolding, but still hurried to fetch medicine and tend their wounds.
Late that night, when all was quiet, Allen sat alone outside, gazing absently at the stars.
Garp's voice suddenly came from behind him. "Run into trouble?"
Allen did not turn around. "World Government agents. They've discovered something."
Garp fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "Earlier than expected." He sat down beside Allen. "The Goa Kingdom will soon be joining the Reverie. Cipher Pol has been very active in the kingdom lately."
"Were they after Ace? Or me?" Allen asked directly.
"Possibly both." Garp's expression was grave. "To certain people, both of you are threats."
He looked at Allen. "What are you going to do?"
Allen turned his gaze toward the three sleeping soundly inside, his voice firm. "Protect them. Whatever the cost."
Garp grinned. "Good. You've got the resolve." He stood and dusted off his backside. "Double the training next time! You can't protect anyone if you're too weak!"
Watching the Marine hero walk away, Allen clenched his fists.
Danger was drawing closer. He had to grow stronger, faster. Not just for himself, but for the family he had sworn to protect.
The Power of Zhulong flowed silently beneath the moonlight, as though answering his resolve.