Five years passed in a flash. It was now the year 1500 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
On the coast of Dawn Island in the East Blue, waves lapped gently against the reefs, and a salty sea breeze brushed against the face of a ten-year-old boy. He was dressed in simple cloth, his face handsome but with a hint of premature maturity. He sat perched on the highest rock, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, his elbows on his knees. His deep eyes stared out at the calm sea as if he were contemplating life.
Or rather, doubting it.
"Hmm... It's been two years since Roger's execution, right? The Great Pirate Era has officially begun..." he mumbled to himself, the grass in his mouth twitching. His gaze was complex.
"The seas are in turmoil with heroes and villains rising everywhere, but the East Blue, this weakest of seas... it's still relatively peaceful."
"Luffy isn't born yet, and Ace was just born not long ago... I really did get here early!"
He sighed softly, his thoughts drifting as he watched the glittering sea.
He hadn't been idle these past five years. Even without a system or a cheat-like upgrade panel, he had relied on the persistence of a transmigrator and his inhuman physique to forge himself into a semi-monster.
[Teleport Fruit · Enhanced Version]: At first, he could only jump three to five meters and would feel dizzy afterward. Now? He could teleport over a hundred meters instantly, perform consecutive jumps, and still do three hundred push-ups without breaking a sweat.
[Giant Physique]: After being sent flying twenty meters by a crazed wild boar, he got up, chased it for three blocks, and then single-handedly lifted it and tossed it into a pot for soup. His mother was so scared she almost called the authorities, thinking her son was possessed by a demon.
[Signs of Haki Awakening]: His Observation Haki could occasionally predict the trajectory of a slipper thrown by his mom from the kitchen, allowing him to dodge with perfect precision. His Armament Haki could already steadily coat both of his arms.
"Sigh..." Roy sighed again, lazily rolling over to lie on his back on the rock. "In the end... I still lack systematic training!"
"Fumbling around on my own is like trying to shave in the dark. It's all based on feeling!"
He scratched his hair in frustration, muttering, "That damn goddess didn't even leave me a cheat panel before she left! She could have at least given me a copy of Haki Training: From Beginner to God-Tier!"
As he complained, a familiar thought flashed through his mind. "Didn't that stupid goddess say I'd meet Garp when I'm ten? It's been ten years, where is he?!"
He grumbled to himself, "Logically, if I meet Garp, I should be able to smoothly work my way into the Marine's upper echelons. The problem is, Luffy isn't even born yet. Did the timeline have to be this early?!"
Just then, the sea surface began to churn violently. A massive Sea King burst through the waves, opening its giant, bloody maw and lunging straight for Roy!
"ROAR—!!!"
"Hey, hey—!"
The screams of nearby villagers rose like a tide. "Roy, run!!"
Roy didn't even bother to lift his head. "Too noisy. I'm trying to have an existential crisis here."
The next second.
Roy teleported right in front of the Sea King's face, a savage grin on his lips. "Go take a bath, you!"
"SMACK!!!"
With a tremendous sound, the Sea King's face instantly deformed. Its enormous body was sent flying backward like a cannonball, crashing into the sea and creating a splash dozens of meters high.
"Hiss—" The villagers' jaws nearly hit the floor. "Is... is he even human?!"
Roy shook his hand, calmly teleporting back to the shore. "The Sea Kings in the East Blue are only this strong, huh..."
He kept the blade of grass in his mouth and started walking back towards the village. He was about to complain some more when, suddenly, a massive shadow fell over him.
Roy frowned slightly and slowly looked up—only to see a man wearing a dog-head hat, a huge, goofy grin on his face, looking down at him. His eyes twinkled brightly.
Garp grinned, his voice booming. "Kid! You've got some serious skills!"
Roy's pupils constricted. "...A Marine?!"
Garp casually scratched his head, and in the next second, he grabbed Roy by the collar. "Sending a Sea King flying with your bare hands, plus teleportation and that monstrous strength... Hahaha! I've struck gold!"
Roy kicked and flailed wildly, shouting, "Wait! I haven't agreed to—"
Garp completely ignored him, slinging Roy over his shoulder and starting to walk back. "Let's go, let's go! Come with me to Marine Headquarters!"
Roy's miserable cries echoed in the sea breeze. "This is kidnapping! Put me down!!!"
On the shore, Villager A wiped his tears with a handkerchief. "Roy, remember to come back and fix the roads for the village when you're an Admiral—!"
Villager B, holding a chicken, grinned from ear to ear. "I'll tell your parents you went off to join the army!"
Garp strode towards the port, followed by a neatly dressed subordinate in sunglasses, Bogard.
Bogard pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed in resignation. "Vice Admiral, sir, could you please stop grabbing people and carrying them off under the pretense of 'finding a treasure' every time..."
Garp laughed loudly. "Hahaha! You can't wait for good prospects to hand you a business card! It's more efficient to just take them directly!"
Bogard could only shake his head and sigh. "Yes, yes, of course... I'll go inform the kid's family first."
Led by a villager, Bogard arrived at Roy's house. After a polite knock, Roy's father, Roc, opened the door, a look of confusion on his face. "Ah? A Marine? May I ask what this is about?"
Bogard smiled gently. "Hello, I am Bogard from Marine Headquarters."
"Just now, Roy displayed some astonishing abilities on the shore and caught the eye of Vice Admiral Garp. He has been taken directly to Marine Headquarters to undergo training!"
Roc froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he nearly jumped for joy. "Really? He was noticed by Lord Garp? Hahaha! That's wonderful, wonderful!"
Roy's mother rushed out from inside, her hands clasped together. "Thank you, Lord Marine! That little brat is so mischievous. Please, discipline him as much as you need to!"
Roc slapped his thigh. "Train that little rascal as hard as you want! We're counting on you!"
Bogard nodded with a wry smile. "We certainly will..." He turned to watch Garp carrying Roy towards the warship and sighed helplessly. "Well... I suppose he really has found a treasure."
Roy was carried onto the warship like a kitten. He kicked and struggled the whole way, but it was useless. Garp held him steady with one hand. It wasn't until he saw the subordinate, Bogard, returning from the shore that Roy shouted as if grabbing a lifeline, "Hey! Mr. Marine, save me!"
Bogard walked over calmly, glanced at Roy on Garp's shoulder, and said in a flat tone, "I've already spoken with your parents. They are very supportive!"
Roy fell silent for a moment, his eyes blinking. "...Really?"
Bogard nodded. "Yes. Your father said, 'He's a menace to the village at home anyway.'"
Roy's mouth twitched. "...Is he really my dad?"
Bogard added, "Your mother tearfully gave me a basket of oranges and said, 'Please ask Mr. Garp not to beat him to death'!"
Roy buried his face in his hands. "...Is she really my mom?"
Garp burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Don't worry, kid, I know how to hold back!"
Garp casually dropped Roy onto the deck, sat down cross-legged, and started munching on a bag of rice crackers, his eyes gleaming as he stared at him. "Alright, tell me. What's the deal with that teleportation and monstrous strength of yours?"
Roy thought to himself, If I tell him the truth, I'll probably be locked up and dissected for research!
He blinked, putting on an innocent expression. "Oh, that? When I was five, I was playing in the back hills and found a weird fruit. It tasted horrible, but after I ate it, I found I could go 'whoosh' and teleport everywhere. It's super fun!"
Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? I've never heard of a fruit like that!"
Bogard adjusted his sunglasses. "It might be the legendary Paramecia-type Teleport Fruit. There are some scattered records of it in the Marine Headquarters library."
Roy played dumb, smiling. "Anyway, I've figured out a lot of ways to use it! For example—"
Before he finished, he swished behind Garp and swung his fist at him. "Sneak attack!"
Without even turning his head, Garp's hand shot back and precisely caught Roy's fist.
Garp grinned. "Young people these days have no honor!"
Roy's pupils quaked. "What the hell?!"
The next second, Garp swung his arm, and Roy went flying like a ragdoll, smashing hard onto the deck with a "BANG!" and cracking the wood.
Roy saw stars. "Wait... I wasn't ready—"
Garp laughed heartily, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Ready? Do you think a pirate will give you time to prepare?!"
He coated his fist in thick Armament Haki and threw a punch straight at Roy's face!
Roy's teleportation instinct kicked in. He swished onto the ship's mast, but just as he caught his breath, a murderous aura came from behind him. Garp's voice was low and amused. "Observation Haki isn't just for show, you know!"
"THUD!"
A Haki-infused iron fist slammed into Roy's back, blasting him through the deck and into the cabin below. The entire warship echoed with Roy's screams.
"Ah! Not the face!"
"I was wrong! I'll never sneak attack again!"
"Mr. Bogard, save me—!"
Bogard held his teacup and took a calm sip. "You'll get used to it."
The Marine soldiers on the ship whispered among themselves. "That scream... Vice Admiral Garp must have found a new punching bag."
"The last person who sounded this miserable was a young Vice Admiral Kuzan..."
Half an hour later.
A bruised and swollen Roy lay癱 on the deck, feeling like his entire body had fallen apart.
Garp clapped his hands and laughed. "Not bad! Your combat sense is like a headless fly, but your physical constitution is decent!"
Roy managed a weak grin. "Thanks for the compliment?"
Garp's smile vanished, his gaze suddenly sharp. "Starting today, I will personally train you!"
Roy trembled as he struggled. "Can I refuse..."
Garp cracked his knuckles, smiling like a tiger. "What do you think?"
-------
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