The mountains trembled. The earth cracked open like it was about to collapse. Even the massive Marine warship floating far offshore could feel the shockwaves—tremors that rippled through both sea and sky, the result of two monstrous forces clashing without restraint.

On deck, Bogard narrowed his eyes toward the island in the distance. For once, his usually calm face betrayed a hint of unease.

That kid… his face still carries the trace of youth. He hasn't even come of age yet… but his strength…

He fell silent. Deep inside, however, anxiety bloomed.

If the boy was weak, Garp-san could've pulled his punches, maybe taught him a light lesson. But with this kind of power…

That's actually what made it dangerous.

Because if the boy's strong enough to make Garp get serious—then he might not survive the "serious" punches from the Iron Fist.

—

And if Tachibana Kyūjō—currently on land, fighting for his life with one eye swollen like a panda—could read Bogard's mind, he probably would've been a lot more cautious. Maybe even kept his damn mouth shut.

— — —

So it's true… Luffy wasn't exaggerating at all…

That old bastard Garp really does punch like a maniac!

Kyūjō's body was getting wrecked. No mercy. Giant fists the size of cooking pots came flying from every direction.

He tried countering with Rairyūken, his blade, but each slash only rang out with a metallic clang against a body that felt harder than steel.

I'm seriously starting to worry—what if Rairyūken breaks from punching this damn grandpa!?

Worse yet, the more he insulted the man, the harder the hits became.

Even though Kyūjō was pretty much being used as a training dummy, his performance was enough to make Garp secretly impressed.

This kid… what is he, fifteen? Sixteen? Yet he already wields Haki and swordsmanship at this level?

Garp frowned. That wasn't just surface-level Armament Haki—this was advanced Busoshoku, the kind elite officers spent decades refining. His sword techniques, too, were near the realm of master swordsmen.

If Kyūjō joined the Marines now, he'd already rank among the elites.

And then there was his Observation Haki—sharper than expected. Even with Garp's vastly superior speed, the kid was managing to dodge attacks he shouldn't have seen coming.

But the most shocking part of all… was his body.

It wasn't just about raw strength. Kyūjō's regeneration was unnatural. More than once, Garp thought the fight was over, that the boy had hit his limit.

Yet every time, with that strange breathing technique of his, Kyūjō bounced back as if nothing happened.

Eventually, one of Garp's punches sent him flying. Kyūjō crashed across the ground, rolling several meters.

Garp paused and shouted, his curiosity finally overflowing:

"Oi, brat! Did you eat a Zoan-type Devil Fruit or something?"

"How the hell are you this tough?! You taking hits like a goddamn sea beast!"

Kyūjō didn't answer. He just shook his head, lifted his blade again… and glared.

You senile freak! After pounding me into the ground, now you wanna ask questions?

If I don't at least land one clean hit today… I'm gonna have nightmares for a year!

His breathing shifted.

Sparks danced along his skin. Thunder began gathering in his limbs.

Then—

With a roar, he launched himself skyward, sword raised high into the heavens now cloaked in storm clouds.

"Thunder Breathing… Tenth Form!"

"Heaven's Thunder Greets the World—None Shall Cut if I Fall!"

A crescent-shaped slash crackled with blinding lightning. The very sky seemed to scream as the blade cleaved through it, descending with the wrath of a thunder god.

Garp blinked. His eyebrows lifted.

A swordsman? Using lightning? Since when can swords do that!?

Sensing something more than a fancy trick, Garp clenched his fist.

And for the first time in this whole battle… he wrapped it in a trace of Haoshoku Haki—Conqueror's Haki.

A move he rarely used.

"Galaxy Impact."

Boom.

Two forces collided midair.

Kyūjō's lightning slash shook the heavens… but was instantly snuffed out by Garp's punch.

Just like that—it vanished.

Kyūjō felt his insides churn. Blood rose to his throat.

ARE YOU SERIOUS!? YOU'RE USING CONQUEROR'S HAKI TOO!?

That was supposed to have only a 16.7% chance of happening based on my future simulations!!

Before he could complain further, the shockwave of Garp's attack slammed into him like a tidal wave.

He was flung across the terrain, smashing into stone and soil. His body bounced once, then rolled, limp and helpless.

Consciousness slipped away.

And in that final moment—right before everything faded to black—Kyūjō took one last shaky breath… accompanied by a mysterious, sorrowful melody only he could hear.

Then his head fell back. He passed out.

Behind him, a towering mountain that had stood for centuries—

Was now split in two.

— — —

Three Days Later.

Kyūjō stared blankly at the ceiling of a medical room aboard the warship.

His eyes held no light.

No spark.

Only hollow resignation.

One more hit… and I really would've died.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages. He couldn't move without assistance. Even eating and using the toilet had to be done in bed.

That punch was supposed to be saved for Akainu in the future… Why the hell did I take it instead…?

Akainu, my brother… if you ever feel brave again, just remember this pain.

This is… pain a soul can't endure…

— — —

One Month Later.

The dog-headed warship, under Garp's command, finally passed through the Calm Belt and the Gates of Justice.

With the help of the currents, it only took half a day to reach Marineford, the headquarters of the World Government's Navy.

Bogard supervised the docking crew while Kyūjō, still hobbling on one leg encased in a cast, slowly disembarked with assistance.

As he stood before the towering fortress of justice, Kyūjō's expression was pure despair.

Beaten half to death… and now they expect me to work for them too?

My sword was not forged for a Marine desk job…

This world is cruel… even swordsmen have to sell their skills to survive...

Behind him, Garp scratched his head awkwardly. He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something…

But Kyūjō was already walking away.

No chances given.

"Bogard! Raise the sails! We're heading to the New World now!"

— — —

Fleet Admiral Sengoku's Office.

With one leg still in a cast and his entire body covered in bandages, Kyūjō stood before the door to the highest office in Marineford.

You might wonder—why wasn't Garp with him?

Because he didn't dare.

Originally, Garp had planned to wait until Kyūjō recovered before reporting to Sengoku. But Kyūjō saw through him.

That's why he came like this—beaten, bruised, and barely walking.

He wanted to face his "new boss" in complete honesty.

To ask, Is this… your official recruitment process?

Drag someone across the sea and beat them half to death?

If I hadn't trained with Breathing techniques and near-death workouts since childhood, my grave would've been fertilizing the sea floor by now…

A Marine knocked on Sengoku's door.

"Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Garp's ship just returned. They brought someone with them. Colonel Bogard asked me to bring him to you."

Without looking up from his mountain of paperwork, Sengoku muttered, "Send him in."

Kyūjō entered the room—alone.

—

Sengoku finally looked up, squinting at the bandaged youth before him.

The face felt vaguely familiar. But the details… didn't click yet.

"Who are you? What business do you have here? Garp… finally back from East Blue, is he?"

Kyūjō bowed lightly and spoke calmly, politely.

"My name is Tachibana Kyūjō. I'm from East Blue."

"And… I came here under your orders."

He emphasized that word—your.

A subtle way of saying:

This is me—the one you asked to bring in.

Look at me now.

Body broken. Covered in wounds.

And my heart…?

Even more shattered.

— — —

🎁 Reader Reward!

⭐ Rating Novel = 📖 1 bonus chapter ✨

⏳ Valid for 1 week starting Monday, September 8!

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Join my Patreon here:

🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun

✅ Enjoy 70+ chapters ahead of WebNovel

✅ Get 2 new chapters every day exclusively on Patreon

✅ Be the first to enjoy the new 3rd arc after One Piece before anyone else

Join my Ko-fi here:

🔗 ko-fi.com/faaanzkun

Let's keep this adventure alive, together chapter by chapter! 💖

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —