"Instinct?" Garp blinked. Of course, he didn't believe in that kind of nonsense.
But deep down, he couldn't help but be shocked, no, stunned, by the talent of the young man before him. Thinking again of the boy's immortality, Garp sighed in genuine admiration.
A monster indeed.
Seventeen years old. It was unbelievable enough that he had awakened Haoshoku Haki, but to have also mastered Haoshoku Entwine (the fusion of Conqueror's Haki with attacks)? That was beyond reason.
Even more astonishing was that Garp could sense the boy's strength had grown stronger again after this short war.
"Monster, huh..." He muttered under his breath.
The world wasn't lacking in terrifyingly gifted individuals. In the past, members of the Rocks Pirates, such as Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, were born walking calamities, embodiments of power.
But someone like Kōjin... Garp had never seen anyone like him before. He was a human in form yet unable to die.
"Kid, I'll train you well. You've got the potential to become the strongest! Someday, maybe you'll take my place and bring a new era to this world!" Garp burst out laughing heartily as he spoke.
At first, he had only been curious about the boy's undying nature. Admittedly, he also admired his rebellious streak and his refusal to bow to nobles or Celestial Dragons. Now, however, Garp truly believed the boy's potential was limitless. With proper, systematic Marine training, the boy would surely grow at an astonishing rate and become a great force against the pirates.
Kōjin stood there silently, deep in thought, as he compared his current strength. His benchmark was Kuzan. He analyzed their relative speed, strength, and destructive power in battle to reach a conclusion.
"Kuzan's current rank is Lieutenant Commander," He reasoned. "He just graduated from the Marine Academy. He's undergone systematic training and is quite strong, but he hasn't eaten the Ice-Ice Fruit yet."
"My performance in strength, speed, and reaction time is about the same as his."
Kōjin finally realized the terrifying nature of his Undying Ability. With each death, his power multiplied, increasing from his current base. The stronger he became, the greater the growth. Once he reached the pinnacle, that growth would become exponential.
The only problem was that he couldn't exploit it; he couldn't kill himself just to trigger the boost.
"In other words, my current power is around the level of a Lieutenant Commander, which is roughly equal to Kuzan's. But if I add Haoshoku on top of that..." Kōjin's eyes shifted toward the sleeping Kuzan, who was snoring on the ground.
"...I can one-shot him."
With his current base strength combined with Haoshoku Entwine, it was like giving a nuclear launch button to a staggering toddler. Moments later, the Marines began to regain consciousness, one by one, and rubbed their aching heads.
"What...what just happened?"
"Was that Vice Admiral Garp's Haki?"
The veterans were completely confused, unable to make sense of the overwhelming power they had experienced.
Kuzan woke up soon after. At first, he looked dazed. Then, remembering what had happened, his eyes suddenly widened and locked onto Kōjin.
Had he actually fainted from the boy's aura?
At Garp's command, the older soldiers began inspecting the battlefield for surviving pirates, but there were none. After those two explosive punches, none of the pirates were left alive.
Those who hadn't been killed outright had been knocked unconscious by the Haoshoku Haki. Now, when the veteran Marines found them, they were quickly sent into an eternal slumber.
Kōjin watched silently from the sidelines. There was no mercy. Every surviving pirate was executed without hesitation. Their corpses were piled along the shore, set ablaze, and reduced to ash in the roaring flames.
"Bogard!" Garp called out gravely. "Count the number of Marines lost in this battle."
Bogard nodded silently and got to work.
The unit soon returned to their ship. Kōjin leaned quietly against the mast, reflecting on what he had learned from the brutal and swift battle.
The midday sun was harsh. The weight of death wasn't as heavy as he'd imagined. Soon, Garp, Kuzan, and the others were smiling and joking again as if the battle and bloodshed had never happened.
That was when Kōjin truly understood the meaning of human life in this world. Life was like a coin tossed into the air; death was decided in an instant, leaving no mark on anyone's heart. He finally comprehended the casual meaning of death. In this chaotic era, such things happen every single day.
"The Yulan Island mission is complete! Next stop, the New World!" Kuzan walked over with a cheerful grin as he announced this.
Kōjin narrowed his eyes. "That's a much more dangerous sea."
"Yeah!" Kuzan grinned, barely containing his excitement. "But that's the sea that truly belongs to us."
"The three great pirate fleets are gathering there. Each one dreams of becoming the Pirate King and ruling the entire world."
"They say it's an ocean for the strong." A look of pure ambition flashed in Kuzan's eyes.
"Gol D. Roger!"
"Dark King Rayleigh!"
"Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!"
"Kozuki Oden!"
"Golden Lion, Shiki!"
"Just thinking about those names gets my blood pumping," said Kuzan passionately.
"With your current strength, meeting any of them would get you killed," Kōjin said flatly.
"Haha, that's true," Kuzan admitted with a good-natured laugh.
"I'm still too weak! But one day, Kōjin, I'll become as strong as they are. I'll become a hero like Vice Admiral Garp!" He flashed a wide, fiery grin.
Kōjin gave a faint smile and nodded. "Yes, you'll become an Admiral."
"We'll work hard together!" Kuzan declared, his voice full of resolve.
At that moment, Bogard approached, holding a neatly folded Marine uniform. He placed it in front of Kōjin.
"This is your new uniform," He said.
"And this is your new rank."
Kōjin looked down and froze for a moment. The uniform wasn't much different from the one he was already wearing, just newer, but the insignia on it clearly read "Lieutenant Commander," the same rank as Kuzan's.
"Incredible! You might be the fastest promotion in Marine history, Kōjin!" Kuzan said with a thumbs-up and an admiring grin.
"Do I not have to go through the trainee period?" Kōjin asked, puzzled.
"You're my disciple," Garp said, picking his nose with a grin. "And my subordinate. I know your strength better than you do, and I know what rank suits you."
Based on his explosive display of Haoshoku Haki, the boy was already qualified for a Vice Admiral's position. However, considering his lack of fundamentals, Lieutenant Commander was a fitting start.
After a brief pause, Kōjin quietly changed out of his torn clothing and into the new uniform. The officer's coat bore the distinctive white Marine cloak. As the sea breeze blew, the cloak fluttered behind Kōjin, radiating an unspoken sense of authority and power.
Then, Garp personally pinned the insignia to his chest.
"From today onward, you are officially a Marine Lieutenant Commander! It's a bit fast, sure, but wartime promotions are always rushed. Still, my disciple deserves the recognition!"
He paused, studying the black-haired boy's sharp, determined face, and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Good! You've got the look of a real Marine!"
"There's still some time before we head to the New World front," Garp continued. "I'll teach you Rokushiki.
"Bogard will train you in swordsmanship. How much you learn depends on your ability!"
(End of Chapter)
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