Jungle Rush

For the next ten hours, Alva was hunted. Garp savagely pursued him through the nearby jungle at top speed. If Garp caught up to him Alva was attacked, a single punch sending him careening through the air his body struck trees toppling them.

Garp's relentless pursuit reshaped the landscape.

Garp would throw boulders, felled trees, and any large animal unlucky enough to be in arms reach. Alva was forced to dodge the missiles with all of his ability one hit could critically injure or kill him.

"Boy, you'll die in this forest! Bwahahaha" Garp had an air of playfulness, but his attacks were deadly.

When night finally came Alva collapsed on the ground he could no longer move.

In both lives today was the hardest ''workout'' he had ever done.

Alva was covered in wounds, his arms and shins had micro-fractures from blocking.

His body was covered in bruises and cuts. Sweat would pour into them causing more pain. The most severe injury was a two-inch piece of stone shrapnel from an exploding boulder. The piece of rock was stuck in his right shoulder.

Garp sat down joining Alva looking at the stars.

"Still alive?," Garps said.

"Hmmm"

"Kid, you are amazing. I have never seen such raw potential. It is why I'm gonna push you to your limit; it would be a waste if I don't push you further than I managed to go."

Alva could hardly listen.

Garp carried him home.

"We'll continue tomorrow."

That night a doctor stayed up late tending to all of the wounds.

The next morning all of the cuts were gone, and the fractures started to heal.

A large gash remains stitched shut on the shoulder.

Alva looked like a mummy wrapped in bandages.

"This is crazy, I had always heard human potential was limitless, but in this world, it's so true." Alva was even more excited about his training.

"let's get after it!" A favorite saying he picked up from the guest Navy SEALs at the Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School.

Alva continued his morning routine.

Garp received a call this morning from Sengoku.

Francis went to Alva

.

"Alva, I have to leave for Marineford today, would you like to live there?"

"No father I will remain here to finish my training," Alva said.

"Very well, on the way, I could drop you off at your aunt's place."

"Really? I need to go ask the old man for time off!"

"No need, I have to return to HQ as well," Garp said. Walking in on the conversation.

"What about my training?"

"I will return," Garp said

"Then it's settled Alva pack your things," Francis said.

Alva packed clothes and other "necessities" as well as his brand new custom sword a 15th-century falchion with a black spiral pattern on the blade like Damascus steel. Black steel handle with gold fixture cross guard and pommel along the bottom. An actual work of art. He paid a master smith 2.600.000Beli to devise the method to produce a new Damascus-like alloy.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Alva used his Knowledge of Damascus steel, alloys, and chemistry to assist the smith whenever possible. It took six months but they did it, the result was a metal comprised of carbon steel and other metals masterfully fused.

Wayland, the smith, gave Alva a discount on the sword of four million for the smithing method.

Alva sold the method with conditions of secrecy, If it ever spread Alva promised to kill Wayland.

Wayland instantly agreed, the contract was strict but nothing he wasn't willing to accept. He would only pass this secret on to his apprentice if they also agreed beforehand and signed his copy as well.

The sword could cut through most iron things easily. Wayland proclaimed this sword had the sharpest edge he had ever seen and it would seldom dull. It was truly his finest work.

Wayland knew this would change his life. He could charge any amount for one of these custom blades making him a fortune.

Wayland had charged Alva 6.000.000 Beli, but he had achieved something, and without Alva, it wouldn't have been possible.

The final price was 2.000.000Beli, but Alva threw in an extra 600.000Beli Wayland assumed it was a tip and a bribe the contract was binding, but it was considered extremely rude.

To Wayland Davenport, money was always the start of the best of partnerships.

Similar blades will be made in time; however, Alva's would remain one of a kind. Alva had provided high-quality rare ore something Wayland could not get his hands on alone. As a true craftsman, Wayland relished the opportunity to work with the best material.

Alva obtained 3.000.000 Beli last weekend from a local drug dealer, the man was pushing a black powder substance, it appeared to be a poppy product and had the effects of opium. Alva noticed a large number of addicts in the slums of the city while running through the district.

That day Alva beat random junkies in the Allies until he got a name.

LaCroix, Alva followed him home that night from the intersection he sold from. Alva broke into his house and killed him in his sleep. He stole the Beli from a hidden compartment in the wall. Then Alva burned down the house with all the drugs he could find inside.

LaCroix's real name Walter had a bounty of 2,000.000 Beli on his head. Alva got a random guy to turn in his head at the Marine station for 300K of the reward money. The passerby threw up when he opened the sack with Walter's head in it.

Walter worked for a larger criminal network on and outside of SkyFang island Alva noted he would have to address that issue later. Along with the guards that left Walter, a wanted man, alone to do business in broad daylight.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Alva named the Damascus sword Freya.

Alva used the rest of his money for all new gear.

Black leather gloves with steel plates on the back of the hand.

New black armored boots. Dark brown pants with extra pockets and a black belt.

A pistol and brown leather holster were put behind his back on his belt.

All covered by a long dark red leather coat the shoulders and upper back were darker leather, three silver buttons fastening the two together seamlessly. The long sleeves of the coat were unfastened at the wrist and rolled up to the elbow. With a black Drake family sigil on the back. The sigil, an eagle wings spread with a knife held in its beak.

With new clothes Alva decided to cut his hair he left the shoulder length but had it shaped evenly and undercut slightly from his sideburns to his ear. He hated when hair touched his ears, the military ingrained it into him. He wore his hair tied back in a ponytail leaving only a lock of his bangs free to drape over his forehead.

Alva had his weapons concealed, but his walk and eyes gave people a sense that he was dangerous. If he wasn't so young, many pedestrians would assume he was a famous criminal.

Alva boarded his father's ship before noon.

"What took you so long?" Francis was annoyed he had been waiting for Alva for at least an hour.

"Sorry, I had to go pick up my new coat and cut my hair. I also had my pistol cleaned and..." Alva began listing a myriad of things.

"What's with all that you know you are visiting your aunt, not the king," Francis said.

"It's my first time in Baterilla I wanted to splurge a little." Francis couldn't reply he didn't want to continue this conversation. His son was dressed head to toe in brand new and shining clothes even having his boots shined. However, his clothes were practical.

The trip to Baterilla took three days. When Alva disembarked alone, Francis gave him 10.000 Beli to eat and get back home with.

Alva left the port and headed for an inn. The elderly innkeeper thought it was cute Alva was brave enough to travel on his own. After getting a room, Alva decided to go find his aunt in the morning.

On his way to the address, his father gave him. Alva was shocked to see what was going on around the town marines and government officials swarmed all over the place frantically searching houses.

"What are they doing?"

Alva quickly noticed that most women were being searched and detained.

He noticed the look in the eyes of the marines and the panic in their voices.

He had seen it before and knew it wasn't good.

These men were on edge and frantic making them dangerous.

Alva came across a disturbing scene.

A group of Marines was dragging a pregnant woman out of her home.

She had tears in her eyes, reaching out for her husband who was restrained by a marine.

When the man broke free from the marines.

BANG!

He was shot in the chest as he lay on the ground bleeding he was still reaching for his wife.

The woman began to shriek and scramble for her husband.

The marine pulling her away let go and punched her in the face.

The woman dropped to the ground the Marine dragged her away by her hair.

Alva was seething with anger he began to move forward.

A marine pointed a rifle at his head.

"Halt! Do not interfere."