Chapter 17: You Love Roger Deeply

Who am I? Where am I?

Why is my Observation Haki not working?

Coby lay on the ground, stunned. He wasn't the only one—every Marine watching the match was in shock.

No one had expected this outcome.

"Referee, can you announce the result now?"

Lucas stood tall in the ring, looking at the still-stunned referee with a calm expression.

For him, fighting Coby had been nothing more than a warm-up. His real goal was to challenge someone stronger.

"The winner is... um..."

The referee hesitated. He had no idea who Lucas was.

When the match had started, he hadn't even bothered to learn Lucas's name—because in his mind, it had been obvious that Coby would win.

Now, he felt embarrassed for his oversight.

"New recruit, Lucas!" Lucas casually inform his name.

Coby sat up, rubbing his temples. He looked at Lucas for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Can you tell me how you bypassed my Observation Haki?"

Lucas met Coby's gaze and said, "Observation Haki isn't invincible."

"If your opponent's Observation Haki is stronger than yours, they can predict your prediction."

"And even if you sense an attack coming, it doesn't mean your body can react in time."

Coby's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "...Then how did you defeat me?"

Lucas smiled. "Guess!"

The watching Marines erupted in an uproar.

This new recruit was something else!

Ignoring the murmuring crowd, Lucas spoke calmly, "I want to fight a Vice Admiral. A Rear Admiral is fine too."

The referee stiffened at those words.

He is a Rear Admiral.

Lucas's casual challenge made him feel like he was being targeted directly.

"...Are you sure?" the referee asked, clearly unsettled.

Lucas nodded. "Of course!"

Boom!

A figure leaped onto the stage.

It was a Marine Captain, an ugly-looking man with a large sword. He drew his weapon and pointed it directly at Lucas.

"I'LL FIGHT YOU!" he bellowed.

Meanwhile, two elderly figures stood on a nearby platform, observing the spectacle.

One was a white-haired old man, casually biting into a donut.

The other was a purple-haired man in sunglasses, his arms crossed.

The donut-eating old man was Vice Admiral Garp, who had recently resigned from his position to train new Marine recruits.

The sunglasses-wearing old man was former Admiral Zephyr, now the leader of the Marine's Anti-Pirate Guerrilla Unit, responsible for hunting down dangerous Devil Fruit users.

Zephyr chuckled. "Garp, that Ensign Coby is your disciple, right? He just got defeated by a new recruit."

Garp took another bite, still staring at Lucas. "That new recruit... isn't bad! Look, even a Marine Captain isn't going to stand a chance against him."

Zephyr rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmph. A recruit this talented shouldn't be wasted. Ain! Go test him out."

Behind Zephyr, a blue-haired woman in a marine uniform nodded.

She was Rear Admiral Ain, one of Zephyr's strongest students.

Without hesitation, Ain leaped from the platform, making her way toward the ring.

By the time she arrived, Lucas had already defeated the sword-wielding Captain with ease.

The Rear Admiral referee had been about to step in for a fight, but before he could even move, Ain jumped onto the stage.

"I'll be your opponent," Ain said, eyeing Lucas with curiosity.

She had never seen him before.

A new recruit, yet powerful enough to defeat an Ensign and a Captain? She wasn't about to take him lightly.

Lucas glanced at the two daggers in her hands and raised an eyebrow. "Another swordsman? Anyone here got a spare sword?"

A Marine in the crowd tossed a Marine-issue sword into the ring. "Here, take this!"

Lucas caught the blade and gave it a few experimental swings. "Not bad!"

Ain nodded, then glanced at the referee.

The moment the match was officially announced, she rushed forward, striking with incredible speed.

Lucas grinned.

He met her blade for blade, using the swordsmanship of the Pirate King himself—Roger's style.

Golden Lion Shiki: "What's going on? You defeated the last two guys instantly. Why is this one giving you trouble?"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! You've gained so many benefits from us—don't tell me you can't defeat this girl in one move?"

Lucas: "Defeating her instantly? Of course, I could do that. But where's the fun in that? She's a good opponent. I might as well spar for a while."

Pirate King Roger: "Bah! Stop making excuses! You're only dragging this out because she's pretty! Just admit it!"

Lucas: "I'm NOT making excuses! I wanted to take my time because she's pretty. What's so weird about that?"

Fire Fist Ace: "You shamelessly admitted it..."

Lucas: "What do you mean 'shameless'? This is human nature!"

Lucas wasn't ashamed—he was proud.

Lucas: "Isn't it normal for a guy to go easier on a pretty girl? Oh! I get it now! You guys wouldn't understand because you're all not interested in woman like that! That's my bad—I shouldn't have brought it up!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "BAH! WHO ARE YOU CALLING GAY?!"

Lucas: "You, obviously. You love Roger so deeply. You've been chasing after him your whole life. You even broke into Marineford alone for him. You were willing to die for him. If that's not love, I don't know what is!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "GET LOST!"

Pirate King Roger: "GET LOST!"

Lucas: "Wow! You two are even yelling at the exact same time. That's some real chemistry right there."

Golden Lion Shiki: "…"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

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