CHAPTER 22

On the other side of the island, Ayr continued his relentless training, swinging his blade with precision. Each slash tore through the air with overwhelming force, leaving deep scars in the landscape.

The results were evident. The entire area around him was in ruins—trees shattered, boulders split, and the very ground beneath his feet was marred by deep fissures stretching into the horizon.

"Under Rocks' guidance, my swordsmanship is much stronger than when I first boarded the ship." Ayr nodded, satisfied with the destruction before him.

Though only a few days had passed since he joined the Rocks Pirates, each night had been spent under Rocks' personal tutelage.

The first night, Rocks helped him refine his Armament Haki and Observation Haki, pushing both to mid-tier mastery in record time.

Then came the swordsmanship training.

Many had assumed Rocks relied solely on his monstrous Conqueror's Haki and raw power, especially after his fight with Silver Axe, where he hadn't even drawn a blade.

But the truth was far more terrifying.

Rocks was not just a dominant force—he was among the world's top swordsmen, rivaling the strongest blades of the era. Some even whispered he could challenge the world's greatest swordsman title.

For Ayr, whose latent potential had skyrocketed after awakening his Sage Body, the results were staggering.

Despite not dedicating himself to swordsmanship in the past, he had instinctively developed an understanding of it through battle. Within a year, he had unlocked the Breath of All Things and mastered the Iron-Cutting Technique.

Now, with Rocks' guidance, it was as if the floodgates had opened. His grasp of the sword had deepened beyond expectation, bringing him closer to a level where he could stand among the greats.

At this moment, Ayr felt no regrets about joining the Rocks Pirates.

Though he had yet to acquire a Devil Fruit, his rapid growth under Rocks' mentorship had more than made up for it.

As he prepared to sheathe his blade and test the Rasengan, which he had been practicing in secret, the sound of footsteps reached his ears.

"Tap. Tap. Tap!"

Ayr turned his gaze toward the source, spotting a group of Marines swiftly approaching.

At the front was a young man—tall, broad-shouldered, with a confident smirk.

Monkey D. Garp.

Although this Garp had yet to reach his peak, his natural talent and rapid growth were already undeniable.

Upon arriving at the scene, the Marines around Garp came to an abrupt halt, their eyes widening as they took in the devastation surrounding Ayr.

"T-This… Did he do all of this?"

"The destruction is unreal. Just swordsmanship alone caused this?!"

"This guy… He's a monster!"

A few Marines flinched, but another quickly reassured them.

"Don't worry! We have Colonel Garp! No matter how strong this pirate is, he's nothing compared to him!"

"That's right! We've seen Colonel Garp's strength with our own eyes!"

Garp, arms folded, casually glanced at the wreckage left in Ayr's wake. Instead of being concerned, he simply grinned, locking eyes with the young swordsman.

"If I'm not mistaken, you're Ayr—the one who joined the Rocks Pirates recently."

Ayr furrowed his brows slightly.

"And you are?"

It wasn't surprising that Ayr didn't immediately recognize him. This Garp was much younger than the Marine Hero of legend.

But Garp smirked, cracking his knuckles.

"Remember my name, because I'm about to be the strongest opponent you've ever faced."

"Monkey D. Garp."

Ayr's eyes widened slightly before a smirk formed on his lips.

Garp?

He took another look at the Marine in front of him. That familiar aura… that raw strength…

It made sense now.

Good guy, so I'm up against the future Marine Hero himself.

Ayr had originally planned to test the Rasengan here in the back mountain, but now…

Wasn't this the perfect opponent for it?

Over the past few days, his swordsmanship had evolved, his Haki had reached mid-tier mastery, and he had developed a new technique with chakra-based attacks.

And now, Garp had arrived at the perfect time.

Garp, noticing Ayr's confident expression, let out a chuckle.

"Not scared, huh? Well, I don't blame you. My name isn't as famous in the New World—yet. But trust me, that's about to change."

Though he had only recently entered the New World, Garp was certain that it wouldn't be long before pirates across the seas feared his name.

Because Garp had absolute faith in his own strength.

One of the Marines beside him stepped forward, shouting at Ayr.

"Surrender now, pirate!"

"Colonel Garp's strength is leagues beyond yours! If you give up, you can at least avoid unnecessary pain!"

"Come with us quietly. You'll be spared unnecessary suffering."

More Marines joined in, shouting their warnings.

Yet none of them dared to actually attack.

Because they had seen the destruction.

They knew Ayr's bounty. 100 million Berries.

And they could tell, just by looking at the battlefield around them—this man was not to be underestimated.

The tension in the air grew thick.

A battle was inevitable.

And Ayr, smiling, slowly reached for his sword.

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