Chapter 35: If You Can’t Beat the Old, Beat the Young

When Dragon pushed the door open and walked in, Renji was somewhat surprised.

From their first meeting, Renji had sensed that Dragon was the type of person who was incredibly proud and stubborn. People like him rarely changed their ways.

Having pride wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it had its downsides.

Such individuals were overly confident in themselves, believing wholeheartedly in their actions and often dismissing the advice of others.

This was evident in how Dragon would later establish the Revolutionary Army. Instead of quietly developing under the protection of the Marines, he chose to rebel outright because he couldn't stand the Marines' actions.

"I'm here to apologize..." Dragon lowered his head, his pride momentarily set aside.

"Oh?" Renji looked at Dragon with interest. It wasn't often that someone as proud as Dragon would humble himself like this.

"I didn't realize how much you've done for this island. I judged you based on superficial observations, and that was wrong."

"I've reflected on my actions, and I admit my mistake. I won't make such hasty judgments in the future."

Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them was already better than what most people could do. Dragon's willingness to do so was commendable.

"Actually, I think you were right earlier. I have been ignoring some of the king's actions," Renji said.

"Huh?" Dragon looked up, confused.

"You know how it is. The World Government doesn't allow us Marines to interfere in the internal affairs of a nation. After all, they're the ones funding us, so we have to respect the rules to some extent."

"Besides, the king's actions are mostly just him venting his frustrations. They don't have a significant impact on the people, so I've chosen to let it slide."

Renji wasn't a god who could manage everything. Even if he were to bring perfect order to the island, what would happen to the people after he left? It was better to teach them how to fish than to give them fish.

Seeing that Dragon still didn't fully understand, Renji continued:

"The king holds the power to determine the rise and fall of a nation. In my opinion, while this king may be narrow-minded, he still has the people's interests at heart. His existence benefits everyone, as long as he doesn't cross certain lines. So, I let him do as he pleases."

In a stable environment, people tend to become complacent. Only by applying a little pressure can exceptional individuals emerge.

Dragon seemed to grasp the idea. Everything revolved around maintaining balance, and all parties had tacitly accepted this state of affairs.

"No, I think balance is just the easiest way out," Dragon suddenly raised his head, a sharp glint in his eyes.

He clenched his fists tightly.

"The justice I believe in isn't like this!"

What sounded like balance was, in reality, just compromise.

"The Marines entrusted you with the protection of the entire South Blue. Your strength must be considerable, right?"

A competitive spark appeared on Dragon's face.

"I'd like to test your skills, Captain Renji, and see if you're truly worthy of your reputation."

"Hahaha, I just sparred with Garp recently and didn't get my fill. I'll gladly accept your challenge."

Renji laughed heartily at Dragon's request. If he couldn't beat Garp, he could at least handle Dragon.

Renji was very confident in his own strength.

...

Sorbert Kingdom Marine Base.

Training Ground.

"Alright, Dragon, you go first. Let's see what Garp's teachings have made of you."

Renji spoke calmly, giving Dragon the first move.

Dragon was a genius, and a hardworking one at that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have achieved the rank of captain at such a young age.

Geniuses also had a tendency to be troublemakers. To deal with someone like Dragon, who liked to pick fights, you had to beat them into submission first to save yourself future headaches.

Dragon was still too young, lacking the maturity and wisdom he would gain after leaving the Marines. For now, he was driven purely by passion.

In his eyes, Renji was underestimating him, not taking him seriously. Dragon, who had never been afraid of anything, couldn't tolerate such disrespect.

He wanted to make Renji regret looking down on him.

Dragon took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them, his usual calm returning. He looked at Renji and said coolly, "I won't hold back. Let's have a proper spar."

"Feel free to go all out," Renji replied with a smile, nodding slightly.

As soon as Renji finished speaking, Dragon's expression grew more serious. Wind began to swirl around him, enveloping his body and gradually spreading outward.

"So it's a wind-related ability..."

Seeing Dragon's power, Renji became intrigued. It seemed Dragon had already eaten a Devil Fruit.

"This should be interesting..."

As Renji spoke, Dragon suddenly lunged forward at incredible speed. His hands curved into a strange shape, fingers together like the claws of a dragon. Enhanced by the wind, they produced a sharp whistling sound.

Dragon Claw Fist, a technique that would later become Sabo's signature move, capable of crushing even the toughest armor. It wasn't surprising that Dragon had already mastered it.

Dragon had clearly practiced this move extensively, as his arms moved in unpredictable patterns.

Since setting out to hunt pirates, Dragon had learned one thing: never underestimate your opponent. That's why he started with his most powerful technique.

To an outsider, the power and spectacle of Dragon's attack were impressive.

Facing Dragon's fierce assault, Renji's expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed. He had no intention of taking the attack head-on.

In martial arts, speed was the ultimate weapon. If the opponent couldn't hit you, even the most powerful technique was just flashy and ineffective.

With a single step, Renji left behind an afterimage and appeared 10 meters away.

"Boom!!!"

Dust flew up from the training ground as Dragon's claw struck the ground. His expression turned to one of surprise.

"Kid, I'm behind you."

Renji's voice echoed in Dragon's ear. As Dragon turned, he saw Renji with his palms pressed together, his stance shifting instantly. Renji's hands moved, sending a powerful gust of wind that blew away the surrounding dust.

Dragon hastily countered with his Dragon Claw Fist.

"Bang!!!"

Their attacks collided with a loud crash, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

The two exchanged blows at lightning speed, the sound of their clashes echoing across the training ground.

The noise inevitably drew the attention of onlookers.

Under the curious gazes of the crowd, the two figures on the training ground moved back and forth, their battle intense.

"Wow, they're really going at it..."

Many couldn't help but exclaim in amazement as they watched the fight.

"Is this guy really that strong?"

As Dragon swung his Dragon Claw Fist, his expression shifted. He hadn't expected that even in his most focused state, he couldn't land a single hit on Renji.

Moreover, during their exchange, it felt as though Renji was deliberately observing his techniques, as if studying his fighting style.

"I can't keep this up..."

...