Chapter 3: Monkey D Garp
Chapter 3: Monkey D Garp
After Four Months
It had been four months since Garp had set out to pursue the Rocks Pirates from Foosha Village.
The peaceful coastal village hummed along in its customary beat fishing men unloading nets, children running through the streets but for Monkey D. Tyson and his big brother Dragon, existence had become a dogged routine of grit and effort.
With Village Chief Ken, a skinny elderly man with an ever-present smirking expression, watching over them, the brothers had dived headfirst into training, driven by the Navy Six Styles textbook and Sengoku's stolen notes.
The "un blazed overhead as Tyson lifted a pair of rough stone weights—each a heavy slab he'd trimmed from a boulder—his muscles straining under the load. Next to him, Dragon ran laps on the village border, his breathing steady even on the punishing tempo. They'd been at it for hours, testing their endurance to new heights. Tyson's arms shook as he lifted the weights for the hundredth time, sweat falling into his eyes.
"Dragon, you're a machine!" Tyson bellowed, voice raw but smiling.
"How're you not dead yet?"
Dragon had slowed to a jog, panting as he came around the bend. "Practice, little brother. You're not doing half bad yourself—those weights look heavier than last month.
Tyson puffed out his chest, dropping the stones with a thud that shook the dirt.
"Yeah, well, I've got a trick up my sleeve. Ever hear of Koby? Guy from the manga punched a ship deck to toughen his fists. Ended up smashing pirates with something called Honesty Impact. Figured I'd give it a shot."
Dragon cocked his head, interested but not demanding explanations for Tyson's strange allusions.
"Punching a ship? That sounds like something Dad would do for kicks."
"Right!"
Tyson exclaimed, running toward the beach where a wrecked fishing boat was left stranded, its hull broken and weathered.
"This thing's been crying out for a beating."
He braced himself against the ship's splintered deck, fists balled. In his former life as Jack Fok, he'd studied how Koby's training bore fruit—unbridled strength sharpened by sheer determination.
Tapping into that, Tyson punched the wood. A shock of pain coursed up his arm, but the deck splintered under the impact, a gratifying crunch ringing out across the beach.
"Ow okay, that hurts,"
he grunted, shaking out his hand. But he tried again, and again, each punch shattering the wood further. His knuckles grew red, then numb, his Iron Body physique numbing the pain. After sixty minutes, the deck was a splintered ruin, and Tyson's fists felt like steel.
Dragon jogged over, eyeing the wreckage. "You've changed, Tyson. Four months ago, you'd have whined after one hit. Now look at you—stronger every day."
Tyson flexed his bruised hands, grinning. "Thanks, nii-san. Guess I'm catching up to you."
Dragon smirked, clapping him on the shoulder. "Keep dreaming. But seriously—nice work."
[System Notification: Emotional Points Gained! +20 EP from Monkey D. Dragon. Emotion: Respect.]
Back at the village, Chief Ken waited at their house, a modest wooden shack Garp had left them in his care. The old man leaned on his cane, his gray hair wild from the wind.
"You boys done breaking things yet? I'm starving over here."
Tyson laughed, already heading inside. "On it, Chief! Cooking Mastery's got your back."
He whipped up a feast—grilled fish from their last haul, roasted yams, and a pot of steaming stew—his hands moving with practiced ease. Dragon and Ken dug in at the table, the aroma filling the room. Between bites, Ken nodded approvingly. "Garp'd be proud, Tyson. You're keeping us fed better than he ever did."
Dragon swallowed a mouthful, smirking. "Yeah, Dad's idea of cooking is punching a fish 'til it's tender."
"True," Tyson said, chuckling. "But I'll take the compliment."
[System Notification: Emotional Points Gained! +10 EP from Village Chief Ken. Emotion: Gratitude.]
At dusk, the brothers sat outside, the stars a cover above them. Tyson looked at Dragon, feeling the seriousness of their advance. "Four months, yeah? Think Dad's all right out there?"
Dragon's eyes softened. "He's Dad. Tough as nails. But yeah—I hope he's giving those pirates hell."
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Far across the sea in the North Blue
However, Garp and Sengoku experienced a different type of hell. Their fleet of six shiny Navy warships sliced through turbulent waters, sails tight against a tempestuous sky. Three months of chasing illusions, having been led astray by bad information which took them to the wrong island.
The Rocks Pirates were to plunder Krisu Village, but upon their arrival, they found merely bewildered villagers and bare storehouses. The actual prize, as it proved to be, was Hico Village—one of the North Blue's three wealthiest islands, a treasure worth going out of one's way for.
Sengoku stood at the prow of the first ship, his afro blowing in the wind, his quick eyes on the horizon. Next to him, Garp cracked his knuckles, grinning like a child on an adventure.
"Told you those pirates wouldn't go down without a fight, Sengoku. They're slippery devils."
Sengoku's face hardened.
"Three months at sea because some idiot in intelligence can't navigate. We're fortunate we picked up their trail at all."
Their spies had finally seen the Rocks Pirates' armada moored off Hico Village—black sails towering above like thunderheads, their hulls weighed down with pilfered treasure. At the helm of this robbery was the Second Division Captain, Silver Axe, an enormous man whose very name sent cold chills down the North Blue. His huge battle-axe shone with a black, foreboding sheen, said to be charged with Haki.
On the deck of his vessel, Silver Axe yelled orders, his voice a harsh bellow.
"Load the loot, you curs! Navy's arrived—get moving or I'll split 'em down the middle!" His men hustled, dragging crates of supplies, gold, and arms, their raid all but finished.
But with the Navy fleet closing in—six warships, 2000 troops, a combination of 30 Majors, 4 Rear Admirals (Garp included), 50 Commodores, 100 Captains, 200 Commanders, 108 Lieutenant Commanders, and elite commandos—Silver Axe's eyes narrowed.
He swung his axe, its blade glinting as lightning flashed above. With a burst of speed, he sprang upwards, a blur of motion, and landed above the frontmost Navy warship, his dark outline against the storm.
Sengoku's stomach turned over a worst-case feeling he'd learned to rely on.
"Garp!"
he bellowed, voice carrying above the gale. "Protect the ship!"
Garp flashed a grin, already in motion.
"Gonna do that anyway!"
Silver Axe brought down his axe in a Haki-charged strike, a slash of dark energy cutting through the air, a crescent moon of shadow energy intended to cleave the ship in two. Garp responded in a flash, kicking off with Moonwalk to blast upwards.
His fists shone black with Advanced Armament Haki as he released his most famous attack: Counter Protector.
He struck the air, a shockwave of willpower erupting outward, thick and immovable. The power met with Silver Axe's slash, the impact thundering like a cannon shot, cracking the clouds overhead.
Silver Axe came down on the deck, boots splitting wood, axe held high for another blow.
"Monkey D. Garp,"
he snarled, his voice heavy with threat.
"Heard you're a hard nut. Let's see if you break."
Garp whooped, laughing wildly.
"Big mouth for a man wielding a pretty hatchet. Come on, then!"
The battle broke out in a whirl of movement. Silver Axe arced his axe, Haki glazing the blade as it sliced the air.
Garp parried with Shave, disappearing in an instant, before reappearing with a whirling kick for Silver Axe's ribs. The pirate deflected with the haft of the axe, the impact sending sparks scattering.
Garp intensified the assault, hands moving too fast to see a blur of fists jabs, uppercuts, a palm strike learned in martial arts he'd acquired as a child. Every punch contained Haki, dented Silver Axe's guard.
Silver Axe bellowed, swinging down with his own technique: Silver Crescent Reaper.
The air shrieked as a colossal Haki wave hurtled towards Garp, who met it with Counter Protector once more, fists crashing together to create a shield of brute power. The impact rocked the ship, soldiers staggering as the deck creaked.
"You're good, Navy Rising Star Garp,"
Silver Axe snarled, twirling his axe with expert swordsmanship, a style honed from years on the Grand Line. He lunged, feinting high then striking low, aiming to sever Garp's legs.
Garp sprang with Moonwalk, flipping in mid-air to deliver a Haki-enhanced elbow drop onto Silver Axe's shoulder.
The pirate groaned, stumbling but counterattacking with savage accuracy. The duel burned on, a clash of strength and art Garp's street-fighting toughness against Silver Axe's measured rage.
On the second ship,
Sengoku had his own opponent: Dezris, Vice Commander of Silver Axe. The fellow was a massive brute, his body rippling as he changed into his Zoan form—an Ancient Scorpio Fruit user. His skin turned hard and dark, forming a chitinous shell, a deadly stinger curling out of his back, and razor-sharp claws snapping ominously.
"Time to crush you, Navy dog," Dezris sneered, poison dripping from his stinger.
Sengoku's gaze narrowed, his frame glowing as he released his own Zoan ability: the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Buddha. Glowing golden light surrounded him, his body swelling into a colossal, peaceful yet frightening statue of justice.
"Let's see you try," he thundered, voice vibrating with authority.
Dezris drew first, his stinger flailing out, venom crackling as it skimmed the deck. Sengoku erected a golden palm, shattering the attack on a shockwave of Haki, the air distorting with the impact.
Dezris leapt, slashing claws, his tough shell blunting cannon shells from nearby soldiers. Sengoku attacked him head-on, his Buddha shape's fists shining with Advanced Armament Haki. A punch sent Dezris flying back, shattering his armor, but the scorpion-man fought back with a toxic tail blow.
Sengoku dodged, his great bulk unexpectedly fleet of foot, then retaliated with a wide sweep of his leg that shattered Dezris's shell again.
"Your poison's not going to hurt me,"
he proclaimed, slapping both hands onto the deck in a Buddha Shockwave. The impact cratered the deck, sending Dezris flying into the railing, venom splashing harmlessly off Sengoku's golden flesh.
Dezris growled, launching with increased rage, stinger and claws a maelstrom of killing. Sengoku parried in precision, his Haki battering Dezris's inherent strength, each blow a display of their skills. The vessel creaked under their duel, troops hurrying to prop up the line as the Rocks Pirates' fleet approached closer.
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Meanwhile, back in Foosha Village, Tyson and Dragon completed their dinner, oblivious to the commotion in the North Blue. Tyson consulted his system panel beneath the starlight.
[System Panel]
Name: Monkey D. Tyson
Age: 9
Skill: Cooking Mastery (200 EP)
Talent: Learner(SS)
Haki: None
Physique: Iron Body (Elementary)
Weapon: None
Devil Fruit: None
Crew Member: None
Bounty: 0
Berry Amount: 0
Combat Strength: Above Elite Adult
Total EP: 1600
He grinned, feeling the grind paying off. "Four months down," he grumbled. "Wonder how Dad's holding up."
Dragon stretched next to him, looking out at the sea. "He's fine. Probably punching pirates into next week."
Tyson chuckled. "Yeah. Let's keep training—got to be ready when he gets back."
I should also buy some skill from the system.
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Combat Strength Level ( Low to High)
1. Normal Adult
2. Elite Adult
3. Soldiers
4. Elite Soldiers
5. Sergeant
6. Elite sergeant
7. Lieutenant
8. Elite Lieutenant
9. Lieutenant Commander
10. Commander
11. Captain
12. Elite Captain
13. General
14. Rear Admiral
15. Admiral
16. Elite Admiral
17. Emperor
18. Super Emperor
19. King
20. Ancient Emperor