Chapter 14

In the shadowy alley of Spider Miles, a grim scene unfolded. More than a dozen men surrounded a group of battered and bruised children, their faces twisted with cruelty. Among them stood a lone boy, barely a teenager, blood seeping from a wound on his forehead. Despite his injuries, he stood protectively in front of the unconscious and bleeding children.

The boy, in his early teens, held a makeshift club, facing down the menacing figures who sought to capture the helpless youngsters. These men, armed with knives and rods, were part of a group of child traffickers preying on orphaned children.

Despite the odds stacked against him, the young boy refused to yield. With courage and determination, he confronted the group of grown men, ready to defend the defenseless. He had already managed to knock out four of the assailants, but not without sustaining grave injuries himself.

Just as the kid was ready to go down swinging, a series of footsteps echoed from the entrance of the alleyway. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and hope as he turned to see who approached.

"Bang! Bang!" A series of gunshots echoed while a couple of goons hit the floor before the kid could lay his eyes on the newcomers. "So this is where you guys were hiding. Did you think you could escape after destroying what's mine?" Doffy, followed by the rest of the family, walked in, the barrel of his gun still smoking from the recently fired shots. The remaining men on the scene couldn't help but turn towards the boy holding the gun. They knew who the kid was; he and his little group, whom he called family, had recently joined the power circles of Spider Miles. Although this island was run-down, it still held quite a few gangs that exerted their influence on various parts of the island.

However, Spider Miles island recently plunged into turmoil due to a new gang that made headway. They had been eliminating other gangs left and right, refusing to form alliances. It was none other than the Donquixote family, led by Doffy. After deciding to establish a weapon factory for their future empire, they began clearing out all their opponents.

According to Ross's instructions, many guidelines were put forth. Initially, everyone within the family was confused about why they had to follow so many guidelines. However, Ross simply told them that if they wanted to reach the pinnacle, they couldn't sell themselves short. They had to have principles, even if they were engaging in questionable activities.

"You, kid, it was just a misunderstanding, and it's not like the island belongs to you. Don't push your luck too much," the gang leader barked, pointing his pistol at the boy. But before he could react, a piercing scream tore through the alley. A wrist, along with the pistol, lay on the floor, the man clutching his stump in agony. Diamante was already prepared to strike the killing blow.

However, Doffy was more interested in the kid defending a group of unconscious children behind him. Stepping forward leisurely, Doffy watched as the remaining members of the family began slaughtering the traffickers.

Coming to a stop in front of the other boy, Doffy extended his hand, wearing an eerie smile. "You have heart. Tell me, would you like to join my family?"

The boy, unnerved by Doffy's smile, hesitated, but he could sense the sincerity in Doffy's offer. After a few seconds of contemplation, he lowered his club.

"Where are my manners? I'm Donquixote Doflamingo," Doffy introduced himself.

"You can call me Senor," the other boy replied, shaking Doffy's hand, his gaze still fixed on the carnage unfolding around them.

Senor, still processing the whirlwind of events, met Doffy's gaze with a mixture of uncertainty and curiosity. He had never encountered someone like Doffy before, someone who exuded such charisma and authority.

Doffy's smile widened, genuine approval shining through. "Welcome to the Donquixote family, Senor. From this day forward, your life will never be the same."

With that, Doffy turned to oversee the cleanup of the alley, leaving Senor to contemplate the new path he had chosen. As he watched the Donquixote family members work efficiently to erase any trace of the recent confrontation, Senor felt a sense of anticipation for the future, knowing that he was now part of something much larger than himself.

Waters of West Blue

"Ice age!" Kuzan exclaimed, freezing a massive Sea King as our warship traversed the waters of West Blue toward our new destination, Kano Country. It had been only a week, yet the rations onboard were dangerously low. Originally, the provisions should have lasted us close to two months, but my increased appetite due to regular training under Garp had depleted them faster.

Observing my unwavering determination, Kuzan had also intensified his training. Even Garp, witnessing our dedication, became more eager to train us. He was particularly pleased with how quickly I absorbed knowledge. Already, he had taught me the basics of Rokushiki, and I was diligently trying to master them. Additionally, I was attempting to develop my own technique using these skills. Garp had only prohibited me from sharing Marine secrets; anything I could develop on my own was mine to teach as I saw fit.

However, I was still far from creating a technique of my own. Rokushiki was proving to be more profound than I had initially realized. It seemed like a basic technique refined to near perfection over centuries. It was truly astonishing how one managed to keep such a profound art restricted within the World Government, keeping it away from the prying eyes of the world. The history must sure have been drenched in blood to keep such an information a secret.

"Thunk, thunk, thunk..." Each punch landed heavily on the large mast, reinforced with sea stones to serve as a punching post. Even Garp would have to coat himself with Armament Haki to damage it, showcasing its sturdiness. As I continued my assault on the post, Kuzan approached, while other marine soldiers busied themselves with transporting the Sea King meat from the now-frozen beast.

In the month since I boarded the ship, Kuzan has grown closer to me. He was nothing like the lazy man from the canon; instead, he resembled a street brawler, eager to throw the first punch. It was evident that his character was being heavily influenced by a man like Garp, who believed in the justice of the Marines.

"Ross, you sure have raised the stakes for our training. All I ever see you doing is training, training, and more training. Do you have a goal in mind?" Kuzan asked, his curiosity evident.

"Thunk." I paused my relentless punching and turned to face Kuzan, who awaited my response eagerly.

"A goal, you say? Yes, I have a goal, one much grander than yours, Kuzan Senpai. To achieve such a grand goal, I don't think even the strength of a fleet Admiral would be enough. I must go much, much further. I aim to stand at the pinnacle of this world, with no one else able to challenge me." With determination, I resumed my assault on the mast, intensifying my punches.

"Hahahaha, you sure are ambitious, kid. Even a Fleet Admiral is not enough, huh? I hope you can fulfill your dream someday. But for now, remember, all I need is a single finger to crush you." Garp's booming laughter caught both mine and Kuzan's attention as he stepped out, followed by Bogard, who trailed behind him like a shadow.

"Well, you brats must prepare yourselves," Garp announced, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation. "We've already confirmed the location of the Happo Navy with the help of headquarters. We should be able to intercept them within half a day. So, you guys better rest, because you'll join the battle to deal with the little goons of the Happo Navy. They'll be a good test for you, as they have quite a few competent Haki users among them. And as for Chinjao, my fist has been itching for some time now. I'll make sure to teach him a proper lesson!" Garp chuckled heartily, as if he were going on a vacation rather than heading into battle.

After a few hours of sailing, we finally intercepted the Happo Navy, who were anchored on a huge island that seemed like a temporary supply point for pirates.

The tension crackled in the air like electricity as Garp and Chinjao locked eyes, their gazes burning with intensity. Chinjao, the formidable leader of the Happo Navy, exuded arrogance as he stood tall, his muscular frame radiating confidence.

"Ah, Garp, the famous hero of the Marines," Chinjao sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "I must say, I expected someone more impressive. You're nothing but a man clinging to past glory."

Garp's response was a booming laughter that echoed across the battlefield. "Past glory, eh? You underestimate me, Chinjao. Age has only sharpened my skills. I'll show you just how formidable I am."

As the verbal sparring escalated, the tension reached its peak, and without warning, Garp lunged forward, his massive fist aimed straight at Chinjao's chest. Chinjao met the attack head-on, his own fists crackling with Haki as he blocked Garp's strike with sheer force.

The clash between the two titans sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, shaking the ground beneath their feet. It was a clash of strength and willpower, with each combatant refusing to yield an inch.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Kuzan and I leaped into action, our determination fueling our movements. Kuzan unleashed a wave of icy projectiles, forcing members of the Happo Navy to scatter as they struggled to evade the freezing onslaught.

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife as Garp, the Marine legend, faced off against Chinjao, the fearsome leader of the Happo Navy. Their eyes locked in a fierce stare-down, each one determined to prove their dominance on the battlefield.

"You dare challenge me, Marine?" Chinjao's voice thundered across the battleground, arrogance dripping from every word. "I'll crush you like a bug!"

Garp's response was a low chuckle, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You talk too much, Chinjao. Let's see if your fists are as loud as your mouth."

And with that, the clash began. Chinjao lunged forward like a raging bull, his massive fists swinging towards Garp's head with deadly intent. But Garp was like water, flowing effortlessly out of harm's way with a graceful sidestep.

As Chinjao's punches continued to rain down, Garp countered with lightning-fast strikes of his own. Each blow was aimed with surgical precision, exploiting every opening in Chinjao's defenses. The air crackled with the intensity of their battle, sending shockwaves rippling through the surroundings.

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the battlefield, I found myself locked in combat with the members of the Happo Navy. With my Kitetsu sword in hand, I moved like a whirlwind, anticipating their every move with my keen Observation Haki.

Dodging and weaving through their attacks, I struck back with ferocious blows of my own. Each swing of my blade cut through the air like a razor-sharp gust, leaving a trail of fallen enemies in my wake. The ground trembled beneath our feet as the clash of steel echoed across the battlefield.

Back in the heart of the action, Garp and Chinjao continued their epic duel, their movements like a symphony of destruction. With every clash of their fists, the earth shook and the air crackled with energy, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Chinjao's arrogance was matched only by Garp's unwavering resolve, and as they traded blow after blow, it seemed as though the very fabric of reality itself was being torn apart. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, unable to withstand the sheer force of their clash.

But still, they fought on, each one refusing to back down in the face of overwhelming odds. For in the heart of battle, there could be no retreat, no surrender. There was only the relentless pursuit of victory, no matter the cost.