18 Chapter 18

"Well, it seems like you two have recovered enough. Let's get back to training," Garp declared, abruptly ending the discussion. With that, he rose to his feet, signaling the resumption of our rigorous training regimen. As much as I appreciated his concern, there was no escaping the inevitable challenges that lay ahead.

The next morning, I embarked on an underwater training session, drawn by the discovery of a sea king nest that my Observation Haki had revealed to me. This finding sparked a bold idea for refining my Haki abilities. It was widely acknowledged that the most effective method to enhance one's Armament Haki was to engage in combat with formidable adversaries, particularly those with stronger Armament Haki than one's own.

However, relying solely on Garp for such training wasn't always feasible. With his duties and occasional lapses into idleness during his free time, I often turned to Dragon, Bogard, or Kuzan for guidance. But the sea king nest presented an enticing opportunity to hone my skills in an underwater environment.

As I swam toward the nest, I continued my training amidst the gentle sway of the ocean currents, my thoughts turned to the topic of devil fruits. I harbored mixed feelings about them. While I wasn't opposed to the idea of consuming one, my standards were exceptionally high. The Rumble Rumble Fruit initially caught my interest, but the uncertainty surrounding its acquisition by my family led me to reconsider. Even if we were able to obtain it, I had decided that it would be best suited for Doffy. The Mera Mera no Mi served as a viable alternative for Doffy if the Rumble Rumble Fruit proved elusive.

Instead of placing all my faith in a devil fruit, I opted to focus on honing my skills in Haki and swordsmanship. I refused to become reliant on a single source of strength. Garp had instilled in me the importance of mastering Haki, emphasizing its indispensable role in achieving supremacy in combat. Even if I were to consume a devil fruit in the future, I had no intention of becoming dependent on it. I harbored a theory about myself—a theory that my soul's uniqueness might mitigate the typical drawbacks associated with devil fruit usage. It was a theory I was eager to put to the test.

As I pondered my future prospects, a looming presence caught my attention—a massive entity closing in rapidly from the depths. Expanding my Observation Haki, I discerned the form of a sea king, jaws agape, intent on swallowing me whole. With swift determination, I unsheathed Kitetsu, feeling the resistance of the water against my blade. But this was the challenge I sought—to push myself beyond limits.

"Aaaaargh!" With a primal roar, I unleashed a torrential slash, a manifestation of sheer force and swordsmanship. The Sea King, sensing the impending danger, evaded the first strike effortlessly. Anticipating its move, I followed up with a second slash, tearing through flesh and bone, leaving a deep gash in its wake. The beast roared in fury, its eyes blazing red as blood tainted the water crimson.

"Clang". From the depths, a thick, serpentine tail lashed out, aiming to impale me with its bone spike. With steely resolve, I clashed with the incoming strike, halting its momentum with a resounding clash. As the Sea King prepared for its next assault, I made my move.

With a resounding battle cry, I executed another attack, channeling all my strength into a devastating blow to push back the spiked tail. "Soru!" I vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing atop the Sea King's head in an instant. "Busoshoku: Koka!" I shouted, as I infused my blade with Armament Haki, enhancing its cutting power.

Clad in Armament Haki, I descended upon the beast with unwavering determination. With a swift thrust, I aimed for its head, channeling all my strength into the attack. The force of the blow sent a shockwave rippling through the water, leaving a gaping hole in the Sea King's head. Yet, to my surprise, the creature persisted, clinging to life despite its grievous wound. The resilience of these sea beasts was truly remarkable—a testament to their indomitable vitality.

As I prepared myself for a follow-up strike, another presence in the water gave me pause. Sensing the arrival of a formidable entity, I quickly reconsidered my strategy and opted to retreat from the now half-dead Sea King. Within moments of my retreat, a colossal maw emerged from the ocean depths, effortlessly tearing through the already wounded creature as if it were nothing more than prey.

Expanding my Observation Haki to its fullest extent, I attempted to gauge the full size of the newcomer. If the previous Sea King could be deemed super-sized, then this new arrival was simply monstrous. My estimation placed the new Sea King at nearly three times the size of the island we currently inhabit. As the gargantuan creature devoured its fallen counterpart, I braced myself to confront the colossal beast.

However, to my surprise, after consuming the other Sea King, the massive creature regarded me with a wary gaze. It was a tense standoff, both of us poised to see who would make the first move. Despite my attempts to communicate using my rusty Voice of All Things, I received no response from the creature. After a few more moments of stalemate, the new Sea King retreated back into the depths of the ocean, leaving me to ponder.

Disregarding the earlier encounter, I plunged back into my underwater training, determined to challenge other formidable Sea Kings. With confidence in my abilities, I knew that even if the monstrous Sea King returned, I would confront it and emerge unscathed. For another six hours, I navigated the ocean depths, occasionally surfacing for air. In the vicinity, the lifeless bodies of more than a dozen super-sized Sea Kings floated, casualties of my rigorous training. The blood from the fallen creatures attracted even more Sea Kings, but I dispatched them with ease.

As time passed, the Sea Kings grew wary of the area, sensing my presence and avoiding confrontation. Undeterred, I gathered close to a dozen of the fallen creatures, their varied sizes a testament to the challenges I had faced. Dragging the corpses back to the Marine camp, I caused quite a stir among the occupants. A small child clad in a choreboy outfit, hauling numerous super-sized Sea Kings—it was a sight to behold. Yet, in this world, one universal truth held: no one could resist the allure of more meat, especially Sea King meat.

"Kid, you sure know how to cause a commotion, don't you?" Dragon sat down next to me, carrying what looked like alcohol and a piece of grilled Sea King meat in his hands. Garp had permitted his subordinates to feast on the Sea Kings that I had brought back, as our stores had already been replenished to full.

"Dragon-san, you jest. I was simply out training and ended up bringing back those Sea Kings. If left alone, they would have simply gone to waste," I replied, tearing off a piece of the Sea King meat and chewing thoughtfully.

"It has been more than a year, so what do you think?" Dragon questioned me, his gaze probing. Though I understood his question, I feigned ignorance, allowing him to elaborate.

"I mean about the Marines. I know that you have set a condition with my father, that if he ever falters from the justice in his heart, he will let you go. Tell me, why are you so sure that it will happen? Honestly, I have not seen anyone who holds justice with as much regard as my father, maybe Zephyr-sensei may be the only exception. So, what makes you so confident?" Dragon and I often engaged in discussions about the Marines and the World Government, recognizing my maturity beyond my years.

Setting down the meat, I gazed at the sky. "My opinion has always been the same, Dragon-san. As long as the Marines follow the current World Government, they will be nothing more than a dignified pirate organization on the largest scale. They are simply the World Government's dogs. Like it or not, that's the truth."

"Don't you think such an estimation is a bit harsh? I understand that the Marines have their flaws, but we represent justice. I am sure if we put enough effort into it, one could eventually change it," Dragon countered, still holding onto his father's ideals, albeit with a hint of doubt.

Chuckling, I replied, "Dragon-san, are you really asking me to believe such nonsense? I was born a Celestial Dragon. I know what privileges we held. Marines represent Justice? That's the biggest joke I've heard. Tell me, Dragon-san, what, in your opinion, defines justice." I disliked hypocrites and refused to let my family stray toward the path of the old Celestial Dragons. In this life, we had vowed to bring down the World Government and ascend as its new overlords, understanding that tyranny wasn't the only answer to ruling the world.

"This..." Dragon faltered at my question, realizing that addressing the heart of the issue required grappling with uncomfortable truths. He understood that no matter his answer, it would likely be one of convenience, for he realized that the worst form of injustice is pretended justice.

"It's simple, Dragon-san. Marine Justice serves at the convenience of the World Nobles. If a pirate kills a person, you would call it a crime. But if a World Noble did the same, you would call it privilege. And if a person truly stands against the injustice of this world, the government would simply brand him as either a pirate or a revolutionary," I explained, sharing my perspective on the current pathetic nature of the Marines. Dragon fell into brooding silence, grappling with the weight of my words.

"Remember, Dragon-san, the world you dream of can only be achieved if you have enough strength and prestige to topple the current victors. Justice serves the victors, that's the truth of this world," I stated firmly as I began devouring another piece of sea king meat. Life Return had granted me the ability to consume large amounts of food without issue.

Suddenly, a heavy blow landed on my head, causing me to turn sharply to find Garp glaring at me. I feigned innocence, but inwardly marveled at how the Marine hero managed to approach me undetected, despite my active Observation Haki. Under Garp's guidance, I had been honing both my Observation and Armament Haki to function effortlessly, but I still had much to learn to match Garp's level.

"Brat, are you trying to lead my son astray?" Garp sat down and grabbed a piece of sea king meat, his actions lacking any ceremony.

"Garp sensei, that's slander. How could I lead Dragon-san astray? And none of the words I said are false. Can you deny it?" I challenged, meeting Garp's gaze with unwavering determination.

Garp choked on his food momentarily before responding, "Kid, Justice isn't as simple as that. One must simply strive to serve Justice to the best of their abilities, regardless of the outcome. Even if I am able to save just one person, then I believe that Justice is served. And if you let yourself falter just because of inconveniences, then you are no better than a coward."

His words were not just for me but also intended to reassure Dragon, whose belief in the Marines was gradually eroding. Garp didn't want my influence to exacerbate Dragon's doubts any further.

"Just remember this, brat: pirates are evil, and at the end of the day, Marines represent Justice, and Justice will prevail," Garp declared, echoing the sentiments of many Marines.

I met Garp's eyes with an unwavering resolve, and without my knowledge, my Conqueror's Haki began to emanate, filling the air with an undeniable presence.

"Pirates are evil? The Marines are righteous?" I countered, my voice firm and resolute. "Justice will prevail, you say? Of course it will! Because whoever wins in the end becomes Justice!"