43 Vice Admiral Garp's Battleship #43

Author's note: I'm still waiting for one chapter to reach over 250 stones... I've already got the extra chapter ready and eveything, wink, wink...

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South Blue

Vice Admiral Garp's battleship.

'For fuck's sake...' I couldn't help but rub my shoulder, feeling sore from all the smacks Vice Admiral Garp gave me on the back as he praised me for my good manners and how smart I was for wanting to join the Marines rather than become a pirate.

It's been several hours since we set sail, and I was already assigned a bed in the shared marine quarters on the lower deck, and though it was not a private cabin, the mattress was comfortable enough.

I asked Garp's aide, Bogard, about the snake-like sea king I had to fight and why the vice admiral was so upset about it, and the answer I received was mind-boggling.

As it turns out, Garp ordered his crew to sail into the Calm Belt to hunt it down and take it to East Blue, hoping it would stick around Dawn Island and stop his grandsons, Luffy and Ace, from sailing away to become pirates.

Naturally, the poor sea king stood no chance against the vice admiral and barely managed to flee to South Blue, prompting Garp to take his battleship to chase after it all the way to the marine base near Reverse Mountain.

Apparently, he had already done it before, and the sea king that bit off the arm of Red-Hair Shanks was beaten to a pulp and dragged there by the vice admiral.

And speaking of Dawn Island, it was our current destination as Garp wanted to take the sea beast he caught from South Blue and leave it around Dawn Island.

I don't think it'll work since I didn't remember any giant turtle sea beast from the anime or the manga, but I'm not telling the vice admiral that. I could still feel the pain from the last knock he gave me on the head, and I wasn't looking to get another one. No, thank you.

"How are you fitting in so far, young man?" Bogard calmly asked as he walked to me from behind and patted my back, instantly snapping me out of my daze.

"I think I'm fitting well enough, sir," I replied as I turned to the man and smiled at him. "The marine soldiers were very welcoming," I added, rubbing the back of my neck.

"That's good to hear," Bogard said with a nod. "In any case, you need to come with me," he added as he turned around and gestured for me to follow, and I could oblige despite my confusion.

"HQ wanted us to assess and report your combat prowess to induct you into the proper training program once we arrive," Bogard went on as he walked to the ship's main deck. "The vice admiral is busy eating, so I'll be your opponent," he added as he stopped near the main mast and turned to me.

"Please come at me with everything you have," Bogard concluded as he took a side stance, putting his right arm behind his back and raising his right in a defensive posture.

'He sure is looking down on me,' I mused, raising an eyebrow as I looked at Bogard's relaxed posture. "Sure, am I allowed to use my spear?" I asked as I removed my backpack and dropped it on the ground, and the man merely nodded.

"Alright," I said as I picked up my spear, then promptly pushed the shaft of my spear over my left wrist and sent its sharp edge flying toward Bogard's face without hesitation per his request.

He kept a calm expression and waited for the last possible second to react as he effortlessly deflected the attack with the back of his hand, much to my surprise.

I didn't let the man's impressive display faze me as I drew back the spear and stepped forward, punching at Bogard's abdomen. He reacted in the same manner as he deflected my fist, pushing my arm to the side and exposing my chest.

He didn't hesitate and immediately sent his palm flying toward my wide-open chest, but I saw it coming and arched my back to dodge, using the momentum to perform a backflip and kick at his extended arm.

He immediately stopped the momentum of his arm and drew it back to avoid the kick, but my attack was far from over as I landed on my hand and pushed myself toward Bogard.

His eyes widened as he watched me perform such an acrobatic move. But he showed little reaction beyond that as he deflected two more kicks from me from the most unexpected angles before I landed before him.

Thinking I'd be off balance due to my awkward landing, Bogard palmed at me again, and I decided to give him a taste of his medicine as I deflected his arm with my left and swung the spear at him with my right.

Bogard realized he couldn't deflect the spear with his left as he did or even dodge because of my weapon's reach, but he merely smiled and caught the spear's shaft with his other hand that was previously behind his back.

He paused as he looked at me, seemingly preparing to say something, but I didn't wait as I let go of the spear and kicked the shaft, forcefully dismantling Bogard's guard as he didn't let go of it in time.

Frowning in concentration, I stepped forward and sent my clenched fist flying straight toward his chin, prompting the man to sigh as he jumped backward to dodge, forced to retreat for the first time since the beginning of the spar.

I merely grinned as I reached into my jacket, retrieved one of the seven revolvers I kept on me, and immediately pulled the trigger without hesitation, emptying its chamber.

Again Bogard's eyes slightly widened, but he quickly gathered his bearings as he drew the sword hanging off his hip and deflected the bullets before landing gracefully on his feet.

"Impressive..." Bogard said with an approving nod. "Now let's see how you fare against a more serious opponent..." He added, brandishing his sword as he lunged at me.

...

"Bwahaha! It looks like you're getting old, Bogard..." Vice Admiral Garp said with a loud laugh as he approached Bogard and Cedric at the end of their spar. "To think a little brat would force you to draw your sword! Bwahaha!" He added, stuffing his mouth with rice crackers as he spoke and sending bits and pieces of half-chewed food flying everywhere.

"I'm not that old, sir... age has nothing to do with it..." Bogard said with a sigh as he sheathed his sword. "The young simply has one too many tricks..." He added, smiling as he turned to Cedric.

"Is that so...?" Garp said, pausing as he alternated his gaze between Bogard and the blonde young man, only to start laughing again a moment later. "Then it looks like you'll make a great marine someday, kiddo," he added as he approached Cedric and began slapping him on the back, causing the latter to wince in pain.

"Not if you-- ouch-- accidentally break my spine..." Cedric said, trailing off as he gave the vice admiral the side eye, only for the latter to laugh even more loudly as he slapped his back without stopping.

"Bwahaha, don't be ridiculous, brat! There's no way a little pat on the back would break your spine," Vice Admiral Garp said, giving Cedric one final slap that sent him crashing face-first into the ship's deck.

"Hya... that was pretty impressive..." The vice admiral said with a grin as he stuffed even more rice crackers into his mouth. "Maybe you should help me beat some sense into--" He added, pausing halfway through as he turned to Cedric and found him lying on the floor.

"Oy! Don't fall asleep when I'm talking to you, brat!" He said, frowning as he looked at Cedric and raised his hand, preparing to give the young man a taste of his famous Love Fist.

"Please stop, sir..." Bogart said, sighing as he approached Cedric to help him up. "You'll kill the young man if you keep hitting him..." He added, rubbing the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"I seriously don't think I can survive another day with the vice admiral..." Cedric said, anguished tears running through his eyes as he slowly rose to his feet with Bogart's help. "Is it too late to quit...?" He added, causing Bogart to chuckle.

"I'm afraid it's far too late..." Bogart said, shaking his head. "The vice admiral took a liking to you, and now there's no going back..." He concluded with a bitter smile as he helped Cedric to his feet and lightly patted him on the shoulder with a sympathetic expression.

"Do your best to survive, young man... I'm cheering for you..."

...

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