Chapter 12: The Basics, Garp’s Way

The vast training grounds of Marineford stretched out before Vulcan, filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, shouted orders, and the heavy thuds of recruits running through obstacle courses. But despite the size of the field and the dozens of new recruits training alongside him, all Vulcan could focus on was the imposing figure of Garp, who stood in front of him with a mischievous grin.

"All right, brat," Garp said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Before we get into any fancy techniques or fighting styles, we're going to work on the basics. That means balance, strength, stamina, and toughness."

Vulcan nodded, his expression serious. "I'm ready."

But Garp's grin only widened. "Oh, you say that now, but you've never trained with me before. Let's start with something simple."

Garp pointed to a large pile of boulders off to the side of the training ground, each one easily the size of a small house. "See those rocks over there? You're going to carry them."

Vulcan blinked, staring at the enormous boulders. "Carry them?"

Garp clapped his hands together, the sound echoing across the field. "That's right! You're going to carry those boulders across the entire training field. And when you're done with one, you'll go back for another. It'll teach you balance and build up that strength of yours."

Vulcan hesitated for a moment, but he wasn't one to back down from a challenge. He took a deep breath and walked over to the pile, picking up the largest boulder he could manage. His muscles strained under the weight, but he gritted his teeth and lifted it onto his shoulders.

"Good! Now walk!" Garp shouted from behind him.

Vulcan's legs shook as he took his first step, the weight of the boulder threatening to send him toppling over. The uneven ground beneath him didn't help, but he focused on keeping his balance, one step at a time.

The other recruits stopped to stare, whispering among themselves as Vulcan struggled to carry the massive rock across the field.

"Is he really going to carry that thing all the way across?" one recruit muttered.

"Looks like Garp's making him work extra hard," another said.

Vulcan didn't let their words distract him. He had something to prove—not just to Garp, but to himself. Every step was a challenge, but with each one, he grew more determined. His legs burned, his arms trembled, but he refused to stop.

By the time he reached the other side of the training field, his body was screaming in protest. But he wasn't done yet. Garp was waiting for him, arms crossed, that familiar grin still plastered on his face.

"Not bad," Garp said. "Now go back and get another one."

Vulcan stared at him, barely able to catch his breath. "Another one?"

"That's right! You've got to be tough if you want to be a Marine! Now get going!"

With a heavy sigh, Vulcan turned and made his way back across the field, his legs feeling like they were made of lead. The weight of the boulder pressed down on him, but he pushed through it, focusing on maintaining his balance and keeping his steps steady.

By the time he reached the pile of boulders again, sweat was pouring down his face, his muscles aching from the strain. But Garp wasn't going to let him stop there.

Building Toughness: Garp's Special Methods

Once Vulcan had finished carrying the boulders, Garp clapped him on the back—hard enough to nearly knock him off his feet. "Good work! But we're not done yet!"

Vulcan, still panting from the exertion, looked up at his grandfather. "What now?"

Garp's grin grew wider. "Now, we're going to work on your toughness. A Marine needs to be tough in body and mind. You've got the strength, but you need to learn how to take a hit."

Before Vulcan could respond, Garp picked up a nearby cannonball—this one small enough to fit in his hand but still heavy—and tossed it to Vulcan. "Catch!"

Vulcan caught the cannonball, though the weight nearly made him drop it. "What do you want me to do with this?"

"Simple," Garp said, his voice brimming with amusement. "You're going to hold that cannonball over your head… and dodge these!"

Without warning, Garp pulled out a large slingshot from seemingly nowhere and loaded it with a watermelon-sized rock. Before Vulcan had time to react, Garp launched the rock toward him with a loud twang.

"Dodge!"

Vulcan's reflexes kicked in, and he leaped to the side just in time to avoid the flying rock. But as soon as he landed, Garp was already loading another one.

"Hold the cannonball up!" Garp barked. "If you drop it, we start over!"

Vulcan gritted his teeth, lifting the heavy cannonball over his head with both hands as Garp launched another rock at him. He jumped again, barely managing to dodge the incoming projectile while keeping the cannonball in place.

For the next half hour, Vulcan dodged rock after rock, his arms burning from holding the cannonball up and his legs aching from the constant movement. Garp's laughter echoed across the training field as Vulcan struggled to keep up.

"Come on, brat! You can't let a little rock stop you! Keep moving!"

By the time Garp finally stopped, Vulcan was drenched in sweat, his arms trembling from the effort of holding the cannonball up for so long. He dropped the heavy object to the ground, gasping for air as he collapsed to his knees.

But Garp wasn't finished yet.

The Final Test of the Day: Endurance

"Good work so far, brat," Garp said, his tone as casual as if they'd been taking a leisurely stroll. "But now we're going to work on your endurance. A strong Marine needs to be able to keep going, no matter how tired they are."

Vulcan groaned, still catching his breath. "What… do I have to do?"

Garp pointed to a mountain in the distance, its steep slopes covered in thick jungle. "See that mountain over there? You're going to run to the top and back."

Vulcan's eyes widened. "What? That'll take hours!"

"Exactly!" Garp said with a grin. "And if you don't make it back by sunset, you're doing it again tomorrow!"

Vulcan wanted to argue, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. With a heavy sigh, he wiped the sweat from his face and started running toward the mountain, his legs feeling like they were made of stone. The sun was high in the sky, and the heat only made the task more grueling, but Vulcan pushed forward.

The climb up the mountain was brutal. The path was steep and covered in thick roots and vines, making every step a struggle. Several times, Vulcan nearly lost his footing, but he caught himself each time, refusing to fall. His lungs burned, his muscles screamed for rest, but he kept going, one step at a time.

By the time he reached the top, the sun had begun to sink lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. Vulcan barely had time to catch his breath before he turned and began the treacherous descent.

The End of the Day

When Vulcan finally made it back to the training grounds, the sun had almost set. He collapsed onto the ground, his entire body aching, but a sense of satisfaction washed over him. He had made it. He had survived Garp's training—at least for the day.

Garp walked over to him, arms crossed, a look of approval on his face. "Not bad, brat. You're tougher than you look."

Vulcan didn't have the energy to respond. He just lay there, staring up at the sky, his body exhausted but his spirit unbroken.

"You did well today," Garp said, his voice softer now. "But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow, we start again."

Vulcan closed his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. As grueling as the training had been, he couldn't deny the sense of pride he felt. He was getting stronger. Slowly but surely, he was building the foundation he needed to become a true Marine.