AN:
Yo. This chapter will be told in first person POV because I want to drive into mc's mind.
It is my first time writing so you can correct me as you please.
Enjoy the story.
*****
I stood there in the middle of the arena. My eyes fixed on the man. Scared and lost. I can feel his sadness. All of his efforts were crumbled.
His strength, his speed all of that, I took it away.
Eyes around us, he must have known that he lost to a kid. I can't blame him. I can't blame anyone.
His eyes looked upon mine. I faced him with a stone-cold face as I usually put on.
Another one. I thought. My memories of being an agent echoed through this moment. The moment I displayed my strength.
They all crumbled. Personal attachment was a weakness. I defeated many talents in the order of higher person.
Through that, I got my job. A terrible job where I became a dog.
But all of that was dreams for me now. At least that is what I thought. I thought I have escaped from those orders.
Now I am repeating that same circle. Will I be the dog of the Navy? I questioned myself for the first time. I searched thoroughly inside my soul.
I can't find anything. I will be a good navy that will protect others. I will not question from the higher up. I may even become the admiral.
I can see the path. But it bothers me.
Through a split second, my world crumbled like the man in front of me.
I knew it. I am changing. Every time I reached a certain strength. I become free. I become attached to freedom. A tiny bit of freedom.
I have no morals. I knew that very well because I killed women and children.
Now, I am feeling empathy for the man I just met. I clinched to that feeling.
I don't want to lose myself anymore. I want to be free. I wanted to see my full potential.
I snapped.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
I laughed inwardly. I lifted my hand and prepared to throw a fatal blow at the man in front of me. At that moment, I knew that I will be free from the chain I put on myself.
The pressure weight on me. It felt like I was carrying a heavy weight. Standing in front of the king, I fought the pressure with my will.
I don't want to go back anymore. I have chosen freedom.
But I can't fight right now. I dropped to my knees on the floor. I used my left hand to support my body.
I looked up to the shadow that surround my body. It was a giant shadow. I saw a familiar face. I smiled.
It was Garp, the legendary hero. I heard all about him from my old man, my parents even random kids on the street. He was a God-like figure here.
Garp smiled. It was a devious smile. I coughed bearly holding onto my breath.
He punched me in the head.
" Ahh. "
The pressure immediately dropped and I can now stop the effort. My hand reached my head almost instantly.
" It hurt. " I can't describe the pain. From what I see he just put a small force into that punch. It was scary.
After a few seconds, I got up with a bump on the head. I don't look at Garp because I know if I look at him another punch will come.
Instead, my eyes landed on the man walking from the arena. I yelled. " Sorry. "
He didn't look back but that was enough.
***
The sea roared beside the shore. I was walking through the dead shipward. I never see this scene before.
Many pieces of navy ships scattered across the shore. I kicked the piece of wood for fun. It flew to the sea.
I nodded in satisfaction. I can beat a hundred of me from previous lives. That is a good thing.
" Come here. "
I heard a loud yell from the side. Without question, I walked in that direction.
I arrived. In front of me were two massive ships. Their fronts were being carved inside.
Dried blood around the two ships but from the smell, I can tell they are fresh at least it was bleeding from yesterday.
" What is that? " I asked.
Garp sitting on the rock nodded. He said in a loud voice. " Punch it. "
What! I almost said out loud. After thinking about this I can see that. This place must be his training ground.
I walked over to the ship and throw a punch.
It didn't budge but my hand hurt. I turned around, and Garp happily eating a rice cracker.
I punched again. I don't want to hurt myself but what can I do?
I punched.
I never knew my limit. The old man always stopped me from hurting myself. He beat me to dead but he never ordered me to hurt myself.
I don't see I can get stronger just but repeatedly punching the hard surface. Maybe my punch will have great force. I don't know. I don't dare to ask.
So I punched.
As time passed, my fist got faster. It was not because of an increase in strength or any other bullshit power-up.
Blood dripping from my hand, flesh torn apart, I can see white bone from my knuckles. Despite all that I continued to punch.
I laughed. I don't know why. Why? Why?
' I don't want to live. ' I finally admitted. ' I don't want to live anymore. '
My mind, my fragile mind broke. I don't want to see those visions and dreams anymore. I don't have the will to live.
But my other part held on like I always do. He held onto it like I don't have another reason to give up.
I can't wash my past just because I am in a different world. I need to face it to make a. change.
My hand stopped. I am losing too much blood.
" Are you done? "
I turned around and smiled. " No. "
I will change and take a bright path for myself.
I will leave this island.
I fall unconscious.