Chapter 57: Roger Last Apprentice

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The forest was silent as the morning sun shone, casting light on Roger's face as he turned his back to Arashi. 

Arashi stood still, momentarily speechless. After three days and nights of intense battle, Roger had dominated the fight almost entirely. 

It was only due to his illness that his condition had sharply declined moments ago. 

Yet now, this man, Roger, wanted to teach him swordsmanship?

"Or, you could just arrest me right now," Roger said with a smile. 

"That would be a very simple task for you." Roger stretched out his arms as if ready to surrender as he spoke. 

Despite being in such a weakened state, with capture seemingly inevitable, Roger remained smiling, completely unconcerned.

Arashi's eyes flickered as he thought deeply, trying to decipher Roger's intentions. 

A pirate offering to teach a Marine swordsmanship was indeed something unusual. 

Arashi had to admit that Roger—who had survived countless battles—possessed extraordinary combat experience and technique. 

The same power wielded by Roger and by him was two completely different things, especially Roger's swordsmanship, which was undeniably among the world's best.

After about three breaths, Arashi finally smiled. "Is this your way of buying time for yourself?" he asked. 

Roger grinned in return. "I don't have much time left. I just want to leave something behind in this world," he said, his eyes locking onto Arashi's. 

Then, with a serious tone, he continued, "Everyone alive has their moment to make an impact. 

Marine Arashi, I can glimpse your future—I hear what your heart calls out for. And this power will undoubtedly help you."

Arashi relaxed, a smile forming on his face. "All right, we have a deal!" he said. 

There was no denying his interest in Roger's swordsmanship, the culmination of a lifetime of learning. 

As for making a deal with a pirate? That didn't bother him at all.

"Thank you!" Roger, now pale-faced, breathed a sigh of relief. 

Even though he could easily crush Arashi in battle, his illness was his weakness, and once it flared up, he would be defeated. 

If he were to be captured now, it would be a great disservice to Rouge. 

He needed to leave something behind—a mark, a legacy, the sum of all he had learned. 

With the deal made, Arashi stayed on the island for now. 

The others—Crocodile, Bullet, Rosinante, T-Bone, and the others—kept the matter confidential. 

They fully supported their superior's decision, and Arashi entrusted them with keeping order in the South Blue, leaving them to handle the pirates there. 

From that day on, Arashi became Roger's apprentice, learning the art of the sword.

Roger's teaching began the very next day. His swordsmanship was completely different from Bogart's style. 

Roger taught Arashi with seriousness and attention to detail, starting from the basics. 

Arashi was relieved to discover that, aside from his proficiency in martial arts, he also had a natural talent for swordsmanship, learning quickly. 

He used a standard-issue Marine sword, which he rarely carried at his side.

"Swinging a sword is different from throwing a punch. It requires technique and understanding the surroundings, space, and world." 

"You must immerse yourself in your weapon, see the world through its perspective, and feel the universe's breath," Roger explained softly. 

Arashi nodded and diligently practiced, focusing on every detail—how to swing the sword, channel strength, maintain proper posture, and determine the angles of attack. 

He had learned these techniques before, but Roger's teachings emphasized the deeper meaning behind them.

Roger's lessons centered on the subtleties and the philosophy of swordsmanship. 

Arashi began to meditate daily, adjusting his breathing, which enhanced his perception of the environment, making everything feel clearer and more vivid.

"The sword is the embodiment of your will. Grasp it and wield it with that belief," Roger said. 

"Cut through everything before you, whether it's visible or invisible. When your mind is one with the blade, it will be cut if you want to cut something." 

"If you don't, it won't be severed even if the blade passes through. Once you reach that level, you will have succeeded."

Time passed quickly. Roger's teaching was thorough, and Arashi became confident that the Pirate King was holding nothing back. 

Roger seemed to see him as a successor, putting all his effort into training him in the limited time he had left.

Five months later, Arashi finally asked the question on his mind. 

"For me, this was just a deal to extend your freedom. But you're teaching me with everything you've got. Why?"

Roger stood up slowly, gazing at the sea, and grinned widely. "Arashi," he said, laughing. "I'm the King of the Pirates, after all!"

"What is a pirate?"

"A pirate is the freest person on the seas, and I am the King of those free men!"

"I do whatever I want, freely!"

Roger paused, then turned to Arashi.

"I've taught you my swordsmanship so that one day when you face the sea and strike with your sword at the world, it will mean…"

Roger grinned widely, "...that I'm still alive!"

"I will never die!"

Suddenly, he drew his sword, Ace, and pointed it toward the sky.

"And!"

"I heard your anger toward the world."

"I heard your fierce cry to change it."

"I can hear your restless heart constantly declaring how different you are from everyone else!"

Taking a deep breath, Roger fixed his intense gaze on Arashi.

"Kid! My time is running out. You are the gamble I'm placing before I die!"

His blunt words struck Arashi, who sat by the shore, causing his eyes to deepen in thought. 

He suddenly realized that the man before him could hear all things. 

Perhaps Roger had heard the voice in Arashi's heart, a voice so faint even Arashi himself couldn't hear it.

"There's something deeply wrong with this world," Roger said.

"I no longer have the chance to change it, but those who come after me are still young."

"You all have the potential!"

Roger walked over and sat beside Arashi, placing his sword, Ace, on the sand as the sea breeze blew across his face. 

With a smile, he said, "I'm retired now!"

Arashi fell silent. Over the months they had spent together, he had come to know Roger well and deeply respected him. 

Roger was free, bold, optimistic, generous, and captivating. It was hard not to trust him when he sat next to you. 

Roger was worthy of admiration, not just for his physical strength but also for his indomitable spirit and will.

"My time is running out," Roger said again.

"If you ever get the chance, please look after Rouge for me in the future."

He smiled as he made the request, and Arashi turned to look at the man beside him with his signature mustache.

"Do you have any regrets in life?" Arashi asked.

Roger paused for a moment and then burst out laughing.

"Regrets? When do we humans truly die?"

The question caught Arashi off guard. When do humans die? When do they stop breathing? No, that's not it. When the heart ceases to beat? 

That didn't seem right either. When the body is placed in a heavy coffin and buried beneath the earth amidst the tears of loved ones? 

Still, no! What is death, truly? In the next second, Roger looked up at the sky, still smiling, and gave his answer.

"When do people die?"

"When their heart is shot?"

"When they are hung on the execution platform?"

"When they succumb to an incurable illness?"

"When they lose hope, knowing their time is up, yet they haven't fulfilled their dreams?"

"No, none of that is correct!" Roger grinned.

"It's when the world forgets them!"

"So, you asked me if I have any regrets?" 

Roger turned his gaze to the courtyard behind them, where a woman named Rouge was walking toward them, holding a steaming bowl of soup.

"I have no regrets!"

"Because I will live forever!"

Roger stood up and walked toward Rouge, laughing along the way. 

When he took the bowl of soup, he cried out, saying it was hot, prompting Rouge to warn him to be careful. 

Arashi turned his head, watching the scene, suddenly lost in thought. What does it mean to die? What are regrets? 

Or perhaps… what does it mean to live? Is it simply the happiness of eating and drinking every day while waiting for death? 

Or is it fighting relentlessly for your dreams until the moment death arrives?

Maybe all of these are ways of living, as long as one follows their heart's desires and attains the freedom they seek.

"Arashi, come eat!" Rouge's laughter broke Arashi out of his deep thoughts. 

He shook his head, dispelling the unsolvable philosophical question, and smiled as he stood up and walked toward them.

For five months, Arashi had lived with Roger and Rouge. Crocodile Bullet and the others had even built him a courtyard next to the couple's home. 

Ivan and his crew would occasionally bring food supplies, and Rouge had naturally taken on the role of cooking.

"I've always been curious, Arashi, what do you do for a living? Are you married? There's a girl named Nina in the village; I could introduce her to you," 

Rouge teased during dinner. "Just don't end up like Roger, getting married so late. I was the only one who could stand him."

She didn't miss the chance to poke fun at Roger, who laughed sheepishly beside her.

"I'm in no rush," Arashi replied awkwardly, lowering his head to eat silently.

At first glance, Roger and Rouge were ordinary people living simple, peaceful lives like other common folk. 

Aside from learning swordsmanship, Arashi found these months to be some of the calmest in his life. 

Yet, deep down, he knew that this period of peace would eventually come to an end.

In the blink of an eye, almost a year had passed on Baterilla Island.

"This is the Divine Departure," Roger said softly, sheathing his sword.

When Roger finished speaking, he suddenly bent over and began coughing violently. 

When he slowly straightened up and removed his hand from his mouth, his palm was covered in bright red blood. 

Arashi turned to look at the blood in Roger's hand, his gaze tightening slightly. 

Over the past two months, Roger's health had been rapidly deteriorating. 

It was a visible weakness, as though some unseen force was quickly draining the life force within him. 

But despite this, when Roger faced the sea, he could still unleash slashes powerful enough to split everything in his path.

In front of them, a massive chasm extended endlessly, dividing the sea in two. 

Just moments ago, Roger had been teaching Arashi one of the few techniques he had mastered: "Divine Departure." 

This technique perfectly combined the power of Haoshoku Haki with his swordsmanship, resulting in a devastatingly powerful strike.

"This is all I can teach you," Roger said with a smile, paying no mind to the blood in his palm.

Arashi nodded. Suddenly, he swung his sword toward the sea with great force.

The powerful slash shattered everything in its path, splitting the vast ocean and revealing a deep, bottomless chasm.

At the same time, the words "Divine Departure" appeared on the system panel in front of him. 

This wasn't just the name of the move but the culmination of Roger's entire life of swordsmanship, condensed into one ultimate technique.

"Your talent is truly amazing," Roger said, nodding with satisfaction as he looked at the split sea before them.

"My time is short, and I didn't think I'd be able to teach you much."

Arashi remained silent, feeling a heavy weight settle on his heart.

"It's time!" Roger said softly.

He tightly gripped his sword, Ace, and raised it, pointing it at Arashi.

"This might be the last duel of my life!" he declared. "Let me see how much you've learned from me!"

Arashi stayed silent and motionless.

"Hesitation and doubt won't move you forward, and indecision is your greatest obstacle!" 

Roger said, smiling. "You understand that much, right?"

Roger's face was pale, and as the sea breeze blew, he seemed as fragile as a willow in the wind, ready to fall at any moment. 

Hearing Roger's words, Arashi took a deep breath, slowly raised his sword, and aimed it at Roger.

"I don't have the stamina for a long fight," Roger said with a grin. 

"So let's end this with what you've learned over this past year of sword training!"

"All right," Arashi nodded.

In the next moment, a brilliant light exploded along the coast of Baterilla Island. 

The waves receded, and time seemed to freeze for several breaths.

"Divine Departure!"

The same voice and technique echoed between the heavens and the earth. 

The ocean burst apart, creating a torrential downpour of rain, waves crashing and roaring around them.

With a soft "thud," a figure collapsed to the ground, and the sword in their hand fell with it.

"You've mastered it, Arashi," Roger said.

Arashi stood silently, gazing down at the man sitting on the ground, blood streaming from his body.

With a sudden "crack," Arashi's sword shattered into countless fragments, scattering into the wind.

After a long while, Arashi suddenly smiled.

"I won't die either!"

Roger burst into laughter.

"That's right!" he said. "I won't die!"

He struggled to his feet once again.

"Let me say goodbye to a few old friends and loved ones," he said softly.

Arashi nodded, his expression complicated. He knew that a great new era was about to begin. 

The old age was ending, and a new one was dawning. As the old generation passed away, the new generation would rise. 

The gears of time were beginning to turn.

That afternoon, Roger said his farewell to Portgas D. Rouge. He didn't tell her much, only that he needed to go out for a while. 

Rouge smiled at him, as she always did, without stopping him, only gently saying, "Remember to come back soon."

Arashi stood quietly outside, watching. 

He saw the couple embrace, saw Roger gently stroke his wife's face, and then kneel to listen to the heartbeat from her belly. 

Hearing the sound, he laughed with joy.

A long time passed before Roger finally turned and left. They both heard soft sobbing from behind as he walked out of the courtyard.

When they boarded the Marine ship, Bullet, Crocodile, and the others were shocked because they saw the handcuffs on Roger's wrists. They knew all too well what that meant.

Arashi didn't say much. He only asked them not to spread the news just yet. Then, with a heavy and serious expression, he turned to Roger.

"She's pregnant," Arashi said.

Roger smiled, gazing at him with unprecedented seriousness.

"Then I'm counting on you, Arashi!"

Arashi frowned and sighed.

"This is going to be a troublesome task."

But Roger didn't mind at all and grinned broadly.

"I'm giving you Ace!"

Arashi's headache worsened as he glanced down at the sword named Ace strapped to his waist.

<End Chapter>

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