Chapter 26: Arashi vs Shanks, Buggy, Bullet

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Under Garp's guidance, Arashi quickly mastered throwing cannonballs by hand. 

The key to this technique lay in a unique way of exerting force, a signature move of Garp's that would be difficult to learn without direct teaching. 

The two stood at the ship's bow, continuously hurling cannonballs forward. 

Even from this simple act, it was clear how absurdly strong Garp was—he could throw a cannonball two kilometres with incredible speed.

"Don't let them get away, Bogart!"

"Arashi, keep practising," Garp said, exhaling before pulling out a bag of doughnuts and munching away. 

Arashi treated this cannonball-throwing as a form of training, quickly realizing that it greatly improved his arm strength and control over his power. 

After coming back from the brink of death, Arashi's overall physical abilities had improved, but mastering the finer details of strength control required constant practice.

.....

Days passed as the pirate ship led the way, and the Marine battleship followed. 

The distance between them would sometimes widen, only to quickly close again. 

What unfolded was a chase that spanned days, pitting the future Pirate King against the Marine Hero.

"That kid is infuriating!"

"He keeps throwing cannonballs at us!"

"The Haki coming off him is incredibly strong, almost as intense as the captain's."

"He might be our future enemy!"

Aboard the Oro Jackson, Shanks and Buggy leaned over the railing, glaring at the young Marine who kept throwing cannonballs at them. 

The projectiles exploded in mid-air, harmlessly deflected by the crew, leaving the ship unaffected. This routine had continued for days. 

The relentless young Marine, tossing cannonballs day and night—even in his sleep—had left a lasting impression on the entire Roger Pirates crew.

"He's been at it for five days straight. That's insane!"

"At night, he only sleeps for two hours!" Buggy said through gritted teeth, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

"How do you know that?" Shanks asked in surprise.

"I've been watching him the whole time!" Buggy replied. 

Shanks sighed and looked at his friend. "You're a monster too."

The chase continued, with the vice-captain and other crew members occasionally slicing at the pursuing Marines and Garp launching impossibly long-range punches at the Oro Jackson. 

But the most consistent attack came from the black-haired young Marine's endless barrage of cannonballs. 

Even Captain Roger couldn't help but wonder how many cannonballs Garp's ship had stocked.

The chase dragged on for half a month, leaving the Roger Pirates exhausted.

"Garp is a complete madman!" Jabba grumbled through clenched teeth. 

Rayleigh's gaze was equally sharp, and the other crew members could barely contain their anger anymore.

"Roger!" Barrett roared, his patience finally snapping. 

The constant cannonball attacks from the young Marine had pushed him to the brink, especially since he intercepted most of them.

Roger turned to his crew and suddenly smiled. "I understand how you all feel. There's an uninhabited island ahead." 

"Let's head there and have a showdown with Garp!" His words ignited a fire in the crew, and they roared in agreement. 

Meanwhile, on the Marine battleship:

"Hurry up and get back here, Garp!"

"We've got a mountain of work to do, pirates causing chaos everywhere, and you're still fixated on Roger!"

"Do you realize how many crucial military operations you've delayed?" 

Sengoku's furious voice rang out from the Den Den Mushi.

Garp casually picked at his ear and flicked away the wax. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll come back once I catch Roger."

"Damn you!" Sengoku cursed.

Suddenly, the casual expression on Garp's face vanished, replaced by excitement. 

"They've landed!"

"It looks like they're planning to fight with us!"

"I'm done talking, Sengoku!" Garp tossed the Den Den Mushi to Arashi.

"Hello!" Sengoku's shout came through the receiver.

"Vice Admiral Garp is busy. He'll get back to you later," Arashi calmly replied before expertly hanging up. 

This kind of conversation had happened many times recently, so he was used to it. Slowly, he raised his head and looked toward the island ahead.

After half a month, the anticipation and tension surrounding the ongoing chase had dulled into a routine. 

The long-awaited battle was finally at hand, and the outcome was no longer the focus for everyone involved. 

Arashi turned his head to see Kuzan fully armed, Sakazuki standing firm, and the other officers ready for action.

Taking a deep breath, his eyes sharpened with determination.

"It's time," he thought, "to measure the gap between myself and the strongest in the world!"

The Marine battleship approached the island's shore at high speed.

"Do not fear! Do not panic!" Garp's voice rang out with unexpected intensity, rallying the troops. 

"Pride is the greatest obstacle to survival, but fear is the quickest path to death!" 

"Even when facing the strongest in the world, stand tall, lift your weapons, and confront them head-on!"

It was almost unimaginable that Garp, of all people, would deliver such a morale-boosting speech. 

Arashi glanced around at the officers, seeing the spark in their eyes and the excitement in their demeanour. 

It was clear that Garp's words had worked; everyone's spirits were soaring.

"Charge!" Garp bellowed.

The next moment, the Marines leapt from the ship like a flood, shouting as they charged onto the island. 

Arashi led the way, his eyes alight with determination.

'Pirate King Roger!'

'Dark King Rayleigh!'

'Let me see your strength!'

His heart raced as he mentally shouted these names, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

"That guy!" Sakazuki gritted his teeth, realizing that despite his full-speed run, Arashi was still faster. Kuzan, on the other hand, was laughing.

"The Marines are fired up!" he said.

"And so are we!" Roger responded, slowly rising from a stone under a coconut tree, drawing his long sword, and laughing heartily.

"Roar!" The rest of the crew echoed his shout with their own.

"Leave that kid to us!" Shanks and Buggy shouted, their eyes locked on Arashi as they sprinted toward him. 

Following them was Douglas Barrett, silent and cold-eyed.

The two groups rapidly closed the distance on the beach, their combined momentum shaking the earth. In the blink of an eye, they were face to face.

The first thing Arashi saw were two kids, around eleven or twelve years old—one with a red nose and the other with red hair.

"Die, Marine!" Buggy yelled.

"Get lost! You two brats aren't my opponents!" Arashi shouted back.

In an instant, the three clashed. Arashi swung his fists and kicked out.

"Boom!" The two little brats, barely reaching his waist, were sent flying like cannonballs, their shouts cut off mid-sentence.

Then, Arashi found himself facing Douglas Barrett's cold gaze. 

Barrett suddenly bent his legs and leapt high into the air, black and red lightning crackling around his fist.

"Name yourself, Marine brat!" Barrett roared, his fist clenched, an invisible aura of power radiating from him.

"Arashi!" Arashi replied, diving down from above, his fists crackling. The sky behind him darkened, and a violent energy surged forth.

"All right, Arashi, I won't let you off easy!" Barrett snarled, leaping up to meet him, his fist swinging forward.

Lightning streaked through the sky as they collided in an instant.

"Iron Fist!" Arashi shouted. 

Black and red lightning erupted, and Barrett's pupils shrank as his body went rigid, taking the full force of the punch.

A cracking sound echoed from within his body as he plummeted like a meteor, smashing into the earth with a tremendous crash.

Behind them, Roger, Rayleigh, and the entire crew flinched, their pupils dilating as they stared at the young black-haired Marine who now stood over the massive crater left by Barrett's fall.

A knockout! Barrett, who was by no means weak, had been defeated in a single blow!

<End Chapter>

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