CHAPTER 13

East Blue, Mid-Sea.

Ares suddenly stopped and stared at the sea below him. Ares frowned, " This energy…." When Ares arrived in this area, Ares suddenly felt a strange energy emanating from the depths of the sea 50 meters through his Observation Haki. Ares immediately used his ability and pulled the strange energy he felt out of the sea.

What Ares pulled out was a small closed box. Ares frowned while using his strength to force open the box. The wooden box opened directly and revealed a strangely shaped fruit inside. The fruit is shaped like a small melon with a red color with the outer skin pattern shaped like a fire.

"Demon fruit? Moreover, looking at its shape, this is the Mera-Mera No Mi devil fruit. Hmmmm…. This is quite strange. Shouldn't this devil fruit be obtained by Ace on an island when he was stranded? Or is it possible that at this time this fruit is still on its way to the island? Hee… Forget it. Thought also would not get an answer. By the way, since I got this fruit, it's better to give it directly to Ace. So that he can train this devil fruit from now on... However, I don't know if Ace will accept the power of this devil fruit. Especially with his character, he would probably reject it and prefer to use his own strength. Well, whatever answer he gives, I can keep it if he doesn't want it and sell it at some point"

Ares immediately stored the Mera-Mera No Mi devil fruit into his storage room and returned to fly further because in this region the number of marine species is still very small. About a five-minute flight, Ares found a location where a wide variety of marine species congregate with each fish quite large. Ares immediately used the power of his devil fruit by compressing the space around the location of the fish and lifting it up along with the sea.

The cube-shaped ocean finally lifted into the sky. The number of marine species contained in the cube is very large and enough for many people to eat together. Ares then proceeded to remove all the seawater that was in the space cube and left only various types of marine species.

"Lunch is finally here. Let's go back and ask the Chef under Garp-san to cook all these fish."

Ares did not store the marine materials into the storage room but still left them outside with him flying towards Dawn Island to be more precise to the pier.

A few minutes of flight, Ares finally arrived at Vice Admiral Garp's Navy ship. Ares' arrival was immediately greeted by Bogart who knew of his arrival through his Observation Haki.

"Do you need Chef's help to cook the marine species you caught, Ares-kun?" Bogart asked directly while looking at the number of marine species that Ares caught floating on the boat.

"Un…" Ares nodded, "Can the ship's chef help to prepare lunch using these ingredients?"

"No problem. Little things like that can be done." Bogart nodded and immediately accepted.

"Thank you. Later, you can also use these ingredients that I captured as Marines' lunch. But, please spare half of it. Because I will give it to Ace and Luffy. They are currently in training under my guidance. They currently really need energy to be able to help their training results"

"I see." Bogart nodded.

"Where do I need to put it?" Ares asked while glancing around.

"Please wait a moment, Ares-kun. I'll go pick up a place to put it."

"Un.."

Bogart immediately turned and left. It didn't take long for him to return with two Marines carrying a large bucket.

"Please put it here, Ares-kun"

"Un…" Ares nodded and immediately put all the marine species caught by him into the bucket below the Marines.

"Then, Bogart-san. I'm back first. I'll be keeping an eye on how the two guys' training progresses. Later, please call me when the food is ready."

"I see"

Ares again used his powers and flew away from Vice Admiral Garp's Naval Battleship and went to oversee the training progress of Luffy and Ace.

"You guys go downstairs to the kitchen and tell the chef to cook this whole dish. We will eat half of the dish while the other half will be set aside for Ares and the others" Bogart gave his order immediately.

"We understand, Rear Admiral Bogart!" The Marines paid their respects and immediately left with a large number of marine species feeling happy because they knew that this afternoon they would definitely have a feast.

After the two Marines left, Bogart returned to his room, changed his clothes and went to the deck of the ship to start training to improve his abilities.

********

Some time passed.

"Ha…. Ha…. Ha…." Ace and Luffy were lying on the beach with their whole bodies covered in sweat even the clothes they were currently wearing were soaked with sweat from their bodies.

"Good job, you two. It's really amazing for the two of you to be able to complete the task I gave you." Ares slowly descended from the sky while clapping for the success that the two of them did. Ares then took out two bottles of mineral water and immediately threw it at the two of them, "You can drink it"

"Water!" Luffy quickly grabbed his and drank at full speed like someone who hasn't had a drink in days. Ace also performs the same action as Luffy.

"Thank you, Ares" Luffy and Ace immediately thanked them after drinking the water.

"You're welcome" Ares smiled and suddenly looked at Ace, "Ace, I happened to be gathering ingredients for our lunch today. I found a devil fruit."

"Demon fruit?" Ace and Luffy were shocked to hear this then Luffy immediately stood up and asked, "What devil fruit Ares? Is it the same as mine?"

Ares shook his head and said, "No, Luffy. The devil fruit that I found was a Logia-type devil fruit, the Mera-Mera No Mi. This devil fruit allows the user to release fire abilities. Unlike yours, Luffy is a Paramencia type. This Logia-type devil fruit will turn the person's body into elemental. Like this Mera-Mera No Mi devil fruit that I found. If someone eats this devil fruit, that person will not be hit with just a normal punch but the person must be hit using Haki abilities. Well, one could say this type of devil fruit if one eats it one is invincible in the first lung of the Grand Land."

"Wow! Extraordinary…." Luffy exclaimed excitedly.

Ares's gaze then looked at Ace, "Do you want it, Ace? Luffy and I are already devil fruit eaters. We can no longer eat devil fruit because each person can only eat one devil fruit. If a user eats a devil fruit a second time, that person will explode immediately."

"Come on, accept Ace. That way, the three of us will become devil fruit users and your strength will also increase" Luffy said happily. Luffy himself really doesn't want his strength to be weaker than Ace. However, Luffy is also very happy for Ace to be strong. After all, Ace is his brother. Whatever Ace received, Luffy would be very happy.

"No" Ace shook his head and said "You can keep it, Ares"

"Why, Ace?" Luffy asked confusedly.

"I don't want to rely on outside skills. I want to rely on my own ability to be strong" Ace said with determination and enthusiasm.

"Oh? So, do you want to become strong just by using Haki abilities? Just like Garp-san?"

"Um…" Ace nodded even if he didn't want to be compared to Garp.

"Ok. If so, I'll keep it. If you really want this fruit, I'll give it to you when you want."

"Um…" Ace just nodded and didn't answer any further.

*Hungry*

Suddenly there was a stomach sound asking for food from Luffy. Luffy's body instantly became very weak and said, "Ares… Hungry. Where's our food?" Luffy said tiredly.

Ares chuckled softly and immediately waved his hand and instantly a large amount of seafood immediately appeared in front of Ace and Luffy, "Here is your food. You eat to your heart's content. Because after this, we will start training to awaken Haki—"

"Meat!" Luffy immediately rose from his position and sat in front of a pile of food and immediately ate very quickly.

"Unlucky! Luffy, leave it for me too" Ace also didn't wait long and sat beside Luffy and ate at full speed.

The food that was previously piled up slowly began to run out only the two of them consumed. While waiting for the two to finish eating, Ares also took out his food and slowly ate leisurely until suddenly a hand grabbed the food on his plate.

"What?!" Ares was surprised and looked to the side to see Luffy who stole his food, "Luffy! bastard! Why did you take my food?!" Ares shouted loudly and suddenly appeared behind Luffy while his fist was ready with Armament Haki coated in his hand.

*BOOM!*

"Sick!" Luffy immediately screamed in pain after feeling the hit from Ares again. Ace who was beside Luffy was sweating seeing Ares who hit Luffy for taking his food.

"Hmph! Remember, if you do that again. You'll get it back." Ares sniffed in a disgruntled tone.

"I-I'm sorry" Luffy said in a frightened tone.

"Okay. You continue eating. We will start awakening both of your King's Haki first and then we will practice awakening the Observation Haki that both of you have."

Ares immediately walked back by taking some of the fish that Ace and Luffy ate and continued eating again while Luffy and Ace also returned to eating at full speed.

Finally, after a big meal, the two of them finished all the food that was served to the two of them. The food they eat is quickly processed by their bodies. Ares also finished eating at the same time as the two of them while Ares put away the table and seat used by him.

"Okay. We will start training to awaken the King's Haki. Remember, you guys prepare yourselves. I will release my King's Haki to you guys. You two have to fight. And if you feel there is an aura that wants to come out of your body. Don't hold it in but let it all out. Do you understand?"

"We understand" Ace and Luffy nodded in unison and immediately prepared themselves.

"Okay. Then I start…" Ares took a deep breath and suddenly a tyrannical aura emanated from Ares' body. Ares immediately released his King Haki aura by targeting Ace and Luffy. Ace and Luffy who felt this King's Haki feeling felt a very strong pressure from Ares.

" Is this King's Haki?..." Ace muttered in his heart.

Ares continued to emit his Raja Haki aura until suddenly Ace felt something want to come out of his body. Ace followed Ares' words and didn't hold back and immediately let go at once.

*BOOM!*

Ace's aura of Raja's Haki suddenly came out and tried to fight Ares's Raja's Haki. Garp and Bogart who were having lunch suddenly stopped their activities and immediately glanced at the coastal location where Ares and the others were training.

"This… King's Haki Collision" Bogart said in a surprised tone.

"Hahahahahaha….. As expected of my Grandson" Unlike Bogart, Garp immediately laughed happily because one of his grandsons had awakened King's Haki even if it wasn't fully mastered yet.

The King's Haki collision between Ace and Ares only lasted a few seconds and then disappeared. Luffy who was beside Ace was very surprised and immediately excited, "Wow! Ace. You did it! You have successfully awakened your King's Haki."

"Wow, I didn't think you could resurrect him on the first try, Ace. Have you resurrected it before?" Ares asked. Actually Ares knows the answer, but he'd better ask to make it easier in the future.

"Um…" Ace nodded and went, "Three years ago. It was my first time using King's Haki. But that time was the same as now. I can't control it."

"Oh? Three years ago. Not too long ago. Well, since you've used this Haki once before, it's easier to stimulate it. Unlike people who have never used it at all. It will take several times of stimulation for his King's Haki to awaken" Ares said casually.

"Hey, hey. Ares. Do you think I do have King's Haki? Why can't I resurrect him?" Luffy suddenly asked.

"You must have it, Luffy. It's just that, you may have used this Haki indirectly. Therefore, you need some stimulus to awaken it." Ares tried to persuade him.

"Really?"

"Hee~ Maybe you don't have it, Luffy" Ace suddenly from the side directly mocked him.

"Shut up! Ace! I definitely have it. Ares already said it, right? I just need a stimulus to wake him up" Luffy said excitedly and firmly.

"Oh? Really?" Ace couldn't believe it.

"Unlucky!" Luffy immediately became sullen while Ace ignored him and looked at Ares, "Ares, how do you know that someone can have King's Haki? Didn't you say before that this King's Haki is innate?" Ace asked curiously.

"It's actually pretty easy to figure that out, Ace. You just need to see the determination that someone has. Whether the person's determination is strong or not. Just like you and Luffy who have a strong determination to become pirates even with Garp-san who always beats you both and destroys you both, your determination is still there. It is one of the characteristics of people born with King's Haki. Has a very strong determination beyond people born "

"Hehehe~ Listen, Ace. Ares said that I have King's Haki." Luffy had forgotten the taunts from Ace and said happily.

"Even if you have King's Haki, Luffy. I was the first to resurrect it." Ace said with a smirk.

"Unlucky! No problem, I will definitely resurrect him immediately!" Luffy said in an optimistic tone.

"Ok, let's move on to the next training. We will continue training to awaken both of you Observation Haki."

"Hey? Why don't we continue practicing King's Haki, Ares?" Luffy said in a sullen tone.

"Luffy, if you have awakened your King's Haki and are able to use it freely, we can train it now. However, in the case of you and Ace now, both of you still can't control this Haki and still need a stimulus to awaken it. We can only do it once a day because using it twice a day won't get any results until you can control it freely."

"I understand" Luffy nodded.

"Alright, let's start training to awaken Observation Haki" Ares immediately took out two black cloths and handed them to the two of them, "You guys use that to cover your eyes"

"Close our eyes?" Ace and Luffy looked confused.

"Observation Haki itself is an ability that can sense the presence of others without using the eyes or it can be said that someone who uses Observation Haki can sense the presence of the enemy using his sixth sense. This trainer will allow you to awaken a sixth sense that can help you sense the presence of the enemy without even seeing them at all."

"I see." Ace and Luffy nodded.

"In this training, I will throw you stones with you having to dodge them with your eyes closed." Ares paused for a moment and smiled looking at Ace and Luffy. Luffy and Ace who saw Ares's smile knew something was wrong, "Well, I hope you guys can dodge the stones I throw. Because I'm not going to spoil you guys. Every stone I will throw will be coated with Armament Haki. So, you must know the impact you will receive if you don't dodge properly."

*Swallows* Ace and Luffy finally understood the nervous feeling they felt seeing Ares smile.

"Hahahahaha…. Have you started practicing Observation Haki? interesting. In that case, let this old man come too." Garp suddenly appeared above the cliff with a happy feeling.

"What?!" Luffy and Ace immediately screamed in fear. Ares had enough of destroying them both, especially now with Garp?

"Oh? Interesting. Garp-san, do you want to come too? Then, I invite you." Ares immediately took out a large number of egg-sized stones from his bracelet that formed a mountain, "The training of the two of you will be finished once we finish all of these stones. So cheer up!"

Ace and Luffy's faces immediately showed fear. The two of them even had plans to leave the place to hide. However, the two suddenly remembered that the possibility of them hiding right now was impossible since Garp and Ares could find them using Observation Haki.

During the day until close to night, Ace and Luffy's screams were heard loudly on the coast. Because of the screams the two of them uttered, the villagers and the Marines came and started watching Ares and Garp play both.

The two of them finished their training at 17.00 in the afternoon. Ace and Luffy's entire bodies are currently covered in bruises from the training they both received. The villagers and the Marines who saw the two lying on the shore felt pity while Garp and Ares smiled in satisfaction.

"Garp-san, Ares-kun. Is it okay to train the two of them like this?" Makino asked worriedly.

"Hahahaha… Don't worry, Makino. The wounds they suffered were not great. Just need some rest for the two little demons to recover." Garp said calmly and left the scene.

"Just as Garp-san said, Makino-san. Don't worry. Garp-san and I held back time training them. The wounds they suffered were only minor injuries. They just need a night's rest for them to recover." Ares said casually.

"B-but…"

"Makino-san. I know you are worried about them. However, they must go through this if they want to become a Pirate. Because when they become Pirates there is only life and death. What they went through was to become stronger so that they could survive at sea. Please understand"

"I see." Makino nodded and immediately understood Ares' explanation.

Ares gave a small smile and turned his attention back to Ace and Luffy, "Hey, you two. Hurry up or you won't get your dinner."

"What?!" Luffy and Ace who were asleep suddenly woke up. However upon awakening, both of them felt a feeling of pain all over their bodies.

"Sick!" Ace and Luffy said shakily.

"Ace, Luffy" Makino tried to approach but was immediately blocked by Ares.

"Don't spoil them too much, Makino-san. Their ideals are dangerous for them. I already said it, didn't I? If they were going to sea to become Pirates, they could only choose to live or die. What they went through was an easy thing" Ares said seriously.

"Um…" Makino nodded back and slowly let go of her fear.

Ares walked up to the two of them and said, "How? Does it hurt? Do you guys want to stop? Or do you want to continue? Because if you want to stop, you better stop—"

"Impossible!" Luffy suddenly shouted loudly, "I will continue. I will definitely become stronger"

"Me, too. I continue. There's no way I can stop" Ace also said with determination.

"Good, That's how one's determination should be to possess King's Haki. Ok, after dinner, you guys go straight back home to rest. We will resume training tomorrow morning at the same time. Remember not to be late. Otherwise, Garp-san will wake you up again."

"W-we understand" Ace and Luffy nodded in fear

*Hungry*

Suddenly both of their stomachs rumbled which made both of their bodies go limp.

"A-ares, I'm hungry" Luffy said in a tired tone and also seemed to have no energy at all.

"Me too" Ace also said tiredly.

Makino and Ares just smiled at the siblings while Ares waved his hand and suddenly a large amount of food appeared in front of Luffy and Ace, "This is your dinner. You spent it all."

"Meat!" Luffy's fatigue immediately disappeared, Luffy immediately rose from his position and immediately ate quickly. Ace is also the same as Luffy, he doesn't want Luffy to eat it all.

"Makino-san, is your bar still open? I want to try some of the food there"

"Didn't Ares-kun eat dinner yet? How about we just eat at my house? I'll cook the menu at the bar later, how about it?"

"No problem. Then, let's go."

Ares and Makino immediately turned around leaving Luffy and Ace who were eating at full speed like they hadn't eaten in days.

******

Some time passed.

"Have you made your choice, Ace?" Just like yesterday, Ares who was lying on the beach was visited by Ace who after Ace finished cleaning his body.

"Um…" Ace stopped right beside Ares and said, "I've decided to remain a pirate. However, not a pirate as you think. I want to be an adventurous pirate. I will never kill innocent civilians, I will not rape innocent women, and I will not steal from the common people."

"Pirate, huh?" Ares mumbled but his face had a smile on his face, "If that's your choice. I will always support the choice you choose."

"Thank you" Ace smiled.

"Okay. You come back and rest. You have spent a lot of energy in today's training. If you don't rest now, chances are you'll have a hard time waking up tomorrow. I don't want to use Garp-san to wake the two of you up"

"I understand" Ace nodded and turned to leave Ares alone on the beach while looking up at the expanse of sky, " Still with the same choice, eh? Is it possible that the future will change? Is the big war still going to happen? Ace, I hope you don't get caught in the future. Otherwise, maybe the Marine Headquarters will be destroyed due to holding back my anger. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Enough of a ruined World Government" Ares thought in his heart and suddenly sat down then lay down and started humming a song composed by him.