Chapter 20: Learn It in One Look, Send the Master Flying with One Punch!
In an instant.
Garp only saw a black shadow flash before his eyes like purple lightning. A fierce gust of wind howled toward his face, the sound so loud it seemed like an enraged beast baring its fangs and claws.
Ian? How is he so fast? Did this kid really learn Soru just by watching it once?
He had told his disciple not to use Haki, so Garp naturally followed the same rule. Without using his Observation Haki, he could only rely on the combat instincts accumulated over the years, subconsciously stepping back and raising his arms to block in front of him.
Judging by the airwave fluctuations, Ian's attack was similar to his own earlier—a left-handed strike aimed at his face.
What a competitive kid! Trying to pay me back in the same way? But... you're still a bit green! Your intention is too obvious.
What Garp didn't know was that, without using Haki, Ian's level of control over the human body far exceeded his imagination.
Then, a shocking scene unfolded...
BOOM!
A powerful uppercut came from below like a ghost, striking Garp squarely on the chin and lifting his sturdy body off the ground.
"Urk!"
"This...!"
Garp's eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the young man who had suddenly appeared before him.
Could it be that in the blink of an eye... this kid was feinting an attack and deliberately misleading my defense? What nerve! What sharp reflexes!
BAM!
Garp flew backward and landed heavily in the sandpit, kicking up clouds of dust across the training ground.
Ian turned and slid to a stop, steadying himself.
Tsk, tsk, tsk, did I go a bit too far? he thought privately. Sending the master flying on the first day of training seems a bit abrupt.
But there was no helping it. Seeing how seriously Garp wanted to beat him up, it was really hard to resist the urge to strike back. The restriction on using Haki didn't apply to Ian at all; it was a constraint Garp had placed on himself. Ian's physical fitness, enhanced over the years by the Human-Human Fruit, had long surpassed normal human understanding. As a result, Garp had underestimated him again.
The moment Ian appeared beside Garp, under the precise scan of his super vision, the old man's entire body was full of openings.
Nami, watching from under the shade of the tree, felt a chill run down her spine.
"Wha—!!"
"Vice Admiral Garp... was sent flying?"
"This, this, this... Could it be that Commodore Ian's strength... surpasses that of our Vice Admiral?"
Nami didn't know much about true strength levels. In her mind, whoever sent their opponent flying was the stronger one. Judging solely by the current result, it was truly shocking.
...
The three observers outside the training ground were equally stunned.
Sengoku: "!!!"
Tsuru: "!!!"
Momousagi: "!!!"
It took the three of them a long moment to react and gradually regain their composure.
Momousagi leaned against the wire fence, staring in shock at the rising dust. "That was... the Six Powers' Soru just now, right? Isn't this Ian's first time learning it today? He learned it after just one viewing? What a terrifying learning speed!"
If it took half a day, or even an hour, to learn one of the Six Powers, that would still be within the normal range of talent. But to grasp it effortlessly after just one demonstration? There had never been such a genius at Headquarters!
"Tsuru, does Ian's file mention him mastering the Six Powers during his time in the East Blue?" Sengoku asked immediately.
Tsuru shook her head firmly. "It's not mentioned, and Ian has never left the East Blue. Within the East Blue, it's almost impossible to come into contact with the 'Six Powers.'"
This time, Chief of Staff Tsuru reached a conclusion even faster than Fleet Admiral Sengoku. There was no need to consider possibilities when the conditions to fulfill them didn't exist. The current situation only indicated that Ian's talent far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Sengoku wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and praised, "Even if he learned Soru after one viewing, the target of his attack... was that old guy Garp! Neither of them used Haki just now, right? So, Garp's reaction speed... couldn't keep up with Ian's movements? And in terms of physical strength... how could he be sent flying by a young man? It's incredible!"
The three of them were well aware of Garp's strength. No matter how much he underestimated his opponent, being beaten so easily was just too outrageous!
"The Human-Human Fruit... it seems it isn't completely useless! In terms of human body control and reaction speed, Ian surpasses most humans!" Tsuru once again provided a rational judgment and analysis.
The three exchanged glances and quickly walked toward the training ground entrance.
...
On the training ground.
Ian hurried over to the sandpit, pretending to be panicked. "Vice Admiral Garp, are you alright? Why didn't you dodge? I hope I didn't hurt you. It's all my fault for being too reckless!"
In the sandpit, Garp covered his chin with one hand and placed the other on Ian's shoulder, then sat up in pain. When he moved his hand, the swollen, bruised chin was particularly conspicuous.
"Tch! Good kid, you must be laughing inside, right? Truly a fine disciple of mine, attacking without even a warning. You really didn't use Haki; you used your Fruit's power, didn't you? I actually fell for your feint. You deliberately misled me. You did it with your own strength; you must be very pleased! In the next training session, let's change the rules—Haki is allowed. Hehehe..."
A devilish, bloodthirsty glint flashed in Garp's eyes.
Ian: "..."
Such a blatant case of a sore loser. Got punched and now you want to fight back with Haki, huh?
If Ian continued to claim it was an accident, Garp definitely wouldn't believe him. There was no need to explain too much, as the three rescuers had already arrived on the scene.
Clap, clap, clap...
Clap, clap, clap...
The sound of applause came from behind. Sengoku, along with Chief of Staff Tsuru and Vice Admiral Momousagi, approached the training area.
"Garp, you're something else! Even at your age, you still lead by example, personally guiding your apprentice. It's fine, don't worry. The medical expenses for the injuries Ian caused will be fully covered by Headquarters! Rest assured and recuperate!"
Pfft...
Sengoku wore a stern expression, his beard twitching, clearly struggling to hold back his laughter.
Garp instantly sprang up from the ground, his body seemingly burning with a villainous black flame! "You old fool! You arrived just in time to see the joke, didn't you?! If I can't handle the young ones, beating up the old ones won't be a problem!"
Sengoku completely ignored Garp's outburst and stood on either side of him with Tsuru.
"Gion, get a clearer shot. It's a rare photo; we need to be more formal," Tsuru reminded.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"What do you two mean by this?"
"Hey! Gion... put that camera down!"
Garp tried to struggle, but it was too late.
"Three, two, one... smile!"
Click!
A special photo of the three was captured on film. At the last second of the countdown, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Chief of Staff Tsuru each raised a hand to support their chins, afraid that when recalling the photo later, they might miss the key point.
Ian watched the antics of the three Headquarters big shots from the sidelines. These three old men, with a combined age of over 200 years, still maintained such youthful vitality. Especially when it came to teasing each other.
Ian couldn't help but sigh inwardly:
I really wish I could go back and see them in their youth. It must have been even more interesting, right?