What?!
What the hell is going on?!
Even Garp felt his head buzzing. His eyes were wide open, his expression frozen in shock and disbelief as he stared at the duel that was about to begin.
He stood there dumbly, looking at the young figure in the center of the field—
Raifeng, holding a katana.
From Raifeng's body, Garp could clearly see it—
The sharp edge of a swordsman, wrapping around him from every direction.
What the hell?!
Why?!
Countless questions flooded Garp's mind all at once, throwing his thoughts into complete chaos, his thinking almost grinding to a halt.
A swordsman?!
When did his grandson become a swordsman?!
Why didn't he know about this?!
Garp opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Someone—
Someone explain to him right now—
What exactly happened to this brat?!
It had only been one day.
Just one day since he last really looked at him—
And now this kid had somehow turned into a swordsman?!
Unbelievable!
Utterly absurd!
Even Garp was completely stunned by what he was seeing.
Earlier, when Raifeng had asked for a katana, Garp had assumed the boy was just bluffing—
Using a weapon to steady his nerves.
But what Garp never expected was this—
The instant Raifeng gripped the katana, the change in his aura would be this drastic.
That unmistakable presence unique to a swordsman…
Garp could feel it clearly.
This was no bluff.
No empty show.
No fox borrowing the tiger's might.
This kind of presence couldn't be faked.
"A blade in hand, no trace of unfamiliarity…"
"Blade as limb, man as edge!"
"When did this brat reach this level?!"
Garp stared at Raifeng without blinking, shock written all over his face, utterly unable to calm down.
True, Garp didn't practice swordsmanship.
But he had met countless swordsmen.
He had crossed paths with top-tier swordsmen of the seas more times than he could count.
So even if he didn't wield a blade himself—
He knew exactly how to judge whether a swordsman was the real deal.
And what Raifeng was displaying right now—
This was absolutely not something a beginner could pull off!
Just holding a sword and already exuding such sharp, restrained edge—
Only swordsmen with real attainment could do this.
If this aura had come from anyone else, Garp wouldn't have been surprised.
But the problem was—
Why was it coming from his grandson?!
In all his memories, Garp couldn't recall Raifeng ever mentioning that he knew swordsmanship.
"This brat never said he had any skill with the sword!"
"Was he hiding it?"
"No… that doesn't feel right either!"
"Then why, today of all days, does he give off the aura of a seasoned swordsman the moment he holds a blade?!"
Garp felt as if his head had been struck by a heavy hammer, buzzing nonstop.
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't make sense of what was happening.
There were simply too many strange things happening around Raifeng.
So many, in fact, that Garp was starting to feel numb to being shocked.
Meanwhile—
Bogard, the Marine Headquarters Colonel, was just as shaken.
As a swordsman himself, he was even more keenly aware of the change in Raifeng.
"This isn't something a novice could ever do."
"Raifeng's swordsmanship… is definitely not low-level."
"Vice Admiral Garp, you never told me your grandson had reached this level with the sword!"
Bogard took a deep breath, but his emotions still refused to settle.
What Bogard didn't know—
Was that Garp himself was just as confused.
You're asking me why?
How the hell would I know?!
I didn't know this brat could use a sword either!
I'm just as much in the dark as you are!
Garp remained utterly dumbfounded.
"How do you judge a swordsman's level?"
Bogard's gaze sharpened as he examined Raifeng.
"First—look at the movement."
Two words came to mind.
Steady.
Far too steady.
There wasn't the slightest hint of the impatience or stiffness seen in beginners.
Raifeng was as calm as still water.
So calm that it made Bogard uneasy.
This kind of composure alone was something most people could never achieve.
"Second—look at the grip."
Bogard observed Raifeng's stance.
Knees slightly bent.
Katana held firm.
Face calm, devoid of emotion.
The blade—perfectly still.
Like a hidden dragon lying in wait.
Poised to strike at any moment.
This was the posture of a swordsman who had honed his craft over years.
"Without at least three to five years of training, this is impossible."
Bogard was certain.
"Finally—the eyes."
Bogard shifted his focus to Raifeng's gaze.
Clear.
Focused.
Unwavering.
No fear.
No panic.
Only absolute confidence—
The kind that said everything is under control.
"There's light in his eyes."
Bogard swallowed unconsciously, his throat dry.
His emotions surged violently, like waves crashing one after another, impossible to suppress.
Taking everything into account—
Bogard reached a conclusion.
This was a qualified, even excellent, swordsman.
Raifeng's swordsmanship was anything but ordinary.
And that led to the most shocking part—
He was seeing all of this…
In a child who was only seven years old.
Was this kid training swordsmanship from the womb?!
Even that wouldn't explain it!
As a Marine Headquarters Colonel and an accomplished swordsman, Bogard had seen countless talents, fought countless blades.
Yet he could say with absolute certainty—
He had never seen a single swordsman who so completely defied common sense.
At this age, possessing swordsmanship far beyond what his years should allow—
There was only one such person.
Raifeng.
Looking across the entire sea, there would never be a second example.
"If I hadn't seen this with my own eyes…"
"I wouldn't dare believe such a monster exists on this sea."
"Vice Admiral Garp… your grandson is far too terrifying."
"This goes beyond genius."
"This is a complete and utter monster."
What was unfolding before him shattered Bogard's understanding of the world.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.