Chapter 17: Haki Unveiled – A Vice-Captain's Secret and Garp's Lasting Shadow
After the meal, Sol and the crew returned to the ship to rest. Zoro suddenly reached out and grabbed Sol just as he was about to leave, his eyes sharp as blades. "Wait! What did Hawk-Eyes Mihawk mean by those last words? Sol—what kind of power do you have? Please… tell me!"
Sol turned around, a playful smile curling his lips. "Sure." He casually raised his left arm. "Zoro—slash at me. Give it everything."
"Shing—" Wado Ichimonji flashed out in an instant, cold light gleaming.
"Hey hey! Zoro, what are you doing?!" Usopp's panicked shout and Nami's scream rang out at the same time.
Clang!
The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed across the deck. Everyone stared in shock at Sol's completely unharmed arm—he had caught the sharp blade bare-handed!
"Hahaha, sorry sorry," Sol scratched his head and laughed. "That was just my body's natural toughness. Let's try again, Zoro."
Zoro nodded, took a deep breath, and swung once more. This time, right before the blade made contact, Sol's left arm suddenly shimmered with a strange black luster, his skin glowing with a metallic sheen.
Zzzzt—!
A piercing screech of metal on metal rang out as dazzling sparks flew. Everyone except Luffy stared wide-eyed, jaws nearly hitting the deck.
"Haki. That's the power I've mastered. It's a potential every human in this world possesses—an innate ability. Willpower, killing intent, fighting spirit… when you control those invisible feelings, they become weapons. People call this overwhelming strength Haki."
"What I just showed you is Armament Haki—one type that boosts your defense and attack power," Sol explained, letting the black coating fade.
Zoro bowed deeply. "Please, Sol—teach me this power called Haki!"
"You're in for some serious suffering. But right now your bodies are still too weak. Focus on training your physical strength first," Sol stretched lazily and headed back to the cabin to sleep.
Late at night, the sea breeze gently rustled the Going Merry's sails with a soft whispering sound. Sol jolted awake in his hammock, Garp's thunderous roar still echoing in his ears—
"Brat! The sun's already up your ass and you're still sleeping?! Get up and train!!"
He shot upright, forehead drenched in cold sweat, heart pounding. He looked around—the cabin was quiet. Luffy sprawled out snoring, Usopp slept soundly, Johnny and Yosaku were curled up together, and Zoro clutched his sword in peaceful slumber.
"…Just a dream," Sol let out a long breath, rubbing his temple with a wry smile. "That old man's shadow really won't leave me alone…"
His shirt was soaked through with sweat, the sticky feeling making him grimace. He quietly slipped out of the hammock and tiptoed to the bathroom.
Warm water cascaded over him. Sol lay back in the tub, steam rising around him, his thoughts drifting far away.
In a daze, he was back in the mountain forests of Goa Kingdom, surrounded by the carefree laughter of boys—
"Sol! If you steal my meat again I'm telling Dadan!" Luffy puffed out his cheeks and yelled.
"Bullshit—when it comes to food, slow hands lose. Mind your own business," young Sol quickly devoured the stolen piece.
"Hahaha! I'll definitely be the first to set sail as a pirate! My ship's gonna be way cooler than yours!" Sabo stood on the table, waving roast meat triumphantly.
"Idiot. I'm obviously gonna be first," Ace crossed his arms, lips twitching with a hidden smile.
"No fair! I'm gonna be the fastest pirate!" Luffy jumped into the argument.
Sol stayed silent, just eating his meat.
A low cough suddenly came from behind the door. The entire bandit shack froze.
Luffy and Ace's smiles stiffened. A bone-chilling cold shot up their spines. Dadan and the bandits froze like they'd been struck by lightning, not daring to move a finger, sweat beading on their foreheads.
The door slowly opened. A tall, imposing figure stood silhouetted against the light, the Marine justice coat billowing behind him.
"Still spouting that nonsense…"
The deep, booming voice rumbled like thunder. Monkey D. Garp—Hero of the Marines, Vice Admiral, living legend—slowly removed his dog-head cap. His piercing gaze swept over every trembling figure in the room.
"Don't you understand? You four are going to become Marines?!"
"G-Grandpa?!" Luffy and Ace shouted in unison, faces instantly pale.
Bam! Bam!
No time to react—Garp's iron fists smashed down mercilessly. Two massive red lumps instantly swelled on their heads. They clutched their skulls, tears streaming as they crouched in pain.
"It huuuurts—!!!"
"Damn old man! Why're you hitting us?!" Ace protested through gritted teeth.
"Talking back?!" Garp's eyebrow twitched. Another fist. "As my grandsons, you dare keep saying 'become pirates' out loud? What kind of example is that?!"
Boom!
That punch was so powerful it drove Ace straight through the floorboards, splinters flying.
Nearby, Dadan trembled, trying to disappear. "U-Um… Mr. Garp, I just took them in—I didn't teach them to be pirates…"
"Hm?" Garp glanced sideways. "As their guardian, failing to discipline them makes you guilty too!"
Smack!
A hand chop landed on Dadan's head. The infamous bandit boss collapsed instantly, stars circling her eyes.
The shack fell deathly silent—only the "crack crack" of Garp's knuckles remained.
Garp turned to Sabo and Sol, who was still eating. "Hey, you two brats—you were just talking about becoming pirates too, weren't you?"
"Is that… the Marine Hero Vice Admiral Garp?" Sabo stepped back in fear.
Sol stared straight at him, chewing a huge piece of meat. "Don't interrupt my meal, you old geezer."
Luffy, head swollen, jumped in front of Garp. "They're not brats! We drank brotherhood sake—we swore to become pirates!"
Garp cracked his massive fists, knuckles popping ominously, eyes sweeping over the four kids. "So… you're telling me I've got four idiots who need a lesson now, huh?"
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
The four freshly fed kids were grabbed by the collars like sandbags and dragged deep into the forest clearing. Under the moonlight, Garp's shadow loomed over them like a demon god.
"Today I'll show you what real 'loving fists' feel like!"
The scene that followed was brutal. Luffy's rubber body was swung like a jump rope. Ace's prized agility was useless against Garp—he ended up bruised and swollen. Sabo's metal pipe bent with one punch. And Sol…
"Hm?" Garp's fist paused mid-air. His brows furrowed.
The other three were already foaming at the mouth on the ground. Only Sol—covered in lumps—still stood, wobbling but upright.
What shocked Garp more was the sensation from that last punch. It didn't feel like hitting human flesh at all.
"Interesting…" A gleam flashed in Garp's eyes. "Kid—what's with your body?"
Sol wiped the blood from his nose and grinned. "Probably… dragon constitution?"
"Dragon constitution?" Garp chuckled. "Then let me see it."
"As you wish—Fire Dragon's Roar!"
Sol opened his mouth wide. A massive dragon breath erupted toward Garp's head.
But Garp simply tilted his head—and dodged it completely.
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