Late at night, the small house in Windmill Village finally grew quiet. Ace and Ann lay in their own beds, but both had their eyes wide open, too excited to sleep.
The reason was their kind-hearted uncle who had taken them to the beach in the evening.
"Little Ace thinks he can beat his invincible uncle? Today, I'll show you what I've got." Rhett cleared his throat and pulled out the Black Tide Greatsword. This time, unlike his other techniques, no blood mist wrapped around the blade. It was just a simple slash.
"Watch closely! This was your father's signature move back in the day—"
He swung the sword violently. The Black Tide Greatsword unleashed a sharp slash. The waves in the distance were split cleanly in half, revealing the sandy seabed below. Rhett held his cool post-sword-drawing pose and looked at the two children expectantly.
The two little ones: (⊙▽⊙) Wow wow wow wow wow.
Rhett pressed his hands down lightly. "Keep it down! Keep it down!"
"Uncle, teach me! Please!" Ace's eyes sparkled as he looked at Rhett, immediately latching onto Rhett's left leg. Ann walked over to the other side and also firmly hugged his right leg.
Rhett picked up the two little ones with one arm each and threw them back onto their own beds, which led to the scene just described.
Ace turned over and lowered his voice. "Hey, Ann, did you see that? Uncle's move, 'Divine Departure' — whoosh — it even split the air itself!" He gestured wildly, nearly falling off the bed.
Ann hugged her sunflower doll and gave a soft "Mm," but her eyes were sparkling. Clearly, she was also amazed.
Ace clenched his fist, speaking with determination. "Tomorrow, I'm definitely going to get Uncle to teach me! Once I learn it, even Grandpa Garp won't be able to beat me!"
Ann silently turned over with her back to him, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Ace couldn't wait any longer. He burst into Rhett's room and kicked the door open. "Uncle! Get up! You said you were going to teach us today!"
Rhett groggily opened his eyes. Before he could react, Ace grabbed his arm and started dragging him outside. "Hurry up, hurry up! The sun's already up!"
"You little brat..." Rhett rubbed his eyes and sat up reluctantly. "You know that disturbing someone's sleep is punishable by 'Divine Departure'? You little brat! Fly!"
As Ace flew out of the room, he shouted back at Rhett, "Uncle! Don't forget to teach us Divine Departure!"
Rhett: "..."
Ann stood quietly by the bed, holding her sunflower doll in her arms, but her bright blue eyes were fixed intently on Rhett. Her little hand gently tugged on one of his fingers. The message was clear: I want to learn too.
He sighed, picked up the Black Tide Greatsword, and "walked" with Ace to the yard.
Rhett stretched lazily. "Alright, today I'll first see where your basics are. Ace, you go first. Let me see what that old Garp has taught you."
Ace immediately got into a fighting stance, holding his wooden stick across his body, looking fierce. "Bring it on!"
Rhett raised an eyebrow and casually broke off a tree branch. "I'll use this, so you don't say I'm bullying a kid."
Ace was indignant. "Who do you think you're looking down on? I'm the man who's going to become the Pirate King!"
"Oh? You want to compete with my sister for a man?" Rhett laughed. "Then try touching me first."
Ace was stunned for a moment, then his face turned bright red. "You stupid uncle! What are you even saying!!!!"
Ann didn't speak, but her bright blue eyes sparkled with anticipation. Her little hand tightly gripped her wooden sword, looking eager to give it a try.
Rhett looked at the two little ones' serious expressions and couldn't help but laugh. "No rush, no rush."
He broke the branch he was holding into two pieces and handed them to the two children. "First, let me see your slashes and blocks. Let me see what kind of physical condition you're in."
Ace pouted. "Huh? Physical condition? What's that? Grandpa Garp just has us get chased by wild boars every day!"
"Is that so? Alright, alright, Ace. I'm going to have to enroll you in school," Rhett raised an eyebrow. "So, want to give it a try?"
Without another word, Ace raised his sword and charged. Rhett blocked it easily, twisted his wrist, and lightly tapped Ace on the forehead with the branch.
While Ace was off balance, Rhett then lifted Ace above his head with both hands.
"Ace! Don't blame your uncle. I don't want to do this either! My heart aches too! But I have to let you experience what I went through as a kid! Ace, fly!"
"Whoosh—"
Ace landed precisely, stuck headfirst in the sand on the beach, his legs kicking in the air above.
Ace pulled his head out of the sand and rubbed his forehead, looking annoyed.
Ace shouted at Rhett with shark teeth, "What are you talking about, you stupid uncle!"
Then Ace charged again. This time, his movements were noticeably smoother. The wooden sword traced an arc straight toward Rhett's side. Rhett shifted slightly, lightly flicked the branch, and Ace's "sword" went off course again.
"Quick improvement," Rhett nodded approvingly. "Looks like that old Garp hasn't been slacking off."
Ace proudly raised his chin. "Of course! I'm going to become the Pirate..."
Suddenly remembering something, Ace forcibly swallowed the last few words.
Rhett chuckled and turned to look at Ann. "Ann, your turn."
Ann nodded, gripped the wooden sword with both hands, her expression focused. Unlike Ace's headlong charge, she slowly adjusted her breathing, then suddenly stepped forward. The wooden sword slashed down with a whistle!
"Thud!" Rhett raised the branch to block. The force coming through the branch was significantly stronger. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Oh, not bad. You've got some strength."
Ann blinked, as if asking, "Is that okay?"
Rhett couldn't help but reach out and ruffle her hair. "Not bad, not bad. Much better than Ace."
Ace immediately jumped up and down. "Hey! I just wasn't trying seriously!"
Rhett laughed heartily. "Then want to try again?"
Ace charged again, refusing to admit defeat. Ann silently got into position as well. The two little ones, one on the left and one on the right, coordinated to attack Rhett.
Their moves were still very basic, but their movements already showed a hint of rhythmic fighting sense. Especially Ann, whose every sword swing carried strength far beyond her peers.
Rhett easily blocked their attacks while quietly reflecting to himself — that old Garp really taught them well...
After easily knocking the two little ones down, Rhett was quite satisfied with Garp's training.
"Besides building up your physical foundation, did Garp teach you anything else?" Rhett asked the two little ones, who were holding their heads where two big bumps had formed.
Rhett remembered that in the original story, after Luffy went out to sea, he kept getting back up again and again. That was a reflection of his physical conditioning. But no one taught him any techniques. Maybe it was all about building the foundation. That's why Luffy was able to become an Emperor in such a short time. Besides being the chosen one, Rhett felt that this kind of childhood foundation was essential.
"Fists of Love!" Ace immediately raised his hand, looking proud. "I can take three hits without passing out!"
Ann silently held up two fingers — meaning she could take two hits.
Rhett: "..."
Rhett: Fine, fine, fine. Garp!! You really treat them all the same!!!