Dawn Island, dusk.
"Swish!"
A tall figure appeared silently at the village entrance. Short black hair, a crisp Marine uniform, and a medal of commendation signed by Admiral Zephyr himself pinned to his chest—it was Roy.
He took a deep breath. The familiar scent of grass and trees filled the air, awakening memories deep within his mind.
(It's been two years...)
He walked quickly towards the small house from his memory. From a distance, he saw his father, Roc, chopping firewood in the yard, and his mother, Elin, collecting the laundry.
"Dad, Mom!"
The familiar voice was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.
The axe in Roc's hand fell to the ground with a "clang" and was instantly teleported to the table by Roy. The laundry basket in Elin's hands tipped over.
"R-Roy?!" Elin's voice trembled, her eyes instantly turning red.
Roc's eyes widened as he looked up and down at the nearly two-meter-tall boy before him. His uniform was perfectly ironed, his gaze steady, and his brow held a sense of determination and composure.
Was this the same mischievous little brat who used to steal chickens?
"You kid..." Roc strode forward, his palm landing solidly on his son's shoulder, his eyes slightly red. "You've grown even taller than your old man!"
Elin had already run over and hugged Roy's waist, tears falling like broken pearls. "My child, you've gotten so thin! Aren't the Marines feeding you enough?"
Roy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Mom, I've gained thirty kilograms since I left..."
Elin looked up at his face, wiping her tears. "But it still hurts my heart. Look how tanned you are..."
Roy reached out and hugged his mother, his gaze gentle. "Mom, I'm fine."
The fire in the hearth crackled. The dinner table was laden with a sumptuous home-cooked meal: braised meat, stewed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and a large bowl of steaming rice.
Roc poured a cup of home-brewed rice wine and raised his glass. "Come on! Tell your old man what you've been up to these past two years!"
Roy smiled, raised his glass of juice, and gently clinked it with his father's. "Mostly training at Marine Headquarters. I came to the East Blue these past couple of days to hunt some pirates."
He then took out his Marine commendation and a bag of prize money from his pocket and pushed it towards his father. "Signed by Instructor Zephyr himself. It's some of the rewards accumulated from the training camp."
Roc's fingers trembled slightly as he looked at the gold-stamped "Commendation," a look of pride and heartache on his face. "Good kid... you're truly my son!"
Elin quickly scooped a large bowl of food into Roy's bowl. "Eat more! Look at you, you're almost thinner than that black bear in the village!"
She then reached out and squeezed Roy's arm, gasping. "This muscle... is-is this even human?!"
Roy smiled and put down his chopsticks. "This is Iron Body."
"Huh?"
Roy said calmly, "I can catch cannonballs with my bare hands now."
Roc "PFFT—!" a mouthful of rice wine, nearly choking.
Elin looked exasperated, using a handkerchief to wipe Roc's mouth. "Don't scare me! Don't do such dangerous things!"
Roy smiled gently. "Don't worry. The training camp is more dangerous than the battlefield. I'm used to it."
Laughter filled the dinner table, the atmosphere warm. After dinner, Roy helped his mother with the dishes and neatly stacked the firewood in the yard for his father.
As night fell, Roy stood up to leave.
Elin lovingly stuffed a large bag of rice balls and pickled vegetables into his arms. "Take these! The food on the warship can't be as good as what your mom makes!"
Roc laughed. "Honey, I heard the food on Marine ships is top-notch!"
Elin glared at him. "What mom makes is more delicious!"
Roc stood with his hands on his hips, pretending to be serious as he looked at Roy. "Remember, kid, don't bring shame to your old man!"
"Yes, sir!" Roy saluted, smiling brightly.
"Swish!"
The next second, his figure became an afterimage and vanished into the night wind at the village entrance.
The yard fell silent. Roc put an arm around his wife's shoulder, his tone gentle. "It seems... our boy has really grown up."
Elin wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed softly. "He just grew up too fast... I didn't even get to hug him a few more times..."
In the night sky, a shooting star streaked by, its faint light illuminating the smiles and tears of two parents.
The next day, on the azure sea, Garp's dog-headed warship cut through the waves.
On the deck, two figures clashed at an astonishing speed, the muffled sound of fists and feet meeting echoing under the setting sun.
"BANG! BANG! BANG!"
Roy's entire body was covered in black Armament Haki, his black hair flying in the sea breeze. Every punch carried a sharp gust of wind, as if it would tear the air apart.
Garp, on the other hand, was bare-fisted, his stance as steady as a rock. Every punch was accompanied by a dull explosion, like the roar of a giant beast.
"Good strength! But still too soft!"
"BANG!"
Garp's fist hit Roy squarely on the head, driving him straight into the deck. Wood splinters flew everywhere.
On the deck, the Marine soldiers were dumbfounded, holding their breath.
"Hey, hey... Little Roy got knocked into the deck again..."
"Is this the third time today?"
"So scary... that's Vice Admiral Garp's fist!"
The subordinate, Bogard, puffed on his pipe, his eyes narrowed, a hint of undeniable admiration in them. "There aren't many in the entire Navy who can take that many of Mr. Garp's punches without making a sound."
"CRASH—"
Roy slowly climbed out of the shattered deck, wood chips still in his black hair, a few cuts on his face, but his gaze was still as sharp as a blade. "Again!"
Garp laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "You've got guts! But that's enough for today. If we keep going, my warship will fall apart!"
Roy looked down at the dented and deformed deck beneath his feet and silently shut his mouth.
As the sun set, the golden sea horizon shimmered. Roy and Garp sat side-by-side at the bow, each holding a cup of steaming tea. The sea breeze was cool and refreshing.
Garp, munching on rice crackers, said indistinctly, "Kid, you're improving fast. You lasted three minutes longer than last time!"
Roy's face darkened. He squeezed his sore wrist. "But I still can't beat you."
Garp laughed. "Nonsense! You want to beat me? Train for another twenty years!"
Roy shook his head with a wry smile, fell silent for a moment, then his smile vanished. He looked at Garp with a burning gaze. "Mr. Garp, I want to learn your fist technique."
Garp's cracker-munching paused. He turned to look at him. "Oh?"
Roy's gaze was firm. "Not just ordinary Armament Haki, but... your 'Iron Fist' that can shatter anything with a single punch!"
Garp stared at him for a few seconds, then burst into a heaven-shaking laugh. "Hahaha! Kid, you're still too green for that!"
Roy: "..."
Garp slapped him hard on the back, nearly knocking him into the sea. "Armament Haki is just the foundation! The real 'Iron Fist' doesn't rely on flashy techniques, but on presence!"
He suddenly raised his fist. The wind howled, and his eyes were sharp enough to split the sea. "It's conviction! It's the determination to protect someone!"
Roy was stunned.
Garp's expression suddenly turned serious, his voice low. "Roy, you have great talent. But a true master isn't built on technique and strength alone."
He poked Roy's chest with his finger. "Whether this place... is hard enough, that's what's key."
Roy looked down, silent for a long time, the fist on his knee slowly tightening.
Garp suddenly reverted to his carefree smile and laughed. "But, kid, it's too early for you to learn now! Wait until you can take my punches!"
Roy's mouth twitched. "How long will that take?"
Garp raised an eyebrow, looking smug. "At least a hundred years!"
Roy: "...A hundred years?!"
Garp waved his hand. "Too short? Then two hundred years!"
Roy: "..."
The soldiers on the deck were trying so hard not to laugh their faces were cramping.
Bogard sighed, his pipe wobbling slightly. "Mr. Garp, please stop bullying little Roy..."
Garp laughed heartily, his spirit soaring. "Bullying? This is my love!"
The sea breeze blew across the deck, carrying laughter. Under the setting sun, the boy gently clenched his fist, his gaze growing ever more determined.
-------
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