The morning sun filtered through the porthole, dappling Kyle's face. He let out a long yawn and slowly ambled out of his cabin. The deck was a testament to the previous night's feast, littered with overturned wine barrels and still carrying the faint scent of alcohol. Jabba was sound asleep, using an empty barrel as a pillow, while Rayleigh leaned against a wall with his glasses askew, a serene, sleepy smile on his lips. Younger crew members were sprawled everywhere in various strange positions.
Kyle carefully stepped around the sleeping bodies, making his way to the bow.
"Kyle!" a battle-ready roar sounded from behind him.
He didn't even lift an eyelid and continued walking. Douglas Bullet, shirtless and with muscles bulging, was bench-pressing one of the ship's giant anchors. Upon seeing Kyle, he immediately dropped it with a loud clang, startling several hungover crewmates awake.
"Let's have a match!" Bullet's eyes burned with fire as he adopted a fighting stance.
Kyle merely waved his hand dismissively without looking back, as if shooing away an annoying fly. Ever since that first day, the battle maniac had been like a broken record, demanding a match at the same time every morning, more punctual than the ship's clock. Ignoring the scorching gaze that felt like it was trying to burn a hole in his back, Kyle continued to the bow.
"Morning, Brother Kyle!" Shanks was there, swinging a wooden sword and trying to replicate Roger's swordsmanship, his red hair already soaked with sweat. Next to him, Buggy was skillfully twirling two daggers, but nearly nicked his prized red nose during a fancy spin, making him jump in fright.
"Your center of gravity is too high, Shanks," Kyle said lazily. "A sword isn't swung just with your arms. You need to use your waist to power your whole body." He then glanced at the still-shaken Buggy. "And you. A weapon is an extension of your body. If the blade is close enough to hit your own nose, how do you expect it to ever hit an enemy?"
"N-None of your business!" Buggy's face turned red, but his movements immediately became more careful.
Kyle said no more, heading straight to the wooden barrel filled with orange juice that was kept especially for him. He drew a full cup, and the cool, sweet liquid made him close his eyes in comfort. He returned to his exclusive beach chair, sprawled out, pushed his sunglasses onto his nose, and gently swayed his crossed legs. The sea breeze was gentle, the sun was warm, and the distant cries of the seagulls sounded like a lullaby.
Kyle sighed contentedly. "What a simple, unadorned, and boring day…"
Before he could finish the thought, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
BOOM!!!
A pitch-black cannonball exploded in the sea less than ten meters from the ship, kicking up a monstrous wave. Icy seawater poured down like a waterfall, drenching Kyle from head to toe. His precious cup of orange juice was washed away. The relaxed expression on his face instantly froze. He sat rigidly in the soaked beach chair, wet hair plastered to his forehead, looking like a vengeful ghost.
"Where," Kyle's voice was as low as if it came from the depths of hell, "did that Haki-coated cannonball come from?"
The commotion woke everyone on the ship.
"What's going on?! An enemy attack?"
"Is it time for another feast?" Roger asked, poking his head out of his cabin, a messy cowlick sticking up from his hair, a hint of excitement on his face.
Before anyone could answer, a hearty, sky-shattering laugh echoed from the distance. "Puhahaha! Roger! I see your ship! You won't get away this time!"
Everyone looked and saw a massive, dog-headed Marine warship cutting through the waves, charging aggressively toward them. At its bow stood a man in a white "Justice" coat, built like a mountain, flashing a wide, carefree smile.
"It's Garp!" Shanks exclaimed.
"The Marine Hero…" Bullet's eyes sharpened, his fighting spirit reignited.
"Tch, it's that crazy old man," Jabba sighed, adjusting his sunglasses.
Seeing the newcomer, Roger's excitement grew even stronger. He leaped onto the ship's railing. "Yo, Garp! You're really persistent, aren't you! Did you miss me?"
"Less talk! I'm here to arrest you, Roger!" Garp roared back, casually picking up a cannonball and hurling it toward them with his bare hands.
An invisible wave of air erupted from Roger as an equally terrifying aura rose from Garp. Black and red lightning crackled in the space between them, clashing violently and dyeing the sky an ominous dark hue. The sea between the two ships was torn apart by the invisible pressure, as if even the ocean trembled at the meeting of these two legends. The younger pirates on the ship felt their hearts pound in their chests, finding it hard to breathe under the immense pressure of their Conqueror's Haki.
"Kuhahaha! Garp, you bastard always make such a grand entrance!" Roger laughed from the railing.
"Stop babbling, Roger! I've been chasing you halfway across the Grand Line!" Garp roared back. "Come quietly with me to Impel Down!"
"That depends on whether you have the ability!"
The two legends, separated by a hundred meters of churning sea, exchanged their usual "greetings."
"Hey, Garp!" Jabba shouted. "Since we've run into each other, according to old custom, you two go fight, and the rest of us start the feast, right? I can smell roasted meat on your ship!"
At the word "feast," the eyes of Shanks, Buggy, and the rest of the crew lit up with anticipation. Having a party with the Marine Hero was outrageous, but it wasn't the first time.
However, Garp's smile froze, and he uncharacteristically scratched his head with an awkward expression. "Ah, well…" he stammered. "Sorry, but Fleet Admiral Kong found out about the last few times I feasted with you. He said if I go easy again, he'll cancel my senbei supply for a whole year!"
At these words, both the Marines and the Roger Pirates collectively froze. Rayleigh's mouth twitched. Jabba's sunglasses slid down his nose. Shanks and Buggy's mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg. The esteemed Marine Hero, a legend of the seas, was actually going to get serious with them… over rice crackers?
After a beat of stunned silence, Roger burst out laughing, so hard he bent over, tears streaming from his eyes. "Garp! You… you haven't changed a bit! Good! In that case, let's have a proper fight!"
"Just as I intended!" Garp roared, no longer wasting words. With a powerful push of his legs, he launched himself from his warship like a cannonball, soaring across the sea valley torn open by their Haki. "Men! Charge! Capture them, and we'll have extra rations tonight!"
"OH!!!" the Marine soldiers responded, their morale high as they drew their weapons.
"We're going too!" Roger commanded. The pirates on the Oro Jackson surged with fighting spirit, roaring as they charged forward to meet their old rivals.
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