The walk back to Foosha Village felt heavier than any training Garp had thrown at them.
Ace kept glancing over his shoulder like the fight was still chasing him.
Sabo walked with his hands in his pockets, thinking.
Luffy hummed like absolutely nothing happened.
Ravian dragged his feet like a dying NPC.
Mira nudged him. "You look like a wilted carrot."
"I feel like one," Ravian muttered.
When they reached the tavern, Makino was sweeping the doorway—and her eyes widened the second she saw their cuts, bruises, and dirt-covered clothes.
"Oh no. What happened this time?"
Ace froze. "Uh—"
Sabo tried diplomacy. "We stopped a robbery. Sort of."
Makino dropped the broom. "What?!"
Before she could panic further, one of the villagers from the dock ran up behind them.
"It's true! Those kids saved the supply boat!"
Makino stared at the four boys. Then at Ravian. Then at Mira.
Then back at the boys.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why are all of you like this?"
Luffy raised a hand. "Because adventure!"
Makino sighed. "Sit. Now."
They all sat in a line on the tavern step like scolded puppies.
Makino tended to them one by one—cleaning scrapes, bandaging cuts, checking for bruises.
Ace hissed quietly when she dabbed alcohol on his arm. "Ow—careful!"
"Sit still," she said firmly.
Sabo watched silently, guilt creeping in. "We didn't mean to start trouble…"
Makino softened a little. "I know you didn't. But you need to be careful. Bandits are one thing, but reckless older boys who don't think before swinging? That's worse."
Ravian winced as she inspected his shoulder. "Is it bad?"
Makino blinked. "This is from… Garp's training, isn't it?"
Ravian looked away. "I'm pleading the fifth."
Makino sighed again. "That man…"
Luffy puffed out his chest. "Don't worry! Ravian's strong!"
Ravian shot him a look. "Please don't spread propaganda."
Mira laughed.
Just when the mood began to settle—
Ace stiffened.
Sabo's eyes widened.
Luffy jolted upright.
Heavy footsteps thundered from the forest.
Makino whispered, horrified, "Please don't be—"
Garp exploded out of the trees.
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Ace immediately tried to run.
Garp grabbed him by the back of his shirt.
Sabo tried to sneak away.
Garp caught him too.
Luffy ran to greet him like a dog. "Gramps!"
Ravian turned pale. "Please tell me he didn't hear—"
He did.
He absolutely did.
Garp held all three boys under one arm like sacks of potatoes.
"So you brats fought a bunch of older kids, huh? GOOD! That's how warriors grow!"
Makino nearly fainted. "Garp—!! They were nearly hurt!"
"Hurt? Nonsense!" Garp boomed. "Pain builds character!"
Ace grumbled, kicking uselessly. "Put us down!"
Sabo sighed. "Resistance is futile."
Luffy giggled. "Training again?!"
Garp grinned. "That's right! ALL OF YOU!"
Ravian blinked. "Who's 'all'—"
Garp grabbed him by the collar.
"W-WAIT—!? I JUST RECOVERED—"
Mira took a slow step back.
Garp pointed at her too. "YOU! COME HERE!"
"No thank you," she said calmly.
Garp bent down.
Mira vanished behind the hut.
"…Huh." Garp scratched his head. "Fast kid."
He shrugged. "Fine! Just the boys then!"
Ravian screamed internally as Garp dragged them back into the trees.
Ace yelled, "We just fought! Give us a break!"
Garp ignored him. "Perfect! You're warmed up!"
Sabo sighed, exhausted. "Why…"
Luffy cheered.
Ravian whispered, "My body is going to dissolve."
And with that, they disappeared into the forest for another round of Garp's "training," which was mostly just:
dodging boulders
outrunning wild boars
getting drop-kicked
and attempting not to die
By the time the sun set again, Ravian collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Ace fell beside him.
Sabo dropped with a groan.
Luffy sat cross-legged, perfectly fine.
Garp dusted off his hands. "Good training!"
Ravian croaked, "This isn't training… It's a war crime…"
Ace rolled over. "Someone… carry me home…"
Sabo stared at the sky. "I can't feel my legs."
Luffy flopped onto all three of them. "Let's do it again tomorrow!"
Ravian screamed internally.
The system chimed gently inside his skull.
[Synchronization: 7.0%]
[Instinct Flow Growing]
[Physique Adaptation Triggered]
Even as he lay dying in a patch of dirt…
He couldn't deny it.
He was getting stronger.
And this world
—its chaos, its danger, its warmth—
was dragging him deeper in.