Aboard the ship, Rolan stared out at the waves.
Suddenly, a giant roc materialized on the deck.
"I thought you'd take your time," Rolan said, his tone casual.
The roc spoke back in a low voice. "I never waste effort on things that don't matter. Why did you spare that Marine back there?"
Rolan's expression softened slightly. He recalled memories from his past life — how even though Smoker seemed laid-back, he was principled: he didn't flatter his superiors, he didn't prey on the weak, and he defended civilians. Rolan respected that. In fact, he might need Smoker's help someday.
"Not all Marines are puppets of the Celestial Dragons," Rolan said. "He's one Marine I truly respect. I hope he'll take my words seriously this time."
Kuro — in his roc form — perched nearby, looking anxious as he scanned the sea. "Rolan, why don't we just fly off? If we stay, we're bound to run into Garp."
Rolan's eyes hardened. The name Garp stirred a fierce fighting spirit in him. Garp was one of the strongest men in this world — and he didn't even have a Devil Fruit. Facing him would be dangerous, but the reward was too big to ignore.
"I want to see whether the Marine hero lives up to his legends," Rolan said softly.
Suddenly, an alert popped up in Rolan's Super Heart Net: a Marine ship was closing in.
Nami's voice broke in, laced with concern. "Rolan, should we approach them?"
Rolan grinned. "Who do you think I am? Bring our ship closer."
Moments later, their ship drifted alongside the Marine vessel. Rolan stood at his bow, staring across at Vice Admiral Garp, who stood at the bow of his own ship.
Garp studied the skull-and-bones flag across from him, but it wasn't ordinary bones. Instead, it was a magnet crossed with a lightning bolt.
Garp's eyes narrowed. "New Pirates?" he muttered, stuffing senbei into his mouth. Then he glared at his crew. "Load five hundred cannonballs!"
One of his soldiers leaned in close and whispered, "Vice Admiral Garp, that's Rolan — the pirate with a two-hundred-million-berry bounty."
Garp's eyes widened. Recognition dawned slowly. "Hey … You're Rolan, right?"
Rolan gave a lazy nod. "That's me. I'm indeed a Pirate."
Garp's aura tightened. Even Rolan could sense the power emanating from him. This old man is no joke, he thought. He's a monster.
Garp raised his voice. "Kid, surrender now. I can pull some strings — maybe get Sengoku to give you a safe spot in the Marines."
Rolan shook his head. He leapt into the air, hovering between the two ships. "Let's not waste time with talk. I'm heading to the Grand Line."
Garp's nostrils flared, white steam puffing out. "You're really not going to think about it?"
Rolan turned to face him midair. "Respect, old man. But becoming a lackey of the Celestial Dragons? That's not me."
Garp's eyes softened for the briefest moment, but he set his jaw and chuckled. "Stubborn fool."
Then, with explosive speed, he vanished from his spot — Soru.
Rolan barely had time to react before Garp's fist slammed into him.
He raised an arm to block, but the impact felt like a steam locomotive. He flew backward, hurtling several hundred meters. His arm felt like it would snap, his vision blurred, and a metallic taste filled his mouth. He swallowed hard.
That was fast, Rolan thought, panting. Almost as fast as me — and his Observation Haki is insane. He didn't just move; he read me.
Garp landed, smiling. "Not bad, kid." Then he focused his haki, his fist crackling with a dark aura. "Fist of Impact."
Black and red lightning raced over his arm — he was channeling Advanced Armament Haki, possibly infused with Conqueror's Haki, just as the legends said.
Rolan braced himself. He pressed his own haki into his fist, every ounce of will and strength.
Their fists connected with a deafening explosion. A shockwave ripped outward, rocking both ships violently.
Crew members on both decks were thrown off balance. On the Marine ship, soldiers gasped and shouted. "Who is this Rolan?! He's going toe-to-toe with Vice Admiral Garp!"
Rolan felt like he was punching a mountain — Garp's power was immense. He gritted his teeth, summoning more haki, but his fist began to swell, painful and throbbing. He was being pushed back.
This old man… he's a monster. Rolan cursed inwardly. Top-tier Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and even Conqueror's infusion…
On their ship, Kuro and the others watched, tension etched on their faces. They knew intervening now would be suicide.
Kuro nodded grimly. "Since Rolan's already fighting … it's our turn."
In a blink, he transformed back into his roc form and appeared on the Marine ship's deck.
His wings were coated in haki, ready to strike. But before he could move, a Marine officer — a man in a cap — blocked him. "Pirate, how dare you barge in here alone!" he shouted, swinging his sword.
Kuro met the sword with his wing, hardened by Armament Haki. They locked, sparks of haki flying. The officer's eyes widened — Kuro was strong, far stronger than expected.
Kuro's expression remained calm. "Few people learn outside the cage made by the powerful," he said quietly. Then he slashed with his other wing, haki lashing out like a blade.
---
Back on the Marine ship, a cloud drifted overhead, carrying Lina, Nami, and Zoro.
Lina's eyes narrowed as she surveyed the fight below.
Zoro smirked. "Kuro thinks he can pick his fights because he's fast, huh?"
He watched enviously as Kuro held his own against the Marine officer — then, with a grunt, he drew his swords and charged into the fray.
Metal rang on metal as Zoro's blade clashed, but suddenly a burly Marine, wielding a black steel pipe, stepped between them.
"Roronoa Zoro? So you've become a pirate after all."
Zoro's eyes flicked at the man. He could feel haki emanating from him. Strong, he thought — very strong.
Zoro exerted force, pushing the pipe aside to make space. He laughed, though it was edged with tension. "Doesn't matter, Marine or pirate. I stick to my own heart. There's no real good or evil here."
Nearby, Lina and Nami had also engaged Marines, and fierce fighting erupted across the deck.
---