Six months had passed since Garp left.
Life returned to routine—wake up early, train with Yamamoto, watch over Luffy, train again, sleep. Repeating every day without end.
But the difference was plainly visible.
I was now four years old, but my body already looked like that of a seven-year-old. Muscles had formed clearly—the result of brutal training for nearly two full years. My height had also surpassed children my age.
Sabo had developed even faster—he now stood nearly as tall as a ten-year-old despite being only seven years old. His movements were quick and agile, like a predator always ready to strike.
And Luffy—the little one who could now walk and talk fluently—always followed us everywhere with sparkling eyes full of curiosity.
"Ace-nii! Sabo-nii! Play!" Luffy ran toward us with his signature wide smile that never seemed to disappear.
"We can't, Luffy. We're going to train," I answered while picking up a wooden sword.
"Luffy will train too!"
"You're still small. When you're bigger."
"Luffy is already big! Look!" he lifted a small rock with both hands as if it were an extraordinary achievement.
Sabo laughed. "That's a tiny rock, Luffy. Try lifting one the size of your head."
Luffy tried—and of course failed. He fell backward and landed on his bottom.
"Ow! Heavy!"
"That's why you train first. Eat a lot, rest well, then you'll be strong," I explained while helping him up.
"Okay! Luffy will eat lots! Then become strong like Ace-nii!"
His enthusiasm never faded. That was what I loved about Luffy—no matter how many times he failed, he always got back up with a smile.
"Ace! Sabo! Training starts now!" Yamamoto called from the training area.
"Let's go," Sabo was already running ahead.
I followed but stopped briefly to pat Luffy on the head. "Stay and play with Dadan-san, okay. We'll take you out to play this afternoon."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Luffy ran happily back toward the hideout. I joined Sabo at the training area.
Yamamoto stood holding two real iron swords—not wooden ones anymore.
"Starting today, you'll train with real weapons," he tossed a sword to each of us. "Be careful. These are sharp. If you get hit, you'll bleed."
I caught the sword carefully. Heavy. Heavier than a wooden sword. But the balance was better.
"Basic stance. Now!"
We took our positions—feet shoulder-width apart, swords in front, eyes focused on the opponent.
"Sparring. Full contact. But don't kill each other. If anyone gets seriously hurt, you patch each other up. Understood?"
"Understood!"
"Begin!"
Sabo attacked first—a horizontal slash from the right. I blocked with my sword—CLANG!—the sound of metal striking metal rang out sharply.
The vibration was far stronger than with wooden swords. My hand nearly lost its grip.
But I was trained for this. I immediately countered with a forward thrust.
Sabo parried and slashed from above. I sidestepped and slashed toward his legs.
The fight moved fast—every movement calculated, every attack requiring precision. One small mistake could mean a serious wound.
Five minutes later, we both had small cuts on our arms and legs—proof that blades had grazed skin.
"Stop!" Yamamoto shouted. "Good. You're both getting sharper. But there are still openings."
He pointed at Sabo's foot position. "Too wide. If an enemy kicks, you'll lose your balance."
Then he pointed at my sword position. "Too low. If an enemy feints high then attacks low, you won't have time to block."
We noted every correction. Every detail mattered for surviving in this world.
"Now Haki training. Ace, show me your Armament Hardening."
I focused. Spiritual energy flowed into my right hand. Deep black appeared—far darker than six months ago.
"Good. Now maintain it for one minute."
I held it. One second. Five seconds. Ten seconds. Thirty seconds—starting to feel heavy. Forty seconds—sweat pouring. Fifty seconds—a slight tremor. Sixty seconds—
The black faded. I panted hard.
"A full minute. Major improvement from three months ago when you could only hold it for twenty seconds," Yamamoto praised. "The next target is five minutes. Then ten. Then an hour. Until eventually you can maintain it all day without fatigue."
All day?! That was a monster's level!
"Sabo, show me your Observation Haki."
Sabo closed his eyes. Yamamoto picked up several small stones and—without warning—threw them at Sabo from multiple angles.
Sabo dodged every single one without opening his eyes—minimal, efficient movements, as if he already knew where each stone was coming from.
"Perfect. Range?"
"Fifteen-meter radius. I can sense every presence within that distance," Sabo answered as he opened his eyes.
"Extraordinary for someone your age. Even some Marine Captains aren't that sharp."
High praise. And Yamamoto never exaggerated.
"You're both developing along different paths that perfectly complement each other. Ace—an attacker type with overwhelming power. Sabo—a defender-counter type with high precision. When you work together, even far stronger enemies can be beaten."
"When can we fight a real opponent again?" I asked. "Since Bluejam there hasn't been anyone truly serious."
Yamamoto gave a thin smile. "Be patient. Enemies will come on their own. This world never runs short of foolish pirates looking for trouble."
As if answering his words, one of Dadan's underlings came sprinting in with a panicked expression.
"YAMAMOTO-SAN! DADAN-SAN! THERE ARE PIRATES ANCHORED ON THE BEACH!"
Yamamoto and the two of us immediately went alert.
"How many?"
"About thirty! And their ship is big—flying a skull flag with two crossed swords!"
"Description of the captain?"
"Tall man with a scar on his face, long black hair, carrying a large sword on his back!"
Yamamoto's expression hardened. "That's... Kurohige no Daiki. A pirate with an eighty million berry bounty. Not someone to take lightly."
Eighty million?! That was the level of a pirate who had already entered the Grand Line and survived!
"Why is he here?" Sabo asked with concern.
"Unknown. But it can't be a coincidence. There has to be a purpose."
Yamamoto ran to the hideout. We followed.
Inside, Dadan was already gathered with all her underlings. Every face was tense.
"Yamamoto, what do we do? Do we run?"
"Run where? If they came here with a specific purpose, running won't help. We need to find out what they want first."
"What if what they want is... the children?" Dadan glanced toward me, Sabo, and Luffy who stood in the corner.
Silence.
That possibility was very real. Especially if they had heard about the kid with a Devil Fruit who had defeated a giant gorilla—that story may have already spread.
"Then we defend with our lives," Yamamoto answered firmly. "I will not allow the children to be handed over to pirates."
"But Kurohige no Daiki is not Bluejam. He's far stronger—"
"I know. But there is no other choice."
I stepped forward. "Let me speak with them."
"WHAT?! Are you insane?!" Dadan shouted. "You want to hand yourself over?!"
"No. But if they really are looking for me, it's better to find out directly what they want. Rather than have everyone here come to harm because of me."
"Ace—" Sabo tried to protest.
"Sabo. Trust me. If it comes to a fight, I won't go down easily. Two years of training wasn't just for show."
Yamamoto studied me for a long moment. Weighing the decision.
"Alright. But I'm coming with you. As your guard. And if the situation turns dangerous, we retreat immediately. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Ace! Don't go!" Luffy suddenly clung to my leg with both arms. Tears had begun to fall. "Luffy doesn't want Ace-nii to leave!"
My chest tightened seeing the fear on his face.
I crouched down and looked Luffy directly in the eyes. "Luffy. Big brother has to go. To protect everyone here. Including you."
"But... but..."
"Trust your big brother. I promise I'll come back. Safe and sound. Okay?"
Luffy wiped his tears with his small hands. "Promise?"
"Promise. Big brother won't die. Won't leave Luffy alone."
I raised my pinky finger. Luffy hooked his with mine—a promise that must never be broken.
"Sabo, protect Luffy and Dadan. If anything happens, run deep into the forest. Okay?"
Sabo nodded—though he clearly didn't want to be left behind.
Yamamoto and I walked out of the hideout. Heading toward the beach where the pirate ship was anchored.
Every step felt heavy. Not from fear. But because I knew—this was going to be a decisive confrontation.
If we won, we would be safe.
If we lost... everything would end.
But I couldn't lose.
Not after all this training.
Not after all the promises I had made.
The flame of destiny burned brighter.
Ready to incinerate anyone who stood in the way.
Kurohige no Daiki.
A pirate with an eighty million bounty.
Let's see just how strong you really are.
TO BE CONTINUED