[Chat Group For The Death] Chapter 11 - 20

Chapter 11: The Weakest Whitebeard Pirates

There were five deadman in the chat group, and four of them had ganged up to bully Golden Lion Shiki.

It was simply inhumane.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hmph! You all act so high and mighty, but in the end, the real winner is Blackbeard Teach. Like it or not, he’s the one who came out on top!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Let’s review:"

Golden Lion Shiki:

➤ "He spent decades in obscurity on Whitebeard’s ship—his patience is astounding!"
➤ "The moment he found the Devil Fruit he wanted, he didn’t hesitate to kill a lifelong friend and betray Whitebeard. His decisiveness is terrifying!"
➤ "He dared to plot against the World Government and infiltrate Impel Down, breaking out with an army of criminals—his ambition is unmatched!"
➤ "And once he got what he wanted, he abandoned his position as a Warlord without hesitation, making his next move immediately!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "With those qualities, how could he not succeed?"

The Golden Lion sneered inwardly.

You people want to mock me?
Fine! Then I’ll provoke you right back!

Pirate King Roger: "Hah! What nonsense! If Teach had your luck, he would’ve been finished before he even started!"

Roger's words were like a cannonball to Shiki’s pride.

Luck—that was the eternal wound in the Golden Lion’s heart.

Whitebeard: "Exactly! Shiki, don’t fool yourself into thinking you and Teach are the same kind of person just because you both have ambition. You two are completely different!"

Whitebeard: "If Teach had been like you, he would’ve never found the Dark-Dark Fruit in the first place!"

Whitebeard casually twisted the knife deeper.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Tch…"

Whitebeard: "And speaking of Teach…"

Whitebeard’s expression darkened.

Whitebeard: "Did you see it, Shiki? Teach actually stole my Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Is that what you call the spoils of a victor?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Shut up! That damn thief!"

Whitebeard clenched his fists.

The thought of his own power—the destructive force that once defined him—being stolen by the very man who betrayed his family made him sick.

Worst of all…

Teach would now use that power against his sons.

That fact infuriated him the most.

Fisher Tiger: "I still don’t understand. The newspaper says Blackbeard covered Whitebeard’s body with a black cloth, crawled inside, and somehow extracted the Devil Fruit power…"

Fisher Tiger: "What kind of sorcery is that?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Yeah, what the hell? Is that black cloth some kind of magical artifact?! I heard there’s a technique that lets you feed Devil Fruits to inanimate objects. Could that cloth be part of it?"

Whitebeard: "It’s not the black cloth, Shiki. It’s Teach’s Dark-Dark Fruit. That’s the real key to all of this."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hah! Maybe. Or maybe Teach just waited for you to die so he could take what was left!"

Fire Fist Ace: "Shut up!"

Lucas: "It’s the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit. It has nothing to do with the cloth. The Dark-Dark Fruit is special—it directly interacts with other Devil Fruits."

Whitebeard: "That’s right! The Dark-Dark Fruit’s power can negate the abilities of other Devil Fruits. Teach used it to absorb my tremors."

Fire Fist Ace: "I fought Teach before. The moment he touched me, my Devil Fruit powers were completely useless. It’s like a living version of Seastone."

Lucas: "The Dark-Dark Fruit is all about absorption. It creates darkness that devours everything. While the ability user is alive, Teach can absorb Devil Fruit powers temporarily. But when the ability user dies, there’s nothing stopping him from permanently absorbing the power instead."

Whitebeard: "So after I died, before my Tremor-Tremor Fruit could be reincarnated, Teach sucked it out using the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit?"

Lucas: "Exactly!"

Lucas: "And that’s not all. Teach and his men are actively hunting down strong ability users and stealing their Devil Fruits."

Golden Lion Shiki: "WHAT?!"

Pirate King Roger: "Are you serious?"

Fisher Tiger: "That’s… horrifying."

Whitebeard: "Damn it… It’s bad enough that Teach betrayed me. But this? This is an abomination. Stealing the very essence of a person’s strength…"

Fire Fist Ace: "If that’s true, Teach’s power is only going to grow. More and more people will flock to him, hoping to get their hands on a powerful Devil Fruit."

Lucas: "Exactly. Whitebeard, do you still think your sons can stop Teach?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Of course they can’t! The Whitebeard Pirates are the weakest crew out of all the Emperors!"

Pirate King Roger: "No way!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Think about it! Every other pirate captain recruits strong fighters."

Golden Lion Shiki: "But Whitebeard? He recruits sons instead of warriors."

Pirate King Roger: "Hah! He’s got a point. Any strong pirate with real ambition wouldn’t want to be called ‘son’ all the time."

Whitebeard: "Tch! What are you trying to say?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "I’m saying your recruitment strategy is stupid! If I had been building a fleet for decades, I wouldn’t waste my time looking for ‘sons’—I’d be looking for monsters!"

Whitebeard: "Hmph! My crew isn’t just about strength—it’s about family."

Golden Lion Shiki: "And that’s why you lost. That’s why Teach was able to betray you. If your ‘sons’ were stronger—if they had real ambition—none of this would’ve happened."

Pirate King Roger: "Now, now, Shiki. Let’s not act like your recruitment strategy was any better."

Golden Lion Shiki: "What’s that supposed to mean?!"

Pirate King Roger: "You gathered a massive fleet, and what happened? A storm wiped them out in five minutes. So tell me, was it your leadership or was it just your bad luck?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "…"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Face it, Shiki. You’re just salty because my sons outlived your fleet!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "DAMN IT, WHITEBEARD!"

Chapter 12: Conqueror’s Territory, Telekinesis?

Among the pirate crews led by the three legendary pirates, the strongest was undoubtedly the Roger Pirates, followed by the Golden Lion Pirates, and finally, the Whitebeard Pirates.

Yes, despite Whitebeard being hailed as the "Strongest Man in the World," his crew wasn’t actually the strongest.

At first glance, it might seem like the Golden Lion Pirates were superior because they nearly destroyed the Roger Pirates during the Battle of Edd War.

However, that was due to special circumstances.

Just like how the Straw Hat Pirates—despite being incredibly powerful—would still have trouble escaping a fleet of Marine warships, marine battles relied on more than just raw strength.

Strong ships and powerful artillery were the real killing weapons in marine combat.

At Edd War, Shiki’s fleet had the advantage in numbers, ships, and firepower, while Roger’s crew was forced into a defensive position.

But if the battle had taken place on land?

The Roger Pirates would have crushed them.

Why?

Because the Roger Pirates recruited strong partners, not followers.

➤ Rayleigh, the Dark King, was as powerful as Roger himself. He joined as an equal, not a subordinate.
➤ Gaban, another top-tier fighter, stood alongside Rayleigh as one of Roger’s strongest men.

Meanwhile, the Golden Lion Pirates only recruited subordinates—not equals.

A pirate as strong as Rayleigh would never willingly lower himself to be Shiki’s underling.

And then… there were the Whitebeard Pirates.

Whitebeard: “Gurarara… What are you trying to say, Lucas?”

Lucas: “The Whitebeard Pirates have 16 divisions and 43 allied crews… but the truly powerful ones are just the captains of the first five divisions.”

Lucas: “And now? The second division captain, Ace, is dead and stuck here in the chat. The fourth division captain, Thatch, was murdered by Blackbeard. That leaves only three real powerhouses.”

Lucas: “And during the war, Diamond Jozu—the third division captain—had his arm shattered by Admiral Aokiji. His strength has significantly declined. So now… the Whitebeard Pirates only have two and a half people who can really fight.”

Whitebeard: “…”

Fire Fist Ace: “…”

Heartbreaking.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Hah! No need to sugarcoat it—the Whitebeard Pirates are finished.”

Fisher Tiger: “Mr. Newgate… I don’t think your crew can defeat Blackbeard either.”

Pirate King Roger: “DAMN IT! That bastard Teach! Lucas, you need to kill him for me!”

Whitebeard: “Gurarara! I was thinking the same thing. Lucas, didn’t you say you could help me?”

Lucas: “I can, but I’m still too weak right now. I need you guys to give me some of your abilities first.”

Lucas: “Click on the red envelope option in the chat. You’ll understand.”

Roger’s curiosity piqued, and he followed Lucas’s instructions.

Suddenly, a menu appeared before him.

➤ Pirate King Roger - Sendable Abilities:

• Conqueror’s Haki (Top Level)

• Observation Haki (Advanced)

• Armament Haki (Advanced)

• Swordsmanship (Advanced)

• Physical Training (Intermediate)

• Marksmanship (Basic)

• Talent (Hidden, Advanced)

[*Tl: It does not said explain early on but as I’m reading ahead to translate and edit I see the level of this skill is : Basic -> Intermediate -> Advanced -> Great -> Top]

Pirate King Roger: “@Lucas, [Screenshot - Pirate King Roger, Sendable Abilities] …is this what you meant?”

Lucas: “Yep, that’s it.”

Whitebeard: “Is this… our strength from when we were alive?”

Lucas: “Exactly! Right now, I’m just a Marine recruit with zero power. If you want me to take down Teach, you need to help me get stronger first.”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Hold up! Who the hell decided that Roger’s Conqueror’s Haki is at top level?! I don’t agree with this ranking!”

Pirate King Roger: “Hahahaha! What’s wrong, Shiki? Don’t tell me you’re jealous! You should’ve known long ago that my Conqueror’s Haki was stronger than yours!”

Golden Lion Shiki: “Bullshit! There shouldn’t be that much of a gap! ‘Top Level’ is the highest possible rank—there’s no way you’re that far ahead of me!”

Lucas: “Shiki, don’t argue with the system. Its judgment is absolutely accurate.”

Pirate King Roger: “Hahaha! Shiki, admit it—there’s a difference between us! My Conqueror’s Haki is the strongest in the world! Have you ever heard of the Conqueror’s Territory?”

Golden Lion Shiki: “What?”

Whitebeard: “Oh? Roger, you’re bringing that up?”

Pirate King Roger: “Haki is usually just an invisible force of will. But if you train it to the absolute peak, it can physically affect objects.”

Whitebeard: “That’s true. I saw Shanks do the same thing. When we last met, he used his Conqueror’s Haki to shatter the planks of my ship just by standing there.”

Pirate King Roger: “Haha! Looks like Shanks is on the right path. Now, do you understand, Shiki?”

Pirate King Roger: “When Conqueror’s Haki reaches its peak, it’s not just about overpowering weaklings. It’s about control.”

Pirate King Roger: “At its highest level, Conqueror’s Haki can act like an invisible hand, allowing you to manipulate and move objects around you.”

Lucas: “Wait… are you saying it gives you telekinesis?!”

Lucas was stunned.

Could training Conqueror’s Haki to the absolute extreme allow someone to gain psychic-like abilities?!

Pirate King Roger: “That’s right! And the Conqueror’s Territory is the maximum range that this ability can extend!”

Lucas: “Holy crap… that’s broken.”

If this was true, then top-tier Conqueror’s Haki users could essentially use mind over matter to dominate their surroundings.

No wonder Roger was ranked at the top.

Golden Lion Shiki: “Tch… whatever. I still don’t agree with your ranking!”

Chapter 13: The Power of Talent

Lucas: "Roger, I have to say, your physical training and Marksmanship are too poor. One is at the intermediate level, and the other is even at the basic level. You’re the Pirate King, how can you have weaknesses?"

Pirate King Roger: "That’s normal! I prefer to use a sword in battle, not my fists. As for shooting... I’ve barely touched a gun in my life, I only know the basics."

Whitebeard: "Human energy is limited, and all-round development only exists in fantasy. In reality, it’s enough to specialize in a certain ability. Too many skills are useless."

Golden Lion Shiki: "That’s right! Even if you dedicate your entire life to training in a single skill, you might not reach its peak. Let alone dividing your focus among multiple disciplines."

Roger explained, and Whitebeard and Shiki chimed in. They had no choice—they also had low-level skills and didn’t want to be looked down upon.

Golden Lion Shiki: "To be honest, some of the most powerful pirates in the world haven’t even mastered all three types of Haki. Why? Because training isn’t the goal of life—survival is. For many people, training is just a means to live longer."

Pirate King Roger: "For me, whether it’s Haki or swordsmanship, they’re just tools to help me fulfill my ambitions. I don’t need to be the best at everything. If I have extra time, I’d rather spend it doing something enjoyable—like holding a party."

Whitebeard: "To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever trained seriously. I just kept fighting on the seas, and after every battle, I became stronger without even realizing it."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Same here."

Pirate King Roger: "Me too."

Fisher Tiger: "Are you all monsters?"

Fisher Tiger couldn’t help but complain. The gap between them and ordinary people was too big—it was downright discouraging.

Lucas: "Maybe this is the power of talent. Tiger, what’s your talent level?"

Fisher Tiger: "Intermediate."

Pirate King Roger: "Haha! I’m advanced! But what does this ‘hidden’ label mean?"

Lucas: "Hidden talents need to be gradually unlocked. Meanwhile, monsters like Charlotte Linlin and Kaido—who were born with overwhelming strength—have their talents explicitly displayed from the start."

Pirate King Roger: "I see!"

"Ding! Pirate King Roger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Conqueror’s Haki – Top Level] to group leader Lucas!"

Roger sent a red envelope, and Lucas accepted it without hesitation. Immediately, a new energy surged through his mind, and he felt an invisible power within him.

Curious, he tried using it. The newspaper in front of him suddenly floated into the air.

Fisher Tiger: "Is this the power of top-level Conqueror’s Haki? Incredible!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hmph! It’s only effective against weaklings. Even if it’s at the top level, it’s useless against true powerhouses."

Lucas: "Nonsense! Conqueror’s Haki is the most practical of the three types of Haki. It’s the main reason top pirates can compete with the Marine. Without it, the Marines’ sheer numbers would overwhelm them."

Pirate King Roger: "You’re right! If the Battle of Edd War had taken place on land instead of at sea, I would have used my Conqueror’s Haki to crush them. What’s the use of numbers when I can wipe them out in a single move?"

Lucas: "This ability consumes a lot of energy. I feel a little dizzy. Does anyone have a way to fix this?"

Pirate King Roger: "Hmm… I can’t send you my physical strength, but what about talent?"

"Ding! Pirate King Roger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent – Advanced, Hidden] to group leader Lucas!"

Lucas accepted the red envelope, and his dizziness immediately faded.

Lucas: "I recover quickly and grow stronger fast… This is the power of hidden talent! I may not have been born strong, but it’s going to be easy to become strong now."

"Ding! Pirate King Roger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Swordsmanship – Advanced] to group leader Lucas!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Damn it! Roger, why are you suddenly so generous?"

Pirate King Roger: "Hahaha! What’s the point of keeping these? I can’t use them anymore, but if I give them to Lucas, he can help me fulfill my wish."

Lucas: "Exactly! These abilities will help me grow stronger and take down Blackbeard. @Whitebeard, don’t you have anything to say? If you don’t give me anything, I might just stop caring about the fate of the Whitebeard Pirates."

"Ding! Fire Fist Ace has sent an exclusive red envelope [Flame-Flame Fruit – Intermediate] to group leader Lucas!"

Fisher Tiger: "Flame-Flame Fruit – Intermediate? What does that mean? As far as I know, the Flame-Flame Fruit is an incredibly rare Logia-type Devil Fruit. How can it be only intermediate?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "That’s not surprising! While Logia fruits are considered the strongest of the three types, not all Logia fruits are equal. My Float-Float Fruit and Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit are both Paramecia, but who dares say they’re not powerful?"

Fire Fist Ace: "The Flame-Flame Fruit is weak against Akainu’s Magma Fruit. Maybe that’s why it’s only intermediate?"

Lucas: "No, you’re misunderstanding. The intermediate rating isn’t about the strength of the Devil Fruit itself—it’s about your level of mastery over it."

Chapter 14: Weakened Version of Luffy Two Years Later

Golden Lion Shiki: "The development level of your Devil Fruit is only intermediate? Fire Fist Ace, what level are your other skills?"

Fire Fist Ace: "Why are you asking this?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "No reason. I just figured out why you lost."

Fire Fist Ace: “…”

Although Ace wanted to refute him, he had no solid argument. The truth was undeniable—his skill levels were too low.

His Flame-Flame Fruit was already his best-developed ability, yet it was only at an intermediate level.

His Haki, physical combat, and marksmanship were all still at low levels.
As for swordsmanship? He hadn’t even started learning it.

But this wasn’t entirely his fault—he was simply too young.

He went to sea at seventeen, with strength comparable to Luffy at the beginning of his journey. Back then, he had been just another weakling in the Grand Line.

Then, by pure luck, he had found the Flame-Flame Fruit.

After experiencing the absolute power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit, he had dedicated himself to mastering its abilities.

By the time he entered the New World at eighteen, his talent had allowed him to quickly reach a level comparable to the Warlords of the Sea, even matching Jinbe in combat.

At that time, he was as strong as Luffy during the Battle of Marineford.

Then he joined the Whitebeard Pirates.

Ace—who had been desperate for belonging—finally found family.
For the first time, he felt loved.
For the first time, he felt like he had a place in the world.

And because of that…

His desire for strength faded.

Under Whitebeard’s banner, Ace learned about Haki and started training with it.
But compared to his early days, his growth slowed dramatically.

There were fewer life-or-death battles.
The Whitebeard Pirates didn’t emphasize strict training.
Without intense pressure, his improvement stagnated.

By the Battle of Marineford, Ace was essentially a weakened version of Luffy two years later.

After all, while Luffy had spent two years training nonstop on an isolated island, Ace had spent his final years in relative comfort aboard the Moby Dick.

His talent wasn’t greater than Luffy’s.
His training had been far less intense.
Of course his strength couldn’t match Luffy’s post-time skip level.

With that kind of power gap, it wasn’t surprising that he had lost to Blackbeard.

And it was even less surprising that he had been killed by Akainu.

Whitebeard: "Damn you, Golden Lion! You sure love running your mouth!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hehe! Whitebeard, for someone who claims to care about his sons, you sure haven’t given Lucas anything yet."

Whitebeard: "I was thinking. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Ding! Whitebeard has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent - Advanced, Hidden, Explicit] to group leader Lucas!

Fisher Tiger: "Mr. Newgate’s talent is both hidden and explicit? I thought I was the only one like that!"

Pirate King Roger: "Two types of talents? Interesting! What’s going on here? Whitebeard has hidden talents like us, but also explicit talents like Charlotte Linlin and Kaido?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Really? I thought you, Whitebeard, were just like me and Roger—slowly building strength over time. Never thought you’d be a born monster too!"

Whitebeard: "Get lost. I’m nothing like Linlin or Kaido."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Are you sure? This doesn’t add up! By the way, Tiger, you also have an explicit talent?"

Lucas: "I only used Charlotte Linlin and Kaido as examples to explain explicit talents. That doesn’t mean all explicit talents are like theirs.”

"Fisher Tiger is a fishman. His explicit talent comes from his natural ability to survive underwater.”

"Whitebeard, on the other hand, is 6.66 meters tall. His explicit talent is the immense physical strength granted by his giant-like physique."

As Lucas accepted Whitebeard’s red envelope, a surge of strength erupted within him.

He now possessed Whitebeard’s natural physical talents—as if he had grown up with the same body.

Whitebeard: "@Lucas, after inheriting my talent, will you also grow into a giant?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hahaha! That would be hilarious!"

Lucas: "You’re overthinking it. I gained your talent, not your bloodline.”

"Just like how I inherited the Flame-Flame Fruit ability, but I’m not a Devil Fruit user myself. I’m still immune to seawater and Seastone.

"That means a new Flame-Flame Fruit will eventually respawn in the world."

Whitebeard: "If that’s the case… does that mean you can also become a dual-fruit ability user, like Teach?"

Lucas: "If I receive the power through the chat group, it doesn’t matter if it’s two fruits or a hundred—I can handle them all."

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! That’s interesting. You must let Teach know you have multiple Devil Fruit abilities!"

Ding! Whitebeard has sent an exclusive red envelope [Tremor-Tremor Fruit Ability - Top Level] to group leader Lucas!

Chapter 15: Superimposed Talents

Blackbeard Teach had spent decades carefully plotting, waiting in obscurity, and taking enormous risks just for the chance to obtain the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and become a dual-fruit user.

Yet now, Lucas had done the same thing without even trying.

A young Marine recruit, with minimal effort, had obtained two top-tier Devil Fruit abilities—completely invalidating Teach’s lifelong ambitions.

If Blackbeard ever found out, the mental damage alone might kill him.

Whitebeard didn’t hesitate to grant Lucas the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s power, giving him not only the ability itself but also the fruits of his lifelong mastery over it.

The Tremor-Tremor Fruit, having been fully awakened under Whitebeard’s control, had been ranked top-level by the chat group system.

Lucas extended his hands.

On his left hand, a white halo of tremor energy flickered, radiating an aura of unimaginable destructive power.

On his right hand, orange flames ignited, crackling with intense heat, ready to burn everything in their path.

Lucas: "The Tremor-Tremor Fruit… The Flame-Flame Fruit…"

He clenched his fists, feeling raw power coursing through his veins.

Lucas: "Whitebeard, thank you for the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability! From today onward, I swear—I will take Blackbeard Teach’s life!"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! Then I’ll be waiting to see it!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "@Lucas, now that you’ve gained all these abilities, how strong are you exactly?"

Lucas: "Hard to say. I can’t really measure my own strength at the moment. But it doesn’t matter—this is Marine Headquarters. If there’s one thing we don’t lack here, it’s strong opponents. I should be able to figure out where I stand soon enough."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Are you sure about that?"

Lucas: "Of course! The biggest difference between the Marine and pirates is their systematic training. The Marines have a complete system for developing strong fighters.

"In Marine Headquarters, you can find warriors of every level—from the lowest grunts to Admirals. If I want to test my strength, this is the perfect place."

Without wasting time, Lucas left the Marine’s library and walked toward the Marine’s battle arena—the place where Marines regularly sparred and trained against each other.

Simple training exercises weren’t enough to create true powerhouses.

To become strong, one had to fight.

Unlike pirates, who lived in battle—clashing with rivals, Marines, and sea monsters on a regular basis—the Marine had fewer real battles. Most pirates ran when they saw Marines, and those who didn’t were usually already strong.

Because of this, the Marine’s training arena had been created—to allow constant combat training, simulating real-life battles.

This sparring ground had become one of the most popular places in Marine Headquarters, a proving ground where energetic recruits could test their limits.

As Lucas stepped inside, the air was thick with battle cries.

Marine seaman clashed in the dirt, exchanging blows with fists, swords, and Haki-infused strikes. Spectators cheered, placing bets and shouting encouragement.

It was as lively as ever.

Inside the chat group, the five spirit watched through Lucas’s shared perception, seeing the chaotic battle scene unfold before them.

Golden Lion Shiki: " Shihahaha ~ I never expected the Marine Headquarters to have such a rowdy place! This is an eye-opener!"

Fisher Tiger: "Yeah! The Marines always act so dignified in public… but behind the scenes, they’re not that different from pirates!"

Whitebeard: "They behave just like ordinary people here—completely different from the Marine we see on the battlefield."

Lucas: "What’s so surprising about this? Marines are still humans. They go through harsh training and carry enormous pressure. Of course, they need a place to vent."

Lucas found their reactions ridiculous.

What, did they think the Marines never let loose?

Even the most disciplined soldier had a wild side.
Even the most elegant noblewoman did things behind closed doors that she’d never reveal in public.
Why wouldn’t Marines be the same?

Golden Lion Shiki: "Tch… but these Marine brats are so weak. Are you really planning to fight them?"

Lucas: "What choice do I have? Strength must be built step by step. Right now, I’m just an ordinary Marine recruit. Do you think I can just walk up and challenge the Admirals?

"Forget about the Admirals—I’m not even qualified to fight a Lieutenant yet."

Pirate King Roger: "That sounds so boring!"

Lucas: "Don’t worry, it won’t stay boring for long. I have both Whitebeard’s and Roger’s talents, and my strength is improving at an absurd rate. It won’t be long before I’m challenging high-ranking officers."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Wait… what did you just say? Overlay? What do you mean overlay?"

Lucas: "Exactly what it sounds like. My talents stack. Right now, I have the combined talents of Whitebeard and Roger."

Golden Lion Shiki: "What the hell… are you saying your talent is as terrifying as the two of them combined?"

Lucas: "Yes. And it’s not just talent—I can stack other abilities too.

"For example, if multiple people give me their intermediate-level Haki, it will combine and become advanced-level Haki. If enough people contribute, I can even push it to top-level."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Oh my god!"

Whitebeard: "That’s… completely absurd. Your ability is too broken."

Pirate King Roger: "As long as you don’t die halfway, the responsibility of overthrowing the World Government will be handed over to you."

Fire Fist Ace: "If this really works, then take my talent too! It’s useless to me now, but it might help you!"

Ding! Fire Fist Ace has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent - Advanced, Hidden] to group leader Lucas!

Ace sent his own talent, doing everything he could to help Lucas grow stronger.

Deep down, Ace felt guilty about his past mistakes—his reckless actions had led to Whitebeard’s downfall, the near-destruction of the Whitebeard Pirates, and his own death.

Now, the only thing he could do to make up for it…

Was to make Lucas strong enough to kill Blackbeard.

Ding! Golden Lion Shiki has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent - Advanced, Hidden] to group leader Lucas!

Golden Lion Shiki: "I want to see just how broken these stacked talents can become."

Ding! Fisher Tiger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Talent - Intermediate, Hidden, Explicit] to group leader Lucas!

Fisher Tiger: "I don’t have anything else useful to give. But if my talent can help, take it. Just… promise me something.

"If you ever get the chance…Help Fishman Island."

Chapter 16: No Doubt, Beat Him!

The surge of combined talents from five legendary figures coursed through Lucas’s body, and he immediately felt an overwhelming force eager to be unleashed.

Fisher Tiger’s talent, despite being intermediate, was a dominant one. The physical strength of an ordinary fishman was ten times that of a regular human. But Fisher Tiger was no ordinary fishman—he was gifted, possessing a natural physique that was over a hundred times stronger than that of most people.

When Lucas stacked this talent alongside Whitebeard’s, his physical prowess skyrocketed.

Unlike hidden talents, which primarily increased potential and growth rate, explicit talents directly granted power.

And Lucas could feel it.

It was as if his entire body had been reforged in an instant. His bones, muscles, and stamina had all been drastically enhanced—he was physically superior to most humans without even needing to train.

In the sparring arena ahead, the latest battle had just ended.

"The battle is over! Ensign Coby wins!" the rear admiral referee announced.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hey, hey, hey! Are you kidding me? A mere Ensign actually has Observation Haki?! Am I seeing things?!"

Whitebeard: "You’re not mistaken. He does have Observation Haki. But it’s obviously not fully mastered yet. He was using the battle just now to try and refine it."

Pirate King Roger: "Something feels off. When you first awaken Haki, it’s usually inconsistent—sometimes it activates, sometimes it doesn’t. But this kid… his Observation Haki is always active. That’s unusual!"

Lucas: "That’s because his situation is… unique."

Fire Fist Ace: "What’s so special about him?"

Lucas: "His ability to awaken Observation Haki is actually tied to your Whitebeard Pirates. During the Marineford War, the chaos and intensity of the battlefield overloaded his senses, triggering his Haki all at once."

Lucas: "But unlike normal awakenings, where it flickers on and off, his Haki never turned off. Since that moment, his ears have been flooded with voices, making it difficult for him to distinguish individual sources."

Whitebeard: "Hmm… that means he has a strong natural talent for Observation Haki. He would’ve made a good son, but it’s a shame—he’s already devoted to the Marine."

Lucas: "Forget it! He was trained by Garp himself, and his dream is to become a Marine hero. Even if you were alive, he wouldn’t have joined you."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Nani?!"

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, wait, wait— Garp trained this kid?! No doubt, beat him up!"

Ding! Pirate King Roger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Observation Haki – Advanced] to group leader Lucas!

Lucas: "I appreciate the gift, but stop sending them one by one! Just give me everything at once!"

Pirate King Roger: "No way! I’ll give you the rest after you handle things here."

Whitebeard: "That’s right! You don’t pay for everything upfront. We’re just giving you a deposit for now."

Lucas: "Not enough! I still have too many weaknesses. I need Armament Haki, and I also need physical combat techniques.”

"Blackbeard’s Dark-Dark Fruit is a direct counter to Devil Fruit users. Without strong physical abilities and Haki, I won’t be able to deal with him properly!"

Whitebeard: "Hmm… makes sense. You’re the only one who can take care of Teach now. If we don’t help you, who else can we rely on?"

Whitebeard: "Fine! I’ll give you physical combat skills, but you’ll have to get Armament Haki from Roger!"

Ding! Whitebeard has sent an exclusive red envelope [Physical Skills - Advanced] to group leader Lucas!

Pirate King Roger: "Whitebeard, your physical skills are this advanced?! Incredible! I thought you were just a swordsman!"

Ding! Pirate King Roger has sent an exclusive red envelope [Armament Haki - Advanced] to group leader Lucas!

Whitebeard: "I’m different from you, Roger. You rely on swordsmanship as your primary form of attack, but my real power comes from my Tremor-Tremor Fruit."

Whitebeard: "My swordsmanship is just a supporting technique, meant to enhance my Devil Fruit’s destructive force. My physical skills, on the other hand, is necessary to fully utilize the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s power. That’s why I never neglected training it."

Lucas: "Perfect!"

Now, he had top-tier talents, all three types of Haki, swordsmanship, advanced physical skills, and two powerful Devil Fruits.

He had no weaknesses left.

Shooting? That was irrelevant. In the pirate world, guns were secondary to raw power. And besides, the Flame-Flame Fruit had ranged attack capabilities that made firearms completely unnecessary.

Encouraged by the ghosts of legends, Lucas stepped onto the sparring ring, challenging Coby.

The referee hesitated, glancing at Lucas’s lack of rank.

Technically, a recruit had no business challenging an Ensign. There were two full ranks separating them—Lucas was supposed to climb through the system step by step.

Normally, he wouldn’t even be allowed to challenge a Warrant officer.

Coby smiled kindly, raising a hand to accept the match.

Unlike most high-ranked Marines, Coby had been weak once—and had been trained directly by Garp.

He had a kind heart, and when he saw a newcomer eager to improve, he was more than willing to give them pointers.

Then…

Lucas sent him flying with a single palm strike.

Chapter 17: You Love Roger Deeply

Who am I? Where am I?

Why is my Observation Haki not working?

Coby lay on the ground, stunned. He wasn’t the only one—every Marine watching the match was in shock.

No one had expected this outcome.

"Referee, can you announce the result now?"

Lucas stood tall in the ring, looking at the still-stunned referee with a calm expression.

For him, fighting Coby had been nothing more than a warm-up. His real goal was to challenge someone stronger.

"The winner is... um..."

The referee hesitated. He had no idea who Lucas was.

When the match had started, he hadn’t even bothered to learn Lucas’s name—because in his mind, it had been obvious that Coby would win.

Now, he felt embarrassed for his oversight.

"New recruit, Lucas!" Lucas casually inform his name.

Coby sat up, rubbing his temples. He looked at Lucas for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Can you tell me how you bypassed my Observation Haki?"

Lucas met Coby’s gaze and said, "Observation Haki isn’t invincible.”

"If your opponent’s Observation Haki is stronger than yours, they can predict your prediction.”

"And even if you sense an attack coming, it doesn’t mean your body can react in time."

Coby’s eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "...Then how did you defeat me?"

Lucas smiled. "Guess!"

The watching Marines erupted in an uproar.

This new recruit was something else!

Ignoring the murmuring crowd, Lucas spoke calmly, "I want to fight a Vice Admiral. A Rear Admiral is fine too."

The referee stiffened at those words.

He is a Rear Admiral.

Lucas’s casual challenge made him feel like he was being targeted directly.

"...Are you sure?" the referee asked, clearly unsettled.

Lucas nodded. "Of course!"

Boom!

A figure leaped onto the stage.

It was a Marine Captain, an ugly-looking man with a large sword. He drew his weapon and pointed it directly at Lucas.

"I'LL FIGHT YOU!" he bellowed.

Meanwhile, two elderly figures stood on a nearby platform, observing the spectacle.

One was a white-haired old man, casually biting into a donut.
The other was a purple-haired man in sunglasses, his arms crossed.

The donut-eating old man was Vice Admiral Garp, who had recently resigned from his position to train new Marine recruits.

The sunglasses-wearing old man was former Admiral Zephyr, now the leader of the Marine’s Anti-Pirate Guerrilla Unit, responsible for hunting down dangerous Devil Fruit users.

Zephyr chuckled. "Garp, that Ensign Coby is your disciple, right? He just got defeated by a new recruit."

Garp took another bite, still staring at Lucas. "That new recruit... isn't bad! Look, even a Marine Captain isn’t going to stand a chance against him."

Zephyr rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Hmph. A recruit this talented shouldn’t be wasted. Ain! Go test him out."

Behind Zephyr, a blue-haired woman in a marine uniform nodded.

She was Rear Admiral Ain, one of Zephyr’s strongest students.

Without hesitation, Ain leaped from the platform, making her way toward the ring.

By the time she arrived, Lucas had already defeated the sword-wielding Captain with ease.

The Rear Admiral referee had been about to step in for a fight, but before he could even move, Ain jumped onto the stage.

"I’ll be your opponent," Ain said, eyeing Lucas with curiosity.

She had never seen him before.

A new recruit, yet powerful enough to defeat an Ensign and a Captain? She wasn’t about to take him lightly.

Lucas glanced at the two daggers in her hands and raised an eyebrow. "Another swordsman? Anyone here got a spare sword?"

A Marine in the crowd tossed a Marine-issue sword into the ring. "Here, take this!"

Lucas caught the blade and gave it a few experimental swings. "Not bad!"

Ain nodded, then glanced at the referee.

The moment the match was officially announced, she rushed forward, striking with incredible speed.

Lucas grinned.

He met her blade for blade, using the swordsmanship of the Pirate King himself—Roger’s style.

Golden Lion Shiki: "What’s going on? You defeated the last two guys instantly. Why is this one giving you trouble?"

Whitebeard: "Gurarara! You’ve gained so many benefits from us—don’t tell me you can’t defeat this girl in one move?"

Lucas: "Defeating her instantly? Of course, I could do that. But where’s the fun in that? She’s a good opponent. I might as well spar for a while."

Pirate King Roger: "Bah! Stop making excuses! You’re only dragging this out because she’s pretty! Just admit it!"

Lucas: "I’m NOT making excuses! I wanted to take my time because she’s pretty. What’s so weird about that?"

Fire Fist Ace: "You shamelessly admitted it..."

Lucas: "What do you mean ‘shameless’? This is human nature!"

Lucas wasn’t ashamed—he was proud.

Lucas: "Isn’t it normal for a guy to go easier on a pretty girl? Oh! I get it now! You guys wouldn’t understand because you’re all not interested in woman like that! That’s my bad—I shouldn’t have brought it up!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "BAH! WHO ARE YOU CALLING GAY?!"

Lucas: "You, obviously. You love Roger so deeply. You’ve been chasing after him your whole life. You even broke into Marineford alone for him. You were willing to die for him. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "GET LOST!"

Pirate King Roger: "GET LOST!"

Lucas: "Wow! You two are even yelling at the exact same time. That’s some real chemistry right there."

Golden Lion Shiki: "…"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

Chapter 18: Don't Be Pretentious, or You'll Be Struck by Lightning

Lucas and Ain clashed fiercely, swords ringing as sparks flew from each exchange. Unlike his previous opponents, Ain was strong enough for him to sharpen his skills against her.

Had she been too weak, he wouldn’t have wasted his time—but since she had real ability, he saw no harm in extending the fight.

Clang!

Lucas swung his sword with precision, and Ain’s sword flew from her grasp, spinning through the air before clattering to the ground.

Ain didn’t panic.

Instead, she reached into her uniform, drew two pistols, and fired at Lucas without hesitation.

Lucas reacted instantly—casually swinging his sword, slicing through the bullets mid-air, then charging forward.

With a swift, controlled motion, he twisted his sword—disarming her again, sending both pistols flying from her hands.

Ain’s expression hardened. With no weapons left, she immediately activated Six Powers, her body vanishing in a blur as she used Shave to reposition herself.

But Lucas was faster.

He closed the gap instantly, forcing her back with a series of well-placed strikes, each one just barely missing vital spots.

She had no room to counterattack.

"I need to retreat!" In desperation, Ain waved her hand, releasing a pink energy blast from her palm—a bright, unnatural glow heading straight for Lucas.

But he simply dodged it with ease, barely acknowledging the attack.

Golden Lion Shiki: "Who trained this girl? They’ve completely misled her!"

Pirate King Roger: "That’s what I was thinking! She has too many skills—Six Powers, swordsmanship, firearms, Devil Fruit abilities—but none of them are truly refined. It’s better to master one thing than to be mediocre at everything."

Lucas: "Her teacher is Black Arm Zephyr."

Whitebeard: "Zephyr? That old man? That doesn’t sound right. Zephyr understands the importance of specialization—why would he let his disciple become so scattered?"

Lucas: "I’ll ask her."

As he dodged Ain’s next attack, he smirked and said, "Why are you learning so many skills? If you focused only on swordsmanship, you could probably become a Great Swordsman by now.”

"With that kind of strength, you’d be way stronger than you are now."

Ain scoffed, her breathing heavy but her gaze sharp. "Naïve. Do you think reaching the level of a Great Swordsman is that easy?

"Everyone has limits—bottlenecks they can’t surpass. I hit mine, so I branched out into other areas to improve myself."

Lucas paused, considering her words.

In the chat group—

Lucas: "Did you all hear that?"

Whitebeard: "There’s a bottleneck between a Swordsman and a Great Swordsman?"

Pirate King Roger: "I never felt it."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Same."

Fisher Tiger: "So you’re all monsters. This really proves that talent is everything."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hahaha! Nothing we can do about it. Talent is unfair—just like Conqueror’s Haki, some people are simply born different."

Lucas: "Yeah! Look at you, Golden Lion. You use your feet to wield swords, yet your swordsmanship is still at the Advance level.

"You could easily crush Straw Hat Luffy one-handed—if you hadn't been struck by a random bolt of lightning, you'd be ruling the world by now."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Now that’s the kind of truth I like to hear!"

Lucas: "The story of Golden Lion Shiki teaches us a valuable lesson—don’t be pretentious, or you’ll be struck by lightning."

Golden Lion Shiki: "…"

Lucas: "Also, another important lesson—don’t stand on high places on cloudy days."

Golden Lion Shiki: "…"

Pirate King Roger: "Hahahaha! That reminds me of something—Shiki, you said you got struck by lightning and then lost to Straw Hat Luffy, right?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Yeah! What about it?"

Pirate King Roger: "Well, if you got struck by lightning, and you were fighting Luffy… why didn’t Luffy get struck, too?"

Golden Lion Shiki: "…He was hit. But he was fine. I think it has something to do with his Devil Fruit. He’s a Rubber Man, so he’s insulated."

Pirate King Roger: "Wait, is that true?"

Fire Fist Ace: "Yeah. Luffy ate the Paramecia Rubber-Rubber Fruit, so his body is literally made of rubber. He’s naturally immune to electricity."

Lucas: "It’s not just a theory—it’s a fact.

"Straw Hat Luffy once fought against a Lightning Devil Fruit user—a guy who could generate 200 million volts of electricity. Luffy got zapped repeatedly, but he wasn’t hurt at all."

Golden Lion Shiki: "200 million volts?! That kind of electricity should be enough to melt rubber!"

Lucas: "But it didn’t. That’s the power of Devil Fruit logic! Rubber is an insulator, so as long as he’s a rubber man, lightning can’t hurt him—no matter how strong it is."

As Lucas continued dodging Ain’s pink energy blasts, he effortlessly carried on the conversation in the chat group.

Pirate King Roger: "Speaking of which—what’s with that pink energy she keeps using? You seem to be avoiding it pretty seriously."

Lucas: "That’s because it’s the Return-Return Fruit’s (Modo-Modo no Mi) ability. If I get hit by it, my body will be forcibly reverted to how it was twelve years ago."

Lucas: "And that’s not something I can block. It’s a fixed-effect ability, not a physical attack."

Despite Ain’s persistent attempts, Lucas dodged every single blast, closing the distance between them with rapid footwork.

Then, in one swift motion, he slid behind her, bringing his sword up to her neck.

"You lose."

Ain’s breath hitched. For a moment, she hesitated—then sighed in defeat, reluctantly nodding.

In the distance, Zephyr’s eyes sparkled as he watched the fight unfold.

"This kid is good," Zephyr muttered, stroking his chin. "I’ve decided—I’ll personally train him!"

Beside him, Garp bit into another donut, shaking his head.

"Forget it, Z," Garp said casually. "Stick to hunting pirates. I’m the one responsible for training the new recruits now!"

Chapter 19: I Was Ignored. I’m So Angry!

Black Arm Zephyr saw a rare talent in Lucas and wanted to personally mentor him.

Iron Fist Garp, on the other hand, refused to back down.

What began as a small disagreement over who would train Lucas soon escalated into a full-blown argument between two of the Marine’s strongest veterans.

Neither was willing to concede.

Zephyr crossed his arms and smirked. "Garp, I’m not saying this to belittle you, but… you might be stronger than me in a fight, but when it comes to teaching, you’re absolutely terrible!"

Garp’s face stiffened. "Who the hell said that?! Coby and Helmeppo turned out just fine!"

Zephyr scoffed. "Come on, Garp. Everyone knows you only have one teaching method—punching your students until they get stronger."

Garp’s face darkened. "So what? As long as they improve, who cares how I train them?"

He folded his arms and added smugly, "Besides, I’m the official instructor for the new recruits now. You can’t just steal my student!"

Zephyr chuckled. "Oh, really? I don’t think it’s up to you.

"Sengoku is still acting as Fleet Admiral, and he gets the final say. You really think, with that old strategist’s brain, he’s gonna choose you over me to train this kid?"

Garp froze for a moment.

Zephyr had a point.

Although Sengoku had already resigned, the next Fleet Admiral hadn’t been officially chosen yet. Until that decision was made, Sengoku was still in charge—and his word was final.

If Zephyr went to him, Sengoku would probably side with Zephyr over Garp.

Lucas, meanwhile, ignored the old men bickering and turned back to Ain.

"Ain, right? We should spar again sometime."

He winked.

"But not today—I need a stronger opponent to really test myself."

Ain’s cheeks reddened slightly, but before she could respond, she noticed the glares from several male Marines watching nearby.

As one of the few women in the Marine, Ain was extremely popular. Seeing Lucas flirt so casually made the other men instantly jealous.

In the chat group—

Golden Lion Shiki: "Lucas, that’s enough! You came here to test your strength, not to pick up girls! Have some shame!

There’s nothing but old bachelors in this group. Don’t you feel guilty for flaunting your success?!"

Pirate King Roger: "Hey, hey, hey! Speak for yourself, Shiki!

It’s true that you and Whitebeard are old bachelors, but I had a wife!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hah! A lifetime of being single, and you only got married for one year. Does that really count?"

Pirate King Roger: "Of course it does! I even had a kid!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "You mean Whitebeard’s kid?"

Pirate King Roger: "Damn it…"

Whitebeard: "Enough arguing. Garp and Zephyr are approaching."

Fisher Tiger: "The Marine’s Iron Fist Garp and the Black Arm Zephyr… two of the most famous figures in the Marine!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Tch! Those two old bastards are already pushing their luck. I doubt they’ll live for much longer. Wonder if they’ll join the chat group after they die?"

Pirate King Roger: "Hahaha! Honestly, that wouldn’t be so bad. It’d be fun having old friends to chat with in the afterlife."

Whitebeard: "@Lucas, can they join?"

Lucas: "I have no idea.

But don’t you guys think it’s a little messed up to talk about what happens after they die… while they’re still alive?"

Fire Fist Ace: "Agreed!"

Ace sighed.

"Even though Garp interfered with my life, he was still my grandfather. Talking about his death like this feels wrong."

Golden Lion Shiki: "@Fire Fist Ace, what did you just call Garp?!

"You called him Grandpa!

" Shihahaha! That’s hilarious!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "@Whitebeard @Pirate King Roger—what do you guys think?!"

Whitebeard: "…"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Why so silent?! Say something!"

Pirate King Roger: "I’m tired. I don’t want to talk."

Whitebeard: "Me neither."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Don’t try to escape!

"Roger, weren’t you and Garp close? You two were practically brothers who just happened to be on opposite sides.

Now that your son calls him Grandpa, doesn’t that mean you should call him Dad?!"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

I regret everything.

I should’ve just left my son with Rayleigh instead…

Golden Lion Shiki: "And Whitebeard! You spent your whole life being called ‘Dad.’ But now, you’re suddenly Garp’s son. How do you feel? Any special emotions you’d like to share?"

Whitebeard: "…"

Fire Fist Ace: "Stop making things weird!

"I call Garp ‘Grandpa’ because I’m brothers with his grandson, Luffy.

"It has nothing to do with Roger or Dad!"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

I was ignored.

I’m so angry!

Chapter 20: Okay, Okay, What a Pleasure!

"Hahaha! Good, good, good!"

Garp strode forward, hands on his hips, grinning like an old lion. His booming laughter shook the air.

"Kid, we all saw your performance! Strong talent, solid skills—I like you!" He slapped his chest proudly. "Come train under me! I’ll personally take you in as my disciple!"

Before Lucas could respond, another voice interrupted.

"You want to teach him?" Zephyr stepped forward, arms crossed, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"I am former Admiral Black Arm Zephyr—I’ve trained more Marine officers than anyone alive, I even trained the Admiral. If he wants a real teacher, I’m far more qualified than you, Garp."

Garp scowled. "Oh, shut up, Z. Strength speaks louder than training! You’ve never even had a real fight with Roger!"

Zephyr sneered. "And who won your fights with Roger?"

The two veterans glared at each other, sparks flying between them.

Lucas, meanwhile, was busy ignoring them.

In the chat group—

Golden Lion Shiki: "These two old men are so damn shameless. Lucas, you’re not actually considering becoming their disciple, are you?"

Lucas: "Hell no. With all the skills I’ve already gained, what can they even teach me?"

Whitebeard: "That’s a good point! If you joined them, it’d be awkward for us. Imagine calling Garp ‘Teacher’ after everything we’ve said about him!"

Pirate King Roger: "I don’t see a problem! We’re Lucas’s elders, so it’s natural for him to respect us!"

"Ding! Pirate King Roger is muted for five minutes!"

Lucas muted Roger without hesitation.

Who told you to challenge the group leader’s authority?

With Roger effectively silenced, Lucas finally turned back to the two bickering old man.

"Sorry," he said, shaking his head. "I’m not interested in becoming anyone’s disciple. I believe my current skills are more than enough."

Garp laughed heartily. "Hahaha! What a confident brat!"

"But let’s see if you’re really strong enough!" He grinned, raising a massive fist. "Why don’t you have a match with me? Maybe after you lose, you’ll realize you still have a lot to learn!"

Lucas’s eye twitched slightly.

Fighting Garp?

That wasn’t just asking for a challenge—it was asking for a death sentence.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "Forget it. One step at a time—I’d rather start with a Vice Admiral."

Garp immediately brightened up. "Oh? A Vice Admiral?

"Well, that’s me!" He pointed to himself smugly.

Zephyr facepalmed. "Garp, have some shame!"

Garp shrugged. "What is shame? Can I eat it?"

Zephyr sighed.

In the chat group—

Golden Lion Shiki: "Lucas, what are you so afraid of? If Garp wants to spar with you, just accept! If you lose, so what?"

Whitebeard: "Exactly! This old man’s been asking for a beating for decades. Might as well be you who gives it to him!"

Lucas: "Easy for you to say! You think fighting Garp is that simple? Even when you were alive, you barely managed to hold him off!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Who said that?! When I was alive, it took both Garp and Sengoku together to handle me!"

Whitebeard: "I was the world’s strongest man. You understand what that means?"

Lucas: "Alright, alright—*f you guys want me to fight Garp, I need some compensation!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Tch. I knew you’d say that. Fine!"

"Ding! Golden Lion Shiki sent an exclusive red envelope [Armament Haki – Advanced] to group leader Lucas!"

"Ding! Golden Lion Shiki sent an exclusive red envelope [Observation Haki – Advanced] to group leader Lucas!"

Lucas: "Thank you, my Golden Lion buddy! Alright, then—watch me beat up Garp LIVE!"

With his newly boosted Haki, Lucas felt a surge of power in his body.

His Armament Haki wrapped around his fists, and his Observation Haki sharpened his senses to an unnatural level.

Lucas turned to Garp and grinned confidently.

"Changed my mind. Let’s do this."

Garp raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Now you’re interested?"

Lucas nodded. "Yep. I want to see just how strong you really are!"

Garp grinned wildly, rolling up his sleeves. "Now that’s what I like to hear!"

The two stepped onto the battlefield.

Garp waved his hand dismissively. "I’ll be nice—I’ll let you have the first attack."

Lucas didn’t waste time.

He charged forward, using Whitebeard’s signature footwork, and threw a massive punch straight at Garp’s face!

"Good move!" Garp roared with excitement, meeting Lucas’s fist with his own.

BOOM!

The shockwave from their clash rippled through the air, causing nearby Marines to stumble backward.

The onlookers were stunned.

"What kind of new recruit is this?!"

"He’s fighting Vice Admiral Garp head-on?!"

Even Zephyr narrowed his eyes.

"Hoh… this kid might be more than just talk."

Lucas and Garp continued exchanging heavy blows, their fists creating small craters in the ground with each impact.

Garp laughed heartily. "Okay, okay—great stuff!"

He flexed his hand, and a thick layer of black Haki coated his knuckles.

"Alright, kid! Let’s see if you can handle my real punches!"

Lucas grinned and activated his own Haki—his hands covered in deep purple, far denser than before.

"Mr. Garp, feel the full force of my Haki!"

Garp’s eyes sharpened.

This…

This felt familiar.

The movements… The Haki density…

It reminded him of someone.

But who?

No time to think.

The two clashed again.

"Iron Fist!!" Garp roared.

Their fists collided—sending shockwaves exploding outward.

The ground split apart beneath them.