Paradise, the first half of the Grand Line.
Back at sea, the Roger Pirates weren't in any rush for the New World. Taking a different route, they drifted like a sightseer's cruise, lingering half a month or more on any island that caught their fancy as if searching for something.
Of course, they still couldn't shake that tenacious "sticking plaster" trailing them everywhere.
That plaster was Vice Admiral Garp. He flashed a feral grin. "Bring me some cannonballs!"
"Time to send the Roger Pirates my warmest regards!"
Marines hustled up with the heavy shells. Garp grabbed one in a single hand and like skipping a stone
Whoosh!
The cannonball tore forward in a straight line, no arc, no gun smoke just raw speed, screaming across the water at the Oro Jackson.
Midflight, a blade of light cleaved the shell in two. It detonated harmlessly in the air, the blast heaving a wall of water that slapped the pirate ship broadside.
On deck, the crew moved in a whirl: hands trimming canvas to grab the wind, gunners primed, the helmsman easing the wheel.
Roger planted his boots on the rail and bellowed across the chop, "Hey! Old rival! You gonna tell me what's with the whole sea buzzing about Ares's new bounty?"
After their clash a year ago, Tengetsu Ares had vanished without a trace until now. The news had stunned the entire crew.
"Oh, that kid?" Garp dug a finger in his nose and said it like the weather report. "He robbed a ship carrying Heavenly Tribute and killed a Celestial Dragon."
Behind him, a dozen Marines dropped their jaws in unison, turning to stone on the spot. Classified didn't begin to cover it. And Garp had just… told the enemy.
Another vice admiral, Prodi, cracked a fist down on Garp's head. "You idiot! That's classified! How can you blab it so casually?"
"Huh? That was classified?" Garp's eyes bulged the picture of a man who'd just realized he'd said the quiet part out loud.
Across the water, Roger's grin slanted. "That brat did something outrageous, all right. Wonder when and where we'll cross paths next."
Rayleigh's smile was wry. "Yeah. He felt terrifying even then. Mythical Zoans are rare for a reason."
"You've been training like a madman this past year," Roger said, draping an arm over his shoulder, all sun and mischief. "Next time you'll beat him!"
"I hope so," Rayleigh answered, cool as ever but in his mind: Tengetsu Ares, your name's on every tongue now. Next time we fight, I won't let you down.
Hachinosu (Pirate Island).
"Big bro Ares, this one and three more after!" Kaido slung an arm around Ares's shoulders and shoved a brimming mug at him.
Ares matched him with a laugh. "Bottoms up!"
Their toast would've passed for a barrel to anyone else their frames left ordinary measures behind.
Around the bonfire, pirates sang themselves hoarse and drank themselves sideways. Laughter, smoke, sparks.
At the edge of the firelight, a small figure hovered eyes fixed, burning, on the towering, iron-hewn silhouette of Tengetsu Ares.
Charlotte Katakuri.
He bit down, set his face like stone, and marched out of the shadows.
The revelers scarcely noticed the child weaving between them until he stood in front of Ares, head tipped back to stare up at the living cliff above him.
"Captain Ares will you teach me to become stronger?" His voice was still a boy's, but it carried.
Ares blinked, then smiled. "I barely have enough time for my own training. I don't have time to teach you."
Katakuri froze. He'd braced for rejection but not that reason. The speech he'd prepared crumbled. He blurted, "Th-then I'll train with you!"
"Bwahaha…" Kaido nearly spat his drink. "Oi, brat, do you have any idea how we train? With those twig arms and legs? Come back when you're grown!"
"Who says I can't?" Katakuri's little face flushed hot with pride. "If it makes me stronger, I'll endure any hardship. I want to be as strong as Ares!"
Pfft Kaido sprayed ale and pounded his chest, howling. "Puhahaha! Clueless little runt. 'Be as strong as big bro Ares,' he says. As if!"
"There's only one Ares in this world!"
The needling didn't stop. Katakuri's hands balled into fists. "No matter how much sweat or pain it takes I'll do it!"
He turned from Kaido and bowed to Ares at a crisp ninety degrees. "Please let me train alongside you!"
Ares frowned slightly the kid was so young. But in those eyes he saw something familiar: the kind of stubborn will he knew in his own bones.
After a beat, he asked, "Kid, what's your name?"
"Katakuri." He straightened, meeting the beast-heat in Ares's gaze without flinching.
Ares's brows eased; a grin broke through. "All right. You can tag along with us. But I won't be teaching you for now. What you learn is up to you."
"I'll stick with it!" Katakuri beamed though the split at the corner of his mouth made even his smile look a touch feral.
"Tch… another pint-sized headache," Kaido grumbled. "The world isn't kind enough to pay you back just because you work hard."
"Hard work doesn't lie!" Katakuri shot back, eyes blazing. If he had the strength, he'd have charged Kaido then and there just to prove a point.
For now…
His strength didn't allow it.
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