Chapter 32

"Hey, Shanks, how did Ross get so strong? Do you think we can become as powerful as him in the future?" On the Roger Pirates' side, Buggy couldn't help but inquire of his friend, observing my battle with wide-eyed wonder.

"Well, maybe it's possible. We just need to train like maniacs. I think we should have listened to Rayleigh-san when he told us to practice," Shanks mused, his gaze fixed on our skirmish.

"But do you remember that he used to spar with us whenever our groups clashed? Do you think he was holding back against us? Isn't he our age? How did he become so strong that he can even put Bullet-san at a disadvantage?" Buggy's curiosity was palpable as he marveled at my strength in the midst of battle.

"Of course he must have been. If not, how do you explain all this? Now, do you understand why you should stop being lazy? You know, I had always wondered why he would rush at Rayleigh San or Gaban San after he defeated us every time. Now it all makes sense. Maybe just maybe if you practice regularly, you'll have a chance against me in the future, hahaha," Shanks remarked jokingly, his tone light despite the seriousness of his words.

"Shanks! You...bastard! What's that supposed to mean? Even now, I'm stronger than you! Want me to prove it? Let's have a fight!" Buggy's competitive spirit flared as he jumped around, eager to establish his supremacy among friends.

"BOOM!!!"

But as their banter filled the air, the resounding shockwave from our clash of fists brought their attention back to the intense battle unfolding before them.

"You think you can stand against me, you little cunt? You're just a kid playing with fire. Let me show you true power!"

With an evil smirk on his face, Bullet roared into the sky, his body surrounded by crackling blue lightning. The very air seemed to pulse with his overwhelming Haoshoku Haki. He believed he could overpower me with sheer force, but little did he know, I had been honing my own Conqueror's Haki under the pressure of a powerhouse like Garp.

On the sidelines, little Shanks and Buggy watched in concern as Bullet unleashed his Haoshoku Haki. "Uh-oh, Ross is in trouble now," Buggy whispered nervously to Shanks. "Bullet San's Haoshoku is no joke!"

But I remained unfazed, meeting Bullet's taunts with a confident smile. "You talk big, Bullet, but let's see if you can back it up!"

As Bullet's Haoshoku surged with all his might, the ground trembling beneath us, I held my ground, channeling my own inner strength. With a determined glint in my eye and a smirk, I released my own Conqueror's Haki, a dazzling display of black lightning tinged with gold. The intensity of my aura eclipsed Bullet's, causing him to falter and take a step back. Despite his efforts to match my power, I could sense the uncertainty in his eyes as my Haki firmly suppressed his own.

The sudden shift caught Bullet off guard, his eyes widening in shock. "How... how is this possible?" he stammered, disbelief evident in his voice.

"Whoa Shanks! Did you see that? Ross can use Conqueror's Haki too!" Buggy exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment as he watched the scene unfold.

Meanwhile, Shank's inner self was in turmoil. "Did Ross just... match Bullet San's Haoshoku?" Shanks whispered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"I... I think so," Buggy replied, equally baffled. "But how? Ross is just a kid like us!"

Across the battlefield, right next to Shanks and Buggy, Scopper Gaban watched with a solemn expression, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a sense of gravity. The two little Roger's apprentices had no idea that if not for Gaban's passive protection, they might have already been knocked out. "This kid... he's something else," he murmured to himself. "If he keeps growing at this rate, he'll become an unstoppable force in the future. The Marines sure lucked out this time around."

On the central island, the clash reached new levels of intensity, with each strike sending shockwaves rippling through the air, a testament to the apex of strength in their world.

"Divine Departure!" Roger's cutlass 'Ace' sliced through the air, its edge coated in Haoshoku Haki. In response, Garp unleashed his signature move, "Galaxy Impact," his fist crackling with power as it collided with Roger's weapon. Lightning-like ripples emanated from the clash, their conquerors Haki battling for dominance in a fierce struggle.

The force of their collision sent both Garp and Roger hurtling through the air, their bodies crashing to the ground and skidding to a stop after several dozen meters.

Despite the gravity of their battle, Roger couldn't resist a jest. "Garp, tell me the truth. What have you been feeding that kid? Are you grooming some sort of monster to take on the World Nobles? I always knew you had a knack for causing trouble for those bastards, hahaha!"

Even in the midst of combat, Roger's jovial nature shone through as he marveled at the spectacle unfolding on the medium-sized island on the outer edge. He recognized the immense talent and potential displayed by Garp's protege, a testament to the Marine's unconventional methods of training.

As Garp rose to his feet, a fierce determination burning in his eyes, he couldn't help but respond to Roger's jest with a hearty laugh of his own. "Hahaha! You always did have a way with words, Roger. But let me tell you, that 'kid' you see down there isn't just any other recruit. He's the future of the Marines, the embodiment of everything I've worked for."

With a stern expression, Garp continued, his voice booming across the battlefield. "I didn't feed him anything but the spirit of justice and the will to protect! He's a Marine through and through, and I'll be damned if I let anyone tarnish that!"

His words were punctuated by a resounding yell, his Haoshoku haki flaring as he emphasized his point. "And you, Roger, should know better than to put weird ideas into my student's head! He's not some pawn for your pirate games. He's a beacon of hope, a symbol of righteousness in this world."

"Garp, you sure are a jester," Roger jeered, his voice echoing with a mixture of amusement and challenge. "And Rayleigh says you don't know how to make a joke. That kid becoming a Marine and serving those world nobles? Do you think it has even a remote possibility? I'm sure even you don't believe your own words, Garp. That kid can hear and speak to this world just like me. He will never be subservient in this lifetime. Mark my words, Garp, that kid is someone who was born to change this world." With his words punctuated by the surge of his conqueror's haki, Roger rushed forward, his aura blazing with determination, as he prepared to clash with his arch enemy once again.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the New World, the prisoner fleet carrying Kaidou and his captured crew lay anchored near an uninhabited island. Normally, they should have reached the Red Line by now after the prisoner transfer was completed, but for a certain reason, the Marine fleet continued to lurk within the waters of the New World. Within the largest flagship, inside the most secure brig, the world's strongest creature was imprisoned. Kaidou was bound tightly, even with his monstrous physique, leaving him with no chance of escape whatsoever.

Despite mostly recovering from the injuries sustained in the fight with Garp, Kaidou had never suffered such a humiliating defeat in his life since forming his own pirate group after the disbandment of Rocks Pirates. He had always believed he could roam the seas unchallenged, but the recent clash with Garp had taught him an important lesson. Tugging on the sea stone chains for the thousandth time since regaining consciousness, he strained against his confinement.

"How long are you going to watch? If you have nothing to say, you should leave. I don't like bastards like you who sneak around," Kaidou roared, glaring at a certain dark corner just outside the brig where he was held.

"Tak...Tak...Tak..." Steady footsteps echoed on the metal floor as two tall figures emerged from the shadows, led by a man garbed in a white suit with a white mask covering his face. The other person following the lead agent was similarly attired.

"Such a shame, Kaidou. There are rumors that you are the strongest creature in the world, and look where all that boasting has brought you. Maybe if you had steadily grown for another decade or so, you could have had a chance to stand against that man. But no, you had to go and challenge Garp, even after knowing he was directly involved in bringing down Rocks D. Xebec. Or did you think you were already at their level?" The lead agent from CP0 couldn't help but mock Kaidou in his current condition. Even the World Government was wary when dealing with Garp, yet a mere pirate, just because he had consumed the treasured Devil Fruit, wanted to challenge an apex powerhouse.

As Kaidou continued to struggle against the sea stone restraints, his frustration grew, with veins bulging in his neck as he strained against the unyielding chains. "If I break free from these bonds, I'll rip you all apart!" he threatened, his voice dripping with venom.

The leader of CP0, unfazed by Kaidou's threats, simply chuckled. "First, you'll have to be capable of breaking free, Kaidou," he taunted. With a smirk, he introduced the sea stone restraints as a new upgrade variant specially designed to restrain monsters like Kaidou. "No matter how much you struggle, your future is to spend your life in Impel Down until death," he added, his tone mocking.

Kaidou's expression twisted into one of displeasure, but he knew better than to act rashly. These CP0 agents wouldn't have approached him without an agenda. Making a mental note to remember this insult, he demanded to know what the CP0 agent wanted. Despite his estimate that they should have already reached Impel Down, he could sense they were still in the New World.

The CP0 agent's smile widened as he praised Kaidou for being able to detect their location despite being bound. He then went on to say that the World Government was willing to nurture him. However, Kaidou immediately refuted, declaring vehemently that he would never be the World Government's lackey.

"Bastard, do you think I would become the government's dog? Keep dreaming." Kaido bellowed in anger the sea-stone chains rattling under the sudden outburst.

Before Kaidou could get any angrier, the CP0 agent stopped him. "I'm not suggesting servitude, Kaidou. We're looking for a sort of cooperation," he explained calmly.

Kaidou paused, contemplating the agent's words. What kind of game was the World Government playing? As he mulled over the offer, the tension in the air thickened, each moment pregnant with uncertainty and potential consequences.

As Kaidou's eyes narrowed, his voice rumbled with skepticism. "Cooperation, you say? What could the World Government possibly want from me?"

The CP0 agent's smile remained inscrutable as he responded, "The World Government recognizes your strength, or should I say your future potential, Kaidou. We believe there are ways we can mutually benefit from a partnership."

Kaidou's lip curled in disdain. "Mutual benefit? You mean to say you want to use me as a weapon against your enemies?"

The CP0 agent's expression remained unreadable. "Think of it more as an alliance of interests. We have resources and influence that could be of use to you."

Kaidou's eyes flashed with defiance. "I don't need the World Government's resources. I can carve my own path in this world."

The CP0 agent tilted his head slightly, his tone taking on a hint of persuasion. "Consider this, Kaidou. With our support, you could expand your influence beyond the New World. Imagine the power you could wield with the backing of the World Government."

Kaidou's gaze hardened. "I have no interest in ruling the world as your dog. I seek only to create a place where the strong can thrive, and with my own strength, I will one day rule the world."

The CP0 agent's smile turned enigmatic. "And we respect that, Kaidou. But tell me, how are you planning to achieve that now that you are imprisoned and don't think you can escape this time around? So,consider this an opportunity to further your goals. With our cooperation, you could achieve heights you never dreamed possible."