1 Chapter 1 : Portgas D. Noel

East Blue, Windmill Village.

In the heart of a dense forest, two silhouettes danced, flickering amidst the chaos. A ferocious wind swept through the area, punctuated by the resounding clash of their blows, shattering the nearby trees.

With another thunderous impact, both combatants recoiled, creating distance between them.

"So strong..." Ace muttered in astonishment, his gaze fixated on the two figures now separated.

Luffy nodded vigorously in response to Ace's words, his eyes reflecting his own amazement, directed towards the blond man in the clearing.

Indeed, these two individuals were Ace and Luffy. One of the fighters in this intense bout was none other than the Marine hero, Garp, who also happened to be their grandfather. The other was their brother, Portgas D. Noel.

Noel sported short, golden hair and a bare chest that showcased his robust physique and handsome features. Sweat dripped from his body, but an aura of formidable determination emanated from him.

Noel massaged his tingling arm as he glanced across at Garp, who stood not far away. Even he couldn't help but be astounded by the old man's incredible strength, akin to a monstrous force of nature.

The transmigrant, Noel, had never expected to find himself in the world of pirates, let alone being adopted by Ace's mother and becoming his older brother. Naturally, he came equipped with the standard accouterments of a transmigrant: a cheat, thanks to the god-level lottery system that had recently been reactivated.

Garp, too, found himself in disbelief as he observed Noel closely. He hadn't anticipated that the kid would grow so powerful in just two years. Noel had mastered Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and even awakened Conqueror's Haki. Not to mention, he now wielded the powers of a Devil Fruit, though Garp couldn't quite identify which one it was.

In their prolonged battle, Noel had displayed a range of mysterious and terrifying abilities – manipulation of gravity, gravitation, repulsion, and magnetism. Even Garp, with his extensive knowledge, was left puzzled by the nature of Noel's Devil Fruit.

Noel, however, remained oblivious to Garp's thoughts. Contrary to appearances, his abilities did not stem from a Devil Fruit, but rather from his unique skill set granted by the system: a force field ability that governed all aspects of force manipulation, including gravity, gravitation, repulsion, and magnetism. It was nothing short of a monstrous ability.

"Hahaha, kid, who would've thought you'd become a 'D' as well as a capable person. Interested in joining the old man and becoming a Marine...?" Garp's body quivered briefly before breaking into a wide grin, gradually dispelling his fearsome aura.

Though he was immensely curious about where Noel had learned Haki and acquired his Devil Fruit powers, Garp refrained from prying further. Noel had always been an enigmatic figure since childhood.

Before Noel could respond, Luffy interjected from a short distance away, shouting, "No, Noel's gonna be part of my crew from now on!"

Ace couldn't help but twitch at Luffy's declaration. As the grandson of a Marine hero, it was unthinkable to openly declare oneself a pirate. It was practically inviting disaster.

As expected, Garp suddenly vanished and reappeared next to Luffy in the blink of an eye, his fist descending with thunderous force.

Smack! Smack!

The forest echoed with screams as Luffy crashed into the ground. Noel shook his head with a sigh, watching Luffy's plight.

But as far as joining the Marines or any other group was concerned, Noel had no interest. He had never been one to take orders from others, a trait ingrained in him from his past life.

"Noel, are you setting sail tomorrow?" Ace approached with a smile, well-acquainted with his older brother's demeanor. After all, Noel was one of his few relatives in the world.

"Yes, I'm setting sail tomorrow..." Noel glanced at Garp and smiled, nodding in confirmation.

Noel, who had crossed into this world as a baby and been rescued by Rouge, was now three years older than Ace and six years older than Luffy. Naturally, Garp, who overheard their conversation, felt a bitter pang in his heart. All three of his grandsons were aspiring pirates.

Thinking of Noel's incredible strength, Garp couldn't help but feel sorry for Sengoku. It was only a matter of time before Noel's fame spread throughout the seas.

"Tomorrow, I'll catch up with you and become the Pirate King. It's gonna be me!" Ace declared with unwavering determination, even in the face of his admired older brother.

"Do your best," Noel replied, pausing for a moment as he met Ace's resolute gaze, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Whoosh!

"Little devil, declaring yourself as the future Pirate King in front of this old man – isn't that a bit presumptuous...?" A gust of wind blew through as Garp appeared between them, his fists descending once more.

In the next instant, Ace, who hadn't reacted in time, was sent flying, and Noel's eyes narrowed. He coated his fist in Armament Haki and retaliated.

Boom! Boom!

Their fists collided, causing the ground to tremble. Garp remained unfazed, while Noel was pushed back a few steps.

Garp sighed and spoke solemnly to Noel, "Boy, don't you go and die on me."

"Of course," Noel responded, nodding firmly, his eyes meeting Garp's cautious gaze.