7 Brutal Training

A while later

Kong came out to the deck to see Galan in a white Marine shirt, tied at his waist to fit, with the pants he came in with and no shoes. The boy was scrubbing the blood and brains off the deck with a sponge, picking up the pieces and putting them in a bucket.

Kong crossed his arms and turned his head to see Jonathan watching on the side, holding a mop. Kong said "Lieutenant." Jonathan looked over and smiled "Vice-Admiral." Kong pointed at Galan wordlessly and Jonathan turned back to the boy, sighing, "He cleaned himself up 10 minutes after you left and he hasn't dropped the smile on his face since. I offered to help but he refused."

Kong raised a brow and muttered "He did, did he?" before raising his voice "Choreboy!" Galan turned around and stood up, saluting "Sir." Kong looked at him, his messy black hair, bright blue eyes, and cute little face might tell a story of an innocent little boy to the untrained eye…

But Kong saw a fire raging behind those pupils, a thirst for the blood of evil men. His Observation Haki was no joke, just looking at Galan, he could feel the surging righteous fury underneath his fake expression.

Kong snorted and looked at Galan, saying "You won't get far like that, kid." Galan blinked in confusion as Kong added, "I can feel your real emotions underneath that fake smile…" before turning to Jonathan, ordering, "Collect all the books you can find and force him to read 'em. Then I want you to teach him how to control himself, he's gonna get himself killed like this."

Jonathan saluted and Kong snorted, looking at Galan, saying "Tomorrow, back of the ship, crack of dawn. If you're late you can swim back to that shithole you call home, are we clear?" Galan saluted and replied "Crystal, sir!" Kong nodded and returned to his quarters.

Jonathan snorted gently and rested his chin on the mop as Galan returned to cleaning, his shotgun on his back.

When he was finished, he tossed the bodies and guts off the ship before Jonathan brought him along, playing chess and teaching him.

During the night

Kong walked out of his cabin to see Galan sitting in front of a burning sack. He could see burnt pictures of children and snorted in annoyance as he watched the fire burn along with Galan, who was hiding his knees in front of the fire that had been placed on damp wood.

Smoke rose up and Galan clutched the Sun Pendant, muttering "Rest in peace, friends I didn't know…" he rubbed the pendant with his thumb, not praying exactly… His faith was already destroyed. He was more so hoping that if this God really did exist, he could take care of the innocent children and his mother.

It was only a hope in the end…

Galan paused and turned his head to see Kong standing behind him with his arms crossed. He looked up and said "Sir." Kong sighed and said "I heard you believe in the Sun God." Galan smiled slightly and turned back to the fire, replying "Not anymore."

Kong was silent for a few seconds, "When I was a kid we used to pray for rain everyday." Galan stayed silent and Kong snorted in amusement, walking away as he added, "Let's get started." Galan turned his head and asked "Did the rain ever come?" Kong paused before replying "My sister starved to death just to prove to me that God was an asshole. Come on."

Galan stood up and walked away from the fire, just as a light drizzle settled in, dousing the fire as Galan followed Kong to the back of the ship.

Neither commented on the weather at all as Galan put his shotgun down with his Sun pendant, just off to the side.

Kong stood across from him and said "I took a look at your training manual. It's a wonder you even got a hold of any sort of Haki at all. That cementhead Jensen was always dumber than a pile of shit after all. Good Marine, rocks in his head. I think you need some re-educatin'."

Galan nodded and took a stance, Kong shook his head and said "We have a long way to go, you little asshole." as he punched Galan in the face just as Galan ran at him, sending him flying across the deck.

Kong held out an all black fist saying "Your Haki is weak, like paper. This is Haki. Remember this feeling, pain will be your friend for a long time." Galan got up slowly, already seeing stars as Kong added, "You'll be tough as nails when I'm done with you, boy. Have every dickless faggot runnin' at the mention of yer name." Galan nodded and replied "Yes, sir." as he ran at Kong again, throwing a punch, but breaking his hand entirely just on Kong's leg.

Kong kicked him, smashing him into a barrel as he said "You're lucky a group of pirates didn't pick you up, boy! Your weak ass would've been a glorified toy for every faggot on the sea! Again!" Galan grit his teeth and roared, punching Kong with all he had, but Kong caught the fist, slamming Galan into the deck as he shouted "I killed your pathetic mother, boy! Kill me!"

Galan groaned like an animal, jumping up and waving his arms wildly, to no avail as Kong elbowed him in the back, smashing him back into the deck as he said "Pathetic. Get up."

Galan got up before being smashed face first into the deck again…

And again… and over and over long after the sun rose.

The Marines were already watching from all over the ship, muttering "Vice-Admiral is going too far, right? He's just a kid… What happened to his parents… Tragedy…" there were whispers and sighs all around.

Jonathan had his arms crossed with a frown as he watched Galan get his teeth knocked out by Kong's knee, he gripped his arms and flinched, almost unable to bear it.

Finally, Galan was knocked unconscious and Kong said "Get the Medic. We're done for today…" but Galan grabbed his pant leg, lying on the ground face first. Kong looked down and said "Speak up, kid!" Galan whispered something and Kong lifted him up by his collar, shouting "What was that?!"

Galan spit blood in his face and said "Fuck you." the Marines were silent and Kong wiped his face, saying "Got good spirit, kid. I'll give you that. Tomorrow, same time." before tossing Galan to Jonathan and walking away.

Jonathan caught him and ran off to the medics.

When Galan woke up, Jonathan told him that Kong wasn't giving him any rest time. They started their teaching session at once, though Jonathan gave him a little bit of rest, some leeway in between beatings.

Day after day, the weeks turned to months, and months turned to a year.

A year of being beaten and taught every day without rest.

The only reason they stopped was because they came to Marineford.