8 Chapter 8: Neptunians! Mera -Mera No Mi!

On the shores of an unnamed isle, the sea's whispers accompanied a peculiar scene.

"Hahaha, watch closely, Ace! My fishing skills are second to none in the Navy, and that's saying something," Garp boasted, his large frame handling the oversized rod with ease, as he glanced at Ace with a challenging smirk.

Ace, unfazed by the size of his own rod, was nonchalant, his attention fixed on the sea, ready to outdo his grandfather.

With a casual toss, Ace sent his line flying, baitless.

"Haha, rookie mistake! You can't expect a catch without—"

Before Garp could impart his wisdom, the sea surged, and a herring of epic size leapt up, caught by Ace's hook.

"Crack, snap, snap!" The herring, a behemoth of the sea, flailed on the rocky shore.

"What was that about bait, old man?" Ace teased, his youthful bravado on full display.

"Ahem! That was pure luck, boy. But there's more to fishing than luck," Garp retorted, his competitive spirit ignited by Ace's success.

As Garp prepared to share his expertise, the sea bellowed again, and Ace landed a marlin even larger than the herring.

Garp stood agape, his eyes wide as saucers, as the two giant fish flopped on the rocks.

"Huh? What's the matter, grandpa? Lost your touch?" Ace jibed, feigning concern.

"Ha! You think that's impressive? Watch and learn. I'll snag a Neptunian that'll make those look like guppies!" Garp declared, his face a mask of fierce determination.

This island was no random choice; it was a training ground surrounded by Neptunians, the true rulers of the sea.

Garp had seen Ace's potential; ordinary creatures were mere child's play to the boy. But Neptunians, they were the real test.

"Neptunian Class?" Ace's eyes sparkled with the thrill of the challenge.

"Exactly! They're the titans of the ocean, unmatched in their ferocity and strength," Garp said, his eyes scanning the horizon for a worthy opponent.

"Is it one of these?" Ace dove headfirst into the sea, his silhouette vanishing into the depths.

With a Herculean effort, Ace emerged, dragging an eel-like Neptunian, hundreds of meters long, from the abyss.

"That's it! The Neptunian Class!" Garp nodded, a proud grin spreading across his face.

But the Neptunian, enraged, charged at Ace with a roar that shook the heavens.

"Hey! Ace!" Garp's voice was laced with concern; he was ready to dive in after his grandson.

This Neptunian was a beast beyond the boy's current reach, or so it seemed.

"Buzz!" Ace's gaze intensified, a dark aura swirling in his eyes.

"Boom!" A shockwave of willpower burst forth from Ace, stopping the Neptunian in its tracks.

And then...

"Boom!" The Neptunian collapsed, its colossal body floating motionless on the water's surface.

"Co, Haoshoku no Haki!" Garp exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and pride, as Ace hauled the unconscious Neptunian to shore.

He had known of Ace's latent power since the boy's birth, when the outburst of Haoshoku no Haki had been formidable. Yet, what left Garp truly astounded was the precision with which Ace wielded it now. Unlike Garp or even Roger, who had released their Haoshoku no Haki indiscriminately upon awakening, Ace had directed his solely at the Neptunian.

Such control was unprecedented. The ability to distinguish friend from foe, to target an enemy so accurately with Haoshoku no Haki, was something that came with rigorous training and discipline. And here was Ace, merely seven, mastering this feat intuitively, without any guidance.

This was unheard of, a feat not even Garp or Roger had achieved at such a young age. Garp stood there, utterly dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, Ace paid no mind to Garp's astonishment. Having dragged the Neptunian onto the rocky shore, his gaze was now fixed on a peculiar sight—a piece of the creature's skin on its abdomen. There, nestled among the scales, was a fruit ablaze with fire.

Ace recognized it instantly.

Mera - Mera No Mi!

A voice echoed within Ace's mind, as if the very essence of the fruit was speaking to him.

"Your understanding is incredible! The Mera - Mera Fruit is drawn to your remarkable insight!"