Chapter 12

In the ruined ward where Smoker previously stayed during his rejuvenation, the set of footsteps could be heard beyond its entrance.

Eventually, three marines revealed themselves at the entrance: Hina, Bastille, and a man who seemed to be a medic in service. Hina, in particular, was seen to be holding a plate full of food in particular.

"What happened here?" Hina, upon coming to sight this horrific state that the room was reduced to, asked to the medic urgently, "Did Smoker get attacked?"

"Wow, this looks like a disaster," Bastille commented as he looked around the room, trying to see if there is any clue to gain an insight of what happened here.

The medic seemed to be panicking, not knowing what to do. He looked at Hina, who was glaring at him, and gulped unconsciously, finding the 10 year-old girl frightening.

"Don't worry, your friend is fine," And in this situation, one middle-aged man, wearing the dandy-looking beige suit and hat, made his appearance while holding a cane in his left hand. His walk spoke nothing but elegance, and although Bastille had no idea who he may be, it was a different case with Hina.

"Vice Admiral Bogard." Hina immediately saluted while holding the food plate with her left hand.

"Long time no see, Hina. And I've heard of you as well, Bastille," Bogard made a slight nod, while placing his free hand on the medic's shoulder, "No need to pick on this innocent medic of ours. Your friend is fine, and is currently at the training ground."

"...Excuse me, sir, but what did you say just now?" Bastille immediately spoke up in a worry, "He was badly injured when we last saw him. And the first thing he does, upon finally regaining his consciousness, is to go to a training ground?!"

"Hina knows Smoker, Vice Admiral Bogard," Hina denied Bogard's words, "He may be aggressive at times, but he knows better than to stress his body during the period of recover."

"And as for that, haa..." Bogard adjusted his hat while sighing, "I believe that he was forced to do so, by Garp-san."

Turning around, Bogard said to the medic, "You are discharged. Go take some rest," before motioning at Hina and Bastille,

"Follow me. I will show you where he is," Bogard began to walk ahead, "I needed to go see Garp-san anyway."

__________

"...What are we doing here?" I couldn't help but ask as I stood in the middle of the empty training ground, in front of Garp, who had his arms crossed.

Even without any word from the huge man, I felt the dread creeping in. Knowing this man's character...

'Uh oh.'

"Call it an old man's curiosity," Garp grinned giddily, "I want to know your potential."

"It isn't—" Before I even had the time to retort, Garp launched himself as me, with the intent to fight,

"Come at me with all you've got!"

"—But you are the one coming at me, old man!!!"

I found myself in a huge panic. Although I felt that my body has practically recovered fully, I didn't know if it was safe enough to for me to engage in another fight,

'Not that being at my best changes anything, against this man!'

BOOOOM!

I jumped as high as possible, but still, the gusts of air, that exploded forth from Garp's punch, were enough to blow me away. The sheer force behind his attack was simply incredible, and I was left dumbfounded.

Furthermore, what was even more shocking was that Garp clearly held back against me, by a lot. I saw right when I jumped up, Garp's eyes moving along.

And for some reason, I found myself annoyed by this fact; was it that I was slowly becoming impulsive and rash akin to Smoker in the canon?

"You want a fight?" Although I had the idea that Garp was testing me right now, I growled in the midair, as Garp looked up at me in a relaxed position,

"Fine then."

The lower half of my body then morphed into smokes, upon my will. Subsequently, I propelled myself at Garp using the pressure generated by the continuously emitted smokes from my lower half.

'White Launcher!'

Garp watched my propulsion at him from the sky, without even taking a punching stance. Closing into the man, my arms exploded into huge mass of smokes, which instantly shrouded both Garp and me at the same time.

"White—"

However, before I could do anything, Garp suddenly barked at me,

"Quit using your fruit ability!!! That's not what I want to see!!!"

and just when he said that, I found my face being punched by Garp's huge fist.

BOOM! My body was instantly knocked down to the ground, and a single punch was enough to show me the stars that circled around my head.

'F***... I totally forgot about Haki, ugh...'

"Listen!" Garp placed his hands on his sides while shouting at me, "You got one hell of a fruit, I admit! However, over-reliance on such an ability will do nothing but hinder your growth!"

They were simple, yet face-slapping words. My eyes widened, and I couldn't help but feel as if an electrifying jolt has entered me.

'Smoker, in the canon, was inferior. To those without Haki, he was the White Hunter, the nightmare. However, to those with Haki, he was nothing but a cannon fodder #2.'

Who's number 1, you ask? Tashigi, of course—back to the topic.

Garp was right. If I wanted to become strong, I needed to restrict the use of my devil fruit. Honing the basics—especially my physical prowess—came first and foremost.

Taking in a deep breath, I wiped the blood off of my nose and stood back up, glaring at Garp once again.

"Heh, that's more like it," Garp said with a pleased tone as he saw my determination, before motioning his hand at me, "If you manage to land a strike on me, I will give your 20 million back. What do you say?"

"RAAAAAAAA!!!!!!" I roared like a wild animal as I ran toward Garp, having lost all my sense.

Using my momentum, I pushed my fist out to Garp's nose, intending to punch him.

Tap.

"Much better," Garp stated as he stopped my punch with his pinky finger.

And... I saw beforehand, him using that exact pinky finger to pick on his ear and nose.

"RAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!" Losing my sense, I threw flurries of punches and kicks without any rationality whatsoever. What was even more infuriating was the fact that Garp didn't even bother to dodge them; all my hits landed on the man's chest, and he wasn't reacting at all.

"Ahh..." Garp instead sighed with his eyes closed, "Nice massage there, brat."

"Huff... huff..."

Eventually, I ran out of energy. Feeling that my head was spinning, I fell on the ground while breathing heavily. Garp stood in front of me, with his eyes gleaming in wonders.

"Bwahaha!" Then, Garp laughed, pointing his finger at me childishly all of a sudden, "You look so pitiful right now!"

"Shut up, old man!!" I immediately barked back with a tickmark. For some reason, I found it awfully hard to keep myself calm in front of him.

But I admit, maybe this was the so-called 'manly' talk. Only a short time passed since I met Garp, but he already felt close to me; it really was a strange feeling to have.

Garp's laugh died down, and he leaned down to look at me from closer, causing me to wonder if he was feeling the same way.

Smiling, he then asked all of a sudden,

"Hey, Smoker, do you want to be my disciple?"

"...What?" Not having expected such an offer, I was rendered frozen.

'But... aren't I on my way to be taught by Zephyr, known as one of the greatest instructors? On the other hand, Garp...'

That's right. He was someone who believed that falling from cliff could make you strong—

'Hell no,' I said with a pale face, "No, no, no!!!"

Looking back up at Garp's outstretched hand, I was about to refuse it,

"Not that you have a choice, teheh!"

but Garp grabbed my hand, and forcibly shook it.

I immediately turned my hand into a smoke to escape from his hand, but he casually grabbed onto my smoke-turned hand using Haki, and continued to shake it.

"Don't worry, Smoker," Garp grinned as he finally let my hand go, "I will make you the strongest marine to ever have existed."

"...Oh, s***." Then, from my side, a voice was heard. Garp and I both turned to the source of the sound, and found the middle-aged man, wearing a beige coat and hat, covering his mouth due to his slip.

Hina and Bastille too were standing on the side, and they were looking at that man with dumbfounded expressions.

"Hmhm, I apologize for my slip." Lowering his hat, the man stated in a monotone.

They resumed their walk at the two of us. Garp stood up with the grin still intact on his face and awaited them.

"You're quick as always, Bogard!" Garp greeted the beige man with a friendly manner.

"Of course," Bogard leaned his head slightly downward, maintaining his stoic expression.

"Hey Smoker, you alright?" Meanwhile, Bastille waved at me as him and Hina came in front of me. Grabbing the hand that Bastille reached out for me, I stood back up.

Sighing, I said while looking at the two of them, "Hey guys... I think I'm f*****."