One Piece: Awaken The Replication System

Mount!

Boom!

The ground shook, trees snapped, birds scattered, and animals fled in panic. The shouts from the forest were deafening. A drunkard sat on the ground, terrified.

Kuina, Kuro, and Luwell watched cautiously.

"Ow, ow, let me go, Grandpa!"

"Shut up, brat!"

"You two! Instead of training properly, you caused trouble. You make me furious!"

The trees swayed violently. In the front, a towering figure stepped forward with a crab-like stride, gripping Ace in his right hand and Luffy in his left. Luffy's arm stretched and bounced like rubber—springing up and down repeatedly.

The man was tall, broad-chested, and muscular, with a scar over his left eye, blue eyes brimming with wisdom, and short gray hair. He was none other than Marine Vice Admiral, Monkey D. Garp.

Suddenly, sensing outsiders, Garp stopped and turned his head, instantly wary of the unfamiliar faces before him.

"Who are you?"

The tallest mountain near the village, stood as part of a U-shaped semicircle surrounding the Kingdom of Goa, forming a natural defense. Outside the ring were flatlands dotted with villages like Foosha Village, loosely under the kingdom's rule. Mount's dense, primeval forests were teeming with danger: towering tigers, massive bears, and giant centipedes, making passage treacherous for ordinary people. Bandits and rogues frequently hid here, drawn by the remoteness and peril.

Garp had chosen this place to raise Ace in Dadan's care, trusting its concealment. But the sudden appearance of strangers made Garp uneasy. Ace's existence had to remain a secret.

However, Garp was no fool. Acting rashly could lead to disaster.

"Huh? It's you—the guy who beat Shanks!" Luffy suddenly shouted, staring at Leno with puffy eyes.

"Beat Shanks?" Garp, Ace, Kuina, Kuro, and Luwell were stunned, turning to look at Leno. Only the drunkard seemed clueless. Not everyone was familiar with the happenings on the sea.

"Wow, you really beat Shanks?" Luwell said, awestruck.

Shanks had been a hot topic in the newspapers. Those destined to become one of the Four Emperors had to endure numerous legendary battles to gain the world's recognition.

Leno coughed awkwardly. "Well, he wasn't that strong at the time, was he?" Leno explained sheepishly. It had been a gamble rather than an achievement worth boasting about.

Curious, Leno turned to Luffy. "How did you recognize me?"

Luffy, still dangling from Garp's grip, clenched his small fists. "Feel, feel!" he declared, squirming in Garp's grasp. "Grandpa, let me go! I'm gonna blow him away! Damn it!"

Garp frowned. Despite Luffy's usual carefree nature, his instincts were sharp when it counted. But right now, Luffy was far from being a match for Leno.

"Gomu Gomu no…" Luffy stretched his arms, landing on the ground before rushing at Leno.

"Luffy, come back!" Garp pulled Luffy back, sending him sprawling.

Boom! Garp's left fist landed on Luffy's head, a bump forming instantly.

"Ah, it hurts..." Luffy whined, clutching his head.

Leno looked at Garp, who asked, "Did you really hit Shanks?"

Leno hesitated. "It was… ," he said, visibly uncomfortable.

Garp sighed regretfully. "Next time you meet, hit him harder. If I meet that guy…" He shook his fist in frustration. Shanks had spoiled his grandson, who'd even eaten a Devil Fruit because of him. It was the reason Garp couldn't bring Luffy to Marine training, opting to hide him away instead.

"Grandpa!" Luffy protested, his straw hat back on his head. Shanks was his idol—the freest pirate in his eyes.

"You brat, stop causing trouble!" Garp scolded, grabbing Luffy by the collar. He glanced at Leno's group, realizing they weren't here for Ace. Assured of this, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Leno called out.

"What now?" Garp grumbled, pausing in his tracks.

With a swift leap, Leno blocked Garp's path, facing him directly. "I heard Vice Admiral Garp's fist is the hardest in the world?"

Garp chuckled, feigning modesty. "Ha, ha ha, is it?"

"How could that be true? Shanks is the best!" Luffy exclaimed, his loyalty unshaken.

Garp's smile stiffened. Luffy, you're too honest! What's Shanks been feeding you?

Irritated, Garp decided to teach Luffy a lesson about the true power of his "Iron Fist" and restore a little of his dignity. He turned to Leno, silently challenging him.

Leno's playful smile faded. He unsheathed the sword Dragon Sparrow from his waist, gripping it firmly with both hands. Armament Haki began to harden around the blade, its dark surface reflecting the sunlight.

"Hey, that's Garp, the Marine hero!" Luwell gasped, feeling a chill run down her spine. Garp's reputation was legendary, his strength unmatched.

Kuro adjusted his glasses. "This isn't a wise move."

Kuina, eyes locked on Leno and Garp, said confidently, "You must have the courage to draw your sword against a formidable opponent."

Garp's eyes narrowed at the sight of the blackened blade. "Armament Haki?" he noted, realizing Leno was no ordinary East Blue rogue.

Garp tossed Ace and Luffy aside and said firmly, "Watch closely!"

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg

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