Pirates: Seeing My Proficiency, I Became a Legend

"Little devil! Stop for the old man!"

In mid-air, Vice Admiral Garp's expression darkened as he propelled himself forward with Geppo (Moonwalk), fully expecting to close the distance between him and the brat ahead.

Yet, no matter how much force he exerted, the gap remained unchanged, fluctuating as if they were locked in an endless game of cat and mouse. Within mere moments, the pursuit had spanned dozens of miles, but Dongze, the little menace in front of him, showed no signs of slowing down.

It was like watching a rabbit fleeing from an enraged wolf—except this rabbit was carrying another person. That fact alone irritated Garp even more.

"Uncle! Why don't you stop first?! You keep chasing me, and I can't relax!" Dongze shouted, feigning exhaustion while adjusting his breathing.

Hearing this, Garp scoffed, his laughter booming.

"Hah! That's a good one! You think I haven't heard that before? Roger tried the same trick back in the day—thought he was clever, too! I won't fall for it this time!"

Dongze's face stiffened. Roger pulled the same stunt on Garp?

It made too much sense. If the legendary Gol D. Roger had been hounded by this old monster as fiercely as the history books claimed, then he must've pulled all sorts of dirty tricks to shake him off. And knowing Roger's mischievous personality, he would have absolutely tried something as shameless as baiting Garp into stopping just to make his escape.

Unfortunately for Dongze, that trick had been used up long ago.

"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath.

Despite his exceptional physical conditioning, honed beyond most elite warriors, he was still up against a man who had trained by punching mountains into submission. If Garp caught him, escaping would be nearly impossible. And considering who he was carrying, he couldn't afford that risk.

It wasn't just about protecting Robin—it was about what she represented. The last surviving reader of the Poneglyphs, the key to uncovering the Void Century, and someone whom the World Government wanted erased.

No way in hell I'm handing her over.

Garp, the so-called Hero of the Marines, had an ironclad reputation, but his personal sense of justice was unpredictable. Could he really be trusted to let them go?

No. The stakes were too high.

At this moment, Robin, still clinging to Dongze, squinted at the fast-approaching figure behind them. Unable to make out his features yet, she asked hesitantly, "Mr. Dongze, who… is that?"

Dongze didn't even pause as he took another step on the air, his speed momentarily spiking. He spoke just one word.

"…Garp."

Robin's blood ran cold.

"That's—Vice Admiral Garp?! The naval hero who hunted down the Pirate King himself?!"

The mere name sent shivers down her spine.

Meanwhile, Garp's powerful steps shattered the air behind him, creating shockwaves with each kick. The sheer force compressed the surrounding air into visible pressure pockets, creating miniature whirlwinds in his wake.

"Damn it! Old bastard! How the hell are you still speeding up?!" Dongze's frustration hit its peak as his feet turned jet-black, coated in Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki).

Instead of using pure momentum, he forced the air beneath him into submission, his movements becoming sharper, his acceleration nearly doubling.

For the first time, Garp's eyes widened in brief surprise.

"Oh? Busoshoku at this age? Hah! Not bad, brat!"

Garp grinned, but his amusement didn't slow him down. If anything, it only made him more determined.

The air behind him exploded with a burst of energy as he pushed forward even harder, the shockwave rippling outward and causing the surrounding clouds to twist.

Robin, watching the fierce exchange, finally spoke up again, her voice uncertain.

"Sir… you should let me go."

Dongze's heart clenched.

"If you keep carrying me, neither of us will escape," she continued. "He's right—you're already pushing yourself to the limit. If you let me down, you'll be lighter, and—"

"Enough."

Robin's eyes widened at Dongze's firm response.

"You're not heavier than my weapon." His voice was steady, unwavering. "I've carried worse. You? You barely weigh anything."

Robin fell silent. Her cheeks reddened slightly, but she tucked herself against his chest, making herself smaller to reduce wind resistance.

Dongze, meanwhile, was running out of time. He had to find another way—fast.

And then, a memory surfaced. A technique. A name.

"Iron Palm Floats on the Water."

With no time for second-guessing, he made his move. Lowering his altitude, his feet skimmed the ocean's surface without losing speed.

Garp's brows furrowed.

"What's he up to now?"

Before the vice admiral could react, the ocean erupted beneath Dongze's feet, sending a towering geyser of seawater into the sky.

The impact didn't slow Dongze down—instead, it did the opposite. The water beneath him solidified for a split second, giving him an additional burst of momentum.

He shot forward like a cannonball.

The sudden technique caught Garp off guard for the first time in their chase.

"What the hell—?!"

Not one to hesitate, he followed, but the water provided resistance far greater than the air. Within moments, their gap had widened again.

Garp gritted his teeth, unwilling to let the kid slip away so easily.

The chase continued over the waves, but now, for the first time since it began, Dongze had the advantage.

Then, something shifted.

A bright glow flashed across Dongze's vision—his Golden Finger (his unique power) finally activated.

[New Technique Acquired: Flying on Water]

The name had changed, but the essence remained.

With renewed confidence, Dongze launched himself forward. This time, it wasn't just running—he was truly flying across the waves. A white line streaked across the sea, cutting through the horizon like a sword stroke.

Garp, watching from behind, came to an abrupt stop.

He stared, completely dumbfounded.

"…wc."

A pause.

"…Is this brat a goddamn merman?!"