"That's enough!"
Garp shouted, biting his lip. He knew Sengoku and Zephyr meant well—they just wanted justice for him.
He was deeply moved. A mist gathered in his tiger-like eyes."Klein's training is excellent. I've gotten way stronger these past few days!"
Then, he flashed a wide grin full of big, white teeth."A little pain? That's nothing for me, Garp!"
"The wound on my head just looks bad—it messes with my image a little, sure—but it'll be fine soon. Doesn't affect my training at all!"
Such a bold, carefree declaration left Sengoku and Zephyr stunned once again.
In that moment—
Garp seemed to radiate a dazzling light, nearly blinding the two.
Sengoku took a deep breath."Garp, I've always seen you as a rival. I won't lose to you!"
He turned and faced a battered old warship, pounding its hull like a madman—bang! bang! bang!
His fists cracked open, and blood seeped from his skin.
The pain shot through his nerves. He bit his lip."Damn you, Garp!"
"Don't think just because you picked up some martial arts that you can pull ahead of me!!"
Marine battleships were incredibly expensive. Even old ones were built from reinforced materials. That was one reason they chose to train here.
Before long, bloody smears appeared across the ship where Sengoku's fists had landed.
Zephyr vented his emotions in the same way."My talent isn't as great as yours—but I'll give it my all to catch up!"
Each punch echoed like the beat of a war drum.
It stirred the soul.
If even monsters like Garp and Sengoku were training this hard, how could anyone else slack off?
How could anyone complain? Take it easy??
Sleep? At this age, how can you even fall asleep??
Seventeen or eighteen is the age to fight!
Youth shouldn't be wasted!
And now that the Great Pirate Era had begun, even folks in their forties and fifties needed to fight!
In this new era? Seventies and eighties were still prime for struggle!
The only time you get to rest... is when you're dead.
If other cadets saw this, they'd probably cry tears of blood.
The grind was real.
These three deserved the title of Kings of Hustle.
Seeing Sengoku and Zephyr training like maniacs, Garp laughed heartily:"Hahahaha! Then let's all train together!"
Having comrades to walk the path with—it was something to truly cherish.
Bang!
Fist to steel."Let's become the finest Marines together!"
"Let's carve our legend into the seas!"
The full moon hung high above.
The bond between this Iron Triangle only grew deeper.
By the time they got back to the dorms…
It was already 5 a.m.
Have you ever seen Marineford at five in the morning?
Past 1 or 2 a.m., when Klein still hadn't seen them return, he'd already gone to bed. His expression was peaceful, his lips curled into a soft smile.
He was clearly having a pleasant dream.
BANG!
Sengoku kicked the bed frame, jolting Klein awake.
Fury erupted."Which bastard woke me up?!"
"Klein, explain why you went so hard on Garp!" Sengoku crossed his arms, afro blocking the dorm's fluorescent light.
Zephyr stood to the side, eyes sharp.
"Shut... Sengoku, Zephyr, this is my business." Garp reached to pull them back. Zephyr moved slightly. Sengoku didn't budge.
Klein sat up, lit a cigar, took a deep drag—"Hooooh—I call it customized instruction."
Then immediately roared:"So what if it hurts a little?! So what if he suffers?!"
"Garp hasn't complained—why are you two trying to stand up for him?"
"Bring it on!"
"Name the time and place!"
"Both of you at once is fine! Let's see if I can't beat the hell outta you!!"
The usually calm and easygoing Klein had snapped.
Damn it!
He'd been sleeping great!
The thing he hated most in this world?
Being disturbed during meals or naps.
Work hard all day, and you can't even eat or sleep in peace?
Lighting a lantern in a toilet—are you looking for death??
Klein's aura exploded—like a raging dragon, it felt like a solid force roaring toward Sengoku and Zephyr.
The sheer pressure made the others in the dorm tense up instinctively.
Pores tightened. Hairs stood on end!
As if—
As if some wild beast had appeared, one that could rip them apart any second.
'This pressure…!' Sengoku's pupils shrank. He broke into a cold sweat.
Zephyr fared even worse. His breathing turned shallow.'Klein… just how strong is Klein?!'
The atmosphere was suffocating, thick with gunpowder tension.
Garp, munching on a donut, tried to ease things."Everyone chill out. Klein's not wrong. Neither are you."
"Call him bro."
"..."
The vibe was immediately ruined.
Garp pouted."Bro, don't be mad. Sengoku and Zephyr meant no harm."
"Hmph." Klein snorted."Of course I know they meant no harm. Otherwise they wouldn't still be standing here."
They'd have been smashed flat by his Fist of Love already!
Garp scratched the back of his head and smiled."We're all brothers here."
He looked at Sengoku and Zephyr."This bit of pain? Compared to the growth I've gotten—it's nothing."
"Like Bro said—and we all know it—on these seas, strength is what keeps you alive!!"
"I'm willing to endure the pain of training for the sake of improvement!"
Sengoku looked at Klein and chose to apologize."Klein, sorry for waking you. I sincerely apologize."
He bowed ninety degrees in Japanese style.
Zephyr followed suit."Sorry, Klein!"
"Sleep!" Klein crushed his cigarette and went back to chasing his dream.
But his sleepiness had long vanished.
No chance of sleeping now.
So Klein simply launched: Genshin Impact!
He logged into the game.
Bought the day's packs early, cleared out the task list—burned through a hundred thousand Beli in one flurry of taps.
Still keeping up his full-pay streak.
Cleared daily quests, finished the battle pass missions—his level finally hit 100!
A reward icon popped up.
It was a scroll—the ultimate level 100 reward from the battle pass!
He clicked 'Claim'.
[Acquired: Conqueror's Haki Upgrade Scroll!]
Klein's heart surged."Finally maxed the battle pass!"
"Now I can level up my Conqueror's Haki again!"
He instantly used the scroll.
[Upgrade Successful!][Conqueror's Haki Level: LV.2 → LV.3][Attribute Bonus: …]
All stats across the board increased.
He could feel the changes instantly.
Something inside him had grown.
That power had become even more overwhelming!
Now, with just a thought, he could release his Conqueror's Haki.
Wipe the floor with fodder!
Klein wasn't quite as surprised this time—but he could clearly sense how big the boost was.
He was thrilled nonetheless. In his previous life, games were just games. Power didn't carry over to reality.
But this system was different.
That was what made it amazing!!
He believed that if he kept leveling up his Haki, someday surpassing Red-Haired Shanks would be easy!
Intimidation across vast distances!
Observation kill!
Vice Admirals wouldn't even survive his Conqueror's Haki!!
One man vs. an army!
Waging war solo against entire nations!
Just the thought made Klein giddy."Shanks, it's not that I don't respect you—but your name just doesn't carry enough weight anymore!"
"Keh keh keh keh—"
But then it hit him—Shanks was decades younger than him. There was still a chance he could 'adopt' the guy.
Real dad? Maybe not.
But godfather? That was still in the cards!
Ah yes—the perks of being older.
Klein snorted out a piggish laugh:"Hahahahaha—"
As soon as he claimed his reward, the game popped up a new message:
[One Piece Online – Update Announcement for X/X]
Maintenance Period: Sea Calendar 1462, X/X from 06:00 to 24:00
Please log out early to avoid losses.
New content and gameplay coming soon!
Look forward to it!
The game… was getting an update again??
Klein was both surprised and worried. Game updates meant new events.
And events meant… spending.
He'd better hold tight to his wallet.