Thud!
A man wearing a red vest and a straw hat jumped down, landing on the mound while holding several swords in his arms.
After standing firm, the man adjusted his straw hat and looked around, finally spotting someone tied up on the training grounds.
The man grinned widely and ran excitedly: "Hey! Zoro, I found your swords! Hahaha!"
Bam!
From the mound, an arm burst through the rubble.
At the same time, a large number of marines rushed over from behind.
"Don't let the intruder get away!"
"Chase him!"
"He's going to rescue Roronoa! After him!"
Rumble!!
White uniforms rushed past, trampling the mound flat and leaving countless messy footprints.
The exposed arm twitched pitifully in the rubble.
A breeze blew past, lifting a few dry leaves, adding even more bleakness.
...
Bang!
"Pwah!! Bleh! Bleh!"
The pile of debris exploded outward as Alan emerged, covered in dirt. He spat out sand angrily.
After pulling himself out, Alan glared at the training grounds.
"These bastards!"
He wasn't injured; his body was strong enough to tank cannon fire. A few stones weren't enough to kill him.
But the pain was absolutely real!
"Those idiot marines! And...!"
"Eh? Straw Hat?"
Seeing that figure, Alan froze for a moment, squinting and leaning closer until he confirmed the identity.
Luffy?
Morgan's base?
Was he here to rescue Zoro?
Alan rubbed his chin as he recalled the plot.
"So that means I arrived around the time Luffy went out to sea?"
While he was thinking, a cold and gloomy voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"What are you doing here?"
A tall, burly shadow loomed over him. Alan turned his head toward the voice and saw the grim-faced Morgan glaring down at him.
"Oh, Captain Morgan. Good afternoon."
Alan smiled and greeted him with a raised hand.
"Mm...?!"
Morgan's eyes widened, his expression more angry than surprised.
Then he leaned forward and roared: "I'm asking you! Why aren't you up there fighting and catching those two?!"
"Huh?"
Alan blinked, glanced at Luffy and Zoro wreaking havoc on the field, then pointed to himself.
"Me? You want me to catch that straw hat Kid and Roronoa?"
"No, no, no, Captain Morgan, there must be some misunderstanding. How am I supposed to beat them?"
Alan waved awkwardly.
Are you kidding me? Those two were max-level beginners.
He could try fighting one... But taking both?
In the entire East Blue, aside from Smoker with his Logia Devil Fruit advantage, there probably wasn't anyone who could do it.
But Morgan didn't care about his explanation, and his face twisted in rage.
"You dare to defy my orders?!"
"I don't need useless trash as a subordinate! It's either... Them... Or me!"
While shouting, Morgan placed his left hand on the axe mounted on his right arm, the blade shining coldly as a threatening light flickered in his eyes.
"Well... If you put it like that..."
Alan scratched his cheek, then looked at the ongoing battle.
Under the shadows, the corner of his lips slowly curled upward.
He looked back at Morgan with a playful look: "Isn't it obvious? Taking you down is way easier, my dear Captain Morgan..."
"What did you say?!"
A sudden chill rushed up Morgan's spine.
His body trembled, and he unconsciously stepped back.
He didn't know why, but Alan suddenly felt like a wild beast ready to pounce, making his heart pound with fear.
"You...! You bastard!"
Realizing his own fear, Morgan's face flushed with humiliation and anger, veins bulging on his forehead.
He roared and raised his gigantic axe.
But someone moved even faster than him!
Before Morgan could swing, Alan's expression turned cold, and scarlet light filled his eyes.
Twisting his body, his right leg snapped out like a whip and smashed into Morgan's face!
Crack!!
"Gwah!!"
Morgan spat blood, his eyes rolling upward.
Whoosh!
Boom!!
Under the monstrous force, Morgan flew backward like a cannonball, crashing through a wall and disappearing inside the base.
"Not bad. It feels completely different from before."
Alan lowered his leg and tapped his toe in satisfaction.
Marines Headquarters' training was strict; even ordinary Marines did 2,000 two-finger push-ups daily, climbed ropes a hundred times, ran two hundred laps, and had to spar with others.
A high kick like that was basic to him.
But this time, it felt utterly different.
Not just the bodily enhancement from Hanma's blood, the movement smoothness, power generation, striking angle, timing... Everything felt instinctive, like a master of martial arts.
Perhaps even beyond that.
If not considering raw stats and Haki, he felt he could even compare to top-tier fighters.
Unfortunately, those things did matter.
Alan looked toward the hole in the wall.
The dust settled.
Morgan staggered to his feet, bracing against the wall while trembling.
"People in this world really do have terrifying vitality."
Alan sighed.
He thought that hit might have killed Morgan.
"Cough!!!"
Morgan spat several mouthfuls of blood, his face was pale, and he was soaked in sweat.
"You bastard... How... How dare you!"
His bloodshot eyes were full of rage and hatred.
He raised his axe and growled, "You dared to attack me! Bastard! I'll chop you into pieces!!"
Morgan roared and charged at him with heavy steps.
Alan stood casually atop the rubble, his gaze contemptuous.
He didn't move even as Morgan closed in and brought the axe down.
Only when the axe descended did Alan shift slightly, stepping aside effortlessly.
Boom!
The axe struck the ground, cleaving through the rubble and embedding into the floor.
Alan placed his foot lightly on the axe head, then leaned close to Morgan.
With Morgan's strength, he could easily lift several Alans.
But now, no matter how hard he struggled to the point that his veins bulged, he couldn't move the axe an inch.
"What's wrong, Captain Morgan? Feeling reluctant to hurt such an excellent subordinate like me?"
Alan teased.
It was Shibukawa's Aikido: Using tiny movements to disrupt balance, cutting into the opponent's center of gravity, borrowing their strength against them.
Seeing Morgan's flushed, strained face, Alan chuckled.
He grabbed his collar, turned, and leaned his back forward, performing a perfect shoulder throw.
Morgan felt the world flip upside down as he was hurled through the air.
Alan casually flung him, sending his huge body flying across the sky and crashing into the training grounds.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Morgan hit the ground, bounced twice, and landed flat on his back.
"This guy... How is he this strong..."
Cold sweat dripped down as Morgan's expression twisted into pure terror.