[2034 words]

https://discord.gg/A2KQAkyCvm ​​

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'Hey Sibyl, is there a way to travel between my clones? Like Sung Jin-Woo does with his shadows?' I asked.

To gain the training of the clones, I had to recombine with them, which could be a bit annoying to do as travelling by ship is quite time-consuming.

[You cannot teleport to them but there may be a way to go around that. As you said, through shadows. Since your conscience is connected with them, it is possible to go into your shadow and out the ones projected by the clones.]

[BUT!]

[This requires you to either mimic a shadow-type fruit or have the help of another person who can manipulate an element that is associated with darkness.] She said.

So, I could either waste a mimicking token to save time or have another person with darkness-type fruit to do it for me.

'I think I have someone who'd fit perfectly...' I thought as I recalled a certain person from the past.

-----

That aside, the next island I wish to visit.

It's called Mortem Island, it is situated in the Paradise Sea, around 10 days away.

'It's been a while since I saw him, I wonder how much progress he has made over 16 months...' I smirked as I remembered him.

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[Mortem Island]

(??? POV)

.

Ah...

So sleepy.

3201.

So tired.

3202.

So fatigued.

3203.

So exhausted.

3204.

So lethargic.

3205.

So wearied.

3206.

So drowsy.

3207.

So drained.

3208.

So sleepy.

3209.

.

I sighed again and again as I continued to push my body up from the plank position, a boulder resting on my back.

.

I woke up at 8 am.

8 AM!

No matter how long I have been waking up at this hour, I just can't get used to it.

What kind of sadist makes you wake up so early?!

There should be a law against this...

.

Sleep at 12, wake up at 8. Cheh. How unreasonable that guy is.

"RAWR!"

.

"Oh shut up, Johnny," I remark as the green Sea King berates me for slowing my workout.

How did that guy even tame these guys? They literally do one thing for over a year and a half and still don't get bored.

.

3210.

3211.

3212.

3213.

...

"RAWR!"

"AWOOO!"

"REEEE!"

"NEIGH!"

"ROAR!"

"CHIRP!"

"MEOW!"

"WOOF!"

.

'Huh?'

What with all the commotion?

"Oye! I'm doing it alright! Just stop that noise!" I yell as I quicken my reps.

"RAWR!"

"AWOOO!"

"REEEE!"

"NEIGH!"

"ROAR!"

"CHIRP!"

"MEOW!"

"WOOF!"

Ah, these damn things. Did they go crazy all at once? Are they hungry?

.

"Cheh." I click my tongue as I throw the boulder off my back and onto the ground.

*THUD*

Causing a mini shock around the area as I stood up.

"RAWR!"

"AWOOO!"

"REEEE!"

"NEIGH!"

"ROAR!"

"CHIRP!"

"MEOW!"

"WOOF!"

I sigh out loud as I slowly walk to the edge of the island and see what was going on.

I saw Sea Kings, horses, lions, beasts, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and many more animals all looking South while yelling their throats out.

.

"How about we all sleep for the day?" I asked as I understood their stress, I guess even beasts get cranky this time of the day.

Hmm?

What is that?

.

I was looking in the far distance as I see a silhouette of some ship-like thing come in my direction.

'A ship?' I thought as the details cleared up.

A weird ship.

A fast ship.

A cool ship.

As for the passenger...

Black-red hair, piercing red eyes, laidback attitude.

.

'Is that Damien-san?' I couldn't help but smile as I saw him.

I mean, the man was crazy for sure.

But I guess being in that crew would make anyone crazy.

.

I may dislike his absolutely horrible and torturous training routine but he did save me from being sold away to someone who might do some lord knows what.

Maybe they would make me sleep only 5 hours a day... the horror!

.

"RAWR!"

"AWOOO!"

"REEEE!"

"NEIGH!"

"ROAR!"

"CHIRP!"

"MEOW!"

"WOOF!"

.

"Yeah, yeah, I got it," I said as I still had no clue why these beasts were so excited, are they paid actors or something?

.

That aside, the guest had arrived.

I saw his face, it had certainly matured from what I remember, plus he got taller.

Like a lot taller.

.

"Yo, Kuzan. It's been a while."

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[An Island in The New World]

.

"What is that kid up to now..." Shakky wondered as she read the notes from her intelligence agency.

"Hmm? What did he do?" A ginormous man asked from across her.

"Ufufu, he went to the West Blue and destroyed one of their top Mafia Families." She answered.

"Oh? That kid always made some weird moves. From the New World to the West Blue and then he wants to go to Wano? GURARA!" Whitebeard laughed.

.

"Newgate, did Xebec say anything?" A golden-haired man asked as he floated from the sky and onto the ground.

"Xebec is still at Death Valley. But I have noticed that the seas around that messed-up island have grown a lot more chaotic." Whitebeard answered.

"Hmm. If that crazy guy awakens his fruit then the Navy is doomed, JIHAHAHA!"

"I bet the moment he comes out, he will wage war against Marineford itself!" Shiki thundered out.

.

"Ufufufu, knowing Taichou he probably would do that." Shakky smiled. "But now we need to do as he asked."

Whitebeard nodded with a plain face, "He wants an army and we have been recruiting one for the past month."

.

*PUFF*

Shakky puffed out a cloud of smoke, "Mhm, at first we had around 2600 once Linlin joined, now we have 4000. Many are still afraid of our reputation for killing our own but our numbers will continue to increase as long as greed exists in the heart of men."

.

"Jihahaha! That's right. But it would be easier if we add some more fuel to the fire..." Shiki said in a mysterious tone.

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow, "What are you scheming, Shiki?"

.

"JIHAHAHA! I say we lessen the competition. That Escanor is a problem but his pride does not allow many to join."

"But there is that other crew we can destroy." He said.

Shakky comments, "Hmm? Shiki-kun, are you talking about the Valkyrie Pirates?"

.

"That's right! Many pirates end up going to that woman as she knows how to pull the hearts of the weak to her mercy. If we eliminate her then we can take in all of her armies as well." Shiki concluded.

.

Whitebeard grumbled as he heard his offer.

"Do as you like, Shiki. I have my own plans." He said.

"Cheh, you should dream more, Newgate! We are pirates!" He declared with his Haki flaring around.

"I will only listen to Xebec, if you want to wage war then go ahead, just don't get in my way, Golden Lion," Whitebeard said with his aura shooting back.

.

"Hmph." Shiki clicked his tongue. "Fine, be passive as always, Newgate. I'll go with Linlin and destroy the Valkyrie Pirates myself."

.

Whitebeard has already gotten up and left, he seemed to be looking for something as he made plans to leave the area.

.

"Shiki-kun, try not to lose too many ships in your war. We have only a few, the shipwrights at Myriam Island can only make so many ships." Shakky said.

"Yeah, yeah. Just keep me and the rest updated with Xebec's training." He said as he walked away.

.

Shakky was sitting with a cigarette, puffing away.

*PUFF*

"Hmm, I suppose another storm is about to rage..." She thought out loud.

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(Narrator POV)

.

From that day on, a new and lasting war will begin between a combined attack of 2 Titans of the Rocks Pirates, aiming to dethrone a powerful crew in the neighbouring seas.

The Valkyrie Pirates are a large group of fiends with over 16000 pirates under their flag.

The leader, 'Pirate Queen' Herja, who ate an incredibly rare fruit, leads them.

It was the Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Model of the Archangel.

With this, she grew wings upon her back and gained the secondary ability to manipulate light itself!

.

Her strength can already match that of the Golden Lion and the Evil Spirit as she, like the other 2, is also listed as a Rank 1 threat by the World Government.

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[An Island in the New World]

(3rd POV)

.

The ground was shattered.

Ruined lands and broken shores, cracked earth and weeping forests.

2 people stood facing each other.

.

"Go on, kid, show me *MUNCH* how much you have improved!" The tall man yelled.

The one who was talking had casual clothes on as he feasted away on rice crackers.

.

"You shitty old man..." The other one grumbled.

.

"HA? 'shitty old man'? Is that how you speak to your father? Take my 'Fist of Love!'" He roared as he bonked the living soul out of the youth.

.

"AHH!" The youth cried as he held his head in his hands, scowling at his father.

"Cheh, I already told you to leave me alone!"

The one yelling was naturally Dragon, currently wearing ripped and dirty clothes with some skiffs on his body.

.

"Is this how you talk to someone scolding you!?" Garp yelled as he grabbed the boy by the collar and raised him.

.

*Crackling Electricity*

Though the youth's hand suddenly flashed yellow at that moment, a strong charge of electricity was discharged and into the Vice Admiral's body.

Dragon escaped from his father's hand and jumped 10 meters back.

.

"Ouch, ouch! That hurt, brat!" Garp complained.

"Don't lie," Dragon muttered as he saw his father with no damage at all.

.

"BWAHAHAHA! Kong-san told me you were acting up. Hmm... is this what they call the rebellious phase of a teenager?" Garp thought out loud as he scratched his head.

Of course, this comment did not escape Dragon's ears, "Enough of your jokes, old man. You know exactly why I'm pissed off."

.

Garp audibly sighed as he looked at his son with some hesitation.

"Dragon. You should know that there are some things out of our hands. Our justice cannot save everyone... but we should save as many as we can."

Garp was gritting his teeth as he said this, it seems a part of him was disgusted by his own words.

Dragon saw his father's reluctance, "I know... but I can't. I can't look away. Not after what happened with that Celestial Dragon I escorted."

.

"Listen, Drago-"

.

"I CAN'T LISTEN ANYMORE! I HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY TOO MANY TIMES! THIS IS NOT MY JUSTICE!"

At that moment Dragon yelled out with all his heart.

All the emotions and the reluctance walled off by his hesitation started to flood out.

A green burst of willpower exploded out of the youth as his rebellious eyes glared at his father.

.

'Haoshuku Haki... I suppose it was only a matter of time. Even though I lost my Will after his mother's death, I guess my son will carry it on for me.' Garp thought as he felt his beloved son's unwilling gaze.

Of course, he would never say it out loud as he liked being petty with his child.

Garp raised one fist.

*Fwmm*

A lustrous black shined all over the fist as it shook the air around it.

.

"Don't yell at your father, you brat!"

*BONK!*

The 'Fist of Love' slammed onto the unyielding child as it sent out endless vibrations running all around his skull, making him collapse immediately onto the ground.

"Ahh!"

"...tch." Dragon clicked his tongue as he held his head which had a giant bump protruding out.

.

"Enough about that brat, I trust you will choose the right path. But until you make your choice, you are still a marine." Garp said.

Dragon slightly nodded, "What's up? Are we going to hunt someone?"

.

Garp grinned, "Hehe, that's right. But not 'we', only you. I only came to make sure you don't piss Kong-san off anymore."

Dragon got up from the ground and asked in curiosity.

.

"Who is my target?"

.

Garp put on his Vice Admiral coat as he started walking to the docked ship.

The man slightly turned to look back and smirked as he said,

.

.

"Kaido of the Beasts."

.

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[The following is excluded from word count]

Author's Corner:

Do you think Xebec should wage war against the marines once he is awakened?

I did alter Garp so that he lost his Conqueror's Haki when something happened with his wife/lover. I won't explain further but maybe it was a choice between his beloved and his job and he chose the latter, losing his 'Will'.

As Whitebeard said, someone will carry on Roger's will (Luffy), someone will carry on Ace's will (Sabo), and now Dragon will carry on Garp's will.

Dragon is also very close to officially leaving the Navy.

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Random Trivia:

Would you rather be born in the Longleg Tribe or the Three-Eyed Tribe?

Thanks for Reading!