One piece: The Greatest Swordsman of the Rocks Era!

Inside Ares' mind, memories replayed like a continuous stream of short clips, and he tirelessly revisited each battle.

From his first clash with the fish-man to his intense exchanges with Vice Admiral Garp, Ares carefully observed every detail, seeking to understand and internalize them.

"Read a book a hundred times, and its meaning will reveal itself."

Though he hadn't yet hit his hundredth review, his slow-motion replays had already taken far longer than the battles themselves.

Each time, he reflected, comprehended, and integrated his insights.

It was a long process.

But the gains were extraordinary.

From Gairam's abilities, he had grasped the significance of air in combat.

And from Vice Admiral Garp, he had discovered the essence of explosive power, deepening his understanding of both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship.

Techniques that had once puzzled him now seemed clear as day.

Perhaps it was because his soul had partially fused with another, but the clarity of these mental images and his depth of perception were sharper than ever, allowing him to see every nuance with astonishing precision.

Again and again, Ares replayed Garp's battle movements in his mind, especially focusing on how to control and unleash that explosive power within the body.

What Garp didn't know was that Ares was secretly absorbing his combat skills at an alarming speed.

More than an hour passed.

The door creaked open. Wang Zhi, now without his golden armor, walked in.

Casually taking a seat on a netted hammock nearby, Wang Zhi looked over and spoke with calm patience,

"Ares, Captain Rocks wasn't wrong battle really does forge a man."

"But you need to understand, if you die in battle, your dream dies with you."

Wang Zhi recognized that Ares had monstrous potential. It was precisely because of his rare, beast-like talent that Ares was different from other pirates.

That's why Wang Zhi patiently continued to teach him.

He genuinely wanted Ares to go further on the path toward his dream maybe even achieve something no one else could.

With a thoughtful sigh, Wang Zhi continued,

"Almost every pirate I've met lives the same way drunken pirates, lustful pirates, gold-crazed pirates, bloodthirsty pirates…"

"There are a rare few who chase strength, who pursue ambition, who dare to dream."

"Maybe pirates like us… if we didn't cling to something, we probably wouldn't survive in this life."

"Even someone as powerful as Captain Rocks isn't an exception."

The moment you step into the pirate life, there's no going back to normalcy.

"I understand." Ares looked directly at Wang Zhi.

Then he asked, "Wang Zhi, the doctor said it'll take at least several days, maybe even weeks, for my injuries to heal. Is there any way to recover faster?"

In his mind, those vivid battle memories burned brightly he wanted to train immediately.

He couldn't wait to test all the things he had just learned.

Wang Zhi chuckled and reassured him,

"Let's wait until we return to Hachinosu. When we get there, you can find Captain John. Don't be fooled by how he's always drunk he's actually the best doctor in the Rocks Pirates."

"He probably has a way to help you recover faster."

Speaking of injuries, Wang Zhi couldn't help but glance at Ares with a hint of admiration.

"You know, the fact that you managed to last so long against Garp taking that many punches and still walking is something to be proud of."

Garp's iron fists were infamous across the seas a nightmare for countless pirates.

Most pirates were terrified of his crushing blows.

But this kid Ares had taken punch after punch and was still standing. That was definitely something to brag about in the Rocks Pirates.

"Not good enough." Ares wasn't satisfied with that result.

"I'll surpass him one day. My fists will become stronger than his."

To him, a loss was a loss.

But with hard work and relentless training, he could win next time.

He firmly believed that his fists would eventually be even more formidable than Garp's.

Wang Zhi smiled knowingly. He didn't try to dampen Ares' spirit on the contrary, he encouraged him.

"Then hurry up and get better. Train hard when you're healed."

"I'll head out now. You stay put and listen to the doctor's orders."

After making sure Ares understood, Wang Zhi left the room.

With nothing else to do and desperate to train despite the itch all over his body Ares could only continue his mental replays and in-depth analysis.

Without a mast, their pirate ship, which relied on sails, crawled sluggishly across the ocean.

Thankfully, Vice Admiral Garp didn't pursue them probably because he'd gone after the World Pirates instead.

The sun set and rose again two full days passed.

At Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Inside the tallest tower at the heart of the fortress, Fleet Admiral Kong's office was filled with high-ranking Marine officers.

Fleet Admiral Kong rhythmically tapped his fingers on the desk as he listened to the field report from Garp's subordinate. His expression grew grave and serious.

When the officer finished his report, Kong finally spoke, his deep voice carrying weight.

"This is bad news. Looks like the Rocks Pirates have another monster on their hands."

Anyone who could endure Garp's fists for that long was not someone the Marines could afford to underestimate.

What's more…

There had already been secret reports from Hachinosu that a new recruit in the Rocks Pirates had fought a violent battle against the Golden Lion on the island only to be stopped by Whitebeard himself.

That person was Ares.

Kong's sharp, commanding eyes swept across the room, deliberately ignoring Garp, who was picking his nose, and landed on Admiral Sengoku.

He asked directly,

"What's your assessment of this newcomer, Ares, from the Rocks Pirates?"

Sitting on the couch in his black suit and flowing white justice cape, Sengoku's expression tightened.

After a moment of contemplation, he offered his evaluation.

"From the intel we've gathered, this kid is extremely young and shows immense potential."

"Anyone personally selected and fast-tracked by Rocks can't be ordinary. Even Kaido didn't receive such an honor when he was a rookie. This kid might soon become one of the Rocks Pirates' core commanders."

Sengoku knew Garp's strength better than anyone. Though he suspected Garp had held back during the fight, Ares' combat ability was undeniable.

His absurdly durable body, his fierce willpower this guy was clearly destined to become an incredibly dangerous pirate.

Especially with the protection of the Rocks Pirates…

Eliminating this future threat wouldn't be easy.

Even Sengoku's hardened expression couldn't hide a growing sense of worry.

Fleet Admiral Kong sighed.

"The Rocks Pirates have already become the most powerful pirate crew on the seas."

"Besides Rocks himself, they've got Captain John, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin… one powerhouse after another."

"With so many pirates under their banner, they're already beyond our control."

"And now they've recruited another group of promising rookies. This is giving me a headache."

The Marines had spent tremendous effort gathering intel on the Rocks Pirates. Every move they made could potentially shake the entire world.

Even with the Navy's vast manpower and top fighters, dealing with the Rocks Pirates would require unimaginable resources warships, soldiers, logistics the scale would be staggering.

And war wasn't simply a matter of numbers. Even if they sent twice or three times as many soldiers, victory was far from guaranteed.

Timing, terrain, and unity all three were essential.

Any misstep could collapse the entire effort. The Rocks Pirates were an unprecedented "super pirate crew" nothing like them had ever existed in history.

Fleet Admiral Kong could feel the crushing pressure so heavy it was suffocating.

Garp munched noisily on a doughnut. Hearing the worries of Kong and Sengoku, he stood up and declared,

"Guess I need to train harder. My fists still aren't strong enough!"

"I'll go punch a couple of mountains to get stronger!"

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