Solid iron cannonballs flying at hypersonic speed—purely from kinetic force alone, they could destroy a ship with a single shot.
From Garen's perspective, for someone to accelerate a metal projectile to such terrifying speeds, they must be using some high-tech technology, like one of those electromagnetic railguns developed by a mad scientist in the One Piece world.
But in reality… this cannonball was entirely natural and launched by hand.
Not long ago, a colossal warship with towering masts and countless turrets slowly sliced through the calm waves of the East Blue.
Flying atop the mountainous hull was a massive flag: white background, with a seagull holding a wrench.
It was a Navy battleship—one of the elite vessels reserved only for Vice Admirals and above, equipped with a costly Sea Prism Stone base, allowing it to travel freely between the Grand Line and the four seas.
On the wide deck, however, was a rather out-of-place sight: a long lounge chair, on which lay a burly old man, hair and beard completely white, his body rippling with muscle, fast asleep.
The gentle sea breeze stirred across the East Blue, causing the old man to suddenly awaken from his nap.
Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he glanced around at the ocean view, then lazily picked up a senbei cracker from the nearby side table and popped it into his mouth.
"There's a breeze," he muttered.
As he chewed his snack, the muscle-bound old man casually asked the naval officer standing nearby,
"Smoker, have we reached the East Blue yet?"
Typically, the Navy's main fleet wouldn't appear in the so-called "weakest sea" of the world—the East Blue.
This trip, however, was for two purposes: escorting the Navy hero Garp back home for his vacation, and deploying Headquarters' Captain Smoker and his subordinates to Loguetown's naval base, the gateway to the Grand Line.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Garp!"
Smoker wore a long coat with the word "Justice" boldly printed on the back. But unlike the standard-issue Navy coats, his had more of a biker gang flair.
Combined with his bare chest and chiseled abs, his silver-gray buzz cut, and the fat cigar hanging from his lips, Smoker looked more like a mob boss than a righteous Navy officer.
And his personality matched his appearance. If something pissed him off, he wouldn't hesitate to mouth off—even to his superior officers.
Many within the Navy speculated that his assignment to the weakest of the seas was probably due, at least in part, to his terrible temper.
Yet, even someone as headstrong as Smoker naturally toned it down in front of the charismatic Navy hero Garp. His voice even carried a hint of respect.
"We just passed through the Calm Belt and entered East Blue waters."
"Good..."
Garp suddenly stood up and stretched.
His powerful physique crackled like popping beans.
"Haven't had a proper vacation in the East Blue in ages!"
Feeling the humid sea breeze, Garp couldn't help but smile with genuine contentment.
"Wonder how Luffy's doing these days. Hopefully he's not turning out like that idiot Ace..."
"Hm?"
Mid-sentence, Garp's eyes suddenly narrowed. His sharp gaze pierced through the sea mist and locked onto something far away.
"A pirate ship?"
Smoker quickly followed his line of sight. Despite his strength as a Captain, all he could see was endless sea.
His respect for Garp deepened yet again.
"Ahahaha!"
"Daring to sail so close to the Calm Belt? Must be some pretty capable youngsters!"
Garp laughed heartily, then waved his muscular arm.
"Perfect timing—I just woke up and need to stretch a bit."
"Bring me a few cannonballs!"
Around him, the nearby Navy soldiers looked thrilled.
"Vice Admiral Garp is going to show off his strength again?"
"Cut the chatter."
Smoker, chewing his cigar, impatiently barked at the soldiers,
"Go get the cannonballs!"
"Yes, sir!"
The seamen scrambled to obey, but none of them looked afraid. They all knew that while their boss looked fierce and was tough to talk to, he was actually a kind man who cared about his subordinates.
Soon, a basket of solid iron cannonballs was brought to Garp's side.
Garp casually picked one up and weighed it in his hand, then gazed toward the distant spot that only he could see.
After loosening up a bit, Garp suddenly exerted strength in his bent arm.
"Meteor Fist!"
The iron ball shot from his hand, rapidly accelerating to an astonishing speed.
As it tore through the air, the surface of the ball turned an unnatural glowing red due to the extreme friction—before vanishing into the distant blue sky in just a few seconds.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The Navy sailors looked on in awe, calling out the name of their idol.
"Hahaha."
Garp chuckled easily, then bent down and picked up a second cannonball.
To him, this was just a casual workout.
As a powerful Vice Admiral, Garp usually dealt with dangerous and notorious pirates. He rarely bothered with the small fry. But for him, using these small-time pirates as a workout routine had become a personal hobby.
If they crossed paths—well, that's fate.
Flinging a few "Meteors Fist" was his way of fulfilling a Navy officer's duty.
Due to the long distance, only Garp and a few sharp-eyed lookouts with telescopes could even see the unlucky pirate crew that had become Garp's new targets.
After just two manually launched cannonballs, the pirate ship flying a ridiculous red-nosed skull flag had already been shattered into floating wreckage.
And yet, Garp casually tossed out a third cannonball.
"All done!"
Garp smiled and spoke to a nearby Navy major.
"Let's keep moving."
Once his little workout was over, Garp had no intention of wiping out the pirates completely. Whether they lived or died now depended on their own luck.
"Hmm?"
Garp's gaze faltered slightly. He hadn't yet withdrawn his eyes, which now fixed on the wrecked pirate ship in the distance.
"My Meteor Fist... was cut in half?"
"What?!"
A nearby female Navy officer reacted with shocked disbelief.
She had short, neat black hair and wore boxy glasses. Not in standard uniform, she sported a plaid shirt and dress pants—more like a friendly girl next door than a stern military figure.
The only sign of her being an officer was the exquisite sword at her hip—Shigure.
This was Smoker's subordinate, Navy Headquarters Petty Officer Tashigi.
She was also a passionate sword lover.
So, when she heard that Garp's high-speed cannonball had been sliced apart by some unknown pirate swordsman, her attention spiked. She was stunned.
To Tashigi, Garp's "Meteor Fist" was so fast it looked like a blur.
She knew she could barely dodge such an attack, let alone cut it in half.
This young Navy officer suddenly had a whole new perspective on the East Blue's reputation as the "weakest sea." She also found herself intrigued by the mysterious swordsman who had cut the cannonball—a man likely of swordmaster-level strength.
And for any swordsman, challenging a powerful swordmaster was a hidden desire.
But as a mere Petty Officer, Tashigi could only nurse this excitement quietly. The real decision-maker was still Garp.
Garp, too, had taken interest in the young swordsman who had deflected his cannonball.
Unlike Tashigi, Garp's observation haki let him clearly see what was going on around Garen.
"Steer the ship over there," Garp commanded, picking up another cannonball.
"Let me throw one more."
The previous shot had been a casual toss toward the ship, which happened to hit Garen.
But this time, Garp aimed precisely at the young "swordmaster" who had sliced his cannonball in mid-air...
Meanwhile, next to the now-sinking pirate ship, Cabaji, Mohji, and Richie the lion had climbed aboard the ship's only lifeboat.
Most of Buggy's body—aside from his feet—had also flown onto the boat.
It was tiny, but a boat nonetheless. With food, water, and sails, they could escape far if the wind held.
Compared to them, Garen and his companions were in dire straits.
They were barely clinging to a shattered plank of wood, no room to move, and one wave could send them tumbling.
This was a stark example of the people's vital needs and the unequal distribution of survival resources—Garen, sword in hand, knew it was time to show Buggy what it meant to let the rich help the poor.
"Stop right there!"
"Let us on the boat, or I won't hold back with this greatsword!"
Garen raised Buggy's severed foot and shouted at the lifeboat:
"Buggy! Even if you sail away—can you take your foot with you?"
That foot was Buggy's Achilles heel. Garen hadn't dared throw it away even when dodging cannonballs.
Buggy's brief sense of relief instantly vanished, his face growing grim again.
"Give it up, Buggy!"
Garen's voice echoed over the waves again.
"I don't believe another cannonball's coming to save you this time!"
(End of Chapter)