One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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The warship didn't linger long at the G-5 fortress. After resupplying, it set sail again, heading towards Marine Headquarters, Marineford. 

Arashi learned that the primary mission this time, heading into the second half of the Grand Line, was to closely monitor the movements of the two major pirate crews to prevent any sudden incidents. 

He understood what this "sudden incident" could mean—most likely, an alliance between the crews of Gin and Lin. 

Such an alliance would be a massive destabilizing factor for both the pirates and the world.

As for what followed—Garp chasing after Roger and eventually engaging in a grand battle—it was simply the romantic and willful nature of Marine Hero Garp. 

Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr had long since left, leaving the G-5 fortress under the command of a Vice Admiral whom Arashi didn't recognize. 

Standing at the warship's bow alongside Garp, Arashi felt the sea breeze brush against his face, causing him to squint.

"Your promotion to Rear Admiral will be officially awarded at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, by Fleet Admiral Kong himself," Garp said with a grin.

"Okay," Arashi nodded. 

At first, after being saved by Garp, he harbored some resistance toward the Marines, but gradually, as he got to know the people around him and understand them better, he began to accept it. 

At the very least, the Marines had a relatively mature training system and excellent resources for growth. 

It was a good place to be until he became a world-class powerhouse and gained the strength to control his freedom.

"To be able to fight evenly with Dark King Rayleigh for seven days straight… your body must hold some deep secrets," 

Garp suddenly remarked, casually tossing a doughnut into his mouth and chewing it with a crunch.

Arashi remained silent and didn't respond. "Hahahaha, you brat," Garp laughed. 

"I'm not particularly interested in your secrets."

"I hope that one day, when you've truly grown strong, when there are no more enemies left in this world for you to face," he paused and sighed softly, 

"you'll know deep down what you truly want."

"People, you see, yesterday has passed and become history. Living in the present is what's most important!"

Arashi was momentarily taken aback, then nodded gently. Garp treated him like his own son, teaching him about strength and sharing life lessons. 

Though Garp was generally rough and boisterous, there were times when he displayed a surprising depth of wisdom.

The journey back to headquarters was mostly uneventful, with no significant incidents. 

Arashi sat quietly on the deck, reflecting on the gains from his recent battle.

[Conqueror's Haki, Max Level]

[Tekkai, LV50]

[Rankyaku, LV35]

[Soru, LV60]

[Geppo, LV20]

[Shigan, LV45]

The clear display of his level panel gave him a precise understanding of his current strength. 

Aside from Conqueror's Haki being maxed out, his mastery of the Six Powers had also reached a considerable level.

"Distributing points evenly has made my strength grow in a balanced way," Arashi mused. 

Now, even without relying on the amplification of Conqueror's Haki, his strength was formidable. 

After his battle with Rayleigh, he had undergone a significant transformation, gradually stepping onto the stage of the world's true powerhouses.

Meanwhile, aboard the Oro Jackson, speeding across the sea…

"Hahahaha! That was an exhilarating fight!" Roger, his body wrapped in bandages, laughed heartily. "Only Garp can make me feel this fired up!"

Rayleigh smiled slightly, his body also covered in white bandages. Crocus, standing nearby, frowned.

"Roger, you need to avoid these battles in the future. Your body can't take much more of this!" Crocus warned.

The seven-day, seven-night battle had undoubtedly taken a huge toll on Roger, whose body was already afflicted with illness.

"Hahahaha!" Roger just laughed, brushing off the concern.

"When you face an opponent like that, it's hard not to get carried away," Roger said with a smile, pausing briefly before continuing, 

"As for my body... Everyone dies eventually."

Without waiting for Crocus to respond, Roger turned to Rayleigh with a curious expression and asked, 

"I heard that Marine kid fought you to a draw? Rayleigh, are you serious?"

At the mention of his opponent, Rayleigh's expression grew serious. 

Nearby, Shanks and Buggy, who had been playfully roughhousing, and the brooding Barrett, all snapped their heads in Rayleigh's direction.

"I fought with everything I had," Rayleigh said, taking a deep breath. 

"But that kid... he's strange. It was almost impossible to kill him. And what's even more frightening is his absurdly fast growth rate." 

"At the beginning of our battle, his attacks, while strong, were still somewhat limited." 

"But by the seventh day, his overall physical abilities—his strength, reaction speed—had already caught up to mine."

"I've never encountered someone so terrifying. In the future, he could become an opponent we can't afford to ignore."

Everyone fell silent. Buggy opened his mouth to say something but lowered his head in frustration. Barrett clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly.

"Is that so?" Roger's laugh broke the silence a moment later. 

"This world always has a few exceptional geniuses who defy understanding." 

"Every era has them. Whether by design or by accident, they always end up leading something."

He slowly lifted his gaze to the blue sky. "Since he's with Garp, I suppose he won't become a man who makes the world tremble in fear." 

"But if I could, I'd like to live long enough to see what the world looks like when that kid fully grows up."

"Hahahaha!" Roger laughed heartily, then turned to Rayleigh again. 

"Do you think he'll stay in the Marines like Garp, even after seeing the darkness of this world?"

Rayleigh paused, then shook his head with a smile. "Who knows what the future holds?"

Laughter echoed across the Oro Jackson. Despite being wrapped in bandages, the crew was in high spirits. 

Suddenly, a low voice cut through the merriment.

"Roger!"

Roger turned to see Barrett, who had a dark expression. "What is it?" Roger asked.

"I've wanted to know the answer to this for a long time," Barrett said, enunciating each word carefully. 

"Do you still have the strength to become the world's strongest, to conquer the world?"

Douglas Barrett's question hung heavy in the air. Roger's smile faded as he thought carefully before shaking his head with a smile. 

"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, Barrett."

After battling Garp and dealing with his illness, Roger had come to a clearer understanding of his current physical state and strength. 

Upon hearing Roger's answer, Barrett trembled, his fists clenching so tightly they cracked.

"I want to challenge you again!" Barrett declared. "And then I'll decide whether or not to stay on this ship!"

The crew's expressions shifted dramatically, and they shouted in unison, "Barrett, are you joking?" 

"Damn it, are you really thinking of leaving?"

Roger raised his hand, still smiling but with a newfound authority in his eyes. 

He stared at Barrett for a long moment before drawing the long sword at his waist and pointing it at him.

"Come on, then!" Roger said, his voice laced with laughter. "Go do what you want, live by your ideals—that's what you've always believed in!"

Barrett's body trembled at Roger's words, and then he lifted his head sharply. 

"No matter what happens, Roger, you'll always be the person I respect the most in this life!"

Roger burst out laughing.

A battle erupted within the pirate crew but ended quickly. That day, Douglas Barrett left the Roger Pirates, his whereabouts unknown.

On the same day, Arashi's warship, the Dog-Head, arrived at the shores of the Sabaody Archipelago. As he gazed at the familiar island, his eyes grew cold.

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