Newbie's Skill

Forty

I was really tied down with all of these vice admirals. I forgot that I've only ever faced one before. I was used to anything below them, however.

"You're a real piece of work, you know," one grunted. I gritted my teeth. This was insane. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up.

"Ashlo! Look out!" Ace hollered. I barely had time to look over my shoulder to see who was behind me before I was pumeled into the ground by two clasped fists. I grunted and coughed up blood. I felt someone else grab my shoulder, and a searing sound rang in my ear as burning flesh flooded my nostrils. Magma...Akainu.

"You bastard," I sneered.

"You brat!" Pops growled. "How dare you hurt one of my sons."

"A pirate is a pirate. They will all have justice served."

"Justice my ass," I grumbled, kicking at him, and his magma moved away. "You have no idea what that means."

"Take care of him. I need to deal with Garp's grandson."

"Asshole! I'm your opponent!" I protested, but he simply ignored me. Oh no..."LUFFY!"

"Luffy!" Ace cried. Thankfully, Luffy dodged in time, and Akainu retreated as the final defense. I groaned as I grabbed my arm in pain. I had to hurry and get to Luffy. My ribs were definitely broken, but that didn't stop me from getting back up. I wobbled a little from side to side.

I was fully determined to keep going. To fight until I was dead. I would do it for Ace. For Pops. For Marco. Thatch. Jozu. Izo. Haruka. Grape. Chuck. Lucky. Everyone. Including Luffy.

If the Navy's so called justice was to kill a kid who has done absolutely nothing wrong...who was just starting to live a peaceful life...who had no intent to hurt the government...all for the name of "Justice", then I am fully against them. I can not respect someone who hurts innocent people and claim justice was the reason. That is not justice. That's covered up murder.

"You're all fools for joining this kind of military. You kill people out of cold blood just because of who their family is. They didn't choose to be born as their child. Shame on you for making Ace and Luffy feel bad for something they can't control." I glared up at Sengoku. "They have never even met their fathers!" I growled.

"Ash," Marco breathed nearby. I caught hesitation from some of the Marines like they understood where I was coming from. They expectantly looked to their leader as if to ask if I was speaking the truth. This caused Sengoku to grit his teeth.

"You've been noisy since you got here. How dare you question our rules-"

"You're a stupid old man!" I snapped in response. "They didn't choose their parents! Their fathers were never in their lives to begin with! How the hell can you stand there and lecture me about justice when yours makes no damn sense to begin with?" I shouted. I noticed some men drop their weapons in submission. They had heart-broken expressions on their faces.

"Pick up your weapons! This is a battleground! A war!" Sengoku yelled. I glanced at Pops who had a proud smile on his face. Luffy looked just as amazed and happy. Ace's tears fell from his eyes.

"But you know what we can choose, Sengoku?" I asked. He was absolutely furious with me at this point. "We can choose who we call our father! And we can choose our fate!"