One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 33: The Will to Survive!

Garp, the renowned Marine hero, and Fire Fist Ace, the rising star making waves in two seas—an unlikely pair, a grandfather and grandson, bound by blood and circumstance.

"Haha! It wasn't easy finding you, Ace!" Garp boomed, stepping off his ship and approaching Deuce, who stood frozen, a mixture of shock and apprehension etched on his face. "Young man, mind if I have a word with your captain?"

"Of course, Garp-san. Please, go ahead." Deuce stammered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stepped aside.

Who hadn't heard of the legendary Garp? The man who had chased after the Pirate King, Ace's own father, the figure who had shaped an era with his strength and unwavering pursuit. Though a Vice Admiral, his standing rivaled that of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, commanding respect and a healthy dose of fear.

And he was Ace's grandfather? As Garp stood there, a jovial smile on his face, Deuce felt a wave of oppressive aura wash over him. The man seemed riddled with vulnerabilities, yet those very vulnerabilities dared anyone foolish enough to test them. He recalled the fate of Axe-Hand Morgan in East Blue.

After all, in the annals of One Piece legend, there were tales of Zoro's underlings, who, had Luffy not intervened, would have nearly slain the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. There was the "Sword God" "Mountain Bandit" who had challenged a Yonko with nothing but a sake bottle and unwavering audacity, These were legendary figures, their deeds etched in the memories of all who sailed the seas.

If they hadn't been stopped, the One Piece saga would have been a three-episode wonder. After all, figures like Shanks had already eliminated potential Emperors

He was a figure comparable to the Sixth Hokage of Konohagakure, who had subdued five great ninja villages with his left hand, held the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, the reincarnation of Asura, in his right, stepped on Sasuke Uchiha, the reincarnation of Indra, and scared off Sakura Haruno, the master of monstrous strength and healing.

Deuce was certain that if Garp unleashed his full power, this entire island would crumble before him. Those iron fists weren't earned through mere training; they were forged in countless battles against formidable pirates like Don Chinjao.

The twelfth head of the Happo Navy, a pirate with a 500 million berry bounty, Chinjao's pride and strength lay in his drill-shaped head, the only weapon capable of breaking through the ice continent and retrieving the treasure hidden within.

However, thirty years ago, he had faced Garp in a legendary duel that shook the West Blue. His drill-shaped head was shattered by Garp's iron fists, leaving him unable to access his treasure.

"I thought a fight was about to break out." Deuce sat beneath a tree, watching Garp and Ace converse peacefully. He had anticipated a dramatic confrontation, a clash between a legendary hero and his rebellious grandson. But the reality was surprisingly serene.

"I didn't expect you to come to these waters, Ace. Or rather, to this specific island."

Garp finally broke the silence, his gaze fixed on Ace.

"After all, this is where I was born, where my mother died, and where you took me in, changing our destinies forever. I had to see it again." A melancholic expression clouded Ace's face.

It was also where he had met Deuce, his loyal companion. A solemn silence settled upon them.

Unlike Luffy, Ace couldn't be disciplined with a simple punch. He was older, wiser, and far more introspective. Garp, the Marine hero, sat there, the wind rustling through his iconic dog-eared hat and Vice Admiral coat, at a loss for words.