"Hmph! I'll entertain the idea for now that you were sent by old man Garp."
Ace curled his lips, a hint of disdain crossing his face, yet the wariness in his eyes slowly faded away.
"You can't deny it. In your childhood, you used to call me uncle. Now, you can't just turn away and disown me as your uncle!"
Atlas feigned sadness and expressed with an exaggerated tone.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you rascal? Who ever called you uncle!"
"What a heartless little scoundrel..."
"Pfft~"
Witnessing those who were recently in conflict now engaged in light-hearted banter created an extreme contrast. Sabo, standing on the side, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Hmph~"
Ace turned his head with an air of arrogance, yet the subtly raised corners of his mouth betrayed his true mood.
"Hahahaha! What an adorable little scoundrel!"
Observing Ace's arrogant demeanor, Atlas couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Huh?"
Even though he was somewhat puzzled about the reason for everyone's laughter, Luffy, who usually considered himself more sociable, also began to laugh.
For a moment, the laughter of the three individuals echoed throughout the woods...
...
Mt.Colubo sprawls across a vast expanse, nearly spanning the entire Kingdom of Goa. It stands as a prominent landmark on this island.
The entire mountain range is cloaked in towering trees adorned with various types of vegetation, and colossal beasts frequently roam its expanse. Except for the bandits who call this place home, hardly anyone dares to set foot in this perilous locale.
At this moment, on a flat expanse in Mt.Colubo, the surrounding dense forest appeared as if it had been forcefully pruned. Massive trees were uprooted, and fresh soil was visible everywhere.
Four figures, one large and three small, cast a looming presence.
"What's the matter? Can't handle this? Is this what you call setting sail to become a pirate? You see, I'm just a humble Vice Admiral in the Marines. There are countless Vice Admirals like me, and you, little pirate, aren't you just asking to be kicked around?"
Atlas gazed at the three small figures lying on the ground, breathing heavily, and spoke with a mocking expression on his face.
"I... I don't want to be a pirate. I aspire to become a Fleet Admiral in the Marines!"
Luffy wasn't pleased to hear this. As someone aspiring to become a Marine Fleet Admiral, how could he be labeled as a pirate?
Ace heard that and was about to rise and engage Atlas in another bout.
How could a sensitive individual like him tolerate Atlas's cynicism? He grappled to stand up, his head burning with determination.
Boom!
It must be noted that although Luffy, being the younger son, possesses incredible potential, Ace, three years his senior, is not lacking in talent. As Luffy hasn't consumed the Rubber-Rubber Fruit yet, his combat prowess is considerably lower than that of Ace and Sabo, essentially trailing behind and eating their dust.
However, none of them have undergone systematic training; instead, they rely solely on their exceptional talents to grow organically.
"Bang bang bang! Alright, I've got a grasp of your overall strength. Next, I'll formulate a training plan tailored to your physical condition, but... you have to stick to it."
Atlas brushed off the dust from his hands, wearing a devilish smile. "I'm going to show you brats what hell is."
"Hmph!"
Ace gritted his teeth and snorted. He and Sabo had gained fame at the Gray Terminal, where even some adults couldn't match their prowess. If Luffy weren't present, they would have handled Atlas without feeling so embarrassed.
Contemplating this, Ace couldn't help but glare fiercely at Luffy.
This guy is making a fuss about becoming a Marine!
"Ace, are your eyes bothering you? Should I take you to the doctor?"
Luffy remained oblivious to any offense and looked at his 'good friend' with some concern.
"...idiot!"
Observing this, Ace curled his lips and turned his head away. It seemed that choosing to converse with this idiot was indeed not the right decision.
...
"Alright, we've arrived. Take a look at this mountainous terrain. Your first task today is to traverse this forest and reach the summit of the mountain. I've set up numerous traps and placed some formidable beasts along the way. You can choose a sensible approach. Dodge, confront, or charge straight ahead—it doesn't matter, as long as all three of you reach the mountain's peak in the end! All of you stick together."
Atlas pointed to a steep slope, nearly at a 60-degree angle to the ground. This location was carefully chosen from the vast expanse of Mt.Colubo. The terrain was treacherous, with ferocious beasts constantly emerging, and Atlas had also set up various traps along the way.
Certainly, Atlas didn't wish for the three of them to meet a fatal end. The traps were designed to be mostly non-lethal, resulting at most in the loss of limbs. The majority of the low-strength beasts that appeared were sufficient for the three youngsters to handle, and even if, by some misfortune, they lost an arm, Atlas could heal it.
Apart from Luffy, the three of them possess a keen sense of danger, so the likelihood of them awakening Observation Haki at this stage is still quite high.
Certainly, Atlas didn't intend for them to awaken it during this training. The goal this time was to help the three of them forge a stronger bond. Only by experiencing life and death together would they truly understand and recognize each other.
"What? We still have to carry around that baggage?"
Ace cast a disgusted glance at Luffy, who was busy picking his nose.
"I'm not a baggage!"
"You are!"
"I'm not!"
"You are"
"I am..."
Boom!! ×2
"Alright, you two, stop arguing now."
Sabo admonished, his face flushed with embarrassment, as he looked at the two individuals sporting steaming buns on their heads.
"I hope you can make it to the summit before lunch successfully. I'll be waiting for you at the top!"
"Oh, by the way, strap this thing to your backs too!"
Atlas angrily kicked a stone that had been cut beside him toward the three of them. It wasn't very large, just enough to cover their bodies when carried on their backs. Moreover, they were all custom-made, perfectly conforming to human body mechanics.
The three of them didn't complain or accuse Atlas; instead, they silently secured the stones to their bodies. Ace and Sabo had always harbored the desire to set sail and become pirates, but they also recognized their lack of significant power to ensure success. Atlas's teachings provided them with a valuable opportunity to strengthen themselves.
No matter how much Atlas boasts about the Marines, Luffy is not a fool. Vice Admirals with the strength of Atlas are undoubtedly quite rare in this branch.
"You can do whatever you want... As long as you're still breathing, I can save you!"
Atlas's Haki has already locked onto the three of them, and he will immediately detect any danger to their lives.
and...
As he gazed at the radiant green light in his hand, a confident expression graced Atlas's face.
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Bonus chapter for reaching 50 power stones
Read 35 chapters in advance in Patr*on: patr*on.com/Cosmic_Kaminari