The island trembled, and the very air crackled with unseen power. Ace, a mere infant, radiated an invisible force that swept across Baterilla Island. Purple-black lightning danced around him, a tempest of energy that defied reason.
Civilians collapsed, sailors aboard Garp's warship slumped, and even the most seasoned officers staggered. The Conqueror's Haki—the mark of a king—had awakened in Ace, a legacy inherited from his father.
Garp's adjutant, ever composed, quelled the rising panic. "Calm down," he urged. "Vice-Admiral Garp is here. He is handling the situation. No need for alarm."
The generals nodded, reassured by their trust in Garp's strength. They knew the legend—the Pirate King's pursuer, the indomitable force of the seas. Surely, this was his doing.
But Garp's eyes betrayed his shock. "This… this is…" He struggled to find words. The Conqueror's Haki, awakening in a newborn? It defied all reason, all precedent.
As the lightning subsided, Garp cradled Ace, his face a canvas of disbelief. "Haoshoku…?" His voice wavered. The implications were staggering. The world had shifted, and the birthright of a king lay in his arms.
Moreover, he still possessed such powerful Conqueror's Haki. When he first awakened it, his Haki wasn't as potent...
The appearance of Conqueror's Haki is often likened to the qualities of a king...
So Ace, who manifested such a formidable and overwhelming spirit from birth, could he be... "A natural-born king?" Garp muttered, his expression tinged with complexity.
If such a talent were to emerge in the child of the Pirate King, the potential impact on the world is truly unfathomable...
In that moment, Garp found himself uncertain whether he should proceed with his agreement...
Yet, as Garp glanced at Rouge, tears staining her face but a smile gracing her lips, he gritted his teeth and led Ace towards his ship...
As for Rouge, Garp had already made arrangements for her burial...
It would be best for him to remain in the shadows...
Unnoticed by Garp, Ace stole one final glance at Rouge...
"Whoosh!" An afterimage flickered, and Garp, slightly winded, appeared on the boat...
"Vice-Admiral Garp! You've returned!" His adjutant and several generals rushed to greet him...
"Vice-Admiral! Your conduct was quite audacious!" The adjutant's expression was stern...
Garp's face froze, a pang of guilt piercing his heart. Could he have been discovered? No, it couldn't be...
"Why did you unleash your Conqueror's Haki so recklessly? The soldiers and captains were overwhelmed and collapsed," the adjutant continued...
Garp breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing it was about Haoshoku Haki, not Ace's situation being exposed...
Although he had sensed Ace's overwhelming Haki, he never anticipated its impact would reach even the navy captain from such a distance...
The individuals he had brought along were all elite captains from his headquarters, far surpassing ordinary navy forces...
"Very well, I'll be more cautious next time. Now, set course for Foosha Village!" Garp hastily retreated into the cabin, covering his heart...