"I've read Lieutenant Commander Isuka's report."
When Roman arrived at Sengoku's office, Sengoku had already read Isuka's report. — Expecting Roman to write a report was unrealistic, even though he was a Captain, he didn't even know how many branches the Marines had...
"Well done, Captain Roman."
More than well done, capturing ten pirate crews in half a month without losing a single Marine was unbelievable!
This wasn't a case of the commander doing all the work while others cheered from the sidelines. Roman held the line while others fought and gained experience! They not only captured many pirates but also trained a ship full of elite Marines.
In terms of both achievements and strength, everyone on Roman's ship deserved a promotion.
"With your achievements, a promotion isn't enough, but—"
Sengoku tapped the table. Promoting him from Captain to Commodore right after he was parachuted in as Captain would be too much.
For example, Smoker only got promoted from Captain to Commodore after capturing the Straw Hat crew and stopping Crocodile's plot.
Or Marine Secretary... cough, Marine 'Meeting King' Brannew, who hosted meetings and fought in the Summit War, only got promoted to Commodore two years later.
"So, no promotion this time. But I believe with your ability, you'll soon be among the officers."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"Now, about your subordinates—"
Roman didn't mind, he joined the Marines to train and...
Bang!
"Roman!"
With a hearty voice, the silver-haired Garp burst in. The door creaked ominously, looking like it wouldn't last long.
"Come on, let's train!"
"Garp, you—"
Sengoku was about to get angry out of habit, but considering Garp was retired and he himself was about to retire... he let it go.
"Go on, go on."
After waving Garp and Roman away, Sengoku began to seriously handle the last of his paperwork.
——————
"I don't need to explain the basics of Haki to you, Roman."
On a deserted training ground by the sea, Garp stood facing Roman, both having removed their Marine coats. Roman also took off his officer's justice cloak, ready for action.
"Whether it's Observation Haki, Armament Haki, or Conqueror's Haki, you've already got the basics."
"But you rely too much on your Devil Fruit powers!"
Garp looked at Roman. Although Roman seemed unarmed, he was actually surrounded by layers of paper from his Devil Fruit, ready to defend him.
"I'm not saying developing your Devil Fruit is bad, but remember, your body is the foundation of everything!"
"And Haki, especially Armament Haki, is an extension of your strong body! Only a stronger body can handle stronger Devil Fruit powers. Many people think the three Marine Admirals are powerful just because of their Logia fruits, but that's completely wrong!"
"Whether it's Kuzan, Sakazuki, or Borsalino, they were already incredibly strong in the Marines before they ate their Devil Fruits. Their Observation Haki and Armament Haki were honed through countless battles."
"You were part of the recent big battle. Tell me how it felt—"
Faced with Garp's serious teaching, Roman thought for a moment and said one word.
"Chaos."
"Everyone's killing intent and aura mixed together, making it hard to sense others clearly with Observation Haki. Only strong fluctuations aimed at you could be sensed, like..."
"Like before you first awakened Observation Haki, when it was hit or miss?"
Garp nodded with satisfaction, looking pleased.
"Observation Haki isn't perfect. In such chaotic battles, even Kuzan and the others get injured. So training Armament Haki becomes very important. You might not need to use Armament Haki to attack others, as its attack power isn't as strong as your Devil Fruit."
"But you must be good at using Armament Haki for defense. Otherwise, even with the best Observation Haki, you'll be like a glass doll that shatters on touch."
"Understood."
The white paper on Roman's body flew aside, piling up. Roman, now bare-chested, faced Vice Admiral Garp seriously. This time, he was truly unarmed.
"Good!"
With a serious expression, Garp's Haki surged, making the clouds in the sky seem to cave in under his aura. The tall old man took a stance to punch.
"Being unwavering is being strong!"
"Captain Roman! Take this punch with all your might, or you'll die horribly!!"
Though they were more than ten meters apart, Garp's punch came so fast it seemed to defy space, heading straight for Roman without any frills!
?!
In a flash, Roman had no time to think and instinctively threw a punch to meet it.
Bang,
With a slight muffled sound, the training ground shook slightly, causing ripples in the water cups, teapots, and swimming pool at Marine headquarters, as if nothing major had happened. But for Roman:
He felt an overwhelming pressure from Garp's punch! Like a massive tsunami or a mountain turning upside down! His Haki felt like a candle in the wind before Garp's, and the surging force broke through Roman's Armament Haki, penetrating his entire body, even reaching his bones and internal organs.
In an instant, countless layers of impact resonated inside and outside Roman's body, making him see stars, his blood churn, and his internal organs ache terribly.
Pfft!
A mouthful of blood spurted out uncontrollably! But even more terrifying was:
Every bone in Roman's body made a cracking sound as they violently shifted and rubbed against each other, accompanied by faint sounds of bones breaking. Every muscle twitched uncontrollably, spasming and convulsing, as if sixty trillion cells were groaning and wailing under the force of Garp's punch!
With one punch, Roman couldn't even control his body's movements or facial expressions, let alone fight back.
Dying in this state would indeed be as Garp said—an ugly death!
One punch shattered all his bones, twisted his muscles, and left him looking like a rag doll! His body might even tear itself apart from the uncontrolled muscle spasms, like being drawn and quartered.
A punch that could kill instantly!
For someone as strong as Garp, this was no joke.
Impossible!
I can't even take one punch from Garp!?
Am I, a proud transmigrator, going to be turned into an abstract painting with one punch?
No, never!! What was all the training and fighting for? Even if I lose, I won't die so disgracefully—
An unparalleled rage, accompanied by the unique pride and defiance of a transmigrator, exploded from deep within. Like a spark in the darkness, it helped Roman regain control of his body!
As his muscles regained autonomy, a wild and powerful feeling surged through his body, like a flood rushing through every part, reaching his bones and internal organs, and even his hair. Under this power, Roman's black hair floated as if he had transformed into a Super Saiyan!
"Take this punch!"
With a roar, Roman regained deeper control over his body. The rage from deep within drove every muscle, nerve, and even the smallest hair, uniting them as one! Transforming into an unprecedented force, it exploded from within.
In a flash, Roman stepped back, pulled his fist to his waist, and then struck out again!
Clang!!
This punch carried all of Roman's strength! It was the limit of his physical power, making the air in front of his fist feel 'thick,' and white shockwaves spread out, making his flesh and blood fist shine with a metallic glow!
This punch could split mountains! It could break the sea!
Roman was so sure, but a hand with spread fingers stopped his fist.
With just a block, the immense force that could pierce a steel battleship vanished. As a hundred-meter wave rose in the distant sea with a roar, Garp's domineering aura retracted, and he returned to his cheerful old self.
"How was it, little Roman? Satisfied with the power of your full-strength punch?"
??
"This is..."
Looking at his fist, which now had a metallic sheen, Roman felt a sense of:
Confidence!
Strong confidence.
Without relying on external tools or Devil Fruit powers, just absolute confidence in his well-trained body!
Whole and seamless, inside and out. It felt like his fist could block a famous sword's slash, and his muscles could withstand Devil Fruit powers! It made Roman want to become a hand-to-hand combat maniac.
"Ah, this strength from the body..."
No wonder Vergo from Doflamingo's crew could confidently withstand the Op-Op Fruit's power with his body. Armament Haki is absolute confidence in one's body!
Of course, too much confidence can be overconfidence—
"Indeed, I wasn't wrong."
The tall Garp nodded.
" Roman, your body has long reached the level of Armament Haki hardening through constant training, but you couldn't break through because you relied too much on your Devil Fruit powers."
"Training and developing your Devil Fruit powers is important, but believing in your body is just as important. Only by pushing your body, Haki, and Devil Fruit to their limits can you stand at the top of the world!"
Facing Garp's teaching, Roman stood at attention, hands by his sides, and bowed seriously.
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher!"
Having a world-class Armament Haki expert as a teacher, Roman was sincerely grateful.
"Hahaha, I can't really be called a good teacher~~"
Garp's cheerful and playful expression made Roman laugh too.
"Well then:
"Teacher Garp, I have something to give you."
——————
PS: In this story, basic Armament Haki isn't visible, but advanced Armament Haki makes the body look metallic. It's the same principle as the 'blackening' in the manga, just to distinguish levels. Ordinary people can't tell the difference. Otherwise, imagine a pitch-black Boa Hancock...
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You can read 30 advanced chapters at my patreon.com/YeyeQiu