Two days had passed since Xpovac's Marshtomp evolved and his Riolu hatched from the egg. The bond between him and his Pokémon was growing stronger, and his days were filled with training. He'd even become more comfortable with his flight abilities, gliding over the island when no one was around. Xpovac was getting used to this new world, where adventure and power were at his fingertips.
But today was different.
A large marine ship had arrived at the shores of Foosha Village. The commotion around town quickly reached Xpovac, and he didn't need to guess who it was. He had heard stories, after all. The legendary Marine Vice Admiral Garp had come to visit.
Xpovac watched from a distance as Garp made his way through the village, laughing loudly with Luffy, who was bouncing around him like an excited puppy.
"Grandpa! I'm ready to train! I'm gonna be strong enough to be a pirate!" Luffy yelled, punching the air with enthusiasm.
"Shut it, brat!" Garp bellowed, smacking Luffy over the head with his fist. "You'll be a marine! A pirate? Over my dead body!" (epic foreshadowing haha)
Xpovac couldn't help but chuckle at the scene. The interaction between Garp and Luffy was a familiar one—full of tough love, and more head-smacks than Luffy could count.
Garp, sharp-eyed as ever, noticed Xpovac standing nearby. His gaze locked on him, and he raised an eyebrow. "Oi, you! Haven't seen you around here before. Who are you?"
Straightening his posture, Xpovac met Garp's gaze without hesitation. "The name's Xpovac. I've been staying here in the village for a while now."
Garp's eyes narrowed as he sized the boy up. "You don't look like a regular villager. How old are you?"
"Ten," Xpovac answered.
Just as he said it, a familiar Ding! echoed in his mind, and a message popped up in front of his eyes.
"New Quest: Impress Garp with your fighting capabilities. Reward: Gacha Spin."
A smirk tugged at Xpovac's lips. It seemed fate had given him another chance to show what he was made of. "I heard youre strong, how about a fight?" Xpovac says as his fighting spirit surged
Garp, noticing the kid's fighting spirit surging, crossed his arms and let out a booming laugh. "You think you're tough, eh? Alright then, kid. Let's see what you've got!"
---
They moved to an open field just outside the village, away from prying eyes. Luffy tagged along, bouncing with excitement as Garp and Xpovac faced off. Xpovac called out Marshtomp and Riolu, both ready for a fight. But this time, Xpovac had more than just his Pokémon to rely on.
"Let's go!" Xpovac shouted, activating his deck. A familiar glow surrounded him as he summoned a spell card: "Dragon's Rage." The card increased his Pokémon's power, and both Marshtomp and Riolu charged forward in perfect sync.
Marshtomp opened with a Mud Shot, while Riolu darted in with Quick Attack, aiming to outmaneuver Garp.
But Garp barely moved. With one swift motion, he sidestepped the attacks and dodged the Pokémon with ease.
Xpovac wasted no time. He flew forward with his Ki-enhanced speed, closing the gap between him and Garp. His punches were quick, and he combined them with his Pokémon's attacks to create a fast-paced, coordinated assault.
For a brief moment, Xpovac felt like he might land a hit.
But Garp smirked. In an instant, he moved faster than Xpovac could track. With a single punch, Garp sent Xpovac crashing to the ground, the sheer force of it knocking the wind out of him.
"You've got spirit, kid," Garp said, his voice booming. "But you're nowhere near ready to take me on."
Xpovac groaned, pushing himself to his feet. Despite the pain, he was still smiling. "I'm not done yet."
Garp raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Is that so?"
Before Xpovac could make another move, a Ding! echoed again in his mind.
"Quest Complete: You have earned a Gacha Spin."
Without hesitation, Xpovac activated the gacha system. The familiar wheel spun rapidly, colors and items flashing by until it finally stopped.
There, floating in front of him, was something he did not expect—a massive, imposing blade. The Dragonslayer, from the world of *Berserk*, had been sent straight to his inventory.
His eyes widened as the blade materialized in his inventory screen. The sheer size of it was awe-inspiring, and he could feel the power emanating from it even from within the system. Xpovac grinned.
"What is that smirk for, boy?" Garp asked, his voice snapping Xpovac back to reality.
"Nothing. Just thinking about how easily ill kick your ass next time we fight," Xpovac replied with a wink, knowing full well that his new weapon was now stored away, waiting for the right moment.
Garp shook his head and chuckled. "You've got guts, kid. Keep training, and maybe one day you'll give me a real challenge."
---
Later, Garp led both Xpovac and Luffy up into the mountains to drop Luffy off with Curly Dadan. The bandit leader wasn't thrilled about taking in another child, but with Garp's reputation, she had no real choice.
As they approached the shack, Luffy ran ahead, his excitement palpable. However, as they neared the entrance, Xpovac noticed a shadowy figure lurking nearby—Ace.
Luffy, unaware, charged forward, but Xpovac quickly grabbed him by the arm, pulling him back just as Ace spat at the ground. The spit missed them by inches.
"Watch it, brat," Xpovac warned, glaring at Ace.
Ace only scowled before turning and walking back into the woods. "Hmph," he muttered, vanishing into the trees.
Luffy blinked, confused but grateful. "Thanks, Xpovac."
"Don't mention it," Xpovac said with a shrug. "You've gotta be more aware of your surroundings."
---
As the day wore on, Garp and Xpovac stood at the edge of the Dadan shack, overlooking the island as the sun began to set. Garp seemed deep in thought before he finally spoke.
"You're an interesting kid, Xpovac. I'm leaving Luffy here with Dadan, but I'll be counting on you to look after him. Got it?"
Xpovac nodded. "You've got it. I'll watch over him."
Garp grinned. "Good. Keep training, kid. You've got potential, and I'll be watching."
With that, Garp turned and walked away, leaving Xpovac alone with his thoughts. As the Marine ship sailed off in the distance, Xpovac couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He had earned Garp's respect and obtained a weapon that could change the course of his future.
Tomorrow, the real training would begin.
Xpovac looked down at the inventory screen, his mind focused on the Dragonslayer blade that now rested inside. He had taken his first step into a world filled with power, and he wasn't about to slow down anytime soon.
The journey ahead was long, but Xpovac was ready for it.