The humid air in training ground vibrated with the disciplined shouts of young marines, members of Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp's division. Dust swirled around their polished boots as they executed rigorous drills, their movements a blend of youthful eagerness and growing military precision. I leaned against the sturdy trunk of a nearby palm tree, the rough bark a familiar pressure against my back, my gaze fixed on the spectacle unfolding before me.
Another sweltering afternoon under the old man's relentless energy. These young marines will either emerge as hardened soldiers or collapse in a heap. Likely a bit of both, knowing Garp.
Vice Admiral Garp, a legend whose name echoed through the Grand Line, moved amongst his marines like a force of nature. He wasn't a commander who barked orders from a distance; he was in the thick of it, demonstrating stances with explosive power, correcting their forms with a booming voice that mixed encouragement with stern reprimands. He wasn't just training them; he was imprinting his own indomitable spirit onto them.
My own training regimen was… complicated.
I watched as Garp sparred with a zealous young marine, a whirlwind of powerful, instinctual strikes that left the trainee stumbling but clearly learning.
That raw, untamed power… a language my fists simply don't speak with the same fluency as my Armament Haki.
My brief, brutal foray into Garp's personal combat instruction felt like a distant, almost comical memory now. The jarring impact of fists, the raw energy – it had been exhilarating, yes, but ultimately… futile. The old man had seen it immediately.
"Lazarus," he'd boomed that following morning, his gaze sharp despite the usual jovial crinkle around his eyes. "Your Armament Haki, it's… impressive, kid. Almost as stubborn as mine." He'd chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "But your fists? They swing like a drunken sailor trying to catch a fish. You have no knack for it."
A flicker of disappointment registered, though I'd masked it quickly. "But I want to learn, Garp."
He'd clapped me on the shoulder, his grip surprisingly gentle for a man who could shatter battleships. "Your eyes, Lazarus. They see what others don't. Your hand is steady. You have the gift of the sniper. Focus on that, kid. Hone that talent. The world needs sharp eyes watching from the shadows, not another clumsy brawler."
Beside me stood Bogard, Garp's ever-present first mate, his posture radiating quiet competence. His keen eyes scanned the training marines, occasionally offering a subtle correction. He was Garp's shadow, his unwavering confidant, and, increasingly, my patient guide to understanding the complexities of the Vice Admiral.
"He pushes them hard, Bogard-san," I commented, my voice a low murmur against the backdrop of shouted commands and grunts of exertion.
Bogard offered a curt nod. "The Vice Admiral believes in forging strength through adversity, Lazarus. And he recognizes where each marine's true strength lies."
My gaze followed Garp as he corrected a young marine's stance, his booming laughter echoing across the grounds. "No, no, boy! Like you're punching through a mountain! Not tickling it!"
He has a way of making even the most daunting tasks sound… achievable.
My thoughts drifted back to my persistent inquiries about Garp's past, his enigmatic refusal of promotion, the epic battles. Bogard had patiently recounted the legends, painting a picture of a man who defied convention, driven by his own unwavering sense of justice.
The training continued under the sweltering sun. Garp's energy seemed boundless, his enthusiasm a contagious spark among the weary marines.
He's building more than just soldiers. He's building a unit that embodies his own unyielding spirit.
I watched, a silent observer, a part of this division yet possessing a distinct role.
The training ground was finally empty. Good. Now I could focus. "Alright," I murmured to myself, stretching my limbs, "time to upgrade my attributes."
I instructed the system, "Initiate bronze simulation."
Ding! Host use bronze level simulation opportunity, life simulation started.
The screen appeared and text begin emerge.
In your first year, seeking independence from Garp's mentorship, you approached Sengoku with a bold request: your own ship for pirate hunting. Sengoku proposed expanding your division, but you confidently asserted that your cloning ability rendered additional recruits unnecessary – you alone equaled a thousand marines. Impressed, Sengoku offered you a commanding role in the marine's SWORD division. However respectfully declined.
In your second year, you didn't kill the king of Sorbet Kingdom, you just arrested him, you collected evidence about his crimes with the help of the pastor there. You hand it over to Admiral Aokiji for justice.
In your third year, because of your effectiveness in eliminating the pirates you've encountered, you have become someone greatly feared among them. Your reputation precedes you, striking terror into the hearts of those who sail the seas with ill intentions.
In your fourth year, you received news that your friend has joined the Seven Warlords of the Sea. You want an explanation from Sengoku, but Sengoku states that everything is under the World Government's will.
In your fifth year, you encountered your friend in East Blue and asked why he joined the Seven Warlords. Instead of an answer, he gave you a letter to deliver to his daughter. You traveled to the Sorbet Kingdom and presented the letter to your friend's daughter. She expressed a strong desire to follow you, but you knew her true motivation was to see her father. Furthermore, it was too dangerous for her to follow, and her illness was still not healed. Aware that a nurse is CP agent and because afraid of dead she tell you all about her mission, you become more more hate World Government.
In your seventh year, Drake become pirate after he betrayed the Marines, but you know he had joint SWORD. Word reaches you that Ace has been defeated by a pirate. He's been handed over to the Marines, who have set a date for his execution. Believing his execution to be unjust, you voice your complaint to Sengoku, who explains why Ace must be executed.
The Summit War of Marineford erupts!
You stand against the Whitebeard Pirates.
Unable to bear the thought of Ace's death, you fight Akainu but are ultimately defeated. Ace still dies protecting Luffy. However, after witnessing the Whitebeard Pirates' captain get ambushed by unknown pirates, you launch a sneak attack on the unknown pirate captain and you deliver the final blow to the Whitebeard Pirates' captain, You do this believing he need to die at the hands of the Marines not by pirate.
The arrival of the Red-Haired Pirates' captain brings the fighting to an end.
Witnessing Sengoku and Garp resign, you also wish to resign but are stopped by Akainu, who persuades you to remain a Marine.
Upon learning that your friend has become a slave-to-rent for the World Nobles as punishment for aiding the Straw Hat Pirates, you are furious and point towards Mary Geoise, only to be stopped by Kizaru.
In your eighth year, with the departure of former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Aokiji creating a power vacuum, the Marines initiate a World Military Draft to recruit two new admirals. Prior to this, Akainu recommends you, but the Five Elders reject his suggestion, deeming you disloyal to them.
In your ninth year, during Levely, you cooperated with the Revolutionary Army to save your friend. Because of what happened to your friend there, after the end of Levely, you killed all the nobles who had rented him. You were ambushed by the God's Knights and died.
Ding!, your Attribute before death: Endurance 756, Strength 820, Agility 540, Spirit 1002.