NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 4 - A Born King!
Chapter 4: A Born King!
Boom!
A formless, overwhelming aura surged from Ace’s small body. In the next instant, countless streaks of purple-black lightning exploded from him, sweeping across the entire island of Baterilla. The island’s inhabitants barely had time to register the strange wave rippling through the air before their eyes rolled back, and they collapsed into unconsciousness. Even the Marine soldiers stationed aboard Garp’s warship—save for his adjutant and a few officers—were felled instantly, their bodies slumping to the deck.
“T-this… is this Conqueror’s Haki?!”
A Marine Rear Admiral gasped, his gaze fixed in horror on the ominous lightning surging from the island’s centre. The few remaining officers struggled to remain standing, their hands instinctively gripping the hilts of their swords as they prepared to investigate.
“Stand down!”
Garp’s adjutant raised a hand, stopping them in their tracks.
“Vice Admiral Garp is on the island. There’s nothing to worry about. That Haki must be his doing—probably dealing with some unexpected situation.”
Realization dawned on the officers, and they exchanged relieved smiles.
“Yeah, with Vice Admiral Garp there, no trouble is too big.”
“Exactly. His Conqueror’s Haki is terrifying. I almost passed out from this distance!”
“We’re talking about the Hero of the Marines here—the man who chased the Pirate King across the seas. Of course, his Haki is on another level!”
“Right! We’d only be a hindrance if we got involved. Let’s wait here.”
Their words dripped with absolute faith in Garp’s strength.
Only a select few in the vast Marine ranks even possessed it—and all were legends in their own right. It was absurd to think that anyone else on this remote island could have wielded such power. Yet, at that very moment, Garp’s eyes were wide in sheer disbelief.
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“T-this… this…”
As the invisible aura slowly dissipated and the violent streaks of lightning faded, Garp looked down at the tiny figure in his arms, his face a mask of utter shock.
“C-Conqueror’s Haki…?!”
He swallowed hard, barely able to force out the words. This was the most unbelievable thing he had ever witnessed. That Ace possessed Conqueror’s Haki was not surprising—he was, after all, Gol D. Roger’s son. But to awaken it at birth was impossible. And the sheer strength of it—Garp himself had not been this powerful when he first awakened his Haki.
[Gol D. Roger (ゴール・D・ロジャー) – The legendary Pirate King and father of Ace, the only man to conquer the Grand Line and discover the One Piece.]
Conqueror’s Haki was the mark of a king. Then what did it mean for Ace—who had unleashed such power the moment he was born?
“A… born king?”
Garp muttered under his breath, his emotions tangled in a complex storm.
What impact would this child’s existence have on the world? For the first time, he wavered in his conviction. Should I truly uphold my promise? But then his eyes fell upon Rouge’s peaceful face, her tear-streaked cheeks frozen in a final, loving smile. Steeling his resolve, Garp gritted his teeth and turned toward his ship, carrying Ace in his arms.
He had already arranged for Rouge’s burial. As he moved away, Ace, cradled against him, cast one last lingering look at Rouge.
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Whoosh!
A blur of motion, and Garp landed aboard the warship, his arrival marked by a gust of wind.
“Vice Admiral Garp! You’re back!”
His adjutant and the officers, having just finished tending to the unconscious soldiers, hurried to greet him.
“Vice Admiral! This is completely unacceptable!”
The adjutant suddenly straightened, his expression stern.
Garp’s face stiffened, his hand subconsciously covering his chest.
Have they noticed?! No, that can’t be—I have been careful.
“You can’t just release your Haki like that! The soldiers and junior officers couldn’t withstand it—they all passed out!”
The adjutant continued, oblivious to Garp’s nervous tension.
Phew…
Garp exhaled slowly, relief washing over him.
They thought he had released the Haki. Deep inside, he remained astounded. He had sensed Ace’s Conqueror’s Haki was formidable, but to think it had affected even his elite Headquarters officers from such a distance was shocking. These weren’t ordinary sailors—these were seasoned officers far superior to the average Marine.
“Alright, alright. I’ll be more careful next time.”
With a dismissive wave, Garp turned away.
“Set course for Foosha Village.”
[Foosha Village (フーシャ村, Fūsha Mura) – A small village in the East Blue, notable as the hometown of Monkey D. Luffy and a place of significance in Garp’s personal life.]
And with that, he strode into his cabin, clutching his chest once more, a storm of thoughts raging within.