Chapter 114: Not Even Lasting Half a Move

Over the next few days, Tang Shen, Luffy, and Ace got along quite well and harmoniously.

The two boys accepted Tang Shen’s role as their "uncle" with relative ease. Luffy called him that quite naturally, though Ace’s expression would always turn a bit awkward each time he said it, given that Tang Shen appeared to be about his own age. Still, he dutifully said the word, didn't he?

Tang Shen looked at the boy who might one day become the Pirate King—though he couldn't be sure, as he hadn't finished the anime—and the son of the former Pirate King, both calling him "uncle." The feeling was truly fantastic! Yet, he constantly felt like he was walking on the edge of a blade—a sensation that was... incredibly exhilarating.

One day, in an open field, Tang Shen looked at Ace with a strange expression and asked, "You want to challenge me?"

Ace looked solemn. Gripping a short blade, he assumed a combat stance and replied earnestly, "Yes."

Tang Shen immediately raised an eyebrow and said, "Hmm, I’ve taught you this before: how should you address your elders?"

The corner of Ace’s mouth twitched. He was annoyed, but he had to maintain his composure. "Yes, Uncle."

"Hmm." Tang Shen nodded in satisfaction. "Good, that’s it. You must be polite; that’s what makes a good boy. A challenge is fine, too—it’ll be a good chance for me to see what you’re capable of."

Watching Tang Shen, Ace had a million unspoken curses running through his mind. Having grown up running wild with Luffy and the others, they had never known what politeness was. They were essentially a pack of feral children who fought, brawled, occasionally skipped out on paying for meals, and sometimes even gathered wealth prematurely for their dreams, with no one ever there to guide them.

Well, it wasn't as if no one had tried to guide them; Garp had, but he only used his fists—resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement. Then there were their guardians—a group of mountain bandits, forced into the role by Garp’s threats. So, could one really expect mountain bandits to instill a proper worldview in him and Luffy, or teach them to be polite? Don’t be ridiculous; it was a miracle they hadn't turned into heinous villains.

"Come on!"

No sooner had the words left Tang Shen’s mouth than Ace tensed up like a leopard.

*Bang!*

With a sudden stomp, he lunged forward, his short blade flashing out of its sheath as he thrust toward Tang Shen.

Tang Shen frowned. It wasn't that the attack was too fast or too slow; it was simply chaotic and devoid of technique, like a wild beast swinging its claws on instinct. The motion was practiced and fluid, but far too straightforward.

Tang Shen, who had initially intended to draw his own blade, stopped mid-motion. His eyes became sharp and intensely calm. Just as the blade was about to reach him, he pivoted slightly on his heel, turning his body aside.

Ace, who had seen Tang Shen standing perfectly still, felt a jolt of panic. He initially thought Tang Shen wouldn't be able to dodge and intended to pull back, but upon seeing those eyes—devoid of any panic—he steeled himself and plunged forward.

Sure enough... as he reached his target, his vision blurred. The blade that had been aimed at Tang Shen’s heart suddenly found nothing but air.

However, a smirk tugged at the corner of Ace's mouth. He cut his lunge short, twisted his wrist, and swung the blade toward Tang Shen’s throat—all without a moment's warning!

Tang Shen remained calm, so calm it almost made him want to roll his eyes. Such petty tricks and small schemes could never escape his notice. He had anticipated this from the very beginning.

Against someone weaker than Ace, this move might have been devastating. Of course, someone like Ace—lacking formal training and relying entirely on his own intuition—would indeed be impressed by such a sudden pivot. Unfortunately, in Tang Shen’s eyes, this move was far too amateurish. The flicker of pride that involuntarily surfaced in Ace’s eyes did not escape him either.

As Ace swung his blade, it sliced through nothing but air. Tang Shen was already gone.

The look of pride on Ace’s face froze before it could even fade. *Where is he? How did he disappear?* His eyes filled with confusion. There was no sign of Tang Shen in front or to the side. *Is he gone?* He looked up at the sky—nothing there either.

Just then, a hand landed silently on his shoulder, and a familiar voice sounded in his ear:

"Ace, never take your eyes off your enemy for even a second. Do you understand?"

Ace felt the hair on his body stand on end. A chill crept down his spine, his mind went blank, and he instinctively lunged forward to escape the hand. But the moment he moved, the hand on his shoulder tightened like a steel vice.

*Crack!*

The muscles and bones in his shoulder groaned under the unbearable pressure.

At the same time, the hand felt as heavy as a thousand-pound stone, rendering his entire body immobile. His face twisted, veins bulging on his forehead. He struggled frantically, but it was completely futile. Driven by desperation, he reversed his grip on the short blade and slashed backward.

But in that instant, he felt himself lifted off his feet. His attack was rendered useless, and with his feet off the ground, he had no leverage at all.

*Boom!*

He was slammed hard into the dirt, dust billowing up around him. Ace was instantly dazed, unable to pull himself up for a moment.

Tang Shen looked on with a calm, indifferent expression, though his eyes held a hint of disappointment. He had expected the legendary "Fire Fist" Ace to have a more solid foundation from his childhood—at the very least, to show some real strength. But as it stood, aside from decent physical fitness, his combat style was messy, his perception was poor, and he lacked the ability to track his opponent, showing zero vigilance once he lost his target.

*Too green, far too green.*

Just a moment ago, Tang Shen had used the blind spot created by Ace’s pivot to blink behind him. When the boy was lost and confused, Tang Shen had simply tapped his shoulder, used his waist to pin him down, and executed a casual toss. It didn't even qualify as a shoulder throw.

Nearby, Monkey D. Luffy’s eyes were bulging so far out of their sockets they looked like they might fall off, his mouth hanging open until it hit the ground. He stared at the scene in utter disbelief. He had seen the whole thing, yet in that split second, nothing seemed to have happened—and yet, there was Ace, face-down in the dirt, unable to get up.

He knew that Ace was stronger than he was; even after eating the Devil Fruit, he had never been able to beat Ace. Yet, in Tang Shen’s hands, Ace was as fragile as a ragdoll. His entire worldview was being overturned. This "uncle" of his—he was incredibly strong. Ace hadn't even lasted a single move—no, Tang Shen hadn't even truly attacked; that toss was barely half a move.

*So this is the size of the gap between us!*

Ace, lying in the dirt, was regaining his senses. Tang Shen hadn't used much force; he just wanted to stun him, not cause any real harm.