Chapter 136: Garp Has His Flings Too [Seeking Tips]
“Ding! Congratulations, host, on comprehending the Silver Skill: Blade-Stacking Slash—Tenfold Waves! As the first player across the server to comprehend a Silver Skill, you are rewarded with five Achievement Points.”
The system notification rang out in Tang Shen’s mind, and he stared at his status panel in surprise.
Player: Monkey D. Roger
Age: 18
Starting Location: Frostmoon Novice Village
Level: 17, 31%
Achievement Points: 20
Swordsmanship Talent: +20
Health: 300
Constitution: 37
Strength: 22
Agility: 22
Spirit: 22
Skills: Conqueror’s Haki (Novice), Blade-Stacking Slash (Beginner), Advanced Draw Slash, Basic Swordsmanship (Mastered), Observation, Gathering
After killing Alvida, he had gained three Achievement Points. By giving Nami a Devil Fruit and altering the storyline, he had earned another ten. Adding the five points rewarded for being the first player to comprehend a Silver Skill, along with the two points he already possessed, Tang Shen once again had the astonishing total of twenty Achievement Points!
“Ding! The player possesses twenty Achievement Points! Achievement Points may be used to directly strengthen the Silver Skill, Blade-Stacking Slash. Would you like to use them?”
The system notification sounded beside his ear.
Now that he had comprehended a new skill, Tang Shen was eager to see whether he could use Achievement Points to break through directly. That was the difference between him and the other players.
Naturally, he chose to use them.
“Ding! Five Achievement Points deducted. Congratulations, host, on successfully strengthening the Silver Skill, Blade-Stacking Slash—Minor Mastery. You have comprehended Blade-Stacking Slash: Fiftyfold Waves. Would you like to continue strengthening it?”
As the voice faded, Tang Shen keenly sensed that his understanding of Blade-Stacking Slash had become far clearer. It was as though an invisible force had surged into his mind, effortlessly shattering the bottleneck that had hindered his comprehension of sword techniques.
With a casual flick of his wrist, the blade that had already been as swift as the wind now flashed like lightning!
The afterimages of the blade in midair stretched into a breathtaking blur.
“So powerful!”
Even Tang Shen could not help feeling delighted. The might of Fiftyfold Waves was worlds apart from that of Tenfold Waves!
What surprised him even more was that Bronze and Silver Skills required the same number of Achievement Points to strengthen. Draw Slash had previously been a Bronze Skill, but after reaching Mastery, its power was already comparable to that of a Silver Skill.
“Continue strengthening!”
“Ding! Ten Achievement Points deducted. Congratulations, host, on successfully strengthening the Silver Skill, Blade-Stacking Slash—Grand Mastery. You have comprehended Blade-Stacking Slash: Hundredfold Waves!”
“Hundredfold Waves!”
Tang Shen’s eyes suddenly shone with extraordinary brilliance. His understanding of Blade-Stacking Slash instantly became clear and complete. The moment he lightly swung his long blade, a series of booming sounds, like the roar of a tsunami, echoed through the air.
“...With this strike, could I split the sea in two?!”
Feeling the surging power in his hand, Tang Shen’s blood raced through his veins. With the aid of Achievement Point enhancement, his comprehension of swordsmanship had advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching a truly profound level.
He was already beginning to display the bearing of a master.
Slowly returning the blade to its sheath and suppressing his excitement, Tang Shen understood that, with his current stamina, he could probably manage only a single strike of Hundredfold Waves.
“Looks like I’ll have to find a chance to farm some monsters!”
He gazed into the distance with an idle smile, a terrifying glint flickering in his eyes.
…
…
Not long after Tang Shen left Windmill Village, a massive and imposing Marine warship came to anchor off the village’s shore.
“Hahaha! There’s nowhere else one can sleep as soundly as here! Luffy, you brat, have you been slacking off in your training? The Fist of Love is invincible!”
Vice Admiral Garp, wearing his trademark dog-head hat, was clearly in excellent spirits. The moment he disembarked, he threw back his head and laughed before heading straight for Makino’s bar.
“Mr. Garp is back!”
“Wow! Mr. Garp, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you. How have you been lately?”
“Thanks to Mr. Garp, our village has remained peaceful.”
…
At Garp’s arrival, the villagers of Windmill Village greeted him with admiration and gratitude.
The East Blue was known as the weakest of the four seas, but it was also the most peaceful. At its root, that was because Garp’s presence made it extremely difficult for any great pirate to stir up trouble there.
“Hey! I haven’t been slacking off! I’ve grown much stronger than before! I’m going to become the King of the Pirates!”
The moment Luffy saw Garp enter the bar, he leaped onto a table and raised his fists defiantly.
Garp found this rather amusing. With a casual grin, he raised his Fist of Love and brought it down toward Luffy.
Whoosh—
His fist grazed Luffy’s cheek. Perhaps because he had dodged Garp’s iron fist for the first time, Luffy began howling with excitement.
The Fist of Love that had never failed had actually missed?
Garp was momentarily stunned, but he immediately followed up with another punch.
Bang!
The sound made everyone’s teeth ache. It was a solid, full-powered Fist of Love.
A steaming lump slowly rose from Luffy’s head. His eyes brimmed with tears from the pain, but he continued gritting his teeth stubbornly.
The villagers in the bar struggled to hold back their laughter.
“Looks like you’ve improved quite a bit lately. But how many times have I told you not to dream of becoming a pirate? Joining the Marines and upholding justice—that is the only path to true freedom!”
Garp corrected him without the slightest hint of mercy. He had no intention of letting his grandson follow in that boy’s footsteps.
“But Uncle says the Marines don’t represent justice. He says so-called justice is decided by the strong!”
Luffy glared at him defiantly, his stubborn little eyes blazing with anger.
“Uncle?”
Garp froze. He had never said anything like that to Luffy. Besides... those were not words a child of only a few years should have been able to say.
“Yeah! Uncle Monkey D. Roger. Is he your illegitimate son?”
Luffy regarded Garp suspiciously.
The surrounding villagers also turned to look, and even Makino, who normally disliked gossip, displayed an extraordinary degree of curiosity.
“No way. Mr. Garp is the representative of Marine justice. How could he do something like that?”
“Have you forgotten? A few days ago, Luffy and Ace’s uncle—the handsome young man—was here. Mr. Garp must have had an affair while he was away!”
“Oh, right! So that was Garp’s illegitimate son? How enviable.”
…
The villagers’ hushed whispers, along with the strange looks they cast at him, were unbearable.
“...”
Garp was utterly speechless and completely dumbfounded. How long had he even been away from Windmill Village? When had he suddenly acquired an illegitimate son?
And those strange expressions around him—those knowing looks, that absolute certainty...
A stampede of vicious curses seemed to thunder across the top of Garp’s head, running in endless circles.
What was worse, that name...
Garp’s heart sank as he prepared to object.
“Ahem! What does this Monkey D. Roger look like?”
He had never expected there to be someone else with the same family name as him—and that the man’s name would be...
Garp was filled with questions. Luffy might be mischievous, but he would never deliberately deceive him about something like this.
“He’s a very, very handsome uncle, with bronze-colored skin. He even taught Ace and me how to train.”
Luffy tilted his head, thought for a moment, and answered seriously.
“He taught you how to train?!”
A trace of astonishment appeared on Garp’s face, and he immediately understood. No wonder Luffy seemed so much stronger this time he had returned.
But... Monkey D. Roger?
Who exactly was he?