Pirates: Seeing My Proficiency, I Became a Legend

Boom!

A deep, muffled explosion reverberated through the island, shaking the very ground. The sheer force of the impact sent a shiver down Robin's spine, a primal fear gripping her as she felt the shockwave roll through her body.

Standing at the island's edge, she hesitated. She had planned to slip into the sea and escape, but now an overwhelming sense of dread stopped her. Her instincts screamed at her—something was wrong. Her gaze turned toward the center of the island, where towering trees and jagged cliffs obscured her view.

Then, suddenly, from deep within the forest, a massive slash erupted, cutting through the dense foliage. The sheer force behind it didn't just stop at the treetops—it extended far beyond, slicing the ocean itself. Waves nearly a kilometer away split open, parting as if cleaved by the blade of a god. Robin could only stare in stunned silence.

Fear crept in.

She understood now. This wasn't just a battle between a pirate hunter and a Marine hero. No, it had become something else entirely.

And worst of all… it was because of her.

Dongze wasn't a Marine. He had no obligation to fight Garp. If anything, as a pirate hunter, he should have been indifferent to her fate. Yet, here he was, standing against the legendary Garp, locked in a battle that was shaking the very island to its core.

Regret gnawed at her. She had boarded his ship impulsively, frustrated and lost. But after days of traveling together, she had come to realize something—Dongze was not a heartless executioner. His brutality was reserved solely for those who deserved it: the ruthless pirates who preyed upon the innocent.

The world called him the "Barren Executioner," but among the civilians he had saved, he was a different kind of legend. A silent protector. A savior.

Her emotions swirled in turmoil.

Then—

Crack!

The heavens split apart.

Robin's breath hitched as the sky itself seemed to rupture like shattered glass. High above, a gaping void tore through the clouds, a pitch-black maw opening as if the sky had been punched apart. Thick storm clouds recoiled from the impact, scattering like frightened prey.

She dropped to her knees.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

She had read about it. She had heard rumors.

But seeing it with her own eyes?

A clash of Haoshoku Haki.

These two were monsters.

At the center of the devastation, Garp stared at Dongze in shock. His mouth curled into a grin, but his eyes held a dangerous glint.

"You've got Haoshoku Haki, too?"

The old Marine chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

"Brat… You keep surprising me."

His voice was filled with approval—but also a challenge.

"Not just top-tier Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku that can actually hurt me… but Haoshoku as well. And that sword technique of yours—what the hell is that? No Devil Fruit, yet you fight like a damn Yonko Commander.

"…Why are you wasting time in the East Blue?"

Garp flexed his fingers, glancing down at his hand. A fresh cut. A cut.

Few people in this world could wound him. Even fewer could do it without a Devil Fruit.

That blade, Wangchen, had broken through his defenses.

His voice remained lighthearted, but his stance shifted. Now, he was taking things seriously.

Dongze, on the other hand, looked far more disheveled—his clothes tattered, reduced to rags. But his eyes… his eyes burned with an intensity like never before.

He smirked. "I was already planning to head to the New World. Would you believe me if I said this was a detour?"

He took a quick glance at his status panel:

• Busoshoku Haki (Awakened): 500,000/1,000,000

• Kenbunshoku Haki (Awakened): 500,000/1,000,000

• Haoshoku Haki (Awakened): 25,000/1,000,000

• Invincible Sword Intent (Awakened): 350,000/1,000,000

A new development.

Another sword intent had awakened—passively, no less.

Hanguang Zuo Wang.

Unlike his Eroding Sword Intent, which was pure destruction, this one was a defensive mastery. A technique that swallowed attacks like an endless abyss, diffusing the force and minimizing damage.

Perfect.

His Kenbunshoku and Busoshoku had suddenly hit a hard cap at 500,000 points—a limitation he had never encountered before.

(What kind of bug is this?) he mused. (Did the system just crash on me?)

But he had no time to dwell on it.

The ground beneath him trembled, fractures splitting across the terrain like a spider's web.

Garp sighed, rolling his shoulders. He could feel it—this island wouldn't last much longer.

"Brat, this island is done for."

He cracked his neck, his grin returning.

"One more attack. Let's end this properly."

Dongze's muscles tensed. He exhaled slowly.

"Then bring it, old man."

Despite Garp's laid-back demeanor, Dongze knew the truth—Garp had been holding back this entire time. Even after all the blows they had exchanged, the legendary Marine still hadn't fought at full power.

Because Garp had no intention of killing him.

That was the difference between them.

Garp was testing him.

Dongze clenched his fist. His growth had been explosive, but the fight had revealed his weaknesses. His combat awareness was still behind. For too long, he had relied on sheer skill, cutting down pirates who were leagues below him.

This was his first true battle.

A real challenge.

And this—this was why he needed to go to the New World.

He had to fight monsters.

Looking at Garp now, Dongze estimated the old man's real strength.

• Busoshoku Haki: At least 950,000 points

• Kenbunshoku Haki: Around 900,000 points

The gap was still there.

If they kept going, he would eventually fall behind and lose.

Garp may have been past his prime, but he was still a legend—a man who could fight Gol D. Roger to a standstill.

Dongze took a deep breath, gripping Wangchen tighter.

One more move.

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