THE ABSOLUTE HAKI IS COMPLETED

The surrounding Marines froze, their bodies stiff with tension. None dared to blink.

BOOM!

A heavy, muffled sound echoed across the battlefield.

Slowly, the Marines opened their eyes—only to see Colonel Josh standing completely unharmed.

Kingsley's face contorted in shock. "Who… who the hell are you?!"

A figure stood calmly in front of Josh. His posture was relaxed, yet his presence radiated an unshakable confidence.

"Heavenly Bull?" Carl said indifferently, his forefinger resting against Kingsley's massive fist.

"That's right! My uncle ate—"

"Don't bother answering." Carl licked his ear with his other hand, expression bored. "I don't care what Devil Fruit you ate."

"Huh?!" Kingsley's shock quickly morphed into rage. "Are you mocking Uncle Ben?!"

With a furious roar, he clenched his fists and swung wildly.

"Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell!"

His enormous fists, wrapped in Armament Haki, tore through the air. The sheer force of his punches sent shockwaves rippling across the ground.

Yet—

Carl didn't move.

He stood completely still, making no attempt to dodge.

And yet, Kingsley's attacks never landed.

His fists stopped—mid-air—as if an invisible force was pushing them back just before impact.

"W-What?!" Kingsley stumbled back, eyes wide.

His fists trembled. Every time he punched, his own body seemed to reject the motion, forcing his arms to snap back into place.

Carl yawned, barely concealing his boredom. "Are you done?"

Kingsley's face twisted in frustration. "Why?! Why can't I hit you?!"

Carl smirked. "Because that's a reality you'll never reach."

"SHUT UP!!" Kingsley howled, his fists cracking as he prepared another barrage.

"Tch. Boring."

Carl raised his leg—

—and kicked.

CRACK!

A sound like shattering steel and breaking bones filled the air.

Kingsley's three-meter-tall body was launched like a cannonball.

BOOM!

He crashed through a Marine Base wall, debris exploding outward in a cloud of dust.

Silence.

Marines. Pirates. Everyone stood frozen, mouths agape.

That… that was impossible to survive.

Carl sighed, brushing dust off his sleeve. "I thought he might be some Celestial Dragon's guard, but turns out he's just a Heavenly Bull."

Without another glance, he turned and strode toward the Marine branch.

On his way, he passed Roy—who stood completely stiff, eyes blank with shock.

Carl casually grabbed Roy's collar, dragging him along.

"Let's go. Weren't you supposed to show me the dorm?"

Roy, still in a daze, could only nod dumbly.

As Carl walked, he rubbed his chin.

"Kingsley… why does he seem familiar?"

A memory surfaced.

"Ah, that's right."

Three years ago.

Back when his Haki was still incomplete.

If Armament Haki had three stages—Hardening, Emission, Internal Destruction—then back then, he had only reached the second stage: Emission.

It was then that he first encountered Kingsley.

Kingsley had been looting a small town.

Carl, lacking any real combat experience at the time, had chosen to be cautious.

He had snuck behind Kingsley—and knocked him out with a single punch.

Then, without thinking twice, he had tossed the unconscious pirate into the ocean.

At the time, he had no real experience killing people.

"If it had been the current me…" Carl mused.

"I would have erased him completely."

He hadn't expected Kingsley to survive—or gain a Devil Fruit.

At that moment, Roy finally snapped out of his shock.

"Carl! You—you—you're insane!"

His voice trembled with excitement. "That guy had a Devil Fruit! And you DESTROYED him!!"

Carl sighed. "Because he was too weak."

"Anyway, take me to the dorm. I need to drop this off."

He gestured toward the Marine uniform tucked under his arm.

"O-Oh! Right! Come this way!" Roy eagerly led the way.

Carl glanced at him.

"Why does he look more excited than me?"

He sighed.

"How did it end up like this?"

He had just joined the Marines—yet already, someone attacked the base?

That wasn't normal, right?

Sure, East Blue wasn't the safest place, but this felt off.

"Did something change because of me?"

He shook his head and followed Roy inside.

—

Meanwhile, outside…

Colonel Josh finally reacted.

"All Marines—listen up! ENCIRCLE THE PIRATES!"

"Their captain has fallen! We must deliver justice!"

The Marines snapped out of their shock.

They raised their weapons with renewed morale.

"Charge!"

"Crush the pirates!"

Just moments ago, they had trembled as Kingsley dominated the battlefield.

Now, the situation had flipped entirely.

Their once-terrifying enemy had been annihilated in a single move.

And the remaining pirates?

They were panicking.

"RUN!"

"CAPTAIN KINGSLEY IS DOWN!!"

"HE'S A MONSTER!!"

Some pirates scrambled toward the shore, desperate to escape.

But it was too late.

The Marine forces had already secured the pirate ship.

The Tekken Pirates… were completely crushed.

One by one, the pirates were subdued and captured.

After delivering a final strike to a stubborn pirate, Colonel Josh sheathed his saber.

His eyes narrowed.

"Solomon Carl…"

He had heard the name before.

And now—he understood.

"So that's why Vice Admiral Garp recommended him."

It wasn't nepotism.

No.

Carl had real power.

"Garp didn't send him to Headquarters directly…" Josh realized.

"He wants Carl to gain experience on the frontlines."

Josh clenched his fist.

"I see… Then I'll make sure Garp's will is carried out!"

From this moment forward—

Carl would be on the frontline of pirate extermination missions.

Whether he liked it or not.