In Garp's mind, the cold, mechanical voice still echoed, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.
*[Congratulations on clearing the instance: The Strongest Spear]*
*[Issuing instance clearance rewards...]*
*[Congratulations, you have received the reward: Chakra Refining Technique (A-rank)]*
The moment the voice faded, a massive, unimaginable flood of information, without any warning, rushed directly into Garp's mind. It was a completely different and alien understanding of energy—how to cultivate it, how to wield it. Meridians, acupoints, Chakra… an entirely new world of power dramatically unfolded within his consciousness.
Garp's pupils suddenly contracted, and his entire body stiffened. He could feel it. Deep within his body, alongside the 'Haki' that he had cultivated over a lifetime and knew down to his very bones, another, brand-new energy was slowly being born.
"This... this is..." Garp subconsciously spread his palms, feeling the faint but undeniably real and exotic energy flowing within him. His expression was one of unprecedented, world-shaking shock.
This wasn't some Devil Fruit power. This was another, completely independent, and new system of power, entirely separate from Haki. And it was just… given to him? A complete cultivation method, a new path to strength, bought for a mere one million Berries? What kind of cosmic joke was this?
Just as he was still reeling in utter shock, his body had already completely dissolved into specks of light, vanishing from the ravaged canyon…
At the same time, back in the East Blue, in Foosha Village.
"You absolute, unbelievable moron—!"
"Mmmf mmmf mmm… That hurts! Ace!"
The two young brothers were still wrestling on the dusty street, creating a cloud of ruckus around them. Jack still had his chin propped on his hand, watching the childish squabble with an amused expression.
Suddenly, on the market street, right beside where the two boys were wrestling, a figure materialized out of thin air. The figure stumbled, almost falling to the ground before catching his balance.
Garp was back.
It's just that his current appearance was rather miserable. His entire body was dirty. his iconic 'Justice' coat was nowhere to be seen, his powerful, bronze upper body was bare and he looked like he came from a battle because he did.
The playful noise on the street abruptly ceased. Luffy and Ace, the two little rascals, froze completely. They stared blankly at their grandfather, who had suddenly reappeared looking so disheveled and beaten, their eyes threatening to pop out of their heads.
In the next second, a familiar cry ripped through the sky once more.
"Gran—pa—!"
Luffy's iconic loud wail, laced with tears, once again echoed through the village. He let go of Ace's cheek and, like a small cannonball, shot over to Garp, grabbing onto his thigh with all his might.
"Grandpa! You're back!" Luffy looked up, his eyes widening as he saw the grievous injuries on Garp's body. Tears instantly welled up and streamed down his face. "You're hurt! Who beat you up like this?!"
Ace rushed over as well. Although he wasn't as openly expressive as Luffy, the pale, ashen color of his face and his tightly clenched fists betrayed the depth of his inner fear and boiling anger.
"Old man! Are you alright?!"
In their hearts, their grandfather was a mountain, an unconquerable force of nature. How could he possibly be so injured?
"BWAHAHAHA!"
Garp's characteristic, boisterous laugh erupted, so powerful it made the windows of the houses along the street buzz and rattle in their frames. He gently pushed away Luffy, who was clinging to his thigh, his face a mess of snot and tears.
"What are you crying for!" he boomed. "Didn't I come back perfectly fine?!"
He spoke with a light, dismissive tone, but a tempest raged within his heart. That dungeon world. That warrior cloaked in lightning. And that colossal, terrifying tailed beast. Every single one of them was a powerful adversary that could push him, the great Marine Hero, to his absolute limit. Especially that final, life-or-death clash; if he had been even the slightest bit careless, he wouldn't have just returned in a sorry state—he would have been completely obliterated over there.
And that was just… a beginner's dungeon? What an absolute joke.
Garp's gaze, without a trace of its earlier casualness, fell upon the white-haired youth still lounging lazily behind the stall. In his eyes, for the very first time, there was a look of complete solemnity and intense scrutiny. *This young man… what is the origin of someone who can create such a terrifying world with a mere flick of his hand?!*
Jack slowly stood up from behind the stall, stretching with a great, exaggerated yawn. He ignored the two boys on the ground and the astonished glances from passersby. His gaze went straight to the blood-soaked man who, despite his injuries, still stood as straight and unyielding as a pillar of iron.
"Yo, old man," Jack said, strolling over with his hands casually tucked in his pockets, a playful smile on his face. He stopped directly in front of Garp, looking him up and down and openly examining his wounds.
"How was the experience?" Jack chuckled, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together in a universal gesture for money, right in front of Garp's face. "I told you, that one million Berries was absolutely worth it. No tricks, right?"
Luffy and Ace were stunned. They looked up at the white-haired proprietor who was chatting so casually with their grandfather, momentarily forgetting to cry and fuss.
"BWAHAHAHA!" Garp suddenly burst into a hearty, booming laugh, his voice so full of vigor that the surrounding air seemed to hum with the sound. He looked down at Jack, and in his deep, discerning eyes, there was no longer any of the previous disdain. It had been replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.
"Worth it!" Garp bared his blood-stained mouth and spat out a single, resolute word. "It was so damn worth it!"
He nonchalantly pulled a small notebook and a pen from his pocket, quickly scribbled a line of text, and then tore the page off. He shoved the slip of paper into Jack's hand.
"Take it!" he declared. "A specially approved check from Marineford. Go collect the money yourself later!"
Jack unceremoniously took the slip of paper, let out a low whistle, and tucked it into his pocket with a look of immense satisfaction. "Doing business with a hero is always so straightforward!"
Just then, the wild laughter on Garp's face instantly receded. His weathered face became incredibly, dangerously serious. A heavy, palpable aura began to emanate from him.
"Now, it's your turn to answer my questions," Garp's voice deepened, his eyes locking onto Jack's. "Who exactly are you? And what exactly is that so-called dungeon?"
The atmosphere solidified in that moment. Even Ace sensed that something was wrong and subconsciously pulled Luffy back a step. Jack, however, still looked as lazy and unconcerned as ever. He tilted his head, pointing a thumb at his own chest.
"Me?" he asked, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I'm just a simple traveler. A humble wanderer, journeying between the countless worlds of the multiverse."
Multiverse? Garp's pupils suddenly contracted. This was a term he had never, ever heard before.
"As for that dungeon…" Jack extended a finger, lightly tapping the empty air in front of him. A mysterious, all-knowing curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"You can understand it this way," he said. "I simply reach out across the fabric of reality, find an interesting little fragment of a timeline happening in another world… and then sell it to discerning customers like you to experience."