"WHEW!"

A deep breath inside.

"WHEW,"

One more deep breath inside.

"WHEW."

[AI Observation no 363: Deeper breadths decreased the time required to bring the heartbeat back to normal by 55% when compared to observation no 1.]

It was a hellish experience of doubting myself, combined with a hope of a bright future that I persisted in this ridiculous exercise.

As the ocean waves hit me, I stayed still like a rock while holding my sword in one hand and the pistol in another. Trying to take inspiration from Demon Slayer might seem like a great idea at first thought, but turning it into reality is a long uphill battle for me.

Even so, I am happy that I am on the right track.

[Unnamed Breathing Exercise: Capable of bringing the heartbeat to normal, prolong the time needed to feel fatigue, and meet the requirements of body despite being in combat or danger.]

Of course, the difference this breathing had with my normal breathing is not much, but the fact remains that it is an improvement. Now, I had to make it second nature to me and experiment with a new breathing exercise that improves me.

SMACK

I felt the smack on coming towards the back of my head, butt being hit by the ocean waves on the shore exhausted me.

SPALSH

As I fell down on the incoming ocean waves, I was relieved that I was standing on the beach shore and not deeper into the ocean. Because the waves on the shores itself were so powerful that they sent flying into the sands of beach. Bringing up all my energy, I held on to the beach sand when the ocean waves receded back.

Spitting back the sand in my mouth, I shouted at Luffy, "You idiot! I would have died if the ocean waves dragged me deeper into the ocean. Especially if the fucking Sea King is passing by here."

The fish village could be considered the safest village in the kingdom of Goa if we consider the attack route from sea. It was simple a harmonics and monstrous sea king flashed a decade which coincides with Luffy's age. Oh Right! Garp visited exactly that day it appeared and apparently, lost to it.

Fucking hell, Old man Garp did some scary and stupid stuff to ensure Luffy's safety.

Unless pirates on the level of 100 million plus are passing by, the sea king can say to be an invincible shield guarding the shores. The kingdom of Goa can say to be a good training ground without the presence of veritable monsters of the sea. Challenging but comparatively safe for Luffy and Ace.

Though, an emperor like shanks coming to this area is fucking impossible for any sane mind, but he came by and had a lengthy holiday here.

WHOOSH

I bend down as the rubber punch passed over my head. Seriously, this kid is really pouting that we are not allowing him into the water when he will fuck down if we did so.

I shouted at him, "You idiot, you are a devil fruit user! You will drown if you go into the sea."

Luffy pouted and pointed at Ace and Sabo, who have somehow found a shark each. I felt true, utter shock as kids younger than me have somehow tamed a shark and riding them.

"Ace and Sabo are playing in the water. Why can't I?"

Now, I am understanding Luffy's crew. It is like talking to a wall.

"You are a devil fruit user. It is bad for you to swim in the ocean."

"NO, No. I want to go swim."

I felt cutting this idiot down and throw him in the water just for this annoyance. It might seem like an overreaction, but it is justified when I count the number of times he attempted to go into the water.

[AI observation: 29 attempts to go into the seas today, 456 request to do the same.]

All in a single day. I can't even bother to read the large number that signifies Luffy's stupidity in the time I knew him. Which is very short.

Now, one might be confused at how easily the trio of kids accepted me as their brother. Well, it got to do with the same hand which cast a shadow that spanned the entire shore.

I saw Ace and Sabo torturing the sharks there to swim faster to run away from the owner of the shadow. But it was a futile gesture.

Just like my slash and bullets to attack Garp.

I had a private dose of this world's insanity as I was sent flying.

You see, I mean it literally; I was sent flying towards Ace and Sabo enjoying a terrifying view of meters of ocean water passing under me.

"GRANNNDDPPPPAAAA,"

Luffy's shouts were heard closer and closer until they crossed me faster as he was thrown into the ocean in front of Ace and Sabo.

"Lufffyyyy."

I reached them just as they jumped in to save Luffy.

In that moment, my observation of Haki bombarded me with Ace, Sabo and Luffy's presence once more. Then, I lost conscious as the water line hit me like fucking concrete and I drowned faster than the rubbery Luffy.

As I am losing my life, I realised that anyone who suffered this with me every day is my brother.

-Flashback-

"Hey! Who are you, kid?"

I explained to the Ace like a good elder brother, "I am King. And you shouldn't use such a rude tone. It will make people feel as if you are like Luffy."

As if to punctuate my point, Luffy took out a booger from his mouth and put it inside his ear. Rightfully pissed off at my comparison with Luffy, Ace jumped towards me to knock me unconscious again. Unfortunately for him, he is not an idiot like Luffy, who punches people with good intentions.

So, I dodge the kick towards my head with ease.

Ace, not liking me dodging the second kick, screamed in frustration, "Damn It! Stop running around."

I blew a raspberry, feeling childish and drunk from the safety I found myself in. "As if, Idiot!"

"AHH! I am going to kill you."

I narrowly dodged the punch that blew a hole in the tree. Fucking hell, this guy is a well-deserved freak.

I couldn't help myself but say, "Listen, Ace, be calm. Being so trigger-happy is not good for you. Especially for your loved ones."

Perhaps, because I know the future, my words conveyed my meaning to the point. So much so that Ace stopped in his tracks in surprise.

My time in this world made me realise that Haki (meaning Will) is like its name implies. It depends on how true to yourself you are. Or How strong your will is.

How much you want to observe the world or how it affects you? [Observation Haki]

How much you want to affect the world with your actions? [ Armament Haki]

How you and the world co-exists? Is it the world that crushes you or you that crushes everything that world throughs at you? [Conqueror's Haki.]

Meaning, I shouldn't deceive myself, I shouldn't accept a backstop in my path or be half passed at something. Otherwise, I can kiss my chances at Conqueror's Haki goodbye.

Therefore, observation and Armament Haki can be trained, but not Conqueror's Haki. Conqueror's Haki re queries astronomical luck in surviving the shit the world throws at you without your will break down. I am fucking sure encountering an Admiral or Yonko now will break my tiny will to break apart.

In fact, being under a constricting and overbearing boss who will enforce his commands on me is also a big no-no.

SIGH!

No wonder most of the conquerors in one piece are all overbearing to the core. They were lucky enough in the novice period to protection or blessed enough to not encounter the freaks at sea until the moment their conqueror's Haki awakened.

In a way, a dream or goal will help you in the path of Haki. Unfortunately, I don't have the clarity needed to have a clear cut goal. One can only say I am a typical youth of modern society.

"Damn it! Stop jumping around and look here."

Ace's voice made me realise that I have been using the Observation Haki to instinctively dodge his attacks. This is a significant milestone for me. For the first time in a fight, I have been using the Observation Haki passively. Contrary to what Canon implies, I found it depends on the person whether their newly awakened Observation Haki works actively or passively.

Of course, Active meaning that I wanted to observe the attack.

"ASSHOLE!"

I laughed aloud, whole jumping over Ace's sweep, "I made the right decision in approaching Garp to come here."

My senses were overloaded when a presence made itself known in my surroundings. Unlike the instinctive fear in the kids' faces, I knew the danger of the man behind me down to the core.

I immediately turned around and said, "Hello Grandpa Garp!"

The dog masked hero of the Marine snorted as he heard my calling, "GRANDPAA! HAHAHAA, That's Funny."

The Trio looked at me like I was the idiot. I knew I was being an idiot when fucking Luffy felt I was an idiot.

"Good! Good! My dear grandson, it is good that you feel that way. I will make you a good marine and help you atone for that incident. So, feel my FIST OF LOVE!"

As the fist came towards while ripping the air in its path, I literally suffocated because of the lack of air. As I felt the fist send my defending arms to the side from the sheer force, it possesses and hit me in the stomach; I realised the secret behind the Trio's achievements.

Sure, they had talent, but this insanity in which I am brought to the edge of death and realms of pain might be the reason they are dumb, strong willed and a freak.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM

I felt every part of my body creaking in pain.

AI damage report.

[Host Condition: A crack in the ribs, muscle sprains in 32 places, bruises in 43 places, Sea Water in lungs and gut…..

Summary : The host's body can function properly, albeit with lots of pain, and is currently suffocating from lack of oxygen.]

I didn't understand until I suddenly felt my body being pulled and placed on a sandy terrain. I distinctly heard Garp's shout of wake up, which became clear with a sudden source of pain spreading from my head.

"GET UP!"

As I spit the seawater I drank, I realised Garp had brought us out of the water, just an inch away from death.

I felt the knob of swelling on my head where Garp punched me. I wisely shut my mouth because of the daily taste of trauma of death I had under his care.

Thankfully, his focus of the day was Luffy. "So, my dear grandson, do you want to swim? Is this swim fun?"

Luffy, being Luffy, growled out, "Stupid Grandpa! IT Hurts!"

Garp looked at Luffy seriously and decided, "It looks like you need another swim."

And so, Luffy was kicked back into the ocean.

BOOM

I watched with increasing fear as Garp's leg, which kicked Luffy, released smoke from the sheer force generated by the impact. I am sure if it wasn't the rubbery Luffy receiving the kick, a death would have happened here.

Ace and Sabo already started running into the forest using their freaky bodies. Unfortunately, Garp somehow threw a dozen elephants towards them.

Don't ask me from where he got them? I only saw a slight flash and the next thing I know, He had a dozen Elephants scared shit of their life, lying as a pile on his extended hand, "ELEPHANT LOVE!"

"AHHH! GRANDPA!"

Ace's shouts scared the shit out of me when I saw Garp coming towards me. I wanted to get up and run, but it was impossible.

I am sure if I try to get up and felt anymore damage, my body would break and require months of bed rest.

And so I braced myself.

"Here you go, my weird and shitty grandson."

Garp took my forcing myself as Luffy's adopted brother, as if it is a matter of course. Though, he keeps calling me shitty grandson or Dragon grandson.

Unfortunately, Dragon means two things in this world- One Garp's son or Celestial Dragons. Both topics make Garp cranky. Both times, it ended with me unconscious. Multiple times a day.

So, Garp considers me a shitty person, like celestial dragons or traitor like his son. But takes care of me and even holds some love towards me.

Because, the few brief visits Garp has over the year, massively increase my power.

AI Profile [Update after 1 year]

Name :Kingston Kerith

Age : 11

Gender : Male

Doriki/Power level :50

Haki: Observation-28

Skills :

-Docter: One of the best in setting fractures [Especially from punches], Suturing Flesh wounds, and treat combat trauma.

-Unnamed martial arts: Self-made. Uses all the body movements available in a free flowing manner. Ensuring the power of the entire body in each punch and each kick.

-Named Swordmanship: User can Block, chop, stab, slash, deflect, parry, riposte, twirl….]

- Shooting : Accurate within 50 meters.

Equipment-Kitetsu III, Pistol, A book on Marine's way of life. [Never opened.]