Now, consider others.
Take Zoro's master, Koushirou, for example.
As soon as Zoro gained fame, he was promptly "invited" away by the Marines.
In comparison, if Garp were truly a fool, he'd have long since become a prisoner of the Marines or simply met his end.
But the reality is, through his wisdom and experience, he skillfully navigated complex situations, always managing to stand firm.
How could one not view such a person with newfound respect?
"Hahaha…"
Just then, the anger on Garp's face vanished without a trace, replaced by a hearty, booming laugh.
The laughter echoed around them, so resonant it drew everyone's attention.
As the laughter gradually subsided, a kindly smile appeared on Garp's weathered face.
Looking at the person before him, he slowly said, "Oh my, don't be so serious! This old man is also meeting such an outstanding junior like you for the first time. I simply couldn't contain my excitement, which made my hands a bit itchy! Just consider it as some guidance from a senior to a junior."
Hearing this, Lancelot merely let out a cold laugh, thinking to himself.
'Hah! Who'd believe such nonsense? If I actually took this seriously, that'd truly be unbelievable!'
However, regarding Garp's true intentions, Lancelot saw through them clearly.
It was evident that if Garp didn't step in to restrain him, Luffy escaping from his grasp would be nothing short of a fantasy.
However, merely protecting Luffy alone would make Garp's intentions far too obvious.
Once they returned to Marine Headquarters, never mind how others might view this matter, even facing Fleet Admiral Sengoku would likely be difficult to explain.
But if he were to rescue Trafalgar Law and Jewelry Bonney along with Luffy, the situation would be entirely different.
This way, in the eyes of outsiders, Garp would simply be acting recklessly yet again.
After all, such willful behavior from him was nothing new.
Thinking this, Lancelot couldn't help but narrow his eyes, staring intently at the seemingly amiable Garp before him, inwardly heightening his vigilance.
Because he knew perfectly well that he had first captured Lancelot and now had beaten Luffy severely.
Although this old man might not necessarily take his life—after all, they both belonged to the Marine faction—and to some extent, Lancelot, as a Marine, dealing with Lancelot and Luffy was part of his duty.
However, there was no doubt about Garp's desire to teach him a harsh lesson.
He had no intention of falling into this old man's carefully laid trap.
But then again, why should he be afraid? It was just that he wouldn't be blindly arrogant or let his guard down.
He shouted loudly, "Fine! In that case, let me personally experience just how powerful our Marine Hero's fists can be!"
As soon as the words fell, an astonishing scene unfolded—Lancelot's body began undergoing a dramatic transformation.
In the blink of an eye, his entire body gradually grew a layer of dazzling golden scales, resplendent as if forged from gold.
Simultaneously, a pair of sharp horns slowly emerged from his head, gleaming coldly, while his originally normal hands instantly transformed into two fearsome dragon claws, exuding an intimidating aura.
Before long, a majestic golden Dragon Human stood imposingly before Garp!
Garp's eyes involuntarily narrowed.
He was no stranger to Kaido, they had clashed countless times.
Therefore, when he saw Lancelot's golden Dragon Human form, Kaido's image instantly surfaced in his mind.
It was mainly because their appearances in Dragon Human state were so strikingly similar.
However, there were still noticeable differences in the details.
The scales covering Kaido's body were a deep bluish-black, like shadows in the dark night, whereas Lancelot's scales shone with a brilliant golden radiance, especially under sunlight, making them too dazzling to look at directly.
Moreover, the immense pressure emanating from Lancelot made even the battle-hardened Garp feel a tremor of unease.
This oppressive force even surpassed what he had felt when facing Kaido.
Based on this, Garp concluded that this guy before him was likely stronger than Kaido.
Having reached this judgment, Garp's originally calm expression shifted, and his gaze toward Lancelot took on a new, peculiar intensity.
As a loyal Vice Admiral, he was genuinely pleased to see a powerful figure like Lancelot emerge within the Navy ranks from an official standpoint.
After all, this meant the Navy's future was full of hope, possessing sufficient strength to uphold the world's peace and justice.
Yet, from a personal perspective, the guy standing before him now was infuriating, making him want to teach him a harsh lesson!
Lost in thought, Garp instinctively glanced toward Luffy's location.
The image of Luffy's battered, blood-soaked body fueled his rage, erupting like a volcano beyond control.
How dare this despicable guy strike his grandson so ruthlessly!
This time, Luffy's injuries were severe.
Without two or three months of proper rest and recovery, he wouldn't even be able to get out of bed.
Even with skilled doctors giving their all, there was no guarantee he'd fully recover to his former self.
What made it worse was that, as fellow Navy members, he couldn't openly complain.
Because it was the Navy's duty to deal with pirates—it was only right and proper.
But... he still wanted to teach this guy in front of him a good lesson.
Narrowing his eyes, a chilling glint emerged as his clenched fists creaked, as if he were about to pummel the person before him into pulp the next second.
Suddenly, an overwhelmingly powerful force surged from within him, instantly enveloping his entire body.
What was astonishing was how different it was from the ordinary Armament Haki of most people.
His Armament Haki had reached its peak.
Once unleashed, not only did a dazzling radiance emerge around him, but it also manifested in a rare yellow hue.
The yellow glow, like fiercely blazing flames, danced wildly, tightly wrapping around his entire figure.
From a distance, he appeared like a deity descended from the heavens, exuding unparalleled majesty and presence that made it hard for anyone to look directly at him.
...
To be honest, Lancelot was envious.
There was no helping it—Garp at this moment was just oozing sheer awesomeness!
He decided then and there to find an opportunity to learn this method of using Haki.
When the time came, he'd use it to show off as well. Just thinking about it got his blood pumping!
Garp raised his fist, gathering Armament Haki upon it.
The yellow radiance was eye-catching, as if he were holding a miniature sun in his hand.
But at that moment, Garp paused slightly, noticing the black flame-like Entanglement swirling around Lancelot's body.
His eyebrows shot up, a trace of surprise crossing his face.
"Zoan Awakening? That's truly rare!"
In his past memories, even Kaido, hailed as the strongest creature, didn't seem to possess such an ability.
From what he knew, the only individuals confirmed to have achieved Zoan Awakening were the Five Elders residing in the Holy Land.
Of course, the massive organization controlling the World Government naturally knew how to trigger Zoan fruit awakenings.
Moreover, rumors suggested that within the enigmatic CP0 organization, there were also a few people who possessed this ability.
However, what was unexpected was that aside from those within the core circle of the Holy Land, there'd actually be someone else possessing such a rare ability.
But wait... Suddenly, as if recalling something important, Garp's pupils contracted sharply.
It dawned on him that this unlikable young man before him also hailed from the Holy Land.
At this realization, Garp's resentment toward Lancelot intensified even further.
After all, those chosen by the Holy Land and taught the awakening methods of Zoan abilities were undoubtedly trusted confidants, much like the members of CP0.
And when it came to the Celestial Dragons and the Holy Land they represented, Garp had never made any attempt to conceal the deep-seated disgust he felt in his heart.
His originally calm face darkened, his eyes gleaming like cold stars as they fixed sharply on the young man before him.
He spat out a few cold words: "Brat, watch out! From here on, I'm getting serious!"
With these threatening words, an overwhelming aura erupted from his seemingly frail body, surging forth like a violent hurricane that seemed to freeze the very air around them.
Not far away, Lancelot stood firmly in place, showing no intention of retreating in the face of such an intimidating pressure.
Instead, the corners of his lips curled upward into a faint smile, exuding confidence and composure.
Simultaneously, a layer of black light materialized on his arms, coiling around them like agile serpents—a clear indication that he had pushed his Armament Haki to its limits.
"Come on then. I'm ready," Lancelot responded casually, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable resolve.
Garp's gaze locked onto Lancelot's arms.
With just one glance, he recognized the technique Lancelot was employing—the legendary Armament Haki known as Ryuō from Wano Country.
It was worth noting that this technique was rare and feared even among the most elite fighters.
After all, it was said that someone had once used this very technique to leave indelible scars on Kaido, the creature hailed as the world's strongest being.
Thus, anyone who understood its power would never dare to underestimate it.
Especially when the one wielding this technique possessed strength that even surpassed Kaido's—the intimidation factor multiplied exponentially, forcing anyone to tread with caution!
"Well done, brat! I never expected you not only to successfully awaken your Zoan ability but also to master such a formidable Armament Haki technique! Hahahaha... Then today, let this old man test whether my self-developed unique technique is superior or if your Ryuō holds the upper hand!"
No sooner had Garp spoken than he swung his right arm without hesitation, throwing a straight punch forward.
That's right, Garp stood firmly in place without any unnecessary movements, simply throwing a straightforward punch.
Yet, this seemingly ordinary strike caused Lancelot's expression to change drastically.
As Garp's fist shot forward, a powerful shockwave surged forth like a tidal wave, as if it could tear the very fabric of space apart.
Even more astonishingly, within the turbulent shockwave, a dense, almost tangible layer of black Armament Haki tightly enveloped it, resembling a roaring black dragon baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it lunged toward Lancelot.
But that wasn't all.
When Lancelot sensed the power contained within this punch, a wave of shock surged through him.
Because in this strike, he distinctly perceived the presence of another terrifying and unfamiliar force, beyond the shockwave and Armament Haki.
This power bore some resemblance to the flying slashes unleashed by top-tier swordsmen, but upon closer examination, it was fundamentally different.
At that moment, a scene flashed through Lancelot's mind—the sharp, oppressive aura released by Kaido, one of the Emperors, when he swung his spiked club during their previous encounter.
In an instant, he understood.
Garp's punch wasn't merely a physical impact combined with Armament Haki, it also incorporated a force akin to fist aura, or what could even be called fist intent.
Yes.
He had been narrow-minded.
Or rather, as a transmigrator, he had been misled.
In his previous life, the world of One Piece emphasized only one thing: slashes.
Flying slashes were the hallmark of a swordsman, mastering them defined one as a Great Swordsman.
But he had overlooked other weapons.
For instance, spears and clubs could also embody their own unique paths.
As this thought crossed his mind, he instinctively opened his personal status panel.
Host: Lancelot
Rank: Vice Admiral ...
Swordrank: Great Swordsman
Martial Arts: Vice Admiral Level [Rokushiki, Fish-Man Karate]
Conqueror's Haki: Top Tier [Techniques: Entanglement, Shapeshifting, King's Pressure]
Armament Haki: Advanced [Techniques: Entanglement, Emission, Ryuō]
Observation Haki: Advanced [Wide-Area Search, Hear All Things]
Devil Fruit: [Awakened] Zoan-Mythical Zoan-Nine-Clawed Golden Dragon
Overall Strength: Top Admiral Level
His swordsmanship was already at the pinnacle.
Although his martial arts weren't as refined as his swordsmanship, they were still at the Vice Admiral level.