Chapter 71 - 71: A New Opponent, An Unexpected Visitor(200 P.S Chapter)

Words : 1337 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

After meeting Borsalino, who had been sent by Zephyr to assess his strength, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's life returned to its usual calm. His days on the island followed a simple rhythm: practicing swordsmanship, eating meals, and when fatigue set in, sitting quietly atop the sea cliffs, gazing out over the vast ocean in quiet contemplation. To others, such a life might seem monotonous. But for Yoriichi, this was the rhythm he knew best—one of peace and routine. He had never once found it dull. This was the same life he had led during the final decades of his time in the Demon Slayer world. And unlike before, each day now brought something new, a tangible sense of becoming stronger. That exhilarating feeling of growth, of honing one's edge, was something Yoriichi had come to savor. December. The weather on the Boin Archipelago had finally begun to cool. In the outside world, winter had already set in. But here, on this peculiar island, it was only just beginning to feel like autumn. Yoriichi folded away his summer uniform and switched into a long-sleeved, autumn version. However, the Navy officer's uniform, tailored specifically for him just a few months ago—now appeared noticeably short. In that time, not only had his physique become more defined, but he had also grown several centimeters taller. Compared to when he first arrived on the island, he had gained nearly five centimeters in height. Now standing at 177 centimeters, his sleeves no longer reached his wrists. Yet despite the sudden growth, his coordination and reflexes remained unaffected. His body, sharpened by relentless training, had adapted swiftly. And his sword strikes had grown considerably more powerful. If before, he could barely graze Rayleigh's skin even when going all out, then now—if faced with standard Armament Haki—he might actually be able to break through Rayleigh's defense. Of course, that was assuming Rayleigh wasn't using advanced Conqueror's Haki. Still, with no one to spar against, Yoriichi had no concrete way to gauge the full extent of his progress. The duel with Kizaru a month ago had ended far too quickly to serve as a true measure of his strength. But that uncertainty was about to be resolved—on an otherwise ordinary day at the beginning of December. Boin Archipelago, midday. After completing his morning training, Yoriichi had enjoyed a hearty meal in the "Forest of Temptation." Upon returning to his quarters, he began meditating to recover his energy. While Haki tended to recover alongside stamina, it didn't instantly refill the moment his body felt rested. Stamina and Haki were linked, yet ultimately separate. After a full morning of intense physical training, both his strength and Haki reserves had been drained. Life Return could replenish physical energy through food and rest, but it did little for Haki. Through experimentation, Yoriichi had found that meditation eased mental fatigue and gradually helped his Haki regenerate. It had become a quiet but essential part of his training. But just as he was settling into that state of calm, a sharp brrr-ing! broke the silence. The Den Den Mushi in his robe squawked to life at the most inconvenient time. "Hm?" "At this hour… it's probably not a call from Master Zephyr." Opening his eyes, Yoriichi glanced toward the mouth of the cave. The sky outside was clear and bright. He reached into his inner pocket, retrieved the Den Den Mushi, and casually looked over at the small calendar pinned to the wall. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "So… it's already December." "In that case, could this be the challenger Master Zephyr mentioned?" "I wonder who it'll be…" With quiet curiosity, Yoriichi answered the call. "Hello, this is Yoriichi Tsugikuni speaking." "May I ask who's calling from Navy Headquarters?" Yoriichi felt an odd flicker of interest. Without hesitation, he asked directly. On the other end, there was a moment of silence. Then came a booming, hearty laugh followed by a spirited, confident voice: "Ha ha ha!" "Lieutenant Commander Yoriichi Tsugikuni, is it?!" "Nice to meet you! I'm Vice Admiral Monkey D. Dragon of Navy Headquarters!" "You might not know my name—that's fine. But I'm sure you know Vice Admiral Garp, don't you? He's my father. He's the one who sent me here." "And your opponent for this round... is me." "I'm already here at the Boin Archipelago. Where exactly are you?" Dragon's voice was firm and cheerful, carrying a distinct charisma that made an immediate impression. Yoriichi's expression shifted slightly upon hearing the name. He raised his head, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Monkey D. Dragon. The son of the naval hero Garp. And decades from now, that name would become synonymous with the most dangerous revolutionary in the world—the leader of the Revolutionary Army. And his son… would go on to become one of the Four Emperors of the Sea: Monkey D. Luffy. To think that at this point in time, Dragon was still with the Navy. And not just any officer—he was already a Vice Admiral of Navy Headquarters. This revelation was far beyond anything Yoriichi had expected. "Vice Admiral Dragon… of Navy HQ," Yoriichi repeated to himself with a slight smile. "Didn't see that one coming." He rose slowly, muttering softly, and stepped outside the cave, looking out toward the sea. But no ship was visible in the distance. "I'm on the coast of the easternmost island of the Boin Archipelago. If your ship heads this way, you should see me." "I'm standing right on the shoreline." Yoriichi's dwelling was perched at the highest point along the coast, offering a wide view of the sea. If no warship was in sight, then perhaps Dragon had landed on the wrong island. But then, the next words from the Den Den Mushi made Yoriichi blink in confusion. "Oh! I see you!" "That red hair really stands out!" "I'm coming down now." Yoriichi narrowed his eyes. "You see me? From where?" "What do you mean, 'coming down'?" He looked back out at the ocean again. Still nothing. But in the next instant, a roaring gust of wind swept down from above, howling across the island without warning. "…No way." A strange feeling rose in Yoriichi's chest. He immediately looked up toward the sky. And there it was—a warship falling from the heavens, plummeting down toward the sea in front of him. As it descended, a massive waterspout burst up from the ocean like a towering column, rushing upward to meet the vessel. It caught the ship in midair, slowing its descent. With a tremendous splash, the waterspout gently lowered the warship into the sea before vanishing back into the waves. BOOM!! SPLAAASH! The Navy ship landed with a thunderous crash, sending waves slamming into the cliffs below. At the ship's bow stood a tall, rugged man in his early thirties. His figure was steady against the deck as he locked eyes with Yoriichi above. A bold, red X-shaped mark crossed his face—whether a scar or birthmark, it was unclear. "Tama~!" "Lieutenant Commander Yoriichi Tsugikuni!" As the ship came to a full stop, Dragon broke into a bright grin. He waved energetically at Yoriichi. Seeing the ship drop from the sky, Yoriichi could only stare for a moment in stunned silence. Then he let out a helpless chuckle and shook his head. Inwardly, he sighed: "There's no need for a paternity test. This guy is definitely Garp's son." ************************ Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch! For advance chapters, please do visit and consider joining me on Patreon, it really helps me out and I'd love to have you along for the journey! p(a)treon.com/Lnee *remove () to open it

Chapter 71 - 71: A New Opponent, An Unexpected Visitor(200 P.S Chapter)

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