Chapter 115: Garp-Style Education

What Ace couldn’t accept was how weak he actually was.

For the first time, Ace truly felt vulnerable—so incredibly weak.

Because he realized that Tang Shen hadn’t even drawn his blade.

He didn’t even understand how Tang Shen had defeated him, how he suddenly vanished and reappeared behind him.

The gap between them was so vast!

How could this be possible?

Ace was utterly shaken, so much so that he refused to accept the truth.

The guy who always wore a cocky grin, sometimes even putting on a stern face to scare them into calling him “uncle,” was the same age as him and yet so overwhelmingly powerful.

He had expected to lose, but never imagined it would be such a crushing defeat.

Yet reality was brutal and unforgiving, and almost unbelievable.

He wasn’t hurt physically, but he refused to get up, unwilling to face this humiliating truth.

After all, it was too shameful.

He had been so confident in his challenge, and then... just like that... he lost cleanly! How embarrassing!

Tang Shen, however, paid no mind to Ace’s embarrassment. He was only a little disappointed. This fiery fist who once dominated the new world was truly weak now.

Tang Shen had full control over his power.

Although the impact had been loud, Ace wasn’t injured at all—well within his physical limits; he hadn’t even coughed up blood.

Tang Shen stepped forward and kicked Ace lightly on the backside with the tip of his foot, speaking in a somewhat annoyed tone, “Hey, kid, quit playing dead and get up. Luffy’s watching you. It’s really embarrassing—you couldn’t even withstand half a move. I’m ashamed for you. How can you be so weak?”

Ace’s face twitched sharply as he lay on the ground. The first few words were true, but the latter part stung deeply.

Damn it, I just got beaten, didn’t I?

Did he have to rub it in?

And why emphasize how weak I am? Don’t I have any dignity?

In an instant, Ace stood up, forcing himself to maintain a calm expression. He tried to steady his mind, reminding himself to stay composed, and brushed off the dust from his body.

No, he couldn’t lose his temper!

Most importantly, he couldn’t let Luffy see him being laughed at!

He was the older brother and had to uphold his dignity.

He had to remain calm—losing with grace, maintaining composure. Yes, as the elder brother, he must set a good example.

“Ha ha ha ha ha!”

At that moment, a wild, raucous laugh burst out, piercing and impossible to ignore: “Ace, you lost so embarrassingly, couldn’t even withstand a single move. So weak! So shameful! You got knocked flat so quickly, and you usually bully me? Turns out you’re this weak!”

The moment that voice rang out, Ace’s carefully held composure shattered like glass, breaking into thousands of pieces.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes and mouth twitched uncontrollably, and his muscular arm trembled beyond his control.

The one who broke Ace’s spirit was none other than Luffy.

Only Luffy could affect Ace so deeply. He could brush off others’ mockery, but if his own younger brother laughed at him, he lost all control.

Luffy was rolling on the ground laughing, his infectious laughter even making Tang Shen chuckle.

The rubber man could do things ordinary people couldn’t—like those exaggerated expressions—and in this world, many already had naturally rich facial expressions.

This scene deeply wounded Ace’s fragile pride as an older brother.

“Luffy...” Ace barely forced the word out between clenched teeth, his face darkening to an alarming degree.

Especially watching Luffy laughing on the ground with such exaggerated expressions and that cruel laughter, every movement seemed to taunt and mock him.

Finally, Ace couldn’t take it anymore and charged forward decisively.

He raised his fist without hesitation.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

The open field echoed with a mixture of hearty laughter and agonizing screams that brought tears to the eyes of those who heard.

Five minutes later.

Luffy, swollen like a pig’s head—his own grandpa wouldn’t recognize him—stood before Ace, bowing apologetically.

“Dui... Butchie, I shouldn’t have laughed at you back then! I should have laughed behind your back instead.”

Hearing this, Ace charged forward again and gave him another thorough beating.

Luffy’s head swelled to twice its size once more.

“Dui Butchie, wo cuo le!”

Ace stood before Luffy, expressionless, coldly saying, “I taught you—how do you address your elders again?”

“Dui Butchie, wo cuo le! Love you, Gugu!” Luffy answered obediently.

The sight was pitiful and ugly beyond words. It was hard to imagine someone could be beaten so badly that their eyes were completely swollen shut, their features utterly distorted, lips hanging like two big sausages.

Ace nodded, his expression finally softening a bit.

Tang Shen, watching from nearby, twitched at the corner of his mouth. Damn, that phrase sounded so familiar.

Thinking carefully, it was just the same lesson he had just given Ace—now Ace was using it to teach Luffy. Well, that actually made sense!

He couldn’t help but smile at the scene. It was genuinely amusing.

Ace continued his lecture, “Although I’m weaker than Uncle and couldn’t last even one move, I’m still much stronger than you. Those weaker than me have no right to mock me, got it?”

When Ace compared himself to Tang Shen, he felt calmer. Weakness was weakness, and he still had the courage to accept that fact. Without even that, how could he ever become Pirate King?

Luffy timidly interjected, “It was half a move.”

Ace instantly flared up and shouted, “You still dare to talk? Want another beating?”

Luffy immediately lowered his head, afraid to speak.

At this moment, Ace’s way of teaching Luffy mirrored Grandpa Garp’s style—they had grown up together with this kind of direct, rough influence.

Only this time, there was an added instruction from Tang Shen about respecting elders.

Honestly, teaching this way felt pretty satisfying to Ace—he felt an inexplicable sense of accomplishment.

Tang Shen smiled and said, “It really was half a move. He’s right.”

Luffy wanted to laugh at this, but the pain from his swollen face made him gasp sharply.

Ace was speechless.

It was so heartbreaking and infuriating, yet he forced a smile at Tang Shen.

After all, Tang Shen was an elder—and someone he couldn’t beat.

But then he immediately shot Luffy a fierce glare, clearly warning him: if you laugh again, I’ll beat you up once more.

That was Garp’s style of education—direct, decisive, and brutal!

Luffy, easygoing as he was, lowered his head instantly. Though carefree, he wasn’t stupid; having grown up with Ace, he understood this simple yet harsh threat perfectly.