Chapter 117: If One Meal Isn’t Enough, Then Have Another [Please Leave a Tip]

Could he block such an undefended, sudden attack? The answer was: certainly not. Never mind that he was currently exhausted; even if he were fully focused and expecting the strike, he still wouldn't be able to stop it. Because he couldn't even see the trajectory of the ruler’s strike, how could he possibly dodge it?

Taking it a step further, what if that ruler had been a blade? The mere thought made Ace shiver. It was terrifying. His previous challenge against Master Tang had clearly been a case of Master Tang holding back.

Master Tang watched as the faint marks on Luffy’s face began to fade, feeling a slight headache. This Gum-Gum Fruit really was a bit of a glitch; it truly deserved its reputation as a "cheat" ability. Blunt instruments and pure physical strikes often failed to cause him any real damage; only sharp, keen weapons could draw blood. A portion of the ruler in Tang’s hand had been sharpened specifically for this purpose. He used that edge to strike, but he had to control the force with surgical precision—just enough to ensure Luffy felt the pain necessary for it to count as punishment, without causing any lasting injury.

Master Tang had put a great deal of effort into these two. Had he not undergone rigorous training in force control, he never would have achieved such a delicate level of precision. At this rate, Luffy would likely have been covered in countless cuts! For Tang, these attacks were also an excellent way to practice his own power control—it was novel, and using human punching bags allowed for quick adjustments, leading to significant progress in his own skills. It was, in a sense, mutually beneficial. Well, you get hit, and I benefit—that’s what you call a mutually beneficial arrangement. Even for a Gum-Gum Fruit user, Master Tang could still make him feel the sting.

As for Ace, his durability was surprisingly even higher than Luffy’s. According to Master Tang’s observations and conclusions, that was simply because he had thicker skin.

Tang didn't teach the two much—mostly basic stance training and drills to sharpen their visual acuity and reaction speed. He had discovered that while the two possessed fast reflexes and swift instincts, they often failed to properly utilize their own inherent potential. Eyes are one of the primary tools for capturing an enemy’s appearance, expressions, movements, and attacks. Although they were quick, they would be at a severe disadvantage against true experts, and might even be taken down by those weaker than themselves.

While they possessed great destiny, this was, after all, different from the anime of his past life. Who knew what might happen in the future? Looking back at the series, Luffy was constantly being beaten to a pulp, only prevailing time and again through sheer ingenuity, immense vitality, explosive potential, and even the reckless expenditure of his own life. Every single victory involved being thrashed and crushed; his life was a sequence of dire straits. If not for his destiny, he would have died a hundred times over. But who could really say anything for certain about destiny?

With the arrival of players, who could say the plot wouldn’t change? Tang himself had already altered the story by forcibly saving Kuina. It was entirely possible that Luffy and his companions could be killed in the future, just as Ace had died at the Summit War. While Tang was not, by nature, a "good person," he had met these two, and since he had tricked them into calling him "Uncle," he found he didn't dislike them. He didn't want to see them die young, so passing on a few skills was, to him, a trivial matter—a way to foster a bit of good karma.

He didn't teach them specific offensive techniques, as those couldn't be mastered overnight. Besides, Luffy and Ace had already formed their own instinctive styles of combat from a young age. Having grown up in the mountains among wild beasts, they had developed extraordinary physiques and combat methods. In Tang’s view, their instinctive fighting style was already quite excellent. As long as they utilized it well in the future—Ace developing his body, and Luffy mastering his Devil Fruit—they would both become powerhouses. What Tang was doing now was simply helping them iron out their minor flaws so they could better leverage their existing physical potential.

As for the stance training? Well, that was perhaps a subconscious habit of Master Tang. Stance training had many benefits, though it took a long time to manifest. For now, it was primarily a test of their endurance, tolerance, and the stability of their base. There was another aspect—the stimulation of human potential—though that remained to be verified.

Master Tang was a veteran of "stick-and-carrot" education. He used the ruler to force them to sharpen their eyesight, and their potential seemed to erupt continuously. For that, he had Garp’s childhood upbringing to thank. As for how he got them to stop fearing him the way they feared Garp? Simple: a barbecue. If one meal wasn't enough, he’d just provide another.

All pain and fear vanished in an instant. Consequently, not only did Luffy stop resisting, but he became very diligent in calling him "Uncle," and Ace grew increasingly comfortable with it as well, almost completely devoid of friction. Luffy was a glutton; as long as he was fed, he was obedient and viewed you as a good person—especially when that food was his favorite meat. Ace, though less simple-minded, was sensible. Through Tang’s guidance, he saw his own progress and knew Tang had their best interests at heart. Furthermore, with free barbecue, how could they not grow close? When had Garp ever done that? Garp only knew how to use his fists, never holding back, leaving them both snot-nosed and tearful. Thinking back on it, it was a history of pure darkness.

Moreover, Luffy and Ace had grown up with mountain bandits, living a life of feast and famine. Bandit life was rough, and they were often hungry, which was why they frequently resorted to dining and dashing.

One day, after training concluded, they walked into the tavern in Foosha Village. Master Tang spoke with practiced familiarity: "Makino, the usual!"

"Coming right up!" Makino replied with a gentle smile, turning to prepare their food.

Luffy immediately climbed onto a stool at the bar, a knife and fork in his hands, drool streaming down his chin as he muttered, "Meat! Meat! Meat!" Ace was equally famished. After a full day of training, how could they not be hungry?

Master Tang was much more responsible toward them than Garp ever was, or at least, that was how Luffy and Ace felt. Even with their thick-headed natures, they could clearly feel their strength improving. Under Tang’s arrangement, they engaged in constant sparring. While their reaction speeds couldn't change overnight, they began to spot more openings—yes, they could actually see them. These were areas they hadn't noticed before, details they hadn't been able to perceive.

Their physical fitness remained as it was, but their eyes grew increasingly bright and piercing, showing a trend of slowly approaching the depth of Master Tang’s own gaze. It was just that one was like a giant floodlight, while the other was still merely a firefly.