Chương 7: Chapter 7: A Decade of Growth
Ten years had passed since Garp left baby Ace in the care of Vulcan and the Dadan Family in Foosha Village. Now sixteen, Vulcan had grown into a strong and capable young man, his calm and collected nature still his defining trait. His dedication to training, combined with his deep sense of responsibility, had turned him into a quiet yet powerful figure. Ace, now ten, was a bundle of energy and fiery determination, always ready for adventure and mischief.
And then there was Sabo—the third brother in their unbreakable trio.
The Early Years: Ace, Sabo, and Vulcan
Ace and Vulcan had grown close over the years, but their world changed when they met Sabo, a runaway noble from the Goa Kingdom. Sabo's life in the highborn estates of High Town had never felt right to him. He had grown up resenting the corrupt and cold world of the nobles, who looked down on the poor and treated life as a game. So, at a young age, Sabo had fled his family, choosing instead to live in the dangerous Gray Terminal—the lawless junkyard on the outskirts of the kingdom.
It was in the Gray Terminal where the three boys' paths crossed.
One day, while Vulcan and Ace were exploring the outskirts of the village, Ace had noticed a boy around his age sneaking food from a stall in the village market. When Ace confronted him, ready to defend what he thought was his "territory," the boy had stood his ground with a calm, defiant look in his eyes.
That boy was Sabo.
Instead of fighting, the boys bonded quickly over their shared love for adventure and freedom. Sabo had been surprised to find others who shared his dream of escaping the constraints of their world. He was fascinated by Vulcan's quiet strength and impressed by Ace's fire. In Vulcan, Sabo saw a natural leader—someone he could trust. In Ace, he found a kindred spirit who shared his desire to break free of society's expectations.
Over time, the three became inseparable.
Brotherhood in the Forest
The trio spent their days together exploring the forests around Foosha Village, training, and dreaming of the future. Despite his noble background, Sabo had fully embraced the life of a runaway, and the brothers often joked about how he was more like a pirate than a prince.
"Sabo, you used to live in a fancy house, right?" Ace would tease. "Bet you never had to climb a tree in High Town!"
Sabo would grin and shrug. "Nah, I'd rather climb trees out here with you guys than be stuck in that place."
Vulcan, though older, never acted as an authoritarian. Instead, he let Ace and Sabo be themselves. He was the guiding force that kept them balanced, only stepping in when necessary. They built a secret base in the trees—a hideout where they could plan their future as pirates, free from the rules of the world. The base, tucked high up in the branches of an enormous tree deep in the forest, became their sanctuary.
"Once we get out to sea," Ace said one day, gazing out at the horizon from their hideout's lookout, "we'll be free. No more rules. No more nobles."
Sabo had grinned, and Vulcan had smiled softly. They had all dreamed of a life at sea, beyond the borders of the world they knew. Though Vulcan hadn't said it aloud, he shared their longing for freedom, even if his goals weren't as wild as Ace's or Sabo's.
The Strength of Their Bond
By the time Ace turned ten, their adventures had become more daring. The three brothers often roamed the outskirts of the Goa Kingdom, sneaking into dangerous areas, stealing food from the local markets, or challenging each other to races through the forests. Ace's competitive nature had only grown with time, and he often dragged Sabo into friendly fights or races, always determined to come out on top.
"Bet you can't catch me, Sabo!" Ace yelled one day as he sprinted ahead through the trees.
Sabo, laughing, took off after him. "I'll beat you this time!"
Vulcan watched from a short distance, his pace slower and more measured, always keeping an eye on them. He didn't join in the competitions as often, but he was the steady force that kept them grounded.
Their bond wasn't just built on shared dreams and playful banter—it was forged through hardship. Sabo, who had escaped the suffocating life of a noble, often told Vulcan and Ace stories about his past. He spoke of the coldness of his family, the expectations they placed on him, and the cruelty of the High Town nobles who treated the poor like dirt.
"Back there," Sabo once said, sitting with Vulcan and Ace around a campfire in the forest, "they don't care about anyone but themselves. The nobles live in their fancy houses while people in the Gray Terminal starve."
Ace clenched his fists. "That's why I hate them. They think they're better than everyone else. One day, I'll show them."
Vulcan didn't speak, but he understood Ace's anger. He knew the world was unfair—he had seen it in how people treated Sabo, how they whispered about Ace whenever they thought no one was listening. But Vulcan remained calm, his mind always focused on what needed to be done. He wouldn't let anger cloud his judgment, though he, too, dreamed of breaking free from the shackles of society's rules.
The forest, usually filled with the sounds of wildlife, had fallen eerily silent. No birds, no insects—just the faint rustle of the wind through the trees. It was the kind of quiet that warned of danger lurking nearby.
"I don't like this," Sabo muttered, gripping the pipe he always carried. "Feels like something's watching us."
Ace's eyes narrowed as he glanced around. "Yeah, it's way too quiet."
Vulcan, his sharp instincts kicking in, stepped forward, his body tense. "Stay alert."
And then they heard it.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
The ground beneath them trembled as the deep, thunderous footsteps of something massive approached from the shadows. The trees swayed as the towering figure of the Beast King of Dawn Island emerged from the thick underbrush. It was a creature unlike anything they had seen before—huge, with dark fur, massive claws, and tusks that gleamed menacingly in the fading light.
Ace's eyes widened. "The Beast King…"
Sabo stepped back, his face pale. "We need to get out of here—fast."
But before they could move, Vulcan raised his arm, signaling for them to stop. His calm, steady gaze remained locked on the monstrous creature, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.
"I'll handle this," Vulcan said, his voice low but firm.
Ace spun around, incredulous. "Are you insane?! That thing will tear you apart!"
Vulcan didn't respond. Instead, he took a step forward, his body completely still, as if waiting for the creature to make the first move. His usual quiet demeanor was replaced with an air of unshakable confidence.
Sabo reached out to grab Ace's arm. "Let him do it."
Reluctantly, Ace and Sabo backed away, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe. They had seen Vulcan fight before—he was strong, far stronger than anyone else they knew. But this? This was the Beast King. They had heard stories of this creature, the terror of Dawn Island, feared by even the fiercest animals in the forest.
Vulcan rolled his shoulders, the tension building in the air. He had trained for moments like this—under Garp's grueling guidance, he had pushed his body to its limits. Now, it was time to see just how far that training would take him.
The Battle Begins
With a deafening roar, the Beast King lunged forward, its massive body crashing through the trees as it charged straight at Vulcan. The ground shook beneath its weight, and the air was filled with the sound of snapping branches and splintering wood.
But Vulcan didn't flinch.
As the Beast King's massive claws came down, Vulcan dodged with lightning-fast reflexes, moving to the side with the grace of a seasoned fighter. The beast's claws gouged deep trenches in the earth where Vulcan had just stood, missing him by mere inches.
Ace and Sabo watched in stunned silence from the sidelines. Vulcan moved like a blur, his movements precise and controlled, as though he were dancing with the beast rather than fighting it.
The Beast King growled, its fiery eyes locking onto Vulcan as it lunged again, its tusks aiming to gore him. But Vulcan, calm and collected, slipped beneath the creature's attack, his fist flying upward in a powerful strike aimed at its lower jaw.
CRACK!
The force of Vulcan's punch reverberated through the air, and the Beast King recoiled, stumbling back with a guttural roar of pain. Vulcan's strength was incredible—his fists had the impact of cannonballs, and it showed in the way the beast staggered from the blow.
"Whoa," Sabo breathed, watching in awe. "Did you see that?"
Ace nodded, his eyes glued to the fight. "He's stronger than I thought…"
But the Beast King wasn't done yet. It let out a furious roar, its claws slashing through the air as it charged at Vulcan once again, this time faster, angrier. The ground shook as its massive body closed the distance in an instant.
Vulcan braced himself, his muscles tensing as he prepared for the next strike. The beast's claws came down with terrifying force, aiming to crush him where he stood.
But Vulcan moved with incredible speed, sidestepping the attack and launching a powerful punch directly into the Beast King's ribcage. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and the beast let out a pained howl as it was thrown back by the force of Vulcan's blow.
The Beast King's Fury
For a moment, it seemed like Vulcan had the upper hand. But the Beast King was relentless, its fury only growing with each blow it took. Blood dripped from the gash in its side where Vulcan had struck, but it didn't stop. Instead, it roared with renewed anger, charging at Vulcan with terrifying speed.
This time, its tusks aimed for Vulcan's chest, trying to impale him with their sharp points.
Vulcan narrowly avoided the attack, twisting his body out of the way, but the beast was quick. Its massive paw swung down in a wide arc, catching Vulcan across the chest with a force that sent him flying backward.
Vulcan hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop as the air was knocked from his lungs. Ace and Sabo gasped, fear flashing in their eyes as they watched their brother struggle to stand.
"Vulcan!" Ace shouted, taking a step forward.
But Vulcan, ever the protector, held up his hand, stopping Ace in his tracks. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes remained calm, focused. He wasn't done yet.
With a grunt, Vulcan pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. The Beast King growled, its massive frame towering over him, but Vulcan's expression didn't change.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
The Beast King lunged again, its tusks gleaming as they hurtled toward him with terrifying speed.
This time, Vulcan didn't dodge.
Instead, he met the Beast King head-on, his fist rearing back as he prepared for the final strike. With a roar of his own, Vulcan unleashed a powerful punch directly into the Beast King's jaw.
BOOM!
The force of the blow was like an explosion. The Beast King's head snapped back, its tusks grazing past Vulcan as it was sent crashing to the ground with earth-shattering force. The ground trembled beneath them as the beast's massive body hit the forest floor, unmoving.
For a moment, the forest was silent.
Vulcan stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. His knuckles were bloodied, his muscles ached from the strain of the battle, but he had won.
Aftermath
Ace and Sabo rushed over, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Vulcan… you actually did it," Sabo said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ace stared at the fallen Beast King, then at his older brother, his fists clenched. "You took it down with your bare hands…"
Vulcan, his calm demeanor returning, wiped the sweat from his brow and nodded. "I told you I would handle it."
Sabo grinned, shaking his head in amazement. "That was incredible."
Ace, though clearly impressed, crossed his arms and huffed. "Next time, I'll help. No way you're hogging all the action."
Vulcan chuckled softly, the tension of the battle finally fading as the three brothers stood together, their bond stronger than ever. The Beast King, the terror of Dawn Island, lay defeated at their feet, its reign over the forest finally ended.
As they stood in the fading light, the distant sounds of the forest slowly returned, as if the wildlife had been waiting for the Beast King's defeat. But despite their victory, Vulcan couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
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