The 40-plus trainees of the Advanced Training Camp stood stiffly on the parade ground, tension written all over their faces.
Before long, a tall, burly man with light purple hair—around 60 years old—walked in.
It was none other than the "Black Arm" Zephyr, famed alongside "Strategist" Sengoku and "Iron Fist" Garp.
The current Chief Instructor of the Marines, still holding the Admiral title despite retiring from the front lines.
The trainees were wide-eyed with excitement. This was the man who had trained countless Marine powerhouses.
"Hmph, I didn't expect you old fogeys to have this much free time," Zephyr said.
The crowd stirred again as three more figures appeared—Marine Hero Garp, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and Marine Staff Officer Vice Admiral Tsuru.
The three stepped up beside Zephyr.
"What, got a problem with us being here, you old fossil?" Garp picked at his nose.
"Just here to see the Marines' future pillars, the new generation," Sengoku said.
"I'm just bored," Tsuru added casually.
The trainees trembled in excitement.
These four—this was an era of the Marines itself.
Legends whose deeds had been told for decades. The Pirate King's era had effectively been ended by these very people. They were the anchors of the Marines.
Sengoku stepped forward. "New generation of the Marines, I am Sengoku. Let an old relic of a bygone era say a few words to you."
"The Great Pirate Era has begun, and the seas grow more restless by the day. We are old now, having fought pirates our whole lives and given everything to the Marines. We are the remnants of the old era."
"The future belongs to you. Keep the ship of justice sailing fearlessly across the seas. Create an age of your own—one that surpasses ours!"
His words lit a fire in their hearts. Who wouldn't want their name to echo across the seas?
When Sengoku finished, he nodded to Zephyr, who returned the gesture.
"Begin the test!"
Boom!
A crushing wave of killing intent burst from Zephyr, slamming down on the trainees like a mountain.
Winds roared across the field.
Faces blanched as knees buckled under the weight.
And it didn't stop.
His aura kept climbing, pressure growing heavier by the second.
One by one, some fell to their knees, then to the ground, unable to bear it.
Still, the pressure climbed.
Minutes passed. Those left standing began to adapt, straightening their backs against the invisible force.
"Oh? Not bad," Zephyr said with a faint smile. "But enough of the gradual increase."
Boom-boom!
The pressure spiked sharply.
"Pff!"
Several coughed blood and collapsed.
Again, the pressure rose—several were knocked unconscious.
"Good. You can handle 30% of my strength—how about 40%?"
Another surge. No one fell.
"Then 50%!"
Joints popped and bones groaned under the crushing force.
Faces flushed red. Some roared in defiance.
One transformed into a massive upright tiger—an Animal-type Devil Fruit user.
Another's body swelled in size—a Paramecia user.
A third crackled with arcs of lightning.
Those without Devil Fruits relied on sheer physical might or willpower.
Zephyr nodded in approval. But then, his brows rose.
Even under this pressure, a few still stood perfectly straight.
Interesting.
"Let's see just how much you can take!"
Boom!
The pressure on Creed and a few others intensified again.
"Ah!!"
Smoker erupted into smoke, entering his elemental state. Others unleashed their own powers.
Creed felt the weight pressing on his shoulders, trying to bend his spine.
Impossible.
A swordsman's spine should be like his blade—pointed straight at the heavens.
Better to break than to bend!
Unless his back was literally cut in two, no mere aura would make him bow.
This was a swordsman's resolve.
Creed's eyes sharpened.
Boom!
A wave of sword intent exploded skyward. The air itself seemed to turn into countless blades, shredding Zephyr's aura.
The pressure vanished without a trace.
Creed moved instantly—Rinne unsheathed, a jet-black arc of moon-shaped sword energy tore through the air toward Zephyr.
Zephyr almost didn't react in time. At the last moment, he coated his arm in Busoshoku Haki and smashed his fist into the slash, shattering it.
The other trainees stared, dumbstruck.
They could barely stay standing—and this guy not only broke Zephyr's aura, but actually attacked him?!
Was this even human?!
Smoker and four others were even more shaken. They knew Creed was under the same "enhanced" pressure they were—and still managed to break it.
They themselves could move under Zephyr's aura, but shattering it outright? Impossible.
Even Zephyr was taken aback. Not only had this student broken his pressure, he'd struck back—and if not for his quick reaction, he'd have been hit. That would have been a real embarrassment.
But instead of anger, a grin spread across his face.
Excellent.
A true monster.
Only five people had ever broken his aura before—three of them were now the Admirals.
This year's class was impressive, but this one… this one was special.
"Hahaha! Sengoku, how's my grandson?" Garp said, biting into a rice cake with pride.
Zephyr and Tsuru blinked, then nodded in realization.
So this was Garp's grandson. No wonder he was such a freak.
…
(End of Chapter)
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