Chapter 104: The Navy's Home-Grown Monsters
Sea Calendar 1515 - Marineford Back Mountain Training Ground
Time flew by. The training bell had rung countless sunsets.
Today, the setting sun was chased away by a sky full of golden light, the world turning into a blinding, white purgatory.
"Swish—swish—swish—!"
Hundreds of golden light-swords rained down from the sky. Each one carried enough speed and power to crack steel and shatter rock, weaving an inescapable net of death.
This wasn't a normal attack. This was Admiral Kizaru's personal "Rain of Light Swords," the ultimate trial for a swordsman!
Golden light poured down like a storm, condensing into razor-sharp blades that stabbed toward the green-haired swordsman in the center from every possible angle!
In the eye of that storm, a young but resolute figure stood unmoving.
The 14-year-old Zoro stood with his eyes closed, gripping Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri. His body was covered in scars, but his will was unshaken.
For half a year, on this mountain, he had faced the slashes of light day after day. He had risen from critical injuries time and time again, stepping back into the storm of light swords.
"Two-Sword Style: Reverse Scale - Heavenly Spin!!"
He moved suddenly. His spinning blades became a roaring tornado, a defensive circle of thunderous force that shattered one falling light-sword after another!
Sparks flew, shockwaves blasted out, and the sound of clashing metal and exploding light particles was deafening!
The stone beneath his feet cracked inch by inch, but he stood as firm as a nail!
The final light-sword shot toward him, aimed straight between his eyes.
"CLANG—!!"
Zoro's eyes snapped open, crimson fighting spirit exploding from his gaze!
Sandai Kitetsu slashed horizontally, a flash of brilliance that cut the light-sword clean in two!
The light-sword shattered, turning into a shower of golden particles that drifted around him like stars.
Zoro stood there, drenched in sweat, breathing hard, but his swords didn't tremble.
A wild, arrogant grin slowly spread across his face.
"My, my~"
A lazy voice drifted through the golden light.
Kizaru formed from the particles of light, walking out of the void. Hands in pockets, smirk on his face, his eyes behind his sunglasses as lazy and playful as ever.
"To clear my 'Rain of Light Swords' unscathed in just six months... not bad, brat~"
Zoro sheathed his swords. He swayed slightly but didn't fall. He looked up, his eyes sharp as knives. "Teacher Kizaru... I finally passed your little test."
"Now... I am qualified to take the third sword!"
Kizaru chuckled, pushing up his glasses. "So~ scary~ Are you in such a hurry? Be careful not to die~"
Zoro snorted, spitting out a trace of blood. His fighting spirit burned like fire. "If I die, then I wasn't good enough!"
"I'm the man who's going to be the world's greatest swordsman. I won't stop here!"
Kizaru watched the boy's fiery back and sighed lazily, but a rare look of appreciation touched the corner of his mouth.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... troublesome times are coming..."
Marineford - Main Training Ground
"BOOM—!!!"
A pillar of scorching azure fire pierced the sky, like a dragon's breath from the sun, colliding head-on with a bolt of golden lightning!
Fire and lightning clashed violently, the heat and roar tearing the air apart. The shockwave shattered rocks and cracked the ground!
In the center of the field, Ace, wreathed in raging flames, his crimson eyes reflecting the clash of lightning, pulled his right fist back, compressing the fire wildly!
"Flame Emperor: Exploding Flame Fist!!"
His voice was a burning war cry as he punched, sending a compressed column of fire crashing toward Enel like a meteor!
Enel raised his arm with a sneer, golden lightning condensing into a semi-transparent shield, vibrating before him like the aegis of a thunder god.
"100 Million Volts: Thunder Barrier!!"
The two terrifying forces of nature collided, the explosion sounding like the sky being ripped open!
Before the dust could settle, a pink dragon shadow flashed from the left!
"Dragon Bone: Slice!!"
It was Luffy in his Hybrid Form—scaled body, pink dragon features, his Haki-coated claws like blades, slashing at Enel's neck!
"Tch."
Enel turned into lightning instantly, dodging the slash, and countered with a lightning-finger!
"Divine Judgment: Modified!!"
"SMACK—!"
Luffy crossed his claws, his Armament Haki hardening into obsidian defense, blocking the lightning. He grinned brightly. "Useless! We haven't been getting beaten up for six months for nothing!"
Enel reformed in mid-air, looking down at the two boys. His mouth twitched, but he forced himself to maintain his "godly" composure.
But the shock and recognition in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
The speed of these brats' improvement is insane!
Over the past six months, under the "hellish ideological correction" and "mixed doubles beatings" of Zephyr and Roy, Enel's arrogance had been rubbed into the dirt repeatedly.
He hadn't completely lost his arrogance or his foul mouth, but at least he no longer sneered at normal people as "ants" or proclaimed himself "God" to everyone he met.
This was thanks to Roy's sudden idea one day: "If you insist on seeing everyone as ants, just look at pirates. They loot, kill, and cause chaos. Calling them ants is better than calling normal people ants."
"...How about it? Use your arrogance to crush the real trash."
Enel thought about it and decided it sounded fun.
Since that day, Marineford had gained its most extreme "Pirate Suppression Maniac"—Rear Admiral Enel (promoted due to high efficiency, strength, and Zephyr's recommendation). Code name: Thor. If he saw a pirate, he chased them. If he heard a pirate, he hit them. If he met a pirate, he blasted them!
Akainu was surprisingly pleased when he heard this, proposing multiple times to transfer Enel to his direct command, only for Roy to reject it citing "instability factors."
Of course, the price for changing his attitude wasn't small—
"BAM!!!"
"Arrogant brat!! You dare talk big in front of me?!"
"Great Eruption!!"
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
"Yasakani no Magatama~"
Garp, Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru took turns "educating" him. Enel was pressed into the ground and "reasoned with" almost daily by the Navy's strongest.
But because of this extreme "education," Enel had forced himself to awaken his own Armament Haki!
Once disdainful of close combat, he could now last a dozen rounds against Zephyr using pure taijutsu!
Marineford - Gion's Kendo Dojo
The clash of blades rang out fiercely!
Kuina gripped Wado Ichimonji with both hands. Her hair was soaked with sweat, but her eyes were sharp as steel.
Every strike was precise and fierce, filled with unyielding resolve.
Opposite her, Gion held Konpira, smiling as she parried Kuina's attacks.
"Kuina, your sword is faster than last month," Gion chuckled, flicking her wrist, her blade accelerating!
"CLANG—!"
Kuina was knocked back two steps, her hands numb, but she immediately steadied herself, her eyes burning. "Zoro is working so hard... I won't let him surpass me!"
She stepped forward, her blade flowing like water—
"Flash: Moonflower!"
A silver arc of light aimed straight for Gion's throat!
Gion's eyes flashed with approval. She blocked with Konpira, diverting the force, then countered with an upward slash!
"Good resolve! But not quite there!"
Kuina gritted her teeth and retreated, but a piece of her coat was sliced off.
She panted, but instead of discouragement, she looked even more excited. "Again!"
Gion sheathed her sword, shaking her head with a smile. "That's enough for today. Your stamina is at its limit."
Kuina gripped her hilt, unwilling, but finally took a deep breath and bowed formally. "Thank you for the lesson!"
Gion patted her shoulder. "With your talent, you might really catch up to me in two years."
Kuina looked up, her eyes blazing. "I don't need two years! Within one year, I will win against you once!"
Gion paused, then laughed heartily. "Good! I'll be waiting!"
Fleet Admiral's Office - Observation Deck
Sengoku stood by the window, holding an old pair of binoculars, watching the training ground.
He watched as Enel was sent flying by Luffy's dragon tail, turning into a golden streak, only to be hit by Ace's jumping "Rocket Kick." His mouth twitched.
"Zephyr, are you sure your 'Iron-Blood Education Method' is really okay?"
Zephyr, sipping tea, replied calmly, "Problem? What problem? Look at Enel now. He's no longer that fake god sitting on high. He's an excellent Marine who curses pirates eight hundred times a day!"
He paused, putting down his cup, a nostalgic smile on his lips. "Besides... Roy was thrown into the New World by Garp at age 12 to brawl with pirates, and he turned out fine."
Garp, picking his nose on the sofa, laughed. "Exactly! My 'Fist of Love' is field-tested!"
Sengoku sighed deeply, looking out at the young people fighting amidst fire and lightning. He put a hand to his forehead.
"...Are we really not just raising a bunch of monsters?"
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