The next day, the three of them rarely almost arrived late; they had truly caused too much of a ruckus last night.
Toward the end, Ain had also offered some insights regarding the dress-up sessions.
Fortunately, perhaps out of consideration for it being the first day, Zephyr did not blow the emergency assembly whistle during the night. Otherwise, if the three exceptionally talented individuals were expelled from the recruit training camp on their first night for missing an emergency assembly because they couldn't wake up, it would be a permanent stain on their records. The three of them would probably have to set out to sea immediately and become a Pirate Crew just to escape that dark history.
Zephyr's gaze swept over the three who were nearly late, and he said coldly, "Run 200 laps this morning. You three who were almost late, add 50 laps each. Especially you, Hera, you add 100 laps."
With the morning run, the training camp day officially began.
For Hera, the physical strength and excellent constitution she had cultivated since childhood allowed her to find joy in the training. To her, it felt like the military training of her past life; although it was exhausting at times, her condition was far better than that of the other recruits in her class.
Zephyr took note of all this and made up his mind.
After the day's routine training ended and evening arrived, Zephyr announced dismissal but then found Hera and told her to stay behind.
Zephyr spoke to Hera seriously, "I've already asked Garp about your situation. Based on my observations over the past few days, I've discovered a fatal weakness in you. You seem to be somewhat slack in your training."
Then, Zephyr cut off Hera's attempt to argue and continued, "I know that even with a Triple-Gravity Bracelet and double the training volume of others, you always finish in first place. Logically, you are the strongest student in this training camp, but I always feel something is off."
"I founded this training camp with the original intention of cultivating a group of powerful Marines, allowing them to repeatedly break through..."
"...their limits in the training camp, learn the Six Powers, and even learn Haki. What I want isn't just the completion of training, but the breakthrough of one's own limits through persistence."
Zephyr continued, "I know it's only been a few days, and it's normal for you to be a bit lax, but I still hope you can be more dedicated in training and pursue your limits."
Hera realized something upon hearing this and nodded.
Seeing that Hera had taken it to heart, Zephyr said no more. After Hera left, he sighed and muttered to himself, "How can such a young child have an aura like Kizaru's, even giving me a feeling as if she's drifting outside of this world?"
Hera also felt Zephyr's kindness. She realized what she seemed to be lacking: a determination to risk her life and a wavering regarding her own goals.
Hera muttered to herself, "I have the nerve to advise Ace, but looking at it this way, my opportunistic mentality regarding my goals is even more serious than Ace's."
As a transmigrator, Hera knew much of the plot. This was a good thing, but it also hindered her comprehension of Haki. If she was always thinking about using known plot points and information to gain leverage at critical moments, she would ultimately fall into mediocrity. Without the experience of life and death and an extreme desire for personal strength, how could one awaken Haki?
Hera thought back to her time in the East Blue and remembered Ace, Luffy, and Sabo. She sighed, then her gaze turned firm. "As a transmigrator, how can I leave everything to Luffy's Nika Fruit awakening or letting people know about Ace's identity in advance? Ultimately, one's own strength is the foundation for changing everything."
Hera's aura changed immediately. Her originally somewhat lazy demeanor gradually became firm, and that drifting feeling settled into something solid. Hera's mindset underwent a transformation following Zephyr's warning.
The change in Hera's aura manifested in her training: her already fast completion speed became even faster, and she increased her gravity equipment to the current limit of Four Times Gravity. Kuina, not wanting to fall too far behind in training, also put on a gravity bracelet.
Zephyr felt gratified seeing the greatly changed Hera. "I told you, I'm quite talented when it comes to teaching people. Now I'm wondering if I should go advise Kizaru to get him to be more serious."
Although Hera's mindset had changed, some things couldn't be resolved that easily. For instance, Kuina's dress-up game with Hera continued. Even Zephyr had grown accustomed to seeing Hera run out for emergency assemblies wearing a cute Lolita outfit.
Hera could only become a dress-up doll at Kuina's mercy amidst a mix of half-pleasure, half-humiliation, and a bit of self-appreciation. In fact, Hera even found herself looking forward to what clothes she would be changed into next time.
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