Chapter 25 Smoker: What kind of power is this?
When the violent wind swept past his ears, Loy's peripheral vision finally caught Zephyr's left fist coming from his side.
At this moment, Smoker, who was standing nearby, also for once showed an expression of schadenfreude.
Having also undergone Zephyr's training, he naturally knew that this scene was an indispensable part of Zephyr's instruction for his disciples.
After all, those chosen from among the Marine recruits to receive Zephyr's training were undoubtedly the most outstanding and talented Marines of their generation.
And as long as they were talented, they were bound to have pride.
Zephyr's punch was not only to ascertain their physical strength and reaction speed, but also to break their pride.
According to Zephyr's own words:
"Those who haven't gained enlightenment cannot receive my training. This is the 'Punch of Enlightenment'."
In fact, Smoker still remembered the punch he received that year — at the time, he was indeed extremely arrogant because he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, and that punch truly...
"It hurt a lot."
He puffed on his cigar impassively, but memories flooded his mind.
But in the very next moment, his memories were shattered by the reality before him.
Because at this moment:
"What a fast Soru, I can't dodge it."
Loy had already made his judgment — Zephyr's Soru was too fast; he couldn't dodge this attack.
However, his heart was not flustered.
Because:
"There's Haki wrapped around his fist, but it's not extremely strong. Is this a test?"
"If it's merely like this..."
His mind stirred.
[Devil Fruit Slot Loaded.]
[Dragon-Dragon Devil Fruit: Wind God Winged Dragon Form Level 3 Loaded.]
[Ox-Ox Devil Fruit: Gigantic Bull Form Level 2 Loaded.]
[Paramecia Type: Strong-Strong Fruit Level 2 Loaded.]
Thus, Loy did not dodge, but merely turned to face Zephyr directly.
Then:
"Since we're talking with our fists, Admiral Zephyr — let me also... have a say!"
Beneath his Marine uniform, his skin at this moment faintly took on the luster of dragon scales and bullhide, and his muscles burst forth with unimaginable power.
Then, under Smoker and Hina's disbelieving gazes, he also threw a punch, striking out at Zephyr with a single punch!
And it was at the moment their fists collided.
Even on the face of this former Marine Admiral, who had seen countless storms and waves, a clear look of astonishment appeared.
The next moment.
"Boom—"
A thunder-like sound roared throughout the entire training ground.
And visible to the naked eye, circular white air currents spread out instantly, centered around their figures.
"White Shield!"
"Thriving Wood: Wall!"
At this moment, Smoker and Hina also activated their Devil Fruit abilities without hesitation — a shield made of smoke enveloped Smoker, while the tree branch in Hina's hand rapidly grew into a wall, protecting her behind it.
But even so, one could see the white smoke and wooden wall constantly scattering and collapsing under the ferocious impact!
"So strong!" Hina exclaimed, looking in astonishment at the surging airwaves around them.
"Loy, you fellow..."
And on Smoker's perpetually stern face, an expression of incredible shock finally appeared.
He and Loy had clashed, both in the past and recently.
He believed he understood Loy very well, and acknowledged Loy's potential and strength.
In his judgment, Loy possessed strength and talent far beyond normal people, but should have been weaker than him.
But now...
"What kind of power is this — You fellow, you've really hidden your strength well!"
Looking at the figure inside the battlefield, fiercely exchanging blows with Zephyr.
Smoker almost bit through the cigar in his mouth.
And it was at this moment...
"Without Armament Haki wrapped around him, his pure physical strength can actually reach this level? Impressive!"
"No, no, it's simply unbelievable."
At this moment, the astonishment on Zephyr's face had long vanished.
Replaced by it, was excitement and undisguised praise — the look of a renowned teacher encountering an unprecedented talent.
This kind of astonishing physical strength almost made him wonder if the person he was fighting was human.
With this thought, the smile at the corner of his mouth grew wider.
"Kid, I heard your enlightenment!"
"However, as your instructor — you just underestimated this old man, didn't you?!"
As he spoke, an even more oppressive aura surged from him.
"Are you ready?"
Zephyr grinned.
Along with his words, Loy saw the muscles in Zephyr's left arm constantly swelling and bulging at this moment.
The Haki on his hand also seemed to grow stronger, even making his left fist appear almost black.
"Of course, old man — bring it on!"
Then, Loy also smiled.
"Boom!"
The next moment, Loy's figure was sent flying backward.
His body, like a cannonball, heavily smashed into the thick iron wall at the edge of the training ground.
Accompanying the collision and the rising dust was...
"Crack!"
A crisp cracking sound.
At this moment, Hina, who was already stunned, looked over at the sound.
She saw spiderweb-like cracks continuously spreading along the wall.
"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me."
Hina, who also saw this scene, was even more shocked beyond words.
As one of the only two survivors from four years ago, she was Zephyr's left and right hand, and naturally knew the condition of this training ground very well.
"That was a 'Z-Alloy' specially prepared by the science unit for Teacher Zephyr, used to test Teacher Zephyr's new arm. To think that..."
She couldn't help but gulp, "Teacher Zephyr's punch..."
She had already realized...
Zephyr's punch had clearly surpassed any "test" she had known before.
This was his serious punch.
"Lieutenant Loy? He's not dead, is he?!"
Hina immediately wanted to rush forward in a panic.
But before she could make a move.
"Hah!"
She heard a loud exhaled breath, coming from within the smoke.
Then...
As the dust dispersed, she saw Loy's figure walk out again.
"Powerful indeed, worthy of Admiral Zephyr. Terrifyingly strong."
He twisted his neck, with scrapes all over his body, and bruises on his knuckles.
And behind him, the specially made "Z-Alloy" iron wall had actually been dented inwards into a human-shaped depression by his impact!
"..."
Thus, Hina was speechless.
What made her even more speechless was that at this moment, she could clearly see Loy's condition.
The bruises on his knuckles, as well as the scrapes on his body, were diminishing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
By the time he walked back in front of Zephyr, his injuries were clearly no longer a significant hindrance.
"Not only physical strength, but even self-healing ability and resilience are so incredible? You're the truly terrifying one, kid."
Seeing this scene, even the experienced Zephyr couldn't help but sigh.
In his eyes, the admiration grew even clearer.
Although he had heard from Rear Admiral Bilos that this kid was very strong, he never imagined he would be strong to this extent.
In fact, at this moment, a bold idea had already formed in Zephyr's mind.
"Kid... I heard you're also skilled in a special kind of martial art."
Therefore, at this moment, Zephyr continued to speak.
"..."
After hearing this, Loy immediately shot a glance at Smoker, who was nearby — *You talkative little brat, aren't you?!*
Smoker, however, silently turned his head away, refusing to meet Loy's gaze.
Indeed.
Regarding the "Wave Fist" matter, he had naturally told Zephyr after hearing about Loy's situation.
His original intention was also out of good will — he hoped Loy could display even greater strength, so that Zephyr wouldn't underestimate Loy's abilities.
At this moment, Zephyr clearly had no mind to pay attention to Loy and Smoker's "grievances".
He merely looked at Loy: "Kid, since I'm going to train you... I need to completely understand your true strength."
"Come on — don't hold back, let this old man see your power!"
Since words had reached this point, Loy naturally no longer hesitated.
[Devil Fruit loaded: Ox-Ox Devil Fruit: Giant Bull Form -> Human-Human Devil Fruit: Great Buddha Form.]
"Swish!"
The next moment, Loy's figure, accompanied by the unique whooshing sound of "Soru", appeared in front of Zephyr.
And Loy's fist had already blasted out.
"His use of Soru is quite proficient, but his speed isn't quite fast enough..."
Zephyr instinctively dodged sideways — although he was only testing Loy's strength, he wouldn't just stand there like a dummy and take a hit; anything tested that way would be meaningless in real combat.
But just as this Admiral was praising Loy's proficient use of Soru...
"Hmm?"
In his voice, astonishment had already crept in.
Because in the next moment.
From the fist he had dodged, surging shockwaves had already enveloped his surroundings.
"Rumble!"
The ground almost instantly caved into a huge crater, and immense shockwaves swept up Loy and Zephyr's Marine cloaks.
"Wave Fist: Round Seal."
Loy softly spoke the name of his punch, then withdrew his fist.
And whether it was Smoker or Hina, both could see the faint red marks appearing on Zephyr's body at this moment.
Yes — this master of martial arts known as "Black Arm", the former Admiral... had actually been injured at this moment.
Although compared to his body, the injury was very slight.
But this was still enough to make Hina's jaw almost drop.
And Zephyr himself, at this moment, also stared wide-eyed at Loy.
He didn't really care about the small injury on his body; what truly astonished him was...
"He clearly dodged the fist, but was still directly injured internally by the shockwaves. It's just like Sengoku's ability!"
In this instant, Zephyr almost instinctively had this thought.
As the most senior, an old man who entered the Marines at the same time as Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Zephyr had fought alongside Sengoku countless times, and naturally knew Sengoku's ability very well.
And without a doubt, the shockwave brought by Loy's punch seemed very similar to Sengoku's ability in his eyes, the only difference being that its power was much smaller.
If it were Sengoku's full-power palm strike in his Great Buddha transformation, its impact would be enough to completely pulverize an island from within.
But...
"Kid... are you really not an Ability User?"
Therefore, at this moment, even though Zephyr had long since heard Rear Admiral Bilos mention Loy's situation, he couldn't help but ask this question.
(end of chapter)