As Zephyr finished speaking, Gion gave him a nod and stepped out from the crowd.
Her tall figure, long black hair tied into a sleek ponytail, slim waist and long legs, along with her black military boots, gave her a heroic and striking presence. Instantly, all eyes were on her.
"Heh heh heh... You see that? That's my childhood sweetheart! Gion's about to accept my confession and become my girlfriend!"
Tokikake grinned like an idiot as he sidled up to Kuzan, chuckling.
"Really? I don't buy it."
Kuzan scratched his head, looking genuinely doubtful.
"She seems pretty cold toward you."
Tokikake's smile froze in place.
...
Compared to the attention-grabbing Gion, her opponent Mozambia looked rather ordinary. His dark skin had a tanned hue, his short hair was a deep gray, and a jagged scar ran across his left cheek.
"Give up. I don't cut women."
Mozambia stared at Gion, his tone cold and indifferent.
Gion said nothing.
Her expression calm, she placed a hand on the hilt of her sword and slowly drew it.
As the golden Meito slid free of its sheath, a sharp hiss echoed in the air.
The long, slender blade gleamed brilliantly under the sun.
In that instant, Gion's aura shifted dramatically—becoming cold, sharp, and intense.
Mozambia's face changed slightly. A chill raced down his spine, his skin prickling.
That presence...
Gritting his teeth, he suddenly lunged forward, drawing his saber and gripping it with both hands as he swung it down toward Gion's flawless face.
A powerful gust surged forward, tossing her black hair into a chaotic flutter.
But her eyes didn't waver in the slightest.
In that moment, everything else faded. Countless battle memories flashed through her mind, finally condensing into the image of a black-haired man.
Clang!!
Mozambia's saber was stopped cold by the golden Meito. The blade halted a mere centimeter from Gion's forehead—unable to go any further.
Mozambia's eyes widened in shock.
That strike... was blocked so easily!?
"So slow..."
He thought he heard a cold voice murmur.
A sudden gust roared!
Streaks of silver light burst into view, growing rapidly in his eyes!
"No way!!"
Mozambia's panicked shout rang out.
Then—
A cold command echoed.
A sweeping, crescent-shaped wave of sword energy surged forth, swallowing him whole.
Before the roaring arc of the slash, Mozambia's towering frame looked like a lone wave in a raging sea, flung violently into the air and crashing down dozens of meters away.
He struggled to rise, kneeling on one knee, staring at the distant figure in disbelief.
The fine steel saber in his hand shattered with a crackle into countless fragments—only the hilt remained.
Silence fell across the training field.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded, barely able to believe what they had just witnessed.
Mozambia wasn't one of the top officers, but he was at least mid-tier.
And yet he was utterly crushed—instantly!
If his opponent had been a "monster" like Kuzan, it might have made sense.
But it was Gion...
"Gion's gotten so much stronger... What on earth did she go through in the North Blue..." Dalmatian murmured in disbelief.
He had served at headquarters before and knew Gion.
But the strength she showed now was leagues beyond when they last met!
At the center of the field, Gion silently looked down at her Meito.
The blade's reflection showed her slightly dazed expression.
"I didn't even realize... I've become this strong..."
She muttered.
Back in the North Blue, her only sparring partner had been Daren.
So when Mozambia attacked just now, her mind reflexively pictured Daren coming at her.
Compared to the despair she felt facing Daren—being overwhelmed in every possible way—Mozambia's attack felt riddled with flaws, unbearably slow in her eyes.
"That was way too easy... But man, Mozambia's attack was really slow and weak..." Tokikake muttered, rubbing his stubbly chin.
Daren smiled faintly at his comment.
The training he'd put Gion and Tokikake through was hellish.
After all, Sengoku had sent them to the North Blue hoping he'd keep an eye on them.
High-intensity battles, brutal physical clashes, relentless pressure... combined with their innate, exceptional talent—the speed at which Gion and Tokikake had grown even caught Daren off guard.
But since leaving the North Blue, neither of them had fought at full strength. The opponents they faced were legendary pirates like Byrnndi World and Roger, which made it hard to gauge their own progress.
This was one of the realities of this world: power levels weren't always clearly defined.
Unless there was overwhelming disparity, most battles had to be fought out to truly determine the outcome.
"Winner, Gion!"
Zephyr announced without hesitation.
Gion sheathed her sword, gave Mozambia a salute, then turned and walked back into the crowd.
Mozambia clenched his teeth and stood, saluting back with reluctance.
"Next..."
The duels between numbers "3" and "4" concluded shortly after.
The winners were South Blue Admiral and Marine Captain Yamakaji, and Marine Commander from the Grand Line, Comil.
Both duels had impressive moments that earned approving nods from Zephyr.
Yamakaji and Comil were both accomplished swordsmen. Yamakaji's style was heavy and fierce, brimming with explosive determination, while Comil's was steady and methodical, with barely a single opening.
"Next up, contestants for the fifth match—step forward."
Zephyr announced the next duel.
"Daren vs. Dalmatian!"
As the words left his mouth, the entire field lit up with excitement.
Rogers Daren, the "King of the North Blue," the Marine rising star who took down the Great Pirate Byrnndi World!
They'd all heard his name countless times.
Now, they would finally see him in action.
"So... is his reputation deserved, or is it all talk?" Onigumo said coldly.
"Anyone recognized by Vice Admiral Garp isn't going to be weak," Yamakaji said with a warm smile.
"Guess we'll find out. Too bad I'm already out," Doberman said, wiping his saber with a sigh.
As all eyes locked on the field—
The man from the North Blue calmly removed the snow-white cloak from his back and stepped into the center of the training ground.
With each step, the crowd fell quiet.
The air grew heavy.
A subtle pressure rippled out, like a rising tide.
"Here he comes!! That's the opponent I acknowledged! So damn cool!!"
Kuzan's eyes lit up with excitement.
Tokikake, meanwhile, hid behind him, muttering with a twitching mouth:
"Here he comes... That feeling... Is he gonna tear the whole field apart...?"
...
(50 Chapters Ahead)
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