On the morning training ground, hundreds of new Marine recruits stood in neat rows, but everyone's eyes couldn't help but drift to the front of the line—where a black-haired boy was doing one-armed inverted push-ups, sweat glistening under the rising sun.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight... nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine... ten thousand!"
Roy flipped over and landed steadily on his feet, sweat flying off him, making him look like he was coated in gold in the morning light.
Suppressed gasps immediately followed. "Hey, is this guy really in the same batch as us?"
"I heard he sparred with Instructor Zephyr for ten minutes yesterday!"
"Is he the new monster, after the three Logia monsters..."
Suddenly, a cloud of white smoke materialized in front of Roy. A silver-haired boy with two cigars in his mouth glared down at him, his gaze as sharp as a knife. "Hey, teleport kid!"
Roy looked up and met the fierce gaze of the "Mad Dog" of the Marines, the future "White Hunter," the king of taking a beating—Smoker!
Smoker ripped off his training shirt, revealing a body of solid muscle, and raised an eyebrow. "You dare to fight me?"
The entire training ground went silent. The new recruits held their breath.
Hina ran over, her pink hair fluttering in the morning breeze, her expression urgent. "Smoker! You're acting on your own again—"
"Alright!"
Roy's response stunned everyone.
He smiled, flexing his wrists, his eyes firm. "It's a good chance to test the results of my special training!"
Zephyr's whistle blew at the perfect moment. "Everyone, back away! The combat assessment is starting early!"
"Boom!"
Smoker instantly turned into his element. Billowing white smoke surged towards Roy like a tsunami, instantly engulfing a corner of the training ground.
"If you can't find me, don't even talk about justice!" Smoker's voice came from within the white mist, filled with confidence and provocation.
But Roy simply closed his eyes and took a deep breath—his Observation Haki spread out like ripples.
"To the left!"
"Swish!"
Roy flashed to the side of the smoke, his gaze sharp. He instantly coated his fist with black Armament Haki and smashed it into an empty spot in the air.
"BANG!!"
The smokescreen exploded. A white figure was blasted into view. Smoker staggered back two steps, a dark black fist print on his shoulder, his face a mask of disbelief. "How... how did you predict my position?"
Roy shook his tingling fist, his eyes resolute. "A Logia isn't invincible, Smoker. Haki—is the key to victory!"
That sentence hit the training ground like a thunderclap.
The new recruits stared with wide eyes. "He... he actually hit Smoker?!"
"That's a Logia user! He actually forced him out!"
"Observation Haki? And that black fist... is that Armament Haki?!"
Smoker stared at Roy, his fists clenched so tight they turned white.
"Haki..." he muttered to himself, a flash of frustration, and also of understanding, in his eyes.
During the lunch break,
Roy was wrapping bandages around his swollen fists under the shade of a tree, his face weary as sweat dripped to the ground.
A cloud of white smoke materialized, and Smoker walked over, a cigar in his mouth, his expression complicated.
"Hey, teleport kid!"
Roy looked up and smiled slightly. "Want another round?"
Smoker shook his head, took a drag from his cigar, and slowly exhaled. "That punch earlier... it made me understand."
He took a deep breath, his eyes serious. "A Devil Fruit ability is powerful, but if you rely on it too much, you'll eventually lose to a true master."
"Haki... I'm seriously lacking in it."
Roy smiled, his gaze gentle. "Smoker, you're a natural-born Marine warrior. You're just missing one thing: the resolve to face your own weaknesses."
Smoker was stunned. Then he slowly clenched his fist and grinned through gritted teeth. "Thanks. From now on, I won't rely only on my Logia powers."
Just then, the sound of light footsteps approached. Hina walked over with two glasses of cold juice. The breeze blew her pink hair as she smiled softly and offered one to Roy. "You fought brilliantly. Hina is very impressed!"
Roy, who was wiping his sweat, paused. He took the juice and happened to notice a ring of calluses on her long fingertips. It wasn't from normal training; it was the mark left by the frequent use of her Cage-Cage Fruit.
He took a sip of the cold juice and said sincerely, "Actually... Smoker is really strong."
He looked over at the silver-haired boy who had his back to them, training alone, his gaze filled with a hint of regret.
"He just relies too much on his fruit and has neglected the foundation of his body."
Hina followed his gaze, her expression complex. But she quickly looked back at Roy with a playful glint in her eyes and said softly, "What about Hina? Are you going to point out Hina's 'weaknesses' too?"
Roy, who was drinking his juice, choked and nearly spat it out. "Cough, cough, cough—! I wouldn't dare..." As he coughed and backed away, he bumped into something as solid as a wall with a "thud."
"Hmm?" A familiar, chilling grunt sounded from behind his head.
Roy stiffly turned around.
Instructor Zephyr was standing right behind him, arms crossed, the "death glare" reflecting off his sunglasses. His tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Well, well—it seems you have a lot of energy, Mr. Roy, with enough spare time to be coaching others!"
Roy's face went pale. "In-Instructor! Let me explain, this was just a simple, friendly conversation—"
"Oh? A conversation?" Zephyr slowly took off his sunglasses and grabbed Roy by the collar like a restless monkey. "Since your communication skills are so good, then you can spend the afternoon practicing your Armament Haki!"
"Two thousand hardening drills! If your form isn't perfect—you start over!"
"INSTRUCTOR!! SAVE MEEEEEE—!"
5:00 AM.
Roy was deep in a rare, peaceful sleep when a bucket of ice water was dumped on his head, shocking him awake. Zephyr's stern face looked particularly terrifying in the dim light of the night lamp. "A true Marine wakes up at five! And should be ready for training by six!"
"Yes, sir!" Roy shivered and quickly jumped out of bed.
Breakfast.
In the cafeteria, Roy was just about to dig into his meal when Zephyr came up from behind and slapped his chopsticks out of his hands. They flew through the air in a graceful arc.
"Eating is also training!" Zephyr stood with his arms crossed, his gaze like a torch. "Use Armament Haki to hold your utensils! If they break, you don't get to eat!"
Roy's eyes widened. "Wha—"
History Class.
"History is important!" Zephyr stood with one foot on the desk, holding a thick copy of The Complete History of the Marines. "Don't think that only fists are power. Knowledge is also a weapon in battle!"
In the classroom, Roy was furiously taking notes, his eyelids drooping with sleep.
Zephyr's mouth twitched. He grabbed Roy and hung him from the flagpole outside the door. "Are you awake now?!"
Roy dangled in the air, the wind messing up his hair. "A-Awake, Instructor!!!"
Nightly Extra Training.
In the dead of night on the training ground, under the bright moon, Roy's shadow stretched long on the ground. Zephyr rolled up his sleeves, his muscles bulging like rocks. "Haki is an extension of belief! If you can't take it, shout it out!"
Roy gritted his teeth and stared at Zephyr, trading punch after punch, the glow of Armament Haki shining in the darkness.
"Bang! Bang! Bang—!"
Every punch felt like a hammer hitting his body. Sweat and blood mixed, dripping to the ground.
From the window of the infirmary, the small flame of a cigarette lit by Smoker flickered, then was quickly extinguished.
"...He's a madman," he muttered, a hint of admiration and also unwillingness in his eyes.
On the day of the month-end assessment, the morning sun shone through the training ground's flags, illuminating the neat rows of students.
Zephyr walked step by step to Roy and pinned the badge symbolizing a passing grade onto his blood-stained collar.
"You passed."
Roy looked up, his gaze firm and stubborn. "Thank you, Instructor Zephyr!"
The entire field was silent. The gazes of hundreds of new recruits were fixed on him, filled with awe and disbelief.
Suddenly, Smoker strode out of the ranks, his expression complex. He took off the top student badge from his own chest and pressed it firmly into Roy's palm. "Next time, I will definitely win!"
Roy was stunned for a moment, then gripped the badge tightly and gave a sincere smile. "I'll be waiting."
Hina walked over with a light laugh, her eyes soft and playful. "Hina thinks you're both idiots."
She handed Roy a handkerchief, the white cloth glowing in the morning light. "Wipe your face, top student."
Roy pursed his lips and gently took the handkerchief.
In the distance, Zephyr watched the group of students surrounding Roy, his gaze deep. The eyes behind his sunglasses seemed to hold endless expectation and memories.
His subordinate walked quietly to his side. "Should we report to Fleet Admiral Sengoku ahead of time?"
Zephyr smiled slightly and turned to leave, his shadow stretched long by the setting sun.
"Wait a little longer."
"Let the fledgling fly a little while more."
The wind blew through his purple hair, carrying with it an endless sense of fighting spirit and warmth.
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