Time passed quietly. In the year 1513, at the Marine Headquarters Training Camp...
Morning
Sunlight drenched the training grounds, where the early morning breeze swirled with the sweat and fighting spirit of the youths.
"Haaa—!" A 10-year-old Luffy leaped into the air, his fist clad in a nascent form of Armament Haki, and smashed down towards a 13-year-old Ace.
"Too slow!" Ace scoffed, dodging to the side with an elbow strike of his own.
Thud!
Luffy was knocked back, stumbling, but showed no signs of retreat. Instead, his fighting spirit only grew stronger. "Again!"
On the sidelines, Zephyr stood with his arms crossed, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched the two.
"Those two kids... they're improving fast!"
His gaze swept to another part of the training ground. Ain, holding a short sword, moved as gracefully as a butterfly, her blade humming softly as it cut through the air. Binz, on the other hand, controlled several vines that weaved through the air, precisely wrapping around targets, his battlefield control skills steadily maturing.
"Ain's reflexes, Binz's tactical control... this year's crop of new Marines is quite promising." Zephyr nodded to himself, having made a decision.
"It's time for them to see a real battlefield."
"Alright, brats, fall in!"
Everyone quickly assembled in formation, their breathing still ragged but their eyes sharp.
Zephyr's gaze was like a hawk's. "Starting today, you will embark on your first practical combat mission!"
"Combat?!" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Are we going out to sea to fight pirates?!"
Ace stuck his hands in his pockets and grunted. "Finally, something interesting."
Zoro gripped his swords, his fighting spirit boiling. "Perfect. A chance to test out my new moves."
Ain stood quietly to the side, her expression calm, but a flicker of anticipation crossed her eyes.
Zephyr's voice was grave. "Your target is in the West Blue. You are to annihilate the newly emerged 'Blood Blade Pirates.' Their bounty is 100 million Berries!"
"Ooooh—!!!" The youths cheered, their arms raised, their fighting spirit soaring.
The Next Day – Marineford Port
A warship set sail, its decks filled with young Marines whose faces beamed with eager anticipation. Zephyr stood at the prow, his gaze deep and far-reaching.
Ain whispered to Binz, "It's our first mission. I'm so nervous."
Binz clenched his fist. "Don't worry. With Teacher Zephyr here, we can't lose!"
The warship cut through the waves, heading towards its proving grounds.
Just two hours after the intern ship departed, another warship, having just completed its mission, slowly docked at the Marine Headquarters port.
Roy, covered in the dust of his journey, returned with a yawn. "Finally back. Uncle Kizaru really knows how to use me as a tool..."
A voice beside him chuckled. "But wasn't it you who agreed to Admiral Kizaru's terms, Captain Roy?"
Trafalgar Law, at his own request, had become Vice Admiral Roy's adjutant to learn alongside him, a decision that Sengoku had readily approved.
However, when the two of them arrived at the training grounds, Roy froze.
"Huh? Where is everyone?"
As he wondered, a familiar set of footsteps approached.
"Looking for your little brothers?" Gion, dressed in her military uniform, walked over gracefully, followed by Kuina, who had just finished her sword training.
Roy asked with a grin, "Sis Gion! Where'd all the kids go?"
Gion replied coolly, "Teacher Zephyr took them out for an internship." She added, "A new group called the 'Blood Blade Pirates' has popped up in the West Blue with a 100 million Berry bounty. It seems Teacher Zephyr has high hopes for this new batch."
Hearing this, Roy's smile vanished. "An internship? The Blood Blade Pirates?"
Gion nodded. "Yes. I heard two other promising kids named Ain and Binz just joined, and he took them along as well."
"Ain... Binz?!" Roy's pupils constricted. He nearly teleported out of the port on the spot. A fragment of a tragedy from the original story flashed through his mind—blood, fire, a collapsing deck, and a lone Zephyr roaring in fury...
He subconsciously clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm. He took a deep breath and managed a small smile. "Heh... Worry makes you reckless. What am I panicking for?"
Gion noticed his strange reaction and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Roy shook his head and smiled. "Nothing. Just suddenly a little worried about those kids."
Gion snorted. "With Teacher Zephyr there, they'll be fine."
Kuina nodded in agreement. "Zoro and Ace are strong."
Roy looked towards the distant horizon, where the blue of the sea met the sky. The warship's silhouette had long since disappeared.
"Don't let me down, kids."
West Blue Shipping Lane
Zephyr stood on the deck of the warship, his gaze fixed on the small island gradually appearing ahead. A pirate ship with a blood-stained black flag was moored there. The sea breeze billowed its sail, revealing the terrifying emblem of the "Blood Blade Pirates."
He gave a grave command. "All hands, prepare for battle! The internship mission begins now!"
"SIR!!" Ace, Luffy, Zoro, Ain, Binz, and all the other young Marine rising stars stood ready for action.
An Island in the West Blue
On the edge of a desolate island, a pirate ship was anchored. A raucous, crude party was underway on its deck, with bonfires raging and barrels of alcohol overturned.
"Gahahaha!! I had a blast today! The women in that village were quite something, though they didn't last long before they stopped breathing!"
"And to think that little village was hiding gold! We took it all!"
A man with a scarred face and a blood-red cloak sat at the center of the feast, laughing wildly as he gnawed on a bone. He was the captain of the Blood Blade Pirates, "The Slaughterer" Golaz, with a bounty of 100 million Berries.
"I still haven't had my fill of killing..." Before he could finish, he frowned, a faint flicker of Observation Haki sending him a warning.
"...Hmm?" He looked up and saw a Marine warship cutting through the waves in the distance. On its prow stood a single purple-haired old man and a few young-looking boys.
"A warship? Ha!" He squinted. "There's just a few kids who haven't even grown hair on their chins and a purple-haired old man? Gahahaha! Have the Marines run out of people?! Sending a few brats to their deaths?!"
The pirates on deck joined in the jeering. "Look! It really is just a bunch of kids!"
"Oh, great! We've got new toys for tonight!"
"That old man looks like he's about to step into his grave! Hahaha!"
The pirates roared with laughter, completely dismissing the approaching warship.
The warship docked with a crunch as it ran aground on the sandy beach. Just as the pirates were about to stand up and mock them, Zephyr, standing at the prow with a stoic expression and his arms crossed, uttered two words:
"Assault!"
The moment he spoke—
"FIRE FIST!!!"
Ace was the first to charge, his fist engulfed in scorching flames. A searing punch smashed into the Blood Blade Pirates' party!
BOOM—!!!
Flames erupted, sending tables and chairs flying. Several pirates were burned to a crisp before they could even scream.
Golaz's eyes widened. "A Logia-type ability user?!"
"Dammit! These kids aren't ordinary!! All hands, counter-attack!!"
But before the pirates could organize a response, five figures burst through the smoke like sharp blades.
"Two-Sword Style: 72 Pound Phoenix!!" Zoro's figure shot forward, the sword-wind from his dual blades tearing through the enemy ranks like a fierce bird of prey.
"Shave: Iron Fist!" Luffy's body flickered, his physical prowess exploding as he sent a pirate flying several meters with a single punch.
"Vine Bind: Shackles!" Binz waved his hand, and vines erupted from the ground, instantly trapping several enemies.
"Moon Dance Slash!" Ain's blade flashed like moonlight, a cold gleam cutting through the night.
The five of them working together were like a hurricane, taking down a dozen pirates in the blink of an eye. The scene descended into chaos.
The morale of the Blood Blade Pirates plummeted. "Where in the world did these kids come from?!"
"Don't be afraid of them!! Kill them—!" Golaz roared, erupting from his seat. His massive blade, coated in a thick layer of Haki, swung towards Ace.
"You dare treat me like an experience bag? You're courting death!!"
Ace smirked, flames surging. "You're the one who chose this way to die!"
"Flame Commandment: Fiery Burst!!"
The flaming fist and the giant blade collided. A deafening roar tore through the air as a scorching tide of fire swept across the entire battlefield.
Far behind, Zephyr stood motionless, coldly observing the entire scene. Behind him, the remaining elite cadets charged forward like a pack of wolves, plunging into the pirates' rear ranks to eliminate the rest.
This was the trial of a new era. Amidst the flames, slashes, and roars, the true baptism by fire for the young Marines had officially begun.
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