"Hiss..."
"Roy... lost!"
"How is that possible? Even that Roy couldn't win?"
"You told me he was just a freshman?"
The senior students felt their scalps go numb. Roy—one of their strongest—had actually lost? And to a mere freshman?
On the freshman side, adrenaline surged like a tidal wave. Cheers broke out as if they'd just witnessed a miracle:
"Yuno is insanely strong!"
"Even an animal-type Devil Fruit user couldn't beat him!"
At a distance, several Marine instructors exchanged bewildered glances.
Maynard gave a bitter chuckle. "I seriously underestimated him. Not even Roy could hold his ground..."
Leighton rubbed his nose, his face red with embarrassment. "Ten minutes? He didn't even last that long!"
Mandel shook his head, sighing. They had all misjudged this new kid.
And then, as if on cue, the instructors turned to Cage—who, unlike them, showed no surprise. They remembered what he had said earlier.
Clearly, Cage knew something.
Maynard turned toward him. "Rear Admiral Cage, do you know this recruit?"
Mandel echoed, "What's the story with that kid?"
Cage raised his hands and smiled. "I'm his instructor. Of course I know him better than you do. Don't be fooled by his age—he's extremely capable. Even Master Zephyr seems to have taken an interest in him."
"Hiss..."
The other instructors gasped again. Roy's defeat was already shocking enough.
But being noticed by Zephyr? That was on another level entirely.
A monster in the making?
They all knew how discerning Zephyr's eyes were—how he could pinpoint someone's flaws and sharpen them into blades. The fact that some of the current top Admirals had once been molded by Zephyr spoke volumes.
"After this, that kid might be brought into the Elite Battalion as an exception."
Cage sighed. Being admitted by exception meant the Navy already viewed you as a future pillar. It was the kind of privilege once given to monsters like Borsalino (Kizaru) and Kuzan (Aokiji) in their youth.
Meanwhile, Yuno stood calmly as Roy, battered and bloodied, tried to rise.
He shook his head slightly. "Senior, give it up. You can't defeat me anymore."
Roy locked eyes with him—silent, solemn. This time, he didn't argue. He bowed his head slightly.
"I lose."
But he quickly raised his head again, eyes burning with determination.
"But next time... I'll surpass you!"
His Zoan-type Devil Fruit granted him exceptional recovery. Slowly, he got to his feet and walked off steadily.
Yuno looked at his back and smiled lightly. "Surpass me? Not in this lifetime."
After all, Yuno was a "cheater"—the term some might use for someone with an edge even beyond Devil Fruits. The gap between them would only grow until Roy was left doubting his own existence.
From then on, the senior students didn't dare challenge him again. Some retreated in defeat, others slinked away in fear.
They had been thoroughly crushed by Yuno's power.
The freshmen, emboldened by their champion, erupted in cheers. They had won.
Yuno offered a quiet smile.
Just then, Instructor Cage arrived, pretending to know nothing. He strolled over, hands behind his back, pausing briefly on Yuno before glancing at the others.
"Why are you all standing around? Time for training!"
"Yes, sir!"
Startled, the freshmen straightened up and hurried to obey.
The next day
Cage summoned Yuno privately.
He looked him up and down with admiration. "You're Patino Yuno, right?"
Yuno gave a slight nod. "Yes, instructor."
Cage crossed his arms, smiling faintly. "After what you showed us yesterday, it's clear this place won't help you grow much anymore. So I'm recommending you..."
"To the Elite Battalion."
There were two ways to enter the Elite Battalion.
One—by ranking in the top ten of the annual year-end assessment.
The other—through an instructor's recommendation, known as a special admission.
Yuno glanced at the man beside him. "Instructor, isn't that against the rules?"
Cage smiled faintly. "The Navy is a place where strength reigns supreme. As long as you're strong enough, the rules bend around you."
In a world where power determined worth, such privilege was a natural consequence. And nowhere was that truth more apparent than in the world of pirates.
"Instructor, I understand." Yuno nodded calmly, unsurprised.
"I've already spoken to the instructor over there," Cage added. "You can head straight in."
After a brief exchange, Cage turned and left.
Yuno remained still for a moment, thinking, Elite Camp, this soon?
Is it because I defeated that Zoan-type ability user yesterday?
He had expected to stay in boot camp for a while. Though he could dominate the other freshmen in actual combat, his advantage lay in experience and skill—not raw physicality.
In fact, in terms of physical strength alone, he was average—perhaps even below average compared to some of the more athletic recruits.
Still, the Elite Camp had its merits. The biggest being: better instructors.
Boot camp's highest-ranking officer was a major general. But the Elite Camp had a retired general, someone who could offer real-time instruction at the level of a Marine Headquarters' vice admiral—on par with legends like Garp or Tsuru.
Under that kind of mentorship, even someone with no natural talent could advance rapidly.
For Yuno, early entry wasn't a burden—it was an opportunity.
With that in mind, he returned to his dorm, packed up his simple belongings, and prepared to leave.
As he exited the building, a familiar voice called out.
"You really are something! Only three days in, and you're already off to the Elite Camp." Lafer grinned, clearly envious. "Don't worry, I'll catch up soon!"
Yuno chuckled. "Then I'll be waiting."
Lafer slapped his chest, emboldened. "Just wait! I'm going all out starting today!"
Yuno raised a hand in farewell, then turned his gaze toward the gate ahead.
Beyond that threshold—the Elite Camp awaited.
As he approached, another figure appeared from the opposite direction. When the person spotted Yuno, they stopped mid-step.
Yuno recognized him instantly and smiled. "Senior Roy."
It was Coker Roy, the Zoan-type Tibetan Antelope user—his defeated opponent from the day before.
Roy's expression darkened slightly. Though only a day had passed, the sting of defeat still lingered.
"You got in as a special admission too?" he asked in a low tone.
Yuno nodded. "Yeah."
Roy didn't look surprised. If someone like me got in… then someone who beat me should've been here sooner.
His eyes hardened. "Once I've mastered the Six Styles... I won't lose next time."
Without another word, Roy strode ahead, tension crackling in his wake.
Yuno's smile lingered as he followed closely behind.
And just like that, the two passed through the gate—into a new battlefield.