Marine Headquarters Elite Training Camp.
This was the cradle of the Navy's finest!
Almost every renowned Marine—whether Vice Admirals, Rear Admirals, or elite instructors—had once graduated from this very place.
Anyone qualified to set foot in this camp was an exceptional genius among geniuses—the pride of the Marines.
At the very least, they would graduate as Colonel-level officers, powerful enough to command a base in the Four Seas, where even the mention of their name would make average pirates tremble.
The moment Yuno stepped into the camp, he felt it.
A chilling aura swept over him.
Ahead, hundreds of men and women trained in the open, each emanating a faint yet terrifying aura of bloodlust.
This wasn't an ordinary drill.
The killing intent in the air proved that every Marine here had faced actual combat—they were seasoned warriors.
It wasn't just training here.
Elite Camp cadets regularly followed instructors on live missions out at sea, missions where life and death hung in the balance.
The aura of blood they returned with was thick and impossible to suppress.
If only one or two exuded such an aura, it would be negligible.
But hundreds of such figures, practicing in the same open space—the pressure was overwhelming.
Even Roy, an animal-type Devil Fruit user known for his fearlessness, couldn't help but feel the pressure. He paled visibly.
Meanwhile, Yuno remained unmoved, as if unaware of the intensity pressing down on them.
Not far away, a broad-shouldered man with purple hair stood with arms crossed.
It was Zephyr—"Black Arm" Z, the legendary former Admiral and current instructor of the Elite Camp.
He observed quietly, nodding slightly.
"Not bad. At least they didn't flinch."
His gaze then settled on Yuno, eyes narrowing slightly.
"That must be the 'Patino Yuno' Cage mentioned... Still calm even under this murderous pressure?"
A glint passed through Zephyr's eyes.
Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Let's see what he's capable of."
He snapped his fingers.
A tall, bearded youth stepped forward with discipline and respect.
"Teacher Zephyr, your orders?"
Zephyr looked him over.
"Shuzo, I want you to test the strength of those two new recruits."
Shuzo blinked in surprise and glanced in the direction Zephyr pointed.
"You mean... those two?"
At the entrance stood only Yuno and Roy.
Zephyr nodded.
"Go. Don't hold back."
"Yes, sir!"
With a firm salute, Shuzo strode toward the pair with firm, confident steps.
Around the training grounds, several veterans noticed the sudden movement.
Ain, the cool blue-haired user of the Modo Modo no Mi (Return-Return Fruit), frowned.
"Hmm? What's Shuzo doing?"
Binz, with long limbs and dressed like a ninja, tilted his head.
"Those two must be the new guys... Did they somehow offend Shuzo?"
Hina, short pink hair swaying with the breeze, also glanced over, surprised.
Even Berigud, the Ball-Ball Fruit user, grinned.
"Eh? Something interesting's about to happen, huh?"
Shuen, wielder of the Rust-Rust Fruit, put down his training gear and looked over silently.
Before long, the entire training field had gone quiet.
All eyes were on the new recruits—Roy and Yuno.
Roy trembled.
The combined pressure from these veteran elites made it hard to breathe. His instincts screamed danger.
But Yuno...
His expression twisted in a way that didn't match the pressure around him.
His thoughts were a raging storm.
"Seriously... what's wrong with you Marines?
I've only been here a few days!
And this is already the third time someone's tried to test me?
Are you all mentally unstable or something?
Is hazing the new guy part of your daily routine?
Do you feel itchy if you don't try to provoke every fresh face?"
As Shuzo strode closer, his intent was clear.
He wasn't coming to talk.
He was coming to fight.
Since Zephyr had given the order, Shuzo didn't hesitate.
Without a word, he launched forward like a cannon shot—his first target: Yuno.
Why?
Simple. He thought Yuno looked easier to deal with.
But Yuno had had enough.
His expression darkened.
"You people... again?!"
He had tried to stay lowkey, but this was getting ridiculous.
"You think I don't have a temper?!
Alright then.
You want to know how strong I am?"
He narrowed his eyes, the air around him shifting.
"Then I'll show you everything."
Yuno snorted coldly, his aura surging to its peak. Facing the oncoming Shuzo, he showed no fear—instead, he charged forward!
Clenching his fists at his waist, he gathered all his strength and launched a powerful blow!
Shuzo was taken aback. He hadn't expected the boy to advance instead of retreating—and to strike first, no less.
"Interesting!"
With a grin, Shuzo accelerated again, unleashing a heavy punch of his own!
Boom!
Their fists collided, generating a powerful shockwave.
Yuno staggered backward, driven several steps away by the sheer force behind Shuzo's punch.
Shaking out his right arm, Yuno's expression remained calm. It was no surprise—his physical strength couldn't match someone like Shuzo, who had trained in the elite camp for who knows how long.
Unless he could go all out, he wouldn't be able to defeat the man in front of him with just fists and kicks.
His gaze swept across the field, searching for a weapon.
But despite the vastness of the training ground… there were no weapon racks in sight.
"Not bad! You blocked my punch!" Shuzo said with a note of admiration, though his eyes held no mercy. After all, this was Master Zephyr's direct order.
"Finger Gun!"
Shuzo stepped forward, closing the gap in an instant. His finger—coated in raw force, though still unrefined—jabbed toward Yuno's chest!
Yuno's astonishing instincts caught the movement. He dodged with a flicker of motion, retreating swiftly!
Then—his eyes locked onto a blue-haired girl nearby.
No, not her—the twin daggers at her waist!
Shuzo attacked again. Yuno weaved aside and bolted straight toward the girl.
Meeting her crimson eyes—so much like his own—he offered a smile.
"Miss, may I borrow your sword?"
"Uh… sure."
Ain blinked, caught off guard by the formal tone, but nodded. It wasn't a difficult request.
Her weapons were only standard-issue daggers from the camp—nothing special.
With a casual toss, she handed one over. Yuno caught it in mid-air.
"Not a katana, so it's a bit awkward... but this'll do."
Gripping the short blade, Yuno's presence changed instantly. A wave of sword intent exploded from him, and his gaze turned razor sharp.
The sudden transformation drew everyone's attention.
Shuzo's eyes widened, his expression shifting into seriousness. "What a sharp aura!"
"But... I still won't lose!"
"Tempest Kick!"
Shuzo's eyes blazed with determination. Just as Zephyr instructed, he wouldn't hold back. He swept out with his right leg—generating a blade of compressed wind that shot toward Yuno like a storm!
It was the only Rokushiki technique he had mastered so far!
Yuno's eyes gleamed. He shouted coldly:
"One-Sword Style: Getsuga Tenshō!"
With a swift slash, a blade of energy nearly ten meters long burst forth!
Swish—!
The flying slash cut clean through Shuzo's Tempest Kick, its momentum carrying forward straight at him!
Shuzo had no time to react. Panic rose in his chest.
Was he... going to die here?
He couldn't stop this sword!
But in the next instant, a figure burst onto the field—his fist black as ink—smashing into the flying slash!
Boom!!!
The deafening sound shook the entire camp. Even the recruits on the far side could hear it clearly.
Zephyr had intervened—his punch completely shattering Yuno's slash. Landing steadily, he glanced at his unharmed arm, then at Yuno—shocked.
A flying slash…
A swordsman?!
The realization hit everyone at once.
The veterans stared at Yuno, dagger in hand, in stunned silence.
This rookie… was actually a swordsman!