Cage looked at Sengoku and said firmly:
"Marshal, I was that kid's instructor at the recruit camp. Now that he's applying for the graduation exam, it's only right that I serve as his examiner. I want to see for myself how much he's grown under Zephyr-sensei's training!"
"Hmph! As expected!" Stoloberg's eyes narrowed, confirming his suspicions. That brat really was from Cage's faction.
Before Sengoku could speak, Stoloberg stepped forward:
"Marshal Sengoku, I object. First, Rear Admiral Cage already has duties at the training camp. Second… since he once instructed that boy, I fear he may go easy on him."
"Bullshit!" Cage roared, his face darkening. "Stoloberg, are you implying I'd cover for him?!"
Stoloberg let out a cold snort. "Not necessarily…"
Just as Cage was about to lose his temper, Sengoku cut in sharply:
"Enough! Both of you!"
His gaze turned frosty.
"Rear Admiral Stoloberg, your words are too much. Who would dare to cover for someone in front of the entire Headquarters? And you, Rear Admiral Cage—have you forgotten what kind of place this is?"
The two stiffened, then lowered their heads.
"Apologies, Marshal Sengoku… we got carried away."
Sengoku sighed, rubbing his temples. These two had been butting heads for years, and now they were both dead set on being the examiner.
"You're both outstanding officers. Frankly, it doesn't matter which of you serves as examiner…" After a pause, he added with clear exasperation, "…so let's settle this with rock–paper–scissors."
The two Rear Admirals froze. Was the Marshal serious?
But Sengoku wasn't joking. He had dealt with endless squabbles before, but rarely had two officers been so eager to take the same post. With their rivalry burning, he had no choice but to resolve it with this almost childish method.
In the end… Stoloberg won.
Cage stormed out of Sengoku's office, cursing under his breath. Stoloberg, by contrast, left with a smug smile, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
Sengoku remained seated, flipping open the file on Yuno. His brow lifted.
"Patino Yuno… praised by Zephyr himself? Ranked on par with Aokiji and the others at that age?"
Even Sengoku was impressed. He knew Zephyr well—his old comrade never exaggerated lightly. For him to compare a trainee to the current Admirals meant this Yuno truly had something special.
The next day, the news spread like wildfire across Marine Headquarters.
It was only a graduation exam for an elite recruit, yet the entire base was abuzz.
Normally, such assessments passed quietly. But this time was different.
Yuno's reputation at the training camp already bordered on legendary. They called him "the young admiral." On his very first mission at sea, he had slain a pirate with a bounty over 100 million berries—an achievement even some Rear Admirals couldn't claim.
Now, word had it he would challenge the Rear Admiral's Graduation Exam, one of the toughest trials in the Navy. It stirred curiosity, skepticism, and even excitement.
From the barracks to the upper echelons, whispers filled the air.
"Admiral material? Tch, these days people throw the word around too easily. He's just a trainee—doesn't even wear the seagull on his coat yet!"
"What arrogance… The Rear Admiral's exam? Let's see if he can even get past Rear Admiral Stoloberg."
In another wing of Headquarters, Admiral Kizaru lounged lazily in his chair, legs crossed on the desk, Yuno's file in hand. A sly grin tugged at his lips.
"Ooh~… an 'admiral in his youth'? How frighteningly fast he grows."
Akainu had heard the rumors too, but dismissed them with a scowl. To him, it was nothing more than a sideshow.
Aokiji, however, was intrigued. Zephyr's praise carried weight, and he wanted to see this rookie with his own eyes.
Elsewhere, a group of Vice Admirals gathered.
The Flying Squirrel chuckled to his peers:
"Seems someone from the camp is taking the graduation exam. I hear this one's pretty capable. Care to watch?"
Yamakaji gave a good-natured smile.
"Quite the stir he's causing… certainly unusual for a simple assessment."
Doberman, arms crossed and face grim, cut in:
"Hmph. A flashy kid at best. If he's relying on tricks to gain fame, then he has no place graduating."
Another laughed.
"Killing a pirate worth over 100 million is impressive, but plenty of 'geniuses' have died young, consumed by arrogance. Let's hope this one doesn't follow them."
"We're free today. Let's go take a look."
At the rear training ground, a sea of spectators had gathered. Marines of every rank filled the stands—curious, skeptical, expectant.
At the center stood an arena-like structure, where the exam would be held.
Yuno scanned the crowd, inwardly frowning. Since when did graduation exams attract this much attention?
Still, he remained calm. Stage fright wasn't in his nature.
His eyes finally landed on his examiner, and his expression hardened.
"Stoloberg…?"
Memories of Swallow Island resurfaced—Stoloberg's hostility, his thinly veiled contempt. Now, facing him as examiner? Yuno didn't believe it was coincidence.
"A setup, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
Stoloberg's cold gaze met his, full of disdain and veiled malice. After "learning" Yuno was aligned with Cage, his resentment had only grown. Now he intended to crush the boy outright.
The hostility was so palpable Yuno almost smirked.
So that's how it is… trying to trip me up, right?
His eyes sharpened. "Fine. Let's see who ends up humiliated today."
At that moment, Zephyr appeared in the center of the field.
"Teacher Zephyr has arrived! The test is about to begin!"
The crowd stirred in shock. Everyone knew that once Zephyr showed himself, the exam was officially starting.
Cage cast a glance at Yuno, excitement flashing in his eyes. Come on, Yuno, show Stoloberg what you're made of!
A few months ago, Yuno had already been able to give him trouble. After training under Zephyr all this time? He would definitely be full of surprises! Cage was eager to see Stoloberg's face once he realized Yuno's true strength. That sight alone would be worth it.
Zephyr looked at the two combatants. His tone was solemn as he said,
"If there's nothing else to prepare, the test begins."
With that, Zephyr vanished from sight in a blur.
Although he was aware of Stoloberg's ill will, Yuno still remained polite, bowing slightly with a faint smile.
"Instructor, please advise!"
Stoloberg, though filled with hostility, kept up appearances. His expression remained calm as he snapped coldly,
"Stop talking nonsense. Attack!"
As the examiner, he naturally couldn't strike first. Giving the recruit the first move was a display of "generosity" from the strong to the weak.
But in truth, Stoloberg had already planned it out: he would let Yuno strike once, then retaliate with a single overwhelming blow to knock him out of the arena. If the kid couldn't withstand it, the test would end in humiliation—Yuno would become the laughingstock of the camp.
What Rear Admiral potential? A future admiral? The higher you're lifted, the harder you'll fall! Stoloberg smirked inwardly. And it'll be a fine way to disgust that fool Cage, too.
But would Yuno really fall to a single strike, as he so confidently expected?
Yuno's eyes flashed with confidence.
"Then, Instructor, please be careful!"
In the blink of an eye, Yuno vanished, his hand flashing to his waist as he unsheathed a gleaming blade.
Silver Fiber — one of the Fifty Skillful Grade swords.
Its pitch-black hilt was smooth and round, the streamlined blade gleaming silver. Its square, diamond-cut patterns caught the light with a chilling brilliance as it was drawn. This was the reward Yuno had exchanged with his accumulated merits.
Appearing right before Stoloberg in an instant, Yuno raised Silver Fiber and swung down, his sword aura surging violently!
Stoloberg's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected such terrifying speed—or such force—in Yuno's opening strike.
Still, his Observation Haki flared, guiding his response. In a swift motion, he unsheathed his own sword and intercepted the blow.
Ding!
The clash rang out crisp and sharp.
"Ding, ding, ding!"
Yuno's attacks came fast and relentless, slashing down and thrusting across, his ferocity forcing Stoloberg to retreat step by step. In just moments, they had exchanged dozens of blows—and incredibly, Stoloberg found himself on the back foot.
"Hiss… such sharp swordsmanship! He's actually putting Rear Admiral Stoloberg at a disadvantage?"
"So the rumors were true. I thought the story about him killing a pirate with a 100 million berry bounty was just exaggeration!"
"What's Rear Admiral Stoloberg doing? Why isn't he fighting back?"
The navy soldiers murmured among themselves.
Fight back? With what?! Stoloberg cursed inwardly, his face twisting as he parried another strike. He had underestimated Yuno's ferocity—badly.
"Damn it!"
A raw humiliation burned inside him. To be pressed so hard by a mere recruit in front of everyone was unacceptable. The whispers only made his ears burn hotter.
Clang!
Their blades collided again, but this time with a resounding force that shook the arena. A shockwave burst outward from the impact, rattling the ground beneath their feet.
Stoloberg's eyes gleamed red with fury. His blade was now fully coated in Armament Haki, and with a sharp twist, he deflected Yuno's sword. Seizing the moment, he swung his leg around in a sweeping kick.
Yuno's Observation Haki flared. He instantly sheathed his sword and dodged aside, the kick tearing a deep gash into the stone floor instead.
Taking advantage, Stoloberg drew his second blade. At last, he could fight at his true strength.
With both swords in hand, his aura surged.
"Not bad, recruit… but that's as far as you go!"
He slashed with both swords, their arcs screaming through the air.
But Yuno was ready. Reading the trajectory with Observation Haki, he leaned forward and parried, his own blades now shimmering with Armament Haki.
"Armament Haki?!"
"That kid's using it too! But… he can't harden it yet, so he's at a disadvantage."
Gasps rippled through the crowd as they realized Yuno had already mastered the basics of Armament Haki. No wonder he was called a monster!
Stoloberg narrowed his eyes, surprised despite himself. Then he let out a cold snort, both blades darkening to jet-black hardness as he pressed forward.
Boom!
The two clashed again, their Haki-infused weapons colliding with explosive force.
The ground beneath them cracked and caved in, unable to withstand the violent energy unleashed by the duel.
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