Inside the Training Camp, constant violent collisions attracted many onlookers.
Boom!
"It seems Bogard's claim that you were the victor in a spar with Vice Admiral Garp was not false." Yamakaji landed back on the ground, his expression much more serious.
"Unfortunately, your physical conditioning is still lacking, kid."
After several direct clashes, Yamakaji had already discovered that while Renji's performance was strong, his power was significantly weaker.
"Are you ready, kid? This is going to hurt a lot." Yamakaji rubbed his fists.
With so many people watching, he was prepared to get serious to avoid embarrassment.
Renji said, "Those words should be for you too, Vice Admiral Yamakaji."
Yamakaji waved his hand, saying heroically, "Haha, use your full strength, young man! I'll let you have the first three moves."
With so many people watching, how could he, a dignified Marineford Vice Admiral, need to make the first move against a new recruit? He'd be a laughingstock.
Renji smiled. "Then I won't be polite. Don't blame me if I injure you, Vice Admiral."
"Haha, I'd like nothing more." Yamakaji felt a tremor at Renji's smile, but his aura remained undiminished.
...
The commotion from the battle had already attracted many people.
The story of the new recruit single-handedly taking on Vice Admiral Yamakaji's Training Camp was already spreading through the barracks.
At this moment, a graceful figure walked through the barracks, her beautiful face causing many to turn their heads. Beside her followed a slightly shifty-looking man.
Receiving this news, Gion's lips curved slightly. "It hasn't been this lively in a long time. Let's go see who this Marine causing such a ruckus in the training camp is."
"Alright, Gion, I'll listen to you, but are you really..." Tokikake nodded, remembering the pick-up lines he'd just learned a few days ago, seizing the opportunity to confess.
"Shut up!" Gion interrupted his incessant chatter and strode away.
Tokikake, accustomed to rejection, wasn't discouraged and followed closely behind.
...
Inside the training camp, Cursed Energy danced wildly, making Renji's hair disheveled.
With a complete incantation and hand signs, three basketball-sized blue spheres suddenly blasted towards Yamakaji, raising dust and stones in their wake, their momentum terrifying.
"Is this your Devil Fruit ability?" Yamakaji's eyes narrowed.
At the same time, he took a horse stance, grinning as he said, "If this is all you've got, it's far from enough, kid. Let me show you, a real man never dodges."
Yamakaji activated Tekkai, actually preparing to take the attack head-on.
All the onlookers gasped in surprise.
"Vice Admiral Yamakaji is going to take this move head-on. Can he do it!?"
The next second.
Bang!
Yamakaji caught Blue with his hands. Under the immense gravitational pull, even the ground began to crack, and sand and stones continuously swirled. However, Yamakaji, in the center of it, still looked relaxed, showing just how powerful he was.
"Is this Vice Admiral Yamakaji's Tekkai? It's too strong."
"This move poses no threat to Vice Admiral Yamakaji at all. But to be able to do this much, this new recruit is already very capable."
"But what is this new recruit's ability? It looks quite powerful."
"Yes. I can faintly feel the suction from that blue ball even from this far away."
At this moment, Gion and Tokikake arrived, just in time to see Yamakaji taking Blue head-on.
"This ability... is interesting." Gion's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at the pulsating blue sphere.
"Isn't it just a Devil Fruit ability? It's still much inferior to what I had back then. And power gained from Devil Fruits always has weaknesses."
Seeing Gion openly praising another man, Tokikake was somewhat displeased, while also not forgetting to boast about himself.
Gion completely ignored Tokikake and continued watching.
On the field, Yamakaji felt the full power of the maximum output Blue at close range, then grinned.
"Kid, if this is all you've got..."
Before he could finish, the smile on his face froze.
In the reflection of his pupils, a crimson light shone, and the aura emanating from it made him feel a strong sense of dread.
A Cursed Energy even more immense than before surged around Renji. He began to chant the incantation for Cursed Technique Reversal: Red.
"Phase, Paramita, Pillar of Light!"
Blinding red and white light swirled and intertwined at his fingertips, finally condensing into a red light sphere only the size of a marble.
The Haki users among the onlookers stared intently at the red light sphere at Renji's fingertips. Under the perception of Observation Haki, they all, more or less, felt something unusual from this red light sphere.
The power of this move is probably not simple.
Gion's eyes fixed on the red light sphere, and she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What kind of trick is this kid pulling!?" Tokikake also felt shocked, but still spoke stubbornly.
Aside from Yamakaji, who was directly facing the move, Gion and Tokikake, with the strongest Haki, were probably the ones on the field who could most clearly perceive the power of this red light sphere.
This move should not be taken head-on.
"Here comes the big one. Vice Admiral Yamakaji! A real man never dodges!" Renji smiled.
Cursed Technique Reversal: Red!
Even the minimum output of Red had twice the power of the maximum output of Blue. What's more, Renji was now going all out.
The red light flared, and the somewhat dazed Yamakaji finally reacted.
Although a real man never dodges, there's also a saying, 'a wise man knows when to retreat'.
He, Yamakaji, would be a wise man!
Just as he was about to dodge, the suction of Blue suddenly increased dramatically, pulling him and making him spin rapidly in place.
Damn it! This kid has another trick up his sleeve!
Yamakaji's expression changed wildly.
Compared to Blue, Red's speed was extremely astonishing. Even under normal circumstances, Yamakaji would find it difficult to dodge, let alone with the powerful suction of Blue restraining him. At this moment, he could only push his Armament Haki to its limit.
Under everyone's gaze, the red light sphere arrived instantly.
The next moment, blinding white light illuminated the entire area, followed by a violent roar and howling winds.
Everyone's mouths gradually formed an 'O' shape.
Boom!
A violent roar echoed throughout Marineford.
In a high-rise building in Marineford that overlooked the training camp,
A tall figure wearing sunglasses and a yellow striped suit was gazing at the duel in the training camp, a magnetic voice emanating from him.
"Oh. How terrifying."
The next moment, he transformed into light particles and vanished.
...
"What's going on!? Enemy attack?"
"Did pirates attack?"
"Are you kidding me! This is Marineford! Marine Headquarters! Do pirates dare to attack?"
Marine soldiers in various areas—the port, the training camp, were all shocked upon hearing the unusual explosion.
Marineford, usually peaceful, experienced a rare commotion today.
In the residential area behind.
Miruko and Reiko had just finished setting up their new house when they heard the loud bang from the front.
Reiko frowned, her eyes filled with worry. "Why is there such a violent explosion here? I wonder how Renji is doing."
Miruko comforted her, "Don't worry, daughter, this is Marineford. Renji will definitely be safe training here."
But somehow, she felt that the commotion was probably related to Renji.
Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku suddenly stood up after hearing the explosion, frowning deeply as he looked towards the training camp.
"What in the world are those guys doing?"
"Kyahaha, Sengoku, why are you so agitated? Those kids are all there now, so you don't need to worry about anything." Garp happily stuffed another handful of senbei into his mouth.
Sengoku, however, frowned tightly. "This isn't an ordinary explosion. At least ordinary cannonballs can't do this."
"Oh, right, that Renji you mentioned, according to the time, should be in that direction right now. Could it be that he caused this?"
Garp paused, then turned to look at Sengoku's gradually darkening face. "Ah, Sengoku, I suddenly remembered I have something to do. I'm leaving first."
Listening to the loud laughter that only reached him from a distance, Sengoku rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"Are all the guys Garp brings this troublesome?"
...
Training Camp.
"This is insane. What kind of new recruit can beat up a Vice Admiral?!"