"You really dare say that? What if you lose?"
Gion shot him a glare.
"If I lose, I'll serve as an ordinary Marine under you. I'll even mop the deck if you want."
"Alright. It's a deal!"
Her eyes lit up. Gion's strength was far from just what showed on the surface.
"You brat. You've got some nerve talking big."
Zephyr suddenly walked over, laughing loudly.
"Gion wasn't just left at the academy to keep an old man like me company. Her strength will surprise you."
He added with a serious look, "And this time — Gion, don't hold back."
"Huh!?"
Gion was startled. Though she'd sparred with Ren before, Zephyr had always told her not to go all out.
Now…
"Zephyr-sensei, are you sure about this?"
"Bring it on."
Ren grinned. He wanted to see how strong he really was.
"Hmph. If you're that confident, then I won't go easy. Be careful, Ren!"
"Come at me!"
"Rokushiki – Soru!"
Gion's feet tapped rapidly, and her figure flickered behind Ren.
She lifted a leg, aiming a fierce kick at his waist.
But Ren, with his Observation Haki, had already sensed her movements.
He twisted and launched a kick of his own.
Boom!
Dust exploded around them as their legs collided.
But Ren froze for a second.
So white!
Smack!
In that moment of distraction, Gion's kick connected.
Ren's body flew several meters, dragging two long grooves in the ground with his heels.
He got up and stretched. Slight pain — but nothing serious.
"Don't lose focus in battle. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."
Gion chuckled sweetly.
Watching from the side, Ain's cheeks puffed in jealousy.
She glared at Ren. He actually copped a feel off Gion-senpai just now!
"Fast moves, Gion-senpai. But hey, with legs like that, what guy wouldn't get distracted?"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As they spoke, their fight hadn't stopped.
Gion came at him again, launching three whip-like kicks — to his back, flank, and shoulder.
But each one missed.
Ren's speed kept up perfectly.
"Your Rokushiki isn't bad. Looks like Vice Admiral Garp's training wasn't for nothing."
Gion knew full well that few in the elite division could use Rokushiki.
Ren had only started learning it after joining — that meant three years max.
And he was already on par with someone like her who had trained in it for over a decade.
A terrifying prodigy.
From the sidelines, Zephyr barked, "Gion! Didn't you hear me? Go all out! No holding back!"
Gion glanced at him, then sighed. "Alright, Zephyr-sensei. Ren, brace yourself!"
"Armament Hardening – Sakura Storm Kick!"
In an instant, Gion seemed to be dancing in a sea of falling cherry blossoms — beautiful, yet deadly.
"Heh. Now we're talking."
Her attacks became sharper and faster.
Ren took a few solid blows to the chest — his ribs vibrating from the impacts.
"I know Armament Haki too!"
Ren grinned. When it came to Haki, he was afraid of no one.
"Advanced Armament Haki?! What the hell have you been learning these past six months?! You're like a damn wall!"
Gion leapt back in frustration.
Trading hits with him was a losing game.
"If you think that's hard, Gion-senpai, just wait. I've got something even harder."
Ren smirked, throwing in a cheeky innuendo.
"Bastard!"
Gion wasn't some clueless innocent like Ain.
She instantly caught the dirty joke.
Infuriated, she launched a flurry of elegant, deadly kicks.
"Armament – Dreamfire Kick!"
"Armament – Crane Talon Slam!"
"Armament – Phoenix Waltz: Love of a City!"
"Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick! Kick!"
As she unleashed her rage, Gion's speed surged — a hurricane of violence and grace.
Ren tried keeping up, but unless he used his Glint-Glint powers, he couldn't match her full-speed assault.
An angry woman really is terrifying.
"That damn brat… eating what's in the bowl while staring into the pot. Garp, what kind of disciple did you raise?"
Zephyr muttered, irritated.
Like master, like student — both were shameless.
The other students, watching from the sidelines, were utterly stunned.
So this was Instructor Gion's true strength.
Incredible.
Ain stared at the bruised and battered Ren, worry growing in her heart.
"That idiot… why did he have to piss off Gion-senpai?"
"Gion-senpai! My turn to attack now — you'd better watch out."
Ren wasn't about to stay on the defensive.
After all, he was a man — and men don't lose fights.
--------------
Access 30 chapters in advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/OneFic