"First, let me correct a misconception you all have," Leon Fang said calmly, without immediately giving them a verdict.
"You are not weak. Compared to others of the same cohort, each of you has your own strengths."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"Everyone who qualifies to enter the recruit training camp is already the cream of the crop—whether from branches or Headquarters. Think back two years ago. Weren't all of you in that state of 'I'm the best, no one can tell me otherwise'?"
At those words, every one of them showed an awkward, ashamed expression, as if their former arrogant, domineering, overly confident selves had been dragged out into the sunlight.
"But now," Leon Fang continued evenly, "you've formed something of your own—a group, or to be blunt, a faction within the G2 Branch. The word faction may not sound pleasant, but a united group gives you access to more resources in the training camp, and allows you to grow faster and further than isolated individuals."
Gregory and the others were suddenly enlightened.
That was right. Other branches, even Headquarters, might not have someone like Leon Fang—someone capable of uniting people through sheer strength and character. Team cohesion itself was an advantage.
"Second," Leon Fang went on, "you've captured countless pirates alongside me. The number of life-and-death battles you've experienced is already rare among trainees. And although you haven't often endured my so-called 'hell training,' the total amount of training you've accumulated is far from small."
"You feel weak because you unconsciously compare yourselves to me. But compared to others your age, you're already very strong. Otherwise, Brigadier General Otland wouldn't place such high expectations on us."
The eyes of Abraham and the others gradually brightened.
So it wasn't that they were too weak—
It was that their benchmark had always been an outright monster.
Does that mean… we can avoid that hellish training?
Everyone instinctively waited for the third point before daring to hope.
"Third," Leon Fang said slowly, a dangerous smile appearing on his face,
"You'll all undergo hell-level special training with me. After you finish it, I believe you'll shine with an entirely new brilliance."
The smiles froze.
Gregory and the others stood stiffly in place, lips trembling.
"C-can we… withdraw our request?" someone asked weakly.
"What do you think?" Leon Fang replied, drawing out each word.
A wave of despair washed over the group. Their eyes turned hollow, their souls visibly departing their bodies.
"Alright," Leon Fang said lightly.
"Head to the beach. I'll be going out to sea in a few days, so we'll make good use of the time. Let's give you some special training."
…
On the windswept shoreline, only Ryan looked eager and excited. Everyone else wore expressions of quiet resignation, as though they were about to walk straight into purgatory.
"Let's start with some warm-up exercises," Leon Fang said.
"Boss… I'm just a sniper," Andrei said cautiously, swallowing.
"Can I skip the warm-up?"
"Of course," Leon Fang replied kindly.
"As long as the others agree."
Instantly, murderous gazes turned toward Andrei.
"…Haha, just kidding. Just kidding," Andrei said instantly, surrendering without dignity.
"Ready?" Leon Fang said.
"Then let's begin."
His figure vanished from sight.
"Did you forget what I taught you?" Leon Fang's voice echoed from behind.
"Trust your back to reliable comrades!"
Abraham shuddered violently. Without thinking, he elbowed backward—
Only for his arm to be seized in an iron grip, leaving him completely immobilized.
At the same moment, Ryan's sword light slashed in from the side. Bullets flew in from a tricky angle. Above, a golden eagle swooped down at terrifying speed.
Leon Fang's Observation Haki calmly captured everything.
In the next instant, Abraham's body was flung straight toward Algernon. Ryan's blade halted mid-swing. Leon Fang dodged the bullets, grabbed the eagle's wing, and smashed it into the sand.
"Good coordination," Leon Fang commented.
"Still too rough."
With a casual kick, Ryan was sent flying dozens of meters down the beach.
"Boss, watch out!" Algernon shouted, unleashing compressed sound waves that transformed into laser-like blasts. He was the only Devil Fruit user among them besides Gregory, possessing the Sound Wave Fruit.
"Turning sound waves directly into lasers wastes most of its potential," Leon Fang said calmly as he sidestepped.
"Try thinking in other directions."
This kind of focused attack was powerful—but predictable. If developed into something like a wide-area roar, its future might be far greater.
…
Before long, all eight of them were down.
And that was with Leon Fang deliberately holding back.
"We lasted ten whole minutes this time!" Gregory said cheerfully, his face swollen and bruised.
"We've definitely improved!"
"Huff… huff…" Algernon gasped.
"The boss's warm-up is already this brutal…"
"My bones feel broken," Andrei groaned.
"Continuing from here really is the start of a nightmare."
"Enjoy this short rest," Austin said solemnly, staring at the sea.
"The real nightmare is about to begin."
At that moment, Leon Fang emerged from the water and said calmly,
"Into the sea. I've already found suitable Sea Kings for you."
Their expressions turned grave.
Fighting on the surface didn't scare them—but deep-sea combat was another matter entirely. Water resistance, pressure, breathing… every factor was deadly.
Still, no one backed down.
They leapt into the sea together. Violent waves erupted, rolling endlessly. Meanwhile, Leon Fang led Gregory and Algernon toward the next stage.
…
At an altitude of several thousand meters, where even oxygen was scarce, Algernon's face was pale as he shouted,
"Are we really going this far?! This wasn't part of last time!"
Gregory, transformed into a golden eagle and carrying them, was barely holding on.
"Boss… calm down! I'm not sure I can catch you at the last second!"
"Only at the edge of life and death can true potential be unleashed," Leon Fang said calmly.
"Are you ready?"
"…Y-you—?" Gregory's voice trembled.
"Boss, don't do anything crazy!"
Leon Fang casually pressed Seastone handcuffs against the eagle's body.
The golden eagle convulsed and instantly reverted to human form.
The three of them began to fall.
"Aaaaaah—! Save us! Gregory, you bastard, transform back!" Algernon screamed.
"I-I can't! Seastone—my limbs won't move!" Gregory howled in despair.
"You have at most thirty seconds," Leon Fang said calmly.
"Squeeze out every last bit of your potential."
Leon Fang remained composed.
If things truly went wrong, he could forcibly reshape his body midair to glide, bind the two with his hair, and land safely—at worst suffering minor injuries.
Of course, he didn't mention this.
"Aaaaaah! Boss, I hate you!"
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T/N:
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