"First of all," Longinus said, "let me correct a misconception you all seem to share—
you are not weak. Compared with other recruits of the same generation, each of you has very real advantages."
He didn't answer their request directly, instead breaking the matter down point by point.
"Number one: Anyone qualified to enter the Recruit Training Camp is already the elite of their branch or directly from Headquarters. Think back to two years ago—weren't you all the type who thought, 'I'm the strongest under heaven, who could possibly compare to me?'"
A collective wince spread through the group.
Remembering their past "edgy tough-guy phase" was embarrassing enough to make them want to bury themselves alive.
"But now, you've formed your own unit. In blunt terms, you've become the G-2 faction.
The word 'faction' may sound bad, but the strength of a united team allows you to secure far more resources inside the Training Camp—and grow much faster because of it."
Gregory and the others suddenly understood.
Right—other branches might not have a leader like Longinus who could genuinely earn everyone's obedience and bring people together.
Their unity was an advantage.
"Second: all of you have helped me capture more pirates than you can count. The sheer number of life-and-death battles you've survived is something very few Marine recruits can claim. And while you rarely joined my Hell Training before, the training load you've received over the past two years is already far above normal."
He swept his gaze over them.
"You think you're weak only because you've subconsciously been comparing yourselves to me. Compared to others your age, you're already strong.
Otherwise Brigadier General Adkin wouldn't have such high expectations for us."
Hope lit up in Abraham's eyes—and in the eyes of the others.
So they weren't weak after all…
It was just the comparison target who was absurd.
…Maybe they wouldn't need Hell Training after all?
Better wait for the third point before celebrating.
"And third," Longinus said, smiling like a demon,
"you're about to undergo Hell Training with me again. I guarantee that afterward, you'll shine in ways you've never imagined."
Gregory and the others froze as if struck by lightning.
"C-Can… can we take back what we said earlier…?"
"What do you think?" Longinus drawled.
Every face went slack with despair. Their eyes were dull.
They radiated the aura of men resigned to death.
"Alright," Longinus clapped his hands. "We'll head to the shore. I set sail in a few days, so I need to get your training done first."
The sea breeze blew gently along the coast.
Aside from Penn—whose eyes burned with excitement—everyone else wore the expression of condemned prisoners.
"Before we head into the water, warm-ups first."
"Boss, I'm a sniper," Andre pleaded. "Maybe… maybe I could skip the warm-up?"
"Of course," Longinus said kindly.
"As long as the others agree."
Everyone turned to stare at Andre with murderous intent.
Andre immediately backpedaled.
"Haha! Kidding! Just a joke, just a joke…"
"Ready? Warm-up starts—now."
Longinus vanished from sight.
"You've forgotten what I told you," Longinus's voice came from behind.
"Always trust the partner watching your back."
Abraham jumped in fright and instinctively launched a backward elbow strike.
But his arm was caught and held in place effortlessly, an overwhelming force locking him completely.
Penn's sword light flashed in instantly.
Longinus's Observation Haki sensed Andre's bullet cutting in from a tricky angle—and Gregory in eagle form diving from above.
In a single smooth motion, Longinus hurled Abraham toward Penn, interrupting the sword strike;
dodged the bullet with barely a step;
and caught Gregory's wing mid-dive—slamming the giant eagle into the ground.
"Good coordination," Longinus commented.
"Just… not very polished."
Then he casually kicked Penn into a sand dune dozens of meters away.
"Boss, heads up!" Algernon shouted—and unleashed a laser-like shockwave.
He was the only other Devil Fruit user in their group besides Gregory—the Oto Oto no Mi, the Sound-Sound Fruit, turning sound into destructive force.
"Channeling sound into lasers alone is a waste of its potential," Longinus said, sidestepping easily.
"Think broader. There are better development paths."
Like the "Lion's Roar" technique from another world.
Within minutes, all eight were defeated—
and that was even with Longinus intentionally holding back.
"We lasted ten whole minutes this time!" Gregory said proudly through a bruised, swollen face.
"Hah… hah…" Algernon gasped.
"The boss's warm-up… is brutal as always…"
"My bones feel shattered… and now the real training begins… This is hell," Andre muttered lifelessly.
"Enjoy the short rest," Auston said grimly.
"The next nightmare is about to start."
Moments later, Longinus emerged from the sea and said casually,
"Into the water. I've already prepared the Sea Kings for you."
Everyone's faces stiffened instantly.
Fighting on the surface? No problem.
Diving into the deep?
That meant pressure, suffocation risk, water resistance—
death.
Still, no one complained.
One after another, they dove in—water exploding into violent waves.
Gregory and Algernon, both Devil Fruit users, remained on shore to follow Longinus for the next segment instead.
Thousands of meters above the sea—
the air was so thin it stung their lungs.
"W-We're really doing something this crazy!?" Algernon cried, face red from altitude and terror.
"There wasn't anything like this last time!"
In giant golden eagle form, Gregory could barely speak,
"Boss… seriously… calm down! I can't guarantee I can catch you two in time!"
"Only at the boundary between life and death can you awaken your true potential," Longinus said calmly.
"Are you ready?"
"…'You two'?" Gregory's voice cracked.
"Boss—don't do anything insane!"
Longinus gently tapped Gregory's body with a pair of Seastone cuffs.
The eagle jerked—and instantly reverted to human form.
All three began plummeting from the sky.
"AAAAAAH! HELP! Gregory, you idiot, TRANSFORM!"
"I CAN'T! The Seastone touched me—I can't use my powers at all!" Gregory screamed.
"About thirty seconds left. Gregory, push your limits."
Longinus's voice was steady, almost serene.
He wasn't actually risking their lives.
If things became truly dangerous, he could use Life Return to temporarily reshape his body into a gliding, parachute-like form, restrain both of them with his hair, and land safely—with nothing worse than minor injuries.
But he did not tell them that.
"AAAAAH! BOSS, I HATE YOU!!"
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