Before long, the medics carefully lifted Gern onto a stretcher and carried him away.
The spectators gradually dispersed as well.
Soon, only Zephyr and Garp remained on Training Ground No. 1.
Only now did the two truly grasp the near-apocalyptic destruction caused by the battle.
What was once a flat, orderly training ground was now utterly unrecognizable.
The ground looked as if it had been gnawed apart by some colossal beast—
craters and fissures covered the surface, and in some areas the terrain itself appeared unnaturally twisted.
Residual vibration ripples still lingered in the air, as if even the atmosphere had been shattered and had yet to stabilize.
Most terrifying of all was the land around the central crater.
The space there bore glass-like fracture patterns, as if torn apart by an invisible force.
Every so often, faint crack-crack sounds echoed, as though reality itself were still breaking.
Several academy buildings in the distance were riddled with spiderweb cracks—some had even collapsed outright.
The outer wall of the training ground had long since been reduced to dust, leaving only a few crooked steel rebars jutting from the ground.
"Hey, hey, hey…"
Garp stood at the edge, eyes wide as he surveyed the devastation.
"This looks like a meteor strike!"
He squatted down and touched a crack that was still trembling.
"Hiss—!"
He pulled his hand back immediately.
"Even the ground's still vibrating."
Zephyr silently observed everything, his right hand unconsciously resting on his left arm.
Garp noticed and glanced over.
"Zephyr…?"
Zephyr forced a smile.
"The last hit—I didn't have time to coat it with Armament.
Didn't expect Heavenly Quake to be this terrifying."
Garp's expression sharpened.
If vibrations could injure 'Black Arm' Zephyr, the power spoke for itself.
But then—
Garp suddenly grinned and slapped Zephyr's shoulder.
"When Sengoku gets back and sees Training Ground No. 1 gone again,
he's gonna blow his top!
Didn't we just fix it less than three months ago?"
Zephyr snorted and glanced sideways at him.
"You were the one who suggested letting Gern go all out."
"Huh?!"
Garp stared innocently.
"I just said it casually! Who knew you would actually let him cut loose?!"
He muttered under his breath:
"You could've ended it with one punch anyway…"
Zephyr's lips curved slightly.
"When Sengoku asks—
we'll say you were responsible."
"HEY HEY HEY!"
Garp waved his hands and jumped back dramatically.
"No way! I don't want Sengoku nagging me again!
Last time, he chased me around for a whole week over repair costs!
I ended up training in a scrapyard!"
Zephyr chuckled softly and said nothing more, quietly massaging his still-aching arm.
Garp scratched his head, eyes lighting up.
"How about this—we say a meteor hit it?
Sengoku doesn't have proof anyway!"
"…You really think he'd believe that?"
Zephyr shot him a sideways look.
"HAHAHA! Who cares!"
Garp laughed loudly.
"It's not like he can summon the meteor for questioning!"
Zephyr shook his head helplessly—but inwardly relaxed.
At least Garp would absorb all of Sengoku's rage.
Still… jokes aside.
As both men calmed down and stared at the ruins again, the same emotion flickered in their eyes.
Shock.
"This level of destruction…"
Garp muttered.
"It's worse than Whitebeard's… no—
it might be even more dangerous."
Zephyr nodded slowly, sweat beading on his brow from the pain in his arm.
"The Quake Fruit is already dangerous—but that kid's is Logia.
And…"
He looked in the direction Gern had been carried.
"He's only had that fruit for one year.
Yet look at how many techniques he threw at me.
And that was with his sword banned."
Residual vibrations continued to ripple through the wreckage, faint cracking sounds echoing from time to time.
The two legendary Marines exchanged a glance.
They saw the same thing in each other's eyes.
Meanwhile — Fleet Admiral's Office
Steelbone Kong sat with his hands clasped beneath his chin, eyes fixed on the battle report and photographs of the shattered training ground.
His brow furrowed deeper and deeper—
Then he slammed the desk.
"So this kid… is really a Logia?"
His voice carried disbelief.
Though Gern had clashed with Whitebeard before, Kong hadn't seen it personally—and he'd remained skeptical.
Especially since his attention had been on the three monsters graduating from the Marine Academy.
But now—
This test bout between Zephyr and Gern finally forced Kong to take Gern seriously.
"This destruction…"
"It's like Whitebeard's Quake Fruit fused with Logia traits."
The messenger wiped sweat from his brow.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral.
Vice Admiral Zephyr has confirmed—
Ensign Gern's ability is indeed Logia: Heavenly Quake Fruit.
And…"
He hesitated, pointing at a photo showing fractured space.
"According to the science division,
the residual vibrations from his fruit can persist briefly after activation."
Kong inhaled deeply, eyes falling on Zephyr's handwritten evaluation—submitted for the fourth time.
'Potential far exceeds expectations. Strongly recommend focused cultivation.'
"Heh."
Kong shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Zephyr's eye for talent is as sharp as ever."
"First Kuzan, Sakazuki, Borsalino…
and now Gern."
"Four powerful Logia users."
"The Marines really struck gold."
After a pause, Kong asked:
"Where's Sengoku?"
"Admiral Sengoku is expected to return tomorrow."
"Good."
Kong smiled meaningfully.
"When he does—
take him straight to the newly renovated Training Ground No. 1."
"…And say it was Garp's fault."