Phil's Iron Body shattered under Sakazuki's strike, sending the Colonel stumbling back. Clutching his stomach, cold sweat streaming down his face, Phil opened his mouth but could not form words. Gasps echoed from the gathered cadets, and Zephyr's gaze shifted to the unfolding scene.
Seeing Phil struggling, Zephyr said calmly, "Phil, you may step down."
"Hai… cough… cough!" Phil wheezed.
Zephyr then addressed Sakazuki, his tone measured, "Sakazuki, impressive. As a Logia-type Devil Fruit user, your physical combat skills are formidable. Next, I will personally…"
Before Zephyr could finish, Garp, standing nearby, interjected with a booming laugh, "Hahahaha, this is interesting. Zephyr, let me handle this!"
Zephyr considered briefly, then nodded, "Very well. Sakazuki, do you have any objections?"
Sakazuki, eager to measure his strength against a top-tier powerhouse, responded with a calm, "No problem." Adjusting his stance, he fixed his gaze on Garp.
Garp crossed his arms, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Come on, kid," he challenged.
Sakazuki immediately activated Red Lotus Mode. The ground trembled as he stomped, sending a volcanic shockwave erupting beneath him, propelling him three times faster than before.
"Magma Burst!" he roared, propelling his fist forward, condensed with molten Magma.
Garp, anticipating the move, raised his left arm, meeting Sakazuki's strike head-on. The collision was explosive.
Boom!
Impact waves radiated outward, molten Magma erupting and engulfing the surrounding area. Hurricanes formed from the energy, forcing nearby cadets to shield themselves from flying debris. Yet Garp remained unfazed, his grin unbroken.
"Again!" he shouted.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The arena became a blur of motion, afterimages flashing as the two exchanged strike after strike. Magma splattered across the training ground, forcing surrounding recruits to retreat, awed and terrified.
Only Sakazuki knew the toll this was taking. Maintaining Red Lotus Mode for extended combat rapidly drained stamina. While the technique amplified his power exponentially, it consumed his energy at an unsustainable rate. Continuing much longer could leave him incapacitated.
Intertwined in combat, Sakazuki deactivated Red Lotus Mode. His right hand remained magma-formed as he slammed it into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Garp paused, observing him carefully.
"A Devil Fruit ability, huh?" Garp muttered, sensing the latent energy.
Soru!
Bang!
Molten streams burst from the ground beneath Garp, erupting in every direction. Eighteen molten columns shot upward, surrounding the Marine hero.
Garp, anticipating a straightforward attack, smirked, Is that all?
"Meigo!" Sakazuki's figure condensed rapidly, molten energy compressing into a solid, massive fist. With a single, devastating strike, he sent Garp flying, engulfing him momentarily in scalding Magma.
"He's that strong?!" a cadet gasped.
"Sugoi!" another muttered, astonished.
The surrounding officers watched in awe. Zephyr, arms crossed, nodded approvingly. "Step-by-step, careful planning. Impressive," he remarked.
After his strike, Sakazuki deactivated his Magma state, standing calmly, waiting for Zephyr's response. Garp, unharmed and laughing heartily, emerged from the cooling Magma, brushing it off.
"That was invigorating, kid! When you graduate, come join my ship! Hahahaha!" Garp exclaimed.
Zephyr's expression darkened. "That's enough, Garp. Don't lead him astray," he admonished. Sakazuki, obedient, simply nodded.
"Yes, sir," he said.
The trials continued, each test further shaping Sakazuki's formidable reputation, cementing the fear and respect he commanded among both cadets and officers alike.
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