Time passed as quickly as sand slipping through fingers. Spring went and autumn came. The old trees around the training camp added another ring to their growth.
[A year, a ring is added to tree.]
At this moment, in a clearing on the back mountain of Marineford.
Clang!!
The sound of metal clashing rang out. A purple and a black sword crossed together. Sparks from the point where they pressed against each other due to minor friction.
"Hah!"
Kyle let out a sharp shout. The veins on his arm suddenly bulged as he unleashed immense strength. The force traveled through his blade onto Hawk-Eye's sword, sending him flying back.
He immediately sheathed his sword and slightly crouched his legs.
"Startling Thunder!!"
Purple Lightning left its sheath. Kyle's figure transformed into a streak of violet lightning, instantly vanishing from his original spot.
Only a tremor was heard in the empty air.
Their figures passed by each other. They stood back to back, each maintaining their sword-slashing posture.
One breath later.
Rip!!
Two sounds of fabric tearing rang out almost simultaneously. A tear opened on the side of the clothes of both Hawk-Eye and Kyle.
"This move of yours is much more powerful than when I first fought you!"
Hawk-Eye sheathed his sword, turned around, and said calmly while looking at Kyle.
He paused, then continued speaking.
"It's hard to imagine that your swordsmanship level could improve so dramatically in just one year!"
"Heaven rewards the diligent. I worked this hard. This is what I deserve!"
Kyle grinned and laughed.
He was three times as 'hardworking' as Zoro. It was only normal to have a bit of improvement!
It was now the year 1512 of the Sea Calendar. A year had passed since Kyle brought Sanji back.
This year wasn't much different from the previous one.
The system remained as quiet as ever, without any movement.
Daily life was also similar to before. Training, horsing around.
The slightly different thing was that they no longer had to think about what to eat every day. Zeff would cook for them.
Regarding meals, it was indeed much better than the previous year.
For Kyle, there was another somewhat different aspect. Every few days, Hawk-Eye would come to find him for a sword fight.
A year ago, after he brought Hawk-Eye back to Marine Headquarters and handed him over to Sengoku, Hawk-Eye was not sent to Impel Down. Instead, he became a Warlord of the Sea, about a year earlier than in the original story.
In the original story, Hawk-Eye probably became a Warlord this year, in Sea Calendar 1512.
During the period after Red-Haired Shanks lost his arm.
However, after becoming a Warlord of the Sea, Hawk-Eye did something that made Kyle feel incredibly baffling.
That was applying for a house at Marine Headquarters and moving in directly.
Regarding Hawk-Eye's decision, Sengoku naturally approved with both hands and feet. Hawk-Eye was a Warlord of the Sea. The Marines had no authority to question him.
In plain terms, they couldn't command him.
But the problem was, Sengoku didn't need to command Hawk-Eye. As long as Hawk-Eye lived at Marine Headquarters, it would be useful for the Marines. It could serve as a deterrent, projecting combat power to the outside world.
Just this point alone was enough.
Moreover, in principle, he indeed couldn't command Hawk-Eye. But if Marine Headquarters as ever attacked, Hawk-Eye was living here. Wouldn't he feel embarrassed not helping?
Anyway, Sengoku felt he would be embarrassed.
The reason Hawk-Eye lived at Marine Headquarters was also just one thing.
It was convenient for him to find Kyle anytime for a sword duel.
Although when Kyle captured him and brought him back, he very kindly invited him to take a thunder shower, they were all friends. He definitely wouldn't mind such a small thing.
Though, during their first spar at Marine Headquarters, he also very kindly invited Kyle to experience some "scraping" therapy.
For Kyle, Hawk-Eye frequently seeking him out for sword duels was also beneficial.
The swordsmanship training results he gained from Zoro's feedback could be better integrated and mastered during fights with Hawk-Eye.
Combining both, his swordsmanship level had skyrocketed like a rocket this past year. Now, he was only one step away from becoming a Great Swordsman, reaching the level Hawk-Eye was at a year ago.
That's right. During this year, while he was improving, Hawk-Eye was also getting stronger. A few months ago, Hawk-Eye had already become a Great Swordsman.
"I will come find you again in a week!"
Hawk-Eye suddenly spoke to Kyle.
"That might not work. I won't be at Marine Headquarters in a week!"
Kyle shook his head.
"Hmm? Where are you going?"
"The graduation assessment for this term's Marine Elite Training Camp is during this period."
"Teacher Zephyr will assign suitable missions for the trainees to complete based on their strength."
"Most of them are missions related to capturing pirates. The duration is two months."
"Afterwards, the Marines will confer corresponding military ranks based on their strength and performance during the assessment."
"This is a very important matter for every trainee about to graduate."
Speaking to this point, Kyle smiled.
"Our Dawnblade Squad has been at Headquarters this past year, training almost every day."
"Those guys have been feeling a bit restless for a while now."
"Taking this opportunity, I went to ask Teacher Zephyr for a mission, to give our Dawnblade Squad some practice."
"And also as our first battle to establish our fame."
"That group of monster cadets of yours?"
A trace of surprise appeared on Hawk-Eye's face.
Over the past year, he had come to find Kyle countless times. Through coming and going, he naturally got to know Luffy and the others.
Regarding them, Hawk-Eye had only one evaluation.
Geniuses.
Although their ages weren't very big, their strength surpassed that of many adult Marines.
Among them, he was somewhat interested in Roronoa Zoro.
Although he was still young now, he had great potential. Once grown up in the future, he should also become a decent opponent.
Of course, it was only somewhat interested.
After all, the current Zoro was still far too weak for him.
The person he was most interested in was standing right in front of him.
Luffy and the others were geniuses, but for Kyle, Hawk-Eye really didn't know what idiom to use to describe him.
He only found out later that when they first fought, Kyle was only seven years old.
No wonder he hadn't heard of Kyle's name back then.
Kyle was now only eight years old, but his appearance looked like a thirteen or fourteen-year-old youth. Who the heck could guess Kyle's age if they didn't know him beforehand?
After a moment of silence, Hawk-Eye spoke.
"Alright. Then I will wait for you to return from your mission before coming to find you."
After saying that, Hawk-Eye didn't hesitate at all. He directly turned and walked towards the direction down the mountain.
Watching Hawk-Eye's departing back, Kyle slowly turned around. He gazed into the distance, looking towards the boundless sea horizon.
His earlier statement about getting a mission from Zephyr wasn't entirely accurate.
To be precise, he had set his sights on a certain pirate. And then that pirate became their mission target.
"If we defeat that pirate, it will probably cause quite a stir in the world, right?"
"I'm somewhat looking forward to it."
As his voice fell, Kyle's figure suddenly transformed into violet lightning and disappeared from the spot.
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