"Have you all skipped meals? You're moving like a bunch of turtles. Run!"
Under the scorching sun, on the rugged mountain road behind Marineford, over a hundred young students ran, each wearing the same uniform and carrying refined iron blocks larger than their own bodies. Sweat streamed down their faces.
Even from a hundred meters away, the sound of their labored breathing was clear.
At the front, four monstrous figures led the pack. Akainu and Borsalino "Kizaru" were still in first place, followed closely by Aokiji and Ethan Hale.
Yet no one noticed that although the iron block on Ethan's back looked like everyone else's, only he and Zephyr knew its true weight.
In reality, the weight Ethan carried was double that of the others. They had no idea that Ethan's entire body was drenched, as if submerged in water, leaving a wet trail on the road behind him.
"Today, if any of you fail to finish this ten-kilometer run, no one eats. You cowards, you're worse than a bunch of girls." Zephyr's words dripped with disdain as he mocked the hundred students. Occasionally, he would tease the female students as well, though with far more leniency.
Hearing this, the exhausted boys flushed crimson with embarrassment and surged forward with renewed determination. Zephyr's words had wounded their pride.
By noon, nearly all the students had completed the task, except for a few who couldn't keep up. Zephyr immediately expelled those who failed.
It was clear that turnover in this academy was high. Those who failed could only develop their skills in branch facilities in the future.
In the afternoon, all students gathered on the training field, ready to learn humanity's most advanced physical techniques: the Six Powers.
Excitement buzzed through the field as each student hoped to master these elite skills.
"I believe you all know what I'm about to teach you," Zephyr said, noticing their barely contained excitement. "Indeed, with your current physical strength, even the Navy's Six Powers are difficult to master."
"But let me make one thing clear. Do not overestimate yourselves. Those without sufficient strength should not train, or you will bear the consequences."
"If you are lazy in your daily practice, you have no one to blame but yourself." Zephyr's gaze was sharp as a blade. Most students lowered their heads instinctively, except for a few overly confident ones.
"The Six Powers are: Finger Gun, Iron Body, Razor, Moon Step, Storm Kick, and Paper Art."
"Razor allows you to stomp repeatedly in an instant, using the reaction force to generate explosive speed. Once mastered, it is imperceptible to the naked eye."
"Storm Kick uses ultra-high-speed kicks to create a vacuum, slicing through opponents…"
From the high platform, Zephyr carefully explained each technique and even demonstrated them. Unbeknownst to the students, his Storm Kick had carved nearly a hundred meters of cracks into the ground.
Dust and debris filled the air. Ethan and the others froze at first, then excitement surged.
Razor's speed, Moon Step's aerial freedom, and the overwhelming offense and defense of Storm Kick and Iron Body were abilities every student dreamed of.
"I warn you again. If your physical strength is insufficient, do not attempt these techniques. If you are confident, choose one to begin training first," Zephyr said, ensuring they understood. "This afternoon, no practice will take place so you have time to absorb this information."
As Zephyr departed, the entire training field buzzed with excitement.
Under a nearby tree, Ethan Hale sat cross-legged, carefully reviewing Zephyr's teachings. Though familiar with much of it, as the saying goes, revisiting old knowledge as if new was never a bad idea.
"Yes,"
"Which techniques do you plan to learn?" A lazy voice sounded. Aokiji lay beside Ethan, sprawled out like a carefree animal.
Before Ethan could respond, Aokiji added, "Knowing your personality, you probably want to learn all of them."
"I don't have that kind of energy," Ethan said coldly, closing his eyes.
"Eh!" Aokiji shot upright, surprised. "That's not like your usual crazy self."
"Do I seem unbearable to you? Crazy? Are you complimenting me or insulting me?" Ethan opened his eyes, his deep, bright gaze calm as he stared at Aokiji's mischievous face.
Aokiji yawned and smirked. He was used to Ethan's indifference. In Ethan's world, nothing mattered except training. Had it been anyone else, Ethan would have ignored them entirely.
That realization gave Aokiji some comfort.
To confirm Aokiji's observation, a slender young woman swayed gracefully toward Ethan.
"Ethan, may I sit here?" Momotaro, dressed in long pants, asked softly.
Ethan glanced coldly at her unnaturally perfect appearance and figure, expressionless. He immediately turned his gaze away, closing his eyes to continue refining his Devil Fruit powers.
Momotaro's anger flared. Ignoring her beauty aside, Ethan should not have treated her coldly because of her status. She knew her sister Tsuru had cared for Ethan; he should not have shown such indifference to the sister of his benefactor.
Her face flushed crimson.
"All right, all right. That's just Ethan's nature. Sit if you want, Momotaro," Aokiji said with a helpless smile.
"Hmph," Momotaro snorted and turned to leave.
At that moment, a piercing sound cut through the air. A spear sliced through the wind, aimed straight at Ethan's heart.
"Whoosh." Ethan opened his eyes, raised his right hand, and caught the spear in an instant. The ground cracked beneath his feet with a boom.
Clenching the trembling weapon, he stood, his gaze fixed on Tokiju, who sat next to Akainu in the distance.
"How dare you treat Momotaro like that? Death would be cheaper than your fate." Tokiju had no idea he had misspoken. He looked at Momotaro proudly, unaware of the danger he'd provoked.
Ethan casually tossed the weapon aside, glancing coldly at Momotaro, then silently walked away.
He knew he had been dragged into this mess, but he didn't care. To Ethan, Momotaro and Tokiju were no more than weeds by the roadside; humans and weeds belonged to different worlds.
Furthermore, Ethan suspected Tokiju's actions were connected to Akainu nearby. Ethan wasn't losing his temper—he simply did not want to waste time on trivial matters. Training was his priority.
Momotaro felt a strange unease from Ethan's emotionless gaze, fueling her anger further.
Tokiju, seeing Ethan's lack of reaction, became reckless. Seizing another weapon, he hurled it toward Ethan's back.
Whoosh The air split with a sharp slicing sound, like fleeting steel, as the ground seemed to peel away.
"Boom." Ethan turned, catching the projectile single-handedly. Yet his normally calm eyes now burned with limitless fury.
Ethan's expression hardened, and he glared at Tokiju. "I don't seek trouble, but I'm not afraid of it either. Make sure there isn't a third time, or face the consequences."
Everyone witnessed a side of Ethan they had never seen before. Their instincts screamed that the usually icy Ethan could be ferocious.
"He's terrifying. He's this scary when angry?" Aokiji shivered. Being closest to Ethan, he sensed that Ethan could tear anyone apart in an instant.
Tokiju froze, intimidated by Ethan's aura. By the time he recovered, Ethan had already turned and left, leaving the other students staring in awe.
Humiliated, Tokiju's anger flared. He grabbed another weapon, preparing to strike again.