The Marine Training Fleet

The New World, a certain archipelago in the sea.

The sea breeze whistled across the deck.

The training ship's sails billowed high, and the ropes snapped loudly as they were pulled.

Listen up, all of you!

Zephyr stood at the front of the line with his hands behind his back.

"Today isn't about hitting wooden stakes in the training ground!"

"If you really encounter pirates, no one will wait for you to get into position before they attack!"

"Anyone who dares to lose focus should prepare to be stabbed!"

Ain and Binz stood at the front of the line, their backs ramrod straight.

The other trainees also gripped their guns tightly, even their breathing became shallower.

Only Enel leaned against the mast, lazily yawning.

Enel!

"Exist!"

He immediately stood up straight.

"No competing with students for opponents today!"

"Huh? Those small fry with bounties worth tens of millions? I can wipe them out with a single blow!"

That's why I won't let you move!

Zephyr glared at him.

"You're here to provide support, not to show off!"

Enel pursed his lips and put the Golden Staff back behind him.

Not long after, the lookout tower's alarm suddenly pierced the sea.

"Merchant ships ahead are under attack!"

"The Wild Boar Pirates! Their captain has a bounty of 72 million Beli!"

On the deck of the merchant ship ahead, a dozen pirates were chasing after the scattered crew members.

Zephyr raised his hand and ordered, "Ain, lead the first team to board the ship and engage the enemy!"

"Binz is in charge of the flanks, the rest of you rescue the passengers first!"

"Yes!"

The training ship quickly moved closer.

As soon as the springboard was set up, the pirates on the other side burst into laughter.

"Haha! A bunch of barely-grown-up Marines dare to meddle in my business!"

A Recruit rushed onto the merchant ship first.

But as soon as he raised the gun, his hand began to tremble.

Bang!

The bullet went somewhere unknown.

Is that all you've got?

The pirate grinned maliciously as he charged forward and kicked him to the ground.

"Don't panic! Stand back-to-back in pairs!"

Ain swung her sword to deflect the scimitar aimed at her companion, her voice clear and bright. "Binz, block the starboard side! Don't let them rush into the cabin!"

"Leave it to me!"

Binz scattered a handful of seeds, swung his arms, and jumped up.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a large patch of vines sprouted from the cracks in the wooden planks!

"What is that?!"

Before the pirates could react, their legs were tightly bound.

Thump! Thump!

Several people fell one after another, without even touching the cabin door.

On the other side, the captain of the Wild Boar Pirates swung his greatsword, directly cleaving away a Marine's rifle.

"Go to hell!"

He swung his knife, ready to strike.

"Get out of the way!"

Ain rushed over, her left hand glowing with a peach-colored light.

She dodged the blade to the side and struck the other person's shoulder with her palm.

A flash of pink light!

The stubble on the man's face disappeared quickly, and his rough face looked more than ten years younger.

"W-what?!"

He touched his face.

"How did I become younger?!"

Taking advantage of his momentary daze, Ain slashed at his sword-wielding arm.

"Ah!"

The broadsword clattered to the ground.

She followed up with a kick to the chest, knocking the man to the ground.

Beside the mast at the bow, Enel's Mantra had already been laid out.

A pirate hid behind a cargo crate and quietly raised his gun, aiming it at Ain's back.

Just as Enel's fingertips crackled with electricity, Binz roared, "Ain! Behind you!"

Ain immediately sidestepped and deflected the Fire Pistol with a backhand, while another Marine rushed forward and slashed him down with a single blow.

Enel quietly dissipated the arc of electricity from his fingertips and clicked his tongue.

"You reacted fairly quickly."

The battle lasted for more than half an hour before it came to an end.

The entire pirate crew was either subdued or killed, and the passengers on the merchant ship were all unharmed, although a few Recruits were injured.

Zephyr didn't scold the wounded. Instead, he called everyone to the deck and lined them up, addressing their problems one by one.

"Why did you close your eyes during the first shot? On the battlefield, closing your eyes is suicide!"

"And you! You boarded the ship with your eyes fixed on the front, and no one even noticed you were sneaking up on from behind. You wouldn't even know how you died!"

He turned to Ain: "The timing is good, but don't just focus on chasing the pirate leader; keep an eye on your comrades on the flanks."

"Binz, it's good that the vines are growing fast, but be careful to control their range, lest they get entangled with your own people."

The two agreed in unison.

"Remember! If you can handle an enemy yourself, then handle it yourself!"

Zephyr glanced at everyone.

"When it really comes down to life and death, Enel and I will naturally step in!"

After the war, the ship gradually returned to calm.

Enel!

He was about to return to his cabin when he stopped abruptly. "What's wrong, teacher?"

"There are two wounded soldiers over there. Help carry them to the infirmary."

"Huh?! I'm Rear Admiral General!"

Zephyr clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.

"Does Rear Admiral not have arms?"

"I was just about to go over there!"

Enel transformed into a bolt of lightning and landed beside the wounded.

"Hey! Can you still move?"

He crouched down and carefully supported the wounded man's shoulders and back.

"Don't move! I'm taking you to the infirmary!"

Ain chuckled, "Rear Admiral Enel, you're actually a very nice person."

"Stop talking nonsense! I'm just annoyed that you're moving things too slowly!"

After settling the wounded in, he turned back before leaving, grabbed the Ship's Doctor, and asked in a low voice, "Are those two kids alright?"

"They're just superficial injuries; they'll heal in a few days."

"Oh."

Enel responded, turned and went out, his steps becoming much lighter.

In the following days, the training ship encountered two more groups of pirates.

This time, Ain didn't focus solely on attacking the enemy captain.

She rushed to wherever Recruits were struggling.

Binz learned his lesson.

Before using the vines, they would first confirm the location of their own men, lest they trip up their comrades instead of binding them.

Enel will only intervene if someone is truly unable to dodge a fatal attack.

Sizzle!

A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and the pirate who had launched the sneak attack screamed as he dropped his Fire Pistol.

"Thank you, Rear Admiral!"

"What are you thanking me for?"

Enel slung the Golden Staff over his shoulder.

"If you get ambushed by this kind of trash again, I won't be saving you!"

After dinner, Enel was practicing his Mantra on the deck when he suddenly heard a suppressed cough coming from behind the cabin door.

"Cough! Cough cough..."

Zephyr leaned against the doorframe, panting for a while, before finally pulling out a medicine bottle, pouring out a pill, and swallowing it.

"Teacher?"

Enel walked over, frowning. "What's wrong with your breathing?"

"Asthma, it's an old problem."

Zephyr caught his breath and waved his hand, "Don't shout, don't let those brats hear."

"Your Haki is so strong, yet you can't even cure this?"

"You brat, is Haki a cure-all?"

Zephyr chuckled and cursed, "That old man Newgate needs IV drips every day, what's a couple of coughs from me!"

You're sixty-five, aren't you?

"What's wrong with being sixty-five?"

Zephyr raised his fist. "I can still beat you up for decades!"

"Garp is older than me, and he's still traveling all over the world!"

"Okay, okay!"

Enel took a half step back.

"Pretend I didn't ask!"

He was about to leave when he stopped.

"Teacher, is there enough medicine?"

"Enough, less to worry about."

"Who cares about you!"

Enel muttered something to himself before turning and leaving.

As the night deepened, Zephyr sat alone at the stern of the boat, holding a cup of hot tea and gazing at the sea.

Enel was passing by when he was stopped by him. "Come sit down for a while."

"Are you going to give me extra practice again?"

"I'm just bored, why would I drag you into practicing your boxing in the middle of the night?"

Enel then sat down next to him.

The sea breeze made the boat ropes sway gently, and the only sound in the distance was the sound of the waves.

Zephyr gazed at the dark sea and suddenly laughed, "Back when Ron was training with me, he wasn't nearly as big as he is now."

"They wouldn't utter a sound even after being hit, but would just brood over how to retaliate next time."

"Hahaha! That monster's the same now, its fists come out of the door, who can defend against that?"

"If you can't defend, keep practicing. Nobody's born invincible."

The two laughed a few times.

Binz's snoring could be heard from inside the cabin, followed by Ain shouting "Quiet down" through the wooden planks, and then silence fell again.

Zephyr glanced towards the cabin, his tone softening slightly. "It's good to see them improve day by day."

"You taught me quite harshly."

"It's better to take a punch from me now than to get slashed by a pirate later."

Enel glanced at the cabin.

"You really treat these kids like your own children?"

Zephyr paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup still.

"My child..."

"I did have one before."

"Ah?"

Enel turned his head.

You have a son?

"Yes. And my wife."

Zephyr took a sip of tea.

"Back then, I was out catching pirates all the time, and I could only come home a few times a year."

What happened next?

"Then one time when I came back, he was gone."

Enel's smile froze.

"Made by pirates?"

"Um."

"Where are those guys?"

"Gotcha."

Zephyr put down his teacup.

"Even though they caught him, he's not coming back."

Enel opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

After a while, he asked in a low voice:

"So that's why you've been taking these students with you all this time?"

"I know how to teach, and they're willing to learn—it's that simple."

Zephyr gestured towards the cabin with his lip.

"They will all be going to the battlefield in the future."

"If I can teach them even a few more skills, then my efforts won't have been in vain."

Enel looked down at the Golden Staff in his hand.

"... knew."

Zephyr suddenly smiled.

Why are you being so well-behaved today?

"Who's being honest!"

Enel immediately looked up.

"I'm just too lazy to argue with you!"

"Ha ha!"

Zephyr patted him on the shoulder, his tone serious. "You're Rear Admiral now."

"When leading troops in the future, don't just focus on whether you win or lose; remember to bring your men back."

Enel was silent for a few seconds, then softly hummed in agreement.

A few days later, the training ship defeated another group of roaming pirates.

Zephyr looked at the students, who were exhausted and staggering, yet still huddled together competing to see who could catch the most people, and finally waved his hand.

"There's a deserted island ahead. Let's dock, replenish our water supplies, and rest for a day!"

"Very good!"

Zephyr first sent people to inspect the coastline and the nearby woods.

Only after confirming that there were no abnormalities were the students allowed to disembark.

Ain and Binz exchanged a glance and ran over.

"Teacher, can we have a party on the beach tonight?"

"Banquet?"

"Just grilled fish! It won't take long!"

Binz quickly added, "Didn't you say that training should be balanced with rest?"

When did I say that?

Last week.

Ain was very serious.

Zephyr choked for a moment, looked at the group of Recruits staring at him expectantly, and finally waved his hand.

"Alright! Tonight it's on! Training will continue as usual tomorrow. Anyone who slacks off will have to train twice as hard!"

"Yes!!"

In the evening, several bonfires were lit on the beach.

"Come on! The grilled fish is ready!"

Ain carried the plate and first distributed a portion to several of the wounded.

Meanwhile, Binz wasn't idle either.

As he danced, several vines coiled up firewood, carrying it one piece at a time to the fire.

"Haha! Binz, one more!"

Several Recruits clapped their hands in amazement.

"Do you think I'm performing acrobatics?!"

Zephyr sat on a wooden chair, sipping hot tea, watching the boys argue heatedly over the last piece of roast meat, and chuckled, muttering, "Utterly pathetic."

Enel, clutching his Golden Staff, sat far away from the fire.

"Hahaha! I'm not going to mess around with you kids!"

"Rear Admiral Enel!"

Binz suddenly called out to him.

"Let's get Thunderbird!"

"Yeah, yeah! We haven't seen it up close yet!"

"Could it fly around the campfire? That would be amazing!"

Enel raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat.

"Since you're begging me so sincerely..."

He raised the Golden Staff, and several tiny strands of lightning intertwined at the tip, quickly coalescing into a Thunderbird with flapping wings.

A flash of lightning, Thunderbird flew over the top of the campfire, circled the crowd, and then traced a bright arc across the sea.

"Wow!!"

"One more! One more!"

"Hey ha ha! Watch them all carefully, you big man!"

Zephyr smiled and shook his head, bringing the teacup to his lips, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

Halfway through the banquet, Enel, who was munching on grilled fish, habitually scanned the entire island with his Mantra.

The next second.

"Um?"

He suddenly stopped chewing.

From the coastline on the other side of the island, a powerful aura suddenly entered his senses.

And it's rapidly approaching!

"This guy..."

Enel dropped the grilled fish and grabbed the Golden Staff.

Sizzle!

Sparks flew.

"Teacher!"

Zephyr turned his head.

"What's wrong?"

"A big guy is coming."

Enel stared in the direction of the dense forest.

"He seems to have some skill."

Zephyr suddenly stood up.

"All personnel assemble! Wounded personnel evacuate to the warship!"

"Yes!"

The Recruits dropped the grilled fish and grabbed their weapons.

Ain drew his longsword, and Binz clutched the seed in his hand.

Zephyr walked to the front of the group.

Buzz!

His arms were instantly covered in Armament Haki.

Click!

A loud bang suddenly came from the dense forest!

A large tree crashed down.

The next second.

Bang!

A massive, dark shadow, several meters tall, crashed through the bushes and hurtled straight onto the beach!