Trouble at the Training Ground

Whoosh!

On the elite camp's training ground, the sun blazed overhead, and waves of heat rolled through the air.

As the air shimmered, three figures appeared out of nowhere.

Zephyr had his back to the trainees, his hands on his hips as he scolded several soldiers for slacking off. Suddenly sensing a fluctuation, he whipped around.

Roy had appeared in the middle of the open ground with two others, the aftereffects of his teleportation rippling around their feet like waves on water.

Zephyr took off his sunglasses, raised an eyebrow, and bellowed, "You brat! Where have you been these past two days?!"

Roy gave a wry smile and scratched the back of his neck helplessly. "I couldn't help it, Instructor. Old Garp dumped two brats on me and ran off to enjoy himself. I'm practically a kindergarten principal now!"

Zephyr froze, then burst out laughing. His laughter shook the training ground, and the trainees all turned to look.

When he stopped laughing, his gaze shifted to the gallant figure behind Roy.

She was a woman in a Marine ensign's uniform, with short pink hair and determined features. She stood straight, her military posture impeccable.

"And who is this?"

Roy immediately turned and pointed to her. "Instructor, this is Bellemere. She's from the East Blue."

"She's only just been introduced to the concept of Haki, but she managed to get a feel for it on her very first try."

"Hm?"

Zephyr raised an eyebrow and pushed his sunglasses up slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over Bellemere from head to toe.

"From the East Blue? You'd never encountered Haki before, yet you gained some insight on your first attempt at training?"

Bellemere immediately stood at attention, her voice crisp and firm. "Instructor Zephyr!"

Her eyes showed no sign of backing down, as if flames burned within them. Even her breathing carried a sense of determination.

Zephyr watched her for a moment, a flash of appreciation in his eyes. Then he waved a large hand. "Starting today, train with the recruits! The Marines need more people like you!"

"Yes, sir!"

Just then, a young but stubborn voice cut in. "Mr. Zephyr, I want to do it too!"

Ace suddenly jumped out from behind Roy, his eyes shining and both hands clenched into fists. "I want to train too!"

Zephyr looked down at the six-year-old brat, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He sneered. "Kid, the training here isn't child's play."

Ace raised his head, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "I'm not afraid! Roy said I'm really talented!"

Zephyr raised an eyebrow and turned to Roy, who spread his hands with a wry smile. "He does learn very quickly."

"Hmph, stubborn little brat."

Zephyr snorted and suddenly reached out, placing his large hand on top of Ace's head.

Hummm!

An invisible pressure bore down on him like a mountain!

Ace felt his whole body stiffen, his limbs as heavy as lead and his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Sweat dripped down like rain, but he bit his lip hard, struggling to keep his knees from buckling.

"Wh-what is this..."

Ace trembled all over, veins bulging at his temples, but he stubbornly held on.

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then he sneered and withdrew the pressure. "Not bad, kid. You actually held out."

Ace gasped for breath, his face flushed red, but he glared fiercely at Zephyr. "I-I told you I could do it!"

Looking into those stubborn eyes, Zephyr suddenly laughed, his voice booming like thunder. "Fine! You can train too, but if you can't take it, get out!"

Ace gritted his teeth and broke into a huge grin. "I definitely won't lose!"

The elite camp's recruits had already lined up, every one of them watching the two newcomers with keen interest.

"A female Marine from the East Blue? Can she handle it?"

"Whose kid is that? He's only five or six, right? Can he really train with us?"

Murmurs rose one after another.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Zephyr's shout rang out like thunder, and every recruit fell silent at once.

"Today's lesson—Armament Haki Hardening!"

He raised his hand and curled his five fingers slightly. His fist was instantly enveloped in pitch-black Armament Haki, making it look like obsidian.

The next second, he slammed his fist into the iron post beside him—

Boom!

His fist punched straight through the steel post, sending iron fragments flying and making the ground tremble.

Bellemere's pupils contracted sharply, and her whole body stiffened. "So this is... 'Black Arm'..."

Zephyr shook out his arm, his tone calm. "The essence of Armament Haki lies in 'flow.' Hardening is only the first step."

His gaze locked onto Bellemere, sharp as a hawk's. "You, come up and try!"

Bellemere took a deep breath and met Zephyr's gaze without flinching. Then she stepped out of the crowd and walked up to the iron training post.

She lowered her shoulders, planted her feet firmly, and slowly raised her right arm.

A faint gray shadow spread over the skin of her arm, barely visible—it was her still-unformed Armament Haki.

"Hah!"

With a low shout, she drove her fist down!

Bang!

The iron post gave a dull thud. Its surface trembled only slightly, and a faint, barely visible mark appeared.

She slammed her fist down, and the iron post gave a dull thud. Its surface dented slightly, leaving a shallow fist mark.

The recruits at the side whispered among themselves, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. It seemed far from the "Haki strike" they had expected.

Bellemere frowned and clenched her teeth. There wasn't a trace of dejection on her face; instead, it showed fierce unwillingness and fighting spirit.

Zephyr slowly stepped forward and looked at her in silence. His gaze was still sharp as a blade, but there wasn't a hint of mockery in his voice.

He reached out and held her arm. "You're forcing it too hard," he said in a deep voice.

"Haki isn't a suit of iron armor. Gritting your teeth won't help."

His palm slid gently from Bellemere's wrist to her elbow, as if tracing the path of something flowing. "Feel it. It isn't steel being forced inside you. It follows your blood and your will, naturally flowing into your bones and muscles—the power of flow."

Bellemere pressed her lips together and closed her eyes, letting Zephyr's voice echo in her mind.

She tried to relax.

She tried not to force it.

She tried to let that vague power truly rise from the depths of her heart and extend out through her blood vessels and fingertips—

A moment later, her arm still hadn't turned completely black, but the faint gray shadow was no longer broken.

"Whew..."

She opened her eyes abruptly and raised her fist again.

"Hah!"

Her fist came down with a rush of wind.

Bang!

The iron post shook more noticeably than before. Although it still didn't dent, the resulting shockwave stirred the dust on the ground.

She shook out her fist and breathed out, a light sweat on her forehead. Then she grinned. "Still not enough, but—I'm starting to get the hang of it."

Zephyr didn't answer, but the look he gave her grew a little more meaningful.

He turned around and said mildly, "That fierce refusal to give up... not bad."

The recruits standing nearby hadn't heard him clearly, but they saw it—the corner of Zephyr's mouth had lifted slightly.

To these newcomers, that was practically a legendary "special commendation."

Bellemere watched Zephyr's retreating back, her fist tightening and her eyes burning.

Elsewhere, Ace had been assigned to the lightest iron post. He looked up at it and muttered resentfully, "You're underestimating me!"

"You little brat, don't push yourself. Learn to control your strength first."

Zephyr casually tossed him a pair of gloves and said coldly, "Don't go ruining your hands."

Ace reluctantly put them on, then copied Bellemere, clenching his fists hard and closing his eyes as he imagined the "flow of power."

Bang!

"Ow!"

The iron post didn't budge, but Ace's hand swelled up, making him grimace in pain.

Roy crouched down helplessly and gently held Ace's wrist. "Haki doesn't rely on brute force. Feel my arm."

As he spoke, he covered his right arm in Armament Haki and held it out in front of Ace.

"Here, can you feel it? This isn't brute force. It's the power of density and flow."

Ace froze, his fingertips pressed against the arm that felt like steel yet was supple. His eyes suddenly lit up. "I-I get it!"

He threw another punch, and this time, a faint black ripple appeared around his fist.

Clang!

The iron post trembled slightly and even gave a faint hum.

Zephyr glanced over from a distance, the corner of his mouth lifting. "...He really does have some talent."

The recruits nearby were even more stunned. "That little brat actually... he can use hardening too?"

"Comparisons really can drive you mad!!!"

While training was in full swing, a sudden commotion came from the edge of the field.

"Waaah! Ace! I want to play too!"

Luffy had somehow sneaked in. He was gripping an iron post with both hands, his feet off the ground as he swung back and forth like he was on a swing, his face full of excitement.

Roy's face darkened. "How did this little menace follow us here..."

A vein bulged at Zephyr's temple, and his eyes widened. "That bastard Garp's genes really are a menace!"

The next second, his gaze sharpened, and he roared, "Everyone, listen up! Extra training today—catch the monkey! Whoever catches that brat gets out of running ten laps!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

The recruits instantly swarmed forward like hunting dogs.

Luffy yelped in fright as he darted between the iron posts. "Help! Ace!!!"

Ace covered his face. "Idiot..."

Bellemere watched the scene, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "This training camp... sure is lively."

Roy looked at the chaos before him and couldn't help smiling too. Marines like this might not be so bad either...