The Internship Ends
Weevil's remains were scattered in the deep pit, a bloody mess, his Naginata broken.
The Scorched Earth churned all around, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.
This punch has already ended the life of a monster known as the "Son of Whitebeard".
Buckin stood frozen in place, his hunched body trembling violently. His shattered sunglasses lay at his feet, revealing his bloodshot, unfocused old eyes.
"Weevil... is dead?" she murmured, then her face contorted in shock!
"Whitebeard's fortune... my plans... all ruined!!"
"Ahhh--!"
She let out a hysterical scream and pulled a black Smoke Bomb from her tattered Leopard-Print Coat!
"Bang!!"
Thick smoke exploded, instantly engulfing the entire Battlefield! The smoke carried a pungent, suffocating smell of medicinal powder.
"Alert!!" Zoro roared, immediately forming a defensive formation back-to-back with Ain and Binz.
"The old woman wouldn't have escaped like that." Ain's eyes sharpened, the tip of her knife pointing into the depths of the smoke.
"She's trying to ambush us!" Binz whispered, Vines wriggling around him, trying to detect any signs of an enemy.
Amidst the smoke, Buckin's figure did not escape; instead, she had descended into madness!
She held a strange pistol in her hand, its barrel wrapped in dark red, metallic tendril-like patterns, and its muzzle glowing with an eerie purple light.
"Weevil is dead... and you won't get away with this either!!"
"Die, you little navy brat!!"
She aimed the gun at the unconscious Luffy and pulled the trigger!
"Bang!!"
The bullet tore through the smoke, its purple light flashing like a ghost as it instantly approached the target, slicing through the air and aiming straight for Luffy's heart!
"Luffy!!" Ace's eyes widened in horror, but he was too exhausted to move!
"Damn it!! Stop it!!" Zephyr roared from afar, his furious cry seemingly tearing through the sky, as he charged toward them at breakneck speed!
It seemed like no one had time to react!
Just moments before the bullet was about to Luffy's heart--
"Whoosh!"
The air seemed to freeze; the purple bullet hovered eerily in mid-air before vanishing without a sound!
"Wh... what?!" Buckin's pupils contracted sharply, and her fingers trembled slightly.
"Bang!!"
The next instant, the bizarre bullet appeared in front of Buckin in reverse, piercing through her skull with a bang!
Blood and brain matter exploded in the air, her body swayed stiffly, and she fell backward, dying without understanding what had happened!
"Thump--"
Sunglasses shattered, and bright red lipstick twisted like a demon's curse, frozen on his lifeless face.
This woman, who had plotted countless schemes to steal "Whitebeard's fortune," ultimately died from a bullet she fired herself.
"ROOM!" A blue light flashed.
Law appeared in the smoke, Scalpel spinning at his fingertips. He was already beside Luffy, his eyes calm as ice.
"Surgery and Emergency Treatment"
A warm blue light emanated from his palm, precisely covering Luffy's chest and abdomen. The broken bones were quickly reset under his control, and the bleeding points were swiftly sealed.
On the other side, a dark figure Teleportation in.
"Well done, Ace!"
Roy patted Ace on the shoulder, his tone calm but full of approval.
Ace looked up at him with difficulty, and his tense nerves finally relaxed, as exhaustion and pain surged over him like a flood.
"Roy... I... I protected him..."
He smiled with relief, then collapsed heavily. A strong arm gently caught him, and Ace fell unconscious.
Zephyr's tense nerves finally relaxed the moment he saw Roy appear. He quickly walked to Ace and Luffy's side and carefully examined their injuries.
A heavy hand landed on Ace's shoulder, pressing gently, then reached out to Luffy's chest, feeling Luffy's weak but steady breathing. His tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
"These two brats... they're such a handful." He muttered under his breath, his tone revealing undisguised concern.
He then stood up, slowly raised his head, and fixed his sharp, hawk-like gaze on the calm young man standing to the side.
"You brat," Zephyr snorted, "You've actually been here all along, haven't you?"
Roy, his thoughts exposed, smiled slightly, revealing a familiar smile, "Teacher, you understand me best."
There was no explanation in this statement, only tacit understanding.
After the battle ended, Zoro, Ain, Binz walked over, their faces still showing the excitement and exhaustion of the fight.
They expected Zephyr to severely reprimand them for disobeying orders and leaving the group without permission, but they were surprised to find that...
Zephyr looked at them, raised an eyebrow, and surprisingly revealed a rare smile.
"You three did a great job!"
The three of them were taken aback for a moment, then their eyes lit up instantly.
"I've got it!"
Zephyr stood ramrod straight, his voice deep and powerful, "No order, however weighty, is more important than the lives of our comrades! Rules are rules, but people are flexible!"
These words resonated deeply with every young person.
Zoro grinned and gripped the hilt of his sword tightly;
An unprecedented determination flashed in Ain's eyes;
Binz scratched his head and gave a rare, shy smile.
Roy stood to the side, nodded slightly, and said softly, "This is the real navy..."
Luo knelt beside the unconscious Ace, a warm blue light emanating from his palm as he slowly slid it across Ace's chest and abdomen. "Exhausted, muscle strain, but it's nothing serious. A few days of rest will allow you to recover."
He glanced at Luffy again and added, "Luffy's injuries have stabilized, but his ribs need a few days of rest. As long as he doesn't move around too much, he'll recover quickly."
Roy gently patted Zephyr's shoulder, his tone softening, "Don't worry, teacher, they're both fine."
"What if something really happens to them..."
A complex emotion flashed across Zephyr's eyes, and his voice was low, "I really don't know how to explain this to Garp..."
He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and looked around at the ravaged jungle.
"We should go back..."
"Hmm." Roy nodded and waved his hand lightly.
"Whoosh--"
The space distorted slightly, the air trembled as if it were being torn apart, and a soft wave of light swept over everyone.
In the next instant, they had moved from the Scorched Earth jungle to the beach position.
On the beach, the trainees waited nervously, still terrified by the aftershocks of the earth-shattering battle.
"Teacher Zephyr!!"
"They're back--!"
"Ace! Luffy! They're all alright!!"
The trainees surged forward instantly, their excited shouts almost shaking the entire beach.
"That's great... I thought..."
"That tremor just now... it was terrifying..."
"Even Vice Admiral Roy has arrived; it's completely safe now!"
Looking at the group of energetic children with clear eyes, Zephyr's lips curled up slightly, and a long-lost warmth welled up in his heart.
He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and his voice boomed like a bell. "Internship Mission over!"
"All personnel boarding, prepare to return to Marineford!!"
"Yes!!" the youths responded in unison, their voices as orderly as waves.
On the return voyage - Warship deck
A sea breeze blows, and the setting sun paints the sea red.
Ace and Luffy were placed in the infirmary, while Zoro, Ain, and Binz stayed by their side, unwilling to leave.
The Warship slowly sailed away from the island, the sea breeze brushing across the deck, carrying a salty, damp scent.
Roy stood before the stern railing, gazing at the island gradually receding into the distance, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as the night sea.
Footsteps approached, Zephyr walked to his side, asking in a deep voice, "You knew all along that danger would strike here?"
Roy shook his head slightly. "Just a gut feeling. The winds have been blowing increasingly strangely these past few years... The storm of the New World may have already reached the West Blue."
Zephyr remained silent for a long while, then muttered in a low voice, "No matter who it is, anyone who dares to touch my student..."
His fist slowly clenched. "Everyone has to pay the price!"
Roy's lips curled into a slight smile, "This is the real 'Black Arm' Zephyr."
The two smiled at each other, and the sea breeze rose again, blowing their purple and black hair.
The setting sun cast its last rays upon the deck, illuminating this battle that belonged to the young man and the unwavering belief between master and apprentice.
It belongs to the true navy.