Aokiji's Shock: You're That [Special Recruit]?

As Luffy and his crew watched in shock,

Feng Lei and Aokiji fought to a standstill.

Forced to dodge Feng Lei's "Morning Peacock," Aokiji seized an opening and used Armament Haki to fight at close range.

In his early years,

he had followed Garp's example and practiced his punches on warships.

He had naturally honed his iron fists and Taijutsu to the pinnacle.

On top of that, Aokiji had noticed that Feng Lei's Armament Haki was not particularly strong.

Once they got in close, Feng Lei would have no chance of matching him.

But the next moment,

Aokiji was proven wrong.

Feng Lei's body and fists were no weaker than his.

With seven rounds of enhancement from the system, plus the reinforcement from "Earth Release: Earth Spear," his physical toughness had reached a terrifying level.

Aokiji's Armament Haki-coated fists landed on Feng Lei like a tickle!

Feng Lei's fists, meanwhile, were fast and heavy, and their friction with the air generated heat, making them a perfect counter to his Ice-Ice Fruit.

Blow after blow,

Feng Lei actually fought him to a standstill.

"How is that possible?"

Feeling Feng Lei's attacks strike as fast as lightning and as densely as rain, Aokiji was shaken to his core. Even with Armament Haki for defense, the blows left his whole body numb.

He could hardly believe that Feng Lei, young as he was, could match him with his physique and Taijutsu when his Armament Haki was inferior!

When had the Marines produced such a monster?

Someone this strong could not possibly be unknown.

Only now

did Aokiji understand that Feng Lei had not been arrogant when he said Aokiji could not take them away on the strength of his title as an Admiral. He really did have the strength to back it up!

Even Aokiji would have a hard time defeating Feng Lei completely in a short time.

Though that was partly because he had not used his full strength,

once he got serious, it would be easy to lose control.

With the strength Feng Lei had displayed, he was fully capable of matching Aokiji. If they went all out, Water 7 would suffer a devastating blow too!

Who knew how many people would die as a result!

Aokiji was not Akainu, after all. He would not harm ordinary people unless it was necessary.

That

left Aokiji in a difficult position.

If he did not go all out, he could not defeat Feng Lei or take Luffy and the others away.

If he did, Water 7 would be destroyed.

As Aokiji hesitated, a voice suddenly rang out, filled with surprise and excitement.

"A-A-A... Admiral Aokiji!!"

"Feng Lei?"

"Why are you fighting? You're on the same side!"

At the sound of the voice,

Aokiji's heart stirred. He stopped attacking altogether and disengaged from his fight with Feng Lei.

Then

he glanced over at the newcomers.

They were two Marine recruits, and they had a long-nosed man bound hand and foot!

They were Koby and Helmeppo, who had gone to capture Usopp.

After some effort, the two had finally caught him.

But when they returned, they saw Feng Lei fighting someone.

When they got closer,

they found that it was Aokiji, a current Marine Admiral!

"Admiral Aokiji, Feng Lei is a [Special Recruit] from the Marine Academy. Please go easy on him!"

Though Koby did not know why the two were fighting, he assumed Feng Lei must have offended Aokiji, so he spoke up to plead for him.

But when Aokiji heard the words [Special Recruit], his expression changed at once.

"Oh my! I haven't been back to Headquarters in a long time. I never expected someone to fill the [Special Recruit] spot after it had been vacant for over twenty years!"

Aokiji looked at Feng Lei, a trace of understanding flashing in his eyes.

No wonder Feng Lei could fight him without falling behind.

Judging by their exchange, Feng Lei did indeed have the strength and potential to become a [Special Recruit].

"He's a [Special Recruit]!"

"No wonder he's so strong!"

Robin heard Koby's words, and her face filled with shock.

"A Special Recruit? What's that, Robin? Do you know?"

Seeing Robin's reaction, Nami, Luffy and the others could not help asking curiously.

Robin explained to them with a grave expression.

"Marine Headquarters has a Marine Academy, a place dedicated to training combat personnel for the Marines. [Special Recruits] are the best of that academy."

"Generally speaking, becoming a [Special Recruit] means that person is certain to become a Marine Admiral someday!"

"Aokiji here and the other two current Marine Admirals were all [Special Recruits] at the Marine Academy more than twenty years ago!"

After hearing Robin's explanation,

Luffy and the others finally understood what kind of monster they had run into.

Certain to become a Marine Admiral?

Having witnessed how terrifying Aokiji was, they could not help feeling horrified as they looked at Feng Lei again.

Did he have the strength to become a Marine Admiral at such a young age?

With a monster like that after us, we can't escape.

A wave of dejection passed through Robin.

Luffy, Zoro and Sanji looked unwilling to accept it.

Nami looked ready to cry, her face full of fear.

She did not want to spend the rest of her life locked up in prison.

At that moment,

Aokiji was in an even more difficult position.

Feng Lei was a [Special Recruit]; in terms of status, he was almost Aokiji's equal.

He must be capturing the Straw Hat Pirates now to earn merit.

After all, a [Special Recruit] had status but no official position with real authority.

This concerned Feng Lei's career. No wonder he refused to hand them over even though he knew Aokiji was a Marine Admiral.

Just then,

Koby continued, "Admiral Aokiji, Feng Lei is also Vice Admiral Garp's disciple!"

"Teacher Garp's disciple?"

Aokiji froze.

The [Special Recruit] before him was Teacher Garp's disciple?

No wonder he possessed Taijutsu that could match Aokiji's at such a young age!

"That makes sense. Perhaps only Teacher Garp could train such a terrifying disciple!"

Aokiji understood.

Since Feng Lei was Teacher Garp's disciple, he must have received permission to capture Luffy and his crew.

Otherwise,

given the strength Feng Lei had displayed earlier, if he had really intended to kill them, Luffy and his crew probably would not have survived until now.

Still, to be safe,

Aokiji took out a Den Den Mushi.

Brring, brring~ Brring, brring~

Soon,

the Den Den Mushi connected, and Garp's rough voice came from the other end.

"Aokiji, you brat, why is it you again? Didn't I already agree to give you a ride along the way?"

Garp sounded a little impatient.

Aokiji paid it no mind and asked calmly, "Teacher Garp, is that [Special Recruit] named Feng Lei your disciple?"

Garp gave a surprised exclamation from the other end of the Den Den Mushi, then said, "Did you run into that brat? Hahaha~ That makes sense. He went to capture that brat Luffy."

"Since you've run into him, I doubt Luffy and the others can get away. Hurry up and bring them back. Honestly, my fists are itching!"

Click!

The Den Den Mushi was hung up on at once.

At that moment, Aokiji finally confirmed it.

The [Special Recruit] before him really was Garp's disciple.

"Huh?"

"Garp? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"And that voice sounds really familiar too..."

At that moment,

Luffy frowned deeply and fell into thought.

Seeing this, Nami suddenly realized what had happened.

"He must be a Marine you picked a fight with at some point, right?"

"So that Marine named Garp sent his disciple here specifically to capture us!"

That had to be it.

Otherwise, why would someone so terrifying be after them?

Even Usopp had been captured.

It was over!

Now it was all over!

They would probably have to spend the rest of their lives in the prison at Impel Down.