Leaving Marineford, the Woman Eyeing Austin

Was the One Piece World a passionate, hot-blooded place?

Probably...

But Austin had not felt much of that.

In his view, this world perhaps had more of an element of "freedom."

Freedom enough for individual strength to rise above everything else, freedom enough that there was not much order or many rules.

Austin was indeed considered strong now. Even many commissioned officers would not be his match, but in the eyes of stronger people, he was little more than cannon fodder.

It was like the special episode of the Summit War.

The elite Marines selected from every branch were all "superhumans" capable of taking on several ordinary people at once.

Yet during the Summit War, they had only been background figures in the eyes of the strong.

The aftershock of a casual strike could cost them half their lives, and a single move could kill them in droves.

So even though Austin was young, he was stronger than these newly enlisted Marine recruits and was fully qualified to teach them.

Even if...

His teaching style was like that of a pirate.

"Hey!!! Didn't you eat?! Put some more strength into it!!!"

Standing in place with his arms folded, Austin continuously used his dragon tail to block every attack from the Marine before him.

No matter how the other side attacked, he could not make Austin retreat even half a step.

"Damn it..."

"He's practically a monster!!!"

The recruit gave it everything he had. Once he was completely exhausted, Austin swept him aside with his tail and left him lying there like a corpse.

Austin shook his head. As he walked away, the tail behind him continued swaying back and forth.

Ordinary recruits, even exceptionally gifted ones capable of reaching Marineford, could not make him fully activate his human-beast form.

"Combat