My Strength Came Entirely from Hard Work-Using the [Big Trophy] to Add Points!

A group of high-ranking Marines immediately realized what was going on.

The so-called "Whitebeard attacking Marine Headquarters" was nothing more than a misunderstanding.

But among this group of people who understood the situation, there was one "great understander" whose reaction was exceptionally unique.

"Whitebeard the Third?!"

Garp's eyes widened in shock, and his jaw nearly hit the ground.

"That Newgate guy actually has a grandson too?

"Zephyr! You beat Newgate's grandson to death!"

As soon as he said this,

Sengoku covered his face, Aokiji rubbed his forehead, and Kizaru's mouth twisted to the side.

Even the dignified and steady Tsuru couldn't help sighing.

Storm secretly glanced at Zephyr beside him.

Just now, Zephyr's face had been as black as "Armament Haki."

Now, it looked more like "Conqueror's Haki"—black with a tinge of red, and red shading into purple.

Before Zephyr could respond,

Sengoku directly used "Man Lock Man."

The Fleet Admiral hooked an arm around the Vice Admiral's neck, his sturdy biceps pressing hard against the latter's throat as he manually "muted" him.

"Sengoku—stop me—grandson—"

Sengoku dragged Garp away, and the other high-ranking Marines also left one after another.

Marine Headquarters had countless affairs to deal with.

If not for the shocking news that "Whitebeard had appeared at Marine Headquarters," so many high-ranking Marines would never have gathered in the headquarters' training grounds at once.

Now that the truth had come to light, everyone naturally "went back to their own homes and ate their own melons."

The only headquarters big shot still lingering in the training grounds was Zephyr, who currently held an idle position.

"Unable to distinguish right from wrong! Disguising yourself as a pirate! Sowing discord! Undermining military morale!"

Zephyr kept lecturing, his words firing out like a barrage of cannonballs.

"How could you pretend to be Whitebeard in front of so many fellow Marines?!

"Storm, you're simply lawless!"

Seeing how angry Zephyr was, Peacock, who had just reported them, couldn't help sticking out her tongue.

"Instructor, teacher, well, Storm and I were just fooling around..."

"Fooling around?"

Zephyr let out a cold laugh, his sharp gaze immediately locking onto Peacock.

"The sea isn't a game, and this isn't playing house!

"You like fooling around? Then I'll play with you now!

"Rest in place for half an hour! Then let me see how much progress you two have made recently!"

After throwing out those words, Zephyr left Storm and Peacock behind and began pacing around the spacious training grounds.

"Your forehand is unrefined!"

"Your backhand lacks strength!"

"Your footwork is sloppy!"

"Your reactions are slow!"

"Not one of you is worth a damn!"

Zephyr kept walking around the training grounds.

Whenever he passed a Marine, he couldn't help lecturing them a few times before demonstrating the techniques himself.

Storm and Peacock watched Zephyr from afar as he entered his "teaching mode," and they couldn't help exchanging a glance.

"Does Teacher Zephyr mean that he's going to 'fight' us later?"

"Fight? You're overestimating yourself, Peacock—and you're also overestimating me a little."

Storm shook his head. Before Peacock could respond, he sat down cross-legged and rested his mind.

Seeing this, Peacock rubbed her still somewhat painful lower abdomen and also sat down cross-legged.

A "fight" with Zephyr was no joke!

Storm immersed his mind in the [Big Trophy] and silently summoned the Silver Trophy he had just obtained.

An ordinary Star Trophy could be used either to make a wish or to add points.

A Silver Trophy was a Three-Star Trophy.

This meant Storm could use it to raise any one of his attributes or abilities to Three-Star level.

If it was used to "make a wish,"

Storm could also use the Silver Trophy to obtain a Three-Star ability or item.

It was his first time officially obtaining a trophy, and he would also be fighting shortly.

After thinking for a moment, Storm decided to use the Silver Trophy to improve one of his abilities.

Aside from [Physique] and [Haki], his two basic attributes,

Storm also had several other abilities with Star ratings—

[Shave: ★★★]

[ Tekkai: ★★☆]

[Kami-e: ★★☆]

[Geppo: ★★]

[Rankyaku: ★★]

[Shigan: ★☆]

[Swordsmanship: ★☆]

[Marksmanship: ★]

Pistol shooting, Swordsmanship, and Rokushiki.

These were all skills Storm had learned at the Naval Academy and the Rookie Training Camp.

In addition, there was the one he had just obtained—[Clay Fruit: ☆].

Storm rubbed the [Demon Ring] on his thumb.

He had already decided which ability to improve.

My strength came entirely from hard work—using the [Big Trophy] to add points!

Storm directly smashed the Silver Trophy onto the [Clay Fruit]!

Under his gaze, the stars behind [Clay Fruit] rippled violently.

[Clay Fruit: ★★★]

Is that all?

Storm closed his eyes and carefully sensed the change.

But he felt nothing like "knowledge surging forth" or "sudden enlightenment."

What the...

Unwilling to believe it, Storm opened his eyes. He raised his right hand and released his ability.

A mass of white clay gushed from his palm.

At that very instant,

Storm felt as though he had divine aid. Endless inspiration erupted in his mind.

Under his control, the mass of white clay rapidly changed, as if it had suddenly "come alive."

A dragon head that inspired awe without anger, neatly arranged Dragon Scales, majestic dragon wings, and a nimble, flexible dragon tail...

A lifelike miniature Blue-Eyes White Dragon stood proudly in Storm's palm.

If the earlier "Whitebeard the Third" had merely been a shoddy clay doll produced in a craft workshop,

then the "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" now was a delicate clay figurine specially designed and crafted by Industrial Illusions.

Storm's inspiration was completely full—so full that it was about to spill over!

However...

"This is supposed to be Whitebeard?"

Zephyr swung his left fist and easily smashed a giant clay doll of Whitebeard the Third to pieces.

"This is supposed to be Whitebeard the Third?"

The Mechanical Arm "Crusher" swept across the area, and another clay doll of Whitebeard the Third was completely blown apart.

"And you call this Edward Teach?"

Zephyr used the Crusher on his right arm to strike the ground hard, and the clay-covered earth cracked apart inch by inch.

Several clay dolls of Whitebeard the Third surrounding him were immediately sent flying into the air.

Zephyr swung his left fist toward the sky. Invisible Armament Haki burst from his body, forming a powerful storm.

The clay dolls flying through the sky spun constantly in the storm. Fragile as rag dolls, they were utterly destroyed.

"Storm!"

Zephyr stomped both feet heavily into the earth and flew toward Storm.

"You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability!"

Bang!

Zephyr swung his massive, heavy Mechanical Arm, "Crusher," and blasted the "Storm" in front of him into smithereens.

The clay-covered ground rippled.

In an open area not far away,

white clay gathered together and took human form. A battered Storm appeared.

"Huff... huff..."

Storm braced both hands on his knees, his chest heaving violently.

At his feet lay Peacock, who had long since run out of strength and lost consciousness.

The gap between Storm and Zephyr was as vast as a heavenly chasm.

It was completely impossible for a Three-Star [Clay Fruit] to make up for it.

Even if Storm used the [Demon Ring] to push the [Clay Fruit]'s "firepower" to its maximum,

it still couldn't do anything to Zephyr.

Instead,

Storm could only flee constantly beneath Zephyr's attacks.

He had endured until now entirely because of the [Clay Fruit]'s ability to turn his body into clay!

Even so,

after "fighting" until this point,

Storm was covered in wounds.

Zephyr, meanwhile, was completely unharmed.

I'm sorry, Teacher Zephyr. I couldn't make you use your full strength...

Storm panted for quite some time, but he still didn't receive another attack from Zephyr.

His eyes remained fixed on Zephyr, but the other man merely stood where he was.

"Teacher Zephyr?"

"That's enough for today's battle."

Zephyr looked toward the horizon. The dusk was yellow and dim, and his lesson had lasted nearly the entire day.

"Storm, you have great talent for developing your Devil Fruit.

"Judging by what you displayed just now, there probably aren't many pirates in Paradise who would be your match."

Storm's performance had subconsciously reminded Zephyr of someone.

The Charlotte Family's greatest masterpiece—Charlotte Katakuri.

Storm's [Clay Fruit] was a "Special Paramecia."

Katakuri's [Mochi Mochi Fruit] was also a "Special Paramecia."

Zephyr hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he didn't use Charlotte Katakuri as an example to encourage Storm.

Although in his eyes, that pirate Charlotte Katakuri was at least decent among a group of scum...

"Storm, don't squander your talent."

Zephyr cleared his mind of distractions and spoke in a deep voice.

"But don't forget one thing.

"On this sea, only Physique is the foundation!"

Storm straightened his back and answered loudly.

"Yes, Teacher Zephyr!"

A look of relief flashed across Zephyr's face.

After finishing his final lesson, he turned around and waved his hand.

"Vongola Storm, the next time we meet, don't expect me to hold back... Cough, cough."

Storm saw Zephyr's back sway slightly.

But Zephyr still walked firmly toward the setting sun.

Storm lowered his head and looked at Peacock by his feet.

"A blade in the darkness, huh..."

On the first day he obtained the [Clay Fruit],

Storm fought Zephyr for nearly the entire day, bringing his practical mastery of the [Clay Fruit] up to the Three-Star data level.

The day after obtaining the Clay Fruit.

Storm trained on his own, molding flowers and trees, wolves and tigers, rare birds and strange beasts, pirates and marines.

The third day after obtaining the Clay Fruit.

Storm wanted to mold a giant...

Unfortunately,

headquarters' transfer order arrived without warning.

Storm had no choice but to abandon his exploration of the origin of life.

He headed to the headquarters building, collected his Transfer Order, and picked up his custom-made weapon.

Then,

Storm hurried to the headquarters docks, boarded the Prison Ship, and rode the Triangle Current into the World Government's exclusive route.

Final stop: the Calm Belt.

Impel Down.

I'll get in touch with my editor today. My contract status should be updated soon.

I'm about to sign the contract!

Please add this to your collection and keep reading!