Confrontation Test!

Many people believe that among the three types of Devil Fruits, Logia-type fruits are called "Logia" because the powers they represent can all be found in nature, hence the name.

This is not the case...

Through Zephyr's explanation, Ron learned that the true reason Logia-type fruits are called "Logia" is that, like nature itself, they represent the immense power of heaven! It is out of fear and reverence for nature that Devil Fruits embodying these powers were given the name Logia.

Just like now, Ron's move, dramatically named "Eight Dragon Pearls," once again evoked humanity's awe of nature!

A deafening thunderclap exploded, drowning out all other sounds, leaving only a buzzing in the ears. Blinding lightning covered the sky, and as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but lightning. The occasional spark of lightning that shot out, hitting the face with a sting, was the only thing that let people know they were still alive.

On the viewing platform, Sengoku, holding down his hat that was about to be blown away, sighed with complex emotions, "I finally understand why Zephyr asked me to increase the distance between the audience stands and the testing platform..."

If the distance hadn't been increased, Ron's move would have involved everyone around, with very serious consequences! Unlike now, where the instructors of the New Recruit Camp acted in unison, quickly blocking the scattered lightning.

The lightning didn't last long, disappearing after only a few seconds. But on the viewing platform, a group of ordinary people were gasping for breath, staring at the now calm testing platform as if they had lived through another life.

The new recruits in Ron's squad fared even worse, collapsing onto the ground one by one, protected by Zephyr. The thought of almost being caught in such a terrifying thunderstorm made their hearts pound with fear.

"A... monster!"

After an unknown amount of time, someone finally spoke in a dry voice, uttering these words. Hearing this, the people around nodded in agreement, looking at Ron with adoring eyes.

This is the One Piece World, a world where the strong are respected!

No matter how bad Ron's first test score was, he was now a strong person!

Deserving of everyone's respect!

However...

"Ugh...!!"

Seeing Ron collapse along with the smoking testing machine, the cheers of the crowd caught in their throats. They looked at each other, helpless and bewildered.

They were about to cheer, but the protagonist had collapsed, which was... quite awkward!

"Carry him down! You... check the results!"

"Yes!"

Zephyr was prepared for this. With a command, someone immediately stepped forward to carry the limp Ron, who was spitting black smoke from his mouth, to the rear. Ample food had been prepared for him there, with plenty to go around. Given Ron's special physique, this injury was nothing.

Afterward, a Colonel, using his not-so-proficient Armament Haki, lifted the constantly sparking testing machine and looked underneath. The instructor responsible for reporting the score looked at the number with horror, his eyes wide open. Only when the Colonel glared at him impatiently did he swallow hard and raise the flag.

"The result is valid!"

"New recruit Ron, Power Level..."

Gulp...

Swallowing hard again, the instructor shouted with all his might, "2700!!!"

Boom!

The Colonel, his hands and feet numb, dropped the nearly destroyed testing machine. The sound was like an explosion, igniting the atmosphere of the venue!

"What?! 2700!!!"

"Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable!!!"

"2700 Power Level!!!"

"This kind of power is almost comparable to a Headquarters Colonel!"

"More than that! It's enough to make someone a Rear Admiral in the Four Seas!"

The officers who could remain stationed at Marineford, although their positions were equivalent to those in the Four Seas and the various branches of the Grand Line, were vastly different in strength! Shuzuo's 4000 Power Level was enough to serve as a base commander, essentially a Vice Admiral, in any branch of the Grand Line. At Headquarters, even without his past mistakes, he would at most be a Rear Admiral.

The reason for this situation was ultimately the difference in the strength of opponents.

The highest position for a base commander in the Four Seas branch was Rear Admiral, with Colonel being more common. However, due to the weak seas of the Four Seas, anyone with ability and military achievements, even ordinary people without strength, could occupy these positions. This was because the enemies they faced were vastly different from those in the Grand Line, and the Navy's warships and cannons were not for show; a large army's advance was unstoppable!

But in the Grand Line...

Try putting someone without strength in a high position!

They would be killed by pirates and used as sacrifices the very next day!

And as the last gateway to the New World, adjacent to Sabaody Archipelago, with Holy Land Mary Geoise, the heavily fortified Impel Down, Enies Lobby, and Headquarters behind them, the enemies the Marines would face were the elites who had passed the first half of the Grand Line, and the overlords who wreaked havoc in the New World!

Therefore, it was only natural that the strength requirements for officers were extremely strict!

This was also the fundamental reason why the status of Headquarters officers was superior to those in the Four Seas.

However, upon hearing this, someone quickly retorted.

"No, I think it's still too low! Ron is lightning! Attacks with the same Power Level are far more terrifying than fists, feet, or swordsmanship! Not only is the speed fast, but there's also the advantage of range and coverage! Although this move of his would also severely injure himself, most pirates in the Four Seas and even the Grand Line wouldn't be able to withstand it!"

After all... it's lightning!

The lethality to humans is too great!

"Hiss... In other words, just looking at this move, Ron is already qualified to serve in the Grand Line?!"

"I think so!"

"Incredible, incredible! The Marines have produced another monster!"

"Ron! Ron! Ron!"

This day, the monstrous legend left behind by the Three Admirals decades ago was finally continued, and it was the new recruit Ron, who had only joined the Marines for a little over a month!

Watching the cheering crowd, chanting the same name in unison, like a tidal wave, Sengoku felt deeply gratified.

"Hmm, not bad! Not bad! Hahahaha!!!"

A little lower than him, Akainu and Kizaru stared blankly ahead. After a long while, Kizaru's mouth twitched as he teased, "What did you say earlier... a maximum of 1000?"

"I..."

Akainu opened his mouth, looking somewhat embarrassed. But he quickly composed himself, took a deep breath, and said, "Impressive! To grow this strong in just one month! Truly a monster!"

"I think I should have bet something with you earlier... what a shame!"

Kizaru added regretfully, drawing an annoyed look from Akainu.

From an extreme burst of 500 Power Level to 2700, in just one month!

This achievement represented not only strength but also terrifying talent that made one's hair stand on end!

To grow to this extent in just over a month, one could only imagine what kind of terrifying monster Ron would become if given more time!

The only thing the new recruits were thankful for was that Ron's overall evaluation remained within an acceptable range... The terrifying destructive power of Lightning, the special boost from Overload Form, and "Lightning Fist Derivative - Eight Dragon Pearls," the power of eight superimposed lightning dragons, resulted in a score of 2700. However, his physical fitness, after a comprehensive test, was only 700.

Isn't 700 high?

It's very high!

Among this batch of new recruits, excluding the monsters undergoing extra training on Hell Island, Ron ranked first!

But compared to his sky-high 2700 attack Power Level, his physical 700 Power Level wasn't as exaggerated.

However, this was still a terrifying number that no one in the New Recruit Camp could break. Coupled with his terrifying growth speed, ordinary people would find it impossible to catch up, and the gap would only widen with time, leading most to despair!

But giving up so easily was not the way of a Marine Headquarters new recruit. In the subsequent tests, they gritted their teeth, unleashed their strongest moves, and reignited the atmosphere!

Ron was indeed a monster, but these youngsters were also the future backbone of the Marines!

For a time, the atmosphere at the scene was soaring, with cheers and shouts echoing endlessly.

After the preliminary tests concluded, it was lunchtime, and everyone reluctantly went to find food. The new recruits, having a rare day off, gathered with family and friends to have a good meal in town.

As the most lively event of the year for the Marines, the individual tests in the morning were just the beginning. In the afternoon, there would be more intense combat training! It was also the best stage for new recruits to rank themselves and compete for the future!

It could be said that Headquarters generals of all eras had shone brightly during combat training!

Old generals from fifty to sixty years ago, Garp, Sengoku, Zephyr; the representative of Headquarters Vice Admirals from thirty years ago, Momonga; Zephyr's left and right hands from the new recruit camp, Shuzuo; the current Three Admirals who emerged from the batch twenty years ago, Aokiji, Kizaru, Akainu... and so on. Anyone whose name could be recalled, without exception!

While everyone was intensely discussing the outstanding performances of the morning, in a corner of the Headquarters fortress, Kizaru picked up a Den Den Mushi. "Moshi moshi, Mr. Vegapunk, is there something...?"

"Ah, that's not urgent. You should focus more on the Pacifistas. Fleet Admiral Sengoku is furious today... What? You want me to draw blood again? Can't you show some consideration for an old man like me?"

Meanwhile, in the Headquarters hospital near the plaza. Ron tore off his bandages and, under the doctor's bewildered gaze, grabbed his food basin and began to eat ravenously.

As the saying goes, equivalent exchange!

The energy to heal his wounds didn't come from nowhere; whatever was consumed had to be replenished. The tedious tests in the morning had left him starving, and now that he was sure his body was fine, he just wanted to eat until he could eat no more!

Zephyr stood by with a smile, relieved to see Ron so energetic. "Eat slowly, Ron, there's plenty of food..."

"Wuwuwu ah wuwuwu..."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Wuwuwu yaya wuwuwu ah..."

Crack!

A cross formed on his forehead, Zephyr's eyelids twitched rapidly, and he coated his fist with Armament Haki. "Duang!!"

"Swallow it before you speak!!!"

After a month, Zephyr felt that his Armament Haki had improved considerably despite his old age. It was just that he had been getting angry a lot lately... even his urine was yellow.

They say anger hurts the liver and shortens one's life, so he couldn't get angry, couldn't get angry!

Ron deeply suspected that the food in his mouth wasn't swallowed but was punched down by Zephyr!

It was truly... so damn painful!

However, Zephyr in this state was not to be provoked, so he immediately stood up and said, "Teacher Zephyr, do I really have to go to the combat training this afternoon?"

With his current strength, the New Recruit Camp couldn't find any opponents. The batch of the Three Admirals had them sparring with each other for training. Smoker's batch also had "Black Cage" Hina as a rival... But now!

Who was Ron supposed to fight?

Zoro, who was subdued as soon as he appeared among the "Top 100 New Recruits"?

Or the genius swordsman Quinn Dorte, a rare talent from the Quinn Family?

There was no need!

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Zephyr immediately laughed. "Go, why wouldn't you go? Why miss such a great stage? The world is focused on you! Don't worry, I've arranged everything!"

At this moment, Zephyr smiled like a certain mysterious Eastern power... giving Ron an ominous premonition!

Uh, would you believe me if I said this entire year-end test plot was written in one text document? I'm not intentionally cutting off chapters, everyone! I wrote tens of thousands of words in one document and then cropped and divided it into chapters. I thought it would be good to cut it here, so I just did... Enough of the rambling, since I'm padding, I'll make up for it with word count. This chapter has 3300 words, and the next chapter will have 2500. Sincerely, right? Finally, I'm begging and rolling for recommendation votes and collection counts!