Marine Headquarters, 1:30 in the afternoon.
Combat training was practically a required course for every faction. Ron had participated before, but back then, without using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he simply could not compete with recruits from his class in hand-to-hand combat or swordsmanship. Setting aside experience and technique, the gap in physical fitness alone was enough to separate them. His foundation had been too weak; there had been no comparison.
But things were different now. Even without using his Fruit Ability, the strength contained within his body was enough to drive new recruits to despair! Compared to those who relied solely on Devil Fruit powers, Ron placed greater importance on physical development than on the Devil Fruit. He would rather have his physique drive his Fruit Development than become a useless cripple who was nothing without his Fruit!
Challenging oneself was not merely about pursuing destruction...
By the time Ron arrived at the plaza, the arena seats were already packed with spectators who had come to watch the assessment. Worth noting was that they had all changed direction... The seats that had encircled the testing platform during the morning's Doriki Value assessment had been split down the middle and pulled apart to either side, forming an arc around the vast plaza ahead, large enough to hold a hundred thousand people!
The enormous plaza was dotted with towering platforms. On each platform stood an instructor with his feet planted apart and hands clasped behind his back. They were responsible for ensuring that the recruits did not suffer fatal injuries during combat training, while also serving as referees to determine victory and defeat.
When the recruits entered under Zephyr's lead, cheers rang through the skies!
"Come on, you little brats!"
"Remember, hit him in the balls! Hit him in the balls!"
"Hahahaha! Ron, I'm rooting for you!!"
Beyond the cheers, officers of every rank were privately discussing which recruits from this batch were worth watching and recruiting... The Marines were only a united front to the outside world, able to set aside all conflicts when facing pirates. That was an iron rule! Internally, however, there were various factions. The hawks and doves were merely the two main currents; there were even more Marine noble families, openly and covertly battling one another, recruiting talent for their families and pursuing benefits.
The Marines had existed alongside the World Government for nearly the same length of history, standing upon the seas for hundreds of years. Generation after generation had served in the Marines. It would be a joke if there were no factions.
And in this world where strength reigned supreme, genuine prospects like Ron—a gifted Logia user who might one day ascend to the position of Marine Admiral—would bring immeasurable benefits to any family that befriended him.
"Hey, Stein, what do you think of that Zoro?"
"He has potential, but he's seemed rather listless lately. I don't know what happened..."
"Has Ron arrived? That brat from the Quest Family will definitely go help his father. If we could..."
"Forget it! With the Fleet Admiral's level of attention toward Ron, how could he possibly allow us to recruit him?!"
"Tch, true! Then we can only make ourselves familiar to him..."
"Isn't that the truth!"
Successive Marine Fleet Admirals could not possibly have been unaware of their subordinates forming factions, yet they had never suppressed it excessively. They understood that even in this world ruled by the strong, fists could not solve every problem... For instance, there was a mosquito perched on Jebao.
As long as they did not touch what they should not touch, Sengoku could not be bothered to interfere.
For example, even a blind man could see that Ron's future was extraordinarily bright. Someone like him could not take sides within the Marines. Sengoku and the World Government would not permit him to take sides either, becoming the banner of some family and allowing that family to dominate alone.
Moreover, compared to subordinates united as one, guiding manageable conflicts was more conducive to rule.
It had nothing to do with good or evil, right or wrong. It was simply the wisdom of those in power.
Once Sengoku took the seat of honor, a Colonel stepped onto the platform and began explaining the rules. They were not much different from the rules of ordinary combat training, with only three major changes.
First, intentionally dealing lethal blows was forbidden. Violators would be expelled from the Marines and never recruited again!
Second, under-the-table dealings and bribing opponents were forbidden. Violators would be expelled from the Marines and never recruited again!
Third, deliberately interfering with another person's match was forbidden. Violators would be expelled from the Marines and never recruited again!
Ordinary combat training did not carry punishments as severe as expulsion from the Marines and permanent disqualification. For the same violations, the most one would face was detention and punishment. It was purely because today's occasion was so serious that the Marines required stricter discipline!
After the brief explanation, the Colonel announced, "Now... the combat assessment begins!!"
"Then... I'll go first..."
Ron glanced around. Under the twitching gazes of the recruits, he transformed into lightning and sped forward. Ordinary people could only judge from the mottled afterimages left upon their retinas that something had just flown past.
Even though he had yet to learn the Marine Six Powers, Ron's movement speed was still terrifyingly fast!
"What was that...?"
"It was Ron! I didn't expect him to be the first one up!"
"Going up... works too! Anyway, it'll just be sitting around..."
"Hahahaha! That's true, those little guys can't do anything against a Logia!"
There were several hundred recruits in the New Recruit Camp. If they fought one-on-one in pairs, there would be nothing else to do all day but sit around and watch matches! Therefore, the format of the competition had been adjusted. In summary... it was a platform-capturing battle!
It would last two hours, with thirty platforms in total. Whoever was still standing on a platform when time ran out would be among the top thirty recruits of the New Recruit Camp. Afterward, fifteen pairs would face off in one-on-one matches, and so on, until first place was decided. It would be around eight or nine by the time it ended.
"Wait! Something's wrong!"
Someone with sharp eyes suddenly spoke up. After carefully counting the platforms, he cried out, "Why is there one missing? There are only twenty-nine platforms?!"
"What? Hiss... There really are!"
With only twenty-nine platforms, would that not mean there were only fourteen victorious pairs to fight?
One person would either receive a bye and advance directly. Or...
"Hey, hey, could it be..."
Looking at Ron's deadpan expression, it was obvious that he had noticed it as well. The spectators who had come to watch the show turned back to look at Zephyr, as well as the man beside him who was loosening up, their mouths twitching...
Now this would be a show!
"Puhahahahaha!!! Sparky brat, you have a day like this too!!!"
Garp's signature hearty laughter echoed through the quiet area reserved for the big shots. It was so loud that it nearly deafened everyone, and Sengoku raised an eyebrow before snorting coldly. "Quiet down, Garp!"
"Oh..."
Carelessly picking his nose, Garp turned back toward Ron, then snorted again and sprayed donut crumbs all over the ground.
"Hahahaha! B-but... this is too funny!!!"
"Ara ara, what has you so happy, Mr. Garp?"
Suddenly, a figure slowly walked up onto the platform. He had fluffy black hair and a tall, slender build. He wore a white vest over a blue shirt, with a suit jacket lazily draped over his shoulders. His entire body exuded an air known as "lethargy."
"Huh?"
Hearing the voice, Garp turned around and laughed. "You're back so soon, Kuzan?"
That's right!
The newcomer was Kuzan, one of Marine Headquarters' strongest combat forces and one of the Three Admirals, known by the code name "Aokiji."
"Yeah, I thought it would be a huge hassle, but who knew... Huaaah!"
Before he could finish, Aokiji stretched and let out a huge yawn. Then, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he said to Sengoku, "You were overthinking it, Fleet Admiral."
"No trouble is a good thing! This world needs peace!"
Sengoku replied calmly. After a pause, he added, "Once you've finished watching the match, go back and submit your report immediately. What kind of behavior is it to be lazy all day? Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it..."
Aokiji shrugged, clearly used to this. His lethargic appearance bore not the slightest resemblance to a mighty Marine Admiral.
With one of the Three Admirals like this, it was no wonder Sengoku did not care about Ron's personality problems... Compared to him, Ron was the most normal one!
After greeting Garp and the others, he went to the seats reserved for Marine Admirals and sat down... no, sprawled out. Kizaru leaned over beside him, pursed his lips, and grinned lecherously. "Oh my, Kuzan, you look so tired. Want to gamble your next mission assignment?"
"Hm? Sure... but what are we betting on?"
Turning over, Aokiji replied lazily.
"We'll bet on how long that kid can last..."
Kizaru pointed with his chin toward the quietest platform in the center of the field, his face full of teasing. "Sakazuki says he can only last half an hour. I say an hour. How long are you betting?"
"Hm?!"
The formerly dull, lazy gaze in Aokiji's eyes immediately brightened when it settled on the platform. Rubbing his chin, he said in surprise, "His opponent is Brigadier General Shuzuo? Is that brat really that strong?"
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