"Over the past year, you've all completed a variety of grueling training exercises, and those of you who remain are the cream of the crop.
But don't let that make you complacent. No matter how good your evaluation scores are, they're still only theory."
"Today is your first class, so we won't waste time on anything pointless.
To get to know you better and help you understand what real combat is like, I've decided to have two of you with combat experience spar."
Hearing Zephyr's words, Wood, standing at the back of the group, felt a bad feeling creep over him. He quickly lowered his head, hoping to make himself less noticeable.
But after scanning the group with his sharp gaze, Zephyr still found Wood, who had been trying his best to blend into the background.
"Wood, you'll do. As for your opponent..."
Most of the people here were elite students at the Marine Academy. They might have had their share of brawls, but very few had actually fought for their lives in real combat.
When Zephyr called Wood's name, most of the other students looked eager to test themselves.
They'd been classmates for a year, and even if they hadn't crossed paths often, some of them knew Wood, more or less.
But in their memories, Wood was just an ordinary, forgettable face. Could someone like him really have experience fighting for his life?
The people who'd entered the Marine Academy in the same class as Wood weren't limited to the two shiploads Zephyr had brought in back then.
Even those who'd sailed with Wood to Marine Headquarters had watched his unremarkable performance over the past year and come to believe that Zephyr himself had killed the pirates on Maple Leaf Island.
"Permission to speak, Instructor Zephyr! Before entering the Marine Academy, I personally killed a few pirates, so I have some combat experience too.
I'd be happy to spar with Wood and show everyone what real combat looks like!"
After choosing Wood, Zephyr had been rather troubled about finding him an opponent.
After all, it was his first day meeting this class. Aside from Wood, who'd left a strong impression on him, he didn't really know any of the others yet.
Zephyr had been considering stepping in himself or finding a Marine officer to spar with Wood. Then Gion suddenly stepped forward and volunteered to be Wood's sparring partner.
"So it's you, Gion. You're right—if it's you, then you and Wood should be evenly matched.
Wood, Gion, step forward. You'll spar now. Choose your own weapons and fighting styles, as long as you can show what you're capable of."
With Zephyr's permission, Gion looked visibly excited. She walked straight onto the training ground and turned a battle-ready gaze toward Wood.
"I told you we'd get a chance to fight soon. Now Instructor Zephyr has specifically asked us to spar. Surely you aren't going to refuse?"
Gion planted Kompira, with its white hilt and red-lacquered scabbard, in front of her. A razor-sharp aura, unique to a Swordsman, radiated from her.
"I surrender! I'm just a bottom-of-the-class nobody. Why would the top student spar with me?
Besides, Kompira, the sword you're holding, is a Famous Sword known as the Guardian Deity of the Sea. I don't even have a decent weapon. This fight would be completely unfair."
Seeing the famously aloof beauty Gion and Admiral Zephyr take such an interest in Wood, the people around him had assumed he'd be thrilled to accept the challenge.
Even if he lost, at least Instructor Zephyr and Gion would remember him. But to everyone's surprise, when Gion challenged him with such enthusiasm, Wood actually surrendered without even trying!
A beautiful Swordsman had challenged him, and he'd given up before the fight had even started. What kind of man did that?
Hearing Wood's words, Gion looked astonished. "As a Swordsman, you don't even have a sword of your own?"
Wood wasn't a Swordsman—at the very least, he was a highly skilled swordsman. Gion was certain of that.
But she hadn't expected a swordsman as formidable as Wood to be without his own blade!
"Obviously. Do you think Famous Swords grow on trees? The rare Twelve Supreme Grade Blades aside, even the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords and the 50 Grade Swords are scarce across the seas. They're no less valuable than Devil Fruits."
After becoming a Swordsman, Wood had naturally tried to get his hands on a decent sword.
He'd even checked the prices in the market district during his breaks. In the end, he'd learned that Famous Swords were hard to find even for those willing to pay—and even if someone was selling one, he couldn't afford it.
Wood didn't have a sword, while Gion had Kompira. She did feel that she'd be taking advantage of him, so after some hesitation, she stuck Kompira into the ground beside her and took up a martial arts stance.
Gion was a Swordsman, and she could tell that Wood had a strong grasp of swordsmanship too. If she could, she'd naturally prefer to test her skills against him with swords.
But if their circumstances weren't equal, Gion wouldn't feel happy even if she beat him. She'd feel as if she'd won unfairly.
"Enough nonsense! As a proud Marine, would you also choose to run away without a fight when faced with an enemy?
If you think you and Gion are at a disadvantage because of your weapons, then I'll lend you a Famous Sword.
But if you come up with another excuse to surrender without a fight, I'll show you just how serious the consequences are for trampling on the dignity of the Marines!"
Zephyr undoubtedly loved the Marines. That was why, even after losing his family, he continued to uphold his sense of justice through other means.
Wood had been one of the young people he'd believed in, and Zephyr had hoped he would become one of the finest Marines. But Wood's behavior just now had truly disappointed him.
The Marines were the strongest force on the seas and controlled most of its resources.
The Marine Headquarters armory naturally had stocks of precious Devil Fruits and Famous Swords.
And as an Admiral at Marine Headquarters, Zephyr could easily requisition a Famous Sword.
So, after Zephyr submitted his request, it took only a few dozen minutes for two Marines to deliver a long sword to him. Its hilt and scabbard were both sky blue, and its guard was shaped like a cherry blossom.
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