Elite Squad Selection

Basic physical training was brutally exhausting.

When Wright gained the Holy Light Power, he had already realized the importance of physical strength.

The requirements of Holy Light Power were even higher than those of Devil Fruit abilities. Not only did it demand immense physical strength from its user, but it also required spiritual cultivation. If one possessed great physical strength without the corresponding spiritual cultivation, Holy Light Power would gradually assimilate the user's consciousness—making them indifferent to life and death, cold and inhuman, acting only according to basic logic.

Therefore, Wright had placed great importance on physical training from the very beginning. Thanks to Holy Light Power's enhancement of his physical condition, his stamina had now become exceptionally formidable. Even without using Holy Light Power to recover, the Training Camp's physical drills only left him slightly short of breath.

As for the other trainees—

After the afternoon physical training ended, Rosinante and Smoker had to be dragged back to the dormitory along the ground by Wright. Their Devil Fruit abilities were nowhere near as absurd as Holy Light Power, capable of enhancing their physical condition.

After tossing his two exhausted friends onto the dormitory floor, Wright cast a Holy Light Spell on each of them. The two, who had been barely clinging to life moments ago, immediately sprang back to life.

"What is this..." Smoker's eyes nearly popped out. "This is your ability, Wright? You never said your power was this ridiculous—it can actually restore stamina?"

"So that's how it is..." Rosinante nearly bit his tongue beside him as he muttered, "No wonder you could kill so many Sea Kings. I thought Vice Admiral Garp had helped you, but with an ability like this, you could do it alone..."

"Ah... I never told you?" Wright scratched his head. "Restoring stamina is only one of its effects. It's mainly used to heal injuries, but it can also attack and defend..."

Seeing the complicated looks in Smoker and Rosinante's eyes, Wright wisely decided to shut up.

"Well, you two wait here. I'll go ask Bogart for some Sea King meat. Let's have a good meal..."

Over the following week of physical training, the trainees throughout the Training Camp began their daily struggle through high-intensity drills at the brink of death, all for one goal—the Elite Test!

And after discovering that Wright's ability could restore stamina, Rosinante and Smoker felt as though they had latched onto a golden thigh. Every day, they underwent the most brutal training possible, then had Wright restore their stamina before doing it all over again. In the end, they could rest comfortably through the night and continue training the next day, without ever collapsing unconscious from exhaustion.

Since Zephyr, Shuzo, and Gumir knew Wright's background, they had already guessed what was happening. They were more than happy to see the Training Camp's only "three" ability users gather together so quickly.

As for asking Wright to use his ability to restore the trainees' stamina and assist their training, that thought had never crossed their minds. If Wright was willing to help others, that was their good fortune. Wright had no obligation to do so.

It looks like these three outstanding ability users are guaranteed to pass the Elite Test. Their physical training results are several times better than everyone else's. As Zephyr reviewed the training data, he silently thought, I'll have to discuss it with Sengoku later. Once Wright graduates, perhaps he can return to the Training Camp regularly as an assistant instructor. Used properly, an ability like this could multiply the training results of new recruits severalfold!

A pleasant week of physical training came to an end.

"This morning's training is over!" Zephyr looked at the trainees sprawled across the ground, then could not help glancing twice at the three energetic young men. "...Rest this afternoon and adjust your condition. The Elite Test begins tomorrow morning, and it will determine the members of the Elite Squad! Dismissed!"

Under the resentful gazes of the trainees lying all over the training grounds, Wright and the other two chatted and laughed as they headed toward the cafeteria. The Training Camp trainees came from complicated backgrounds, but all had been selected by Marine Headquarters and its various branches. Some had earned recommendation slots through meritorious service, some had been sent here for further training because of their strength, some came from families of Headquarters officers, and some were top geniuses who had only recently joined the Marines. How could they possibly ignore the unusual state of Wright's group?

All three were ability users, but few trainees capable of entering the Training Camp were unfamiliar with ability users. This phenomenon was not some universal benefit of being an ability user. Perhaps Zoan users could manage it, but these three clearly were not Zoans.

That meant it could only be some sort of ability that restored stamina. Thus, some people tried every possible method to ask Wright to restore theirs. Would Wright really be that kindhearted? Under normal circumstances, perhaps, but this was a training period. Wright could effortlessly restore stamina for three people, especially himself, around the clock—but if there were more people, how could he manage? After being refused by several people, they could only give up. This was Zephyr's territory. Who would dare stir up trouble here without a death wish?

Early the next morning, the Training Camp trainees assembled on the training field as Chief Instructor Zephyr announced the rules of the Elite Test.

"As members of the Training Camp, you have already undergone half a month of training. This old man is very pleased to see that all of you have persevered."

Zephyr swept his gaze across the field, his resolute eyes filled with pressure. "The training ahead will be even harsher. Some of you may be unable to endure it and withdraw. Some may be injured and forced to withdraw. But I believe even more of you will remain, complete the training, become the backbone of the Marines, and uphold your own justice!"

"However, as the Marines' finest Training Camp, gathering the elite among an entire generation of Marines, that alone is not enough! We need to establish an Elite Squad that will receive the harshest training, the most advanced education, and the greatest allocation of Headquarters resources—a squad that aims to become flag officers!"

So that was it. I never knew there was something like this before. I thought the Elite Training Camp treated everyone equally, but now that I think about it, there are plenty of trainees, yet only a handful have become flag officers over the years. So there really is an advanced class! Wright silently thought, unable to suppress his excitement.

Noticing the changes in the trainees' expressions, Zephyr continued without a flicker of emotion. "The rules are simple. First, each of you will take one punch from this old man alone!"

"This old man will keep my punching power at the average level of an elite Headquarters colonel. Any method is allowed—attacking, defending, martial arts, swordsmanship, abilities—but you may not dodge." Zephyr watched with satisfaction as terror filled the trainees' eyes, then added, "Oh, and this old man will use Armament Haki, so Logia users should not even think about relying on their abilities to evade it."

Smoker's face darkened. He was the only Logia user here...

"Those who take this old man's punch will proceed to the most direct method—a free-for-all. The final ten standing will enter the Elite Squad directly!"

"Now then, come forward in order according to your Training Camp numbers!"

Wright was a transfer student and had the last Training Camp number, so at first, he only needed to watch as the trainees stepped forward one by one to get beaten up.

A punch coated in Armament Haki from Admiral Black Arm Zephyr was not something ordinary trainees could withstand, even if its force was kept at the level of a Headquarters colonel. Since they could not dodge and could only counterattack or defend, any clever tricks were useless. It was purely a test of hard strength.

Tsk, tsk. What an eyesore.