"Passat!"
The other two pirates' expressions changed drastically. After exchanging a glance, they gritted their teeth and roared, attacking Noah from both sides at once.
They were no fools. Seeing their companion instantly killed in a single exchange, they knew they had run into a formidable opponent.
Their years of experience roaming the seas told them that turning around and fleeing now would be incredibly difficult. Rather than that, joining forces immediately gave them at least a chance of surviving against the odds.
Unfortunately, though they had made the correct decision, they had still underestimated Noah's strength.
"Soru!"
With a quiet murmur, Noah's figure vanished like a ghost before their eyes. Their eyes widened, and before they could react, an icy wind swept over their backs.
Squelch!
The red blade went left, the white blade right. Two slender swords pierced through their chests from behind at the same time.
Then, with a twist of his wrists, he churned their organs and hearts into pulp. When he pulled the blades free, their eyes had already gone dull, and their stiff bodies toppled backward onto the ground.
Noah did not stop there. Only after skillfully slashing each of their throats did he wipe the blood from his blades and sheath them again.
This was Noah's first time taking part in a live combat assessment, but it was not his first time fighting.
Back when he was still at the 16th Branch in the East Blue, Noah had followed his father, then a branch captain, out to sea on multiple extermination operations.
His record might not have been particularly glorious, but at least dozens of pirates had died by his hand, including wanted criminals with bounties exceeding one million.
The good habit of finishing off his enemies had been ingrained in him years ago. Now, he was merely rediscovering that long-familiar feeling.
"The average pirate here really is quite a bit stronger than those in the East Blue."
Noah glanced at the three corpses on the ground, shook his head, and strode over them. "But thinking they can threaten me now is still far too naive."
These three burly men were not weak. They likely all carried Marine bounties on their heads. A few months ago, dealing with them would have taken Noah some effort.
But now, one sword was all it took.
"There was something strange about what those guys said just now..."
He continued quickly toward the building ablaze in the distance, silently replaying their reactions in his mind. "They were excited the moment they saw me, like they'd spotted prey, and they even wanted to force me to reveal where my companions were?"
By all reason, at this point, shouldn't the remaining pirates on the island have been driven back step by step by his Elite Training Camp comrades, barely clinging to life in dark alleys?
Why did it look as though the pirates held the initiative instead, searching everywhere for isolated Marine recruits?
"This shouldn't be happening. What are Shiryu and the others doing..."
Noah's brow gradually furrowed. Looking up at the increasingly fierce blaze in the distance, he quickened his pace.
—No matter what, he had to find someone he knew and figure out what was going on first.
At the entrance of a dark alley.
"Don't run, you little brats!"
"Stop right there!"
Amid arrogant roars, a full twenty or thirty pirates poured into the alley, chasing three figures sprinting desperately ahead of them.
They were three young Marines dressed in white uniforms.
The girl in the middle had a graceful figure, waist-length blue hair, and exquisite features. She was a stunning beauty no matter where she went, while the two girls beside her both wore short hair.
Their bodies were stained with blood, as though they had just endured a bitter battle. Their expressions were exhausted, and they looked as if their strength was already nearing its limit.
"Huff... I can't do this anymore. I can't keep going..."
After turning another corner, the short-haired girl on the right finally could not hold on any longer. She braced herself against the wall, stopped, and panted heavily.
"Shiya, Monica, this can't go on. We've slowed down too much. No matter how far we run, we can't shake these guys. How about we..."
"Send out a distress signal and have the instructors step in?"
The beautiful girl with waist-length blue hair slowed down and glanced back at her, her expression blank.
"If we do that, our lives won't be in danger, but this live combat assessment will be declared over ahead of schedule. We won't be qualified to remain on the battlefield. Are you sure?"
"Would that really be so bad?"
The short-haired female Marine named Monica seemed to share the same idea. She smiled bitterly and said:
"Besides, we've already taken down quite a few enemies. If not for a bunch of pirates suddenly appearing in the city for no reason, our assessment should have ended long ago."
"Yeah, Shiya."
The girl who had stopped first also agreed weakly. "And we definitely won't be the first to give up. Even if we're eliminated now, our final ranking won't be too bad..."
"I won't give up here."
Before she could finish, Shiya coldly refused:
"At worst, we can find somewhere to hide, rest for a few hours to recover our strength, then come back out and keep fighting. But if you want to leave, I won't force you. Do as you please."
"I knew there was no convincing you..." Monica sighed. "Shiya, you're too stubborn. Why does it have to be like this? Sometimes, all you need is to compromise a little..."
Before she could finish, Shiya's indifferent gaze fixed on her, forcing her to swallow the rest of her words.
"Fine, then we're leaving. Be careful by yourself."
The footsteps in the distance were drawing closer and closer. The pursuing pirates had clearly entered this alley. Monica and the other short-haired girl hesitated no longer, taking out a Den Den Mushi to send a distress signal together.
The recruits of the Marine Elite Training Camp were all exceptional talents selected from thousands. Marine Headquarters did not want them to become flowers raised in a greenhouse, so it used life-and-death combat filled with blood and fire as an unavoidable trial on the path to becoming strong.
But everything had its limits. For these promising talents, Marine Headquarters naturally would not simply allow them to die before they had matured.
Therefore, aside from Aokiji, who oversaw the entire situation, more than a dozen instructors who had followed them from Marine Headquarters aboard warships were stationed throughout the town's various districts.
They remained hidden nearby, quietly observing and monitoring the recruits' performance. Under normal circumstances, they would never interfere, nor would they allow the pirates to discover their presence.
But whenever an Elite Training Camp member faced mortal danger, or could no longer endure and actively called for help, they would enter immediately to protect and evacuate them.
However, once that happened, the Elite Training Camp recruits who had been saved would naturally be considered withdrawn from this assessment, losing the chance to remain on the field and earn further battle merit.
For these elites of Marine Headquarters, naturally most did not want to reach that point. Everyone had their pride and dignity. Who would not want to eliminate more enemies and raise their ranking?
But... unfortunately, plans could never keep up with change.
Before the massive wave of pirate reinforcements that had appeared from nowhere tonight, many exhausted Marines who had fought bitterly for two days could only helplessly choose to withdraw, no matter how unwilling they were.
People like Shiya, who chose to persevere to the end even in adversity, were ultimately few.
First update. Thanks to Changsheng Zi and Lewis Chen for their 2,000-coin donations, and to Mashang Badao and Li Yi a for their donation support.
Also, Shiya's character card is now available. When you have time, please give the characters some likes. Though as a newbie, I have no idea what that does, QAQ...
Before you continue