The vast plaza fell into dead silence.
As they looked at the uninvited guest standing in Qin Yu's path, disbelief filled their faces.
In their eyes, Akainu had trained Drake and the other two to possess strength comparable to a rear admiral—or even a vice admiral—the moment they graduated.
That alone was enough to inspire jealousy and admiration, making people eager to join Akainu's ranks for training.
Yet today's wager battle had completely overturned their understanding.
Not only had the three people they envied—Drake and the others—been crushed in a single strike, but a fourth and fifth student had also emerged under Qin Yu, their strength in no way inferior to the first three.
This training ability was simply astonishing.
Especially when they recalled the rumors that had spread through Marine Headquarters three months ago.
Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral; Zephyr, the chief instructor of the rookie training camp; and Garp, the Hero of the Marines, had defied the objections of Admiral Akainu and made an exception to recruit Thunder Dragon Laxus into Marine Headquarters.
Their purpose had been to obtain Laxus's extraordinary method for training recruits.
At first, they had only half-believed it.
They had treated those rumors as nothing more than post-meal gossip.
They had never expected the scenes unfolding before their eyes today to confirm those rumors.
Especially after witnessing the impressive strength of Zoro and the others.
It made them yearn for it even more!
No one was unwilling to become stronger, especially not the lowest-ranking Marine soldiers.
"Perverted kappa, I didn't expect you to show up too. I thought you were hiding somewhere having fun with those okama," Zoro said with a grin, Wado Ichimonji clenched between his teeth.
However, the instant those words left his mouth, he felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He