Although Sengoku and the others were very satisfied with Dawn's talent, what they cared about at this moment was not that, but the boost Dawn's ability could provide to the entire Navy.
Did the strength of a single Admiral have a major impact on the situation?
The answer was yes. Having one more Admiral-level fighter—or one less—made an enormous difference to the Navy.
However, Admirals could still be cultivated by selecting exceptionally gifted talents and investing vast resources into them.
That was how the future three Admirals came to be.
But what about an ability that could give ordinary people the strength of field-grade officers?
Or even an ability user whose power, when developed deeply enough, could benefit Admirals as well?
At that point, it would not merely create a top-tier combatant. Even when facing the Four Emperors, it could provide an Admiral with assistance.
There was no crushing gap in strength between the Four Emperors and Admirals, but there were still differences between them. Too many factors could influence victory or defeat.
Whether Devil Fruit abilities countered one another, combat styles, and how great a price each side was willing to pay.
Yet Dawn's ability gave everyone hope of changing the course of battle. In a large-scale war, how significant would it be if it could enhance a vast number of Marines?
There was one phrase to describe those who had been enhanced: "Everyone a Dragon!"
And if war broke out, this would be a strategic weapon! That was also why Sengoku and the others valued it so highly.
Time passed.
After being stranded on a Desolate Island and undergoing Marine training, Dawn had now officially entered combat-focused training.
Without realizing it, Dawn had become a prominent figure at the Marine Training Camp and formed his own little circle.
For nothing else, his Devil Fruit ability that could enhance others was enough to make these boys willingly serve as his thugs.
Through his deliberate efforts to make connections, he had also met many trainees who had appeared in his previous life.
For example, Shuen, the user of the Rust-Rust Fruit.
Berigood, the user of the Bean-Bean Fruit.
Shalinkul, the user of the Spin-Spin Fruit.
There were also some Zoan Devil Fruit users who had not appeared in his previous life. For instance, Sola was a Tiger Girl who possessed a tiger Zoan Fruit.
She was carefree, somewhat hot-tempered, and loved meat. She and Dawn got along quite well.
Dawn had never seen this girl in his previous life, though. He did not know whether this tiger girl simply never appeared, or whether she had died in some battle. After all, the anime's information had been incomplete, while this was a complete world.
But judging by her performance at the training camp, Sola was extremely talented. She trained with reckless determination, and with the enhancement of her Zoan Fruit, she put many male trainees to shame.
As for Drake, Dawn got along fairly well with him, but he knew that Drake would later become a pirate.
Though he did not know the reason, Dawn knew that someone like him was suited to being brought into a small group, so he did not go out of his way to befriend him.
After all, Dawn had no idea what that unknown reason was. Rather than put in great effort to gamble on someone who might defect without changing history, he might as well improve his strength or build better relationships with other promising Marine recruits.
It might even bring trouble upon himself, which was the last thing Dawn wanted to see.
During his previous spar with Instructor Zephyr, Dawn's strength had also broken through by a small margin under pressure. He could now skillfully use Tekkai in battle.
Instructor Zephyr had certainly held back, but among those who challenged him afterward, not one could trade blows with Admiral Zephyr. They were all beaten black and blue before retreating.
Comparing their performances to Dawn's in battle, everyone agreed that Dawn was unquestionably the number one person in the training camp. His little group grew ever larger.
He had strength, could support others and make them stronger, and was a hardworking genius. Was someone like that not worthy of being followed?
Well, his good looks were one reason too—the group led by him had quite a few women...
Of course, even Instructor Zephyr greatly praised Dawn's diligence, sometimes even giving Dawn private lessons.
Perhaps because his soul was powerful, Dawn displayed extraordinary sharpness when Zephyr helped train him in "Paper Art."
In later battles with the various instructors, Dawn could occasionally predict an incoming attack in advance.
This pleasantly surprised the instructors, and Instructor Zephyr outright stated that Dawn possessed great talent.
To be honest, Dawn merely felt that mastering Paper Art came rather easily to him.
He had never thought he could master Haki at such a young age. By his estimation, he would have to wait until he was around seventeen before considering Haki training.
Even he was dumbfounded when Instructor Zephyr told him that he had decent talent for Observation Haki and could begin training Observation Haki early.
But after his confusion came joy, because this was an opportunity to come into contact with Haki.
And the sooner he mastered Haki, the more strength he would possess.
Moreover, mastering Haki required constant practice in order to steadily grow stronger.
Dawn did not know whether mastering Armament Haki early would cause any harm, but there should be no problem with learning Observation Haki ahead of time.
Besides, there were many people in the world of pirates who had been born with powerful Observation Haki.
As for the question of his talent for Observation Haki...
No need to ask. It was because Dawn was a transmigrator. As an adult, his mental strength was greater, so his Observation Haki had been enhanced.
That was how everyone wrote it in novels, after all. It was a standard trope.
Dawn was not some scientist who had to get to the bottom of everything. There was no need to investigate such a good thing too deeply; he could simply accept the trope from novels as the truth.
After all, everyone's speculation had plenty of basis. Otherwise, it would not have become a view accepted by the public, right?
And while talent was certainly a factor, Dawn's grueling training and his constant attempts to push himself beyond his limits in real combat were equally indispensable.
Where others would accept defeat when faced with an attack they were certain could not be stopped, Dawn would exhaust every effort at the moment the attack arrived.
Predictive defense, evasion, and an unwillingness to admit defeat as he attempted that slim possibility.
In fact, such actions had much the same effect as training to dodge attacks while blindfolded.
And Dawn's persistence brought him the rewards he reaped today.
Once Dawn's talent for Observation Haki had been discovered, the time the various instructors spent giving him "private lessons" became even longer.
Yet no one envied the instructors for openly giving Dawn special private training, and the instructors never stopped others from watching or joining in.
But from beginning to end, Dawn was the only one who trained.
Because the intensity of those private lessons looked like outright hellish training to everyone else.
Some refused to admit defeat and tried to follow along, but they simply could not endure it.
Over time, it became Dawn's exclusive "set meal."
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