All Big Names, Quiet and Reserved

Memorize this in one second: iashu—massive collection of books, free to read and download.

The Elite Class was filled with true monsters.

They had exceptional talent, strong wills, and formidable abilities. If they were not Devil Fruit users, then they possessed extraordinary talent in certain areas.

For example, swordsmanship.

It could be said that this was an important place for the Marines to cultivate officers. Many Marine bigwigs kept a close eye on it, and its status was worlds apart from that of the regular classes.

After graduating from here, one would at least become a warrant officer. If you were a monster among monsters, then congratulations—you would at least reach the rank of brigadier general.

The Marines had a rigorous system. Only strength and military merit could determine promotion or demotion. Yet as long as one graduated from the Elite Class, one could skip thirteen entire ranks and become a major figure in their own right.

The ranks, from lowest to highest, were miscellaneous soldier, seaman third class, seaman second class, seaman first class, petty officer third class, petty officer second class, petty officer first class, warrant officer, ensign, lieutenant junior grade, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, captain, commodore, rear admiral, vice admiral, admiral, and fleet admiral.

Getting into the Elite Class was not much different from reaching the top in a single step.

Most importantly, Zephyr was the chief instructor of the Elite Class. He normally had no need to teach the regular classes. Ye Chen and the others had simply been lucky enough to run into Zephyr when he happened to be interested in teaching them.

Of course, the main reason was that the Elite Class did not require Zephyr's constant supervision. The children who entered it were all exceptionally talented, so he only needed to teach them some basic things rather than keep an eye on them all the time.

The regular classes were like elementary school, while the Elite Class was like university. Their methods of instruction could not be compared on the same level.

"It seems that during this time you spent out at sea with Garp, you've seen quite a few things."

On the platform of the Elite Class training ground, Zephyr frowned as he looked down at the students, whose spirits varied greatly.

At the front stood three people who had joined the Marines at different times. Though none of them had graduated yet, they already held the rank of brigadier general. They were known as representatives of the Marines' future and stood only one step away from becoming rear admirals.

That was because all three of them were Logia users.

Magma-Magma Fruit user Sakazuki was a man who looked down on everyone his age and possessed a fiery temper. Glint-Glint Fruit user Borsalino's most notable trait was his somewhat lecherous appearance and lazy demeanor. Ice-Ice Fruit user Kuzan loved sleeping and was lethargic about everything.

Though the three had different personalities, they were all immensely proud deep down—and they had every right to be.

Aside from those three monsters, the Elite Class had many other exceptional students, such as the future vice admirals Onigumo, Hōshō, and Momonga, as well as the admiral candidates Gion and Chaton.

Most importantly, none of them were over twenty. They were all between fifteen and twenty years old.

By their age, they could already have graduated. However, the Marines feared that these future prospects might die young. So even when they went out to carry out missions, they merely followed veteran vice admirals, accumulating experience. Only after the Marine higher-ups acknowledged them would they be allowed to shed their status as students.

They had only just returned during this period.

"This world is cruel. Only justice can maintain the order of the world. We Marines—"

The moment he began, Zephyr launched into a stern lecture.

Below, everyone listened until they were drowsy. Still, they forced their eyes wide open and did not dare let their attention slip, because if they were caught, what awaited them would be a spar.

That was right. Zephyr would personally spar with them. They could use every method at their disposal, and as long as they managed to injure Zephyr, congratulations—they would graduate immediately.

There had once been two people who refused to believe it and challenged Zephyr's authority: Sakazuki and Borsalino. But after every challenge, they spent a day lying in bed.

The entire time, Zephyr had only used three moves: Soru, Armament Haki, and a punch. Then the two of them were on the ground.

Whether they were magma or light, neither of them could escape.

After more than a dozen challenges, they finally backed down. Sakazuki and Borsalino both knew that before this man, even as Logia users, they had to bow their heads.

At first, neither of them accepted it. Then one day, Marine Hero Garp came looking for Zephyr and happened to witness the two challenging him. Afterward, Garp said only one thing: "You two should be grateful for Zephyr's temperament. Otherwise, you'd have been dead long ago."

From then on, though the two still felt resentful, they were no longer as reckless as before, no longer believing that being Logia users made them superior to everyone else. Still, deep down, they continued to believe that Logias were the strongest. As for Zoans and Paramecias, they generally looked down on them.

Of the three, perhaps only Kuzan seemed relatively normal. But his version of normal was laziness. Whenever he had time, he would definitely sleep, so his temperament was quite mild.

"Reporting! The six students from the regular class have arrived."

While Zephyr was speaking at length, a rear admiral brought Vergo and the other five onto the Elite Class training ground.

"Thank you for your trouble." Zephyr stopped his lecture, looked at the rear admiral who had led them over, and nodded.

"If there is nothing else, Admiral Zephyr, I will return to my duties!"

The rear admiral gave a solemn salute. It was clear that he deeply admired Zephyr.

"Go on." Zephyr's expression relaxed as he nodded warmly.

"Yes, sir."

After the rear admiral left, everyone present looked at Vergo and the other five. Their expressions varied—some were disdainful, some curious, and some indifferent.

"Today, six new students have joined the Elite Class. You six, introduce yourselves."

"Vergo."

"Ye Chen."

"Smoker."

"Hina."

"Shu."

"Very Good."

There were no sparks as imagined. After introducing themselves, the six simply stood with the others.

"Now, everyone will carry two tons. No abilities are allowed. Run one hundred laps around the training ground."

Right from the start, the former training assignment had been increased several times over.

No one resisted Zephyr's order. Without a word, they began running.

At first, everything was harmonious. Everyone ran normally, but at some point, Smoker began competing with Onigumo and the others. Then it spread to Sakazuki. Both sides were proud and arrogant, and they were also Logia users. As they pushed one another, they ran faster and faster.

The atmosphere quickly spread through the entire group. One after another, they seemed to have taken stimulants, refusing to yield to each other as they began competing.

It was obvious that Sakazuki and the others did not take Smoker's group seriously. Not only were they older than Smoker and the others, but they had already gone out to sea several times. Their experience was something Smoker could not compare to.

At most, they were bored and merely playing along.

But gradually, Sakazuki and the others became serious. Though the other side had not surpassed them, they had remained right behind them from beginning to end.

Fifty laps, seventy laps, eighty laps—both sides were drenched in sweat and beginning to gasp for breath. Yet Smoker and the others refused to admit defeat, stubbornly keeping close behind.

Sakazuki and the others, who had initially paid them no attention, suddenly became serious. If they lost to the other side, how would they ever face anyone afterward?

Since they were all proud and arrogant, they naturally had to settle who was stronger. One side wanted to leave the other far behind, while the other lowered their heads and chased desperately. Both sides were holding their breath.

Amid the boys' confrontation, there were only two harmonious spots in the entire group.