A Dazzling Free-for-All

"This kid has given me quite a surprise."

Seated at the head of the table, Kong was very satisfied with Ye Chen's match. From the looks of it, Doberman was not yet qualified to force out the kid's full strength. Perhaps only Sakazuki and the other two could squeeze out all his power.

"I've kept an eye on this guy for a while. He trains hard. As Zephyr said, his willpower is strong, and his potential is high." Tsuru looked somewhat serious. She still remembered how highly Zephyr had regarded him when they first met.

He had even compared him to Sakazuki and the other two. At the time, Tsuru had not paid much attention to it, but after Ye Chen's first battle with Sakazuki, she had started observing him. Ye Chen's daily training afterward had truly made her understand Zephyr's assessment.

This guy definitely had the potential to become an Admiral.

Tsuru was not the only one. Sengoku and Garp had also looked into him. In their eyes, Ye Chen was no different from Sakazuki and the other two now. They were all on the same level.

"Fleet Admiral Kong, perhaps someday, you'll need to ask the Five Elders for one more Admiral position. If the Navy has Four Admirals then, those pirates won't dare be so rampant!"

Sengoku seemed to see the Future as he slapped the table.

"We'll talk about it when the time comes. It's still too early." Kong gave no answer and merely sighed.

The others were the same. The Navy's situation was not as good as it appeared on the surface. Setting aside the pirates outside, the restrictions from Mary Geoise alone left the Navy constrained at every turn.

That was right. To keep the Navy from slipping out of their control, the Five Elders had long begun suppressing its development in certain ways—through funding, through promising recruits. In short, they would never allow the Navy to develop independently.

Zephyr, who sincerely served the Navy, also sighed for no reason. They understood many things clearly, yet they were unable to change them.

"The second match: Smoker versus Onigumo."

Below, the second match had already begun. It was unexpectedly Smoker against Onigumo.

Likewise, before taking the field, Smoker had removed his weights, because his opponent was strong.

The two went all out from the very start. This time, all eight of Onigumo's arms held weapons, making him look especially fierce.

But Smoker was no pushover. Even against Onigumo's eight-sword style, he fought him to a standstill without falling behind in the slightest.

Thick smoke rose behind Smoker, forming more than a dozen smoky fists. They packed the air as they collided with Onigumo.

More importantly, those smoky fists could transform into all kinds of weapons. Onigumo's advantage of having eight arms vanished in an instant.

"Go, Smoker! You're the strongest!"

In the stands, Hina and the other two had somehow gotten their hands on a megaphone. With their cheeks puffed out, they shouted at the top of their lungs, completely drowning out the cheers for Onigumo.

Encouraged by Hina and the others' shouts, Smoker's face turned red as he fought more fiercely and fiercely, nearly making Onigumo curse aloud.

"What pure friendship!"

"Those were such nostalgic days."

"We used to be like that too, full of hot blood."

Eating donuts, Garp, Sengoku, and the others watched with great interest as the trainees cheered for Smoker on one side while arguing with those cheering for Onigumo on the other. It was as if even the battle below could not compare.

That was because the two camps in the stands were now loudly cursing at each other.

One side cheered for Smoker, while the other cheered for Onigumo. Neither was willing to give in, and at some point, the two sides had started arguing.

Mist Sea.

With a sudden eruption, Smoker exploded, and the entire arena was covered by a layer of haze.

Just like Smoker's first battle, the sounds of clashing weapons and collisions came from within. Only those with powerful Observation Haki knew the exact situation of the fight inside.

Ten minutes later, the mist dispersed, revealing a desolate scene. Smoker and Onigumo lay in a huge crater, covered in blood and breathing heavily.

Both of them stared wide-eyed, gritting their teeth as they tried to stand. But after trying again and again, they still failed.

"Go, Smoker! Go, Smoker! Get up! You're the best!"

Hina had completely abandoned her image. Holding a huge megaphone, she planted her long right leg on a chair and shouted.

"Smoker is the best!"

Behind her, Shu and Very Good also held megaphones. Ignoring the strange looks around them, they roared with serious expressions.

Hina and the other two looked somewhat comical, even ridiculous, but many people envied Smoker, because the three of them were true friends.

Even Vergo in the arena cheered for him.

"You can do it." Ye Chen also spoke coldly. His voice was soft, but Smoker could hear it.

"I'm sorry, but I can't lose to you. Otherwise, where would my friends put their faces?"

On the field, Smoker's face was deathly pale. He grinned at Onigumo and slowly began to rise, enduring his body on the verge of collapse as he staggered to his feet.

Onigumo gritted his teeth and wanted to stand as well, but his body had already slipped beyond his control.

"Oh! I knew you could do it, Smoker!"

In the stands, Hina, Shu, and Very Good cheered even more excitedly than Smoker himself. Anyone who did not know better would have thought the three of them had won.

"Smoker wins!"

It was still that Major referee. He stepped onto the field and raised Smoker's hand, even sighing softly, "You have some good friends."

"I think so too!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Smoker collapsed toward the Major. He clearly could not hold on any longer.

Immediately afterward, medics began treating the two of them.

"The third match: Kuzan versus Hōshō."

There were no surprises. Even though Hōshō used all his strength, he still lost in the end.

"The fourth match: Vergo versus Chaton."

"The fifth match: Borsalino versus Gion."

"The sixth match: Sakazuki—"

One match after another began. The battles were exceptionally fierce. As long as they did not encounter the strongest few, the matches were generally thrilling.

After a full day of matches, the final results were more or less clear.

Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan, Ye Chen, Vergo, and Smoker were currently the strongest among the trainees. Other than Smoker being a little weaker than the top five, the other five would likely claim the top five spots outright.

One had to know that the rewards for the top five were the most generous.

Therefore, tomorrow's battles would be the most anticipated part of this graduation ceremony.

Night fell, and the stars shone brightly. From time to time, a shooting star streaked across the sky. By the shore, Ye Chen sat there, gazing at the stars, lost in thought.

Tonight, he did not train, because tomorrow's battles would definitely be intense. He had to remain in peak condition, so he had even removed his weights.

He had made up his mind. Tomorrow, he would go all out. He would make Kong and the others recognize his worth, while also seeing just how strong he really was.

He had buried himself in training for a long time. It was time for him to go out and see the world.

He had to find a way home. No matter what, he had to see his father and mother again.

Looking at the stars, Ye Chen's hope was slim, but his heart was filled with stubborn determination.

He did not want wealth, power, or beautiful women. He only wanted to go home, taste his mother's cooking again, hear his father's scolding, and say the words that had been delayed for more than ten years: "I'm sorry."