Class Assignment Test (2)

The Doriki Value test ended, with nearly thirty people deemed unqualified.

Zephyr stepped onto the raised platform again, his sharp gaze sweeping over those who remained.

"Second round: pressure resistance test!" His voice was icy. "It's simple. Endure my presence. Anyone who falls is disqualified!"

Before his words had even faded, a terrifying aura descended with a thunderous crash!

It was not Conqueror's Haki, but something even purer and more condensed—an iron-blooded killing intent honed through mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

The air seemed to turn viscous in an instant. Countless phantom sounds of battlefield slaughter exploded beside their ears, and horrific visions of rivers of blood even appeared before their eyes!

Thud! Thud!

In just an instant, nearly a hundred recruits went pale and collapsed in waves like wheat cut by a scythe. Some even foamed at the mouth and passed out on the spot.

Rosinante's entire body shook violently, sweat streaming down from his temples like rivulets. Yet he clenched his teeth and planted his feet into the ground like nails, refusing to fall! Hina, T Bone, and the others wore equally grave expressions as they resisted with all their might.

Only Smoker, though under immense pressure as well, remained standing straight. His face was filled with unyielding defiance.

Most of his attention was focused on the figure at the very back of the group, who was "trembling violently" under the corner of his eye. He wanted to see for himself just how long this monster intended to keep acting!

At the very back of the formation, Rayne perfectly played the role of an ordinary elite with strong willpower.

His legs trembled uncontrollably in a highly deliberate rhythm. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead at just the right time, and his breathing grew heavy. He looked like a small tree in a raging storm, ready to snap at any moment, yet stubbornly holding firm.

In truth, his mind was perfectly clear.

"So that's how it is... This isn't Conqueror's Haki." Rayne calmly analyzed the terrifying aura Zephyr had released. "It lacks that innate 'kingly disposition.' This is more like... pure killing intent and will, forged through countless life-and-death battles into the presence unique to the strong."

He compared the two in secret. Interesting. If Conqueror's Haki is an inborn talent, then is this something like a Pseudo-Conqueror's Haki cultivated after birth?

Even as he analyzed, he did not forget to continue his performance.

"Mm, increase the frequency of my leg tremors a little more, and make my expression thirty percent more pained. That should do it."

When the aura dissipated, fewer than a hundred people remained standing.

"Third round: practical combat assessment!" Zephyr announced. "One-on-one combat with an instructor, limited to one minute! I'm not looking at victory or defeat—I'm looking at your potential!"

Smoker's opponent was Instructor Iron Jaw. Smoker took the initiative, constantly harassing and restraining him with the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, then following up with his powerful hand-to-hand combat. The two fought back and forth, and Smoker even forced the instructor to take a step back in the end. His performance was rated exceptional.

Rayne's opponent, meanwhile, was an ordinary Marine Headquarters major who taught hand-to-hand combat.

He completely abandoned his [Top-tier] swordsmanship and Shooting, using only the simplest fighting techniques.

The Marine Headquarters major was naturally quite capable, but before Rayne's [Peak] Observation Haki—

Every attack from the instructor seemed like a slow-motion movie scene in Rayne's perception. From the exertion of his muscles, to the shift of his center of gravity, to the trajectory of his next attack, every detail was crystal clear. His openings were everywhere.

This is too difficult... Rayne complained inwardly. Deliberately exposing openings and forcing myself to get hit in front of a slow-motion machine covered head to toe in weak points is a hundred times harder than one-shotting him!

The battle began.

Rayne "clumsily" twisted to the left, barely avoiding the instructor's straight punch. Then he "frantically" raised an arm, just managing to block the following roundhouse kick.

During the latter half of the fight, he seized an opening the opponent carelessly exposed after a string of attacks and luckily landed a punch on the instructor's shoulder.

Then, near the end, his stamina supposedly gave out and his reaction was half a beat too slow. The instructor kicked him in the chest, sending him staggering back several steps, but he stubbornly remained standing.

"Solid fundamentals and commendable willpower, but severely lacking in practical combat experience. His reaction speed also needs improvement." The instructor gave his final assessment. "Overall rating: above average."

Once all the tests were over, the final class assignment list was posted on the bulletin board.

Smoker, Hina, T Bone, and a small number of other elites entered the Monster Class without any suspense. A large number of people were assigned to the Elite Class. Those with dreadful test results walked dejectedly toward the Reserve Class area.

Instructor Iron Jaw stood before the list and began announcing the names loudly.

When he read, "Rayne... Elite Class!"

Rayne wore a suitably relieved expression. He blended into the large group of Elite Class students, utterly inconspicuous.

Meanwhile, he was already calculating what delicious Sea Kings dishes the Elite Class cafeteria would have for lunch.

At noon after the class assignment test, all the recruits, regardless of which class they had been assigned to, flooded toward the same enormous central cafeteria.

Since it was the first day of class assignments and logistics had not yet had time to make adjustments, everyone was still eating from the same communal pots.

With the pleasant expectation of "bidding farewell to the past and welcoming a new life," Rayne stood in line amidst the crowd.

"It's finally over."

Rayne's heart was full of anticipation for the future. After eating pig slop in Loguetown for over a year, the Marine Headquarters cafeteria—and at the Elite Training Camp, no less—has to be different, right? The legendary Sea Kings cuisine, here I come!

He looked at the enormous soup cauldron at the serving window, as large as a small boat, imagining tender, juicy Sea Kings steaks bubbling within, packed with protein.

Yet when the cafeteria lady scooped down with her ladle and heavily dumped a serving onto his tray, Rayne's smile froze.

It was a ladleful of gray, sticky stew whose ingredients were utterly unidentifiable, giving off an overpowering fishy stench.

Rayne looked around. He discovered that not only the Elite Class, but even the high-spirited members of the Monster Class, including Smoker, had exactly the same thing on their trays: that gray, indescribable stew.

Rayne broke down on the spot.

"What kind of joke is this?! This is Sea Kings cuisine? This is clearly protein feed made by tossing Sea Kings meat, bones, and organs into a pot with unidentified vegetables and boiling it for three hours!"

Staring at the pile of food before him, where he could not even tell what ingredients it contained, Rayne spun his tray around two or three times and still had no idea where to start.

"This is practically a crime! An open desecration of premium ingredients! I ate takeaway cooked in gutter oil for ten years in my previous life and was never subjected to this kind of indignity!"

Still, Rayne tried to comfort himself. Today was, after all, the first day after the class assignments. They were probably all being served Reserve Class food for now. Once tomorrow came, everything would get better... right?

In the end, under the repeated protests of his empty stomach, Rayne pinched his nose shut, closed his eyes, and poured that indescribable food down his throat mouthful by mouthful as if drinking bitter medicine.

Unexpectedly, once that "feed" entered his stomach, an intense sense of fullness mixed with astonishing heat rapidly spread outward from his gut.

Rayne froze.

"This stuff... may taste like a specialty from hell, but the effects are genuinely good."

Rayne analyzed it objectively in his mind. The ingredients are indeed substantial. The energy it contains far exceeds ordinary food, and it's greatly beneficial for recovering after high-intensity training.

But the moment that rational thought arose, another voice filled with irritation and resistance roared from the depths of his heart.

"But eating this stuff every day?! What kind of joke is that!"

"How is this any different from turning myself into a machine for the sake of KPIs? My body may be getting stronger, but isn't living all about satisfying this appetite? Eat this for a year, and I'll definitely get depression!!"