Results Announcement!

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

Three days later, on the island's shore.

The horn signaling the end of the assessment had sounded for quite a while, and the recruits slowly gathered along the beach.

They were all injured to varying degrees. Some even needed support from others just to stand steadily, looking like a ragtag army that had suffered a crushing defeat.

The assembly horn continued to blare as recruits emerged from the forest one after another.

"Hey, how many points did you get?"

"No idea. I didn't recognize a lot of the animals."

As the assembled recruits chatted, they secretly glanced at Loa at the front.

The site where Loa had fought the Silverback Great Ape had been discovered on the morning of the second day. Once the news spread, it traveled far and wide. Some recruits who learned about it even abandoned their targets to go take a look first.

The hundred-meter-long claw marks had left ugly scars across the forest. Everything around them had been frozen. Though this was Summer Island, it felt as cold as East Island. Countless animals and insects that had failed to escape remained frozen in their final poses, turned into ice sculptures. The scene was beautiful, yet terrifying.

An icy hell!

That was the only description the recruits could think of.

But later, it became the campsite for most of the recruits. At mealtimes and during breaks, they would return there to set up camp.

Whether it was the dragon's might Loa had released after his "First Release," or the lingering aura left behind by the Silverback Great Ape, both kept the island's animals from approaching. Not even the sound of insects could be heard there.

They did not have to worry about being attacked by wild beasts at night. Was there a better place to rest in the forest?

This was supposed to be a Combat Assessment, yet the recruits had turned it into something like a group outing. Zephyr had been so angry that his expression had not brightened for days.

"So scary... Are we really going to fight that guy?" Remembering Zephyr's words, the recruits all felt as though they had been tricked. Back then, everyone had gleefully prepared to teach Loa a lesson, but judging by the strength he had displayed so far, wouldn't anyone who challenged him just be throwing their life away?

"It should be fine, right? I heard it'll be one-on-one wheel battles. We can wear him down eventually." Someone explained, though he did not sound convinced himself.

"No, I heard it'll be a group battle. If it's one-on-one, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out before Loa gets tired. He's a Zoan Devil Fruit user."

The recruit who had spoken earlier had no response. In that case, it really was very possible.

Although Zoan Devil Fruits were regarded as the weakest type on the seas, it was undeniable that, in terms of endurance alone, the other two types could not compare.

And looking at Loa's performance in training, his title as the number one in physical fitness at Recruit Camp was no empty boast.

Loa stood at the front of the formation, bored out of his mind and thinking about his barbecue. The assembly horn had sounded, and all soldiers had to gather immediately. He did not dare disobey military orders just to continue his grand barbecue project. He could only hope that his kick had successfully put out the fire when he left, so it would not burn to a crisp.

Momonga and the other officers stood before him, all looking at him with surprise and goodwill.

They had also visited that battlefield. The claw marks, the huge craters, the collapsed thick trees, and the bloodstains scattered across the ice all proved just how fierce the battle had been.

Although Loa had caused quite a commotion and even forced the assessment to be suspended for a day, they had no choice but to admit that he already possessed strength capable of matching theirs.

In terms of destructive power alone, among the vice admirals present, only the powerhouse vice admirals from Headquarters could compare to him.

"If he can maintain that state at any time, that would be terrifying."

Many vice admirals thought this to themselves. They had not seen Loa's final battle against the Silverback Great Ape, but after this incident, a little inquiry was enough to reveal that Loa's explosive ultimate move could greatly increase his strength and speed.

After all, when Loa had developed that move, he had not hidden it from anyone. Several Elite Camp members who often trained in the plaza had even watched him succeed step by step.

With a Mythical Zoan Giant Dragon Fruit and such rapid growth, as long as Loa did not die young, surpassing them in the future was practically guaranteed.

Even at worst, as long as he could maintain the strength he had shown against the Silverback Great Ape, becoming a vice admiral would be certain.

With such qualities, the vice admirals naturally showed Loa goodwill. They no longer regarded him as a mere rookie.

In this world, a big fist earned respect anywhere.

Soon, half a day passed.

The patrol team carried the last group of recruits out of the forest and sent them to the infirmary. A school officer ran to Zephyr's side and saluted. "Reporting to the Chief Instructor! All personnel have assembled!"

"Mm." Zephyr nodded and accepted the report from the school officer.

The first page contained battle statistics. During this assessment, seventy-five recruits had been seriously injured, while the lightly injured were too numerous to count. Nearly everyone had suffered some sort of injury, though fortunately, no one had died.

Zephyr gave it a rough look before setting it aside and picking up the second sheet for a careful examination. It listed the calculated scores. Through this, he could basically determine the strength of this batch of recruits.

However, the results made Zephyr sigh deeply. He waved a hand and gave the order, "Once the final scores are compiled, announce them immediately."

"Yes!" The school officer took the report and ran off.

Zephyr stood on the deck, his gaze fixed on Loa, who stood in a loose, slouching posture. His expression gave away neither joy nor anger.

"Has the new generation of Marines already become this weak?"

More than half an hour later, the results had completed their final review.

A burst of footsteps sounded from ahead. The recruits swiftly raised their heads and puffed out their chests, staring straight ahead as they prepared to welcome this important moment.

The major general instructor at the front first saluted the vice admirals, then turned toward the recruits with a solemn expression.

"At ease! Attention!"

"Next, your current assessment results will be announced. All personnel! The first four rows, squat down!"

Rustle—

A synchronized series of footsteps rang out as the first four rows of the formation immediately squatted down. Seeing this, the major general nodded in satisfaction and had the school officers behind him turn on the projector, displaying the images on the long curtain that had been drawn open.

Buzz!

The Den Den Mushi let out a low hum and began working. One image after another appeared on the curtain.

The recruits held their breath nervously as they searched for their names. Some were overjoyed when they saw their scores, while others bit their lips tightly.

Loa was the same as them, except he was looking for first place.

Soon, he found his target at the very top.

"Tony Mill. Score: 1795. Rank: First."

For most recruits, 1,795 points was already an inhumanly terrifying score. The Stone Drum Bull Loa had encountered, whose hide even muskets could not penetrate, was worth only fifty points.

If ordinary recruits encountered a Stone Drum Bull, they would probably not even have time to run, much less turn it into their own points.

Yet this Tony Mill had needed to kill more than thirty Stone Drum Bulls in three days to achieve such a score.

Loa had some impression of him. He was the top recruit of the third squad. Before joining the Marines, he had been the owner of a swordsmanship dojo on some island. He had reportedly joined the Marines for revenge after pirates destroyed his town.

He was extremely battle-hungry and unwilling to fall behind anyone. On his first day after joining, he defeated the former top recruit of the third squad and became the new number one. He had held that position firmly ever since, with no one able to shake it.

But even so, Loa shared Zephyr's opinion: far too weak.

The top recruits of previous Recruit Camp classes had all been genuine monsters. Tony was indeed strong among the recruits, but compared with those past classes, he was nowhere close.

Loa had once secretly asked Zephyr how many points Kuzan had scored in his assessment. The answer had stunned him, leaving him only able to repeatedly marvel that a Logia Devil Fruit truly was a Logia Devil Fruit, blessed with unparalleled advantages.