Leaving

Zephyr raised the roaring Crusher, making the ground cave in beneath him as he smashed it toward Wuli.

"Bang!"

"Rumble!"

Wuli and Zephyr clashed, and the aftershocks of their battle made it difficult for the weaker people to even keep their eyes open.

Zephyr was no weaker than Shuzo—if anything, he was stronger.

Shuzo's earlier attack had caught Wuli off guard. Otherwise, although Wuli could not have defeated Shuzo, he would not have lost so quickly.

As for Zephyr, his fight with Wuli was more like an instructive sparring match, just as when he had trained Smoker, Hina, and the others.

Smoker, Hina, and the others had realized this as soon as the fight began, smiles appearing at the corners of their mouths.

Wuli also began to notice it during the battle and took the opportunity to gain more experience.

After dozens of exchanges, Wuli ultimately still lost.

Zephyr's breathing was somewhat labored, and sweat covered his forehead. This instructive battle had consumed a great deal of his stamina.

He took out several pills and swallowed them, then sighed. "Heroes truly emerge from the young."

Seeing the worry on Ain's face, Zephyr waved a hand to tell her not to worry.

He then arranged for someone to take Morgan away, while others went to rebuild the damaged buildings.

Wuli, Hina, and the others followed Zephyr back to the dojo where the NEO Marines were temporarily staying.

"Hina, Smoker, you two come with me," Zephyr said after a moment of silence.

"Yes, Instructor Z," Hina replied seriously.

With that, she headed into the dojo with Smoker.

"Did you find the maps I wanted?" Zephyr asked as he sat down.

"This is the map you wanted, teacher." Hina took out a map. It was very old and seemed to have some age to it.

Zephyr accepted it and examined it carefully for a few moments before nodding.

Smoker, standing beside him, also took out a map. It was very new, with the faint scent of ink still lingering on it.

"Teacher, why did you suddenly want to collect these maps? What are they for?" Smoker asked.

Hina also raised her head to look at her former mentor. Time had left frost at his temples.

Ever since that incident, her teacher seemed to have become a different person. Questioning the Marines, he had resolutely left them and founded the present NEO Marines.

"They have their use. One day, I will find him. I will wipe out those pirates still roaming free," Zephyr said in a low voice, hatred flickering in his eyes.

"Him"? Revenge?

Hina and Smoker suddenly fell silent. They had only thought he intended to use the maps to find and eliminate that Shichibukai.

During their days at the dojo, perhaps out of a desire to express some apology,

Shuzo often came to spar with Wuli. More accurately, he acted as Wuli's training partner and whetstone.

Of course, Wuli did not spar only with Shuzo. He had also traded blows with Zephyr, Ain, and the others.

Over those days, his swordsmanship became even more refined, and he also used the reward the system had given him—the Swordsmanship Esoterica Scroll.

So when Wuli checked his system interface now, some changes had appeared in his stats.

Sword Master: Lv2 (122/500)

Name: Wuli

Skills: Shigure Soen Ryu (Esoterica), Floating Rain Divine Wind Sword (88%)

Chivalry Points: 53

Mission: Participate in and pass the World Military Draft (200)

After staying for three days, Smoker and Tashigi left the dojo and headed to the G-5 Branch in the New World to take up their posts.

Before leaving, Tashigi specifically came to bid Wuli farewell and told him not to get cheated by the unscrupulous merchants at weapon shops again.

Wuli could neither laugh nor cry at that, and could only nod in agreement.

Not long after Smoker and the others left, Hina, Wuli, and the others also prepared to depart for the Marine Headquarters being rebuilt in the New World.

Wuli's recommended slot for the World Military Draft had already been settled. Smoker had recommended him.

As the sun set, the sky still burned with orange-red clouds. The sea, too, had been dyed golden by the glow.

After bidding Zephyr farewell, Hina and her group returned to the warship and set sail.

Listening to the gentle swishing of the waves and feeling the fresh, cool sea breeze, they immediately felt refreshed and at ease.

An even more exciting journey lay ahead!