Crisis Approaches

"Grow~ Grow~"

Ainz scattered a pile of seeds and began performing a strange dance. Thick green vines rapidly reached toward Zacur, who was still putting up a desperate resistance.

"Devil Fruit user!!! Damn it, don't underestimate me!"

"Crescent Moon Slash!"

Zacur gripped Karasu with both hands and, after gathering his strength, swept it horizontally. The tough vines were cleaved in two by the strike and fell helplessly onto the deck.

"Hm! This guy's swordsmanship is pretty impressive!"

"Heh heh! This is the skill I rely on to make a living! Die, Marine!"

"Shave~"

Ain suddenly appeared beside Zacur and casually tapped him.

Pop~

That was the sound produced when Ain's ability came into contact with Zacur's body. It also meant that her ability had taken effect.

Zacur's body rapidly shrank, turning him into a young man of about twenty.

"What did you do to me?!"

Pop~

Zacur shrank again, becoming a child and losing all ability to resist. At the same time, Karasu slipped from his hand and fell onto the deck.

With a clang, it smoothly pierced the deck.

"Huh? This sword seems pretty good! Ainz, do you use swords too? Take a look and tell me what you think of it."

Ainz controlled the vines to bind another underling, then turned toward Karasu in Ain's hand. His eyes lit up.

"Let me see! Hiss~ This is Karasu, one of the Fifty Ryo Wazamono! I never thought the captain of such a small pirate crew would have such a fine sword!"

Zacur, who had turned into a child, lay on the ground and shouted furiously, "Don't touch it! Karasu is my sword!!"

Ain let out a disdainful laugh. "Shut up, pirate!"

She then looked toward Carl, who was standing with Instructor Zephyr aboard the Training Ship. I wonder if Carl would like it if I gave it to him. I've never seen him use a sword, after all.

"Um, Ain, could you let me take a look? You know, I'm a swordsman too."

Ainz pointed at Karasu in Ain's hand with a fawning smile plastered across his face.

"No. This is my spoils of war. Besides, I'm planning to give it to Carl. Are you trying to steal Carl's gift?"

Ainz froze, then muttered dejectedly, "He doesn't even use a sword! What a waste!"

Ten minutes later, a torch was thrown from the Training Ship onto the Hunting Knife Pirates' ship. Flames slowly swallowed the pirate ship as the Training Ship sailed away.

"Instructor Zephyr, the Hunting Knife Pirates had forty-seven members. Seventeen were killed in battle, and thirty were captured alive. We suffered no casualties."

Zephyr smiled and shook his head before saying to the student, who had excitedly reported the results, "No, you should report the results to your commander."

He then pointed toward Carl, who was standing nearby. Carl gave a hearty laugh and said loudly, "There's no need to report!"

"I saw everyone's performance from beginning to end with Instructor Zephyr. You were all outstanding!"

He was telling the truth. The entire battle, from start to finish, had lasted only thirty minutes, and he and Zephyr had spent just over twenty minutes chatting.

They had chatted while watching, so hadn't they truly seen everything from beginning to end?

"Carl, it's thanks to you that none of us were injured. This is the spoils of war I seized. On behalf of all our classmates, I'm giving it to you as your graduation gift!"

Ain handed Karasu, still in its scabbard, to Carl with a shy smile. The recruits around them immediately began to cheer.

"Ohhhhhh!" "Take it, Carl!" "That's right! Ain's face is already red. If you don't take it soon, you'll be able to fry an egg on her cheeks!"

Carl grinned, took Karasu from Ain's hands, and drew it with a ringing clang.

Zacur, the little boy bound tightly from head to toe, glared at Carl with venom and shouted, "That's my sword! It's mine!!!"

Unfortunately, neither Carl nor the other recruits paid any attention to his cries.

"What a fine sword! Thank you, Ain, and thank you, everyone!"

"After twenty-five days, we've achieved final victory! We're all the best!"

The recruits celebrated with smiles, throwing their arms around one another. Zephyr watched them with satisfaction. His fledgling eagles had finally sharpened their wings and were about to soar. No one was happier than he was.

"Carl was right. I saw all of your performances over these twenty-five days. Every one of you is an outstanding Marine."

"Now, I officially announce that the practical objective of the twenty-fourth Marine Training Camp has been successfully completed!"

"Woohoo!!!"

A smile played at the corners of Zephyr's mouth as he quietly waited for them to settle down. Sharp-eyed Carl noticed his expression and immediately clapped his hands.

"Everyone, quiet down! Instructor Zephyr still has something to say!"

"This boy..." Zephyr muttered under his breath before quickly breaking into a smile.

"Next, we'll return to Marine Headquarters. Each of you will be assigned under different officers, where you'll study, grow, and capture vicious pirates..."

"With that, the twenty-fourth Marine Training Camp will be disbanded. But no matter where you are, always remember that you are Marines and that you are the representatives of justice."

"Now, raise the sails! Our destination is Marineford!"

The recruits all saluted Zephyr in unison and shouted loudly.

"Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"

On the sea not far away, a small vessel sailed slowly across the waves.

"Grrrroooowl~"

A tall, burly, ugly man with a crescent-shaped white mustache lowered his head and said to the short dwarf woman beneath him, "Mom, I'm so hungry. I want something to eat!"

The man was fat and had snot running from his nose, making him look none too bright. He also carried a several-meter-long sword in his hand.

Miss Bakkin said impatiently, "Eat, eat, eat! All you know how to do is eat all day! I worked so hard to save some money, and it all went toward buying food for you!"

"Ahh! Mom, I'm sorry! But I'm really hungry!"

"We'll reach Autumn Island in one more day. Be a good boy and listen to your mother. Just endure it a little longer."

Weevil rubbed his growling stomach with a miserable expression. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a Marine flag appearing on the horizon, and his eyes immediately lit up.

"Ah! Mom, look! There's a big ship over there! It must have food!"

Miss Bakkin followed Weevil's pointing finger and looked over. There really did seem to be a ship. Wait, was that white?

"You stupid son, that's the Marines. Hmm? Something's not right. It looks a little different. Wait, let me take a look."

Miss Bakkin ran into the cabin on her short legs and came back out with a telescope, a disdainful laugh escaping her lips.

"Tch, it's only a Training Ship! You scared me half to death. Good boy, hurry and steer us over there. There's bound to be plenty of delicious food aboard!"

White vapor burst from Weevil's nostrils. Without a word, he ran to the helm and steered the vessel toward the Training Ship, his eyes filled with longing.

Longing for food...