Emergency Mission

Sengoku's voice trembled slightly.

He had never seen anyone like this before. He could do nothing, yet he had mastered Conqueror's Haki and even achieved the advanced technique of coating, something only the strongest people of the era possessed.

"Only stunning Sakazuki without harming anyone else nearby."

"His control over Conqueror's Haki is incredibly skilled!"

Zephyr agreed.

They were both among the strongest people of the era, so they could naturally make precise judgments.

The Three Monsters of the Navy's younger generation were indeed powerful, but they were still young. They had not joined the Navy for long—especially Kuzan, who had only been a Marine for two years.

Yet even they found it difficult to withstand Conqueror's Haki of this level. Even stronger flag officers would struggle to bear it.

After calming his excitement and shock, Sengoku looked into the distance. Garp was raising his fist and lecturing the black-haired youth. Sengoku suddenly laughed, his expression filled with emotion.

Kuzan and Borsalino were anxiously and nervously slapping Sakazuki's cheeks while calling for a medic.

"Sakazuki, twenty-eight years old."

"Borsalino, thirty-one years old."

"The two of them joined the Navy in the same year. Both are your students."

"Kuzan is younger, at twenty-two."

Taking a deep breath, Sengoku's eyes fell once more on the youth clutching his head and crying out in pain.

"And Garp's disciple, Xia Le, is seventeen."

"Yet he already possesses a starting point beyond that of the other three."

"With proper training and guidance..."

A smile suddenly bloomed across Sengoku's face.

"I can already see the Navy's future. How glorious it will be. I can see what the younger generation will look like after they mature—a stronger era for the Navy."

Zephyr stood there blankly, seemingly lost in thought.

"Zephyr, the responsibility of teaching the younger generation will have to fall on your shoulders. That fellow Garp is too careless by nature and completely unsuitable for teaching. I'm worried Xia Le will go astray."

Sengoku sighed and looked ahead.

The medics carried Sakazuki away on a stretcher.

"I understand."

Zephyr nodded.

The two of them then turned and left.

G-5 Fortress Base soon erupted into chaos.

"Sakazuki lost?"

"A rookie arrived and took Sakazuki out in one move. I heard he's Vice Admiral Garp's disciple!"

"Another Monster?"

The brief battle spread in the shortest time. Before long, the entire base was talking about Xia Le.

"What a terrifying Monster, Mr. Xia Le."

Borsalino clicked his tongue in amazement, wonder filling his eyes.

That terrifying aura had been impossible for him to understand. He had only felt his very soul tremble, unable to resist.

Sakazuki, who had joined the Navy alongside him years ago, had been knocked down in a single exchange.

"If that's not a Monster, then what is?"

"Mr. Borsalino is the real Monster."

Xia Le smiled.

Kuzan sat to the side, rubbing his forehead with an exasperated look.

He glanced at the black-haired youth beside him. The two bumps on Xia Le's head were especially conspicuous. Together, they looked like a black gourd had been embedded in his skull.

"By the way, Kuzan, have you heard the news?"

Borsalino asked with a sly smile.

"What news?"

Kuzan asked in confusion.

"A commendation from Headquarters for outstanding Marines."

Borsalino continued smiling.

Kuzan froze.

"It will most likely be aimed at the three of us."

"Of course, now that I think about it, Mr. Xia Le will probably be included too."

Borsalino grinned.

Kuzan was stunned when he heard this, but he said nothing.

"It might be a Devil Fruit."

Borsalino licked his lips.

Kuzan's expression finally changed. "That really is astonishing news."

Xia Le listened silently, but he was inwardly shocked by the news.

If this commendation truly involved Devil Fruits, that meant the future Three Admirals would obtain their signature fruits soon.

In his previous life, many people had fiercely debated when the Three Admirals had acquired their Devil Fruit Powers.

Some said the three of them had eaten their fruits by chance before joining the Navy. Others claimed that while serving as Marines, they had somehow obtained three Logia Devil Fruits and risen above the rest, earning the title of Monsters.

There was another theory as well.

It claimed that after entering the Navy, the Three Admirals had been hailed as Monsters because of their strength. The Navy had then arranged for them to receive three Logia Devil Fruits.

All three possibilities were plausible, but Xia Le leaned toward the last one.

The channel through which CP9 obtained Devil Fruits proved that the World Government actually possessed powerful control over them. At the same time, many powerful officers in Marine Headquarters also possessed Devil Fruit Powers.

From this, he could make a preliminary deduction: the Navy possessed the authority to distribute Devil Fruits.

If the fruits had all been obtained by the individuals themselves, it would have been far too coincidental. It made more sense for the Navy to distribute them.

"Will they really be given three Logia Devil Fruits?"

Xia Le also felt puzzled.

In his previous life, WT had never explained the source of the Three Admirals' Devil Fruit Powers, leaving anime fans to speculate.

But the world he had transmigrated into was more realistic. It was hard to say whether it would differ from the original story, and his own butterfly effect might change certain things.

"Besides, things have been boiling over recently in the New World, especially in the Edd War Waters!"

"A battle between the Pirates will probably be unavoidable."

Borsalino spoke solemnly again.

"The whole world's attention is focused there. Headquarters is even being guarded by Fleet Admiral Kong, ready for anything."

Kuzan's expression also grew serious when he heard this.

Xia Le continued listening silently from the side.

He knew the battle in the Edd War Waters very well. It had been the most dangerous battle the Roger Pirates had ever fought, and they had nearly perished under Golden Lion Shiki's encirclement.

That battle also showed how terrifying the three legendary Pirates of this era were.

Their strength was almost evenly matched.

Golden Lion was at the peak of his power then, and his forces were nearly the strongest among the three legends.

Over the next few days, G-5 Fortress remained calm.

But Xia Le could clearly sense the atmosphere of an approaching storm, because troops from Headquarters were continuously gathering there.

He silently trained in the Six Powers while waiting for the Navy's high command to issue the order to move.

"The Three Legendary Pirates."

"I can hardly wait."

Chapter 14: Emergency Mission

Xia Le had a very clear understanding of his own strength.

His Conqueror's Haki was level 85, already close to max level. He could say without false modesty that it was at the pinnacle of the era. Anyone lacking courage, firm resolve, or sufficient strength would be unable to withstand even a single Shockwave.

His Conqueror's Haki had even reached the point where it could damage physical matter.

In terms of its outward display, it was no weaker than that of Red-Haired Shanks, one of the future Four Emperors.

But his foundation was his greatest weakness.

"His physical fitness is at the level of a Major."

"But his combat experience, Hand-to-Hand Combat, and Swordsmanship..."

"They're an absolute mess."

Xia Le shook his head.

Over the past few days, he had often sparred with Kuzan, and the results had been miserable.

Without using Conqueror's Haki, he was practically beaten black and blue. Whether it was combat experience or his ability to seize openings, the gap between them was enormous.

"Becoming stronger isn't something that happens overnight. It's the accumulation of talent, effort, sweat, and blood."

"There's no need to rush. I still have to build a solid foundation."

Xia Le said inwardly.

Fortunately, although his irresponsible teacher Garp was nowhere to be seen, he now had a more professional and responsible teacher every morning.

Black Arm Zephyr!

"Possessing powerful talent only means you can start higher than others."

"But that isn't a reason for you to slack off. No one can become stronger without working hard."

With his arms crossed and his presence stern, Zephyr faced the Rising Sun and shouted in a deep voice.

"Your physical fitness is excellent. You've already reached Superhuman Level. As long as you train diligently, you should also be able to master the Six Powers quickly."

"But experience can only be accumulated through repeated battles and life-and-death tempering."

Xia Le nodded silently.

Although he had become stronger quickly, that strength had all been obtained after experiencing the pain of death again and again.

He had earned it!

No one wanted to experience death!

"I'll teach you Hand-to-Hand Combat in greater detail."

"I also hope you'll remember that powerful strength is a means of realizing the Justice and ambitions in your heart, not a tool for committing evil."

Zephyr shouted.

A more professional teacher meant faster improvement.

Targeted training made things much easier for Xia Le.

On the fourth day, he mastered Shave. Then, on the fifth day, he gained an initial grasp of Tempest Kick.

The Six Powers were actually difficult because of their demands on physical fitness. Their principles themselves were not complicated. Otherwise, Luffy could not have quickly developed Gear Second and mastered a method of rapid movement during his battle with CP9.

On the sixth day, Xia Le gained some insight into Shigan, but he still could not control it properly.