People in the Grand Line, Watching Roger's Execution at the Start

That was why Atlas, a pure physical powerhouse, inspired a strange fondness in him.

"Kid, I have high hopes for you. You have the potential to become a future Marine Admiral, hahaha..." Zephyr patted Atlas heavily on the shoulder, a proud look on his face.

"Of course! I'm going to become the World's Strongest Man!"

Digging a Hole

The early-morning sunlight was not harsh. The rolling waves tirelessly pounded the shore again and again. On a massive reef by the water, Atlas sat quietly with his upper body bare, staring blankly into the distance. His thoughts, however, were focused on his recent training.

Atlas had been training in the Six Powers for some time. Although his proficiency with them was already quite high, he had recently encountered a bottleneck. He had plenty of familiarity, but his understanding of the Six Powers was still too shallow, and he had been unable to develop any derivative techniques.

"So? Have you hit a bottleneck in your Six Powers training?" Zephyr's office was not luxurious; in fact, it was rather plain. A plaque bearing the words "Justice Without Killing" hung on the wall opposite the desk. An old sofa sat beside it, looking as though it had been there for years. Shuzo was sitting leisurely on the sofa, his rough face thoughtful, as if he was troubled by something concerning the Recruit Camp.

Atlas sat upright across from Zephyr's desk, quietly waiting for his answer.

"Well then, spar with me a few times first. Let me see your current level." Zephyr pondered for a while before suggesting a match with Atlas. After all, actual combat was the most direct way to assess Atlas's progress in the Six Powers.

"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Teacher Zephyr." Atlas naturally would not refuse such an opportunity. Having a top-tier powerhouse serve as a sparring partner and instructor was something many people could only dream of.

Shuzo also looked interested when he saw this. He was extremely curious about Atlas's progress. After all, several months ago, even without using Armament Haki, he had truly been unable to defeat Atlas. Atlas's monstrous physique and strength had left a deep impression on him.

"Teacher Zephyr, be careful!" Once the two of them had taken their positions on the training field, Atlas could not help reminding him.

"Hahahaha, you brat, attack me with everything you've got!" Zephyr laughed heartily. He casually tossed the Justice cloak from his back to Shuzo, revealing his powerful muscles.

Shave! Iron Body Fist: Divine Strength!

The moment Zephyr finished speaking, Atlas took the initiative. He stepped forward in a low stance and drove his right fist straight toward Zephyr's chest. The tremendous force even caused the air to erupt with a violent boom!

"Good attack!" Zephyr was not intimidated in the slightest. He met fist with fist, and a thunderous explosion immediately kicked up dust around them.

"Again!" Atlas shook his numb arm, his fighting spirit soaring as he charged forward once more.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The fierce clashes rang out across the training field, making the recruits watching from the side feel their scalps tingle. They had always believed Atlas was strong, but they had never had a direct sense of just how strong he was. After witnessing his match against Zephyr today, they finally gained a concrete understanding of his power.

After all, Zephyr was the Black Arm Admiral! Even though he had retired early, it did not change the fact that his strength still remained at its peak. The realization dealt a heavy blow to the surrounding recruits. How could the gap between people be so enormous?

Shuzo's eyes lit up when he saw the expressions on the recruits' faces, as if he had suddenly solved a difficult problem.

"Hahaha, exhilarating!"

"Finger Pistol!"

"Iron Body!"

Indeed, Iron Body differed from person to person. Atlas's Finger Pistol struck Zephyr's body like ordinary blades clashing against steel. It merely broke through his skin before being unable to advance another inch.

"My turn now, kid! Hahaha..." Seeing that Atlas's Finger Pistol had accomplished nothing, Zephyr could not help teasing him, though his hands never stopped moving.

Life Return: Kami-e: Martial Body! Shave!

Zephyr's original height of three meters and forty-eight centimeters rapidly shrank. His muscles seemed to have been crushed beneath a hydraulic press, becoming like tempered steel forged through countless hammer blows. His entire body gave off a compact, powerful impression.

Then he vanished from Atlas's sight. His speed was so great that even Atlas's Observation Haki, activated to its limit, failed to react.

Danger! Danger!

Suddenly, a black shadow loomed behind Atlas. The warning from his Observation Haki frantically urged him to leave, but before he could turn around, a massive iron fist slammed toward his back.

Iron Body Fist: Giant Hammer!

Bang!

Atlas took Zephyr's punch head-on and crashed heavily into the training-field ground. The terrifying force even smashed a human-shaped crater into the hard earth.

"Ah! You really didn't hold back, Teacher Zephyr!"

Atlas climbed painfully out of the crater. To everyone's astonishment, his clothes were only slightly damaged. Even the few scratches on his face healed at a visible speed, leaving behind nothing but pale marks. What kind of terrifying physique was this? Was this guy really not a Zoan Devil Fruit User?

"I knew that with your physique, you wouldn't fear a hit like that, but I didn't expect it to be this absurd, hahaha!" Zephyr said as he slapped Atlas on the shoulder. Atlas could only stand to one side and smile bitterly, letting the old man do as he pleased.

"Teacher Zephyr, that state you just entered..."

"That's right. It's exactly what you think it is. But it's only one application of Life Return."

"By the way, I just watched you. Your mastery of the Six Powers is indeed quite good. Your only problem is that you haven't been training long enough. If you want to grow faster, you'll have to start with actual combat. That way, you can integrate the Six Powers into your body more quickly."

"Ah? Then what should I do?" Atlas immediately looked troubled. Although Zephyr was an Admiral who had retired early, he was still the chief instructor of the Recruit Camp, and his usual duties were quite demanding. It was impossible for him to spar with Atlas regularly.

As for the others in the Recruit Camp...

Atlas secretly shook his head. They were too weak and could not pose much of a threat to him.

"Teacher Zephyr, I can be Kanos's sparring partner." Shuzo, who had clearly been plotting this for some time, immediately volunteered.

"Hm?" Atlas was a little surprised. He had considered asking Shuzo before, but Shuzo's duties should not have been light either. He had not expected...

"However, there's something I need Kanos to help me with." Shuzo's dark face reddened as he spoke awkwardly.

Well, well. So this is what you were waiting for. You always look like such a simple, honest big man with that dark face, but you've actually been playing little tricks on me. Er Gouzi, you've changed!

Atlas secretly complained to himself.

I'm Going to Beat All of You

"Um, Atlas, I'd like to trouble you with teaching those people from the elite class a lesson." Shuzo spoke somewhat sheepishly.

"Huh?" Atlas almost thought he had misheard. He hurriedly gave Shuzo a puzzled look, while Zephyr also listened with interest.

"I just feel that Smoker and the others are too arrogant. They're dreaming of mastering all six techniques at their current stage, so I hope you'll go and 'guide' them a little. Please!"

Atlas and Zephyr understood now. Smoker and the others were simply too greedy, having ignored Shuzo's initial warning. But Shuzo had been unable to find an effective way to persuade them, so he had resorted to this strategy.

"Everyone, come over here. I've found you a sparring partner today to test the results of your recent training." Shuzo smiled at Smoker and the others, who were training nearby. He forced a harmless smile onto his dark face, but no matter how one looked at it, there was something eerie about it.

"Boss!" Needless to say, that was Grus.

"Big Brother Atlas!?"

"Atlas?"

Atlas's three roommates were clearly surprised. They had rarely seen him lately. There was no helping it. Atlas was the first to rise and train every day and the last to return to the dormitory. He was busy from morning until night, leaving his roommates no chance to strike up a conversation.

"No way, Instructor Shuzo. Aren't we just asking to get beaten?"

The moment Grus heard that Atlas had come to spar with them, he immediately objected. As Atlas's roommate, he knew exactly how hard Atlas trained. Combined with that terrifying talent, Atlas's current strength had probably already surpassed his wildest imagination. The others also nodded in agreement.

Except for Hina. She had long wanted to test the gap between herself and Atlas, and her eyes held nothing but excitement.

"No, I think you've misunderstood." Atlas shook his head.

Smoker and the others were taken aback as well. Misunderstood?

"It's the seven of you challenging me. I'll only use two of the Six Powers to deal with you." Atlas was actually taking advantage of a loophole here. Of the Six Powers, only Shave and Iron Body had been trained to perfection. His mastery of the other techniques was merely average.

"What?" The others immediately flashed angry looks. Wasn't this looking down on them? They might not be able to defeat Atlas one-on-one, but surely seven of them together could beat him, right? And he even intended to suppress his strength!

Everyone present was not stupid. They naturally understood Shuzo's painstaking intentions, but they still could not accept it emotionally.

It looks like I'll have to speak with my strength.

Seeing their expressions constantly shift, Atlas said no more. He simply assumed a stance, ready for battle.

Smoker and the others were helpless. One by one, they tensed their entire bodies. If they still lost to Atlas under these conditions, they would be humiliated beyond words.

"Birdcage!" Hina intended to strike first. Black, railing-like iron bars extended from her arms, and before long, Atlas was completely trapped inside.

"Smoke: White Domain!" Smoker immediately activated his Devil Fruit ability. A large amount of smoke seeped into the cage, attempting to trap Atlas within.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Atlas naturally would not sit around waiting to die. His wok-sized fists, carrying terrifying force, quickly shattered Hina's Black Cage. But the instant Atlas emerged, a bull-headed man with horns and a bovine nose appeared above him.

"Finger Pistol!" The enormous hooves came crashing down at Atlas with a sharp shriek. The coordination was flawless. Even Shuzo, watching from the side, secretly applauded it. Unfortunately...

"A Zoan Devil Fruit User?" Atlas had not expected one of the eight people to be a Zoan Devil Fruit User. But he was not helpless either.

"Iron Body: Utsugi!"

Clang!

Helbert felt as though his hardened hoof had struck something other than flesh. The impact rang out like a great bell, and a tremendous counterforce traveled up through his hoof, making his entire body jolt. He was a Devil Fruit User with the Ox-Ox Fruit, Yak Form, yet his strength and physique were still inferior to Atlas's.

Atlas naturally would not let Helbert's moment of daze pass. Even a single second was enough.

"Iron Body Fist: Divine Strength!"

Tremendous force poured into Helbert's body. His human-beast form flew backward wildly, as fragile as paper.

The others were startled by the sight, but they were not so frightened that their fighting spirit vanished entirely. Fortunately, Helbert's powerful recovery as a Zoan User meant he had not completely lost his ability to fight. However, he could only harass Atlas from the side now. Taking another punch like that would be no joke.

"Birdcage!" Hina tried to repeat the same trick, but Atlas would not give her the chance. A red gleam flashed through his eyes as he activated his Observation Haki.

Shave!

He precisely evaded Hina's Devil Fruit ability and Smoker's two White Fists, instantly appearing before Rosinante and the other two people he did not recognize. There was no helping it. Of the seven, those three were the weakest. Even though Rosinante was a Devil Fruit User, his ability was more suited to assisting assassinations, leaving him relatively weak in direct combat.

"Hehehe, Boss, don't blame me. I really don't want to be beaten up by you." Suddenly, Grus's shameless face appeared directly in front of Rosinante.

From a rational perspective, Rosinante's ability could provide them with perfect cover. From an emotional perspective, Rosinante was also his roommate, so of course Grus would save him first. As for the other two, he could only put them aside for the moment.

Atlas had no trouble dealing with them. Two punches were enough to eliminate them from the battle early.

"Damn it!" The battle had barely begun, yet they had already lost two people, with another almost taken out. The pressure on them immediately increased.

"Now it's my turn to attack!" Atlas grinned, revealing a neat row of bright white teeth. Under the sunlight, Smoker and the others found the glare almost blinding.

Shave! Iron Body Fist: Shatter!

His target was still Rosinante, but Smoker had reacted this time.

"Smoke: White Snake!" Numerous serpentine streams of white smoke rapidly coiled around Atlas's limbs and torso.

"Too weak!" Atlas ignored Smoker. Relying on his powerful physique, he charged straight through, instantly breaking free of the white-smoke restraints.

Shave: Iron Body Ball!

Atlas's tall body suddenly began spinning at high speed, but his target was Grus!

Combat was an art. It was not simply about charging forward blindly; timing and an overall sense of the battlefield mattered too.

Gion

"Iron Body!" When Grus saw Atlas attacking him, panic flashed across his face. He could only place his hopes in the Iron Body he had cultivated most deeply, hoping it would slow Atlas down a little.

Bang! Without the slightest suspense, Grus was sent flying. He crashed heavily into the ground like a ruined sack, and one more person was eliminated!

Seeing this, the remaining four quickly grouped together, standing almost shoulder to shoulder to prevent Atlas from picking them off one by one. But they were far too naive. They had no idea how great Atlas's strength was!

"Shave: Iron Body Steel: Raging Bull!"

Atlas charged at Smoker and the others like a maddened bull. The ground beneath him rolled and churned as though it were soft mud.

"Smoke: White Wall!"

"Bars-Bars: Gun Shield!"

Smoker and the others naturally would not sit around waiting for death. A white wall of smoke and an iron shield covered in black gun barrels suddenly appeared across Atlas's path. Devil Fruits truly were wondrous things. When the gap between two sides was not too great, they could have a major effect on the battle.

Unfortunately... the gap between them and Atlas was simply too large!

Boom!

A tremendous explosion rang in their ears. Smoker's White Wall and Hina's Gun Shield shattered like paper. Atlas continued forward without slowing, crashing straight into Smoker and the others beneath their terrified gazes. One after another, they were sent flying, struggling weakly on the ground after losing the ability to fight.

"Do you understand now? At your current stage, you should specialize in the Six Powers best suited to you instead of trying to swallow everything at once. Look at you—all of you used an incomplete, half-baked version of the Six Powers. Fortunately, you were fighting a comrade today. On a battlefield, what you'd lose wouldn't just be face. It would be... your life!"

Seeing how cleanly everyone had lost, Shuzo was stunned for a moment. He still hurried forward and poured encouragement over Smoker and the others, afraid that the blow had been too severe.

"Senior Shuzo, I'll head back first. Don't forget your promise!"

Seeing that Smoker and the others were not seriously hurt, Atlas said goodbye to Shuzo and prepared to leave.

"Sure, sure. Don't worry."

"Finger Pistol: AK-47!"

The heavy, crisp sound of gunfire echoed across the training field. The Marines coming and going acted as though they had not noticed, continuing with their own duties.

Since his fight with Smoker and the others, Atlas had spent more than two hours almost every day sparring with Shuzo. As a result, Atlas had grown increasingly proficient at using the Six Powers.