Waking up on the wrong side of the bed

"Oh, right, Instructor Zephyr, there's one more thing."

Momonga spoke again from the other end of the line:

"During the test, Pietro left the testing island without permission. We lost track of him after that.

"Before he left, he had contact with Randall, and the two clashed."

Momonga thought for a moment, then added:

"It seems Pietro tried to attack Randall while he was exhausted, but failed."

The smile vanished from Zephyr's face.

After several seconds of silence, Zephyr said in a perfectly level voice:

"All right, I understand. Report it as you see fit!"

Momonga knew Zephyr very well.

If Zephyr raised his voice and made his anger obvious, it meant the matter wasn't actually that serious.

But if Zephyr seemed calm, then he was truly furious.

Just like now.

Even if you were weak, Zephyr wouldn't give up on you.

After all, he even tolerated someone like Cotton staying in the Elite Camp.

But desertion was something Zephyr could never accept.

Momonga simply answered yes and hung up.

In his quarters, Zephyr put down the receiver.

The atmosphere around him was oppressive, as though the air had grown as thick as water.

A full minute passed in silence before Zephyr let out a long sigh.

Don't get angry.

Someone like that isn't worth getting angry over.

That was what Zephyr told himself.

He even felt a little relieved now.

Relieved that someone like that had revealed his true colors when he could do so little harm.

If someone like him had surfaced during a major incident...

He might have become the tiny breach that brought down the entire dam.

As things stood, there had been almost no loss.

Then he thought of Randall, Milers, and Aequus.

His mood began to improve.

This was the worst Elite Camp class he had ever taught.

Thankfully, those three had emerged.

Zephyr walked to the window, opened it, and looked at the clouds on the horizon.

"Hurry back! These old fists are itching for action!"

Meanwhile, Randall was still aboard the warship, eagerly looking forward to three months of personal instruction from Zephyr.

He had already learned Armament Haki.

But there was still Observation Haki.

Although his Qi could produce some of the same effects as Observation Haki...

Observation Haki was still a little better when it came to sensing things in combat.

He was already excited.

How much stronger would he become once he mastered Observation Haki?

Two hours later, Randall and the others disembarked from the warship and headed toward their respective dormitories.

"Hey! Randall, don't leave yet!

"We still have a fight to settle!"

Aequus slung an arm around Randall's shoulders as he spoke.

Hearing that, Milers, who had been walking along in silence, also stopped and looked at Randall with interest.

Randall rolled his eyes hard and said wearily:

"Come on, guys, aren't you tired at all?

"I couldn't sleep properly in that damned place!

"All I want right now is a shower and a good night's sleep!"

Aequus said, "Then how long are you going to sleep? When can we actually fight?"

What battle maniac needed sleep?

Randall sighed and said:

"Are you that desperate for a beating? After I wake up. We'll talk after I wake up!"

Aequus nearly exploded on the spot.

With my temper? Who are you calling desperate for a beating?

But he realized he couldn't argue.

After all, he didn't know how strong Randall was now.

Then he said with extreme reluctance, "Well... all... right."

Seeing that there would be no fight, Milers said nothing more and turned to leave.

At six that evening, Randall was shaken awake from a pleasant dream.

He opened his bleary eyes to find a huge, ferocious face looming over him.

"Holy shit!"

Randall cried out, nearly throwing a punch.

Seeing that Randall was awake, Aequus gave him a "sinister grin" and said:

"Heh heh, come on! You've slept six or seven hours. That has to be enough!

"Hurry, hurry! Time to fight!"

Randall fell silent for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and let it out.

Only then did his urge to murder someone subside a little.

Seeing Randall sitting there in a daze, Aequus hauled him out of bed and urged:

"Hurry, hurry! Milers is already waiting at the Training Ground! Get moving, get moving!"

Randall took another deep breath.

The murderous intent he had just suppressed nearly surged back.

"Don't just stand there! Hurry up and change!"

Clenched! My fists are clenched!

Randall squeezed his fists tight, making his knuckles crack.

Aequus's ears twitched, and he asked in puzzlement, "What's that sound?"

What sound? The sound your bones will be making in a minute!

Randall said calmly:

"Nothing. Go wait at the Training Ground. I'll be there in a moment!"

With that, he gave Aequus a calm look.

Aequus shuddered all over.

He rubbed his prickly short hair. Why did he feel as though disaster was about to strike...?

Whatever, as long as I get to fight!

"Then hurry up! I'll head over first!"

With that, he left in high spirits.

After he left, Randall stood dazed for several seconds before heaving a sigh and beginning to change.

As he changed, he muttered, "You big oaf. I'm going to beat you to death!"

A few minutes later, at the familiar Training Ground.

Having changed his clothes, Randall walked in with perfect composure.

Some people looked perfectly calm on the surface.

But deep inside, turbulent waves raged where no one else could see.

The moment he appeared, Aequus, who was standing in the center of the grounds, turned to look at him.

Milers, who had been resting with his eyes closed, also opened them, his aura rising rapidly.

Randall leisurely walked up to the pair at a pace slow enough to drive Aequus mad.

He said coolly:

"Both of you, come at me together!

"Let's make this quick. We can eat afterward."

Aequus sucked in a breath. That arrogant?

He wanted to fight both of them at once? And make it quick?

But neither Aequus nor Milers was the sort to get hung up on minor details.

They knew they were individually weaker than Randall, so fighting him two against one was perfectly acceptable.

But why did it still rub them the wrong way...?

"You asked for it!"

Without warning, Aequus threw a punch straight at Randall's face.

The sound of his fist tearing through the air was piercing.

Facing that heavy punch, Randall neither dodged nor evaded. He simply extended one hand.

Aequus froze for a moment, then silently put a little more force into his punch.

That's what you get for underestimating me!

This punch will ruin that face of yours!

But Randall's outstretched hand caught the punch without budging.

His five fingers tightened around Aequus's fist. Then he grinned at him, exposing stark white teeth.

Then, under Aequus's shocked and slightly frightened gaze, Randall whipped up a foot and kicked him in the chest.

Bam—

The big man went flying.