When the voice rang out.
Sengoku and his two companions, the burly instructor, and the recruits all froze and turned toward the entrance to the Ferocious Beast Training Camp.
A 15-year-old boy with delicate features was walking through the entrance, dressed in the Navy's Ferocious Beast Training Camp uniform.
Zephyr gazed in delight at the boy, who wore a faint smile on his lips, and exclaimed.
"Ages, you're back!"
Yes, the boy walking toward Sengoku and the others was none other than Ages, who had just returned from completing his training mission.
Ages strolled up to Zephyr and the others and said.
"Hehe, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp, what brings you to the Ferocious Beast Training Camp today?"
As soon as Ages finished speaking, he looked at the three CP0 members, then at the recruit captain, whose arms hung limply at his sides. Puzzled, he asked.
"Hm? Gure, how did you get hurt?"
The three CP0 members frowned as they watched everyone's dejected expressions turn to excitement at Ages's arrival.
At the sight of Ages's return, Garp's gloomy mood vanished. He said to Ages.
"Hahaha, boy, you're finally back. Come here, I'll tell you what happened."
Ages walked over to Garp and listened as Garp whispered in his ear.
As he listened to Garp recount what had happened, Ages's brows slowly furrowed. At last, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling glint flashed through them.
When Garp finished, he patted Ages on the shoulder and said.
"Boy, you've got to settle the score for your fellow recruits and our Navy."
Ages smiled faintly, patted his chest, and said breezily.
"Don't worry, leave it to me."
Garp then discussed the matter with Sengoku and Zephyr.
"You masked things, here's the deal. We were going easy on you in those matches just now so you wouldn't be embarrassed, but you went and pushed your luck instead. That made us unhappy."
"So Sengoku and I talked it over. How about another match? Do you dare accept?"
The corners of the three CP0 members' eyes twitched violently at Garp's words, and they all thought at once.
"You bastard, what do you mean, you were going easy on us? Fuck! At least come up with a better excuse!"
After grumbling to themselves, the three CP0 members exchanged looks, then stepped aside to discuss it.
"What do you think?" asked the CP0 member in the pure white mask.
"I think something's fishy. Look at that brat who just arrived. Everyone got excited as soon as he showed up."
"Then should we accept the challenge or not?"
"I think that brat is probably this class's ace."
"Then we don't accept?"
"No, we have to accept. We've already come this far. Besides, what are you so worried about? Don't forget how strong Lucci is."
"Do you really think the Navy has someone who surpasses a monster like Lucci?"
"I don't believe the Navy has a recruit stronger than Lucci."
"I don't believe it either."
"All right, then we'll accept. We can humiliate the Navy one more time. Hehehe."
After the three CP0 members finished their discussion, the one in the pure white mask put on an indifferent air and said.
"Fine, I accept."
Garp and the others were delighted to hear the three CP0 members agree.
The recruits erupted, shouting to Ages.
"Go, Ages! Give that bastard a good beating!"
"Go, Ages! Kill that little bitch!"...
One of the CP0 members went over to Lucci and whispered.
"Lucci, don't hold back. Give it everything you've got and beat him hard. It doesn't matter if you kill him. I'll take responsibility."
Lucci's lips curled into a bloodthirsty arc, and he nodded.
Once Ages and Lucci had both taken their places on the training field.
"Begin!"
At the burly instructor's command, Lucci attacked first.
Soru!
Whoosh!
Lucci vanished from the spot and appeared in front of Ages.
Without a word, Lucci thrust both hands toward Ages's chest.
Ten-Finger Shigan!
Just as Lucci's attack was about to land!
Boom!!
Dust burst up from the training field, filling the entire field with thick clouds in an instant.
"What happened?"
"What's going on?"
"How's the fight going?"
"Is Ages going to lose too? I saw him standing there just now. He didn't move."
The recruits broke into a clamor as they faced the sudden cloud of dust.
Bang! Thud! Thud...
A series of muffled sounds came from inside the dust cloud.
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears, trying to hear what was happening inside.
Just as they leaned in to listen, the muffled sounds stopped.
The dust swirling through the air slowly began to settle.
When the dust cleared, revealing the scene on the training field.
All the recruits and CP0 members froze.
No!
They were all so stunned by the sight on the training field that they stood rooted to the spot, not knowing how to express the shock they felt.
There, on the training field!
Ages had one hand hooked like a claw around Lucci's face, holding him high off the ground.
Lucci's once neat and clean suit was now in tatters and covered in blood. His arms hung limply, his eyes had rolled back, and he was unconscious. His entire appearance was unspeakably miserable...
As they watched blood drip steadily from Lucci onto the ground.
The three CP0 members' mouths hung wide open, their faces full of disbelief, as though the sight before them could not possibly exist.
The recruits were just as shocked, and they could not help recalling the scene from five years ago.
It had been a scene of hell on earth, and the one who had created that hell was none other than Ages!