Zephyr's Resolve, the Marine Guerrilla Unit

Anthony watched Luna's retreating figure anxiously. "Miss Luna, what should we do now? That's Black Arm Zephyr!"

The former Marine Admiral's fearsome reputation had struck terror into them.

"What's the rush?"

Luna spoke indifferently.

"He can't do anything."

An equally calm voice rang out.

The escapees turned around and saw Byrnndi World, his face impassive.

No, that wasn't World!

"My lord!"

After being sent flying by Weevil's shock wave, Naito could remotely take over his account.

He looked at his teacher Zephyr descending from the sky and raised his right hand.

Sorry, Teacher Zephyr.

The invisible substance first split into an inner and outer layer to protect the membrane.

Then strands extended from his palm, connecting to greatswords forming outside the membrane.

Haki flowed into the greatswords, making them visible.

Then he activated the More-More Fruit.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!

The greatswords shot skyward like missiles. The moment they detached from the strands, their speed and size surged.

In an instant, the greatswords blotted out half the sky, hundreds of them forming an almost solid dark cloud.

"World!!"

As he fell, Zephyr immediately gritted his teeth.

The man known as Black Arm's arms turned pitch-black, with invisible waves coiling around them.

"Hah!"

He punched downward with all his strength. Surging Haki transformed into an enormous shock wave that instantly destroyed a swath of greatswords.

But in the next instant, even more greatswords were already upon him.

Zephyr could only grit his teeth and punch back.

"Let's go."

On the deck, the corners of Naito's mouth curled up.

Teacher Zephyr's strength now was probably inferior to Magellan's.

The ship sank rapidly.

"Bastard!!"

Up in the sky, Zephyr was practically gnashing his teeth.

But it was no use. The greatswords swarmed toward him as if they were endless, giving him no chance to reach the sea.

All he could do was remain furious.

"Hahahaha!"

Buckingham couldn't help laughing at the sight. "Don't bother seeing us off, Zephyr! Oh, right, I should thank you! If it weren't for you, my lord's plan wouldn't have succeeded so easily!"

"You've got to be kidding!"

Zephyr roared.

Then he went back to punching greatswords.

And so, the ship successfully submerged.

"We're speeding up."

Naito casually pressed a hand against the deck. He had already reinforced the membrane anyway, so he activated the More-More Fruit's power!

"Aaaah!"

Screams erupted across the deck as the ship sped downward.

The whistling barrage of greatswords finally stopped.

Zephyr landed safely on the shore.

But the Marine chief instructor's face was livid.

Naito walked over slowly, his face equally grim.

Ain, following behind Naito, opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Their interception had failed completely, and they had watched helplessly as the escapees got away.

"So..."

Naito suddenly chuckled under his breath. "Am I still... too weak?"

"Naito..."

Ain had never seen Naito like this.

Did the usually narcissistic and arrogant Naito blame himself when he suffered a setback?

Perhaps she should comfort him.

Then, just as Ain was about to speak...

Humm!!

An invisible force of will suddenly burst out of Naito.

Ain immediately felt dizzy and staggered back several steps.

Zephyr, who had been staring fixedly at the sea, froze and instinctively turned to look at Naito.

Even in his fury, he was still somewhat dumbfounded.

He got so angry he awakened Conqueror's Haki?

Chapter 17: Zephyr's Resolve, the Marine Guerrilla Unit (Please keep reading!)

"So that was Conqueror's Haki? The qualities of a king found in only one in a million,"

Ain sat on the ground by the shore, hugging her knees as she looked at Naito in surprise. "You actually awakened a power like that?"

"What stupid thing are you talking about?"

Naito lay on the ground and said disinterestedly, "It would be surprising if I didn't have Conqueror's Haki."

He had awakened Conqueror's Haki long ago, of course. He simply hadn't had a suitable chance to show it.

Ain rolled her eyes.

She had been thinking of comforting him, but in the blink of an eye, he was already back to his usual self.

"Conqueror's Haki is a remarkable power,"

Zephyr, sitting cross-legged nearby, looked at his beloved student and said seriously, "Naito, don't let your talent go to waste."

Naito awakening Conqueror's Haki was some consolation in the midst of this failure.

It wasn't that only people with Conqueror's Haki could become top-tier powerhouses, but the fact was that those who possessed it often found it easier to reach the pinnacle.

Naito now had a ticket to becoming a top-tier powerhouse.

"So, Teacher Zephyr,"

Naito yawned and asked leisurely, "How do I master this power?"

It was a little embarrassing. He had awakened Conqueror's Haki a long time ago, but still couldn't control it properly. He had only just reached the point where he could barely avoid affecting his allies.

"I can't teach you about that,"

Zephyr said, shaking his head. "I don't have Conqueror's Haki myself, after all. When I get the chance, I'll ask that guy Garp to give you some pointers."

"Vice Admiral Garp?"

Ain's voice held a trace of excitement. "The legendary Marine hero? Teacher Zephyr, what kind of person is he?"

Her reaction wasn't strange. That Marine hero was basically an idol to most Marines.

"Just an old bastard."

Zephyr spoke casually. "But there probably aren't many people in this world who understand Conqueror's Haki better than he does."

Naito nodded in understanding.

True, when the older generation fought, they started by throwing out a few tons of Conqueror's Haki.

"Teacher Zephyr,"

Ain hesitated, then asked, "Are we... just going to let the escapees go?"

"Let them go?"

Zephyr clenched his fists, his voice cold and hard. "How could we possibly leave it at that?! Those people are too dangerous. We can't let them keep doing whatever they please!"

"We have to crush them completely!"

Huh?

Naito couldn't help glancing at Zephyr. Something about Teacher Zephyr's attitude seemed off.

Is this something you, the chief instructor, should be worrying about? The next batch of recruits will be arriving in camp in another two weeks.

"It's not just those escapees, Teacher Zephyr!"

Ain said, "The woman who fought Naito just now was strong too! She should be a Mythical Zoan user!"

"A Mythical Zoan?"

Zephyr paused. "Was she there to meet them? Naito, tell me the details."

So Naito told him about Luna in detail.

Zephyr's expression grew even darker. "She isn't a Mythical Zoan user. She's from the Lunarian Tribe!!"

The tribe of gods that should have vanished from the seas long ago!

What else was hidden behind that group?!

Not long afterward, at Marine Headquarters.

The Fleet Admiral's Office.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku sighed and rubbed his forehead. "For now, let's have Kuzan come back."