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When it came to his own strength, Kōjin had a clear, sober understanding of himself.
His Conqueror's Haki was reaching a terrifying peak. Without exaggeration, he could confidently say that his spiritual power was at the highest level in the current era. Those whose spirits were weak, whose will was fragile, or whose strength was lacking couldn't withstand even a single burst of his aura.
In fact, his Haki had reached a level where it could physically damage tangible objects, a feat only legends could accomplish.
In terms of sheer power, he was on par with the great legends, perhaps even the future Red-Haired Shanks.
However, his foundation was his weakest link.
"My physical strength is at the level of a Lieutenant Commander. But my combat experience, Six Powers techniques, and swordsmanship... Are frankly terrible."
Kōjin shook his head.
Over the past few days, he had often sparred with Kuzan, with disastrous results for himself. When he refrained from using his Haki, Kuzan completely overpowered him. Whether it was battlefield intuition or seizing the right opportunity, the gap between them was immense.
"Growing stronger doesn't happen overnight," He reminded himself. "It's the result of accumulated talent, effort, sweat, and blood over time. I can't rush it. I have to build it up step by step."
Fortunately, although his unreliable master, Garp, was nowhere to be found, every morning brought him a new instructor, one far more professional and disciplined:
Black Arm Zephyr.
"Having great talent only means you start higher than others," Zephyr said sternly with his arms crossed. His presence was commanding as he faced the rising sun. "But that's no excuse to slack off. No one becomes stronger without effort."
"Your physical ability is impressive. You're already at a superhuman level. With diligent practice, you can quickly master Rokushiki. But true experience can only be gained through countless battles, through life and death."
Kōjin nodded silently upon hearing that.
Though he grew stronger at a remarkable pace, he earned every bit of it through pain and brushes with failure. He had earned it all. After all, no one wants to die.
"I'll teach you Rokushiki in more detail," Zephyr continued. "But remember, great power exists to help you achieve your ideal of justice, not to be used for evil."
Having a more professional teacher meant making faster progress.
The targeted training significantly eased Kōjin's learning curve.
By the fourth day, he had mastered Soru (Shave). On the fifth day, he began to grasp Rankyaku (Storm Leg). Rokushiki was difficult mainly because of its high physical requirements, not its complexity.
By the sixth day, Kōjin had begun to understand Shigan (Finger Pistol), though he still lacked control over it.
Meanwhile, under Zephyr's guidance, Kōjin's basic martial arts improved. On his mental status panel, a new line appeared:
Basic Rokushiki Lv. 1.
By the seventh day, during a spar with Kuzan, Kōjin was finally able to fight evenly and was no longer being crushed one-sidedly.
This gave Kōjin a huge confidence boost.
"If I used Conqueror's Haki... Forget it; that would just be bullying."
Nevertheless, the rapid sense of progress and the feeling of growing stronger every day were deeply satisfying. This was especially true when considering that every other "student" around him was a monster in the making.
Zephyr's daily lessons included not only Kōjin but also the future three Admirals and several other talented young Marines.
Because of his friendship with Kuzan, Kōjin often sparred with him and Borsalino was no exception.
"They're real monsters," He muttered. "Compared to Kuzan, Borsalino looks harmless. But because he joined earlier, he's actually an even bigger powerhouse!"
Kōjin now had a clear grasp of where he stood.
Of all the trainees, Kuzan and Borsalino were by far the strongest. Their power, speed, and reaction time were inhuman, making them true monsters among men. By contrast, the rest were still within the realm of relative normality.
"Without Conqueror's Haki, I don't stand a chance against them."
His gaze shifted slightly and landed on Sakazuki, who was standing a short distance away.
He had woken up after being unconscious for three days. Since then, however, he hadn't tried to provoke anyone nor pick another fight.
Originally, Kōjin had expected to intimidate the man with Haki again, but to his surprise, nothing happened. Everything remained calm.
"An extraordinary temperament...and such a powerful physique. He is truly worthy of being called a monster," he thought to himself, sighing inwardly. There was no pride in his heart, though.
On the tenth morning after arriving at Fort G-5, the sharp, insistent sound of an emergency assembly horn echoed across the base.
Kōjin quickly put on his Marine uniform and draped the crisp white Marine cloak over his shoulders. He hurried out.
"Come on, Kōjin! Emergency assembly! Looks like we're setting off this time!"
From the top bunk, Kuzan leapt down, already fully dressed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Mm." Kōjin nodded.
Their barracks room housed four people, two of whom were thirty-year-old officers.
"Hopefully, we'll get assigned to the same battleship," Said one of the officers, grinning cheerfully.
Kuzan just waved a hand and strode out quickly. Kōjin didn't respond, following silently behind.
The base had grown increasingly crowded over the past few days as reinforcements poured in, all of whom were temporarily assigned. Given the sheer numbers, the likelihood of being placed on the same ship for the upcoming operation was slim. There were simply too many elite officers gathered at G-5 Fortress now.
By the time Kōjin reached the plaza, it was already packed with Marines standing in rigid rows. They stood solemnly with serious looks on their faces, their white cloaks billowing slightly in the sea breeze. The air was thick with a sense of gravity and discipline.
"We're probably going to be assigned to Vice Admiral Garp," Kuzan whispered beside him.
Kōjin nodded; that was his guess as well, though he couldn't be certain. It had been ten days since he last saw Garp.
The assembly moved quickly. These were all elite officers, and within minutes, several neat formations were established.
From the podium above, Sengoku's calm yet commanding voice rang out.
"You've all been summoned from Marine Headquarters as elite personnel, and you should already understand the purpose of this mobilization," he declared, his voice carrying easily across the square. "So I'll keep it brief.
"We will now begin mission assignments. Your mission is to head toward the Edd War Sea and observe and monitor the movements of Golden Lion Shiki and his Flying Pirate Crew."
"But remember, avoid direct combat whenever possible!"
Every Marine straightened and shouted in unison:
"YES, SIR!"
Names were called out quickly. Each time an officer stepped out of line, he was assigned a battleship and immediately rushed off.
"Kuzan!" Sengoku's voice boomed.
"Port No. 6, Battleship B3."
"Yes, sir!"
Kuzan gave a crisp salute, turned, and departed.
Kōjin waited quietly. A few minutes later, his name was called.
"You, Port No. 8, Battleship A5!"
"Yes, sir!"
He turned on his heel and jogged away.
Finding the ship was easy; the numbers were painted boldly on each hull.
As he boarded Battleship A5, he encountered several officers of similar rank, as well as one particularly large figure with a broad, good-natured grin.
"Kōjin! I didn't expect we'd end up on the same ship!"
Kōjin blinked in surprise.
"Saul?"
"You remember me, huh?" Saul let out a booming laugh, clearly delighted.
Kōjin smiled faintly. He scanned the deck and didn't recognize most of the faces. The overall mood was heavy and somber. Clearly, the mission was about to begin and no one was in the mood for small talk.
Moments later, a tall, lean figure with a pale face and sluggish movements stepped aboard, a sheathed sword hanging at his waist.
"Rear Admiral Jerry!"
At once, everyone snapped to attention and saluted.
The man waved his hand dismissively, lit a cigar, and watched the smoke curl lazily around his tired expression.
"At ease. We're departing immediately. Our assignment is to monitor the northwestern region of the Edd War Sea and keep watch on the activities of the Flying Pirate Crew."
His voice was weak and unsteady, enough to make Kōjin wonder if the man was battling a terrible illness.
The Rear Admiral's face was so pale and his frame so thin that he looked like a strong gust of wind could blow him over, as if he were a man not long for this world.
(End of chapter.)