Zephyr frowned slightly as he sensed the clash of Haoshoku Haki spreading across the training ground. The invisible pressure was sharp and unmistakable. Just as he was about to step in and put a stop to it, Lloyd's fingers moved almost imperceptibly.
In the next instant, Lloyd's Haoshoku Haki surged outward.
The pressure descended with terrifying precision, locking directly onto Dragon.
Standing in the corner, Dragon's expression changed abruptly. His body swayed as if struck by an unseen hammer, and he was forced to brace himself to avoid collapsing. By the time he steadied his footing, a thin layer of cold sweat had already formed across his forehead.
In stark contrast, Lloyd had already withdrawn his gaze. He turned back to the surrounding students and continued speaking with a faint, polite smile, as if nothing at all had happened.
Dragon clenched his fists tightly.
Ever since Lloyd had personally suppressed him on the day he first joined the Navy, Lloyd had become an unshakable shadow in his heart. Over the past year, Dragon had trained with near madness, pushing himself beyond his limits again and again. Yet the distance between him and Lloyd had not shrunk in the slightest. Instead, it had only grown wider.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become tense, Zephyr waved his hand and ordered the students to disperse and resume their training. He himself returned to his office to handle official matters, leaving Lloyd behind on the training ground to help supervise.
With Lloyd present, the students were unusually motivated. Every movement was sharper, every stance more deliberate, all of them eager to perform well in front of the newly promoted Admiral. Lloyd occasionally singled out a few students, offering brief but incisive guidance that went straight to the core of their weaknesses.
Kuzan jogged over to Dragon and asked quietly, "Why are you standing here by yourself? Why don't you go say a few words to Senior Lloyd?"
Dragon turned his head away, his voice indifferent. "No need. I have my own way of training."
Kuzan was left awkwardly standing there. He scratched his head and wandered off, soon finding Aramaki and complaining as he walked.
After hearing the situation, Aramaki snorted loudly. "You really like asking for trouble. What's there to talk about with that guy? Just looking at you standing there like a bear makes me annoyed. Forget it, this grandpa will go meet him instead."
With that, Aramaki shoved his hands into his pockets and swaggered toward Dragon with an exaggeratedly arrogant stride. Dragon was in the middle of strength training, lifting a massive dumbbell. He spared Aramaki a brief glance, then continued without pause.
Being ignored outright made Aramaki raise an eyebrow. He already knew that Lloyd did not like Dragon, and that alone was enough to make Dragon unpleasant to look at in his eyes.
Several thick vines burst out from the ground, wrapping around both ends of the dumbbell. With a sharp pull, the weight was yanked free, passed straight through Dragon's body, and smashed heavily into the ground.
Dragon maintained his posture for a moment before slowly straightening. He looked up at Aramaki, his eyes cold. "Are you sick?"
Aramaki casually raised a hand and picked his nose, his expression arrogant. "Yeah, this grandpa just doesn't like you today. What are you going to do about it?"
A flash of anger crossed Dragon's face. Just as he was about to rise fully, he remembered Lloyd was still present. He forcibly suppressed his fury and let out a cold laugh.
"I see now. Your master is here today, so you suddenly have the guts to come looking for trouble, right?"
The remark had almost no effect on Aramaki. In his eyes, Lloyd truly was someone he admired deeply, and he felt no shame in it. On the contrary, he was proud.
How could an idiot like Dragon understand how many people out there were desperate for Lloyd's acknowledgment?
"I've decided," Aramaki said with a grin, "I'm causing trouble today."
Boom.
The ground shook violently as several dark vines erupted from beneath Dragon's feet, wrapping around his body and binding him tightly. Sharp thorns quickly grew along their surface.
That was the final straw.
Dragon coated his entire body in Armament Haki and roared as he burst free, snapping the vines apart before lunging straight at Aramaki. The two collided instantly, their clash exploding into a fierce battle.
The students barely reacted. This was not the first time they had seen such a scene. Aramaki and Dragon never got along, even during joint training sessions with Kuzan. When those two fought, it was never a friendly spar.
Kuzan stood there, completely stunned.
The only thought running through his mind was, "Is Dragon an idiot? Did he really forget that Senior Lloyd is still here?"
He glanced toward Lloyd.
Lloyd stood calmly with his arms crossed, watching the fight with a faint smile, exactly like he had two years ago.
Although Aramaki was often mocked as an embarrassment among future Admirals back on Blue Star, his strength was undeniably worthy of the title. Capturing Whitebeard's son alive had been a genuine achievement. Over the past two years, whether it was his mastery of the Mori Mori Fruit or his application of Haki, his growth had been remarkably fast.
As for Dragon, there was no need to elaborate. In the future, he was destined to reach at least the level of an Emperor. The Monkey family's bloodline was no joke. At present, compared to Aramaki, he was stronger rather than weaker.
The two tore through the battlefield, fighting from the ground into the air, then crashing back down again. Wind blades and twisting vines filled the space. What amused Lloyd slightly was that Aramaki had even developed a specific technique called Windbreak Forest.
Dense trees rose in massive swathes, forming a solid barrier. No matter how violently Dragon stirred the storm winds, the trees remained firmly rooted. Even the wind blades only left shallow scars on the trunks.
From this alone, it was clear that Aramaki had deliberately strengthened himself to counter Dragon. Compared to his counterpart at the same stage in the original timeline, his current strength was clearly far greater.
Unable to break through the forest defense, Dragon transformed his body into rushing wind and charged straight into the trees. Ignoring the wooden spikes tearing at him, he closed the distance and engaged Aramaki in brutal close combat. Their punches and kicks were aimed directly at vital points, with no restraint.
The situation rapidly spiraled out of control.
None of the surrounding students dared to intervene. To them, both Aramaki and Dragon were monsters, and even the shockwaves from their battle were enough to make their legs go weak.
Kuzan finally could not endure it any longer. He crouched down, pressed his freezing hands against the ground, and prepared to act.
Before he could release his power, a hand settled on his shoulder.
"Kuzan," Lloyd said calmly, "you can't stop them. Let me handle it."
The moment he finished speaking, Lloyd vanished from Kuzan's side.
At that instant, Aramaki and Dragon were charging directly at each other, their fists wrapped in pitch black Armament Haki. Just as their attacks were about to collide, Lloyd appeared between them and spoke softly.
"Shinra Tensei."
A massive repulsive force erupted outward.
Dragon and Aramaki were sent flying backward, their bodies dispersing into wind and splintered wood midair. Only after the invisible pressure faded did they reform and land.
The moment Aramaki saw Lloyd, he snapped to attention, his posture flawless.
Dragon took a deep breath. Remembering the pain of his arm being twisted beyond recognition in the past, he chose to restrain himself as well. He had no doubt that if he continued, Lloyd would not hesitate to remind him again.
The new students who witnessed Lloyd's move for the first time were completely stunned, mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Suppressing the two most dangerous monsters in the academy with a casual gesture, was this the true strength of Senior Lloyd?
Lloyd stood calmly at the center, a faint smile on his face, and beckoned to Dragon and Aramaki on either side. When they stepped closer, he spoke evenly.
"Not bad. Both of you have made significant progress. It actually took some effort to stop you."
Hearing this, Aramaki immediately apologized, admitting that he had started the trouble. His attitude was humble and obedient, completely resembling a model student.
Dragon glanced at him with clear disdain, then lowered his head and remained silent.
Lloyd continued, his tone calm but sharp. "However, with your talents, continuing to train like this in the Naval Academy will not lead to much further growth. Only real combat can trigger a qualitative leap in strength…"
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