As Gern and the other three finally returned to Marineford, Fleet Admiral Kong rarely chose to act so decisively—personally announcing that the Elite Training Camp was about to officially begin.
In an instant, the entire headquarters was wrapped in a tense yet excited atmosphere.
Marines gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed but animated voices as they discussed the upcoming exhibition matches.
"Did you hear?" a young Marine said excitedly.
"The battlefield this time will be two deserted islands!"
"Two uninhabited islands as the arena?" another widened his eyes.
"Looks like the Fleet Admiral is being serious."
"Of course!" a bespectacled officer pushed up his glasses, eyes burning with excitement.
"This is the first public clash of the 'Four Monsters'!"
"Kuzan vs. Sakazuki.
Gern vs. Borsalino.
This lineup has never happened before!"
Meanwhile, in a corner of the Marine cafeteria, a group of recently graduated young officers were engaged in a heated debate.
"Hah!" Doberman growled around his cigar.
"Colonel Sakazuki's Magma Fruit has unmatched destructive power! Kuzan's ice won't stand a chance!"
"Exactly!" Strawberry nodded with a smile.
"Sakazuki's fighting style is clean and decisive.
Not like certain people who drag things out."
He shot a pointed glance toward the Kuzan supporters.
"Ridiculous." Onigumo snorted coldly, the six swords at his waist rattling slightly.
"You don't understand anything. Kuzan is Vice Admiral Garp's disciple.
He's mastered both forms of Haki—especially Observation.
What good is magma if you can't hit your target?"
"And don't forget," Stainless added calmly with crossed arms,
"Kuzan's Ice Age can freeze an entire sea in moments.
No matter how fierce Sakazuki's magma is, it has to melt the ice first."
"Elemental advantage—ever heard of it?"
He scoffed.
"Did you all sleep through the Academy's chemistry and physics classes?"
"This is pointless." Momonga frowned and interrupted.
"Are you all forgetting Borsalino?
His Glint-Glint Fruit grants absolute speed.
If he gets serious, who can keep up with a light-speed kick?"
"Speed is power," Chaton (Gion's fellow candidate) scratched his head and laughed.
"Even Instructor Zephyr once said Borsalino relies on his fruit too much."
"But think about it—if someone can 'rely' on something like that,"
he grinned,
"doesn't that just mean it's overwhelmingly strong?"
"And his defense is arguably the best among the three!"
"Heh."
At that moment, Gion (Momousagi) gently set down her teacup, lips parting slightly.
"Are you all forgetting Captain Gern?"
The room went silent.
"Gern?" Doberman scoffed.
"Everyone knows that slash against Golden Lion only worked because Admiral Zephyr and Colonel Sakazuki restrained him first.
Gern just picked up the leftovers."
"Exactly," Strawberry agreed.
"Golden Lion was already exhausted. Anyone would look impressive landing the final blow."
"How laughable."
Gion's eyes sharpened as her fingers tapped the table.
"Which of you actually witnessed that battle?"
"The photo was clear—Golden Lion's chest wound was Gern's slash alone."
"That strike changed the entire battlefield.
A single blow—a decisive one."
Onigumo frowned.
"But wasn't it just a sneak attack? Golden Lion underestimated him."
"Underestimated?"
Gion sneered.
"That's Golden Lion Shiki you're talking about.
Even if he underestimated someone—
who else could severely wound him in one strike?!"
"Wait."
Chaton blinked, suddenly serious.
"Gion… don't tell me you've fallen for Gern?"
"He's got what, really?
Taller than me.
More handsome.
Stronger than me."
He gritted his teeth.
"Come on, be honest—what else does he have?!"
The room replied in unison:
"Didn't you already list everything?"
"He's obviously a womanizer," Chaton continued stubbornly.
"Unreliable. Only someone like me—pure, loyal, forgiving—"
"So… a husband who pretends to sleep through everything?"
Onigumo suddenly chuckled.
Chaton: "..."
"I'm just stating facts," Gion said calmly, giving him a sideways glance.
"And I believe that…"
She smiled faintly.
"No matter how fast light is—
one day, it will still be shattered."
The others exchanged looks.
Most of them still didn't believe Gern truly belonged on the same level as the other three.
At the same time, at Garp's old abandoned shipyard training ground—
Gern stood shirtless before a rusted warship, sweat pouring down his body.
Black Blade Eight Desolations rested angled against the ground.
Eyes closed.
Muscles taut.
He tried once more to sense the Conqueror's Haki that had erupted that day.
"It was so clear back then…" he muttered.
No matter how hard he focused, it refused to respond.
"Damn it!"
He swung his blade, the sharp whistle slicing the air—
But there was no trace of purple-black lightning.
Conqueror's Haki refused to obey like Armament.
Instead, it kept triggering Armament by accident.
With a heavy sigh, Gern fell backward onto the ground, staring at the endless blue sky.
He raised his right hand, studying the blade.
"Teacher Zephyr said you were forged by Rocks using Conqueror's Haki…
That day, you guided mine."
"So why… nothing now?"
"Idiot."
A steady voice sounded behind him.
"Conqueror's Haki isn't something you force out with brute strength."
Gern propped himself up and turned.
"Teacher Zephyr?"
He blinked.
"Sister Lina's about to give birth. Shouldn't you be at the hospital?
That's not very husband-like."
Zephyr smiled softly.
"If I stay there all day, she gets embarrassed.
Other Marine families don't get this treatment—so she kicked me out."
"Tsk tsk, rejected."
Gern laughed.
"Sister Lina really is considerate."
Zephyr's gaze fell on the black blade.
"Still troubled by Conqueror's Haki?"
"It felt effortless against Golden Lion," Gern admitted.
"Now I can barely manage basic intimidation."
"Conqueror's Haki is the manifestation of a king's will," Zephyr said firmly.
"Not a technique you grind into mastery."
"That day, it erupted because you were standing on the edge of life and death.
You can't replicate that state at will."
"You need time."
Gern clenched the hilt, nodded silently.
Zephyr sat beside him.
"Actually, I came for another reason."
He patted Gern's shoulder.
"Kuzan told me…
you're thinking of getting a Mink as your vice-officer?"
Gern froze.
"That loudmouth…"
"Well," Zephyr coughed awkwardly,
"personal preferences aside… Lina's a bit worried about your… romantic inclinations."
"Of course! I fully respect your choices!"
He hurriedly added.
"But you're young. Mink tribes are probably something you only read about, right?
Gern, you can't isolate yourself like this. You should interact more with girls."
The iron-blooded instructor looked uncharacteristically embarrassed.
"I mean—young people should spend time with women their age.
For example, Gion under Vice Admiral Tsuru isn't bad…"
"Teacher Zephyr," Gern laughed,
"when did you become a matchmaker?"
"Brat!"
Zephyr's face reddened.
"I'm saying she admires you!
When you returned from G-3, wasn't she the first to run up?"
"I heard she even argued with Doberman over you in the cafeteria!"
"All I'm saying is—!"
Gern burst out laughing.
"So you are trying to set me up?"
"I—!"
Zephyr stood abruptly.
"Forget it! Go find your furry vice-officer!"
He stormed off—then stopped at the door.
"Oh, and after the exhibition match, attend the mixer Lina arranged for you."
"Don't try to refuse."
"That's an order."
"For Early Access of Advanced chapters please visit patreon.com/UchihaAce and
If you like the chapter please vote using a power stones "