Several days later, the Marine Elite Training Camp Exhibition Matches officially began.
In the waters between two deserted islands near Marineford, dozens of warships were arranged in perfect formation, forming a spectacular viewing line.
Marines crowded the decks, gazes locked onto the battlefield with barely contained excitement.
At this moment, Island No. 1 had been completely split between ice and fire.
One half had become a blazing magma hell, rivers of lava rolling endlessly.
The other half was a frozen glacial world, ice cliffs towering skyward.
The opening match between Kuzan and Sakazuki ended in a draw.
When both were finally carried off the island by the medical team, they were still glaring at each other.
On the Marine flagship, Fleet Admiral Kong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the slowly settling battlefield.
"Fleet Admiral," Sengoku said solemnly as he adjusted his glasses,
"Both Kuzan and Sakazuki have already far surpassed the level of ordinary Vice Admirals.
But personality-wise… I believe future postings should keep them separated."
"Every person has a different personality," Garp cut in casually.
"They're young—fighting and arguing is normal.
You and I don't get along either, do we? And yet here we are."
"You bastard, Garp!" Sengoku roared.
"That's because I tolerate you!"
"Huh? You tolerate me?" Garp scratched his head.
"Wasn't I the one acting as your little mood booster, Sengoku-chan~?"
"GAR—P!!"
One single "Sengoku-chan" completely shattered the strategist's composure.
"If you keep using tricks you learned from Gern, I'll—!"
"Enough!" Kong raised a hand to stop him.
"Today's main characters aren't the two of you."
"Haha." Tsuru covered her mouth and chuckled, then glanced at Zephyr beside her.
"Your disciple taught Garp some dangerous skills, Zephyr."
"That was Garp's idea," Zephyr coughed awkwardly.
"Still… he's over forty. No shame at all."
"You know him well enough," Tsuru smiled.
"Garp's never cared about saving face."
She then continued,
"Next is your personal disciple against your former student."
"Gern versus Borsalino…" Zephyr snorted, eyes sharpening.
"That guy is probably planning to slack off again."
"That's just his nature," Tsuru replied calmly.
"He was your student, after all."
"Exactly because I know him…" Zephyr smiled faintly,
"I know how to make him take things seriously."
"Oh?" Tsuru's eyes flickered with interest.
Zephyr said nothing—only leaned close to Kong and whispered a few words.
Kong raised an eyebrow, then smiled meaningfully.
"Interesting. Let's do it."
Meanwhile, on another warship—
Gern and Borsalino stood side by side, looking at the ice-and-fire-ravaged island in the distance.
"Kuzan's fighting style is really aggressive when he's still hot-blooded about justice," Gern remarked.
Borsalino stretched lazily.
"So scary~ Why fight so seriously?
Even without fighting, we'd still get promoted, right~?"
"Senior Borsalino," Gern turned to him with a faint smile,
"You're not expecting me to help you muddle through this match, are you?"
Borsalino adjusted his green knitted cap, feigning surprise.
"Oh my~ You saw right through me~"
"It's just an exhibition match. A few casual exchanges should be enough, don't you think?"
Gern shook his head, his right hand slowly gripping the hilt of Black Blade: Eight Desolations.
"That won't work.
Teacher Zephyr specifically told me to take this match seriously."
"Help you write three mission reports."
"He's my direct teacher."
"I'll cooperate and give you a chance to look cool."
"He's my beloved teacher—my only family."
"Two reports."
"…Deal."
The moment Gern finished speaking, Borsalino's smile stiffened slightly.
"…Didn't expect you to have this side," he sighed.
At that moment, Kong's deep voice echoed through the broadcast system:
"Second match: Gern versus Borsalino.
Both combatants, proceed to the island!"
Borsalino shrugged, his body beginning to dissolve into golden light.
"Then… see you out there~"
In the next instant, he became a beam of light shooting toward Island No. 2.
Gern took a deep breath and kicked off the deck—
His body shot forward like an arrow.
Midair, he instantly elementalized, breaking into countless white, vibrating particles—forming a sharp contrast with Borsalino's golden beam.
A wave of shocked gasps erupted from the observing warships.
Most were cheering for Kizaru.
Those supporting Gern were limited to Gion and soldiers who had once fought alongside him.
On the island, Gern's form reassembled.
Black Blade Eight Desolations was already drawn, the white bandages around its blade fluttering in the wind.
Borsalino stood at a distance, hands in his pockets, expression lazy as ever.
Though they looked calm, both were exchanging subtle glances—
Until Kong suddenly pulled out a small private Den Den Mushi and said slowly:
"Borsalino.
If you win, I'll give you three months of leave."
"Begin!"
The moment the Den Den Mushi closed—
Borsalino vanished.
"What—?!"
Gern's pupils shrank. His Observation Haki fully activated, barely catching a golden trajectory attacking from the side.
He raised Eight Desolations without hesitation.
The moment blade met light-speed kick, vibration and light collided violently.
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded outward.
Gern was forced back several steps.
Borsalino landed lightly, tilting his head.
"Nice reaction~"
"Senior Borsalino," Gern shook his numb wrist, annoyed.
"This isn't what we just agreed on, is it?"
Borsalino's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Captain Gern."
Behind the sunglasses, his eyes narrowed.
"Please don't say things that could cause misunderstandings."
"…???"
"I agree with you.
Teacher Zephyr is a man worthy of everyone's respect."
"He believes in you—
yet you'd conspire with me in something like this?"
"I never expected such behavior from my junior."
"…Borsalino, you—!!!"
The next instant—
Both figures disappeared.
Golden light and white shadows clashed repeatedly across the island.
Explosions rang out one after another.
The observing soldiers could barely track the battle, relying only on shockwaves to judge its intensity.
"Seriously?!" Sengoku frowned aboard the flagship.
"Borsalino is actually taking this seriously?"
Zephyr smiled in satisfaction.
"That's more like it."
"Hahahaha!" Garp laughed loudly.
"This is getting way more interesting than I thought!"
Kong watched Gern closely, eyes deep with thought.
"Devil Fruit and Haki—both cultivated without neglecting either…"
He had expected Borsalino's light speed to completely suppress Gern.
Yet Gern was keeping up—and blocking everything.
On the warships, soldiers held their breath, afraid to miss a single moment.
Gion clenched her fist, eyes shining with excitement.
"Captain Gern—go!"
Doberman and the others wore grave expressions.
Only now did they finally realize—
Gern's strength was never luck.
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