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“Old man, you really went all out, huh?”
Along with Roy’s helpless voice…
“Rumble…!”
Enormous rocks and shattered trees were suddenly blasted away by golden ripples of energy from within the massive crater at the center of the battlefield.
“Crack… crack…”
Clear footsteps echoed through the smoke and rubble.
Roy’s silhouette gradually emerged.
“And I’m your student, no less. Why was that move aimed straight at me?”
He twisted his neck, producing a sharp cracking sound.
“Haha!” Zephyr burst into laughter. “It was precisely because you’re my disciple… that’s why that punch was aimed at you.”
Just as he finished speaking…
“Whoosh!”
…with a sharp tearing sound through the air, Guernica appeared behind Roy, having used Soru.
“Dragon Hoof Shigan · Tenfold!”
Busoshoku Haki instantly coated his fingers. The Haki was so dense that it appeared almost tangible, forming claw-like extensions at his fingertips, like a dragon’s talons.
As all ten fingers thrust forward simultaneously, the shockwaves from the attack shattered nearby boulders.
Unleashing such powerful Haki despite severe injuries—
The title of CP0’s strongest agent was clearly well deserved.
But…
“Sensei has a point.”
Guernica distinctly heard Roy’s voice.
Then…
When his ten fingers struck Roy’s back, it felt as though he had stabbed solid steel.
【Dice-Dice Fruit · Iron Body】
【Great Buddha Fruit · Vajra Body】
【Munch-Munch Fruit · Ryuo (Flowing Sakura) Coating】
This was the [ Devil Fruit Combination – Defensive Enhancement ].
“After all…” Roy continued calmly. “I don’t want anyone saying I got first place just because Sensei held back for me!”
The next instant… Guernica was met with Roy’s fist.
“How is this possible?!” Guernica realized only then that his calculations were completely wrong. He had been certain that Zephyr’s earlier punch was aimed at Roy. Logically, Roy should have suffered far worse injuries than either Guernica or Momousagi, he should have already reached his limit.
But the reality was… that Roy sustained only minor injuries. And those injuries were healing at an astonishing rate.
【Dragon-Dragon Fruit · Wind God Winged Dragon Form LV4】
【Dragon-Dragon Fruit · Tyrannosaurus Form LV3】
These are the combined effects of two Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits.
Then…
“Boom!”
…Roy’s punch slammed into Guernica’s abdomen.
This battle-hardened CP0 elite instantly spat out a mouthful of blood.
His vision went dark. He lost consciousness immediately, flying backward.
“Boom!” “Crash!”
Guernica’s body smashed through every obstacle in its path before finally coming to rest amid the ruins.
He was no longer capable of fighting.
Roy slowly withdrew his fist.
“I didn’t really care about taking first place at first, but now that it’s come to this…” He muttered under his breath, then turned to look at Zephyr. His gaze quickly fell upon Zephyr’s right arm.
“Sensei, is that the ‘Smash’ unit?”
His voice trailed off.
Zephyr was slowly raising his arm… and assuming a battle stance. The overwhelming Haki radiating from Zephyr, along with the silent pressure in the air, made his intentions crystal clear.
“… Sensei?”
Roy stopped walking and stood at a distance opposite Zephyr.
Only then did he notice the countdown timer atop the island from the corner of his eye.
Zephyr’s earlier punch had destroyed almost everything… except that.
The display read:
【0:20:25】
The examination was not over. But Roy still didn’t understand.
What the three Admirals could see… he could see as well.
Zephyr had pushed his Haki and physical strength to their absolute limits. He was in a true maximum-output state.
For Zephyr’s current body, this was an enormous burden.
Roy didn’t understand why Zephyr insisted on going this far.
It was at that moment…
“Roy.”
Zephyr spoke.
“I’ve already submitted my request to Sengoku and Commander-in-Chief Kong. After the Three-Forces Military Exercise, I will establish a ‘Pirate Guerrilla Unit.’”
Roy’s brows tightened immediately. He naturally knew about the Pirate Guerrilla Unit; both Binz and Ain had told him about it before.
It was the force that Zephyr had wanted to establish ever since the attack four years ago.
Unlike the various Marine branches and divisions, which were usually stationed in specific regions of the seas, the Guerrilla Unit would sail across the Four Seas, hunting down pirates wherever they appeared.
Zephyr intended to use this method to track down Edward Weevil… and take his revenge.
However, Roy didn’t understand how that related to Zephyr’s current attitude.
In the next moment, however… he understood.
“After establishing the Pirate Guerrilla Unit, Binz, Ain, and I will withdraw from the Marines.”
The moment Zephyr said this, Roy’s expression froze.
‘Withdraw from the Marines?’
In an instant, Roy grasped its meaning.
“SWORD.”
He silently spoke the name in his heart:
SWORD… the Blade Force.
It was a classified Marine unit known only to a select few.
All SWORD members were Marines… Yet they were not Marines.
Upon joining, they submitted resignation letters. Their Marine serial numbers and files were withdrawn. They were not bound by standard command structures. They could engage a Yonko without prior approval from their superiors.
Naturally, the Marines would not take responsibility for their actions.
As their name implied, they were the “blades” hidden in the shadows of the Marines.
Clearly, Zephyr intended for the Pirate Guerrilla Unit to function similarly.
“I’ve had enough of being constrained by the bigger picture and government orders.” Zephyr, the most upright of Marine veterans, spoke those words quietly.
“If we’re going to hunt pirates, I don’t want to be shackled by anything.”
Even if that meant withdrawing from the Marines, to which he had dedicated his entire life.
He had formed this idea long ago. But he had never been able to make up his mind.
The reason was simple.
He couldn’t let go of the Marines. He had many disciples: Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, for example. They were all powerful. Each of them carried their own version of justice.
But in Zephyr’s eyes, none of them were the “perfect” successor.
None of them allowed him to rest easy or walk away. He longed to see someone he could wholeheartedly acknowledge as worthy of the name “Justice.”
This desire and responsibility bound him like chains.
Until Roy appeared.
Roy’s strength and talent needed no elaboration.
As Zephyr had once said, he was a monster among monsters.
But more importantly… Zephyr could feel Roy’s heart.
He was not foolish. He knew someone with Roy’s talent who deliberately kept a low profile and chose to remain in the Marine Detention Unit must have his own reasons.
Vice Admiral Biros undoubtedly understood that as well.
But…
Zephyr didn’t care.
“Everyone has their own thoughts.”
Even Zephyr himself, after losing his wife and child and after experiencing hatred and grief from losing his arm.
Had he never felt even the slightest resentment toward the government? Toward the Marines?
Of course he had.
Zephyr and Vice Admiral Biros ultimately chose Roy for the same reason Smoker had once given. Some things originating from the core of a person cannot be faked.
“You’re different from the others in this world, Roy.” Zephyr slowly removed his sunglasses and tossed them aside. “If it’s you, then I can finally make my choice without regret.”
He clenched his fist tightly, his blazing gaze fixed on Roy.
“You will be the future of the Marines.”
That was the reason he was standing there now. He had already decided to leave. He had already decided to entrust everything he had to the Marines.
To Roy.
But before that… he needed one final confirmation.
To confirm whether what might be the most important decision of his life was truly correct.
“…”
Roy fell silent.
He looked at Zephyr.
In his teacher’s eyes, he clearly saw earnest expectation… And a plea.
So…
“I understand.” Roy nodded.
Slowly, he took out Black Mane from his bag. He put on the twin gauntlets, tightened them, and clenched his fists.
“I’ll prove it to you, Zephyr-sensei.”
(End of Chapter)
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