The mechanical arm [Battle Smasher] shattered!
Pieces of shrapnel burst from the side of Zephyr’s cheek!
Elliot remained calm, completely unfazed by the debris flying past him.
Zephyr cared even less.
His purple eyes stared intently at Elliot, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
Absolute ecstasy!
A Special Recruit!
Since Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino, the Marine Academy had never seen another Special Recruit.
Then, that night, Garp contacted him, saying he had found one.
Zephyr hadn’t said much, but his heart was full of anticipation because it was Garp’s recommendation!
And now…
To be precise, Zephyr had already gotten excited the moment he saw Elliot defeat his other students.
But right now…
Ecstasy!
Looking at Elliot now was like looking at a future Marine whose mere name would send pirates fleeing in terror!
But!
He was too gentle!
Even though the kid looked cold and aloof, he was far too gentle!
“Ha…” Zephyr couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Hahahahaha!”
Amidst his roaring laughter, Zephyr completely ignored the falling fragments of the [Battle Smasher] from his prosthetic limb.
He simply looked at Elliot.
“Because you were afraid of hurting a one-armed man like me, you just kept attacking the [Battle Smasher] to shatter it like this?”
*Thud!*
As he said this, the two of them landed on the ground simultaneously.
Elliot retracted his fist and reached into his pocket to pull out his glasses.
He didn’t try to hide it, answering directly, “Yeah, because hurting you would be wrong.”
After saying that, Elliot looked at Zephyr.
“But I passed the evaluation, right, Mr.
Zephyr?”
Zephyr clenched his fist.
“I heard from Garp that you killed the entire Krieg Pirates crew.
Even though that Krieg guy managed to survive, you broke all four of his limbs.”
Elliot didn’t deny it.
“Yeah, because they hurt the townsfolk.”
Zephyr immediately scolded him, “If you can do that to pirates, then you shouldn’t have any sympathy for me either!
I just told you, as a Marine on this sea, you shouldn’t have any mercy!
No matter who you’re facing!
So-called justice isn’t as simple as you think.”
Elliot put his glasses on and looked at the old man before him.
“I don’t think I am justice.
I just do what I believe is right.”
Zephyr was momentarily stunned.
*He doesn’t think he is justice?*
This was the first time Zephyr had ever heard such an answer.
However…
The corners of Zephyr’s mouth curled up, and he clenched the fist of his left prosthetic.
It didn’t matter!
Because one’s mindset could be changed.
But overwhelming strength wasn’t something you could gain overnight!
And the stronger this kid in front of him became, the more he would be able to accomplish whatever he wanted.
Especially as a Marine.
Even if this kid was inexperienced, once he realized that showing mercy to pirates only brought regret, he would inevitably change.
When that time came, he would destroy this so-called Great Pirate Era!
And all he had to do was…
Nurture him!
Zephyr announced loudly, “Second evaluation, Elliot passes!”
When they first saw the [Battle Smasher] shatter, the surrounding Marines, as well as the instructors and cadets of the Marine Academy, were all left looking utterly astounded.
After all, they had heard about the materials used to build the [Battle Smasher].
Yet it had been destroyed just like that by a young man wearing a Chore Boy uniform…
The Marine Vice Admirals, in particular, subconsciously swallowed hard, staring at Zephyr’s prosthetic limb and then at Elliot.
A Special Recruit…
A future Marine Admiral.
However, when the Vice Admirals turned their heads to look at Kuzan and the others, they noticed that Kuzan, Garp, and Sengoku all wore solemn expressions.
Subconsciously, everyone immediately looked back toward Instructor Zephyr.
Just like before!
The moment they looked over!
They saw Instructor Zephyr’s arms suddenly turn pitch black!
But rather than just black, it was more accurate to say that his prosthetic limb, his left arm, his wrists, and his fists were suddenly covered in a layer of dark purple armor.
Aside from some of the younger Marines around them, the officers and veteran Marines who had served for years saw the purple-haired old man’s current appearance, and a title that once stood at the pinnacle of the Marines instantly popped into their minds!
[Black Arm]!
[Black Arm] Zephyr!
“Instructor Zephyr,” Kuzan murmured.
He was no longer standing lazily; instead, he stood up straight, watching the old man.
“Third evaluation!
Fight me with everything you’ve got!!”
Zephyr roared!
The moment his words fell, Zephyr charged at Elliot once again!
But this time, the instant Zephyr dashed forward!
Like a sudden clap of spring thunder, the bluestone slabs beneath Zephyr’s feet exploded!
With an overwhelming aura that seemed to cover the sky, Zephyr came crashing in!
A trace of helplessness appeared on Elliot’s face, but he had no intention of backing down.
Clenching his fingers, he threw a punch at Zephyr!
[Black Arm] Zephyr’s pitch-black fist met Elliot’s seemingly ordinary punch.
They clashed!
A powerful aura, far exceeding the one from earlier, instantly erupted between Elliot’s and Zephyr’s fists!
A massive explosion, even more deafening than the last, blasted outward!
But unlike before, the ground centered around Elliot and Zephyr instantly shattered, sending countless fragments blasting into the air.
The shockwave formed by the collision of their fists, each carrying a tremendous amount of power, surged and spread across the entire port!
As the shockwave swept past, even the sea seemed to roar, with massive waves crashing against the warships and the pier!
Everyone, including the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals, began to stumble backward.
Many were even blown away directly by the shockwave.
Fortunately, the Vice Admirals, Kuzan, and the others immediately appeared in various directions!
They raised their hands and blocked the shockwave!
But aside from Kuzan and a few others, without exception, everyone stared at the two of them with trembling gazes.
Suddenly!
The moment Elliot retracted his fist, he leaned his body forward and drove his knee straight toward Zephyr’s abdomen!
A sharp glint burst from Zephyr’s eyes.
Not only did the dark purple armor appear on his abdomen, but he also dropped one hand down—not to block, but to smash his fist directly into Elliot’s leg!
In an instant!
Fist and knee collided!
The shockwave abruptly erupted once more, dealing another heavy blow to the port!
Elliot looked at Zephyr…
The old man in front of him was stronger than he had imagined!
Zephyr also looked at Elliot…
The young man in front of him was stronger than he had imagined!
This time, without a word, the two of them vanished almost simultaneously!
Then, they clashed together once again!
Then they vanished again, and clashed again!
It was a collision that completely surpassed their previous continuous exchange of punches!
This could be clearly felt from the tremors generated by the impact of their fists and the sheer speed of their movements!
But the entire port…
Was quiet~
Completely quiet!
Everyone simply watched the two fighting, their ears filled only with the booming sounds of their fists colliding!
And listening to Zephyr’s wild laughter.
Dumbfounded?
Shocked?
No!
Those feelings had vanished, replaced by a surging passion in their hearts!
That legendary Marine, [Black Arm], was still here!
And a new legend seemed to have already appeared right before their eyes!
Everyone clenched their fists.
Many Marines, especially the cadets from the Marine Academy, gritted their teeth!
Get stronger!
They needed to get stronger!
“Zephyr…” Sengoku watched Zephyr, who was completely immersed in the battle and ecstasy amidst his wild laughter.
Originally, Sengoku had thought about stepping in to stop them once things went far enough, considering the port had already been wrecked to this extent!
But right now…
He chose to remain silent.
Because his old friend…
Hadn’t laughed like this since that tragic incident.
“So cool, Instructor Zephyr,” Kuzan chuckled softly, letting out a sigh of admiration.
And in the crowd…
“Instructor Zephyr.”
The blue-haired female instructor, clutching Zephyr’s coat, stared intently at her teacher.
She clenched her fists, her face full of worry, but even more so, joy.
The former Marine Admiral and current Chief Instructor of the Marine Academy, Zephyr, had fully mastered Armament Haki by the age of 34.
He could use Armament Hardening on both hands, which, combined with his own formidable strength, earned him the title of [Black Arm].
However, a few years ago, when Zephyr’s right arm was severed by a pirate while protecting a ship full of cadets, everyone thought the era of [Black Arm] had passed.
Even after Zephyr donned the special combat prosthetic developed by World Government scientists, many still missed the old Black Arm, rather than the man with the giant mechanical arm he was today.
But now, Zephyr had proven with facts that [Black Arm] was still here.
He still existed.
Black Arm Zephyr was still alive, even if his right arm was no longer his real arm!
But…
[Black Arm] lived on!