“Hah!”
A roar echoed through everyone’s hearts, accompanied by the collapse of yet another section of the port!
The purple-haired old man, his muscles bulging and his face flushed with excitement, was completely fired up.
Every punch he threw seemed to carry boundless strength!
The sheer roar of his fists striking out sounded like the low growl of a giant beast!
Opposite him, Elliot didn’t evade in the slightest.
Although his punches looked ordinary and lacked the tsunami-like momentum of the old man’s…
…every single strike perfectly intercepted the old man’s fists.
The two exchanged blows back and forth!
There were no flashy techniques or gorgeous moves!
It was a pure, flesh-and-blood clash of fists!
Everyone’s eyes were brimming with excitement.
It was hard to tell if they were ignited by the old man’s passion or moved by the sheer strength of this new recruit.
Every single person clenched their fists.
They silently swore in their hearts that they, too, would become this strong!
*Boom!*
A massive explosion of sound!
The two separated simultaneously.
But the very instant they retreated and their toes touched the ground in unison…
Their figures vanished at the exact same time…
And reappeared!
One above, one below.
Zephyr swung his black fist down toward Elliot.
The old man wore a wide grin, his eyes brimming with exhilaration.
Below him, Elliot didn’t dodge, maintaining his usual calm expression.
But…
*Swish!*
Right at the moment their fists were about to collide once more!
A red Marine figure suddenly appeared right between them.
He wore the epaulets of an ‘Admiral’—a rank held by only three people in the entire Navy.
He was dressed in a red suit and a Marine-issued peaked cap, a cigar clamped in his mouth, his expression cold and stern.
Upon seeing this figure, all the Marines instantly stood at attention with profound respect.
Acting as if he didn’t care about their incoming fists at all, the Admiral looked at the two of them.
“Even if you want to be willful, please pick a better location!
Instructor Zephyr.”
As he spoke, the man’s body suddenly transformed into a magma-like substance, billowing black smoke rising from the molten rock.
Almost at the exact same time!
Zephyr pulled his fist back.
Seeing the magma, Elliot was slightly startled and also withdrew his punch.
“Sakazuki.” Zephyr cracked his knuckles and looked at the man, who was now one of the three Admirals of Marine Headquarters, [Akainu].
Seeing that both had retracted their attacks, the magma on Sakazuki’s body reverted to its normal flesh-and-blood form.
He glanced at Elliot before turning to Zephyr.
“Instructor Zephyr, this is the Marineford port.
Are you planning to completely destroy this place?”
Hearing this, Zephyr seemed to finally realize what he had done.
He looked left and right, froze for a moment, and then let out a chuckle that quickly escalated into a booming laugh.
“I completely forgot about that!”
But after saying that, he looked at Sakazuki, clearly still craving more.
“Still, while I appreciate you stepping in to stop us, I was just starting to have fun.”
Sakazuki’s face remained stern.
He didn’t say a word, but instead of looking at Zephyr, he turned his scrutinizing gaze toward Elliot.
Zephyr also looked at Elliot.
“You’ve passed all the evaluations.
From now on, you are a Special Recruit of the Marine Academy, Ensign Elliot.”
Hearing this, Elliot saluted but didn’t say anything.
However, he took two steps back away from Sakazuki.
Although he knew the man was a Devil Fruit user, it looked like some kind of magma fruit.
And it felt…
Very hot.
Thinking this, Elliot took another two steps back.
But when he looked up, he saw Sakazuki staring right at him.
Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd subconsciously gulped upon hearing Zephyr’s words, all eyes fixed on Elliot.
Mr.
Zephyr’s announcement meant the fight was over.
There was no winner or loser.
But…
Did that matter?
It didn’t matter at all!
Because this was Instructor Zephyr’s goal all along!
To evaluate the Special Recruit!
And this Special Recruit—a title the Marines hadn’t seen in many years—did not disappoint!
He was too strong!
In fact, he was terrifyingly strong!
He looked to be in his early twenties, yet he was able to fight Mr.
Zephyr without losing ground.
He even looked like he had energy to spare.
A Special Recruit…
An Admiral Candidate!
In the past, even powerhouses like Vice Admiral Chaton and Vice Admiral Momousagi hadn’t been made Special Recruits.
Most importantly, the capable officers present were keenly aware of one fact.
That this Special Recruit named Elliot still had limitless potential waiting to be tapped!
Rokushiki, Haki…
He didn’t know how to use them at all yet.
He was an absolute, thoroughbred [Monster]!
As for Elliot, who was being stared at by everyone…
He raised a hand to adjust his glasses, his gaze not retreating in the slightest.
He continued to lock eyes with Sakazuki.
“Instructor Zephyr…”
The blue-haired female instructor hurried over, her face full of concern.
Zephyr shook his head to indicate he was fine.
Then, he looked at all the instructors and cadets, announcing loudly, “Everyone has failed the evaluation!
Starting tomorrow, you will all accept your punishment!”
Although the cadets looked completely disheveled and covered in dirt, upon hearing Zephyr’s words, they immediately saluted and responded in unison, “Yes, sir!”
There were no complaints whatsoever.
Some of the cadets even looked at Elliot with longing and admiration.
Having a monster like Elliot in their class was both an honor and a massive motivation for them!
The Marines who managed to enter the Marine Academy were all young, cultivable elites.
Cowardice simply didn’t exist among them.
Elliot…
…was their new goal!
Zephyr turned back to Elliot.
“Ain will take you to your room in a bit.
Although the academy has standard cadet uniforms, you’re an Ensign now, so your rank insignia and officer’s uniform have already been placed in your room.
But next…”
Hearing this, Elliot paused and frowned.
“Mr.
Zephyr.”
Zephyr looked at him.
Elliot spoke up, “While I know this series of events is something I have to do, it’s been past my clock-out time for a while now.
Since I’ve already passed the evaluation, if you want me to continue doing anything else, please forgive me, but I refuse.
I refuse to work overtime.”
After saying that, Elliot pulled out his pocket watch and glanced at it.
“Also, please calculate the overtime pay for this session separately when you issue my salary.”
The blue-haired female instructor named Ain froze, a bizarre expression crossing her face.
Zephyr, on the other hand, let out a few hearty laughs.
But before Zephyr could speak, Sakazuki’s expression grew severe.
His stern eyes locked dead onto Elliot.
“Do you think the Marines are some casual playground?”
He continued, “Just because you’re a Special Recruit, you think you can act with such brazen disregard?”
Hearing this, Zephyr couldn’t help but frown.
Admiral Sakazuki…
…was the strictest and most serious of the three Admirals.
Even the surrounding Marines tensed up immediately upon hearing his tone.
Elliot reached up and pushed his glasses up his nose.
“No, I don’t think this is a casual place, otherwise I wouldn’t have joined the Marines.
What I just said was simply raising my own objection.
After all, if I’m required to work overtime on my very first day here, how am I supposed to survive the days to come?”
“?”
Seeing Elliot audaciously say such things to Admiral Sakazuki, the surrounding crowd subconsciously swallowed hard.
Let’s be real!
Saying all this to Admiral Sakazuki was worse than just continuing the fight with Instructor Zephyr!
This Admiral was the type to directly attack anyone who dared to defy him!
Sakazuki, who was already much taller than Elliot, stared down at him coldly.
“It seems…
you still don’t understand what the Marines represent.
In that case…
I will teach you personally!
Starting tomorrow, you are assigned to my unit!”
Everyone: “Huh?”