As the six months of high intensity special training came to an end, all members of this session's Marine Elite Training Camp underwent a qualitative transformation. Having learned Haki and the Six Powers, their combat capabilities far surpassed what they had been before.
The training camp officially entered its second phase: the practical combat assessment. No longer limited to sparring on the training grounds, all rankings would now be determined entirely by real combat achievements.
Zephyr received orders from Headquarters which, combined with intelligence gathered by Cipher Pol, revealed that a grand pirate gathering was currently taking place on a neutral, lawless island in the second half of the Grand Line. It was a chaotic mix of dangerous figures, making it the ideal trial ground for this assessment.
On the training ground, the sea breeze blew fiercely, and the military flag fluttered loudly against the sky. Zephyr stood on the elevated platform, his steady gaze sweeping across the neatly assembled recruits below, his voice deep and powerful.
"After more than half a year of training, you have all been completely transformed. However, greenhouse cultivation will never nurture true Marines. True battles and genuine life or death struggles are always fought out on the open sea."
"The rules for this practical assessment are simple: you will disperse and strike, hunting down the gathered pirates individually or in teams. Final rankings will be evaluated based on total accumulated bounties. These rankings are directly tied to your final graduation honors. The top ten will receive exceptional promotions to Commander or Captain, while the top graduate may be promoted directly to Rear Admiral."
The eyes of the recruits instantly blazed with passion. Such a rapid pace of promotion was unprecedented in Marine history: a special measure taken by Headquarters to prepare for the impending chaotic era, as well as a monumental opportunity for them all.
Zephyr turned his head toward Borsalino beside him. "For this operation, I will lead the main fleet to hold down the rear, locking down the surrounding waters and tightening the cordon to prevent any pirates from escaping."
"You should head onto the island as well, taking charge of emergency rescues. There are likely quite a few pirates here in the Grand Line with bounties exceeding a hundred million."
Borsalino nodded slightly and replied, "Understood, Instructor Zephyr. Ensuring everyone's safety is far more important than combat achievements. I will keep a close eye on them."
With the plan finalized, the entire Marine force immediately entered a state of combat readiness. Headquarters dispatched five large main warships carrying several general and captain level officers to establish a layered naval blockade. The main force remained in offshore waters, lying in wait to form a perimeter wall. All training camp recruits traveled light, disguising themselves in advance and landing in separate batches to infiltrate the island's interior. Once everyone was in position and the internal assault threw the pirates into chaos, the outer fleet would tighten the net for a synchronized pincer movement.
Before landing, Borsalino looked at the recruits who had already shed their military uniforms. Standing by the ship's rail as the sea breeze ruffled her cloak, she spoke in a calm voice. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
"According to intelligence, this gathering brings together many newly emerged bounties exceeding a hundred million, as well as veteran pirates lurking in the shadows. If you encounter an opponent you cannot face, call for backup immediately. Do not act tough."
After six months of tempering, the recruits had all been soundly beaten by Borsalino, especially Sakazuki. In their minds, this chaotic operation was the perfect opportunity to vent their pent up frustration.
Before long, small boats set off in batches. Momonga, Strawberry, Onigumo, Doberman, Sakazuki, and the others divided into small groups, landing covertly from different points around the island and sneaking inside.
After everyone had departed, Borsalino was in no rush to move. She swapped her standard uniform for simple, dark casual clothes, adopting an effortless, relaxed air. To disguise her highly recognizable features, she wore a pair of oversized black framed glasses. The pirate world was full of notoriously unobservant people; as long as she did not reveal her Devil Fruit abilities, blending in was easy enough.
Walking slowly onto the island streets, the entire town reeked of a wild, lawless pirate atmosphere. Pirates carrying blades and firearms roamed everywhere, radiating hostility, drinking heavily, shouting, and causing utter chaos.
Even with her subtle disguise, her tall, striking figure and exquisite appearance stood out. Feeling out of place among the crude, fierce pirates, she instantly drew numerous stares from all sides. Seeing her alone, a few wandering low level pirates harbored ill intentions and swaggered over with sleazy grins.
Watching the men approach with splayed duck footed strides, Borsalino felt helpless and saw no point in entangling herself with them. Her wrist lifted slightly, drawing Qingyue half an inch from its sheath. A flash of cold light gleamed, and an invisible blade of sword qi split outward silently.
Boom!
A wooden house along the street was sliced cleanly in half, the cut smooth as wood chips flew into the air. The approaching pirates froze in their tracks, their faces turning pale as ash as they realized they had hit a brick wall. Recognizing that the woman before them was not someone to cross, they scrambled backward and scattered in fear, not daring to cast another glance.
The surrounding crowd watching the spectacle fell silent, suddenly pretending to be busy as they dispersed. Having cleared away the pointless harassment, Borsalino continued her leisurely stroll.
The entertainment district on this lawless island was exceptionally developed. Taverns, casinos, and black market shops lined the streets, clamoring night after night, offering a decadent paradise for pirates to indulge without restraint. It made Borsalino recall the Pleasure District from future plotlines, telling herself she would definitely check it out if given the chance.
To quickly grasp the situation and gather intelligence, a tavern was always the ideal venue. Pirates from all walks of life gathered here, making information abundant and easy to filter. In other words, the place was packed with colourful characters who spoke so entertainingly, and she found it thoroughly amusing. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
Following the noise, Borsalino entered the largest tavern on the street. Pushing the door open, the heavy stench of alcohol and gunpowder smoke mixed with boisterous shouting washed over her.
As she stepped inside, the bustling tavern suddenly fell quiet. Even wearing black framed glasses and plain casual clothes, her refined aura was completely out of place, drawing every eye in the room toward her. Countless pirates stopped drinking and laughing, turning to size her up and compare her face against bounty posters in their memories.
Ignoring their stares, Borsalino casually scanned the room, intending to find a quiet corner to sit down. In her previous life, bars had been among her favorite haunts; enjoying a quiet drink now and then was quite beneficial for mental and physical health.
In the next instant, her gaze froze on a shadowy corner at the far end of the room.
Sitting against the wall was a young man. He had clean, short light golden hair, a handsome yet resolute face, and a tall, robust frame, radiating a relaxed yet intensely oppressive presence. A distinct short scar sat beneath his right eye, and an ancient longsword rested horizontally across his waist.
From the very first glance, she knew he was a top tier swordsman. Sword qi practically radiated off his body.
Silvers Rayleigh.
Rayleigh during this era was vastly different from his silver haired, aging self in later years. The young Dark King Rayleigh was spirited, ambitious, and already counted among the formidable powerhouses of the high seas.
Borsalino felt her heart sink slightly. Rayleigh being here meant one thing: the Roger Pirates were currently on this island.
Should she consider this good luck or bad luck? It seemed this training exercise was going to be far more complicated than planned.
Borsalino let out a quiet, tired sigh.
"This really is... troublesome."