When Lucas and the others gathered, Zephyr had already arrived.
He looked at the six assembled students and said, “There are four hours left until noon.
I want you to finish one hundred laps before noon.
There is a new training program in the afternoon, do you hear me?
Start running now.”
“Yes, Teacher!” the six replied, with Shuzo being the most enthusiastic.
“You five, dare to have a youthful competition?
Whoever finishes last washes socks for a week,” Smoker said with a wicked smile.
“Fine!” Shu said.
“It’s a deal!” Shuzo said.
“You’re crazy, Hina won’t bet with you,” Hina said.
Lucas looked at Vergo and said, “Sure, Smoker, just don’t lose yourself.”
“Count me in,” Vergo said silently.
“I won’t lose!” Smoker said arrogantly, and ran off first.
“Idiot!
Running in the front is the most tiring,” Lucas said to himself, and followed him out.
One lap, five laps, ten laps, thirty laps, fifty laps.
By the fiftieth lap, Smoker could no longer maintain the first position.
And this time, even though she didn’t agree to the bet, Hina didn’t slack off, following closely behind Smoker and Lucas and the others.
Among them, Lucas’s growth was the fastest.
Under the influence of his Photosynthesis Ability, his Physical Strength and aptitude were increasing day by day.
By the eightieth lap, the ranking was almost decided.
Vergo first.
Lucas second.
Smoker third.
Shuzo fourth.
Hina fifth.
Shu sixth.
If Smoker hadn’t been leading the whole time, perhaps he would have ranked second.
When the hundred laps ended, Smoker sat on the ground, panting heavily:
“Shu, don’t forget to come to me tonight to collect my socks.”
Lucas patted Shu and said:
“And mine.”
Shu lay on the ground, not wanting to speak.
He had already tried his best, and he had also worked very hard.
He didn’t know that as they grew older, the gap between them would only grow larger.
This was talent.
Sometimes talent cannot be made up for by hard work; heaven is just that unfair.
If Lucas didn’t have the system, didn’t have the Forest-Forest Fruit, then he would probably be the last one now.
No, he might not even be as good as those ordinary Marine recruits.
Zephyr had been watching this side the whole time.
He was still very surprised to see that Lucas had actually run to second place.
Among them, Lucas and Vergo were the oldest.
Generally, when one reaches the age of fifteen, the future is almost set; even with growth, there is a limit.
However, Lucas was different every day.
Since coming to the Marine Academy, he had been progressing rapidly with his own efforts.
“Alright, go eat first.
There will be a surprise in the afternoon!” Zephyr said, and then left with his assistants.
“I wonder what the surprise will be!” Smoker muttered.
After lunch, the six of them felt much less exhausted and gathered at the playground again.
This time, Zephyr brought two Marineford Commanders.
“This afternoon, we will start our first practical combat class.
As Marines, the first lesson of practical combat is learning how to take a beating,” Zephyr said, pointing to the two Marine Commanders behind him:
“These are your seniors from two years ago, two unremarkable Marine Commanders.
From today on, you will fight them to practice your practical combat skills.”
What the hell, ‘unremarkable’…
“Finally, we can have real combat!
Let them taste the power of Smoker!” Smoker said excitedly.
However, there is a saying: the more you jump around, the harder you get hit.
When everyone arrived at the ring, Smoker was the first to go up, and also the first to get beaten up.
Don’t look at how Smoker and Lucas fight back and forth on ordinary days; they were still children, after all.
Facing adult Marine Commanders who had already experienced countless battles, they were completely outmatched.
“Your attacks have no structure, like a hooligan fight.
Next, Lucas.”
Watching Smoker being kicked off the stage, bruised and swollen, Zephyr reprimanded him.
Hearing this, Lucas jumped onto the ring.
“Lucas, your wooden sword,” Hina reminded him.
“No need.
If they use their fists, I will use my fists,” Lucas said.
“Kid, you can use a sword,” the Marine Commander fighting against Lucas said.
“No need.
If I use a sword, you might lose,” Lucas said seriously.
As for swordsmanship, Lucas didn’t have much love for it.
He only loved it because swordsmanship could improve his strength.
In the end, what he loved was just the improvement of strength, so he actually wanted to be an all-rounder, not just rely on swordsmanship.
“Haha, I allow your arrogance, but you will pay for it,” the Commander said, beckoning to Lucas with his fingers, with a look of “Come on over.”
Seeing this, Lucas rushed over head-on, and then punched the Marine Commander’s neck.
However, Lucas’s speed was simply too weak in the eyes of that Marineford Commander.
He grabbed Lucas’s wrist, then swung him backward, directly lifting Lucas up and throwing him to the ground.
Bang!
Lucas’s body had intimate contact with the floor of the ring.
But he quickly got up and attacked the Marineford Commander again.
“You are too slow, just like a slug, so slow…
it makes people feel bored.”
The Marine Commander said, dodging Lucas’s attacks continuously, and then punched Lucas in the stomach.
Bang!
The huge force made Lucas’s face turn pale instantly.
Then, the Marine Commander turned around and pressed his hand on Lucas’s head, pressing it forcefully onto the ring floor.
Bang!
With this, Lucas felt that his nose bridge might be broken; it was very painful.
In the end, he kicked Lucas to the edge of the ring.
“Gis, wooden sword!” that Marine Commander said.
Hearing this, the other Marine Commander knew his companion’s intention and threw out two wooden swords.
That Commander took the wooden sword, threw one of them towards Lucas who had just stood up, and teased:
“Come on, let me see your swordsmanship, let me see how you will hurt me.”
Hearing the other party’s words, Lucas silently picked up the wooden sword, then took a deep breath.
His gaze fell on the Commander in front of him, and his right hand gripping the hilt gradually tightened.
A sharp aura rose around him silently.
This aura was silent, but if one were immersed in it, it would be audible to the ears, real and vivid.
It was as if the wind was whispering in a low voice…
“Sword in heart, listen to the wind!”
Just now, when the aura accumulated to its peak, Lucas’s pupils suddenly shrank, he gave a low shout, the strength of his wrist suddenly burst out, and the blade of the wooden sword instantly turned into an afterimage, carrying an extremely sharp aura, slashing towards the Marineford Commander in front!
“Steel Tempest!”