Chapter 79: Zephyr's Field Mission
Time slipped by. Sea Calendar 1513 - Marineford - Boot Camp - Morning.
Sunlight filled the training ground. The morning breeze swirled with the sweat and fighting spirit of the young recruits.
"Hah—!"
A 10-year-old Luffy leaped into the air, his small fist coated in a rough, budding Armament Haki, smashing down at a 13-year-old Ace!
"Too slow!"
Ace sneered, dodging to the side and countering with an elbow strike!
"Bam!"
Luffy was knocked back, stumbling, but he didn't back down. His fighting spirit only flared brighter. "Again!"
On the sidelines, Zephyr stood with his arms crossed, a small smile on his face as he watched them.
"These two brats... they're improving fast."
His gaze swept to the other side of the field—
Ain, holding her short blades, moved with the grace of a butterfly, her daggers humming through the air.
Binz controlled several vines, weaving them precisely around the training dummies, his tactical control maturing.
"Ain's reflexes, Binz's tactical control... this year's batch of new blood is good."
Zephyr nodded slowly, making a decision. "It's time. Time for them to see a real battlefield."
"Brats, fall in!"
The recruits quickly formed a line, their breathing heavy but their eyes sharp.
Zephyr's gaze was like a hawk's. "Starting today, you will embark on your first live-combat field mission."
"Real combat?!" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Are we going to fight pirates?!"
Ace, hands in his pockets, just snorted. "Finally, something interesting."
Zoro gripped his swords, his fighting spirit blazing. "Good. A chance to try out my new moves!"
Ain stood calmly, but a flash of anticipation crossed her eyes.
Zephyr's voice was grave. "Our target is in the West Blue. We will annihilate the newly formed 'Blood-Blade Pirates.' Their captain has a 100 million Beri bounty!"
"YEAAAAAH—!!!"
The young recruits roared, their spirits soaring.
The next day - Marineford Port
The warship set sail, the young recruits standing on the deck, their faces eager.
Zephyr stood at the bow, his gaze deep.
"This is our first real mission, I'm so nervous," Ain said quietly to Binz.
Binz clenched his fists. "Don't worry! Instructor Zephyr is with us! We won't lose!"
The warship cut through the waves, heading for its trial.
Two hours after the training ship departed, Marineford Port...
A separate warship, showing signs of a recent battle, slowly docked.
Roy stepped onto the pier, yawning. "Finally back. That old man Kizaru... he really knows how to use me as his personal errand boy..."
Law, walking beside him, gave a small smile. "But you're the one who agreed to help him, Roy-san."
At Trafalgar Law's own request, he had been assigned as Vice Admiral Roy's adjutant to continue learning at his side. Sengoku had agreed almost instantly.
However, when the two of them arrived at the training ground, Roy froze.
"Huh? Where is everyone?"
Just as he was wondering, familiar footsteps approached.
"Looking for your little brothers?"
Gion (Momousagi) walked over, her uniform crisp, with Kuina in tow, who had just finished her own sword training.
Roy grinned. "Gion-san! Where'd all the brats run off to?"
Gion's voice was flat. "Instructor Zephyr took them out for field training."
"There's a new crew in the West Blue, the 'Blood-Blade Pirates' or something. 100 million Beri bounty. It seems the Instructor has high hopes for this new batch."
Roy's smile vanished. "Field training? The Blood-Blade Pirates?"
Gion nodded. "Mhm. I heard he also took those two other promising kids, Ain and Binz, with him."
"Ain... Binz?!"
Roy's pupils shrank to pinpricks. He stumbled, almost warping out of the port on pure instinct!
A scene from his original-timeline memories flashed through his mind—
Blood. Fire. A collapsing deck. Zephyr, roaring in despair as his students were slaughtered and his arm...
He instinctively clenched his fists, but just as quickly, forced himself to stop. He took a deep, shuddering breath and let out a shaky laugh. "Heh... getting worked up over nothing. What am I worrying about?"
Gion caught his strange reaction, raising an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"
Roy shook his head. "Nothing. Just... suddenly worried about those brats."
Gion snorted. "With Instructor Zephyr there, they'll be fine."
Kuina nodded. "Zoro and Ace... they're strong."
Roy looked out at the horizon, where the warship was long gone.
"Don't disappoint me, kids."
West Blue Shipping Route
Zephyr stood on the deck, his gaze fixed on the island that was slowly appearing. A pirate ship flying a blood-stained black flag was anchored there.
He gave the order, his voice low. "All hands, prepare for battle! The training mission... begins!"
"SIR!"
Ace, Luffy, Zoro, Ain, and Binz—the new generation of the Marines—readied their weapons.
On the pirate ship...
A raucous banquet was in full swing.
"BWAHAHAHA! Man, those village women were fun! Too bad they broke so easily!"
"That little village had a ton of gold, too! We took it all!"
The captain, "The Butcher" Goraz, bounty 100 million Beri, sat in the center of the deck, tearing meat from a bone.
"I'm still not done killing..."
He suddenly frowned, his Observation Haki picking something up. "...Hm?"
He looked up. A Marine warship was approaching. On its deck stood an old man with purple hair and a handful of kids.
"A warship? Hah?!"
He squinted. "Just a few brats who haven't even hit puberty? And some old geezer?"
He burst out laughing. "BWAHAHAHA! Are the Marines out of soldiers?! Sending kids to their deaths?!"
His crew joined in. "Look at 'em! They're just children!"
"Great! Some new toys for us!"
"That old man looks like he's got one foot in the grave! Hahaha!"
The pirates laughed, not taking the threat seriously at all.
The warship docked. Zephyr, his face an impassive mask, just said two words:
"Assault."
Before the word had even faded—
"FIRE FIST!!!"
Ace was the first one off the ship, his fist exploding in a massive column of fire that smashed into the pirate's banquet!
"BOOOOM!!!"
The deck erupted. Tables, food, and pirates were sent flying, several instantly incinerated!
Goraz's eyes widened. "A... A Logia user?!"
"Damn it! These aren't normal brats!! Everyone, kill them!!"
But it was too late. Five figures were already in their midst.
"Two-Sword Style: 72 Caliber Phoenix!!" Zoro's flying slash tore through the enemy's ranks!
"Soru: Iron Fist!" Luffy vanished in a blur, his Haki-coated fist sending a pirate flying!
"Vine-Bind: Lock!" Binz's plants erupted, trapping several pirates!
"Moon-Dance: Slash!" Ain's blades were a silver flash!
The five of them moved like a typhoon, and in the blink of an eye, a dozen pirates were on the ground, dead or dying!
"Wh-what the hell are these kids?!"
"Don't panic!! KILL THEM—"
Goraz roared, charging Ace, his own giant blade coated in Haki!
"You think you can treat me like experience points?! You've got a death wish!!"
Ace just smirked, his flames erupting. "You're the one who chose this death."
"Flame Commandment: Blazing Charge!!"
The fist of fire and the Haki-coated blade clashed, and the resulting explosion tore the battlefield apart.
Behind them, Zephyr stood, his arms crossed, watching everything.
This... was the new generation's trial by fire.
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