THUD!
With a loud bang, Zephyr's iron fist smashed heavily onto the solid wood desk. The hard surface cracked instantly, and wood chips flew everywhere.
Tatsuki's ecstasy was interrupted, but he immediately adjusted his expression, instantly switching to "heartbroken and regretful" mode.
"Speak!!!"
Zephyr's roar made the glass windows buzz.
"These are the future pillars I had high hopes for? These are the best recruits of this class? Going to the Pleasure District? Drinking at a brothel? Why don't you two just go and become pirates instead?! Huh?!"
Spittle almost sprayed onto their faces.
Kuzan's knees went weak, his face pale, and he opened his mouth to admit his mistake. "Instructor, I..."
However, a figure was faster than him.
THUMP!
A dull but firm sound of knees hitting the ground rang out.
Tatsuki knelt down without warning, but his back was ramrod straight. His eyes looked directly at the furious Zephyr.
"Reporting, Instructor Zephyr!"
"Everything is my fault! I did it all alone, it has nothing to do with Kuzan!" His voice was loud and resonant.
Kuzan snapped his head around, looking at Tatsuki beside him in disbelief.
What was he doing? We clearly went together. Why was he taking the blame alone?
"Why?!"
Zephyr stared at him intently, his teeth grinding.
"Give me a reason, Tatsuki! Is the glory your father traded his life for something to be trampled on by you like this?!"
"It's not like that!"
At the mention of his father, Tatsuki's body jolted violently. He slowly raised his head, his eyes red, and two lines of tears fell from the corners of his eyes at just the right moment.
In that moment, he was possessed by the spirit of a legendary actor.
"Instructor, it is precisely so that I do not fail my father's glory, and for the sake of Marine justice, that I have done such a bastardly thing."
Zephyr was stunned, his brow furrowed, and confusion showed in his eyes.
Tatsuki's voice trembled slightly with emotion. "Kuzan is too naive. In his eyes, there is only black and white. He is like a blank sheet of paper, knowing nothing of the filth of this world."
"But instructor, you know better than anyone that this sea is not black and white. The New World we are going to in the future is filled with deception, desire, and the most extreme evil."
"I'm worried... I'm truly worried that in the future, because of this overly idealized justice, he will hit walls everywhere on the cruel sea, or even... take an extreme path."
"So..."
He clenched his fist and thumped it heavily against his chest. "That's why I wanted to use this most extreme method to let him see the filth of this world in advance."
"I wanted him to understand just how much helplessness is hidden beneath the peace we risk our lives to protect."
"Even if... even if it violates military discipline! Even if it leaves a stain on my record! Even if I'm expelled!"
"As long as it allows Kuzan to see the cruelty of this world in advance and makes his future path of justice more stable... I, Tatsuki, am willing to be punished! I have no regrets even in death!"
After finishing his speech, Tatsuki kowtowed heavily again, his forehead hitting the floor with a crisp sound.
"Please, instructor, punish only me!"
The entire office was silent.
Kuzan was stunned. His worldview had experienced its second collapse tonight.
So... was that how it was?
In an instant, Kuzan's heart was overwhelmed by a surge of complex emotions.
And Zephyr's chest was heaving violently.
He looked at the youth kneeling on the ground, at that straight spine, and it was as if he saw the figure of an old comrade-in-arms.
'This kid... although his actions are absurd, his original intention was actually to protect his comrade?'
Zephyr's heart, which had been gradually growing cold due to the tragic death of his family, was deeply touched.
"Phew..."
Zephyr let out a long breath, the anger in his eyes mostly dissipating, replaced by a complex look.
Zephyr sat back down. Though his tone was still stern, the killing intent was gone. "Even if your motivation was for your comrade, military discipline is military discipline."
"Since you want to bear everything, then I will grant your wish."
Zephyr waved his large hand. "You two bastards, get to the training ground now. With 2,000 kilograms of weight, run two hundred laps around Marineford. If you don't finish, no one sleeps today."
"Yes! Instructor! Thank you, instructor!"
Tatsuki acted as if he had been granted a great amnesty, his face full of gratitude as he kowtowed heavily again. Then he grabbed Kuzan, who was still in a daze of emotion, and turned to rush out of the office.
Watching their departing backs, Zephyr tiredly rubbed his brow, but the corner of his lips curled up in an imperceptible arc.
"This class of recruits... they're really a headache. But... not bad."
—
5:00 AM, Marineford training ground.
Two figures, carrying mountain-like specially-made iron blocks, trudged with difficulty on the track. With every step they took, a heavy thud could be heard.
"Huff... Puff..."
Kuzan felt like his lungs were about to explode.
The aftereffects of the alcohol kicked in, and combined with the terrifying 2,000-kilogram weight, every step he took felt like torture.
"Tatsuki... sorry... I dragged you into this." Kuzan apologized while gasping for air, his eyes full of guilt.
Tatsuki, running ahead of him, was also drenched in sweat, but his eyes were firm. "Stop talking, Kuzan. Save your strength for running. This is the price of growth."
However, in his heart, he was frantically saying, 'System. Enhance Physique.'
[Command received. Converting Violation points...]
[Physique enhancement starting!]
[Physique 55 -> 56... 700 points consumed.]
[Physique 60 -> 61... 1,200 points consumed.]
Boom!
As the Violation points were consumed, a scalding hot stream appeared out of thin air in his limbs.
His originally aching muscle fibers were instantly reorganized and strengthened under the nourishment of this energy. The weights, heavy as mountains, suddenly became light.
The pleasure of breaking through his limits almost made Tatsuki groan aloud.
Sweet!
Is this the joy of cheating?
Others get more tired as they run, but I get stronger.
[Physique: 65 (Human Limit)]
[Warning: You must learn Armament Haki to break through the physical barrier before you can continue to add points.]
[Haki Initiation requirement: 100,000 Violation points]
[Violation points: 36,692]
One hundred thousand?
Tatsuki smacked his lips, and looking at the remaining balance, his eyes became even more dangerous.
'It seems this level isn't enough. I need to cause even bigger trouble.'
Just then—
Thud!
Kuzan had finally reached his limit. His eyes rolled back, and he fell straight onto the track, passing out.
"Kuzan!"
Tatsuki stopped in his tracks.
He looked at the figure in the distant office building window that had been watching this place, and the corner of his lips curled into an imperceptible arc.
'Since it's an act, I have to go all the way.'
Tatsuki gritted his teeth, letting out a beast-like low growl, "Since I said I'd bear everything, I'll see it through to the end!"
He walked to Kuzan's side, grabbed the two-meter-tall guy with one hand, and hoisted him along with his weights onto his shoulders.
A full four tons! Plus the weight of an adult man!
In the distance, Zephyr watched this scene, his teacup frozen in mid-air, not putting it down for a long time.
BOOM!
Tatsuki's legs bent slightly, the ground cracked, and carrying the weight of two people, he started moving again.
And his speed... was even faster than before.
The unconscious Kuzan regained a sliver of awareness amidst the jolting. He felt himself lying on a broad, warm back, and in his ears was the heavy but powerful sound of Tatsuki's heartbeat.
"Tat... suki..."
"Shut up and keep sleeping." Tatsuki panted heavily, his voice raspy but firm. "I'll run the rest of the way for you."
Kuzan's eyes grew moist. He looked at the ground moving beneath him, and in his mind echoed the words Tatsuki had said tonight, as well as the sight of his back as he ran desperately for his sake.
Is this justice?
Going to that kind of place, being punished for a comrade, running all night...
It's very hot-blooded and touching but... it's so tiring.
Kuzan slowly closed his eyes, and before completely losing consciousness, he let out a murmur from the depths of his soul, "Justice and all that... it's just too much of a pain."