The urgent questioning instantly tightened the nerves of all the new recruits on the deck.
To them, Zephyr was their strongest backing.
However, facing the relentless pirate fleet behind them, seeing other support would undoubtedly be another encouragement and boost for them.
But faced with this question, Zephyr's expression immediately turned grim.
Shuzo, a member of the Long-Arm Tribe, standing nearby, couldn't hold back and asked, "Teacher Zephyr, have we really not received any support signals from others yet?"
As these words fell, a layer of inexplicable gloom settled over the atmosphere, as if an invisible hand.
Was clenching their hearts.
Sensing the change in the surrounding atmosphere, Zephyr sighed inwardly and said, "I just received contact from Captain Hina."
"Originally, she had received our distress signal and was coming to rendezvous with us."
"However, she just sent another signal. While approaching, she was intercepted by three pirates with bounties over 100 million. It seems this pirate attack is not an isolated incident."
"The mastermind hidden behind this is plotting something big. If we have to wait for the next wave of support, it will take at least half a day."
With that said, Zephyr looked back at the pirates relentlessly pursuing them, his face growing even more solemn.
"However, can you all hold out until then?"
As these words fell, the expressions of the Navy recruits present changed drastically.
They were recruits who had come from the training camp.
Once they graduated successfully, positions as admirals awaited them.
However, as Zephyr said, they were new recruits who had not been tempered by blood and fire, and their practical combat experience with pirates was zero.
In the Navy Academy, their theoretical scores looked impressive.
Unfortunately, on this extremely harsh sea of the New World, this perfect report card would probably be considered too dry even for wiping one's backside after using the toilet.
The current situation was exactly as Zephyr described.
To survive, could they hold out until the support arrived half a day later?
"Teacher Zephyr... how confident are you?" Binz couldn't help but say.
His words instantly drew everyone's attention.
At this moment, Zephyr's presence was like a life-saving straw to them.
"Fifty percent!" Zephyr said coldly. "If it were just me, I'd have a hundred percent chance."
"But with you all, I only have a fifty percent chance. Of course, if we unite, we'll have a hundred percent chance of survival."
"Who knows, we might even be able to turn the tables and wipe out these pirates. So you must believe in your own strength and create enough miracles."
Faced with these encouraging words, the previously oppressive atmosphere clearly began to loosen.
However, Ain, who had rushed to the new recruit trial and was observing the battle from a distance, fell into silence.
Beside Kai, she had experienced many trials of blood and fire.
Furthermore, the battle of attrition on Sabaody Archipelago had made Ain understand the cruelty of naivety versus reality.
This made Ain clearly understand that Zephyr's morale boost was indeed excellent.
But this was only in the face of these simple pursuing pirates.
If the mastermind hidden in the shadows couldn't hold back and attacked prematurely, it would undoubtedly be the beginning of a nightmare for them.
At that time, let alone counter-attacking the pursuing pirates, they might not even have that fifty percent chance of survival.
After all, in Ain's eyes, after following Laxus and personally experiencing many life-or-death battles, she clearly understood that these people, in her eyes, were like flowers in a greenhouse, unable to withstand the ravages of wind and rain.
With this thought, Ain lowered her head and looked at the Sea Prism Stone bracers on her hands.
It seemed that the training she had just adapted to would have to be temporarily abandoned.
"Alright, Teacher Zephyr is right. We are also top-tier geniuses in the training camp. As long as we cheer up and boost our morale, defeating a group of pirates won't be difficult." Shuzo, a member of the Long-Arm Tribe, was the first to raise his arm and declare.
As these words fell, they were clearly echoed by many.
Seeing this, Zephyr breathed a slight sigh of relief.
A sense of inexplicable crisis, like an invisible hand, instantly enveloped his nerves.
The sudden turn of events shook Zephyr's nerves. Without time to think, he quickly activated his Observation Haki to its limit.
"Enemy attack!"
Zephyr roared urgently.
Without time to think, he quickly activated his Armament Haki, covering his hands, and moved to block in front of him.
Boom!
A blue-white flying slash shot towards the warship from the front.
The speed was astonishing, and the blade's aura was at least seven to eight meters large.
As Zephyr raised his hands, without any fancy moves, they collided.
Bang!
A thunderous explosion sounded.
The flying slash shattered upon impact, and the violent shockwaves splashed like a tide.
Fragments of sword energy, like dense blades, shot out in all directions.
Bang, bang, bang!
A series of explosions sounded.
Deck debris and splashing blood instantly filled the warship, already battered by cannon fire, with cries of agony and screams.
Although this equally matched attack did not cause fatal injuries to the new recruits, faced with this sudden attack, even Zephyr had only just reacted.
Let alone these unseasoned Navy new recruits.
Facing such a fierce flying slash, ninety percent of them could not react in time.
At least fifteen to sixteen new recruits were injured, some of whom were severely wounded and bleeding profusely.
If they could not receive timely treatment, death would await them.
Especially Shuzo, the Long-Arm Tribe member who had spoken to boost morale earlier, had his left arm severed.
He was now sitting on the ground, clutching his profusely bleeding wound, and crying out in despair.
"Enemy attack! It's an enemy attack!"
"Teacher Zephyr, what do we do now? Are we going to die?"
"Who is it? Who exactly dares to sneak attack our Marine Headquarters' new recruit training ship? Fleet Admiral Sengoku will surely make him pay dearly."
Hysterical roars echoed across the sea.
Looking at Shuzo, who had completely collapsed, Ain's face also turned slightly pale. She glanced at the Armament Haki covering her hands.
And the new recruits she had shielded behind her in time. Suppressing the lingering fear in her heart, she walked to Shuzo's side.
She flicked the back of his head with her hand and then looked towards the mastermind who had launched the sneak attack from the distant sea.
"If you don't want to die, shut up. It's not the pirates' fault for attacking us this time. These are the incompetent ones among the pirates!"
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