"Will Admiral Zephyr really test the new guy himself?"
> "That's Kyle, right? Not just a rookie—he's the one with the Gravity Devil Fruit. Rumor is he played a huge part in the mission to take down Golden Lion. Got medals to prove it. He's at least an Ensign."
> "Now Zephyr wants to test his potential early. If the kid's got real promise, Ensign will just be his first stop."
> "Rear Admiral Momousagi's already here. But where's Rear Admiral Kake?"
> "Man, I can't wait to see Zephyr give this newbie a taste of real combat!"
A wave of excited chatter spread across the training grounds at Marineford. It was tradition—when Admiral Zephyr personally tested a recruit, it meant something big. And when the old legend got serious, people paid attention.
Logically speaking, Zephyr would be holding back. But even restrained, he was still Zephyr. To the watching Marines, this was going to be a beatdown. Nobody expected Kyle to stand a chance.
As the crowd gave way, clearing space, Zephyr stepped forward. No speeches. No warm-up. He was a warrior—direct and focused. He launched forward without warning.
His movement was like a blur in the air—impossible to track. In the blink of an eye, the Admiral was already in front of Kyle, sword drawn.
> "Show me your swordsmanship," Zephyr barked. "Close-quarters. No tricks."
The blade—coated in hardened Haki—roared through the air like a beast.
Whoosh!
But just as it was about to connect, Kyle calmly drew both of his swords. In a clean motion, he intercepted the blow, diverting the force to the side and stepping back without panic.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed. He'd held back to avoid hurting the kid, but even then—this block wasn't easy. Not many could pull that off, even veterans.
He remembered other greats he had trained—Akainu among them. Akainu had once been a promising swordsman before choosing magma over steel. If he'd kept going, he might have become a master.
But this Kyle... his calm under pressure was different. Maybe... even better?
> "Admiral Zephyr," Kyle said evenly, "if you keep holding back, you'll never beat me in a sword fight."
That confidence. Not arrogance. Just fact.
The boy had changed since the Golden Lion mission. Kyle had gained something—experience, poise. He'd reached intermediate Observation Haki and honed his blade work. From what Zephyr could tell, Kyle's swordsmanship hovered somewhere between solid swordsman and the cusp of greatness.
Zephyr grinned.
> "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
He had doubted whether Kyle's first block was a fluke. But this? This was no accident.
Zephyr's eyes lit up. His grip on the hilt tightened, and his battle spirit surged. A gust of energy burst out from beneath his boots—cracking the stone underfoot.
> "Alright then… I underestimated you!" he declared, grinning like a warrior who'd just found a worthy opponent.
Then he came at Kyle again—faster, heavier.
But Kyle didn't retreat. He met him blow for blow. A real swordsman's duel had begun.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang out, echoing through Marineford. Sparks lit up the space between them like lightning flashes.
The surrounding Marines flinched as shockwaves rippled outward. Several stumbled back, their training forgotten as they took cover. This wasn't a sparring match anymore—it was a battle.
From the edge of the square, Momousagi unsheathed her Kinpira blade, slashing effortlessly to deflect stray flying debris.
But inside her, emotions churned.
> "Just a few exchanges," she muttered under her breath, "and it's obvious—Kyle's skill is real."
Meanwhile, something else was happening inside Kyle's mind.
> [Ding! You've gained 10,000 Attention Points from HQ Marines!]
> [Ding! You've gained 40,000 Attention Points from Admiral Zephyr!]
> [Ding! You've gained 50,000 Attention Points from Vice Admiral Momousagi!]
Kyle smirked slightly.
> "So it's true… if you seize the moment, you grab attention."
He gripped his blades tighter, eyes sharp with determination.
> "And if I go all in… I might even get my hands on that Diamond Lottery Ticket from the system."