Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Inside the Marine Academy's training hall, two figures rapidly crisscrossed, striking with lightning speed. Their fists and feet collided, creating visible, surging shockwaves that vibrated the entire arena. Even the force of their charges was enough to easily crack the bluestone slabs beneath their feet.
"Is your Rokushiki only at this level?"
"Shigan: Machine Gun!"
Zephyr's expression was cold. After swiftly dodging a punch from Cross, he simultaneously extended both index fingers, firing countless Finger Pistols at super-high speed, creating a shower of afterimages.
"Kami-e!"
Cross's expression shifted slightly. He immediately relaxed his entire body, moving with the changes in the air currents generated by Zephyr's attacks. His body swayed like willow catkins in the wind, consistently dodging at the last possible second.
Their exchange was purely a Rokushiki confrontation. Neither swordsmanship, Devil Fruit abilities, nor Haki were used.
After continuously attacking for several seconds, Zephyr realized his attacks weren't landing on Cross and promptly ceased his futile assault.
At that moment, Cross decisively counterattacked, sweeping his leg towards Zephyr like a sharp blade.
"Rankyaku!"
A crescent-shaped blue-white slash flew out, resembling a new moon.
Boom!
Zephyr suddenly leaped high, letting the Rankyaku strike pass beneath his feet. It instantly cleaved into the wall of the indoor training hall, leaving a deep, several-meter-long crack as if it had been cut by a sword.
"Geppo!"
"Shigan: Pistol!"
Then, Zephyr pushed off the ground, and a white circular air wave spread from beneath his feet, propelling him forward. He descended like an arrow released from a bowstring, and with the force generation of Shigan, he unleashed a punch at Cross below.
Seeing the ferocity of Zephyr's punch, Cross dared not meet it head-on and quickly dodged to the side.
Boom!
Immediately, Zephyr crashed down like a meteor, his punch striking the arena. The immense power shook the entire platform, unleashing a surging air wave and spreading a thousand cracks in all directions.
Immediately afterward, as Cross raised his hand to clear the dust from his face, he saw Zephyr charge forward in a single stride, delivering another punch straight at him.
"Tekkai!"
Cross couldn't dodge in time and had no choice but to cross his arms over his chest. A faint light quickly flashed across his entire body, as if he had transformed into an iron sculpture. He watched as Zephyr closed in and struck his arm.
Thud!
Instantly, amidst a dull thud, a visible circular air wave spread out. Cross's body slid backward several meters, his feet dragging two distinct marks on the ground.
"Such incredible power!"
At that moment, Cross's expression contorted. He felt as if the bones in both his arms were about to crack, as if they might break. He involuntarily let his hands drop, leaving himself open.
"Got you!"
Then, Zephyr bellowed fiercely, delivering a powerful uppercut to Cross's jaw.
Thud!
Cross's mind went blank. His head snapped violently backward, saliva and blood spraying out, and the force of the punch lifted his feet off the ground.
The next second, Zephyr showed no mercy. He forcefully swung his fist, his large, pot-sized fist landing heavily on Cross's body. The force of the punch was like a collapsing mountain, unleashing all its immense power.
Thud!
Boom!
A muffled thud echoed, accompanied by a visible circular shockwave spreading outwards. Cross was sent flying backward like a cannonball, instantly becoming a black blur that slammed into the wall of the indoor training hall.
With a massive roar, the thick wall was directly smashed, forming a crater over three meters in diameter with dense cracks all around it. Cross was practically 'embedded' in the wall, half of his body submerged within it.
"Arara, you really don't hold back, do you?"
At this moment, a slightly lazy voice sounded.
Zephyr frowned, turning his head towards the source of the voice, and saw Kuzan standing at the doorway.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just taking a day off. Thought I'd check in on the kohai about to graduate!"
Kuzan walked into the training hall, hands in his pockets, swaying with each step.
Zephyr didn't give him a pleasant look. He walked straight off the platform and 'pulled' Cross out of the wall.
At this point, Cross groggily came to, collapsing weakly onto the ground. The intense pain radiating from his jaw, abdomen, and other areas quickly brought him fully conscious.
"Zephyr-sensei, you hit way too hard!" Cross complained muffledly, clutching his jaw.
"I've told you before, don't hesitate when you strike, because hesitation leads to defeat!" Zephyr snapped coldly, then said gravely, "Countless people die in this world every day. You've done your best, and that's enough!"
"I was just momentarily distracted, trying to decide if I should go drinking with Hina-san tonight or go watch a movie with Gion-san!" Cross pouted, struggling to stand up from the ground.
Zephyr's face darkened. Seeing Cross's stubbornness, he couldn't help but snort coldly, warning, "Stop your nonsense! If you dare to be late for tomorrow's graduation ceremony, you'll regret it!"
"Alright, alright, I won't be late!" Cross waved his hand dismissively.
"By the way, are you sure you want to stay at the Marine Academy as an assistant instructor?"
At this point, Kuzan looked at Cross and asked.
"I'm only sixteen this year; are you trying to exploit child labor?" Cross looked back at Kuzan, cautiously touching his bruised jaw, and retorted, "What, did Fleet Admiral Kong not agree?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Nobody's exploiting child labor here!" Zephyr glared at Cross.
Kuzan looked at Cross with a hint of exasperation, saying, "Fleet Admiral Kong approved your request. He agreed to let you stay on as an assistant instructor for one year before formally joining the Marine ranks!"
Hearing this, Cross showed no joy. Instead, he looked suspiciously at Kuzan, asking, "You didn't just come here to tell me this, did you? Why would such a small matter require you to inform me?"
"Of course not just this one thing!"
Kuzan shook his head, saying gravely, "Recently, the pirates in the New World have been causing a lot of trouble. The G-5 Branch, under Sakazuki's command, suffered heavy casualties in clashes with pirates. So, Marine Headquarters plans to supplement the G-5 Branch with some elite forces. Fleet Admiral Kong is considering moving the Enlivened beings you created in Skoggy, the 'Sculpture City,' to Marineford to take on some garrison duties. This way, we can provide more troops to Sakazuki!"
"I wonder, can the Enlivened beings you created handle such a heavy responsibility?"
"Of course, no problem!"
Cross's expression turned serious. He guaranteed, "I can ensure that the Enlivened beings I created can perform garrison duties in Marineford. They can even handle daily patrol tasks!"
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