"BANG—!"
In the center of the training ground, two figures clashed at astonishing speed. The explosive sound of fists and feet meeting echoed continuously, making the surrounding fences hum.
Smoker's hands were coated in Armament Haki. The power of his Plume-Plume Fruit no longer erupted uncontrollably as it had in the past; instead, it was precisely compressed around his arms and legs, forming a cyclone-like flow that gave him incredible explosive power.
"Teleport!"
Roy's figure vanished, reappearing behind Smoker in the next instant. His fist, coated in black Armament Haki, struck like lightning, aiming straight for his opponent's back.
"I saw that coming!"
Smoker sneered, his body instantly dematerializing into smoke. The white smoke swirled in the air before instantly re-forming as he countered with a sweeping "Tempest Kick"!
Roy teleported again, dodging the slash like a bolt of lightning. At the same time, he took a deep breath—"Life Return: Giant's Breath!"
In an instant, his muscles expanded dramatically. His form shot up to nearly four meters tall, his skin taking on a cold, metallic sheen. Armament Haki covered his hands like iron gauntlets, his fighting spirit blazing!
"What?!"
Smoker's pupils shrank, but his combat instincts drove him forward without hesitation.
"BOOM—!!"
The violent collision of their fists unleashed a massive shockwave. Dust flew everywhere, and all the fences surrounding the training ground collapsed.
From the spectator seats, Hina chewed on her straw, her pink hair fluttering in the wind. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Smoker can actually keep up with Roy's rhythm now..."
Garp, holding a bag of rice crackers, chuckled. "Hahaha, that kid has been training like his life depends on it ever since Roy lit a fire under him!"
Zephyr stood quietly by the side of the field, his gaze behind his sunglasses sharp and gratified. "Smoker's progress is indeed astonishing, but Roy..." His eyes fell on Roy's fists, which were gleaming with black Armament Haki, and he praised him silently.
Over a year ago, Zephyr had worried that Roy would become too reliant on his Teleport Fruit and neglect his fundamental Marine martial arts training. But to his surprise, the boy had not slacked off at all. In fact, he had worked harder than anyone!
Under Zephyr's high-pressure special training, Roy had mastered the Six Powers:
Shave (Soru): It served as the perfect setup for his teleportation, seamlessly integrating with his fruit's ability to create an even more unpredictable movement style.
Moonwalk (Geppo): Combined with teleportation, it allowed him to change direction multiple times in mid-air.
Tempest Kick (Rankyaku): He combined this Armament-enhanced slash with "Teleport Assault" to create devastating surprise combos.
Iron Body (Tekkai) and Life Return (Seimei Kikan): He had modified these to an almost monstrous degree, allowing him to instantly harden his body to the level of steel while in his "Giant's Breath" state.
Even Finger Pistol (Shigan), enhanced by his teleportation, allowed him to appear before an enemy like a phantom and launch an unexpected attack.
All of this made Zephyr secretly admire him. The Teleport Fruit is just his tool. His real weapon is that indomitable will and the talent to make any power his own!
The dust settled, revealing Smoker kneeling on one knee, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were still as sharp as a blade. "It's not over..."
Roy's body returned to its normal size, but the deep black Armament Haki still coated his fists. He looked at Smoker with a hint of pride. "Smoker, you've gotten stronger!"
"Cut the crap!"
Smoker gritted his teeth and stood up. The white smoke and Armament Haki wrapped around his arms had almost solidified, and a swirling shockwave pulsed around him. "One last shot!"
"White Blow Impact!"
With a roar, his fist, carrying astonishing explosive power, transformed into a pillar of white smoke that shot towards the sky, making the very air tremble.
Roy took a deep breath, crossed his hands over his chest, his eyes firm.
"Iron Body: Steel Bone!"
"BOOM—!!"
Amidst a massive explosion, Smoker's giant smoke fist slammed squarely into Roy's defense but didn't move him an inch, as if it had struck a mountain.
"What?!"
Smoker's pupils shrank as he watched Roy slowly raise his head, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "Smoker, your Haki isn't strong enough yet!"
The next second, Roy countered with a "Teleport: Finger Pistol," which stopped in a flash right before Smoker's throat.
"...I lose."
Smoker admitted through gritted teeth, but there was no dejection in his eyes, only a burning fighting spirit. "Next time, I'll definitely win!"
Roy slowly retracted his hand and patted Smoker's shoulder. "Still, your progress is truly impressive."
Zephyr walked over, arms crossed, his eyes behind his sunglasses showing unprecedented approval. "Well done, Roy!"
His tone then shifted, becoming stern and full of expectation. "Remember, no matter how strong the Teleport Fruit is, it's just a tool!"
"Your foundation, your martial arts, your Haki—that is your true strength! Don't let me down!"
Roy stood at attention and saluted, his voice firm. "Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"
Smoker wiped the blood from his mouth, a slight smile on his lips. "Teleportation or the Six Powers, just you wait, Roy. Next time, I'll definitely surpass you!"
"Hahaha!"
Garp was laughing like a chipmunk nearby. "Good kids! This is the kind of spirit that makes things interesting!"
The wind swept across the training ground, blowing away the dust and stirring up the fighting spirit of a new generation. Here in this port, they were growing, step by step, into true Marines.
Zephyr looked at them with satisfaction. "Good. Both of you have grown."
He looked at Roy, his tone carrying a rare hint of praise. "Roy, you've mastered 'Life Return' faster than I ever imagined."
Roy scratched his head and smiled. "It's all thanks to Old Man Garp's 'loving special training'..."
Garp laughed heartily nearby. "That's right, that's right! My special training is very effective!"
Zephyr shook his head helplessly, but his eyes were filled with relief.
Late at night in the dormitory, Roy sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes closed in concentration.
His consciousness spread out with his Observation Haki, like an invisible radar sweeping across the entire Marine base, even extending to the sea far beyond.
"1000 meters... 1500 meters... 2000 meters..."
A year ago, his teleportation range was limited to within a hundred meters of his line of sight. Now, with the help of his Observation Haki, he could lock onto targets several kilometers away.
On the training ground, Zephyr held a pair of binoculars and pointed to a distant lighthouse. "Roy, teleport there."
On his first attempt, he only moved 500 meters before falling into the sea. The second time, he barely reached the base of the lighthouse, feeling dizzy.
But now—
"Swish!"
Roy's figure vanished, reappearing the next second atop the naval watchtower two kilometers away. The night wind howled, but he stood steady, a smile on his lips.
"Success!"
The next morning, Roy was eating in the cafeteria when a golden flash suddenly appeared—
"Ooh~ Little Roy~"
Borsalino (Kizaru) appeared lazily in front of him, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "Could you do a senior a favor?"
Roy looked up. "Please, Vice Admiral."
Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses. "Take this cup of coffee to the naval hospital five kilometers away. My subordinate is sick~ It needs to be served hot~"
Roy: "Vice Admiral, I believe you're also as fast as light..."
The surrounding Marines were trying so hard not to laugh their faces were turning red.
Looking at Borsalino's expression, Roy took a deep breath, took the coffee cup, and fully extended his Observation Haki. The outline of the naval hospital five kilometers away gradually became clear in his mind.
"Swish!"
His figure disappeared, reappearing the next second at the hospital entrance, not a single drop of coffee spilled.
The nurses were dumbfounded. "R-Roy?!"
Roy smiled slightly. "A sentiment from Vice Admiral Borsalino. Please deliver it."
When he teleported back to the cafeteria, Kizaru was sitting with his legs crossed, eating rice crackers. "Not bad~ Next time, you can deliver my lunch for me~"
Garp was beside him, slapping the table and roaring with laughter. "Hahaha! Kizaru, you bastard, are you using Roy as a delivery boy?!"
In the afternoon on the training ground, Zephyr stood with his arms crossed. "Today, we test teleporting with another person."
Hina suddenly had a bad feeling. "Hina refuses..."
"Refusal denied." Zephyr pointed a cold finger. "Roy, take her to the opposite mountain and back."
Roy scratched his head and extended a hand to Hina. "Sorry, Hina."
Hina sighed and reluctantly grabbed his arm. "Hina feels like you're all bullying her..."
"Swish!"
The two of them vanished, reappearing the next second on the mountaintop a kilometer away. The sea breeze blew, and Hina's pink hair fluttered. She was stunned for a moment. "...That was pretty fast."
Roy smiled. "Hold on tight, we're going back."
On the way back, Hina subconsciously held onto Roy's arm tightly. After they landed, she immediately let go, her ears slightly red. "Hina was just afraid of falling!"
Smoker stood nearby, puffing on his cigar and snorting. "Boring."
Garp suddenly popped up. "Roy! Take me to the dining hall! I'm hungry!"
Roy: "...Yes, sir!"
"Swish!"
The two vanished, and the next second—
"THUD!"
Garp landed his butt in a chair in the dining hall, raising his fists in triumph. "MEAT!!!"
The chefs were in tears. "Vice Admiral Garp! It's not mealtime yet!"
-------
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