The last rays of the setting sun fell on the training ground, dyeing the ground red. At this moment, only Roy and Zephyr remained.
Zephyr flexed his wrist slightly. The muscles on his calloused right arm bulged, shining like steel. "The final test: teleportation with an attached attack!"
His tone was serious, but held a hint of anticipation. "The rules are simple. Hit me three consecutive times, and you pass!"
Roy's breathing hitched, his gaze suddenly sharp. "Understood!"
Zephyr sank into his stance. "Begin!"
"Swish!"
Roy's figure appeared like a bolt of lightning to Zephyr's left, his black, Armament-coated fist cutting through the air.
Without turning his head, Zephyr countered with a punch of his own. The air exploded.
"BANG!!"
Roy was forced back several steps by the immense recoil, a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. But he immediately gritted his teeth and activated his ability for a second teleport.
"Swish!"
This time, he dove down from above Zephyr, his fist glowing with a metallic sheen as he aimed for Zephyr's head.
Zephyr raised his arm to block, a cold smile on his lips. "Too slow!"
"One more chance!"
The sunset's glow illuminated Roy's face, but a cunning smile played on his lips.
"Then... let's try this!"
The next moment, Roy's figure vanished completely. The training ground fell silent.
Zephyr frowned, his Observation Haki spreading out instantly. But this time, he couldn't detect Roy's presence at all.
"Where is he?!"
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Zephyr saw a training sandbag appear out of thin air and fly towards him.
"A distraction?!"
Zephyr punched the sandbag away, and in the next instant—
"Over here!"
Roy's voice came from behind him. Zephyr spun around, but in that moment, three afterimages of Roy appeared before him, all punching at almost the same time.
"Teleport: Afterimage Barrage!"
"BANG! BANG! BANG!!"
Three fists struck Zephyr's chest, shoulder, and waist almost simultaneously, sending him staggering back several steps. The stone tiles beneath his feet cracked.
The sunset's light shone between them, dust dancing in the air, as if time had frozen for a second.
The entire field was silent.
Zephyr steadied himself, looked down at the fist print on his chest, and then burst out laughing. "Good kid!"
He looked up, his eyes shining as he looked at Roy, filled with shock and admiration. "To think you could use the Teleport Fruit to move an object to distract me, then use multiple teleports to create an afterimage barrage... You've made a Paramecia work like a Logia!"
Roy was panting, but his eyes were bright, his smile wide. "I did it!"
Zephyr nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Your fruit development has already surpassed the scope of a normal Paramecia. Combined with the Six Powers' movement techniques, your control of Armament Haki, and your use of battlefield psychology, you have passed this assessment!"
The setting sun fell on Roy's face. The boy's face was covered in sweat and scars, but it also radiated an unparalleled determination and sharpness.
Zephyr's gaze softened for a moment. "Kid, next up is real combat."
Roy took a deep breath, his fists clenched. "Yes, Instructor Zephyr!"
From the spectator stands, Smoker, Hina, and several other senior cadets who had appeared at some point were all dumbfounded.
Smoker's mouth twitched as he muttered, "Just how much of a monster is this guy going to become?"
Hina's eyes sparkled. "Hina thinks he's gotten even stronger!"
Year 1502 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Marine Headquarters Training Camp.
Morning light fell on the neat training ground where new recruits were lined up for training.
Smoker had a cigar in his mouth, his gaze fixed on Roy, who was standing in front of him. This 12-year-old kid was already nearly two meters tall, while he himself, at 14, had just passed one meter seventy!
"Hey, Roy..." A vein popped on Smoker's forehead, a wisp of white smoke rising from his head as he gritted his teeth. "Have you been secretly taking some kind of growth hormones?!"
Roy scratched his head, looking innocent. "Nope, just eating normally!"
(With the influence of his Giant physique, he would never be limited to a measly 1.8 meters, which is practically a disability in the world of One Piece!)
Hina stood nearby, holding an iced juice, and couldn't help but laugh. "Smoker, Hina thinks you look really funny when you're jealous!"
Smoker glared at her. "Shut up!"
Zephyr stood with his arms crossed, his gaze behind his sunglasses lingering on Roy for a moment, a hint of admiration and deep meaning in his eyes. He then spoke lightly, "Roy, at your growth rate, you could have graduated in two years."
Roy was taken aback. "So soon?"
Zephyr nodded. "But I wanted to keep you for another year to help you solidify your foundation. After all... you're still too young, and the world out there is treacherous. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."
Roy felt the care in Zephyr's words and smiled as he saluted. "I'll follow your orders, Instructor!"
Smoker snorted nearby. "Hmph, I'm applying for graduation next year anyway. Don't come crying to me when I surpass you!"
Hina glanced at him, flicked her pink hair, and said with a soft laugh, "Hina suggests you try beating Roy first!"
Smoker: "...(White smoke explosion)"
As they bickered, the sound of "crunch, crunch" chewing came from a distance, and the strong aroma of rice crackers filled the air.
Garp strode over, carrying a large bag of rice crackers, chewing as he shouted, "Zephyr! Lend me that kid Roy for a bit!"
Zephyr frowned. "What are you up to now?"
Garp picked his nose and laughed boisterously. "A small matter in the East Blue. The Oykot Kingdom was attacked by pirates. I'm heading back to the East Blue anyway, so I'll drop by and take a look."
"Oykot Kingdom?!"
Roy's pupils constricted. An image from his memories flashed in his mind. *(Nami's hometown! The kingdom where Bell-mère is! A pirate attack... could it be?!)
Roy's heart pounded, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he looked at Zephyr, his eyes asking for permission.
Zephyr noticed his gaze and, after a moment of thought, asked, "You want to go?"
Roy nodded, his tone steady. "I'm from the East Blue too. If it's convenient, I'd like to go back and see."
Smoker, chewing on his cigar, gave him a suspicious look. "You're not trying to slack off, are you?"
"Hina doesn't think Roy is that kind of person," Hina blinked, speaking up for him.
Zephyr thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Alright, go. Remember to come back soon."
"Yes, sir!" Roy replied solemnly, then turned to Garp.
Garp grinned and threw an arm around his shoulder. "Let's go, let's go! My dog-headed warship doesn't wait for dawdlers!"
"Swish!"
Roy gently grabbed Garp's arm, activating his Teleport Fruit. In an instant, the two of them vanished, leaving Smoker and Hina staring at each other.
Smoker pursed his lips. "This guy's teleportation is getting more and more convenient."
Hina rested her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful. "Hina wants to try it too!"
Zephyr looked in the direction they had disappeared, his gaze deep, his sunglasses reflecting the light. He muttered to himself, "Oykot Kingdom... But with Garp there, nothing too chaotic should happen."
On the azure sea, Garp's dog-headed warship cut through the waves. On deck, the wind howled, seagulls circled, and waves crashed against the hull.
Roy stood at the edge of the deck, gripping the railing, the sea breeze on his face, a storm raging in his heart.
(If I remember correctly, Oykot Kingdom is Nami and Nojiko's hometown... the beginning of their adoption by Bell-mère.)
Garp, munching on rice crackers, chuckled, his shoulders shaking. "Kid, you seem particularly concerned about Oykot Kingdom."
Roy came back to his senses and said lightly, "I just heard it's been a bit unstable lately."
Garp grinned, rice cracker crumbs falling onto the deck. "Don't worry, with me here, no pirate can stir up any trouble!"
Roy looked at the horizon where the sea met the sky, his gaze gradually firming. (Perhaps, I can... interfere with so-called fate ahead of time?)
In the sea breeze, Garp's laughter was boisterous. Roy's fists clenched slightly, his eyes burning—it was the boy's first time facing the test of destiny.
-------
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