Admiral?
A Marine Admiral of this era!
Klein knew the name, but he'd only ever heard of him—never seen the real deal.
He turned his head—and his vision was instantly filled by a massive figure.
A bald, black-furred bear?
His dark, gleaming skin looked like he had 'African' lineage. His frame was absurdly large and muscular, like a walking truck.
Klein knew this guy's name: Lincoln!
The only Marine Admiral of this era.
Thick body hair. A full beard. Klein couldn't help but roast him in his heart: 'Did this black bear spirit just crawl out of Black Wind Mountain?'
"Wahahahaha—" Lincoln laughed boisterously. "Old Carter, you old coot, you opened a bathhouse in the academy and didn't even tell me?!"
Carter stepped up with a big grin. "You old fossil, I'm genuinely happy to see you. Otherwise, I'd always worry you'd go out to sea and never come back."
Faced with such savage words, Lincoln laughed even harder: "Wahahaha—"
"You damn fossil. Still got that filthy mouth. I hope someone rips it clean off one day."
Ah, just your average friendly greetings between men.
He turned toward the statue in the center of the bathhouse. "Old Carter, this Klein—is he the genius of this year's batch? Been hearing that name a lot lately…"
"Where is he?"
Carter's face darkened. "You think everyone's like you? Still haven't kicked those bad habits after all these years."
"There!""Hey, Klein, get over here! Let this old bastard see the genius of this year's cadets!"
"..." Klein walked out from the crowd helplessly, coming to stand in front of Admiral Lincoln.
He felt like a background extra standing next to King Kong.
The difference in height and physique was comical.
"Admiral Rampaging Bear!" Klein saluted.
Only then did the Rampaging Bear lower his head to look at Klein, who barely reached his waist. His bare eyebrows furrowed. "These skinny arms and legs—what the hell?"
"Men should be macho!"
"Your build's a joke. Train harder! You gotta eat and drink protein powder, amino acids—a lot!"
"Real men have big muscles! Hard muscles!Beastly muscles!!"
"Sigh—"
"You're this year's genius? Looking like that?"
Klein's brain blanked out.
I'm… skinny?
My build is practically post-timeskip Zoro level!On Earth, forget girls—even guys would be drooling with envy!
And now… I'm being looked down on for this?
Since when does big = strong?
Never heard of "small but mighty"?And besides—what part of me is small??
Also…
Protein powder? Amino acids??I've never even seen that stuff in the academy!
Still, he did remember it being popular in his past life.
But Klein firmly believed his muscles were already damn near perfect!No need for supplements.
Sure, he wasn't on the level of Garp, Sengoku, or Zephyr…But compared to Sanji, Shanks, Luffy...
Wait a second?
Watson just noticed a plot hole—Garp and Dragon had the same body type… but when it got to Luffy…
No way Dragon got cucked, right? It must be his mom's genes?
Garp and Dragon's genes are ridiculously strong, and yet...
Luffy's only 1.74 meters tall?
How does that make sense!?
At this point—
Instructor Carter stepped out to speak up for Klein. Even if he didn't have much left to teach him...
He was still a student from this year's batch!
"Hey—you jerk. Klein's talent and strength are number one out of all the cadets I've trained!"
"Don't underestimate that small frame."
"He's stronger than he looks!"
Admiral Lincoln roared with laughter: "Wahahaha—your cadets? That kid Kong is decent. The rest? Trash."
"You crusty old fossil! You dare look down on my students?! You were way worse than Klein back in the day!" Carter's brow twitched.
He then boasted, "If this was your younger self, Klein could knock you out in one punch!"
Klein, standing to the side, broke out in a cold sweat as the two went at it.
You two go ahead and bicker…
But why drag me into it!?
Collateral damage is real, okay!?
Being stuck between two living legends... I am NOT okay!
Admiral Rampaging Bear turned a piercing gaze toward Klein and grinned wide: "Wahahahaha—"
"Then let me test this so-called 'most talented cadet in history.'"
"You, kid—listen up."
???
I don't want to listen, but Klein had no choice.
"Hit me here. With all you've got." The Rampaging Bear pointed to his chest, where his suit was stretched taut over ridiculous pectorals.
They looked like two hills.
He stared directly at Klein. "Let me see what you've got. Don't hold back."
Carter looked to Klein. "Kid, he's looking down on you. Give it your all and show him what you can do."
"..."
Klein could feel the entire room's gaze on him. Should I go all out...?
Still hesitating, Admiral Rampaging Bear goaded him again: "Hey, kid, hurry it up. Don't worry—I won't bully you. I won't use Tekkai or Haki."
A cadet that's only been enrolled for a few months, probably has a few hundred Doriki tops. At best, that'll feel like a tickle.
And these muscles—refined and forged through years of battle—Even without Tekkai...
They were already as hard as steel!
You said it!So don't blame me for not holding back!
Besides, with that mountain-sized body, even if I hit him full force, it probably won't leave a scratch.
Klein's face hardened. His aura instantly turned fierce. Sengoku and Garp instinctively stepped back.
"Wahahaha—" Admiral Rampaging Bear laughed. "Not bad. Got some presence. Alright—let me show you what real macho muscle looks like!"
Klein maintained the pressure. His fists clenched tight.
Calling me "small"?
That's basically calling me a noodle-armed weakling!
You think I can't do it?
Fwoosh—
A spark ignited in his deep eyes. He gathered his will, channeling all his strength into his fists.
The streamlined muscle on his arms radiated power and beauty.
Veins popped.
Klein pushed off the ground, leaping into the air, raising his fist dramatically.
At that moment—his punch felt like it was on fire.
This was a strike of pure rage!
Muscles? Pfft.
How could muscles compare to pay-to-win power?
Klein, who spent nearly 100 million, didn't believe for a second that even an Admiral—
Without Tekkai or Haki—
Could block this punch.
That'd be like showing off a kitchen knife in front of Guan Yu!
Admiral Rampaging Bear stood still, watching Klein with amusement. "Come on, those baby muscles still need work!"
"Fistbone: Impact!"
Iron Fist LV.2—activate!
Boom—
The punch exploded against Admiral Rampaging Bear's chest, carrying with it a violent shockwave and gust of wind.
The next second—
The previously calm and collected Admiral's eyes nearly popped from their sockets, his face contorted, and his mouth flew open—
"Puh—!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed out.
His body was sent flying, smashing through the main doors.
Crimson blood scattered like blooming roses across the polished floor.
Everyone who witnessed the scene froze with wide eyes, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground.
He...
Oh god. He's insane!!
He actually punched an Admiral!!!
And made him vomit blood and go flying?!?!?