Marineford — Elite Training Grounds
"The Geppo is a technique that allows the user to kick the air itself, creating propulsion and lift mid-flight."
Zephyr's firm, seasoned voice echoed across the vast training field as dozens of recruits watched with eyes full of awe. The ground was littered with impact marks and shallow craters left behind by students who had tried—and failed miserably—to master the technique.
Amid the crowd, Vergil stood motionless, arms crossed, gaze distant. His white hair swayed gently in the sea breeze, and a faint shadow of skepticism lingered over his expression.
Is it really possible for a human to propel themselves through the air just by kicking? Or is this just another one of those impossible stories the Marines tell rookies to keep them motivated…?
The young man looked thoughtful, deeply analyzing the logic behind the move. But before he could reach a conclusion, a series of robotic chimes echoed inside his head—mechanical, emotionless, synthetic.
[Ding! Loading complete.]
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained the Choice System.]
Vergil blinked, confused.
The what system...?
Another sound immediately followed, accompanied by a cold, monotone voice devoid of emotion:
[Choice System successfully activated.]
[Ding! Your first decision mission has begun.]
[Option 1: Pay attention to Zephyr's lesson and learn about Geppo.]
→ Reward: Geppo Mastery (Beginner Level)
[Option 2: Establish authority in the elite camp by defeating Smoker.]
→ Reward: Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Dove
[Option 3: Kiss Hina.]
→ Reward: Geppo Mastery (Master Level)
Vergil froze. His eyes narrowed. The corner of his mouth twitched.
…Kiss Hina? This system must be screwing with me.
He looked at his instructor, then at the sea, and finally—inevitably—at Hina, standing right beside him.
Impeccable uniform, pink hair tied in a neat bun, cold disciplined eyes… Hina radiated a natural authority that made anyone straighten their posture in her presence.
The first option's easy, but pointless. I can learn Geppo on my own—I don't need a system for that.
The second one… beating Smoker? Forget it. The guy's a damn tank with smoke for lungs. Sure, I could beat him, but I'm not exactly thrilled about turning into a freakin' pigeon.
And the third one… well…
Vergil frowned slightly.
You know what? Screw it. I've wanted to do that for a while anyway.
While Zephyr continued lecturing on the physics of air-kicking, Vergil took a deep breath. The tension in his body eased—as if fate itself was nudging him toward something inevitable.
His eyes locked on Hina. She was respected by everyone, a shining promise of the Navy's new generation.
Suddenly, she felt a stare burning into her. Her brow twitched.
She was used to getting looks, but this one felt… different—intense, determined.
He's staring at me again? What the hell is that idiot planning this time?
Vergil took a step forward.
The sound of his boots echoed softly against the stone floor, almost drowned by the chatter of other cadets.
Then, in one impossibly fast motion—even Zephyr didn't see it coming—Vergil grabbed Hina by the waist, pulled her close, and stole a kiss right in front of everyone.
"Mmhh!?"
Hina's eyes widened; her pupils trembled as if the world had stopped.
For a moment, it really had.
Every cadet, once focused on the lesson, turned toward the commotion… following Zephyr's now-frozen stare.
The instructor stopped mid-sentence, frowning deeply.
The entire field fell into dead silence.
Mouths hung open. No one made a sound. Even the wind seemed to freeze.
Hina—the untouchable rising star of the Marines—was being kissed right there, in front of the entire platoon.
"S-She's… being kissed?!"
"No way!"
"That bastard! Has he lost his mind?!"
Chaos erupted like a bomb.
Some cadets tore off their shirts, ready to beat Vergil to death; others looked like they might cry.
Hina was practically a sacred icon among them—and that kiss, pure blasphemy.
After all, she wasn't just one of the few women in camp—she was the most admired one. Normally, the recruits only dared to sneak a glance at her during drills.
"I'll kill him!"
"That bastard just defiled our goddess!"
But then, someone shouted:
"Wait—shut up, you idiots… Hina's not fighting back!"
Silence hit again—hard.
Everyone looked closer—and saw that she really wasn't resisting.
Her eyes were open but unfocused, her cheeks burning, her body frozen.
What do you mean she's not fighting back?! Did she… let him?!
Dozens of hopeful hearts shattered in unison.
Meanwhile, Hina's mind was blank.
Time had stopped; she couldn't hear the shouts, couldn't see Zephyr's shocked face or the stunned recruits around her.
Only after a few seconds did her focus return.
And when it did—her face burned crimson.
"YOU… PERVERT!!!"
With explosive force, she drove her fist into Vergil's abdomen.
The impact was brutal.
Air shot from his lungs as his body flew backward like a cannonball.
Yeah, I deserved that… but at least… mission accomplished.
[Congratulations, host, for completing the mission.]
[Reward: Geppo Mastery (Master Level) granted…]
A flood of information crashed into his mind.
Images, theories, angles, movements—he could feel the air beneath his feet, as though the sky itself had become solid.
His body moved on instinct, mastering the Geppo as if he had trained for years.
Meanwhile, Hina wiped her lips with her hand, her face burning red.
Her heart pounded, her breath trembled, her lips still tingled.
That… that idiot… he stole my first kiss! I was saving that for my future husband!
Her fists clenched tightly, and the air around her began to vibrate.
Whoosh!
With a burst of power, Hina jumped high into the air.
The wind hissed sharply as her body rose—and before everyone's stunned eyes, she executed the Geppo perfectly.
Zephyr's eyes widened, his stern expression breaking into astonishment and pride.
"Incredible… she managed to use Geppo on her very first try… This girl's even more of a prodigy than I thought."
For a moment, the veteran instructor forgot the chaos around him.
In sixteen years of teaching, almost no one had ever learned Geppo that fast.
But then his attention shifted—toward Vergil.
Still midair, Vergil steadied himself.
With a subtle movement of his legs, he kicked the air—staying perfectly suspended.
He began to drift backward, gliding through the sky with full control.
Zephyr's eyes widened once more.
What the hell…? He mastered it too?!
And not just that… his Geppo is far more refined than Hina's!
What impressed Zephyr most was the precision: the power control, the angle, the rhythm of each kick—flawless.
Vergil wasn't just using Geppo.
He was perfecting it.
Zephyr's expression turned serious.
This is insane… not even a Rear Admiral could achieve that level of efficiency on their first attempt…
While Hina soared upward in rage, firing off kick after kick to reach him, Vergil smirked as the wind whipped past his face.
Yeah, I totally deserve this… but she's not catching me.
He propelled himself again, gliding effortlessly through the air, maintaining the distance.
Zephyr followed his movement, and a faint grin curved his lips.
"These brats… are absolute monsters."
(End of Chapter)