Who is Zephyr?
The man who was once truly known as the Marineford's highest fighting force!
Therefore, regardless of whether he has retired to a secondary role, his strength is undoubtedly among the top tier in the current world.
Dante didn't think he could do anything to Zephyr.
So he didn't act coy at all. As soon as Zephyr finished speaking, he nodded and placed his hand on Nagasone Kotetsu at his waist.
He gathered all his spirit and energy. Although weak, he indeed had his own aura.
This made Zephyr's eyes light up, and his impression of Dante improved even further.
Honest, decisive, and strong in action.
"That sword..." Fleet Admiral Sengoku noticed the sword at Dante's waist, vaguely feeling a sense of familiarity.
However, he was not a swordsman, so it was just a fleeting familiarity.
"The sword's name is Nagasone Kotetsu!" Dante said in a deep voice.
As his voice fell, a cold gleam flashed in his hand. Nagasone Kotetsu instantly unsheathed, bringing with it a cold light. Without any hesitation, he slashed at Zephyr's chest.
"Oh? A 21 Great Grade Blades?" Zephyr murmured softly, a smile also gracing his lips.
The distance between the two was very close, and Dante had made the first move.
But after the sword light flashed, it was found that Zephyr had firmly clamped Dante's Nagasone Kotetsu with just two fingers, blocking it in front of him.
This slash, which had gathered Dante's spirit and energy, failed to budge Zephyr, this Marine big shot, in the slightest.
Just as Zephyr was about to say something, Dante loosened his grip on the sword hilt, took a step forward, and delivered an elbow strike directly to Zephyr's chest.
With this strike, he unleashed all the immense power within his body.
Yet, Zephyr only swayed slightly, not even retreating a millimeter.
"Good strength. At nineteen years old, your strength is quite outstanding," Zephyr nodded.
At the same time, he also noticed a detail: Dante was very steady after drawing his sword.
Especially at the moment he clamped the blade with his fingers, he could feel this steadiness even more. This indicated that the boy's foundation in swordsmanship was very solid.
What surprised Zephyr somewhat was that, generally speaking, such a display from him would more or less deter the opponent and strike a blow to their confidence.
But when he used a slightly 'insulting' method, clamping Dante's sword with two fingers, there was not a trace of wavering or hesitation in Dante's eyes. He chose to abandon the sword immediately and simultaneously switched to a different method to attack him.
And he actually hit!
As an experienced Admiral, Zephyr naturally understood the meaning behind this. It indicated that this Dante, although having a very solid foundation in swordsmanship, was not someone confined to swordsmanship or the identity of a swordsman.
After all, true swordsmen often adhere to the principle of 'the sword is the man'.
They would never abandon the sword in their hand so decisively; they would at least struggle a bit to try and reclaim it.
But it didn't matter. Zephyr himself wasn't a swordsman, and he didn't have much stubbornness about this.
He admired Dante's decisiveness more. On the battlefield, people with his kind of decisiveness often had a greater chance of survival.
Regarding Dante's aggressiveness, he already understood and was not going to test him further in this aspect, because there was no need. After all, Dante was currently just a mere Marine Branch Colonel. To have such a performance was already very good; could he really be expected to defy the heavens?
Therefore, after praising Dante, Zephyr raised his hand and pushed Dante's fist away from his chest, saying, "Clench your teeth, kid."
As soon as this voice entered Dante's ears, before he could make any reactive response, Zephyr's fist was already pressed against his chest.
The next instant, immense power directly broke through into Dante's body. He was utterly unable to resist this force. His feet slipped, he lost his grip on the ground, and his body, like a cannonball, was directly sent flying by Zephyr's punch.
He crashed heavily against a stone pier in the harbor behind him.
Zephyr had held back with this punch; otherwise, he could have directly blown Dante apart.
However, what Zephyr didn't expect was that in just an instant, Dante had already gotten up from the ground and, at the same time, charged at him again!
"Tiger Slash!" Dante roared, raising his hand and slashing out.
Although he shouted a move name, in reality, this slash was just an ordinary strike.
It still didn't cause any harm to Zephyr. Zephyr simply raised his arm casually and grabbed the sharp blade with a slap, stopping Dante's attack.
At the same time, he also observed Dante's condition.
Although he had held back with that punch just now, it should have been enough to incapacitate Dante. Now it seemed that this was indeed the case: blood was flowing from Dante's mouth, his struck chest was slightly caved in, and there were some blood specks in his nostrils. The boy was indeed injured, and not lightly.
Originally, Zephyr thought he would have the medical department treat him later. This strike wasn't purely to injure him; it was also to gauge his physique and ability to take a beating.
It was also a part of the assessment.
But he didn't expect that under such injuries, he could still counterattack so decisively, as if he wasn't the one injured!
"Very strong willpower, kid. Can you overcome the instinctive reaction caused by pain? Even ordinary veterans can't do that," Zephyr said with great admiration in his tone.
Overcoming pain reaction is indeed an ability; more skilled experts will have some achievements in this area.
However, Zephyr didn't know that Dante wasn't overcoming the pain reaction; rather, he simply didn't have such a reaction.
As long as he wanted to, he wouldn't feel pain.
Before Dante could respond, Zephyr supported his body and said with satisfaction, "Very good, you passed. Come back to Marineford with me. That's where someone like you should display your talents!"
Only then did a smile appear on Dante's face. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "Thank you, Admiral Zephyr!"
"Hahahaha, it's good that you don't blame me for hitting too hard," Zephyr laughed loudly.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, seeing this, spoke, "Since that's the case, Colonel Milder, you'll be responsible for sending the handover procedures back to Marineford later. We won't be staying here. Colonel Dante, you've been summoned to Marineford. For now, come with us. There are medical personnel on the ship, and your injuries will heal quickly."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku was decisive and settled everything directly.
Colonel Milder had no right to offer suggestions, so he could only quickly accept the orders.
As for Dante, he had long been eager to go to Marineford for further training, so he naturally had no lingering attachment to this place.
Even though he had been there for seven years.
Soon, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Zephyr, accompanied by Dante, boarded the giant Marineford warship.
This was also Dante's first time boarding such a large ship.
However, before he could observe and appreciate it, he was immediately taken away by medical personnel for treatment.
On the deck, Zephyr, with a cigar in his mouth, stood in the sea breeze, watching the North Blue 113 Marine Branch gradually disappear from sight, lost in thought.
A moment later, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who had arranged the warship's course, also walked over and asked, "How was that kid?"
"Don't tell me you couldn't tell," Zephyr said with a smile.
"Hahahaha, it seems you're very satisfied?" Fleet Admiral Sengoku also laughed.
"Hmm, whether a person can become strong is actually most related to their character. That kid is quite talented, isn't he? It's just that he hasn't been properly developed over the years, but it doesn't matter. He's only nineteen years old; he's still young and has plenty of time for that... What I value most is his character. Perhaps he's still lost regarding justice, but when it comes to combat, he's not lost at all. He's a decisive fellow. I will teach him to become stronger... to become the pride of our Marine," Zephyr said softly.
After a slight pause, Zephyr did not continue discussing this matter with Sengoku.
After all, Dante was currently just a kid with some aptitude and talent, slightly favored.
He wasn't important enough to occupy too much of the two Admirals' time.
"So, how are things on your end? Have you found any intelligence on that bastard?" Zephyr asked.
"Hmm, just now, Marineford sent word that he's on Minion Island. We're heading there now..." Fleet Admiral Sengoku nodded.
Then, his tone seemed somewhat displeased as he shook his head and complained, "What is Shiki doing in North Blue, not staying in the New World?"
That's right, the reason Fleet Admiral Sengoku appeared in North Blue this time was not to meet Dante. To be honest, Dante was not worthy of such treatment.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku came to North Blue because intelligence indicated that the Great Pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, had recently appeared in North Blue.
And the reason Zephyr personally came to North Blue this time was actually for Shiki. After all, Shiki was not that easy to deal with. Two people would have a higher chance of success, and incidentally... to see what kind of person Dante was.
"Speaking of which, you've already retired to a secondary role. There's no need for you to get involved, is there?" Sengoku suddenly asked.
"Hahahaha, this old man just came to see if there were any good prospects, and incidentally, to hold down the fort for you," Zephyr said with a hearty laugh.
If Garp had always been pitted against that bastard Roger...
Then Sengoku had many untold stories with Shiki...
In short, they were old rivals!