Marineford Training Grounds - Inner Yard.
Normally this training ground was specifically reserved for Admiral level fighters but today there were many familiar faces at the edge of the facility.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Admiral Kizaru, Vice Admiral Garp, Vice Admiral Bogard stood at the side watching the two men in the ground facing each other.
"S~cary Ne. Zephyr-sensei still has that scary aura around him. Is that the newly rising Rear Admiral I've heard so much about. His posture is so serious as well. How Scary~~~~."
Sengoku gave a side eye to this lazy admiral of his and snorted.
"Why are you here instead of the Science Division?"
"Don't be mad~~ Fleet Admiral. I am here on Dr. Vegapunk's orders. He asked me to gather some special materials for a project ordered by the World Government. Since I'm already here, it would be a waste to miss such a grand showing." Kizaru's sleazy voice pissed him off for some reason but the figures on the ground moved before he could say anything.
Soren unsheathed his katana and held it with both of his hands in front of him. His breathing was steady and controlled. His eyes sharpened and he lowered his body slightly by bending his knees.
"Soru."
His body flickered and appeared straight in front of Zephyr, his sword thrusting straight to Zephyr's neck.
"Good!"
Zephyr appreciated the killing intent in Soren's eyes and side stepped casually.
Soren didn't panic at the retreat and swung his sword twice, one horizontally, one vertically. The edge of his blade glistened and two sharp flying slashes flied to Zephyr who had just evaded the thrust. [A/N; For visual effect, look up Ashina Cross from Sekiro but it's a flying slash.]
Garp's eyes gleamed at the side and a grin unknowingly formed on his face.
Bogard also looked a little surprised at the slash.
"He has improved tremendously since last time."
Garp's grin widened.
"Looks like the fight last month with me was the first high level combat he'd ever experinced. Just one fight and he has adapted and grown this much. We have a genius in our hands Sengoku. You better not waste his potential."
Sengoku listened to Garp's analysis but stayed silent.
"Juniors of this age. S~oo Scary." Borsalino's voice was as annoying as ever.
Meanwhile on the training grounds, Zephyr smirked a little and raised his hands. His hands immediately gleamed with a pitch black hue and blocked the flying slashes. The slashes hit his hand directly but they were immediately destroyed.
Zephyr used Soru of his own and appeared directly behind Soren. His fist was already swinging straight to Soren's head.
Soren's eyes widened but he managed to bring his sword with both of hands to directly clash with Zephyr's fists.
Boom!
Even though Soren managed to intercept the attack directly, the armament Haki coating Zephyr's fist paired with his own monstrous strength blasted Soren's body throughout the facility.
BANG!
His body crashed violently through the wall of the training camp leaving scattered dust and a pile of debris on it's wake.
Cough! Cough!
But Soren managed to crawl out of the rubble instantly and began coughing violently.
'Damn! Even though I used Tekkai to block that attack, he still managed to ragdoll me.'
"That's enough."
Just as Soren recovered and raised his sword once again, Zephyr's slightly excited voice rang through the area.
"Your swordsmanship is very good. It is just one step away from reaching the No-cutting stage. Observation Haki is still developing but considering you awakened it two months ago, it is acceptable. Of the marine Six Styles, you use Soru, Kami-e and Tekkai at a very high level, Rankyaku has been assimilated with your sword. Physical strength is decent but it needs some work. Come to the training grounds at 5 am every morning from now on."
"Thank you for your guidance, Admiral Zephyr."
Soren bowed a little to show his gratitude. He knew the man and his past. For someone like him to still give him personal guidance was already a huge matter to Soren.
"Bwahahaaha! Brat! Your growth is not bad at all! Looks like I didn't misjudge you."
"With this level of strength, you still served as a Commodere for 5 years on an unknown island in East Blue. I could re~ally learn this level of slacking off Ne." Kizaru's voice had some shock in it as the party approached the two.
"Soren. You can head back now. Zephyr will guide you from now on. You will handle your job as Tsuru's attendant for five hours from now on. Rest will be spent on training." Sengoku's orders were swift and Soren separated from the group as he heard them.
He could still see them discussing about the fight but there was no need for concern. He had bigger fish to fry.
He rushed to his room and opened the diary.
Sure enough....
[Monthly Roll available.]
A grin was plastered on his face.
'Esteemed gacha gods. I know I was let down last time. I pray to the gods governing Genshin. I pray to the Wuthering Waves gods. I pray to the Lord and Savior Gaben himself. Give me some thing good!'
[Reward obtained: Conqueror's Haki (Intermediate)]
[Warning: Host's kingly ambition has not sufficiently developed.]
[Haki level automatically reduced to Basic.]
[Compensation skill acquired: 30% Giant Bloodline]
[Effect: Permanent increase to physical strength, durability, and vitality.]