Chapter 11: The View from the Top
Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
Sengoku put down the report, pushed up his glasses, and spoke with a trace of shock in his voice. "Twelve years old. Single-handedly suppressed a pirate uprising in the Oykot Kingdom, killed 'Blood-Blade' Reik, with a 12,000,000 Beri bounty, and saved dozens of civilians..."
Vice Admiral Tsuru took a sip of her tea, a small smile on her face. "It seems Zephyr has raised another little monster."
Borsalino (Kizaru) sat with his legs crossed, slowly swirling his coffee cup. "Ooh~ so scary~ That brat is growing up so~ fast."
Kuzan (Aokiji) let out a huge yawn, his eyes lazy. "Ara rara... Well, he is the kid who survived Old Man Garp's special training."
Sakazuki (Akainu) looked grim, but a flicker of approval crossed his eyes. "His power is acceptable. But he needs more real-world combat."
Sengoku closed the report, frowning. "Roy has been in Zephyr's boot camp for two years, hasn't he?"
"At this rate, perhaps we should transfer him to a branch base for field experience."
The words had barely left his mouth—
BAM!
The office doors were thrown open!
Zephyr strode in, his voice booming. "I disagree!"
Kizaru, Aokiji, and Akainu immediately stood and saluted. "Instructor Zephyr!"
Zephyr waved them off and marched right up to Sengoku's desk. "Sengoku, that brat is my prized pupil!"
"One more year! I'm going to personally oversee his combat lessons!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru chuckled. "You seem quite pleased with this one, Zephyr."
Zephyr nodded, his pride obvious. "Of course! That brat's potential is even greater than Kuzan and the others had at his age!"
Kuzan scratched his neck and smiled. "Ara rara... He's comparing us."
Borsalino's eyes narrowed. "Ooh~ To be so~ valued by Instructor Zephyr. How enviable~"
Sakazuki snorted. "Hmph. Potential is meaningless until it's forged in the fires of a real battle."
Zephyr waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry! I'll be taking him to the front lines myself! He wants real combat? I'll give him more than he can handle!"
Sengoku looked at Zephyr's rare, excited expression and sighed, though a smile played on his lips. "Fine, one more year. But... don't spoil him, Zephyr."
Zephyr let out a booming laugh. "Spoil him? Don't worry! My training is hell on earth!"
The three Admiral candidates all shivered, as if recalling a nightmare.
Marineford Port.
The dog-headed warship slowly pulled into the harbor.
Roy stood at the bow, squinting at the familiar figures waiting on the dock.
Garp walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "Brat, that old geezer Zephyr came to get you himself. You must be pretty important!"
Roy smiled. "The Instructor is just very strict."
Garp grinned. "Strict? Bwahahaha! The stricter he is, the more he sees in you!"
The ship docked, and Zephyr's booming voice rang out. "Roy! Good work!"
Roy instantly warped onto the dock, snapping to attention. "Instructor Zephyr!"
Zephyr laughed and ruffled his black hair (nearly driving him into the pavement). "Come on! Time for extra training!"
Roy, his hair now a mess, just nodded. "Sir!"
Garp stood on the ship, hands on his hips, laughing. "Hey! Zephyr! Don't you break my student!"
Zephyr, without looking back, flipped Garp off. "Get lost! He's my student now!"
Garp just laughed like a maniac, sending cracker crumbs flying. "Bwahahaha!"
Roy watched the two Marine legends bicker and just smiled, exasperated, his eyes full of respect.
The moment he stepped into the boot camp, two familiar figures surrounded him.
"Well, look who it is. The big hero returns," Hina said, her arms crossed, a teasing smile on her face.
Smoker, cigar in his mouth, blew out a cloud of smoke. "Heard you took down an entire pirate crew by yourself?"
Roy shrugged. "Just got lucky. They weren't that tough."
Smoker snorted. "Cut the crap! We didn't get to fight that many pirates in our last assessment!"
Hina giggled. "Hina thinks Smoker is just jealous you saw real action before him."
A vein pulsed on Smoker's forehead. "Shut it!"
Roy watched them argue and couldn't help but smile. "How's your training been?"
Smoker blew a smoke ring, his eyes burning with a fighting spirit. "You wanna know? Let's fight!"
Hina sighed. "Here we go again..."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Now?"
Smoker was already walking toward the training field. "Obviously! Show me how much stronger a little 'real combat' made you!"
Roy looked at Hina, who just shrugged. "I suggest you go easy on him. His ego is a little fragile right now."
Roy: "..."
On the training field, Smoker and Roy faced off. A crowd of cadets had already gathered.
"Hey, Smoker's challenging Roy again?"
"Didn't he get beaten bad enough last time?"
"Shh! He'll hear you!"
Smoker's forehead twitched. "You bastards!"
Roy laughed. "You're as popular as ever, Smoker."
Smoker glared at him. "Less talk!"
"White Jet!"
Smoker elementalized, turning into a high-speed cloud of smoke that shot toward Roy like a cannonball!
Roy's eyes narrowed, and his figure vanished—
FWOOSH!
He reappeared behind Smoker!
"Shigan: Flash!"
His Haki-coated finger stabbed at Smoker's back, but Smoker was ready. The smoke instantly contracted, and he narrowly dodged the attack!
"Hmph! You think I'd fall for the same trick twice?" Smoker sneered, his smoke solidifying as he threw a punch at Roy's face!
Roy didn't dodge, raising his own arm to block—
"CLANG!!"
A metallic, explosive sound rang out, sending a shockwave across the field!
The cadets were knocked back, their eyes wide. "Wh-what level of power is this?!"
Hina, standing on the sidelines, looked surprised. "Smoker... he's gotten stronger."
Zephyr had appeared beside her, arms crossed, a small smile on his face. "Not bad. It seems Roy knocked some of the arrogance out of him."
In the ring, Smoker's attacks grew fiercer, his smoke and Haki combining perfectly.
"White Cannon!"
"BOOM—!!"
Roy was pushed back several steps, his expression finally turning serious. "Not bad, Smoker."
Smoker grinned, clenching his cigar. "I'm not done yet!"
He clapped his hands together, his smoke swirling violently—
"White Cage!"
Instantly, countless smoke-chains erupted from the ground, forming a giant net that closed in on Roy!
Roy's eyes hardened. His Observation Haki flared as he warped continuously, zipping through the tiny gaps in the smoke!
FWOOSH! FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
But Smoker's smoke seemed endless, the attacks growing denser!
"Got you!" Smoker roared, as all the chains snapped shut at once!
Roy's figure was completely swallowed by the smoke.
"He got caught?!" the cadets yelled.
Hina frowned. "This is bad..."
But Zephyr just smiled. "Don't worry. Watch."
"Rokushiki Ogi: Phantom's Wrath!"
"BOOM—!!"
The smoke cage exploded from within. Roy's figure flashed three times, each a devastating punch!
"BAM! BAM! BAM!"
Smoker had no time to react. He took three direct hits—chest, stomach, and chin—and was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground.
"Gah!"
He coughed, his eyes losing focus for a second, but he gritted his teeth and started to climb back up. "Not... over...!"
"You want to continue?"
Smoker wobbled to his feet, smoke now leaking uncontrollably from his entire body.
"O-Of course!" his muffled voice came from inside the smoke cloud. "I... haven't lost yet!"
Hina finally laughed. "Smoker, you look like a leaking smoke grenade."
Even Zephyr let out a rare laugh. "Not bad! At least your smoke volume is up to standard!"
Smoker: "...You guys!"
Roy walked over and patted the cloud of smoke. "That's enough. You've improved a lot. We'll fight again."
An angry mutter came from inside the smoke, but it slowly dissipated, revealing Smoker's bruised, but still stubborn, face.
"Next time... I'll definitely win!"