Over the past two years, Finn's physical abilities had broken through limits he hadn't known existed. The progress surprised even him. He still didn't understand what the black core in his consciousness was, but he knew with absolute certainty that it was responsible for these repeated breakthroughs.
However, he'd reached a plateau. The rapid highway of improvement had given way to a steady upward climb.
This was normal. No one could maintain explosive growth indefinitely.
At the beginning, potential existed in abundance. Converting that vast reserve into actual strength happened quickly. But once the reservoir began to empty, once potential transformed into power, the rate of improvement naturally slowed.
According to Zephyr, when fighters reached a certain level, progress became a grind. Barring exceptional circumstances or life-threatening breakthroughs, advancement happened step by methodical step. No more sudden leaps. If you weren't careful, your strength might even decline from lack of use.
Understanding this reality, Finn didn't let the slowdown frustrate him.
More importantly, he recognized that he'd accumulated substantial power. It was time for a real combat test.
Strength alone wasn't enough. You needed rich practical experience, had to be tempered in iron and blood, to truly become powerful.
Finn had never doubted this fundamental truth.
Over two years, he'd mastered all Six Powers techniques, though he hadn't reached complete proficiency. According to his understanding and information from Zephyr, the true essence of the Six Powers lay in achieving total mastery over your own body.
With that mastery, you could control yourself completely, even regulate injuries. That was the legendary Life Return.
Among his peers, only Onigumo had achieved Life Return. He could freely manipulate his hair with the Six Powers, wielding his signature Eight-Sword Style.
Beyond the Six Powers, Finn had developed competent Armament Haki and reached entry-level proficiency in Observation Haki.
As for the rare Conqueror's Haki, he hadn't awakened it. He wasn't even sure if he possessed the potential.
Haki mastery progressed through distinct stages: entry-level, competent, advanced, and various specialized extensions.
Armament Haki's extension included the technique called Ryuo in Wano Country, allowing users to strike enemies from a distance or damage them internally without breaking the skin.
Observation Haki had even richer extensions. Finn knew of two. The first, like Charlotte Katakuri possessed, allowed brief glimpses of the future.
The second, even rarer than future sight, was the ability to hear people's hearts.
Finn had never encountered anyone in the Marines with that power. He didn't know if veterans like Zephyr or Garp could do it.
However, he knew that in the future, Enel would achieve something similar by combining his Rumble-Rumble Fruit with advanced Observation Haki, what he called the Mantra.
Among pirates, only the Red Earl, Patrick Redfield, possessed the ability to read hearts. He'd been born with it.
In addition to Haki, Finn had made significant progress in swordsmanship. He was no longer the half-trained amateur who only knew basic forms.
Though not as skilled as Gion, he was respectable.
Unfortunately, the Marines lacked diverse sword schools. There were few true masters of the blade. Even Zephyr, exceptional as an instructor, couldn't provide much specialized guidance in swordsmanship. Most Marine swordsmen relied purely on natural talent.
If someone like Gion had access to a great sword master for instruction, her strength would probably exceed her current level significantly.
Honestly, Finn didn't have particularly high expectations for his sword skills. Good enough was good enough.
He'd also learned fighting techniques directly from Zephyr, the Admiral's personal specialty and signature skill. Out of genuine affection for his student, Zephyr had taught Finn without reservation.
But Zephyr had also warned him: don't blindly imitate others. In combat, you must develop your own style. Only what suits you is truly effective.
Finally, there was his Devil Fruit ability.
Unfortunately, Finn hadn't developed any extraordinary techniques so far.
He'd promised Zephyr he would improve comprehensively, avoiding weaknesses wherever possible. So he hadn't specialized solely in Devil Fruit development despite the Press-Press Fruit's considerable power.
He'd also absorbed some of Zephyr's philosophy: Devil Fruit abilities were tools to assist yourself. Your fundamental qualities had to be strong. The two aspects needed to complement each other for maximum strength.
Moreover, perhaps influenced by his memories of Fujitora Issho, Finn subconsciously felt he needed to master Observation Haki first before fully unleashing the Press-Press Fruit's potential.
After all, his current Observation Haki had barely reached entry level. Even if he wanted to pull meteorites from the sky like Fujitora, he couldn't do it yet.
Even if he developed the ability to that extent, without Observation Haki to lock onto distant targets, the technique would be useless.
Therefore, his ability development remained straightforward for now, mainly brute force applications like the strike he'd used against Gion moments ago.
One thing worth mentioning: with the Press-Press Fruit's power, he could apply gravity to himself at any time. It served as an excellent auxiliary training method, dramatically enhancing his physical conditioning.
So as of now, Finn appeared to know everything while actually knowing only a little bit of everything.
He seemed capable in all areas but hadn't achieved outstanding performance in any single domain.
This confirmed what Zephyr had warned him back then: the path he'd chosen was far more difficult than what ordinary people faced.
Fortunately, Finn wasn't anxious. Actual combat was the only true test of fighting ability. He'd sparred with his peers multiple times. At this stage, none of them could defeat him. Not Gion. Not Tokikake.
This was just the beginning. Once he truly integrated everything he'd learned, mastered the connections between techniques, he would definitely enter another period of explosive growth.
Gion didn't bother arguing about whether using his Devil Fruit ability was cheating. She wasn't obsessed with winning or losing. She knew perfectly well that in overall strength, Finn surpassed her.
They quickly settled down, opening their water bottles and sitting on stone benches to rest.
"Have you heard?" Gion asked suddenly.
"Heard what?" Finn responded, confused.
How was he supposed to answer such a vague question?
"Your leisurely days might be over." Gion's tone carried obvious schadenfreude.
Finn was indeed a special existence, particularly among the Sixth Officer Training Camp graduates.
For two years, he hadn't gone on field missions, operating almost exclusively in conference rooms and training grounds.
Gion and the others had followed standard procedures, carrying out missions as assigned.
That disparity was the main reason Finn had so much time for training.
"Really?" Finn's response was calm, unsurprised.
"You're not shocked at all?" Gion asked, genuinely curious.
"Why would I be? I've been able to train at Headquarters for two reasons. First, I made significant contributions, so I earned some leeway. Second, I was enrolled in the Officer Training Camp, which provided legitimate grounds to avoid field assignments." Finn took a sip of water.
"Now, our sixth class has graduated. You've all moved out and moved on. Only I'm still hanging around with nowhere else to go, living here and occasionally helping Instructor Zephyr guide younger students. But that situation is... unclear. Admiral Sengoku has protected me for two years, which is more than enough care. The Marines don't keep dead weight. I now have sufficient ability to protect myself, so naturally I should do practical work for the organization."
His tone was serious, matter-of-fact.
"Seems like you've thought it through thoroughly." Gion nodded approvingly. "Anyway, I heard from Chief of Staff Tsuru that you're being transferred soon."
Finn's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Did the Chief of Staff say who I'd be assigned to?"
The Marines emphasized veteran officers leading newcomers, standard practice in most proper military organizations.
The assistant officer system worked hierarchically: Admirals had Vice Admiral assistants, Vice Admirals had Rear Admiral assistants, Rear Admirals had Commodore assistants.
Of course, this wasn't rigid. Like before, when Kuzan had wanted to transfer Finn, who was only a Lieutenant Commander at the time, as his assistant. Rank-skipping was possible.
Therefore, even as a Commodore, Finn didn't necessarily have to follow a Rear Admiral.
"That guy Garp said he wants you to follow him." Gion's smile was mischievous.
Finn's face darkened immediately. His reluctance was obvious.
Garp was incredibly strong, experienced, a genuine Marine hero.
But serving as his subordinate? That was genuinely life-threatening. Sometimes you wouldn't even know how you died.
When that man got excited, he'd do absolutely anything.
Combined with his confrontational personality, while making tremendous achievements, he also caused chaos constantly.
Serving as his subordinate meant risking your life and taking the blame for his reckless decisions.
Now that Finn thought about it, Kuzan's failure to reach Vice Admiral over the past few years probably stemmed partly from his personality, but mostly from frequently taking the fall for Garp's antics.
So Finn was absolutely not happy about working under Garp.
"Seems like you're not pleased?" Gion asked, amused.
Finn rolled his eyes at her. "You think? Would you be happy if it were you?"
"Of course not." Gion didn't hesitate.
Probably only Kuzan in the entire Marine organization was willing to be Garp's subordinate.
A dignified Marine hero, actually despised by these two.
"Don't worry," Gion said, her smile widening. "Chief of Staff Tsuru said Admiral Sengoku rejected Garp's idea on the spot."
"Hahahaha! The General still looks out for me!" Finn laughed with genuine relief.
After a brief pause, Gion lowered her voice. "I'm guessing you might become assistant to Admiral Sengoku."
"Hmm?" Finn froze. "What's wrong? Is there a problem with Borsalino?"
Over the past two years, Borsalino's position had indeed shifted somewhat, which made Finn wonder if there had been some disagreement with the Admiral.
Gion shook her head. "No problem. But Borsalino is taking charge of the Science Unit and leading his own division, so he can't continue as Admiral Sengoku's assistant anymore."
"I see." Finn nodded in understanding.
He'd heard about this development for a while now, so he wasn't surprised.
The Science Unit was an important position, one that would give Borsalino independent command authority. It made sense that Sengoku would need a new assistant.
And apparently, Finn was the leading candidate.
His lips curved into a slight smile. Assistant to an Admiral. That was an excellent position for someone with his ambitions.