"I didn't expect you to master Soru so quickly. I originally planned to slowly teach you Haki after another two months, but now it seems we'll have to move that up."
Zephyr let out a self-deprecating smile. His emotions at this moment were difficult to describe—praise, joy, satisfaction… none of them alone were sufficient.
After a long time, he had finally encountered such an outstanding student again. As a teacher, Zephyr had already made up his mind: he would carve Roya, this unpolished jade, into the most perfect masterpiece.
After calming his thoughts, Zephyr carefully explained each of the questions Roya had raised earlier, one by one.
As he listened, Roya's expression alternated between deep contemplation and sudden realization. As a transmigrator, his way of thinking was far more flexible than that of people in this world. Many points clicked instantly—sometimes before Zephyr had even finished explaining, enlightenment had already appeared on Roya's face.
At last, the final question was resolved.
"So that's how it is. Thank you for the guidance, Instructor Zephyr."
"Do you have any other questions?" Zephyr asked.
Roya shook his head. "No."
Zephyr nodded. "If you have more questions, come ask me at any time."
In truth, Zephyr wanted to begin teaching Roya Haki immediately. However, with a live-combat mission about to take place, now was clearly not appropriate.
He had already decided that once the mission ended, he would personally begin instructing Roya in Haki training.
"Understood."
After nodding, Roya left the large training cabin together with Zephyr.
Just after exiting the cabin, Zephyr seemed ready to head downstairs to his quarters, but in the next moment his expression changed slightly, and he turned to look in a certain direction.
Hm?
Seeing Zephyr's reaction, Roya instinctively followed his gaze. As far as he could see, the sea was calm and empty—nothing unusual.
Just as Roya felt puzzled, his expression suddenly shifted.
As the warship continued forward, two enormous shadows appeared in the distance in that direction. The previously tranquil surface of the Calm Belt began to ripple and churn.
As the warship drew closer, the two massive silhouettes became increasingly clear—they were two gigantic Sea Kings, far larger than the Marine warship carrying Roya and the others, locked in combat!
"Sea Kings?!"
"So… so big!"
The appearance of the gigantic Sea Kings alarmed all the Elite Camp recruits. Even the logistics soldiers, navigators, and others operating the warship rushed onto the deck.
The two colossal Sea Kings clashed violently, stirring the sea as if it were about to overturn entirely. The towering waves they raised were so immense that they seemed capable of flipping heaven and earth itself!
Such overwhelming power left all the recruits deeply shaken.
Everyone present—including Roya—had crossed the Calm Belt before. During the previous live-combat assessment, they had passed through it as well. However, witnessing gigantic Sea Kings fighting each other was exceedingly rare; very few people had ever seen such a sight.
"Instructor Zephyr, we must detour."
Before long, the Marine navigator directing the ship came back to his senses. Watching the massive waves crash one after another, he spoke to Zephyr above with a grave expression.
Zephyr glanced at the two gigantic Sea Kings, then suddenly looked at Roya and the recruits gathered on the deck, and shook his head.
"No need."
"This world is filled with Devil Fruit abilities. Many of you are Devil Fruit users. However, physical strength is the true foundation."
Even amid the roaring waves, Zephyr's voice carried clearly to every recruit's ears. Those who had been awestruck by the Sea Kings all turned to look at him.
Zephyr gazed calmly at the distant Sea Kings and continued:
"Whether you are an ability user or not, you must focus on training your body. A strong body does not necessarily make one a top-tier powerhouse—but every true top-tier powerhouse possesses an extremely strong body!"
"So do not obsess too much over Devil Fruit abilities, or over obtaining a powerful Devil Fruit. Powerful physical techniques are not inferior to any Devil Fruit ability. Watch closely…"
As he spoke, Zephyr glanced at Roya and slowly raised his hand.
Although it seemed like a demonstration for all the recruits, Roya knew this was meant specifically for him. He observed Zephyr's movements with utmost seriousness, entering a state of intense focus.
Buzz!!
The moment Zephyr clenched his fist, a strange aura suddenly gathered around it. In an instant, it condensed and wrapped around his fist, transforming into something pitch-black like ink, yet glossy like oil, coating his knuckles.
Armament Haki… Hardening!
Whoosh!!
In the next instant, Zephyr stepped off the warship. Moving at a speed far beyond Roya's, he used Geppo, flashing through the air several times before appearing directly between the two battling Sea Kings.
Compared to the massive Sea Kings, Zephyr's figure was utterly insignificant. Neither Sea King even paid attention to what was essentially a tiny fly.
But in the next moment—
Zephyr casually threw a punch toward one of the Sea Kings.
Boom!!!
His fist struck the gigantic Sea King like a strand of hair touching flesh. Yet in that instant, an unimaginably terrifying force erupted, causing the entire sea to overturn violently!
Under the recruits' stunned gazes, the Sea King—larger than a Marine warship—was blasted backward by a single punch!
Without stopping, Zephyr flipped in midair and slammed another fierce punch down toward the other Sea King's head.
Bang!!
There was first a dull, almost insignificant sound. Then the gigantic Sea King—and the sea beneath it—collapsed inward violently, generating a terrifying surge of seawater that swept outward in all directions!
The warship rocked violently, on the verge of capsizing.
Just as the towering waves were about to overturn the ship, they suddenly exploded apart into countless droplets—and Zephyr's figure had somehow already returned to the deck.
Gradually, the sea calmed once more.
All the recruits stared at the scene, their faces filled with absolute shock.
"So this is… Instructor Zephyr's power."
"A gigantic Sea King… defeated in a single strike. That level of strength is unbelievable."
"If only I could have half of Instructor Zephyr's power."
"Half? Are you joking?! Instructor Zephyr is a former Marine Admiral. Even half of his power would be enough to dominate the seas. I'd be satisfied with just one-third!"
As they gazed at the now-calm sea and the two gigantic Sea Kings floating on the surface—dead or alive unknown—the recruits spoke one after another, unable to suppress their awe.
Elsewhere—
Even Roya, despite being a transmigrator, could not help but show a trace of amazement.
Although he remembered many scenes far more shocking than this, he had never witnessed them personally. Since coming to this world, this was the first time he had seen such overwhelming power with his own eyes.
However, Roya's thoughts were completely different from those of the other recruits.
What he was thinking at that moment was this—
If he released Ryūjin Jakka and unleashed flames at six thousand degrees, the temperature of the sun's surface, would a single strike be even more shocking than what Zephyr had done… perhaps even evaporating that entire stretch of sea outright?!