At Marine Headquarters — Marineford, inside the Officer Training Camp, Diermude and Gion were currently sparring.
The current Diermude looked far more mature than before.
Why?
Because nearly two years had passed since he had been promoted to Commodore at Marine Headquarters.
It was now the beginning of 1498 in the Sea Circle Calendar.
Over these two years, the world had been turbulent and constantly changing—but it had little to do with Diermude, who had been quietly training in Marineford.
He basically attended the Navy's strategic meetings every week at fixed times, learning about the current situation in various seas—essentially clocking in for work.
All his remaining time was spent inside the officer training camp, cultivating under Teacher Zephyr.
The elite trainees of the Sixth Officer Training Camp had recently graduated.
Momonga, Onigumo, Doberman, and the others were immediately promoted to Marine Headquarters Colonels upon graduation. It was even said they had already obtained the qualifications for Commodore, only needing meritorious achievements before stepping into the general ranks.
From this alone, one could see the advantages of the Officer Training Camp.
Anyone who received systematic training here started their careers at a much higher level than ordinary Marines.
As long as they didn't ruin themselves, they would normally rise to become general-level officers.
And this was only the beginning.
In the future, the officer training camp would have a tremendous influence on Marine Headquarters.
Almost all of the elite Marine generals twenty years later would graduate from here.
They would become the pillars supporting the Navy's future.
Of course, there were also those who ruined themselves.
For example, Smoker in the future.
Originally, he had limitless potential. As a Logia user, he received heavy attention from the moment he joined the Marines and was sent to study under Zephyr.
But because of his rebellious personality, after graduation he didn't stay long at Headquarters before being sent to the East Blue to "guard the fish pond."
Diermude might not have possessed astonishing natural talent.
But he was exceptionally hardworking.
Over the past two years, he had trained without interruption, never relaxing even for a moment.
Perhaps hard work truly made up for shortcomings.
Or perhaps his talent wasn't extraordinary, but still quite good.
Under Zephyr's guidance, his strength had undergone earth-shaking changes compared to before.
Among all people, Gion, who often sparred with him, could feel this change most clearly.
It was worth mentioning that Gion herself had also recently become a Commodore at Marine Headquarters.
For the past two years, they had frequently sparred.
In terms of swordsmanship alone, Gion had originally almost completely crushed Diermude.
But half a year ago, she already had to treat him seriously.
Now, Diermude no longer lost easily to her.
Although he still lost more often than he won, the fights were always extremely intense.
And that was only in terms of swordsmanship.
If Diermude used his Devil Fruit ability, Gion would be completely outmatched.
The Nagaso Kotetsu, wrapped in Haki, slammed fiercely against Konpira, Gion's blade.
Perhaps because both of their Haki levels weren't extremely advanced, the collision didn't produce the overwhelming shockwaves seen in battles between top masters.
Gion deflected the Nagaso Kotetsu aside and suddenly pushed off the ground.
Her figure disappeared from Diermude's sight.
It was one of the Six Powers — Soru.
At that same moment, a flash of light appeared in Diermude's eyes.
He spun his blade in a swift arc and slashed sharply behind him without looking.
As expected, in the very next moment, the sharp Konpira collided with the Nagaso Kotetsu.
"Your Observation Haki has become quite proficient," Gion said with admiration while blocking the strike.
She considered herself extremely talented and someone who grew rapidly.
Yet she had to admit—
Diermude's growth rate was even faster.
But she wasn't jealous.
Because she clearly knew that Diermude's effort far exceeded her own.
"Just so-so," Diermude said with a light laugh.
As he spoke, his figure also flashed.
Using Soru, he vanished from his original spot.
"Iron Body!" Gion shouted.
Her slender figure instantly stiffened in place while a layer of Haki quickly covered her body.
Diermude's slash suddenly landed on her arm.
But with the combined defense of Iron Body and Haki, it failed to injure her.
"I heard you went drinking with Dragon yesterday?" Gion asked while blocking the attack.
"Yeah," Diermude replied with a smile.
"He's been acting a bit strange lately. His mood seems bad. Kuzan asked me to talk to him when I have time."
"I noticed something was off too," Gion said while continuing the exchange of blows.
"Ever since he returned from that mission escorting the Celestial Dragons, his personality has become much gloomier."
"Two days ago he even had a huge argument with Garp."
Monkey D. Dragon.
The son of the Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp.
Among the younger generation of Marines, he was considered top-tier in strength and also had one of the most powerful backgrounds.
After all, Zephyr's son had already died, Admiral Sengoku had never married, and Chief Staff Officer Tsuru was also single.
Therefore, within the Navy, Dragon could be considered the ultimate "second-generation official."
Even Rosinante couldn't compare.
At the same time, as the son of the Marine Hero, Dragon had received immense attention.
From childhood, he had been carefully cultivated by various big figures in the Navy.
As a result, his strength was extremely formidable.
Kuzan once mentioned that Sakazuki had sparred with Dragon several times.
Most of the time, Sakazuki lost.
Even when Sakazuki occasionally won, it was probably because Dragon intentionally gave him some face.
Dragon himself was also an elite Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, having fought countless battles for the Navy.
For Garp, Dragon was his pride.
For the Navy, if Dragon continued along this path, a future Admiral position was practically guaranteed.
It was even possible for him to become Fleet Admiral one day.
Originally, that should have been his destiny.
Until recently.
Dragon had carried out a political mission for the Navy—escorting the Celestial Dragons during their inspection tour.
The mission was completed successfully.
But after returning, Dragon had changed dramatically.
His emotions had become extremely unstable.
Setting aside their ranks, Dragon and Diermude were also friends.
Over the past two years, they had interacted quite often.
Ever since the day Diermude officially became a Commodore in Sengoku's office, he had truly felt the change in his life.
Previously, although he had received quite a bit of care from Sengoku and Zephyr, he was still essentially a minor figure.
Even though he could stay around Kuzan and Borsalino, he still felt somewhat like an attendant.
They were not truly on the same level.
But after becoming a Commodore, everything changed.
He no longer needed to cling to them to participate in important affairs.
He could legitimately attend meetings, express his ideas, and gradually step onto the stage of Marine administration.
This was the same platform as those senior officers.
During this period, he also got to know many members of Headquarters.
Because of his personality, he became good friends with many people.
Even Sakazuki now greeted him whenever they met.
Among the Navy's leadership, everyone now knew:
Diermude was the Gravity Fruit user,
a graduate of the Sixth Officer Training Camp,
Zephyr's most valued disciple in recent years,
and a rising member of Sengoku's faction.
Combined with his famous diligence and constantly improving strength, no one doubted his future success.
Because it was already obvious.
Once his training period ended, he would definitely become one of the Navy's elite officers.
"Is that so?" Diermude said with a smile.
"He didn't tell me about the fight with his father."
Dragon's change didn't surprise him at all.
From the first moment he met Dragon, he already knew—
They wouldn't remain comrades forever.
Unlike Diermude, who was essentially a pragmatic self-interest type, Dragon was a man with grand ambitions for change.
Diermude didn't possess those lofty ideals of saving the people or reforming the world.
All he wanted was to establish himself within the Navy, rise step by step through the ranks, gain greater authority—becoming an Admiral or even Fleet Admiral—and live a better life.
Through the power in his hands, he could influence the direction of the world.
That was enough.
As for whether the World Government or the Celestial Dragons were corrupt or rotten—
As long as they didn't harm his own interests, he didn't care.
But precisely because of this difference, Diermude understood even more clearly:
Dragon would eventually leave the Navy.
It was now early 1498.
In Diermude's memory, this was the year Roger conquered the Grand Line and became the Pirate King.
He didn't remember the exact timing, but judging from the current situation in the New World, it was probably near the end of the year.
Two years later, in 1500, Roger's life would reach its end.
When Roger was executed in Loguetown, Dragon would already have left the Navy.
So logically speaking—
Dragon would leave within two years at most.
Right now, however, no one in the Navy could imagine such a thing happening.
No one believed that Dragon would abandon everything he had—his stable and brilliant future—and betray the Marines.
Diermude had never thought about stopping Dragon.
He simply couldn't.
And there was no need to.
He stopped thinking about Dragon.
With a swing of his blade, Diermude knocked aside Gion's attack and suddenly spoke seriously:
"Be careful. I'm going to use my ability now."
"Hey! You bastard! That's cheating!" Gion's expression changed as she cursed.
Before she could react—
Diermude spoke in a deep voice:
"Gravity Blade — Tiger Bite!"
A mysterious force suddenly spread from his body and gathered onto the Nagaso Kotetsu.
The blade, already wrapped in Haki, now faintly emitted a pale purple glow.
The glow clung to the sword, transforming into the shape of a ferocious tiger, which lunged toward Gion with overwhelming momentum.
At the same time, Gion felt a crushing pressure descend upon her.
Because Diermude had changed tactics too suddenly, she couldn't react in time.
Her body was completely overwhelmed.
Like prey struck by a tiger, she was blasted backward into the air.
Diermude spun his sword in a flourish and sheathed it.
As the blade returned to its scabbard, the invisible gravity pressing on Gion vanished as well.
That prevented the Navy's "flower" from crashing face-first into the ground.
She rolled twice in midair before landing somewhat awkwardly.
The moment she touched the ground, she immediately began shouting:
"You bastard! We agreed you wouldn't use your ability!"
"Hahahaha!" Diermude laughed loudly.
"If I didn't use my ability, I couldn't beat you with swordsmanship
alone!"
He didn't feel embarrassed at all.
In pure swordsmanship, he really was inferior to Gion.
But so what?
After all—
Swordsmanship wasn't his only weapon.
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