The New World.
G-14 Branch waters.
On the deck of a Navy warship, rows of neatly aligned Marine soldiers trained under Zephyr's commands.
As the Chief Instructor of the Marines, the Officer Training Camp was only one part of Zephyr's duties.
Periodically, he needed to visit Navy Branches in the New World to teach the Marines here Armament Haki.
The enemies faced by the New World Marines were entirely different from those in the first half of the Grand Line—without Armament Haki, one could hardly even qualify to fight them.
...
To put it simply, Zephyr was the homeroom teacher of the Officer Training Camp, occasionally having to teach classes in other divisions.
After arranging the morning training schedule, Zephyr turned to look at Doll.
Her neat black short hair was still spirited, no longer carrying a casual flamboyance but instead hugging her temples, making her sharp eyebrows and eyes stand out even more.
The black crop top had been replaced by a more practical black combat shell armor, outlining her finely honed, taut physique.
...
"Training the recruits must be boring for you, right? There aren't any facilities here that can match your training level."
A gentle smile appeared on Zephyr's stern face.
Compared to those talented but infuriating brats, Doll was one of his favorite students.
Relentlessly hardworking, pushing past her limits in physical training time and again, an unyielding will, and talent that, while not monstrous, was more than sufficient.
These qualities allowed her, after over half a year of intensive training far beyond the norm, to become the second trainee after Griffin to master both Observation Haki and Armament Haki.
...
Doll had joined the Officer Training Camp even earlier than Griffin. In two more months, her standard one-year training period would conclude.
Zephyr had already decided—he would recommend Doll in her graduation report.
Former students like Sakazuki had been directly promoted to Commodore after receiving recommendations and passing headquarters review.
Aside from Sakazuki's batch, there was also Borsalino, a monster Zephyr had to acknowledge.
Usually, only the top student of a batch received this treatment, and sometimes an entire batch might not have anyone worthy of a recommendation.
...
Griffin, already a Commodore, didn't need the top student recommendation, and besides...
If Griffin weren't a Commodore, Zephyr would have planned to recommend two this time.
Doll absolutely deserved a promotion. In her, Zephyr seemed to see a reflection of his former self.
She was the kind of person who could catch up to geniuses through sheer effort!
...
...
Doll shook her head and smiled, "How could it be boring? Whatever Instructor Zephyr says, even the simplest words carry profound insight."
Zephyr feigned seriousness and snorted lightly, "You're excellent in every way, except you've picked up that brat's smooth-talking!"
Doll sighed helplessly, "Ah~ I was being completely sincere, though."
...
...
Zephyr sat down and accepted the tea Doll handed him, murmuring quietly, "You're someone who treasures every moment for training. Why did you choose to accompany this old man on this instructional tour?"
"Don't give me some boring excuse about wanting to stay by my side and listen to my teachings."
Doll fell silent for a moment, then decided to answer honestly.
"Griffin instructed me that whenever you leave headquarters, no matter what, I should follow you."
...
"Hmph! That brat, who does he think I am!"
"I was fighting pirates before he was even born! Why would I need him arranging protection for me!"
Zephyr's raised voice immediately softened as he realized he wasn't speaking to that brat. "Doll... you should return in a couple of days. Haki cultivation is like sailing against the current - if you don't advance, you'll fall behind."
"You're still at the preliminary stage. Without sufficient intensity in training, you won't be able to maintain your progress."
...
At this point, Doll asked curiously, "Teacher Zephyr... is Commodore Griffin really a genius who doesn't need training?"
"He lied to you." Zephyr bluntly exposed Griffin's deception.
After taking a sip of water, Zephyr said slowly, "There are people whose power grows without training or fighting. Among those I know, Charlotte Linlin is such a monster."
"Aside from that, even Whitebeard and Garp... maintain their condition through countless battles and training."
"Once people become complacent, they'll immediately be drowned by the tides of the new era. That's just how the sea is."
Zephyr shook his head with a bitter smile. "I'm a perfect example. After being away from the frontlines for so long, my strength is far from my peak."
"As for that kid Griffin..."
"He's different from you. The last time I saw someone so clear-minded and determined was probably Garp..."
Zephyr lowered his gaze and sighed deeply. "He knows exactly how to make himself stronger."
"Choosing to join the training camp instead of taking a post in the New World after Sabaody was a wise decision."
"When he realized I had nothing left to teach him, he immediately went out to find opponents."
"We know, contrary to what outsiders say, he genuinely defeated Chin Jao and completely mastered Two-Colored Haki through that fight."
"I estimate... he's now looking for opponents who can help him refine his Conqueror's Haki."
Chuckling lightly, Zephyr put down his water cup. "Actually, compared to the Marines, the pirate environment where the strong prey on the weak is more suitable for his growth."
"And with that nature of his... I never expected he'd choose the Marines."
Doll couldn't help but laugh. "We should thank Colonel Smoker for that. Otherwise, the Marines would be facing a troublesome opponent."
Zephyr also smiled. "Consider that smoke brat having done one good deed."
...
While chatting casually, Zephyr's expression suddenly changed. He stood up and rushed to the edge of the deck.
The students were startled by his sudden movement. Doll immediately ran to his side. "What's wrong?!"
Zephyr didn't answer. A few seconds later, Doll followed his gaze and saw it too.
A dilapidated pirate ship was approaching from the horizon, its tattered sail bearing a crooked Jolly Roger with what appeared to be a poorly drawn white mustache.
...
"What a rundown pirate ship..."
Looking at the wobbling pirate ship approaching through the waves, a Marine laughed. "They probably can't even steer properly, just blown here by the wind."
"Teacher Zephyr! We can start this afternoon's combat training early, haha! Pirates actually delivered themselves to us!"
With Zephyr present, they wouldn't have panicked even if they encountered such a small, broken pirate ship under normal circumstances.
Until a Marine using binoculars clearly saw the flag and cried out in alarm.
"Wait... that's..."
"That iconic crescent mustache... that's the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates!!!!"
Whitebeard—a name that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pirate King Roger and had remained at the pinnacle of piracy for decades—instantly threw all the Marines into chaos.
"How is this possible! This isn't Whitebeard's territory! Why would they come here!"
"Could it be one of their subordinate crews... That can't be! We're so close to the Navy Branch base—Whitebeard's subordinates have never attacked a Navy Branch before!"
...
...
"Stay calm."
Zephyr's steady voice quieted the panicked crowd.
He spotted the towering figure on the deck of the dilapidated pirate ship, and next to that giant, a familiar face.
"It's not Whitebeard..."
"But this is still plenty troublesome."
...
...
Buckingham Stussy leaped onto the shoulder of the nearly seven-meter-tall giant. Dressed in a gaudy, tacky gown, her ugly face twisted into a malicious grin.
Pointing a bony finger at the warship where Zephyr stood, she shrieked in a shrill voice.
"Weevil! Do you re
member that bastard who bullied us when you were little?!"
"Kill him!!"
...
"Oh! I forgot!!"
"But listening to Mom is always right!!"
Edward Weevil swung his massive blade, releasing a tremendous arc of sword Qi that sliced directly toward Zephyr on the warship.