"When my father passed the Wado Ichimonji on to me, he told me that I had to take good care of it."
"Because of that, I make sure to maintain the blade properly and regularly apply sword oil to it."
Tashigi nodded in agreement.
"A sword of this quality deserves to be treated with the utmost care."
As a devoted sword enthusiast, she understood better than most that a famous blade was not merely a weapon.
It was something that had to be respected, maintained, and protected.
However, the Wado Ichimonji belonged to Kuina.
No matter how much Tashigi admired it, she couldn't keep holding another person's treasured sword.
With obvious reluctance, she carefully returned the Wado Ichimonji to Kuina.
Kuina accepted the sword and secured it at her waist.
"Tashigi, are you ready for tomorrow's assessment?"
She understood perfectly well how fascinated Tashigi was by famous swords, but the Wado Ichimonji was still her family heirloom.
There was no way she could simply give it to Tashigi.
Changing the subject seemed like the best option.
"Huh?"
Tashigi blinked.
"Tomorrow's assessment hasn't been announced yet, has it?"
She still looked slightly distracted after having to part with the legendary blade.
Kuina smiled.
"I actually have some information."
"Professor Zephyr told me a little about it."
"Of course, he didn't give me the answers."
"He only told me the general contents and the abilities the instructors would be testing."
Tashigi immediately became interested.
"Really?"
"Apparently, this year's assessment will be somewhat different from previous years."
Kuina nodded.
"There will be several tests related to combat ability."
"And one of the things they may examine is Haki."
"Haki?"
Tashigi's expression became serious.
"Which type?"
"Possibly Observation Haki and Armament Haki."
Kuina paused.
"And there's also a possibility that they will test whether candidates possess the potential for Haoshoku Haki."
Tashigi froze.
"Haoshoku Haki?"
"You mean Conqueror's Haki?"
Kuina nodded.
"Yes."
"Does that really exist?"
Tashigi's eyes widened.
She had heard stories about Haoshoku Haki, but to her, it had always sounded like something from an old legend.
"Of course it exists."
"My master can use it."
Kuina spoke with unmistakable pride.
Tashigi stared at her.
"Your master can use Haoshoku Haki?"
"That's incredible!"
Kuina smiled.
"My master is incredibly strong."
Tashigi suddenly became curious about something else.
"Wait."
"Is your master also a swordsman?"
Kuina nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"My master is an extremely powerful swordswoman."
Tashigi's eyes widened again.
"A swordswoman who possesses Haoshoku Haki?"
"That means…"
"She must be a master-level swordswoman!"
Kuina's smile became even wider.
"You're right."
"To be honest, my master is Saint Roselith Seraphina."
Tashigi froze.
"Saint Roselith Seraphina?!"
She suddenly remembered the woman who had spoken to her in Loguetown.
The silver-haired Vice Admiral.
The powerful Marine who had invited her to participate in the Special Training Camp.
The woman who had mentioned having a student who looked remarkably similar to her.
Tashigi's eyes widened behind her glasses.
"Wait…"
"Then you're…"
Kuina looked confused.
"What?"
Tashigi pointed at Kuina.
"You're the student she was talking about!"
Kuina's expression changed.
"She told you about me?"
"Yes!"
"She said that she had a student who looked remarkably similar to me."
Tashigi suddenly realized how strange the entire situation was.
She had met Saint Roselith Seraphina only recently.
Now she had discovered that Seraphina was Kuina's master.
And Kuina looked almost exactly like her.
"So that's why she told me about you."
Kuina grabbed Tashigi by the shoulders.
"You've already met my master?"
"Yes."
Tashigi nodded quickly.
"Vice Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina seemed very powerful."
"But she was also surprisingly gentle."
Kuina's expression softened.
"That's just like her."
She had complete confidence in her master.
To Kuina, Saint Roselith Seraphina wasn't merely a powerful Marine or an exceptional swordswoman.
She was the person who had guided her on the path of the sword.
And Kuina intended to repay that guidance by becoming stronger.
…
The following morning, the sun rose over Marineford.
The weather was exceptionally clear.
The sunlight reflected across the enormous fortress and the surrounding sea as the candidates were summoned to the training grounds.
A sharp whistle echoed across the field.
"All candidates!"
"Move into position!"
"Everyone stand outside the designated circle!"
The surviving candidates immediately assembled.
No one was joking anymore.
The atmosphere was completely different from the first day.
Everyone who had made it this far had already survived the physical endurance test, the written examination, and the combat evaluation.
They were the strongest candidates remaining from this year's recruitment pool.
But there was still one final assessment.
And everyone knew it would determine who truly deserved a place in the Special Training Camp.
Kuina stood among the candidates.
Tashigi stood beside her.
Both looked toward the enormous platform in front of them.
Then Kuina's eyes suddenly widened.
"Teacher…"
Her voice became almost inaudible.
"Teacher!"
She stared at the white-haired woman standing on the platform.
There was no way Kuina could mistake her.
She had known that figure for years.
Saint Roselith Seraphina.
Her master.
The woman who had taught her the sword.
The woman who had helped shape her into the swordswoman she was becoming.
Kuina stared in disbelief.
"Why is Teacher here?"
Tashigi looked at her.
"Didn't Vice Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina tell you?"
"She's one of the instructors for this year's Special Training Camp."
Kuina's expression became complicated.
"No."
"She never told me."
Tashigi blinked.
"Really?"
Kuina clenched her fists.
"Professor Zephyr didn't tell me either."
"They both kept this from me!"
She felt slightly betrayed.
She had prepared herself for months of brutal training without seeing her master.
She had already accepted that she would have to endure the Special Training Camp without Seraphina's direct guidance.
Yet now she discovered that her master would actually be one of the instructors.
Kuina's frustration slowly turned into excitement.
"Actually…"
"Maybe this isn't so bad."
Tashigi smiled.
"Perhaps Vice Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina wanted to surprise you."
Kuina looked toward the platform again.
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Maybe."
On the enormous platform, Seraphina stepped forward.
The conversations among the candidates gradually died down.
Her presence alone was enough to command attention.
She wore the formal white coat associated with senior Marine officers, with her sword secured at her side.
Her silver hair moved gently in the morning breeze.
Despite her youthful appearance, the authority surrounding her was unmistakable.
She looked across the candidates.
Then she spoke.
"Candidates."
"I am Saint Roselith Seraphina."
"I will serve as the chief examiner for the fourth assessment."
The training grounds immediately erupted into whispers.
"Who is she?"
"She looks like a Vice Admiral."
"Is she really a Marine Vice Admiral?"
"I've never seen her before."
"She's so young!"
"How can someone that young hold such a high rank?"
The candidates were clearly confused.
Seraphina rarely appeared before ordinary Marines.
Her reputation had spread throughout the Navy largely through reports, battlefield accounts, and rumors.
Many Marines had heard stories about an exceptionally powerful Vice Admiral operating under the name associated with the mysterious Hakutaku title.
Few had actually seen her face.
Seraphina calmly waited for the noise to settle.
"You may address me as Vice Admiral Saint Roselith Seraphina."
The whispers became louder.
Then one candidate suddenly recognized her.
"Wait!"
"That name!"
"Saint Roselith Seraphina!"
Another Marine's eyes widened.
"Is she the Vice Admiral associated with the Hakutaku reports?"
"You mean the legendary Marine who fought the Whitebeard Pirates?"
The reaction spread through the crowd.
"Impossible!"
"She was the one behind those reports?"
"I heard the battlefield records described a terrifying armored Marine!"
"I thought that was some enormous male officer!"
"You're telling me it was her?"
Seraphina remained completely composed.
She had heard enough rumors about herself to know how distorted they could become.
Battlefield reports were often exaggerated.
Newspapers distorted appearances.
Witnesses misremembered details.
And when a powerful Marine appeared wearing armor during a chaotic battle, few people had the opportunity to determine the identity of the person beneath it.
Seraphina ignored the rumors.
She raised one hand.
The training grounds immediately became quiet.
"The fourth assessment is simple."
"You have ten minutes."
"You must get as close to me as possible."
A murmur passed through the candidates.
Seraphina continued.
"You may use whatever physical abilities and combat techniques you have demonstrated during the previous assessments."
"However, you are not required to defeat me."
"The objective is simply to reach me."
The candidates exchanged glances.
Some appeared confused.
Others looked excited.
A few were already calculating their chances.
Seraphina pointed toward the marked area surrounding the platform.
"The assessment will begin when I give the signal."
"At the end of the ten minutes, the three hundred candidates who have come closest to me will advance."
"Anyone who leaves the designated training area will be disqualified."
"And anyone who deliberately attempts to injure another candidate will also be eliminated."
The candidates immediately became serious.
Three hundred positions.
Thousands had entered the selection process.
Only a fraction remained.
And now they had to get past one of the most powerful Marines in the entire organization.
Seraphina looked across the field.
Her gaze briefly stopped on Kuina.
Then on Tashigi.
Then on Riva.
Finally, she looked toward the remaining candidates.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Don't worry."
"I won't make this assessment unnecessarily difficult."
Several candidates visibly relaxed.
Seraphina's smile widened slightly.
"But don't mistake that for mercy."
The atmosphere instantly became tense again.
Kuina swallowed.
She knew her master's personality better than almost anyone.
That statement was a warning.
Seraphina raised her hand.
"Prepare yourselves."
The candidates lowered their bodies.
Some clenched their fists.
Others drew their weapons.
Tashigi adjusted her glasses and gripped her sword.
Riva took a deep breath.
Kuina placed one hand near the Wado Ichimonji.
The entire training ground fell silent.
Seraphina looked down at them.
"Your ten minutes begin…"
She paused.
"Now."
The candidates exploded forward.
Hundreds of young Marines charged toward the platform simultaneously.
And for the first time, the true purpose of the Special Training Camp became clear.
This was no longer an examination of simple strength.
It was a test of courage, combat instinct, discipline, adaptability, and the ability to face an overwhelming opponent without losing one's resolve.
Saint Roselith Seraphina stood alone at the center of it all.
She hadn't even drawn her sword.
✦ [SYSTEM] ✦
[Fourth Assessment: Initiated.]
[Objective: Approach Saint Roselith Seraphina.]
[Time Limit: 10 Minutes.]
[Candidates Advancing: 300.]
[Additional Evaluation Factors: Combat Ability, Adaptability, Courage, Discipline, Tactical Awareness, and Resolve.]
[Warning: The examiner's combat strength is significantly higher than the candidates' current level.]
[Assessment has begun.]
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