Chapter 27

Victor sheathed his dagger and offered a hand to lift him up.

By now, Kong and the rest of the veteran admirals had arrived behind Victor, who stood in front of the man size hole where Borsalino had crashed.

[Alert! Power Level 126,292 detected withing proximity!]

[Alert! Power Level 119,365 detected withing proximity!]

[Alert! Power Level 102,000 detected withing proximity!]

[Alert! Power Level 92,659 detected withing proximity!]

[Alert! Power Level 61,050 detected withing proximity!]

Victor ignored Jaya's prompt bombardments. However, he was really startled with the 126,292.

"Garp... Really? Even stronger than Kong…?" He thought while saying nothing on his face.

Sakazuki also followed, behind the older men.

"The battle is ove—" Kong tried to announce but was interrupted by a hysterical laughter.

"Bwahaha… Boy, be my studen—"

"Don't even think about it, Garp…" Zephyr cut in. Of course, he knew what this bastard was thinking.

Ignoring the grumpy looking man, he walked past everyone and patted Victors back. "Good job."

His gaze than followed Borsalino. "Do you now understand? Borsalino! Relying too much on Devil-Fruit—"

The man in questioned groaned. He tried to get back on his feet, but his body refused to follow. Sighing, he interrupted quickly, "Can we do this after I get treatment, teacher…" He was in a lot of pain, even though he did not scream it aloud. He wanted treatment, not more of his annoying teacher's I-told-you-so's.

"Victor, you will join this years' graduating elite recruit's batch. Try your best to complete all the theoretical classes in the next seven months and graduate along with the rest. As for your training, I'll let Zephyr handle it." Kong spoke.

"I will, fleet admiral." Victor responded.

Not long after, four marine medical soldiers came and took Borsalino for treatment.

"That's enough for today. Everybody dismissed!" Kong said as he walked towards the training grounds exit.

"Sengoku, Garp!" He spoke just before exiting.

The said men followed his voice, knowing what was coming next.

"Repair costs will be deducted from both your salaries."

"Hey, why me… It's this bastard who failed to stop all the blasts..." Garp refuted, to which, Kong simply ignored and disappeared.

"You bastard, why am I being blamed?" Garp's frustration moved to Sengoku. The latter also ignored and walked away along with Tsuru.

"Hey… Bastard!

Tsuru, why are you following him?

Wait…"

Garp followed wailing.

Now only Zephyr and Victor were left. Sakazuki had left just after Kong.

"You… surprised me. Victor." Zephyr spoke. "Your Armament Haki proficiency is simply incredible. Even better than most vice admirals."

"Really? I just followed the old man Nappa's training. He never once praised me you know..." Victor let out an audible sigh at the end.

"Hmm… Sometimes praising too much would have a negative effect in motivation. May be that person thought so." Zephyr added his understanding.

"Bull shit. I'm just making shit up here." Victor didn't say it aloud but gave an understanding shrug.

"For your training, I will focus more on Observation Haki and Rokushiki for the next six months. Also, you should indeed focus on the theoretical parts, like fleet admiral said. Catch up with last year's batch. I expect you to graduate along with Borsalino and Sakazuki."

"Sakazuki?"

"He's another monster. The guy who stood near us while you had your battle with Borsalino." Zephyr answered.

"The square faced man with the girlish tattoo on his chest?" Victor asked knowingly.

"Ah… Yes. He's anything but that though. He's also a Logia. He ate the Mag-Mag Fruit that allows him to create, control, and transform into magma at will." Zephyr explained.

"A Magma man… interesting." Victor said.

"He's very dedicated. Unlike that Borsalino, he doesn't neglect physique training. So yes. He's very strong, and probably stronger than Borsalino."

"Hmm… I'd like to fight him." Victor said confidently.

Victor had checked Sakazuki's power level earlier, and it was indeed stronger than Borsalino.

56,865!

His power level was even better than Victor's, who now had a physique power of 54,736. However, this was only his physique power. If Victor were to go all out, Sakazuki would surely be outmatched as Victor now had a standard power level of 87,645.

"You will, before graduation. But I must advise you in advance, Victor…"

Victor cocked his head.

"I cannot train you like that person Nappa.

Well, I could, but, I can't make you miraculously recover overnight, like that person did. Your progress will be slower—"

"I know, Uncle. I don't care about that. I'm happy now, and I'm looking forward to your guidance. After all, you're the famous Black Arm Zephyr."

Victor cut in, while raising a thumb up.

Zephyr in turn gave a genuine smile before they both walked to wards the exit.

The sun set, and sky became embellished with beautiful pearl-like stars. The cool sea breeze mixed with a little moisture gave a sense of relaxation to every person living inside Marineford.

-Top of the fortress like building, the Fleet Admiral's Office.

"What do you think about today's battle?" Putting down his cup of tea, Kong asked his subordinates, as well as longtime friends. Sitting in the sofa in front of Kong's desk were Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru.

"Incredible… I'm still having a hard time to believe. His Armament Haki, now that I really think about it… It's just absurd." It was Sengoku who answered.

"Zephyr, you give the boy to me for training… There's nothing for him to learn, even if it's the elite batch." Garp added, glancing at Zephyr.

"I said, No!

*Sigh*

His Armament Haki is good. He still needs to work with his Observation Haki, and the Rokushiki. I know him the best, and… I am his uncle! So, don't even think about it before he graduates." Zephyr said.

"That matter is settled, Garp." Kong also added. "Until his graduation, Zephyr will train him along with the elite batch."

"And then…" Garp answered with a brow raised.

Kong sighed, "You keep training your son. His potential is not inferior to Sakazuki and Borsalino. Even Victor."

"Bwahaha… Yes… Yes… you're right." It was the same hysterical laughter.

Zephyr's eye twitched but he didn't say anything. It was that simple to fool the bastard.

"After graduation, I will assign him to you, Sengoku…" Kong's words aroused everyone's curiosity.

"I've had a chat… the day Zephyr brought him. He's not only strong, but also very smart. Rational." Kong explained, getting a nod of agreement from Zephyr.

Sengoku let out an "oh…"

"Tsuru, what do you think?" Kong enquired the only female in the room.

"Hmm… I agree. He didn't show any arrogance, or battle madness," she paused, as her eyes momentarily followed Garp.

"Huh… What's that supposed to mean?" Garp asked, feeling something was wrong, but he couldn't quite tell what.

"Seemed kindhearted, unlike another Logia monster." She concluded.

"Sakazuki…" was the name that murmured out of everyone's mouth.

"Yes. So, I'm in favor of him learning under Sengoku after graduation." Tsuru finished her explanation.

"How about you, Zephyr?" Kong asked.

"I agree." Zephyr said without a moment of hesitation. After all the time he had spent with Victor, it was clear that Sengoku was the perfect person to mentor him.

"But his physical training… I will be the one to instruct him… Even in the future!" Zephyr's words were resolute.

"I don't mind…" Sengoku responded.

"Then it's agreed." Kong added.