Chapter 45
He snapped his fingers, and a young man with a beard stepped forward, respectfully asking, "Instructor Zefar, what are your orders?"
Zefar looked at the young man and said, "Shuzo, I've got a mission for you. Test the strength of these two freshmen!"
The young man named Shuzo was slightly startled, glancing in the direction Zefar indicated.
"Instructor, are you referring to them?"
At the door, only Ron and Roy stood.
Zefar nodded and said, "Go ahead. Don't hold back."
"Yes, Instructor!" Shuzo saluted solemnly and strode over.
Even after issuing the command, Zefar didn't take his eyes off Ron. An inexplicable light flashed in his eyes. "Let's see what you can do, the one who could injure Cage!"
---
Shuzo's actions didn't go unnoticed by the veterans of the elite battalion. The blue-haired girl, Ain, who possessed the Retro-Retro Fruit, frowned and said, "Hmm, that's Shuzo?"
Binz, who was dressed like a ninja with long limbs, also commented, "Those two must be the new recruits joining the elite battalion this time, right? Did they offend Shuzo?"
Tina, with her short pink hair and slender figure, also noticed what was happening and looked over, clearly surprised.
Berry Good, the one with the Berry-Berry Fruit, grinned and said, "Looks like something interesting is about to happen!"
As the Rust-Rust Fruit user, Shue also stopped what he was doing to watch.
Almost all the veterans present stopped their training and focused their attention on Ron and Roy.
Feeling everyone's gaze on him, Roy was under immense pressure. The accumulated aura of the veterans made his breathing heavy, and his face turned even paler!
At that moment, Ron's expression was somewhat perplexed.
Seeing Shuzo approaching aggressively, Ron couldn't help but think, "Seriously, what's wrong with the Navy? How long has it been since I arrived at Navy Headquarters? Just a few days! This is already the third time someone's tried to mess with me! What's your problem? Or is it that the Navy just can't help but mess with the newcomers? They must feel uncomfortable if they don't provoke us!"
Roy also grew vigilant, easily sensing Shuzo's intentions.
---
Since it was Zefar's order, Shuzo didn't waste any time with words; he went straight into action!
In a flash, Shuzo charged directly at Ron. His reason was simple—Ron seemed like the easier target. So, Ron became his first objective!
By now, Ron was also feeling quite frustrated. "Enough is enough! You think I won't fight back?"
As Shuzo rushed toward him, Ron's expression darkened. "I finally understand now—just showing talent isn't enough in the Navy; you have to show overwhelming strength! Otherwise, there will always be someone looking to cause trouble!"
Ron hated unnecessary trouble, so this time, he decided to take things seriously.
"Since you're so curious about my strength, let me show you!"
Ron's aura intensified, meeting Shuzo head-on! He pulled back his fist, gathering power, and then unleashed it in a powerful punch!
Shuzo was taken aback. He hadn't expected the kid in front of him to not only stand his ground but to counterattack as well.
"Interesting!"
Shuzo laughed and accelerated his charge, throwing his own punch!
Boom!
The two fists collided, and a shockwave erupted.
Ron was pushed back by the force of Shuzo's punch.
Shaking out his right arm, Ron's expression remained unchanged. He knew that physically, he wasn't a match for Shuzo, who had trained in the elite camp for who knows how long. This outcome wasn't surprising.
"Unless I unleash my true power, there's no way I can beat this guy with just fists and kicks."
Ron's gaze swept over the training ground, searching for a weapon.
The venue was spacious, but there was no weapon rack in sight.
"Not bad! You managed to block my punch!"
Shuzo looked at Ron with admiration but had no intention of holding back. After all, those were Zypar's orders!
"Finger Pistol!"
Shuzo stepped forward, using his not-so-proficient Six Powers technique to launch a Finger Pistol attack at Ron.
With his incredible perception, Ron detected the attack just in time, dodging it and retreating!
Scanning the area, Ron's gaze finally settled on a blue-haired girl—not on her, but on the two daggers she had strapped to her waist!
Shuzo attacked again, and as Ron dodged, he moved closer to Ain.
Turning to face her red eyes, which were similar to his own, Ron smiled and asked, "Miss, could you lend me your sword?"
"Um… sure."
Ain was momentarily stunned by Ron's polite address, but she nodded, finding it not an unreasonable request.
Her sword was just a standard-issue dagger from the training camp—nothing particularly valuable.
She tossed it to Ron, who caught it with ease.
"It's not too sharp, but it'll do!"
Holding the dagger, Ron's aura changed instantly. A wave of sword energy swept across the area, and sharpness gleamed in his eyes!
This transformation immediately captured everyone's attention!
Shuzo's expression turned serious. "What sharp energy!"
"But… I won't lose!"
"Rankyaku!"
Shuzo focused, executing a Rankyaku with his right leg, creating a sharp wind blade that flew toward Ron!
This was the only one of the Six Powers he had fully mastered!
"One-Sword Style: Crescent Slash!"
Ron's eyes flashed as he coldly shouted, raising his sword to slash!
Swish…
A slash nearly ten meters long tore through the air!
With a "shhh", the Rankyaku was cut down, and the slash continued toward Shuzo!
Having just unleashed his attack, Shuzo couldn't react in time. He could only watch in horror as the slash approached, panic rising in his heart. "Am I going to die here?"
"I can't stop this attack!"
But just then, a figure rushed forward, their fist coated in Haki as black as ink, punching the slash!
Boom!
A deafening sound echoed throughout the training grounds, audible even in the recruit camp!
Zefar shattered Ron's slash with a single punch. As he landed, he looked at his unscathed arm, then at Ron, a look of shock in his eyes!
"A Flying Slash… He's a Swordsman!"
At that moment, all the veterans stared at Ron with the dagger in shock.
This recruit is actually a swordsman!