Chapter 84: The Breaking Point

**

Dragon spat out a mouthful of blood, unsure whether it was from exhaustion or anger. His red eyes locked onto Carl as he growled, "Why?! The battle isn't over yet!"

But Carl's response was calm and absolute.

"I said it's over, and it's over."

The sheer authority in his voice left no room for argument.

Hearing this, Aramaki's face flushed with satisfaction, and his heart roared with admiration.

**"This… this is what a true Celestial Dragon should be!"**

Dragon, however, refused to accept it. He stood for equality, and he couldn't stand this kind of overwhelming power dictating the outcome. He struggled to break free from Carl's grip.

Carl didn't move an inch. His voice was soft but carried an ominous weight.

"You asked for this."

**Buzz!**

A dark force surged in Carl's palm, twisting the gravity around Dragon's wrist.

**CRACK!**

In an instant, Dragon's wrist was grotesquely contorted into a knot.

"AHHHH!!!"

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the sky. Dragon collapsed to a knee, cradling his ruined wrist, his teeth chattering from the sheer agony.

The students watching were left in stunned silence.

To them, Carl had always been easygoing, someone they admired. But this… this was different.

Jessica tugged on Ginny's sleeve and whispered, "Ginny, aren't you scared of Carl when he's like this?"

Ginny shook her head. "Scared? This is nothing. Brother Carl fights way more fiercely than this. He's only gentle to his own people."

Jessica hesitated. "Then… how do you become one of 'his own'?"

Ginny grinned. "Why are you so nervous? Don't worry, Brother Carl likes you! He wouldn't hurt you."

"Eh?! Why do you say that?"

"Because at the last party, the dishes you made were delicious! Brother Carl even said that if there's a chance in the future, he'd invite you to be the head chef on his warship!"

Jessica's face turned red as she brushed aside her golden hair.

"M-Me? But my rank isn't high enough to be a head chef! Carl's warship is Admiral-class!"

Ginny laughed. "So what? If Brother Carl wants it, it's just a matter of saying the word."

Jessica clenched her fists. "I… I'll work even harder!"

Meanwhile, Carl turned his attention back to Dragon, who was still trembling from pain. Without another word, he gestured toward the crowd.

"Two of you, carry him to the infirmary."

Several students rushed forward, eager to obey. Carl selected two and watched as they carefully lifted Dragon away.

With that settled, Carl turned to Aramaki and nodded in approval.

"You performed well. You followed orders and fought intelligently. As a reward, take three days off. Get some rest."

Aramaki's exhaustion vanished in an instant. Carl's praise filled him with energy, and as a plant-based human, all he really needed was a bit of sunlight to recover.

---

A few days later, Zephyr returned to the Marine Academy, only to find nearly a third of the training grounds destroyed. Dragon sat nearby, his hand wrapped in thick bandages, his expression dark.

Zephyr sighed.

His first thought was that Dragon must have provoked Carl again. But looking at the sheer destruction, he realized this had to be more than a simple clash. When he finally asked Carl what had happened, he couldn't help but rub his temples in frustration.

Before Zephyr could say anything, Dragon stood up stubbornly.

"Teacher Zephyr, I think Carl is targeting me personally. You shouldn't let him keep his temporary management rights!"

A heavy silence fell over the field.

The students stared at Dragon as if he were a fool.

Aramaki, standing beside him, scoffed and immediately shot back, "You're the one causing trouble! If you don't like it, go back to East Blue!"

Dragon snorted. "You, of all people, are talking? You lost to me."

Aramaki grinned and tilted his chin arrogantly. "Lost? Who do you think lost? If Senior Carl hadn't stopped me, I would've beaten you into paralysis!"

Dragon's teeth clenched, and a small cyclone formed at his feet.

Aramaki sneered. "Oh? You wanna fight again? Bring it on!"

He eyed Dragon's bandaged hand with clear bad intentions, a smug grin on his face.

Dragon wanted to punch him, but the sharp pain in his wrist held him back.

At that moment, Carl finally spoke.

"Sorry, Teacher Zephyr. I was too harsh."

Zephyr sighed, but in truth, his bias was clear. Carl was his best student—he wasn't about to scold him.

Zephyr waved dismissively. "You were just doing your job. No need to apologize."

Dragon's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Teacher Zephyr?!"

But Zephyr didn't let him argue. "Enough, Dragon. You need to watch your attitude. Your classmates aren't your enemies."

Dragon looked around at the students, seeing nothing but approval in their eyes.

He clenched his fists. **So this is how it is…**

At that moment, Dragon realized he had never been accepted here.

He thought he would find like-minded people in the Navy, but reality had slapped him in the face.

Wasn't this the very injustice he despised?

He let out a quiet "I understand" and fell into silence.

Aramaki, meanwhile, kept making obnoxious gestures at him, further twisting the knife.

Zephyr sighed to himself. *Garp, Garp… your son is really a handful.*

Carl, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes.

A barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Everything was going according to plan.

From the day Dragon had challenged him, Carl had carefully manipulated his emotions, pushing him further and further toward the edge.

His ultimate goal?

To force Dragon to defect from the Navy.

And the bigger the fallout, the better.

Carl wasn't about to let Dragon quietly slip away and form the Revolutionary Army.

No.

When Dragon left, Carl would ensure the entire world was watching.

Because the World Government belonged to him.

And he would never let a mere rebel threaten it.

---

**+70 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg**

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