Chapter 103: New Path
Zephyr's **expression darkened.**
He could **sense it**—the clash of Haki between Carl and Dragon.
Just as he was about to intervene, Carl's fingers **twitched** ever so slightly.
And in that instant—
His **Haki surged.**
An **overwhelming pressure** descended upon the training ground, pressing down on everything.
Dragon, standing in the corner, **staggered** under the sudden force.
Beads of **sweat** formed on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Carl simply **retracted his gaze**, returning to his conversation with the juniors, a **smile** on his face—
As if nothing had happened.
###
Dragon **clenched his fists.**
Ever since Carl **defeated him** upon joining the Navy, Carl had become his **inner demon.**
For **two years**, Dragon had trained relentlessly.
Yet the **gap** between them had only **grown wider.**
###
Zephyr, sensing the tension, chose that moment to **disperse the students.**
"Enough! Back to training!" he ordered.
With that, he returned to his office, leaving Carl behind to **supervise** the session.
Carl's presence alone was enough to **ignite** the students' enthusiasm.
They pushed themselves harder, eager to prove their **worth** before the new Admiral.
Carl, ever observant, occasionally **selected students to guide.**
###
Meanwhile, Aokiji had his eyes on someone else.
He approached Dragon, who stood **alone** at the edge of the training grounds.
"Dragon, what are you doing here alone?" Aokiji asked. "Why don't you go say a few words to Carl?"
Dragon didn't look at him.
He simply replied, **"I have my own way of practicing."**
Aokiji sighed in frustration.
He turned and walked away, finding Aramaki instead.
The moment he explained the situation, Aramaki **scoffed.**
"Tch, are you a **masochist** or something?" he mocked.
"What's there to say to that guy?"
Aramaki cracked his knuckles.
"Forget it. Just watching this pisses me off. **I'll handle him.**"
###
Aramaki **strode over** to Dragon with his hands in his pockets.
Dragon was **lifting a massive dumbbell**, his muscles tense from exertion.
He barely spared Aramaki a glance before continuing his workout.
Aramaki, feeling **ignored**, raised an eyebrow.
With a lazy smirk, he flicked his wrist—
**Two vines** shot out from the ground, wrapping around the dumbbell's ends and **yanking it downward.**
**BOOM!**
The weight crashed onto the ground.
Dragon, unfazed, **maintained his stance.**
He lifted his head slightly, his gaze cold.
"Are you sick?"
Aramaki picked his nose.
"I just don't **like you** today. What's wrong with that?"
Dragon's **expression darkened.**
He wanted to **stand up and fight.**
But then—he remembered.
**Carl was still here.**
Suppressing his anger, Dragon let out a low chuckle.
"I get it now," he sneered. "Your **master** is here today, so you've finally grown the guts to start trouble, huh?"
But Aramaki?
He wasn't **bothered** at all.
To him, being called Carl's **follower** wasn't an insult.
It was an **honor.**
"You think you understand?" Aramaki grinned.
"Let me teach you **properly!**"
###
**BOOM!**
The **ground trembled.**
**Black vines erupted** from the earth, **binding Dragon.**
Thorns extended, aiming to pierce—
But before they could, Dragon's **body gleamed.**
With a surge of **Armament Haki**, he **shattered** the vines and **charged.**
**The battle had begun.**
###
The students barely reacted.
They had **seen this before.**
Aramaki and Dragon **never got along.**
And when they fought—
**It was always real.**
###
Aokiji, however, sighed in exasperation.
"Is Dragon **stupid**?" he muttered.
"Did he forget that **Carl is still here**?"
He turned, glancing at Carl.
And there he was—
Arms crossed. Watching the fight.
**Just like two years ago.**
###
Despite the mockery he often faced, Aramaki was **no weakling.**
Over the past **two years**, he had grown immensely.
His **control over his Devil Fruit** had reached terrifying levels, and his **Haki** had matured significantly.
But Dragon?
He was a **monster in the making.**
With the **potential to become an Emperor**, Dragon's raw strength **surpassed Aramaki's.**
Yet—
Aramaki's **defensive abilities** kept him in the fight.
The battle **raged**—from the ground, to the air, then back down again.
Wind **howled**.
Vines **lashed out.**
Blades of wind **ripped** through the earth, and **roots** tore through stone.
None of the students dared to interfere.
Even the **aftermath** of their battle could **flatten** anyone who got too close.
###
Aokiji had **had enough.**
He prepared to intervene—
Only to **freeze** when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Carl.
"Kuzan," Carl said calmly.
"Let me handle this."
And then—
He was **gone.**
###
**Shinra Tensei.**
###
**BUZZ!**
A deep, vibrating force **rippled** through the air.
And then—
A massive **repulsive force** erupted.
**Dragon and Aramaki were blasted apart.**
They transformed—one into **wind**, the other into **wood**—before **reforming** on opposite sides of the field.
###
A moment of silence.
Then—
Aramaki **snapped to attention**, saluting Carl.
Dragon, meanwhile, let out a slow **breath**, his fists still clenched.
The **new students** stood frozen in shock.
Carl had just **effortlessly stopped** two **monsters** in their tracks.
This was the power of **Admiral Black Dragon.**
###
Carl's lips curled into a **smirk.**
"Not bad."
He gestured for **both** of them to step forward.
"You've both gotten stronger," he said.
"It actually took me **some effort** to stop you two."
###
Aramaki, ever the **loyal student**, **immediately** straightened up.
"Apologies, Admiral!" he said swiftly.
Dragon, on the other hand—
Stayed **silent.**
Carl's gaze lingered on him for a second longer before he continued.
"With your talents," Carl said, "staying in **Marine Headquarters** won't help you grow anymore."
His expression turned **serious.**
"Only **real combat** will make you stronger."
And with those words—
A **new path** opened before them.