Chapter 10

"Everyone, halt," barked Zephyr , glancing at the time and the sweating recruits. "Gather at sixteen-thirty in the mess hall, don't be late!"

The recruits, having spent the entire day training, cheered in response and rushed toward the mess hall. Ain and Binz remained standing. It wasn't that they weren't hungry, but today they had planned to visit the injured Karl.

"Ain, Binz, you're coming with me!"

"Yes, Master Zephyr!"

The two followed Zephyr step by step toward the naval hospital. Binz, watching the approaching hospital, felt uneasy. He whispered to Ain:

"Listen, Ain, do you think Karl will be upset? I hit him so hard!"

Ain bit his lower lip, recalling the cheerful and lively Karl from the recruits' ship, and shook his head:

"I don't know... Considering Brother Karl's character, he probably won't hold a grudge."

"Well, thank God..." Binz sighed in relief.

Soon they entered the hospital and approached Karl's room. The door was open, and without hesitation, Zephyr walked in.

"Karl, how are you feeling... He... - Zephyr froze mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he silently stared at Karl, pointing a finger at him. Ain and Binz exchanged puzzled looks until they saw Karl and Monica in the room.

Karl, lounging comfortably in a chair by the window, wore blue shorts, holding a cigar in one hand and a newspaper in the other, legs crossed. Barely visible traces of kisses marked his fair face. Monica stood behind him, looking like an obedient young wife, massaging his shoulders.

Zephyr's sudden appearance caught them off guard. Karl stared at Zephyr in surprise, not even noticing as the cigar ash fell onto his pants. Monica reacted more quickly, swiftly putting her hands behind her back, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Ahem, ahem, ow! Nurse Monica, suddenly my chest is pinching. What's happening? Help me lie down on the bed, I need to rest!"

Seeing that Monica didn't respond, Karl was flustered. He extinguished the cigar, staggered to the bed, and wrapped himself in a blanket.

"Don't pretend, Karl!!! Did you do this on purpose? Were you fooling me to avoid training, huh?" Zephyr quickly figured it out, recalling Karl's odd behavior upon arriving at the camp. The guy had been pretending to be sick all along! And this behavior seemed painfully familiar to him. Yes, that rascal Kizaru!

These two are true masters at avoiding training, as if they were taught by the same teacher. No wonder Karl, who clearly had a more robust constitution than Binz, received such a serious injury! Does he really think he can fool Zephyr?

Zephy's angry voice echoed through the ward, causing Binz and Ain to tremble with fear.

Monica looked anxiously at the enraged Zefa, then at Karl, who dared not utter a word. Gathering a bit of courage, she addressed Zephyr:

"Mr. Zefa, please lower your voice. We are in a hospital, not a training ground. Don't disturb the patient's rest!"

Karl sighed:

"Monica, please step out for now."

Seeing the serious expression on Karl's face, Monica wanted to say something but obeyed, casting a farewell glance at Karl as she left the ward.

"Ha!" Zephyr's chest rose and fell. Calming down after Monica's remarks, he looked coldly at Karl: "You're living quite well here in the hospital! It seems my training camp disrupted your enjoyment of life."

Karl awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Why did it seem to him that Zefa's words sounded absurd?

"No, Master Zephyr, you're overthinking it. I just felt a bit stiff, so I asked Nurse Monica to help warm up my muscles and bones. It's not what you thought."

"Hmm!" Zephyr snorted. Now he didn't believe a single word Karl said.

"Don't worry about yourself. Since you're almost recovered, return to the training camp as soon as possible. Don't forget you've missed a whole week of training!" Zephyr continued. "I will personally keep an eye on you so that you no longer look for easy ways out!"

No! Karl was shocked, his mind racing feverishly. If Zephyr really did that, Karl wouldn't be able to complete his daily assignments and career tasks.

But he couldn't blame Zephyr. As the head instructor of the Marine, Zephyr saw his potential and wanted to set him on the right path, "to turn a son into a dragon." Did he do anything wrong?

No! On the contrary, he did everything right. The countless marine elites he has trained are a testament to that.

"Uh, Master Zephyr, to be honest, I have a special training method, but I can only share it with one person."

Having said this, Karl glanced at Ain and Binz standing by the door. Zephyr instinctively thought Karl was about to spout nonsense again, but seeing the seriousness in Karl's eyes, his heart softened.

Remembering how Karl had freed him from the chronic asthma that had plagued him for years in just a few days, Zephyr wondered if there was indeed something special about him.

After pondering for a few minutes, Zephyr decided to give Karl another chance. If Karl continued to spout nonsense, Zephyr would immediately drag him off the bed and push him to train relentlessly!

"You two, get out!"

"Yes, Master Zephyr!"

Without hesitation, Ain and Binz turned and left.

Bang! Zephyr slammed the door, turned around, and crossed his arms, looking at Karl.

"The thing is, Master Zephyr, right after I gained the power of the Devil Fruit, I discovered that the power of the Holy Light is much more than just healing and enhancement—it can also train my body!"

Saying this, Karl stood up, and a faint golden glow emanated from his body as if a god had descended to earth. He slowly closed his eyes and began breathing, emitting steady sounds.

Behind the scenes, Karl immediately used the attribute enhancement card to strengthen his body. A warm stream coursed through him, and his body shifted from level E to level E+.

A breakthrough?

Karl thought he would need to use several more cards, but he didn't expect to be just a step away from a breakthrough!

The golden glow gradually dissipated, and Karl opened his eyes, smiling at Zephyr, thinking: with Zephyr's experience, he should have noticed... right?

At the moment Karl's body made the breakthrough, Zephyr's expression changed. For many years, he had been engaged in physical exercises and had an excellent understanding of human physical condition. He clearly felt that Karl's physical form had undergone revolutionary changes.

Could it be that, as Karl said, his power could train the body by itself? No, that's not it. Karl's ability can provide an enhancement effect, but it lasts no more than an hour, unless...

"Karl, let me test your strength!" Zefa quietly said, his developed muscles swelling as if made of steel.

Karl's eyes fixed on the iron ball! He used the iron ball!

"Sorry, Master Zephyr, I spoke foolishly!"