Chapter 36: He's Here, He's Here

As soon as Zephyr gave the signal, Gion nodded firmly and stepped out from the crowd.

She was tall and poised, her long black hair tied up in a sleek high ponytail.

With her slim waist, long legs, and black military boots, she radiated a beauty both sharp and commanding.

In a heartbeat, every pair of eyes was on her.

---

"Hehehe... You see that? That's my childhood friend!! Gion's about to say yes and become my girlfriend!"

Tokikake grinned foolishly as he leaned toward Kuzan.

"Really? I don't think so," Kuzan said sincerely, scratching his head.

"She seems pretty cold to you."

Tokikake's smile froze on his face.

---

Compared to the striking Gion, her opponent — Mozambia — looked thoroughly ordinary.

Dark-skinned, short gray hair, a nasty scar on his left cheek — and an icy expression to match.

"Surrender," Mozambia said flatly, staring her down.

"I don't cut women."

Gion gave no response.

Silently, she rested her hand on the hilt at her waist and slowly drew her blade.

The golden edge scraped against the sheath with a piercing screech.

Under the sunlight, the slender blade shimmered blindingly.

And in that moment — her entire aura shifted.

It grew colder, sharper. Merciless.

Mozambia's face tightened.

Every nerve in his spine stood on end.

'This presence...'

Gritting his teeth, he lunged — sword drawn, both hands gripping tight — slashing straight for her flawless face.

Wind whipped past her, scattering strands of black hair into the air.

But her eyes didn't flicker.

In that instant, everything else disappeared.

Countless battle memories flashed through her mind —

then all collapsed into the image of a black-haired man.

Clang!

Her golden blade caught his saber mid-swing — just a single centimeter from her forehead.

It didn't move another inch.

Mozambia's pupils shrank.

His full-force slash… had been stopped that easily?

"So slow..."

The voice came cold and soft — like winter wind.

A silver flash followed.

Then another.

And another.

Each one burst into his vision, growing closer with terrifying speed.

"What!?"

His panicked shout barely escaped before a roaring wave of blade-light surged toward him — shaped like a crescent moon.

It swallowed him whole.

Mozambia's massive body was launched like driftwood in a storm, tumbling across the training field before crashing into the ground dozens of meters away.

He struggled to rise, one knee pressed against the dirt, his face twisted in disbelief.

His saber — once steel-forged and polished — shattered into glittering fragments.

Only the hilt remained.

---

The entire field fell silent.

Dozens of cadets stood stunned, mouths agape, unable to believe what they had just seen.

Mozambia might not have been top-tier, but he wasn't weak either — solidly middle of the pack.

And yet...

He'd been obliterated.

One-hit K.O.

If his opponent had been Kuzan, that might've made sense.

But it was Gion...

---

"Gion's gotten way stronger... What happened to her in the North Blue...?"

Dalmatian murmured in disbelief.

He had worked with her before at Headquarters.

But what she showed now — was on a whole other level.

---

In the center of the field, Gion looked quietly at her sword.

The blade's gleam reflected her faintly confused expression.

'So I've gotten this strong... without even realizing it.'

She whispered in her heart.

In the North Blue, her one and only opponent had been Darren.

So when Mozambia attacked, her body had reflexively recalled the image of Darren charging toward her.

Compared to the hopelessness she felt facing Darren —

the overwhelming pressure that crushed her from every angle —

Mozambia's attack had been… slow.

Sloppy.

Full of openings.

---

"That was weirdly easy..."

Tokikake muttered, rubbing his chin.

"But man, Mozambia's attacks were super slow..."

Hearing this, Darren chuckled quietly.

He knew exactly why Gion and Tokikake had grown so fast.

Their training in the North Blue had been hell.

Sengoku had sent them to him for a reason —

and Darren hadn't held back.

He'd pushed them through brutal duels, nonstop physical combat, relentless pressure.

And thanks to their natural talent, they'd grown at terrifying speed — even Darren had been surprised.

Since leaving the North Blue, they hadn't had a real chance to go all out.

Their enemies had been legendary pirates like Byrnndi World and Roger — impossible to measure against.

That's how this world worked.

Power tiers were rarely clear.

Most fights weren't decided until they actually happened.

---

"Winner: Gion!"

Zephyr announced without hesitation.

Gion sheathed her blade, gave Mozambia a crisp salute, and walked calmly back into the crowd.

Mozambia clenched his jaw, then stood and returned the salute.

---

"Next match..."

The duels for numbers 3 and 4 ended shortly after.

The victors:

Yamakaji — Captain, Supreme Commander of the South Blue Marines

Comil — Commander, Grand Line Marine

Both matches had plenty of highlights, and Zephyr nodded in approval throughout.

Yamakaji's swordplay was aggressive, heavy, and full of explosive strength.

Comil's was solid, precise, and nearly flawless — a steady, unshakable rhythm.

---

"And now... the fifth match. Step forward."

Zephyr's voice echoed through the crowd.

"Darren versus Dalmatian!"

The moment he spoke, the entire field stirred with energy.

Rogers Darren — The King of the North Blue, the Marine who took down Byrnndi World!

Everyone had heard his name.

Too many times to count.

And now, they'd finally see the truth for themselves.

---

"So... is he the real deal, or just hype?"

Onigumo said coldly.

"Anyone Vice Admiral Garp trusts is no weakling,"

Yamakaji said with a warm grin.

"We'll see.

Too bad I got knocked out,"

Doberman added, cleaning his sword with a sigh.

---

Under the weight of dozens of gazes—

The man from the North Blue stepped forward, calmly removing his white Marine cloak.

He walked to the center of the field.

And in that moment, the crowd fell silent.

The atmosphere shifted.

Heavy. Dense.

An invisible pressure rolled out from Darren like a tide.

---

"He's here, he's here!!"

Kuzan's eyes burned with passion.

"As expected from my chosen rival — so cool!!"

Tokikake, on the other hand, had ducked behind Kuzan, whispering nervously:

"He's here... He's really here...

This guy might tear the whole field apart..."

---

To be continued...