Chapter 42: Super Genius Alex

Alex's bold claim left Smoker utterly incredulous. The Navy Six Powers were formidable combat techniques, so challenging that many Marine soldiers could never master them in their entire careers. The sheer difficulty of learning them was well-known.

It had taken Smoker three grueling months to barely execute Shave, a feat that already astonished many. Even Vice Admiral Kuzan had personally commended him. But how long had Alex been at Marineford?

In just one week, he dared to declare he'd mastered Shave? That was absolutely unthinkable!

"For me, learning any skill isn't about difficulty—it's only a matter of having enough physical capacity…" Alex thought to himself, noting Smoker's shocked expression, though he wisely kept his unique copying ability a secret.

"So, how about it? Want to spar again?" Alex's gaze locked onto Smoker, his voice brimming with confidence as he proposed a rematch.

A week ago, Smoker's Shave had given him the edge, preventing Alex from winning. Now, with his own fledgling mastery of Shave, Alex was eager to test himself again.

"Fine, I want to see if you've really learned Shave," Smoker agreed, nodding, his tone tinged with irritation from their unresolved duel that day.

He drew his sword with a sharp rasp, his body blurring as he used Shave, flashing instantly to stand right before Alex.

A week had passed, and Smoker's proficiency with Shave had noticeably improved. On the day of their first duel, he'd nearly stumbled after using it, but now he only wavered slightly, his stance steadier.

Ding!

Alex's White Dragon sword slid from its sheath in a fluid motion, deftly blocking Smoker's strike with a precise parry. In that same instant, both figures vanished from sight.

When they reappeared, they stood five or six meters away, and Alex's White Dragon sword rested lightly against Smoker's neck, the blade gleaming with quiet menace.

There was no prolonged clash, no back-and-forth struggle—the battle ended as swiftly as it had begun.

"You're not quite skilled with Shave yet; you'll need to practice more," Alex said, smoothly withdrawing his White Dragon sword with a calm smile.

Indeed, Smoker's Shave was that of a novice, rudimentary at best. But Alex's Shave? Copied directly from Garp, it was executed with a natural finesse that belied his brief training.

"This… this is impossible…" Smoker stood frozen, his expression dazed, his mind reeling in disbelief.

In just one week, had Alex truly mastered Shave? And not only that—he performed it far better than Smoker himself.

After using Shave, Smoker's body still trembled uncontrollably, betraying his inexperience. Yet Alex wielded it with such ease, as if he'd honed it for decades.

"Is there really such a genius in this world? A true prodigy? No wonder Vice Admiral Garp praises him so highly, and Vice Admiral Kuzan personally took him under his wing."

Gazing at Alex, Smoker's perception of him as a genius swelled to towering heights in his mind.

He felt a pang of discouragement. Was the gap between ordinary people and prodigies truly so vast? Months of his painstaking training paled against Alex's seemingly effortless week of practice.

"Alright, let's head back. Can you report to Vice Admiral Kuzan now?" Alex extended his hand toward Smoker, his tone casual but assured.

"Huh? What's that for?" Smoker asked, startled, eyeing Alex's outstretched hand with confusion.

"Well, my leg's cramping. Mind giving me a hand?" Alex admitted with a sheepish grin.

Indeed, nearly two months had passed since Alex arrived in the One Piece world. He'd trained relentlessly, pushing his limits during the day and using the Yi Jin Jing to recover fatigue at night. This dual approach had finally strengthened his body enough to perform Shave.

However, it was still a tremendous strain. Kicking the ground dozens of times in a split second overwhelmed his muscles, and after using Shave, his legs cramped painfully.

Smoker: "…"

Just moments ago, he'd hailed Alex as a super genius. Now, seeing him hobbled by cramps, Smoker's lofty image of Alex as an untouchable prodigy shattered instantly.

He was tempted to grab Alex and demand answers. Your legs cramp when you use Shave—how on earth did you learn it?

Still, Smoker's character shone through, dependable and kind. He supported Alex, and together they hobbled toward the Navy dormitory.

As Smoker steadied him, Alex discreetly accessed Smoker's "disk," browsing its contents. Soon, he located the file for Smoker's Shave technique on the D drive. A quick glance revealed it was only 0.5G, a modest capacity.

Alex then checked his own Shave. The version he'd copied from Garp was a whopping 5G in size—ten times larger than Smoker's!

Alex's expression darkened slightly. While this confirmed Garp's Shave mastery had reached a terrifying pinnacle, the massive capacity was a bitter pill to swallow.

At that moment, Alex wondered if copying Garp's Shave had been a misstep. With his current physical limits, he couldn't fully harness its potential.

Had he known, he might have copied a Shave of 1–2G from a lieutenant general, rear admiral, or even a colonel—more than sufficient for his needs.

Well, Alex felt a twinge of hypocrisy. He'd always been frustrated that his Dugu Nine Swords remained stuck at 5G, its capacity unchanged. Yet now, with Garp's Shave starting at an overwhelming 5G, he found himself regretting it…

Supported by Smoker, Alex returned to the dormitory, drawing curious stares from many onlookers. Lily, who was training nearby with other Marines, spotted him and rushed over, her face etched with worry, reaching out to support his other side.

"Don't worry, I'm fine—just a leg cramp," Alex reassured her, gently patting her head with a comforting smile.

Hearing it was only a cramp, Lily's tense expression softened with relief.

After helping Alex settle into the dormitory to rest, Smoker left promptly, heading straight to Kuzan's office.

"Hmm, the Beasts Pirates? The Smoke-Smoke Fruit?" Kuzan murmured, scanning a mission brief from his superiors, his usual lazy demeanor in full display.

A Smoke-Smoke Fruit had surfaced on the seas, and his superiors tasked him with securing it. Intelligence suggested the Donquixote Family had offered it to Kaido's Beasts Pirates, hinting at their growing alliance.

One was an up-and-coming pirate crew, the other led by Kaido, one of the Four Emperors. Their collaboration raised alarms.

Did the higher-ups intend to use the seizure of this Natural Fruit as a warning to both groups?

Of course, Kuzan knew his impending promotion to admiral hinged on this. Securing a Natural Fruit from the Beasts Pirates would be a significant feather in his cap.

Knock, knock, knock…

A sharp rap on Kuzan's office door interrupted his thoughts.

"Smoker? What's up?" Kuzan asked, setting aside the documents and glancing at the visitor.

He held a genuine respect for this talented young Marine under his command.

"Vice Admiral, I'm here to report on my assignment," Smoker said, stepping inside with a serious expression.

"Assignment? What assignment?" Kuzan blinked, momentarily puzzled. He hadn't assigned Smoker any tasks recently.

"It's about teaching Alex how to use Shave…" Smoker clarified.

"Oh, did you have any conflicts? Smoker, you and Alex are both promising Marines, you should—"

Kuzan sighed inwardly, dreading the tedious task of mediating between subordinates. Playing the earnest peacemaker felt like a chore he wasn't cut out for.

"No, Vice Admiral, Alex has already mastered Shave, and he performs it far better than I do," Smoker interrupted, shaking his head firmly.

"What did you say? He learned Shave?" The laziness vanished from Kuzan's face, replaced by sheer astonishment as he bolted upright.

So this was the caliber of Alex's talent?

No wonder Vice Admiral Garp had praised him so lavishly. Kuzan finally grasped the truth, but the revelation left him stunned.