As the two massive warships drew closer and closer, gliding into the bustling port of the Navy Headquarters together, a lone figure suddenly emerged, taking a few graceful steps through the air before descending swiftly toward Vice Admiral Garp's warship.
"Is this the Moon Walk?" Alex wondered to himself, his eyes fixed on the figure's fluid movements.
The Navy Six Powers, known as Rokushiki, comprised six elite techniques: Geppo [Moon Walk], Rankyaku [Tempest Kick], Shigan [Finger Gun], Tekkai [Iron Body], Soru [Shave], and Kami-e [Paper Art]…
In truth, Alex had no need for Moon Walk, as he could already soar through the air using his Magneto-derived abilities.
Tempest Kick and Finger Gun were powerful offensive techniques, but Alex found little use for them, since his mastery of Dugu Nine Swords provided superior swordsmanship.
As for Iron Body? This defensive technique overlapped significantly with Armament Haki, and Alex was determined to copy Armament Haki in the future, rendering Iron Body unnecessary for his arsenal.
There was also Paper Art. If he successfully copied Observation Haki, Paper Art's evasive capabilities would become largely redundant, diminishing its value.
Therefore, of all the Navy Six Powers, the one Alex truly coveted and believed was most suitable for his needs was still Shave, a technique that promised to bolster his speed dramatically.
Having endured Vice Admiral Garp's grueling training regimen for over a month, Alex felt that his abilities and physical fitness had improved tremendously. He couldn't help but wonder if he was now ready to learn Shave and Armament Haki…
"Oh, it's Kuzan! I heard the Five Elders are considering promoting you to admiral soon. Congratulations…" Garp greeted the descending figure with a hearty tone, recognizing him instantly.
"Vice Admiral Garp hasn't visited the Headquarters in quite a while. Honestly, I'm a bit jealous of your freedom…" The camaraderie between Kuzan and Garp was evidently strong, and as Kuzan spoke, the genuine envy on his face shone through from the heart.
"Hahaha, Akainu was made an admiral just a few days ago. Didn't you always see him as your rival? You can't keep slacking as a carefree vice admiral like me," Garp teased with a broad, mischievous grin.
When the two vice admirals were engaged in their lively conversation, naturally, no one dared to interrupt their exchange.
Garp, revered as a naval hero, held a status nearly on par with Marshal Sengoku himself, and whispers abounded that Kuzan was on the verge of promotion to admiral. These two were undeniably the Navy's most formidable figures.
After the pair chatted animatedly for a while, the two battleships eased into the port and docked securely at the Navy Headquarters. Garp rose to his feet and declared, "I'm off to meet with Sengoku first. Oh, and by the way, I found a remarkably talented young man in the East Sea this time. Please arrange for him to join the Navy. He's got the potential to become an outstanding officer in the future."
Upon arriving at the Navy Headquarters, Garp casually handed Alex over to Kuzan's care and promptly strode off the battleship without a backward glance.
"Picked up…" Alex's mouth twitched slightly, a mix of amusement and exasperation crossing his face.
"Oh? Someone Garp has such high expectations for?" Kuzan's piercing gaze settled on Alex, his eyes brimming with curiosity and intrigue.
--------------------------------------------
In a bustling square at the Navy Headquarters, Alex wielded the White Dragon sword in his hand, executing the intricate techniques of the Dugu Nine Swords with breathtaking precision. His swordplay flowed as smoothly as a serene river.
His attacks surged with the ferocity of a raging storm, while his defenses stood unyielding, like a steadfast reef enduring a tsunami's wrath…
Across from Alex, a young Marine, roughly 26 or 27 years old, clashed with him, brandishing his own sword. His swordsmanship was remarkably skilled, but in terms of pure technique, Alex's Dugu Nine Swords clearly held the upper hand.
The strength of this young Marine far surpassed Alex's. When his sword struck the ground, it carved massive gashes into the stone floor, sending shards flying.
A crowd of Marines gathered around, watching the duel with rapt attention, their cheers fueling the electric atmosphere.
"Come on, Alex, take him down…"
"Smoker, show Alex the rules for new Marines…"
…
"As expected of a guy with 100 crystal points, his raw power is incredible," Alex marveled inwardly, pushing the Dugu Nine Swords to its limits, countering with masterful swordplay, and reflecting on his opponent's strength.
Fortunately, Smoker was merely a subordinate under Kuzan's command and had not yet consumed the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, keeping the fight on even ground.
If Alex's swordsmanship thrived on the refined techniques of the Dugu Nine Swords, Smoker's advantage lay in brute strength. Relying on his superior physical fitness compared to Alex, he aimed to overpower his opponent with sheer force.
However, Alex refused to grant him that chance. The Dugu Nine Swords pinpointed the flaws in Smoker's attacks every time, launching precise counterstrikes that left Smoker frustrated, unable to unleash his full might.
"This kid's swordplay is bizarre. It's like he can predict my moves and strike my weaknesses every time," Smoker thought, growing irritated. After battling so long without overpowering a newcomer who'd joined the Navy just half a month ago, his pride stung.
Broken Sword Style!
Finally, after an intense, prolonged exchange, Alex spotted a critical flaw in Smoker's assault and unleashed the Broken Sword Style. The White Dragon sword danced, weaving a flurry of sword flowers, piercing through the opening with lightning speed, aimed straight for Smoker's shoulder.
"Victory!" Alex thought, certain Smoker could no longer defend.
Swish!
But at that critical moment, Smoker's body suddenly blurred, as if he'd vanished in an instant, slipping away from Alex's strike. When he reappeared, he stood four or five meters away.
Yet, as he materialized four or five meters away, his body swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing to the ground, struggling to maintain his balance.
Smoker's abrupt disappearance startled Alex. He swiftly retracted the White Dragon sword and exclaimed, "That move just now? Was it Shave?"
"Not bad. I've trained for three months, and I can finally pull it off, though just barely," Smoker nodded, a hint of pride flickering across his face.
Despite nearly losing his footing and using it clumsily, he had indeed executed Shave successfully.
"Incredible! He mastered Shave in only three months!" Smoker's words prompted gasps of awe from the nearby Marines watching the duel.
"Wow, is this the young man Vice Admiral Garp personally brought back? His swordsmanship is truly remarkable…"
High atop a towering building overlooking the square, Kizaru Borsalino spoke with genuine surprise. He had clearly observed the entire clash between Alex and Smoker.
"Well, Vice Admiral Garp tasked me with handling his enlistment into the Navy. I didn't want the hassle, so I just placed him under my command," Kuzan nodded, his tone as laid-back as ever.
Kuzan paid closer attention to Vice Admiral Garp's glowing assessment of Alex, deeming him an exceptional young man. Now, it was evident that his swordsmanship was indeed masterful, but was that alone enough to warrant such high praise from Garp?
This puzzled Kuzan slightly. In his view, Alex was merely a young man with standout swordsmanship skills.
Regardless of the impressions held by the two future admirals watching from above, the duel between Alex and Smoker had concluded, with both sides settling on a hard-fought draw.
Smoker couldn't overcome Alex's technique, but likewise, with his Shave maneuver, Alex couldn't land a decisive blow on Smoker.
In any case, Smoker, now serving under Kuzan, carried some Fame within the Navy. For Alex to battle him to a stalemate was a testament to his own formidable strength.
Though a fresh recruit, Alex had clearly established a solid footing among the Marines.
"Well, that duel was pretty thrilling…" As the fight wrapped up, a relaxed, drawling voice echoed through the square, belonging to Kuzan, who strolled over casually.
"Lieutenant General!" the gathered Marines shouted in unison, snapping to attention.
"Smoker, in just three months, you've already applied Shave in actual combat. Impressive work. I'm confident you'll master it fully in no time," Kuzan said, glancing at Smoker with approval shining in his eyes, offering generous praise without reservation.
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Alex, and he continued, "Your swordsmanship is exceptionally refined, and your physical fitness has come a long way. While the Navy Six Powers require peak physical conditioning to perform, regular training can still boost your strength. Pick one to start with."
"Oh? You're letting me learn a technique already?" Alex's heart leaped with excitement at Kuzan's words, and he replied without hesitation, "I want to learn Shave."
"Then, Smoker, you'll teach him well in the coming days…" Hearing Alex's choice, Kuzan nodded, offering no further comment, and after a few encouraging words to the group, he turned and sauntered off.
"Thanks for the help…" Alex said, turning to Smoker with a nod.
He'd just sparred with the guy, and now he was to learn Shave from him. It seemed Kuzan was nudging them toward building a strong camaraderie.
"Well, I'll teach you properly. With your talent, I bet you'll pull off Shave in three and a half months," Smoker said, his tone carrying a trace of lingering frustration from their duel.
Learning a Navy Six Power in three and a half months would, under normal circumstances, mark someone as exceptionally gifted.
But Smoker had just boasted about mastering Shave in three months, and his remark was clearly meant to one-up Alex in their rivalry.
Alex merely smiled, choosing not to respond to Smoker's competitive jab.
Having spent a month aboard Garp's ship, Alex had already found a discreet opportunity to copy both Shave and Armament Haki from him, though his current physical limitations prevented him from using either technique.
Although skills could be copied effortlessly, without a robust physical foundation, they remained mere pipe dreams, much like his Dugu Nine Swords, which still operated at the level of its initial copy.
Thus, within the Navy, Alex was eager to build his skills from the ground up, starting with the basics.
Over the next week, Alex absorbed Shave's techniques and foundational physical training from Smoker. Naturally, he didn't neglect his core swordsmanship practice.
However, Alex never actively practiced Shave itself. These days, he focused solely on conditioning his body, pairing intense workouts with the restorative power of the Yi Jin Jing to steadily fortify his physique.
Alex understood clearly that once his physical conditioning met the necessary threshold, he could execute Shave instinctively, bypassing the need for specialized practice.
One day, Smoker approached Alex, his expression tinged with displeasure, and said, "Alex, Lieutenant General Kuzan instructed me to teach you Shave, but you haven't practiced it at all these past days. You've only been working on your physical fitness. I can't justify this to the Lieutenant General."
"Shave? I can already perform it, though just barely," Alex replied after hearing Smoker's complaint, pausing his weight training to respond.
"What!? That's impossible! How could you possibly learn it in just one week!"
Alex's words left Smoker utterly stunned, his voice rising in disbelief.