Alex, in a mere week, had mastered Shave, one of the elite Navy Six Powers!
This astonishing news tore through Vice Admiral Kuzan's troops like a wild hurricane, and soon, whispers of the feat reached other units across the Navy Headquarters, spreading like wildfire.
After all, geniuses always capture attention, and mastering Shave in just seven days—what could that be if not the mark of a true prodigy?
Even at the Navy Headquarters, countless Marine officers struggled for years without grasping a single one of the Navy Six Powers.
"Genius, a super genius! No wonder Vice Admiral Garp holds him in such high esteem, even entrusting me, a soon-to-be admiral, to personally recruit him," Vice Admiral Kuzan marveled quietly in his heart.
If he chose, Garp's mere word could have easily secured Alex's place in the Navy, but he specifically tasked Kuzan with the job—a gesture Kuzan now understood with crystal clarity.
Initially, Vice Admiral Kuzan assumed Garp wanted him to look after Alex, and out of respect, Kuzan wouldn't have refused such a request.
But now, Vice Admiral Kuzan realized this wasn't about babysitting—it was a gift, wasn't it?
If such a prodigy flourished under his command, the benefits to Kuzan would be immense, with no downsides whatsoever.
"Oh my, Kuzan's really hit the jackpot…" Kizaru, catching wind of the news, drawled with a twinge of envy.
Having watched Alex's duel with Smoker, Kizaru had thought him merely a young Marine with sharp swordsmanship. Now, it was clear Alex possessed an extraordinary gift for learning.
"Humph, just Shave," Admiral Akainu, newly promoted, scoffed with a disdainful snort upon hearing the buzz.
The rivalry between Akainu and Kuzan mirrored the clashing nature of their Devil Fruits, always at odds. Already irked by the Five Elders' plans to elevate Kuzan to admiral, Akainu's displeasure deepened at the news of a genius under his rival's wing.
"Hahaha, I figured his stamina wasn't quite up to mastering the Navy Six Powers, but to learn Shave in a week? Looks like my eye for talent is as sharp as ever!"
On the other side, Garp roared with proud laughter after hearing the news, his chest puffed with satisfaction.
"You got lucky, stumbling across a genius like that. Still, the seas are full of prodigies, but few truly rise to greatness. Whether he soars or fades like a shooting star depends on what lies ahead…" Garp's close friend, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, cast him a sidelong glance and remarked sagely.
Indeed, Alex's feat of learning Shave in a week had cemented his reputation as a genius, but it was mostly the lower-ranking Marines who buzzed with excitement.
Alex hadn't anticipated his newfound fame as a genius, but carving out a name for himself in the Navy brought more advantages than drawbacks, so he considered it a welcome surprise.
However, Alex placed little value on fame. To him, fleeting things like reputation, status, or wealth were mere passing clouds. He'd leave this world eventually, and all such trappings would vanish. Only true power—his own strength—held lasting value.
Thus, after using the Yi Jin Jing's internal energy to soothe his sprained foot, Alex doubled down in the days that followed, training his body with fierce determination.
In the martial arts world, internal strength was king.
But the One Piece world flipped that script. Physical strength reigned supreme, with fists that could level cities.
For Alex, both the Yi Jin Jing's internal strength and the One Piece world's physical conditioning were essential to his growth.
Far from overwhelming him, this dual approach proved harmonious. Internal and external strength both served to forge his body, complementing each other perfectly.
A robust internal force not only boosted his body's capabilities but also swiftly dispelled fatigue after grueling training sessions.
Likewise, as his physique grew stronger, Alex noticed his Yi Jin Jing practice accelerated. After all, internal energy stemmed from the body itself.
This symbiotic training let him feel his strength climbing steadily, a tangible improvement with each passing day.
As the Navy's latest genius sensation, Alex naturally drew more eyes than before. His relentless training and uncanny ability to recover quickly left onlookers quietly awestruck at his seemingly boundless vitality.
This apparent innate vigor even prompted Fleet Admiral Sengoku to tease Garp privately, joking that Alex might be his secret grandson.
If Alex overheard that, he'd likely give a wry smile.
What others saw was merely the Yi Jin Jing's power to rapidly recover fatigue and nourish his body. The true, inborn vitality of Garp's family was on another level entirely.
Yet, the tranquil days of training didn't last long. Soon, Alex received orders to set sail.
Kuzan lounged aboard his warship, his troops primed and ready, departing the Navy Headquarters with purpose.
Being deployed by a future admiral was no small matter, but Alex didn't dwell on the mission's weight. His mind remained fixed on his training.
Though hailed as a genius, he was still a rookie Marine. If trouble arose, the higher-ups would handle it.
Besides Vice Admiral Kuzan, the warship carried rear admirals and several lieutenant officers, a formidable crew.
One day, aboard the warship, after wrapping up his training session, Alex glanced to his side.
Lily, clad in chain mail, now bore a weight of 30 kilograms, her eyes gleaming with quiet admiration as she watched him.
Panting heavily, Alex sat cross-legged, preparing to channel the Yi Jin Jing to ease his physical exhaustion.
"Alex, your daily training doesn't seem that intense, so why's your progress so dramatic?"
Smoker, now viewing Alex as a rival, had taken note of his growth. Curious, he asked after observing Alex's routine.
"Not intense? Why don't you try training with a 100-kilogram weight on your back?" Smoker's comment made Alex roll his eyes, a touch of annoyance in his voice.
"100 kilograms? When did you start using such a heavy load? I didn't notice!" Alex's words caught Smoker off guard, his eyes widening.
Wasn't Alex just practicing swordplay, doing a few push-ups, and some frog jumps?
"I'm wearing chain mail. My Devil Fruit power is magnetism, so I manipulate the mail to press down on me daily, about 100 kilograms of force…"
Alex parted his military jacket, revealing the chain mail beneath, and explained with a grin.
"What? You've got a Devil Fruit power too!?" Smoker blurted out, his voice rising in shock.