Chapter 9: What?!?!?!

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and you are the future of the Marines! We are the remnants of a bygone era. The future belongs to you! I hope that you can uphold the justice of the Marines and create your own era, one that surpasses ours!"

"Roar!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of many new soldiers turned red. Creating their own era and making their names known throughout the sea; isn't that every marine's ultimate dream?

"Let the assessment begin!" declared Sengoku, his words sparking an idea in Zephyr's mind. Without wasting any time, Zephyr burst forth with immense power.

"Today, there are no limits to the number of people who can pass!" he proclaimed. "As long as you can pass my test of momentum, you will be eligible to enter the elite training camp!"

Boom!

As the words fell, the previously mild momentum became fierce and sharp. Instantly, over ten new soldiers knelt down on the ground. The nearby assistant instructors quickly pulled them out of the range of the momentum, but there were still more soldiers trying to withstand it. Despite their faces turning red, they persisted. However, their trembling legs obviously couldn't hold on for too long.

"Very weak. It seems that too few people can pass the assessment this year," Zephyr observed, somewhat disappointed. He had been training for many years, and not one of this year's new recruits had caught his eye.

"Hmm? No, wait!" Suddenly, Zephyr noticed a boy at the end of the line. Even in the face of Zephyr's formidable aura, which towered four stories high, the boy remained unmoved. Even when met with Zephyr's gaze, there was not a hint of emotional fluctuation.

"Interesting," Zephyr remarked with a smile. "Such a confident kid. Another genius with the potential to become an admiral?"

Boom! A burst of killing intent momentum exploded, causing more than half of the new recruits to fall to the ground and be dragged out of the range of the killing intent!

Boom!

Another burst of killing intent momentum erupted! At this moment, there were fewer than ten new recruits who could continue to hold on!

"Hmm? Who is that kid?" Zephyr wondered aloud. The killing intent he was emitting was already the limit that any new recruit could bear throughout the ages. Except for the likes of Akainu and the others, no one could endure it any longer.

Just then, the still-indifferent Vell caught the attention of the Great Staff Officer Crane and the others. Garp laughed and ate his rice crackers without saying a word.

Sengoku remarked, "Look how happy Garp is smiling. I guess that kid is your grandson, Vell?" Garp didn't say anything, but the fleet admiral raised his eyebrows.

"Your grandson, Garp ? That's not surprising. The people from your family are all weirdos."

"What!" At this moment, only nine new recruits were left on the field, spitting blood and falling to the ground. They could barely hold on for a moment before reaching their limit. And as they fell, Vell became more and more prominent.

"Is this already your limit?" Zephyr was surprised by his own competitiveness and even angered.

He had released 70% of his killing intent, yet there was no response from the boy. He then released 80% of his killing intent, and still, there was no response.

"Is this kid a monster?" Zephyr's heart trembled. At this moment, even a normal Lieutenant in the Marine headquarters would not be able to withstand 80% of his killing intent. But it seemed that Vell had not yet reached her limit. At only seven or eight years old, she was incredibly terrifying!

"Oh, are you distracted?" Vell, who had already entered a state of breathing with all things, had been waiting for this opportunity. Did Zephyr really have no pressure withstanding 80% of her aura?

"No! The pressure was enormous, but he was a swordsman. Instead of merely bending down, he displayed the strong heart that a swordsman must possess. While Vell resisted, she also waited for an opportunity to distract attention. The drop distance of the diamond-level attribute was too far, and the system couldn't detect it. He had to get close enough to Zephyr and the others. Now was his best chance!

Boom! A fierce slash burst out! Even the standard Marine longsword couldn't withstand Vell's current burst of attack. In an instant, the gentle breeze was cut off, and Vell charged forward."

Amidst everyone's astonishment, Vell lunged towards Zephyr with his sword.

"What? This kid!" exclaimed Sengoku and the others, utterly taken aback. Zephyr, being a former admiral, reacted quickly and used his armed haki to defend himself, blocking Vell's slash.

"Ding Dong! Successfully obtained a diamond-level attribute! Ding Dong! Successfully obtained a platinum-level attribute!" announced a voice.

Vell had achieved his goal, leaving Zephyr, Sengoku, and Vice Admiral Tsuru in a state of shock. At that moment, everyone present snapped out of their daze.

Koby and Helmeppo were left stunned. "Is this Vell's true strength?" they exclaimed, mouths agape.

After undergoing more than a month of devil-like training, they still couldn't endure even fifty percent of the West Wind's chief instructor's aura. But Vell? Even children under the age of eight can withstand 80% of its impact! It was impossible!

Vell had instantly destroyed the aura and quickly attacked the chief instructor of the West Wind. He was a freak, a monster!

"Hahaha," chuckled Garp at that moment. "Zephyr, my grandson is doing great." Zephyr was taken aback. "Your grandson, Garp?"

It all made sense now!