4 Exposed

Time, like a relentless river, flowed ceaselessly. Before they knew it, two years had passed since the opening of the Elite Training Camp.

The initial wave of over 1,300 eager recruits had dwindled to a mere hundred, the rest having succumbed to the grueling trials and tribulations of the camp.

The attrition rate was staggering, a brutal thirteen to one. Out of the original thirteen hundred, only these hundred stalwarts remained, their spirits unbroken, their resolve unyielding.

Among these survivors was Brontes, a figure who had grown familiar to the others. As the numbers dwindled, he found himself in the company of other familiar faces - Doberman, Onigumo, Momonga, Yamakaji, the commander of G-8 Marine Jonathan, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and a few others who had made their mark in the original work.

These were the graduates of the first batch of the Elite Training Camp, the future core combatants of the Marine. Each had demonstrated exceptional combat prowess, their skills honed and refined under the watchful eye of Zed.

The day's training had been particularly grueling. Borsalino, ever the laid-back one, slumped onto the ground, a sigh of relief escaping his lips: "Oh god, today's training is finally over. I'm exhausted." He said, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"By the way, I'm heading back to Marineford in two days. My cigarettes are almost out."

Sakazuki, standing beside him, frowned at his words: "You're wasting your talent, Borsalino." He said, his voice stern. His gaze was piercing as he added: "If I were the instructor of the camp, I would have kicked you out long ago. The Glint-Glint Fruit (Pika Pika no Mi) is completely wasted on you."

Borsalino merely shrugged, his nonchalant demeanor unchanging: "Sakazuki, can you please stop being so serious? We've been here for two years. If we don't get enough rest and sleep, how can we make any progress?"

Sakazuki's face hardened: "Indeed, it's been two years since we entered the Elite Training Camp. It's high time you changed your attitude and became serious."

"I can't do anything about that." Borsalino replied, stretching out on the ground.

Sakazuki shook his head, a hint of frustration in his eyes: "It's been a while since our last fight. What do you think of another one?" He asked, his voice carrying a challenge.

"I'm not in the mood. Besides, we're both Logia-Type devil fruit users. The outcome of our fight will always be the same. Apart from physical combat, there's nothing warlike about it." Borsalino replied, his voice carrying a hint of boredom.

Sakazuki snorted coldly: "In the camp, there's no one who can fight me except you."

"No, I think there is someone who can fight with you." Borsalino said, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Who?!" Sakazuki was taken aback, his gaze snapping to Borsalino.

…..

The beach was bathed in the soft glow of the moon, the training grounds long deserted. Yet, every night, a few dedicated recruits would continue their training under the starlit sky.

One such figure was Brontes, his silhouette a dark shadow against the silver sands. His fists moved in a blur, the air around him pulsating with each powerful strike.

"Bom! Bom!"

The sound of his fists cutting through the air echoed like miniature explosions, the rhythm growing faster and more intense.

The air seemed to tear under the onslaught, a feat only Zed had been known to accomplish in the Elite Training Camp.

Brontes was relentless, his training extending well into the night, long after the dormitory lights had been extinguished.

"Five hundred!"

He exclaimed, retracting his fist after the 500th punch. His speed was incredible, but he struggled with the accuracy of his punches.

Each strike required him to focus all his strength on a single point, the synchronization of his body and mind resulting in the air-tearing sound.

In the two years since he had joined the camp, Brontes's strength had grown exponentially. He was the first to master Rokushiki, the Six Powers of the Marine, while others were still grappling with the basics.

He had trained tirelessly in all six styles, his dedication known only to Zed, his mentor. Zed was more than willing to guide Brontes, appreciating his diligence and commitment to learning.

"Phew! It's rest time. My muscles are sore, and I'm completely exhausted." Brontes murmured to himself, his gaze drifting towards the distant sea.

"It's been two years since I joined the Marine. Time really does fly."

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden movement behind him. His instincts screamed at him to dodge, but his body was too worn out from the intense training. The attack was swift and from behind, leaving him no time to react.

"Bang!"

A red hand, dripping with molten magma, pierced through Brontes's chest, emerging in front of him.

The heat was intense, the temperature so high that it felt as if his entire body was on fire.

"He (Borsalino) was right. You were hiding your strength all this time!" The voice was gruff, serious, and unmistakably Sakazuki's.

He withdrew his magma-dripping hand from Brontes's chest, leaving a gaping hole behind.

"Zizi!"

Blue arcs of electricity flickered around the wound, lightning crackling within Brontes's body. In moments, his body returned to its original state, the hole disappearing as if it had never been there.

"Are you out of your mind, Sakazuki?!! If I wasn't a Logia-Type devil fruit user, your attack would have killed me!" Brontes's voice was laced with anger, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Even if you weren't a Logia-Type devil fruit user, you wouldn't die. You'd just be bedridden for a while. Besides, I wouldn't kill a fellow marine soldier on a mere hunch." Sakazuki retorted, his tone unyielding.

"So you attacked me without hesitation, using the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit (Magu Magu no Mi), all because of a hunch?" Brontes's voice was icy, his anger palpable.

"Yes, I didn't expect there to be a third Logia-Type devil fruit user hidden in our camp. You hid it well, Brontes. No one suspected a thing for the past two years." Sakazuki admitted, a hint of respect in his voice.

Brontes's gaze was piercing as he asked: "So how did you find out?"

"Someone noticed your late-night excursions at the coast. I wanted to see what secret you were hiding." Sakazuki replied.

"Borsalino, right?" Brontes's gaze shifted to a distant tree.

A man in a yellow shirt emerged from behind it.

"Come on, show me your true..." Sakazuki began, a spark of excitement in his eyes.

But before he could finish, Brontes's body erupted in lightning. In a flash, he was gone, leaving only sparks and traces of lightning in his wake.

"Zizi!"

Sakazuki's eyes widened in surprise. He quickly raised his hand to his chest, half his body transforming into magma.

"Lightning God Fist!"

Brontes's voice echoed through the air, followed by the rumble of thunder. A gigantic lightning fist materialized out of nowhere, slamming into Sakazuki with a deafening boom.

"Rumble!!! Boom!!!"

The impact shook the entire island, a brilliant blue thunder light illuminating the night.

"D-Damn, this joke completely got out of control!" Borsalino muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the aftermath of Brontes's attack.

The peaceful training ground had turned into a battlefield, the air still crackling with residual electricity. The true power of Brontes had been revealed, and it was far more formidable than anyone had anticipated.