A wave of disbelief washed over the 153rd Branch training field. Marines stood like statues, their eyes wide with shock, struggling to understand what they had just seen.
"The invincible Monka has fallen!" someone whispered in disbelief.
It had all happened in a mere ten minutes. Monka, their trusted ace, the one they always depended on, had been completely defeated in a fair fight. Not just defeated, but soundly beaten.
And the victor? Not a hulking giant, not a fearsome pirate, not even a seasoned Marine veteran. It was just a girl, barely seventeen or eighteen years old.
So incredibly strong! the Marines thought, their faces etched with awe.
Isca twirled her rapier, a playful smile gracing her lips. "Just having strength isn't enough, you know."
Her opponent had been powerful, no doubt. He could easily crack the ground beneath his feet. But that was all he possessed - brute force. It simply wasn't enough to overcome her skill and agility.
Well, she mused, this is just a backwater branch, after all. Beating Kuro was probably a fluke. I shouldn't have expected so much.
Casually slinging her rapier over her shoulder, she turned to Colonel Rhodes, her smile widening. "Colonel Rhodes, do you have any other, stronger opponents?"
Colonel Rhodes simply looked upwards, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle. He was silent and still, trying to maintain a mysterious air.
But inside, he was groaning inwardly. Even Monka couldn't handle her. The others wouldn't stand a chance.
Her swordsmanship was like lightning, her movements graceful and fluid. Monka hadn't even managed to graze her clothes during the entire fight. He couldn't have done any better himself.
Roya? he thought with a sigh. That kid can't even beat Monka.
It was a bitter pill to swallow, this very public defeat. But what could he do? The 32nd Branch's island was located in the center of East Blue, and its resources were unmatched by the isolated 153rd Branch.
If it hadn't been for the outstanding success of the Kuro capture, the 32nd Branch probably wouldn't have even bothered with the 153rd Branch, let alone cooperated in pirate extermination.
He knew all along that the difference between Branches was wider than the gap between people and dogs! he thought bitterly.
Just as Colonel Rhodes was reaching his limit, a commotion erupted at the branch entrance.
"Ensign Roya is back!" someone shouted, the cry rippling through the crowd.
The Marines automatically parted, watching Roya approach, their faces downcast. Even the invincible Monka fell. Surely Roya can't beat that woman, can he?
"Yo, what's going on?" Roya asked, bewildered. He had just arrived and found everyone gathered at the training field. Had something big happened?
Huh, so many new faces, he thought, his eyes landing on Isca. They widened in surprise.
After joining the Marines, it was the first time he had seen a female Marine, and she was quite beautiful, with a heroic air.
Her orange-red short hair looked sharp, her fitted uniform made her waist look very slender, as if he could pinch it with one hand, and she was even wearing dazzlingly short shorts!
Tsk, her legs are really nice, he mused. From the 32nd Branch?
Isca looked at Roya, a spark of something dangerous flashing in her eyes.
"You're Ensign Roya?" she asked, her voice sharp and challenging.
"That's right." Roya nodded, completely unfazed.
Clang!
The tip of a rapier suddenly appeared before his eyes, inches from his face.
Roya's eyes flicked down, his gaze sharpening. The girl's sword was a rare Western-style rapier. The blade was slender and the weight should be very light, suitable for thrust-based combat, and it placed high demands on the user's skill; otherwise, it could easily break in battle.
Skill and speed type, he analyzed, his mind racing.
"I'm Ensign Isca from the 32nd Branch."
After her little show of force, Isca retracted her rapier, a challenging glint in her eyes. "Ensign Roya, let's duel. Whoever wins gets to call the shots for the next mission. How about it?"
Roya narrowed his eyes slightly, not rushing to answer.
So that's how it is, he thought. She wants to compete for command.
Strong warriors are always competitive; he was the same. After all, the Marines were a military organization, and a too-gentle personality wasn't suitable for dealing with brutal pirates.
What's more, the commander bore the safety of his subordinates on his shoulders. A foolish decision could doom everyone.
No Marine was willing to entrust his life to someone he didn't trust!
Roya glanced at Colonel Rhodes.
Colonel Rhodes shook his head almost imperceptibly, hinting that Roya shouldn't be impulsive, while glancing to the side.
Roya followed his gaze and saw Ensign Monka being helped up, and he quickly understood what had happened.
The invincible Monka had fallen!
It was no wonder the atmosphere was so tense.
"Good!"
To the surprise of all the Marines, Roya agreed immediately.
"But if I win, during the mission, you must unconditionally obey all my orders, is that okay?"
"No problem," Isca scoffed, a confident smirk playing on her lips. She couldn't possibly lose!
"Then there's no problem, come on," Roya said, stepping towards the center of the training field, his eyes blazing with determination.
A month had passed since the battle to defeat Kuro, and he hadn't slacked off during that month.
Because he knew better than anyone that in this extremely terrible world, power and status were insignificant. If he wanted to live a wonderful life, strength was the greatest asset.
He could beat Monka now, too! he thought, his resolve hardening.
Clang!
His sword was drawn!
Roya held his new sword horizontally in front of him, the gleaming blade reflecting his face. In those dark pupils, there was only the desire for victory.
"Let's begin, Ensign Isca!"
Isca stared intently at Roya, suddenly feeling immense pressure, something she had never felt before, even when facing the Branch's officers.
He was much stronger than that big oaf!
"Damn it, I underestimated him!" she thought, her confidence wavering slightly.
Watching Roya standing still, waiting for her to make the first move, Isca took a deep breath, her legs suddenly springing into action, her body charging like an arrow released from a bow!
When the distance between them closed to three meters, the rapier thrust out with all its might!
"Drawing Rain!"
Instantly, the slender rapier thrust out more than a dozen times, the tip of the sword reflected in Roya's eyes, like scattered raindrops pelting his face!
Fast!
But not fast enough!
Roya's pupils contracted, his senses heightened.
"I see it!"
The long nights, facing Kuro's Silent Step countless times, had gradually allowed his vision to keep up with high-speed movement that deceived the eye.
The rapier's thrusting trajectory was as clear as if it were slowed down; although they seemed to thrust out simultaneously, in reality, they varied in speed, and there were traces to follow.
His sword flashed!
"Clang clang clang clang clang!!!"
The sharp sword swung rapidly in front of him, forming an invisible barrier that blocked all the incoming rapid thrusts, the sound of the blades colliding merging into one deafening clang.
He blocked them!
The Marines from the 32nd Branch who had followed Isca were horrified. It was the first time they had seen Ensign Isca's swordsmanship blocked head-on.
Including Colonel Rhodes, the Marines of the 153rd Branch were equally shocked and speechless. Those who knew Roya well, their emotions couldn't be described by shock alone.
Ensign Roya had become stronger again!
How fast was he improving?!
"This guy!" Isca exclaimed in her mind, her frustration growing.
Her attacks completely blocked, Isca realized something was wrong. She quickly jumped back to create distance, then rapidly circled around Roya, sliding to a position behind him.
Without a moment's pause, she leaned her body forward dramatically, almost touching the ground, while pressing her left hand on the ground and using her feet to exert force together.
Charge!
Thrust!
"Gale Rain - Flash!"
Her entire body transformed into a sword light, thrusting with all her strength in the strongest and fastest form, capable of easily piercing even rock!
Watching Roya getting closer and closer, so close that he couldn't possibly avoid this attack, a thought arose in Isca's mind.
I won!
"Bang!"
The tip of the rapier pierced the air, the air currents carrying a large amount of dust.
It missed!
Isca's pupils dilated as she searched for Roya's whereabouts. Just now, in the instant she was about to stab the back of his head, he had suddenly disappeared.
What happened?
"Slap!"
The hand holding the sword was grabbed.
"Silent Step."
Roya appeared behind Isca, almost touching her, his left hand gripping Isca's wrist, his right hand holding the blade against Isca's neck.
"I won."
His laughter stung, flushing her cheeks red. But that wasn't shyness; it was anger!