As Gern and the other three rushed back to Marineford, Kong, for once, directly announced the immediate opening of the Elite Training Camp.
Suddenly, the entire headquarters was enveloped in a tense yet excited atmosphere.
Soldiers gathered in small groups, whispering about the upcoming exhibition match.
"Did you hear? The venue for this exhibition match is on two Deserted Islands!" a young Marine excitedly said.
"Two uninhabited Deserted Islands as a battlefield?" another person widened his eyes, "It seems the Fleet Admiral is serious."
"Of course! After all, this is the first public showdown of the 'Monster Four'!" an officer wearing glasses pushed up his frames, his tone carrying a hint of fanaticism.
"Kuzan versus Sakazuki, Gern versus Borsalino... This lineup is unprecedented!"
.......
Meanwhile, in a corner of the Marine mess hall, a group of young Marine officers who had recently graduated were fiercely debating the upcoming exhibition match.
"Haha," Doberman said gruffly, chewing on his cigar.
"Colonel Sakazuki's Magma-Magma Fruit's destructive power is unmatched! Kuzan's ice is simply not enough in front of him!"
"Exactly!" Yamakaji nodded with a smile, "And Colonel Sakazuki's fighting style is direct and decisive.
He would never drag things out like some people." (He glanced meaningfully at the Kuzan faction).
"Ridiculous fellows," Onigumo snorted, his six swords gently swaying at his waist.
"What do you know? Colonel Kuzan is Vice Admiral Garp's disciple.
He is proficient in both Haki, especially Observation Haki. No matter how strong Sakazuki's magma is, it's useless if it can't hit!"
"And, and!" Momonga crossed his arms, adding calmly, "Don't forget, Colonel Kuzan's 'Ice Age' can instantly freeze an entire sea.
No matter how fierce Sakazuki's magma is, he'll have to melt the ice first!
Do you understand elemental counter? Didn't you learn chemistry and physics properly in Navy School, everyone!"
"Boring guys," Momonga frowned, interrupting the two opposing factions, "Have they forgotten Colonel Borsalino?
The speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit is unmatched. If he gets serious, who can keep up with his 'Light Speed Kick'?"
"Speed is power," Kaji (Tokikake) scratched his head, interjecting with a grin.
"Senior Borsalino's Devil Fruit is a headache even for Teacher Zephyr, who even said he relies on it too much?!
If it wasn't strong, who would rely on it? And Senior Borsalino's defense is also the best among the three!"
"Hehe." Just as everyone was arguing endlessly, Gion (Rear Admiral To-ka), who was sitting alone at a table, gently put down her teacup, her red lips slightly parted.
"Have you all overlooked Lieutenant Gern?"
The entire room fell silent.
"Lieutenant Gern?" Doberman was the first to scoff, "Everyone knows that his single slash that repelled Golden Lion was the result of Admiral Zefa and Colonel Sakazuki holding him back! He just took advantage of the situation!"
Yamakaji nodded in agreement, "That's right, Golden Lion was already pretty worn out at the time. Gern's final strike naturally looked impressive."
"How ridiculous," Gion's gaze suddenly sharpened, her fingers gently tapping the table, "Who among you witnessed that battle firsthand?
The newspaper photos clearly show—the sword wound on Golden Lion's chest was inflicted by Gern alone!
That was a single blow capable of changing the tide of battle, a single blow that gravely wounded him!"
Onigumo frowned, "But that was just a sneak attack, wasn't it? Golden Lion was just careless."
Gion sneered, "Careless? Who is Golden Lion? Even if he was careless, who could gravely wound him with one blow?!"
"Wait!" Kaji blinked, his expression solemn.
"Gion, you haven't fallen for Lieutenant Gern, have you?
What's so good about him? Isn't he just taller, handsomer, and stronger than me?"
Kaji, who had confessed countless times since Navy School, gritted his teeth, "You all be the judge, what other advantages does Gern have?!"
Everyone: "Didn't you just list them all?"
"Gion, that kind of man looks like a playboy, unreliable.
Only a simple, loyal, forgiving man like me..."
"Can play the role of a useless, feigning-sleep husband, right?" Onigumo suddenly laughed.
Kaji: "..."
"I'm just respecting the facts." At this moment, Gion's expression remained unchanged, she just glanced at him indifferently:
"And I believe... no matter how fast light is, there will be a day when it shatters!"
Everyone looked at each other, but clearly, most people still didn't think Gern could be compared to the other three.
...
Meanwhile, at Garp's former scrap ship training ground.
Gern, shirtless and drenched in sweat, stood alone in front of a dilapidated warship, black blade eight desolations pointed diagonally at the ground.
With his eyes closed, his entire body's muscles were tense, trying to feel the Conqueror's Haki that had once erupted within him.
"It was so clear that day..." Gern muttered to himself, his brows tightly furrowed.
However, no matter how much he concentrated, the Conqueror's Haki remained unresponsive.
"Damn it!" Gern suddenly swung his sword, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
However, the familiar purplish-black lightning still did not appear on the blade.
Conqueror's Haki just couldn't be used as freely as Armament Haki; instead, it often drew out Armament Haki.
"Sigh!" After another failure, Gern fell backward.
Staring at the clear blue sky, he then raised his right hand, observing the blade of black blade eight desolations.
"Teacher Zephyr said that you are a black blade forged by Rocks using Conqueror's Haki.
You also guided my Conqueror's Haki back then... But now, why are you completely silent again?"
"Fool, Conqueror's Haki cannot be awakened by brute force alone." A steady voice came from behind him.
Hearing the voice, Gern half-supported himself and looked back, only to see Zephyr slowly approaching, a faint smile on his lips.
"Teacher Zephyr?" Gern was startled, "Sister Lina is about to give birth, aren't you staying with her at the hospital? That's not being a good man!"
Zephyr smiled slightly, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes, "If I, an Admiral, stayed with her at the hospital all the time, she would feel embarrassed.
Other Marine families don't get this treatment, so she kicked me out."
"Tsk tsk tsk! Teacher Zephyr is being disliked!" Gern couldn't help but laugh, "It seems Sister Lina is still as understanding as ever."
Zephyr walked up to Gern, his gaze falling on the black blade in his hand: "Still troubled by Conqueror's Haki?"
"It was so easy when I cut Golden Lion." Gern nodded, a hint of helplessness in his tone.
"Now I can only display the most basic deterrence; I need to use it freely."
"Conqueror's Haki is the manifestation of a king's disposition, not a skill that can be forced through training." Zephyr crossed his arms, his voice deep and powerful.
"The state you were in when you awakened that day was an break out of will in a life-or-death situation.
It's impossible to immediately replicate that. If you want to truly master it, it requires time to settle."
Gern's fingers gripping the hilt of his sword turned slightly white, and he nodded in silence.
Seeing this, Zephyr softened his tone and sat down beside him.
"Actually, I came to see you for something else." He said, patting Gern's shoulder.
"It's just that Kuzan told me... you're planning to find a Mink Tribe member to be your adjutant?"
Gern's expression instantly froze: "Kuzan, that big mouth..."
"Tsk, although personal preferences are understandable..." Zephyr cleared his throat.
"But your Sister Lina was very worried about your... uh... dating preferences after hearing about it."
"Of course!! Teacher, I still respect your choices.
But... you're still young, and you've probably only seen Mink Tribe members in books, right?
Gern, you can't be too isolated, you need to interact more with girls."
At this moment, this iron-blooded instructor rarely showed an awkward expression.
"What I mean is, young people should interact more with women their age.
For example, Gion from Tsuru's unit is not bad..."
"Teacher Zephyr, when did you switch to matchmaking?"
"You brat!" Zephyr's old face flushed, "I mean that girl really admires you!
When you came back from G-3 Base last time, wasn't she the first one to rush up?
I heard she even argued fiercely with Doberman and the others in the mess hall for your sake! In short... in short..."
Gern couldn't help but laugh, "So you're trying to set me up?"
"I am!!" Zephyr stood up in exasperation.
"Forget it, forget it! Go find your furry adjutant!"
He turned around angrily and walked away, but suddenly stopped at the door: "However... after the exhibition match, remember to attend the social gathering your Sister Lina prepared for you."
"Don't even think about refusing, this is an order!"