As expected, the battle between Varickroz and Tess ended with Varickroz’s victory. However, he didn’t come out unscathed, as Tess managed to land a decisive blow, almost breaking his bones.
Perhaps by picking up some bad habits from Mosen, Tess punched Varickroz’s face a couple of times, turning it into a swollen mess.
“At least I feel better now that I’ve lost,” Tess thought to himself. “No wonder Mosen likes hitting faces so much—it really is satisfying.”
Yet another straightforward navy soldier had been successfully led astray.
The remaining battles, although exciting, needed more technical skill to captivate the high-ranking officials present. They found the brawls among the lesser-skilled recruits entertaining but needed more substance.
Shuzo glanced at Mosen, who stood beside Zephyr and nodded. He then loudly announced, “Mosen, head to Area 16.”
Mosen was already standing in Area 16, making it clear who his opponent would be.
With all eyes on him, Mosen walked over to face Shuzo. This time, no other names were called to the stage.
The fight between Mosen and Shuzo couldn’t be confined to a single area—it might demolish the entire training ground.
Mosen looked at Shuzo with eager anticipation. Over the past six months, he had been relentlessly trained under Zephyr, Shuzo, and Dalmatian. Of these, only Shuzo provided the kind of challenge that made him feel alive; the other two were too strong to offer a fair fight.
With all the high-ranking officials watching, this was the perfect opportunity to showcase his skills.
The generals and admirals in the stands were intrigued. Having Shuzo personally test Mosen meant they would get an accurate measure of his combat abilities.
Douriki was just a reference—actual combat involved many more variables.
There was no need for words between Mosen and Shuzo, who were all too familiar with each other. The fight began immediately.
Shing! A swift slash aimed at Shuzo’s heart, producing a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. The attack’s speed and power were far beyond what Mosen had shown six months ago.
Shuzo dared not block it directly with Iron Body or Armament Haki. Even if it didn’t pierce his muscles, the impact could disrupt his blood flow or cause serious injury.
The fact that Shuzo had to dodge showed how much Mosen had improved.
Clang…
An arm coated in Armament Haki blocked the blade, producing a shower of sparks. Shuzo staggered back half a step.
Mosen didn’t let up. Following Shuzo’s retreat, he swung his sword upward from the left side, targeting the heart again.
Shuzo’s other arm rotated to block the attack, colliding with Mosen’s blade.
Mosen still couldn’t understand how the Longarm Tribe could rotate their arms in such bewildering ways, attributing it to natural talent.
The blade and arm clashed briefly before Mosen adjusted his angle, changing the upward swing to a sideways slash. Sparks flew, and a bloodied wound appeared on Shuzo’s chest.
Mosen retreated quickly, avoiding Shuzo’s counterattack.
First round: Mosen.
“His swordsmanship is incredible,” remarked a general. The officers’ experienced eyes could see the significant progress Mosen had made.
“His speed is terrifying. Shuzo’s reaction was a bit rushed,” added another.
“Indeed. Look at how he uses his power and moves quickly. Is he reducing air friction? A Devil Fruit ability? His ability clearly isn’t just for defense,” someone else noted, recognizing the additional effects of Mosen’s Devil Fruit.
One must have substantial skill to reach the rank of vice admiral or rear admiral in the headquarters.
Shuzo’s dark face grew darker. Mosen’s progress was too rapid. Although Shuzo was also steadily improving, comparing a bicycle to a sea train was unfair.
Without a word, Shuzo didn’t give Mosen a chance to speak. He knew Mosen too well—if he paused, this shameless guy would start boasting.
Mosen looked helpless. “I need to stay in character, Shuzo. You never play along.”
Another fierce clash ensued. Mosen added two more wounds to Shuzo, but Shuzo managed to land hits on Mosen’s chest and head.
Second round: Shuzo by a narrow margin.
“If this continues, Shuzo will have a hard time,” Dalmatian commented, having been Mosen’s swordsmanship instructor for three months and understanding Shuzo’s predicament well.
Facing such a naturally gifted monster who works hard to improve without wasting time, being surpassed is only a matter of time.
“True. This kid’s speed and explosive power are too high. His stamina is also abnormal. Unless Shuzo has some special techniques, it will be hard for him to turn the tables,” Rear Admiral Fendi added, feeling inexplicably frustrated.
As a seasoned rear admiral, his strength was equal to that of a newly promoted vice admiral like Shuzo. Yet now, it seemed he was about to be overtaken by a youngster.
What’s more annoying was that this kid was even younger than his son.
The phrase “comparison is the thief of joy” popped into Fendi’s mind.
He glanced at his son, thinking he might have been too lenient in his upbringing.
Tess: …
“Scary. Such impressive swordsmanship,” Kizaru’s typical lazy tone could make anyone want to slap him.
Garp crossed his arms, watching the battle with a gleam in his eye, but remained silent.
Mosen and Shuzo were locked in another intense battle on the training ground. The entire Area 16 and its surroundings looked like a plowed field.
The shockwaves from their fight kept pushing the other recruits further back.
Dirt and debris flew everywhere, enveloping the battlefield in dust.
The fight was almost incomprehensible for the regular soldiers, too far beyond their level.
Even a stray stone could cause serious injury without the instructors shielding them.
Finally, the two figures are separated.
Shuzo looked at Mosen, who was a few meters away, gazing up at the sky at a 45-degree angle.
His lips twitched, unable to comprehend this type of fighter.
Gritting his teeth and feeling somewhat defeated, Shuzo declared, “I’ve lost!”
Become a Patron read up to 40 chapter ahead public release ^_^
Please join Discord Server so we can talk ^_^
