"I promise I won't kill you!"
Loya was filled with murderous intent, a wild, wicked smirk on his face (this is accurate).
Facing what could only be called a blatant, bare-faced threat, many recruits gulped and instinctively backed away. Are you kidding ? Can't you just let us beat you up in peace? We've barely slept a full night all month because we're constantly being woken up by your noise. Doesn't your conscience hurt at all?!
Just as the crowd was in a state of restless unease, a towering figure stepped out.
"Hahahaha, interesting. Then co and try to see if you can kill , Loya!"
The voice was so familiar that Loya's eyes widened as he stared at the man who had stepped forward.
"Aldo!!! Why are you here?"
The figure was indeed a mber of the Elite Camp, the "Iron Body" expert—Aldo.
Today, Aldo was dressed differently than Loya was used to. He was impeccably grood and wore two custom-made solid iron gauntlets on his hands, with heavy chains extending from the back of the gauntlets, coiling around his arms and torso. Like Loya, Aldo trusted his own fists and wasn't fond of using standard weapons, so he'd gone to the logistics departnt to have these gauntlets forged. Loya knew about this because he'd accompanied Aldo to pick them up.
But! Why was Aldo here? You're in the Elite Camp, aren't you?
Just then, two more figures stepped forward, speaking in perfect unison:
"There's also us, Loya-kun!"
Aside from the positions they stood in, the two—the Jero brothers—were identical in every way: actions, attire, deanor, and tone.
"The Jero brothers?"
Loya looked at them in surprise, then snapped his head around, glaring unpleasantly at the instructors on the platform.
"Why are Elite Camp mbers here? Isn't this an assessnt for the Recruit Camp?"
He didn't need to guess. He knew that the only person who could order Elite Camp mbers to show up here was Zephyr. While he looked like he was asking the Major, he was actually questioning the man behind him.
Hearing this, Zephyr raised an eyelid, putting on an "I don't know what you're talking about" expression.
Facing Loya's sharp gaze, the Major braced himself and explained: "This assessnt is for all recruits in the Recruit Camp. The Elite Camp is a branch of the Recruit Camp, so they naturally have the right to participate."
What a shaless argunt!
Loya was stunned as he looked at Zephyr. While the Elite Camp was technically a branch under the Recruit Camp's na, its funding and facilities had been independent for years, with managent controlled directly by Zephyr—even Fleet Admiral Sengoku wasn't allowed to interfere.
Most people didn't have the energy to manage a massive training program like this, and Zephyr preferred the "Elite" teaching model. However, because the Navy hadn't found anyone else with enough weight to take over the Recruit Camp, Zephyr had kept the title of "Chief Instructor" to manage the Elite Camp. In reality, everyone in the Navy knew they were two separate organizations. Elite Camp mbers had never participated in the Recruit training sessions before.
But now, Zephyr was playing a word ga. Since you're taking the Recruit Camp assessnt, of course, that includes the Elite Camp! But don't worry, I gave you so face by not calling all of them at once.
Having heard the Major's explanation, Loya had a deeper understanding of just how thick-skinned these old foxes were. However, he imdiately revealed a mysterious smile.
"You think having Aldo and the Jero brothers join in will threaten ? Maybe a week ago, but now... you're too green, Instructor Zephyr!"
"h, what's the big deal? You aren't weak, buddy. I hope you go easy on us later!" Aldo, who wasn't great at reading the room, trotted up and teased Loya. He just wanted a good fight; he didn't want—and couldn't handle—the political maneuvering.
Loya rewarded him with a spear of ice to the face.
"Now, everyone, prepare yourselves. The combat assessnt begins now."
As the countdown hit zero, Loya imdiately retreated, dodging the gauntlets Aldo swung at him. While still in mid-air, he hamred his hands together, and an endless stream of cold energy instantly solidified.
"Ice-Make: Wolf Pack!"
There were too many people around. Moves like Ice Bomb could kill soone if he wasn't careful, so Loya had to use his biting ice wolves to clear out the fodder first. But even this was more than the recruits could handle.
The wolves took shape in mid-air, jaws snapping as they lunged at the recruits.
"Quick! Cut them down!"
"Be careful! They're solid!"
"Ouch! My ass! Damn you, die!"
The recruits scread, raising their weapons to hack at the wolves. Fortunately, the venue was large enough; otherwise, hundreds of recruits wouldn't have even had room to run, let alone counter-attack.
"Where are you looking?"
Suddenly, a voice filled with fighting spirit rang out from behind Loya. Without turning his head, Loya gathered the ice shards on his body and fired them toward the voice.
Clang!
Steel clashed against ice, producing a jarring, high-pitched screech. Tony Mill had intended to land a sneak attack, but he hadn't expected the ice on Loya's body to be so hard. It didn't just resist the blade; it sent a vibration through Tony's arm that left it numb.
Using the recoil, Loya landed, pushed off the ground, spun 60 degrees, and kicked upward, sending Tony flying.
"Taste my 70-degree roundhouse kick!"
You only spun once, you jerk! Tony roared in his heart before crashing face-first into the stone floor, shattering the flagstones.
Loya seed to know what Tony was thinking and explained coolly: "See? You spun a circle, didn't you? Add it all up, and that's 70 degrees."
"Extre Blast!"
Just as Loya was busy showing off, a shrill cry ca from above. A heavy object ca whistling down, aiming straight for his head. Loya didn't bother to dodge; he tightened the ice armor on his hand and tapped a finger upward.
"I'm hitting your Yongquan point!"
Using the hardness of his ice armor, Loya's finger pierced through Laurent Minnie's beast-hide boot and struck the sole of her foot. Her aggressive attack was instantly neutralized. She scread as she was sent flying backward, rolling on the ground clutching her foot.
Loya knew from experience: back when he'd been hospitalized for a stomach ailnt, an old Chinese dicine practitioner had massaged his Yongquan point. The stinging, sour pain had been absolute agony. Minnie's current misery was proof of its effectiveness.
The crushing defeat of the camp's number one and number two made the recruits stop in their tracks, too afraid to advance.
Seeing this, Simon, dressed like a young nobleman, commanded: "Too crowded! Elite Camp mbers, help pin him down! Top 20, support from the flanks! Everyone else, clear out those ice wolves and don't get near the center! If Loya breaks out, harass him imdiately and don't let him rest!"
As he spoke, Simon pulled out a handful of iron sand and scattered it toward Loya.
"Magnetic Sand Arrow Rain!"
The iron sand paused for a split second in the air before firing at Loya like bullets. Simon's Fruit ability allowed him to guide non-living objects he touched to a target destination, though he couldn't guide them beyond his line of sight. Because of this power, he was already being prioritized for special training by Zephyr, even if he hadn't made it into the Elite Camp yet.
Where else could you find such an excellent sniper? To prevent friendly fire, the assessnt didn't allow firearms, so Simon had grabbed a handful of iron sand to serve as ammunition.
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
10 Reviews = Bonus Chapter!
Can't wait? 60 advanced chapters are already waiting for you here:patreon/deadsoul19
User Comments
0 comments from readers