Chapter 57

Moments later.

Shūji, who had mastered the Six Powers of the Navy, lay on the deck of the warship in utter disbelief, among the top performers of this year's naval recruits besides Ain and Binzi, the Devil Fruit users.

All the other naval recruits, except Zefa, stared in stunned silence at the tiny, spotless figure.

"Did Shūji… get defeated?"

"That was too fast—he mastered the Six Powers!"

"He's not a Devil Fruit user, yet he defeated Shūji in ten moves using only taijutsu… damn…"

"That transfer student kid's strength… is incredible!"

"I never thought Luo En was this strong—he really is a prodigy recruit."

Ain snapped out of her shock, gazing at the tiny figure, a spark of battle lust flashing in her eyes:

"Teacher Zefa, may I spar with him?"

"Yes, but don't use your Devil Fruit ability."

Zefa glanced at her.

"Understood!"

Ain pushed off the ground and charged into the arena.

49, Zefa's instruction (2/5)

"Sō!"

Her form blurred, appearing before Luo En as she kicked upward.

Luo En raised his arm and caught the kick with his bare flesh.

"Such immense power—for such a small body…"

Ain was startled.

But she didn't pause—her body spun midair and brought down a sharp downward slash.

Luo En narrowed his eyes, raised his right foot, and met her downward strike head-on.

Ain's slender figure was thrust upward by the force.

The wooden planks beneath Luo En's foot shattered.

Ain used the Navy's Gekkō technique, hovering midair, then raised her leg for another slash.

"Ran'kyaku!"

With a shrill tearing of air, a razor-sharp white cutting wave surged toward Luo En below.

"No wonder Ain is the strongest among us this year—she's mastered the Six Powers so thoroughly."

Someone murmured.

"And her swordsmanship is the best among us too."

"Don't forget, she's still a Devil Fruit user."

"No matter how strong that transfer student kid is, he can't possibly beat her."

The watching naval recruits chattered among themselves.

But the next second, a scene silenced everyone.

Facing the descending white cutting wave,

the black-haired boy named Luo En also raised his leg and swung a whip-like kick through the air.

A white cutting wave, longer and wider than Ain's, erupted forth!

It obliterated Ain's Ran'kyaku and slammed into her midair form.

"What?!"

Ain's heart jolted.

No time to dodge—she crossed her arms before her chest.

"Tekkō!"

She hardened her arms with Tekkō, absorbing the blow—uninjured, but violently pushed back, hurtling toward the edge of the warship and the sea below.

Binzi, with the Mōjō Fruit, instantly activated his ability; vines surged forth, coiling around Ain midair and yanking her back.

Many naval recruits exhaled in relief.

But most stared, awestruck, at Luo En as he retracted his leg.

"That… was Ran'kyaku, right?"

"That guy mastered the Six Powers too?!"

Zefa stared at Luo En, his inner shock profound.

That was definitely Ran'kyaku.

Wasn't it forbidden for anyone to teach him the Six Powers?

How did he learn Ran'kyaku?

Was it Karp?

No.

Karp may act recklessly, but he never breaks rules on matters of importance…

Zefa recalled how, during training sessions for these recruits at the naval academy, a tiny figure had always watched from afar.

A shocking thought flashed through his mind.

Could it be…

He learned it… just by watching?!"

Zefa walked up to Luo En and looked at him.

"Luo En, come with me."

Two figures, one large and one small, left the deck, leaving all the naval recruits stunned.

…………

Inside the warship.

In Zefa's room.

It was extremely plain; on the desk, besides some documents, there was only a Den Den Mushi and a photograph, and the quilt on the bed was folded neatly.

Zefa, wearing sunglasses, sat on a chair, arms crossed, gazing at Luo En, who stood before him with Lei Qie on his back.

"What you just used was undoubtedly Renge from the Marine Six Powers. Can you tell me how you learned it?"

Zefa asked curiously.

Luo En had nothing to hide; he replied to him, "I learned it by watching you teach them at the naval academy. Once you understand the principle, it's actually quite simple."

Quite simple…

Zefa's eyebrow twitched.

How long had it taken him to learn the Six Powers?

It must have taken five or six years to master, hadn't it?

Even those three monsters—Huang Yuan, Qingchi, and Chiqian—had never said the Marine Six Powers were simple.

But then he remembered the prodigy's strength and speed, and how he had even mastered Haki.

He says the Marine Six Powers are simple.

He learned Renge just by watching.

It doesn't seem so unbelievable anymore…

"How many of the Marine Six Powers have you learned?"

"Renge and Tī, but Tī is harder than Renge—I haven't mastered it yet."

Luo En answered honestly.

He even learned Tī…?

Hasn't this kid been in Marineford for less than two months?

Zefa didn't know what to say; he picked up the water cup on the desk and took a sip.

But after calming down and thinking carefully, he felt it was somewhat normal.

To cultivate the Marine Six Powers, physical condition is the foundation.

The foundation for Renge is strength and speed; the foundation for Tī is purely speed.

And this kid's strength and speed had already reached that level.