The top brass of the Marines immediately realized the truth.
The so-called "Whitebeard attacking Marine Headquarters" was just a big misunderstanding.
But among this group of clear-headed individuals, one "exceptionally clear" person stood out with his uniquely bizarre reaction.
"Whitebeard III?!"
Garp's eyes widened in shock, his jaw nearly hitting the ground.
"Newgate actually has a grandson now?
"Zephyr! You killed Newgate's grandson!"
The moment these words left his mouth.
Sengoku facepalmed, Aokiji massaged his temples, and Kizaru smirked wryly.
Even the usually composed Tsuru couldn't help but sigh.
Storm stole a glance at Zephyr beside him.
Just moments ago, Zephyr's face had been as dark as "Armament Haki Infusion."
Now it more resembled "Conqueror's Haki Infusion"—black tinged with red, red bleeding into purple.
Before Zephyr could respond.
Sengoku immediately executed a "strongman's headlock."
The Fleet Admiral's arm hooked around the Vice Admiral's neck, his bulging biceps firmly pressing against the latter's throat, manually enforcing "silence."
"Sengoku—stop me—grandson—"
With Garp still locked in the hold, Sengoku walked away, and the other Marine top brass gradually dispersed.
Marine Headquarters had no shortage of pressing matters.
Had it not been for the earth-shattering news of "Whitebeard appearing at Marine Headquarters,"
So many high-ranking Marines would never have gathered simultaneously on the headquarters' training grounds.
Now that the truth was out, everyone naturally "returned to their duties and minded their own business."
The only top brass remaining on the training field was Zephyr, who currently held a relatively idle position.
"Blurring the lines between justice and evil! Impersonating pirates! Stirring up trouble! Undermining morale!"
Zephyr's stern reprimands came rapid-fire like machine gun bullets.
"How could you pretend to be Whitebeard in front of so many Marine colleagues?! Storm, you're utterly lawless!"
Seeing Zephyr this furious, Kujaku—who had just tattled on Storm—couldn't help sticking out her tongue sheepishly.
"Instructor, teacher, actually... Storm and I were just fooling around..."
"Fooling around?"
Zephyr snorted coldly, his sharp gaze instantly locking onto Kujaku.
"The seas are no place for games or make-believe!
"You want to fool around? Then I'll play with you now! "Rest here for thirty minutes! Then let's see what progress you two have made recently!"
With that ultimatum, Zephyr left Storm and Kujaku behind, pacing across the vast training grounds.
"Forehand technique—sloppy!"
"Backhand—weak!"
"Footwork—disorganized!"
"Reactions—sluggish!"
"Not a single competent fighter among you lot!"
Zephyr continued moving through the training field.
Whenever he passed a Marine, he couldn't resist offering criticism, often followed by hands-on corrections.
Watching Zephyr from a distance as he entered full "instructor mode," Storm and Kujaku exchanged glances.
"Is Teacher Zephyr saying he'll 'spar' with us later?"
"Spar? You're overestimating yourself, Kujaku. And me too, for that matter."
Storm shook his head. Without waiting for Kujaku's response, he sat cross-legged to meditate and recover his energy.
Seeing this, Kujaku rubbed her still-aching abdomen and likewise assumed a meditative sitting position.
The "battle" with Zephyr was no joke! Storm immersed his mind in the [Grand Prize Trophy], silently summoning the Silver Trophy he had just obtained.
An ordinary Star Trophy could be used for either making a wish or allocating points—choosing one of the two.
The Silver Trophy was a three-star trophy.
This meant Storm could use it to elevate any one of his attributes or abilities to three stars.
If used for "wishing,"
Storm could also obtain a three-star ability or item through this Silver Trophy.
This was his first official trophy acquisition, and considering the upcoming "battle,"
Storm pondered briefly before deciding to use the Silver Trophy to enhance his own abilities.
Aside from the two fundamental attributes—[Physique] and [Haki]—
Storm had several other abilities with star ratings:
[Shave: ★★★]
[Iron Body: ★★☆]
[Paper Drawing: ★★☆]
[Moon Walk: ★★]
[Tempest Kick: ★★]
[Finger Pistol: ★☆]
[Swordsmanship: ★☆]
[Gunnery: ★]
Marksmanship, swordsmanship, and the Six Styles—
These were all skills Storm had learned at the naval academy and the rookie training camp.
In addition, there was the newly acquired—[Clay-Clay Fruit: ☆].
Storm rubbed the [Devil Ring] on his thumb.
He had already made up his mind about which ability to enhance.
'My strength comes from hard work—[Grand Prize Trophy], allocate points!'
Storm smashed the Silver Trophy directly onto the [Clay-Clay Fruit]!
Under his gaze, the stars behind [Clay-Clay Fruit] rippled and fluctuated.
[Clay-Clay Fruit: ★★★]
'Is that it?'
Storm closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes.
But he didn't experience any "surge of knowledge" or "sudden enlightenment."
'Huh…?'
Refusing to believe it, Storm opened his eyes and raised his right hand, activating his ability.
A mass of white clay surged from his palm.
In that instant—
Storm felt divinely inspired, his mind bursting with endless creativity.
Under his control, the white clay rapidly transformed, as if suddenly "coming to life." A majestic dragon's head, intricately layered scales, awe-inspiring wings, a sinuous tail…
A lifelike, miniature [Blue-Eyed White Dragon] stood proudly in Storm's palm.
If the previous "Whitebeard III" was just a shoddy clay doll from a workshop,
then this "Blue-Eyed White Dragon" was a meticulously crafted figurine designed by a top-tier illusion studio.
Storm's inspiration was overflowing—so much that it was practically spilling out!
And yet…
"This is what you call Whitebeard?"
Zephyr swung his left fist, effortlessly smashing a giant [Clay Doll] of Whitebeard III.
"This is what you call White III?"
His mechanical arm, the [Pulverizer], swept through the battlefield, obliterating another Clay Doll of Whitebeard III.
"Edward Teach, my foot!"
Zephyr slammed the Pulverizer into the ground, shattering the clay-covered earth into fragments.
Several Clay Dolls of Whitebeard III surrounding him were sent flying into the air.
Zephyr swung his left fist toward the sky, unleashing an invisible wave of Armament Haki that surged outward, forming a violent storm.
The Clay Dolls flying in the air spun wildly in the tempest, fragile as ragdolls, before being utterly destroyed.
"Storm!"
Zephyr stomped heavily on the ground, propelling himself forward like a bolt toward Storm.
"You rely too much on your Devil Fruit ability!"
Boom! Zephyr swung his massive, mechanical arm—the Pulverizer—reducing the "Storm" before him to dust.
The Clay-covered ground rippled.
Not far away, on an empty patch of land, white Clay gathered and took human form, revealing a battered and disheveled Storm.
"Haah… haah…"
Storm braced his hands on his knees, his chest heaving violently.
At his feet lay Kujaku, already exhausted and unconscious.
The gap between Storm and Zephyr was as vast as an unbridgeable chasm.
This was something no three-star Clay-Clay Fruit could ever hope to close.
Even with the aid of the Devil Ring, pushing the Clay-Clay Fruit's "firepower output" to its limits, Storm stood no chance against Zephyr.
Instead, Storm could only scramble to evade Zephyr's relentless attacks.
The only reason he had lasted this long was thanks to the Clay-Clay Fruit's ability to Clayify his own body. Even so…
After fighting this long, Storm was covered in wounds, while Zephyr remained completely unharmed.
'I'm sorry, Instructor Zephyr… I couldn't even make you go all out…'
Storm panted heavily, but Zephyr's next attack never came.
His eyes locked onto Zephyr, but the man simply stood there, unmoving.
"Instructor Zephyr?"
"Today's training ends here."
Zephyr glanced at the horizon, where the dusk painted the sky in shades of gold. His lesson had lasted nearly an entire day.
"Storm, you have remarkable talent in developing your Devil Fruit abilities.
"With the level you've shown today, few pirates in Paradise would stand a chance against you."
Storm's performance had unconsciously reminded Zephyr of someone—
The greatest masterpiece of the Charlotte Family: Charlotte Katakuri.
Storm's Clay-Clay Fruit was a "Special Paramecia."
Katakuri's Mochi-Mochi Fruit was also a "Special Paramecia."
Zephyr hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided against using Charlotte Katakuri as an example to motivate Storm.
Even if, in his eyes, that pirate was one of the few decent ones among a sea of scum…
"Storm, don't waste your talent."
Zephyr pushed aside his thoughts and spoke solemnly.
"But don't forget one thing.
"In these seas, Physique is the foundation of everything!"
Storm straightened his back and answered loudly.
"Yes! Instructor Zephyr!"
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Zephyr's face before vanishing.
Having finished his final lesson, he turned away with a wave of his hand.
"Vongola Storm… Next time we meet, don't expect me to hold back… cough."
Storm saw Zephyr's figure sway slightly, but the man continued walking resolutely toward the setting sun.
Storm lowered his gaze to Kujaku at his feet.
"A blade in the darkness, huh…"
Day 1 of obtaining the Clay-Clay Fruit:
Storm fought Zephyr for nearly an entire day, bringing his practical mastery of the Clay-Clay Fruit up to three-star proficiency.
Day 2 of obtaining the Clay-Clay Fruit:
Storm trained on his own, molding flowers, plants, trees, wolves, insects, tigers, leopards, rare birds, and beasts—even pirates and marines.
It was the third day since obtaining the Clay-Clay Fruit.
Storm wanted to mold a great thunder.
Unfortunately.
A sudden transfer order arrived from headquarters.
Storm had no choice but to abandon his exploration into the origins of life.
He headed to the headquarters building, received his transfer assignment, and retrieved his custom-made weapon.
Immediately after.
Storm rushed to the headquarters docks, boarded the Prison Battleship, and rode the triangular ocean current into the World Government's exclusive sea route.
Final destination—the Calm Belt.
Impel Down.