Finn Finn, Sword Points At Canglan! (2/5)

Time flew by, and two months had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, the highly anticipated military exercise simulation was upon them.

On the grand viewing platform overlooking the training grounds, Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat, surveying the field. Surrounding him were many of the Marine's highest-ranking officers. Even Admiral Aokiji and Admiral Kizaru, both fresh from their missions, had made an appearance to witness the event.

"Kuzan, you're here too," Kizaru mused, taking a leisurely puff from his cigar, a playful grin curling on his lips.

Aokiji glanced over at him, his usual cool demeanor unchanged. "And didn't you come as well, Porusalino?"

Kizaru chuckled lightly, his tone teasing. "I heard a certain 'magical kid' has made waves at Headquarters. Had to see for myself what kind of boy we're dealing with~"

Aokiji shook his head, dismissing the excitement. "Don't get your hopes up. I've heard the stories too. Finn's nothing special—just a lucky kid. Leading troops into battle isn't something you master overnight. I heard the Marshal even sent Hina, the Goddess of War, to oversee him."

At the mention of Hina's name, Kizaru's face shifted slightly. "Hina, huh? A terrifying woman indeed."

Aokiji nodded in agreement. "The Marshal's clever. Sending a female general to handle Finn is a clear message. It's a setup to expose his inexperience. Hina's got the rank of Colonel, but everyone knows she outmatches even some Rear Admirals when it comes to leading troops."

Just as Kizaru was about to reply, he glanced down at the field and smirked. "Ah, here they come."

Below, the sound of marching boots echoed across the grounds as Colonel Hina led her squad of 2,000 soldiers into formation. The air around them was thick with the presence of battle-hardened veterans, male and female alike, each with expressions that spoke of countless battles. These weren't rookies—they were elite.

"Marshal Sengoku," Hina saluted crisply, the ever-present cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth. "Reporting with my squad as ordered."

Sengoku eyed her with a smile. "Colonel Hina, confident about today's battle?"

Hina, ever blunt, put her hands on her hips. "Hina is very displeased," she declared.

Sengoku raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Oh? And why is that?"

Hina didn't hesitate. "As far as I've heard, Finn's method of military command is completely unorthodox. This match is going to be one-sided, and the Marshal knows that. Yet you still ask me if I'm confident, which feels like mockery."

Sengoku laughed heartily at her candidness. "No mockery intended, Colonel. I just want you to perform at your best."

Hina glanced across the field but saw no sign of Finn or his squad. "Where is Finn anyway? Surely he's not foolish enough to back out at the last minute?"

Vice Admiral Stolo Berry, who had long disliked Finn, sneered. "That brat can't possibly lead a real army. If he shows up at all, it'll be a joke."

The ghost spider Vice Admiral nodded. "Right. He picked his soldiers based on looks, not strength. Almost all of them are young, inexperienced women. What kind of combat effectiveness can you expect from such a team?"

The gathered officers shared a laugh at Finn's expense, the derision spreading through the ranks.

Sengoku, growing impatient, turned to Garp. "Garp, where is your grandson? Shouldn't he be here by now?"

Garp grunted, his face darkening. Though he knew Finn's strength, leading troops wasn't about individual prowess. It required strategy and years of experience. But before Garp could answer, a rumbling shook the ground beneath them.

"Wait... What's that sound?" one of the officers asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"It sounds like... footsteps. Marching footsteps, and a lot of them."

The attention of the entire viewing platform snapped toward the entrance to the training grounds, where the steady, synchronized rhythm of thousands of soldiers marching in unison grew louder.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The ground seemed to tremble under the weight of disciplined boots.

Suddenly, a figure stepped forward—tall, straight-backed, and unmistakably authoritative. It was Susie, Captain of Finn's Independent Battalion.

The generals watched in stunned silence. None of them recognized this young woman, but her presence was commanding. Her soldiers, too, followed in perfect lockstep behind her, each step landing in flawless synchronization.

"Who is this soldier?" Vice Admiral Tsuru, renowned for her strategic brilliance, whispered to herself. Her eyes gleamed with surprise. "Such discipline... such poise."

The other officers were equally dumbfounded. This wasn't the ragtag group of undisciplined recruits they'd imagined. These female soldiers moved like a well-oiled machine, perfectly in sync, as if each was an extension of the next.

Susie marched her battalion onto the field, her voice ringing out loud and clear. "Attention! Right turn! Stand at ease!"

The 2,000 female soldiers snapped into formation, creating an impressive square block, each line and column as sharp as a blade. Their formation was immaculate, like an expertly crafted piece of art, standing proud before the assembled generals.

"Finn Finn, point your sword at the sky!" Susie commanded, and in unison, 2,000 voices echoed the rallying cry, their swords slicing the air with precision.

The generals were awestruck. The roar of those voices in unison, the simultaneous swing of their swords—it wasn't just a display of power; it was a demonstration of discipline and unity. The arrogance from earlier vanished as the realization hit them: this was no ordinary group of soldiers.

There was a long, stunned silence.

Every officer on the platform stared, captivated by the display. Finn's soldiers didn't carry the same battle-hardened edge as Hina's team, but there was something else in them—a sense of order, a spirit of determination, and unshakable discipline.

No one could deny it now. Whatever training method Finn had employed, it had worked.

And for the first time in a long while, Sengoku leaned back in his chair, a small, impressed smile creeping across his face.

"Well," he said quietly, "this just got interesting."