Volume 2 Chapter 24

Rose D. Ezra

Training Plan

Basic Physical Training // Tick

Intermediate Technique: Soru // Tick

Intermediate Technique: Tekkai // Tick

Intermediate Technique: Kami-e // Tick

Advanced Technique: Geppo // Tick

Advanced Technique: Shigan // Tick

Advanced Technique: Rankyaku // Tick

Secret Skill: Rokuogan // Tick

Secret Skill: Life Return // Tick

Observation Haki // Tick

Armament Haki // Tick

This was the birth of the Jack of all trades title Ezra received during his elite training. He chose to attend every training session, pushing his body past its physical, mental, and emotional limits. Up to the point where subconscious activities like breathing and sweating became painfully difficult.

No one understood how Ezra who was physically broken at the end of each day got back up to train the next day. Even Instructor Z was surprised, he had been training elites for over 15 years but this was the first time seeing a jack of all trades show signs of being able to master all.

Ezra's year one daily program was tailored based on his selection. He had to complete the full-body Limit Break program daily as part of his Basic training. This was similar to his previous training at the academy, just this time he had to complete it for his whole body. The exercise continued until he had broken past his limit. For Soru technique training, he was required to perform 1000 kicks on a sandbag, this requirement was for each leg.

Observation Haki and Kami-e training in the RoW: Room of Weaving. Each person had a different time allocated to using this room. In this room, a contraption was created that swung heavy wrecking balls from different angles. The training was simple in itself, Ezra had to enter this room blindfolded, the goal was to develop a sort of awareness in sensing attack. Armament Haki and Tekkai training were in a different room called the RoP: Room of Punishment. Unlike the room of weaving, in this room, the aim was to get hit as much as possible. This training not only toughened the body but allowed the body to tap into its KI in producing a hardening effect. Each trainee was only allowed to use the rooms for 1hr per session. There was no socialising at elite training, each person had a tailored training program, a lot to do and very little time for recovery.

Before the training was completed someone had already dropped out. Captain Smoker had to return to the East Blue. His father passed away leaving younger siblings and a business behind. Instructor Z gave Smoker a pep talk and a training manual before sending him off. Smoker having completed a part of the training retained his Captain rank and was put in charge of the Marine Base at Loguetown.

The Smoker incident was too small to change the mood at the training. The next was Captain Hina giving up. In a lecture by instructor Z, he focused on Admiral Kizaru's path to power. He introduced a method of training created by Dr Vegapunk that involved pushing the Devil Fruit powers to their Limits. Some officers who found the physical training too difficult including Hina went down this route, even though they were discouraged by Instructor Z. Hearing about the new training method Ezra was shocked. It looks like the research was successful but how many test subjects were needed, he could only sigh thinking about how Hothead must have been used to develop this.

During Ezra's time at the HQ, he once again found something about his powers. This has been his biggest secret, it was the source of his abnormal recovery. No matter how broken, tired, hurt and damaged he felt after training. So far he could make it back into the sea, merging with the water and reforming his body, the new body formed, will possess the effects of the training without the fatigue. Ezra could not comprehend this fact and only concluded it was only a unique trait of the Umi Umi no Mi (Sea Sea Fruit).

On Sabaody Archipelago

"Has the coating been completed?" was said in the most arrogant manner by a man who was riding another human as one would expect a horse to be ridden. There was a saddle and reins connected to the human being used as a mode of transport. Around the human neck was a black collar which signified his status as a slave. The man who was enjoying this treatment is known as Saint Donquixote Mjosgard a Celestial Dragon. Mjosgard had a dark green updo hairstyle like other Celestial Dragons. His face was wide with a bulbous snotty nose, this could be seen from his transparent glass-bubble helmet. Like all Celestial Dragons, he wore a thick white protective suit adorned with medal-like buttons.

"Yes, your excellency" a guard replied

'How can those fish-men who are even less than commoners, come all the way to Mary Geosie to free slaves and the world does nothing about it. I will have to go there and capture a few myself.' saint Mjosgard thought to himself as he made his way unto the vessel.

"We must force our way into fish-man island, they dare not attack a Celestial Dragon. Set Sail"

"Yes, your excellency" the crew replied.

Air slowly filled the resin coat, forming a huge bubble surrounding the ship. This bubble created a type of pressure that allowed the ship to submerge into the sea as it made its way into the depths.

Somewhere at the entrance of Ryugu Kingdom, on an exquisite street paved with seashells, a ship flying the flag of the World Government appeared. The ship was badly damaged; the main-mast was broken, and pieces of the ship were missing around the edges with signs of being gnawed on by a Sea King.

On this street fish-men and mermaids were gathered in amazement, The island had been sealed off for a while now, no one expected any guest, especially one who arrived in this way.

From the wreckage, a gunshot echoed on the street. Bang!

Wheezing! Wheezing!

"What was that beast?… Those bunch of useless waste, I told them to get me the best ship, good thing they all died…" Saint Mjosgard was lying bloody and breathless on the floor. He had a gun in his hand with a wisp of smoke coming out of the barrel.

Even at this stage, he could not hide his annoyance and arrogance. 'This low lives actually are just watching me lay here without offering aid. All those slaves gathered over the years wasted and now I even lost my personal slaves and guards, All because of them.' as he thought he could not help but shiver as he remembered the attack the ship took on its way down here, a Sea King completely demolished his ship and his attendants who tried to protect him.

As he reflected on what happened, Saint Mjosgard did not seem to notice, the barely audible coughing sounds from the wreckage, and the bloodied small hand pushing away debris.

"Get the helmet, fish!" Saint Mjosgard yelled as he remained on moving on the ground, his gun now pointing at the fish-man standing not far from him. Although he was weakened by his serious injuries, he still showed the full qualities of a Celestial Dragon. "Kh…Ah… The stench of the fish here is killing me. I said get me my helmet, forget about that hurry up and save me, idiots!"

Many fish-men and mermaids looked at the Celestial Dragon lying there with serious injuries, but no one moved a muscle, It was now a stare down at gunpoint. No one knew how to handle this situation. It was the first time something like this had happened in the history of Fish-man Island.

Seeing no reaction from the fish-men and mermaids standing silently around him, he cried out with great difficulty, "You fools, call me a doctor, I'll… die...if … I am not treated."

"Terrible news, Your Majesty."

"Speak!"

"Your Majesty, a washed-up damaged ship was found in the outskirts of Ryugu Kingdom. It has just been confirmed that the only survivor was a Celestial Dragon." a minister reported

"Summon the palace guards, Neptune army and the Sun-guards. We need to move quickly before something irreversible happens" King Neptune said as he got out of his throne.

"As you have ordered, Your Majesty"

As Saint Mjosgard yelled for a doctor the palace guards arrived. The captain looked at the scene, he hesitated before asking the fish-men in the area about the medical team.

"We are here, but what exactly do we do with that fellow? He keeps complaining about the smell and keeps threatening to shoot his gun" a fish-man doctor complained.

"Everyone return to what you were doing, We the sun-guards will handle this!" Fisher shouted as he approached the wreckage.

'Finally, someone who recognises my status.' Saint Mjosgard thought. "Fish! Help me with my injuries, I will see to it that you are given a good position by your king."

Although Fisher was angry, he knew it was not yet time to start a fight with the Celestial Dragons, most importantly he could not implicate the rest of the island.

"Medic, patch him up," Fisher instructed.

Even though the doctor had to listen to all the ranting of Mjosgard, he still completed his job.

"Fisher there is someone else," another fish-man said

Fisher used his immense strength to lift the wooden panel trapping the small human in the wreckage. The child had a collar on her neck as well as the hoof of the soaring dragon mark on her back. She was bloodied and malnourished but she clung to life as she cried upon her rescue.

"At least one salve survived, get me my helmet, Sla..." Saint Mjosgard said, before he could finish saying the "Slave" word, he was sent flying by a punch from Fisher knocking him into the crowd of fish-men whose jaws were on the floor in shock of what they just experienced.

"Fisher, CALM YOUR ANGER!" King Neptune's voice reverberated on the street

"Your Majesty" all the fish-men and mermaids present bowed in reverence to the king.

"Yes, Your Majesty" Fisher replied, picking up the unconscious Mjosgard, as he turned to the slave child, "What is your name?"

"My name is Koala" the little girl replied.

"I see you have been branded as a slave, from now on you are part of the Sun guard, this new mark will be the sign of your freedom." As Fisher spoke, he used the key on Mjosgard's finger to unlock the collar, before placing the flaring sun symbol over the hoof of the soaring dragon.

The branding hurt so much, but the tears in the little girl's eyes were not from the pain she felt due to the searing of her skin, but tears of joy!