Chapter 33

Even in this den of monsters, Loya stood out as the real beast.

"Relax, Minde. I'm not interested in fighting you," Loya said, brushing ice shards off his hands. He nodded towards Tony. "He's your opponent."

Minde wanted to spit some venom, but the memory of Loya's exploits made his knees weak. No way he was going toe-to-toe with that monster.

Instead, he turned his sights on Tony. "I might not be a match for that freak, but what about you?"

Minde was a powder keg ready to blow. First the embarrassment, then Loya's taunting. You could practically see the steam coming out of his ears.

With a thud, a massive two-meter mace landed beside him. Minde nodded at the vet who tossed it. "Thanks, Keelung." He hefted the mace onto his shoulder, eyeing Tony like he was dirt. "C'mon then, show me whatcha got!"

Tony didn't flinch. He knew he was outmatched against an Elite Battalion recruit, but there was no backing down now.

He charged, aiming for Minde's seemingly open guard. Tony's blood boiled at Minde's casual stance. Gripping his sword hilt, he snarled, "Don't you dare look down on me!"

In a blink, Tony vanished. A crescent-shaped arc flashed across Minde's chest. A heartbeat later, Tony reappeared in front of him, slowly sheathing his blade with a metallic click.

"One Blade Style: Arc Light."

Loya watched, mildly impressed. Tony's speed was something else, almost like a Soru technique. But no... it wasn't pure speed. Some kind of unique acceleration, maybe?

But then Loya sighed. Careless...

Tony felt his blade connect and thought victory was his. He turned his back on Minde, about to speak. Then he heard it - the whistle of air being split. The mace was coming.

"What the—?!"

WHAM!

The impact sent Tony flying. He'd barely managed to block with his scabbard, but even so, he was hurled across the field like a rag doll.

Minnie and Simon watched in horror. Hadn't Tony just landed a hit on Minde? How had he countered so fast?

Tony coughed up blood, his fingers digging into the dirt, face now caked with mud. It felt like he'd been hit by a Sea Train. His shoulder blades screamed in agony. If not for his scabbard, he'd be in pieces right now.

He was dumbfounded. Could everyone in the Elite Camp really be this strong?

Minde dragged his mace back, resting it on his shoulder with a smirk. "Yeah, I know. You're hot stuff in the recruit battalion. They call you a monster. But newsflash, kid! This is the Elite Camp! We were all monsters once!"

He sneered, wiping a white mark from his chest where Tony's blade had struck. Despite Tony's strength, it hadn't even broken the skin.

Loya, watching intently, noticed something off. In the Grand Line, swordsmen were feared for their lethal strikes. Even with superior strength, you never let your guard down against a blade. So why had Minde been so casual?

Then it clicked. Minde must have had an ace up his sleeve. That nonchalant attitude wasn't for show.

As Tony attacked, Loya's sharp eyes caught it. Tony's blade stopped short, barely two millimeters from Minde's chest. Like some invisible armor had blocked it.

Aludo leaned in, explaining, "Minde uses this rare qi technique. Forms a protective film over his body. Boosts his attacks too."

Loya nodded, understanding dawning.

In the world of One Piece, three powers reigned supreme: Devil Fruits, swordsmanship, and Haki. But there were other abilities out there, just as fearsome.

Minde's qi technique was one such power, strong enough to tank a direct sword strike. Loya had to admit, it was impressive.

But Tony? He'd gotten cocky, and paid the price. If Minde had been a real pirate, that mace would've turned Tony's skull to mush. He'd have ended up as just another cautionary tale in the Elite Camp's hall of shame.

Tony stumbled to his feet, spitting out another glob of blood.

The scabbard was a wreck, but Tony's blade was untouched.

It wasn't some legendary sword, just a weapon from a run-of-the-mill blacksmith. But after years by Tony's side, it had gained a certain... character.

Tony raised the sword, pale and panting. His stance was firm, his eyes burning with the same fierce determination. "I... I'll give it to you. You're... strong. But you said I've never seen a real fight. You sure about that?"

"Oh? Still standing, huh?" Minde's eyebrows shot up, then his face darkened. "Gotta admire that spirit, kid. But you're really starting to piss me off!"

As the words left his mouth, Minde vanished, reappearing behind Tony. His mace came down like a meteor.

CLANG!

The clash of metal rang out. Tony's eyes widened as he saw the figure beside him.

It was a rail-thin man, all skin and bones. His eyes were a deep, sunken blue, like some sickly plant.

No, more like a sick person.

He'd blocked Minde's attack, but then started hacking up blood!

Yet despite looking like death warmed over, his slender sword held Minde's mace at bay. Minde's face was turning purple with effort, veins bulging as he tried to overpower the newcomer.

But that sword didn't budge an inch.

Minde sneered, "What's this? The great Lord Hansa, helping out some newbie? That's not like you at all."

Bibi Hansa coughed again, then spoke softly. "Well... we're both swordsmen. Can't let you cripple the kid. Besides, you want Instructor Zephyr on your case?"

Zephyr's name still carried weight in the Elite Camp. Hearing it, Minde backed off. "Fine, fine! I'll let the punk slide this time, for your sake. But later... we'll settle this."

"cough... cough! Much obliged."

Aludo was about to launch into another explanation, but Loya waved him off. "I know who he is. Bibi Hansa, current chief of the Elite Camp. Word is he officially entered the realm of True Swordsmen a few months back."

"Yeah... that's right." Aludo scratched his head, confused. "What do you mean 'current', Loya? He's always been the chief."

Talking to smart people was easy. Talking to Aludo? Like pulling teeth.

Loya sighed. "Idiot. You think he'll still be chief once I'm here?"

Aludo blinked, gears turning slowly. Then his face lit up. "Oh! Right! You're so strong, you'll definitely challenge Hansa!"

"But... Loya, can you really beat Hansa? He's taken down pirates with bounties over 100 million!" And just like that, Aludo was back to doubting.

Loya: "... Do me a favor and go jump in the sea."

Despite his casual tone, Loya kept his guard up around this Elite Battalion chief, Hansa.

The way Hansa had blocked Minde's attack... that explosive speed reminded Loya of facing off against Kuzan. Sure, Kuzan had never shown his full power, but still. It spoke volumes about Hansa's mastery of Soru.

And according to Aludo, Minde's mace should've been coated in an invisible layer of qi, even stronger than when he'd hit Tony before. For Hansa to block it one-handed, with just a sword? His strength was no joke.

Speed, power, and as Elite Battalion chief, his Haki had to be top-notch too. Add in the offensive might of a swordsman, and Loya knew he had a serious opponent on his hands.

Minde, seeing Hansa step in, knew playtime was over.

He backed off, then turned to Tony with a sneer. Blood trickled from the corner of Tony's mouth.

"Get it now, punk? Even if you don't, with those injuries, Instructor Zephyr won't let you stay. Off to the infirmary with you! Hahahahaha!"

"You bastard!" Laurent Minnie snarled, eyes blazing. But she knew the difference between bravery and suicide. Right now, she'd be lucky to make it to the infirmary herself, let alone avenge Tony.

Simon sighed, patting Minnie's shoulder. "Let it go. We're outclassed right now... but believe in yourself! We've got time. We'll get our payback someday."

He moved to support Tony. "C'mon Minnie, I know where the infirmary is."

Growing up in Marineford, Simon knew the fortress like the back of his hand.

"Yo, Minde! Over already? This year's batch is pathetic," called out Keelung, the guy who'd tossed Minde the mace earlier. He sauntered over, his tone mocking.

Minde stiffened at Keelung's words.

"Shut it, Keelung!" he hissed, his face twisted with anxiety. "Can't you feel it? That guy over there is watching us!"

Minde didn't dare look back. Keelung had just stepped in it.

"This year's recruits"? Didn't that include the monster standing right there?

That ice spear had passed between them like lightning. Minde had no doubt that even with his qi technique, he'd end up skewered like a kebab.

In that moment, Minde flashed back to his first real combat mission. That brush with death, the adrenaline surge, his heart pounding so hard he could barely breathe...