Chapter 42

While combat experience could accelerate growth, it wasn't suitable for everyone. Hansa, still unconscious in the medical room, no longer needed such missions. For him, meditation might yield better results, potentially leading to breakthroughs in his understanding.

But the rest weren't as fortunate as Hansa. In Zephyr's eyes, they were all rookies who needed real combat experience, including Loya.

"Listen up!" Zephyr's voice boomed across the courtyard. "The candidates for this mission have been determined! First, Loya!"

"Present!" Loya stepped forward reluctantly, his expression mournful as if he were about to face execution.

"I knew I couldn't escape this disaster," he lamented internally. The thought of living on a ship for months was enough to make him shudder.

Zephyr's mouth twitched at Loya's dramatic reaction, but he continued calling names.

"Second, Aludo!" "Third, Minnie!" "Fourth, Tony!"

As Tony joined the line, Zephyr put away his list and surveyed the four oddly-matched recruits before him.

Loya stood on the far left, his once-baby face now more masculine, looking the most normal of the group. Next was Aludo, the little giant, whose towering figure cast a shadow over those behind him. Minnie, slightly shorter than Tony, had a lanky build that made his uniform look tight, his plane-like nose acting as a natural sunshade. On the far right stood Tony, stocky and scarred, looking like he could be a nightclub bouncer in different attire.

Thankfully, in the world of One Piece, appearances rarely mattered... except to the Pirate Empress, perhaps.

"Starting today, you'll embark on a three-month combat mission!" Zephyr announced. "Loya will be the team leader. Any objections?"

The other three's mouths twitched in unison as they shouted, "No!"

They knew better than to voice any complaints. Loya's petty nature meant he'd make life difficult for anyone who opposed him. It was clear Zephyr had ulterior motives in this arrangement.

As the newly appointed team leader, Loya felt a mix of anticipation and dread. This mission would be a true test of his leadership skills and everything he'd learned so far. But first, he'd have to figure out how to manage this mismatched team without losing his mind at sea for three long months.

The elite battalion's combat missions typically fell into three categories:

The graduation assessment: The most challenging type, requiring applicants to lead a fleet of up to three warships with support troops. The candidate acts as captain, tasked with destroying or capturing a target. This test evaluates overall strength and leadership abilities.Zephyr-led missions: The safest option, but Zephyr hadn't personally led a mission in years due to a past incident.Small team missions: What Loya was facing now. A team of elite battalion members, usually between a few to ten, goes on a mission. For safety, they can request up to three warships and one lieutenant general as support. Additional warships follow at a staggered schedule, similar to the patrol officers in the elite assessment.

Given the team composition - Loya's questionable leadership, Tony's rookie status, and only Aludo and Minnie as reliable combatants - Zephyr had considered assigning Lieutenant General Flying Squirrel or Flame Mountain to accompany them.

But Loya rejected the offer. He argued that with guaranteed safety, they wouldn't push themselves to their limits. The Navy wasn't a nursing home; without the courage to face death, how could they become its future backbone?

Though still worried, Zephyr agreed with Loya's reasoning.

After dismissing the group, Zephyr informed Loya that the new wave-breaking ship he'd requested from the science unit was ready for pickup. Loya's eyes lit up at the news. He snatched the Den Den Mushi from Zephyr's hand and hurried out of the courtyard.

The current science troop wasn't yet the powerhouse it would become after Dr. Vegapunk's breakthroughs with Devil Fruits and the transformation of Bartholomew Kuma. Those developments were still a year or two away.

As Loya headed to collect the new ship, his mind raced with possibilities. This mission would be a true test of his abilities, both as a leader and a fighter. The wave-breaking ship could give them an edge, but ultimately, it would come down to their skills and teamwork.

He knew he'd have to balance pushing his team to their limits while ensuring their safety. It was a delicate line to walk, but Loya was determined to prove himself worthy of Zephyr's trust.

Zephyr's new wavebreaker, designed by Vegapunk in his spare time, boasted five times the power of ordinary warships, promising to save considerable sailing time. It was a response to admirals' complaints about struggling to keep up with pirate ships in unpredictable weather conditions.

While developing the Pacifistas, Vegapunk had created this ship to give the Navy an edge in pursuing pirates. However, due to its high cost, insufficient firepower, and thin hull, only one wavebreaker had been produced so far, funded by Zephyr himself.

Loya headed to the port where the wavebreaker was docked, rather than to the science troop's station on the edge of Marineford. He was eager to see this creation by the man called "500 years beyond human wisdom."

At the port, surrounded by imposing naval warships, the wavebreaker stood out like a sore thumb. Compared to the muscular build of standard ships, this vessel was slender and sleek. It was about half the length of an average warship, probably less than few meters wide.

Navy personnel cast doubtful glances at the strange-looking ship. Its naval flag confirmed its allegiance, but its unique shape raised eyebrows.

As Loya approached, he noticed two tubular turbines hanging on either side of the ship's tail. The sight triggered an unexpected memory.

"This looks like the legendary 'Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon'!" Loya thought, recalling an internet meme he'd seen in his past life. The image had featured a stick figure with Curator Kim's face riding a similar-looking contraption, captioned "Big X carries me to battle!"

Loya couldn't help but chuckle at the irony. A funny picture from the internet had somehow manifested in this world as a cutting-edge naval vessel.

As he examined the wavebreaker more closely, Loya's mind raced with possibilities. This unconventional ship could give them a significant advantage on their upcoming mission. But it would also require skilled handling and teamwork to utilize effectively.

"Well," Loya murmured to himself, "this mission just got a lot more interesting." He began to formulate plans, considering how best to incorporate this unique vessel into their strategies. The wavebreaker might look odd, but Loya had a feeling it would prove invaluable in the challenges ahead.

As Loya examined the wavebreaker, a man in a white lab coat approached from the harbor. He wiped his glasses, squinting at Loya's recruit uniform.

"Hello, are you here from Zephyr to receive the wavebreaker?" the man asked, looking Loya up and down.

Loya nodded, slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "Yes. I'm Christopher Loya, from the elite camp. Didn't Teacher Zephyr inform you? Here's the Den Den Mushi he gave me."

"Elite camp?" The man's eyebrows rose in surprise, then relaxed. "Ah, that explains the recruit uniform. I'm Jim Hubbard, but just call me Jim. I'll be responsible for the wavebreaker's maintenance."

Loya shook Jim's hand, confusion evident on his face. "Wait, let me get this straight. You're a scientist doing maintenance work? And you're not coming with us? What if we need emergency repairs at sea?"

Jim chuckled. "I understand your concern. While it's true that navigating the seas depends on the helmsman, unexpected situations do arise. However, this wavebreaker is designed to be more user-friendly than you might expect."

He gestured for Loya to follow him onto the ship. "Let me give you a quick tour. You'll see that while it looks unconventional, its systems are quite intuitive. We've prepared detailed manuals for basic maintenance and troubleshooting."

As they walked, Jim explained the ship's unique features and fail-safes. "Of course, for major issues, you'd need to return to base. But this vessel is built to withstand the Grand Line's unpredictable nature."

Loya listened intently, his mind racing with the possibilities and challenges this new ship presented. It was clear that mastering the wavebreaker would be crucial to their mission's success.

"One last question," Loya said as they finished the tour. "Why did Vegapunk design it this way? It's so different from standard Navy ships."

Jim's eyes lit up. "Ah, that's the beauty of it! Dr. Vegapunk believes in challenging conventions. This ship sacrifices some traditional strengths for unprecedented speed and maneuverability. In the right hands, it could revolutionize naval warfare."

As Loya thanked Jim and prepared to take command of the wavebreaker, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. This mission was shaping up to be far more interesting - and potentially dangerous - than he'd initially thought.