The Final Assessment

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In the wake of Whitebeard's actions, Zed surmised that their encounter had been nothing more than a fortuitous coincidence. Sakazuki, brimming with a burning desire to engage Whitebeard in combat, he was on the verge of issuing a challenge when Zed's hand came to rest on his shoulder.

Thus, Sakazuki was left with no choice but to swallow his words, his gaze following the receding silhouette of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Did you wish to fight him?" Zed inquired, his tone casual.

Sakazuki remained silent, his clenched fists speaking volumes about his unvoiced thoughts.

"Patience, Sakazuki. Your time will come when you've reached your peak. Whitebeard is no ordinary pirate, his devil fruit power is formidable even at sea. I'm uncertain if even I could restrain him." Zed advised.

"Huh!" Brontes descended from the turret, exhaling deeply.

"And your assessment?" Borsalino queried.

"He held back, I'm certain of it." Brontes replied, shaking his head.

"Knowing one's limitations is a good. Whitebeard is beyond your current capabilities." Zed affirmed, nodding in approval.

"The New World is a formidable place. It seems our apprenticeship is nearing its conclusion." Borsalino observed.

"Indeed." Zed agreed, his gaze falling upon the forty young men who remained.

From an initial group of a hundred, only these forty had survived the trials.

Zed was uncertain if his decisions throughout the apprenticeship had been correct, but he took solace in the growth he had witnessed. The forty recruits had evolved from rookie marines to individuals capable of standing their ground.

"Before we return to Marineford. I have one final lesson to teach you. The new recruits should have arrived by now." Zed announced.

At Zed's words, Brontes was reminded of his own initiation into the Marines.

"It feels like only yesterday. Time is a relentless tide."

Over the past few years, they had spent a year in the elite camp, honing their survival skills, physical prowess, and swordsmanship. The subsequent year was spent at sea under Zed's tutelage, serving as interns on a marine warship, and enduring nearly two years of rigorous training in the New World.

Three years had slipped by unnoticed, and they were on the cusp of graduating to become full-fledged marines.

The upcoming elite class boasted of Kuzan, a standout among his peers, a beacon of brilliance.

The news of their impending graduation stirred a mix of emotions in Momonga and the others.

They were elated, yet a sense of melancholy tinged their joy, knowing they would soon part ways.

Their journey in the New World under Zed's guidance, the lessons learned from Zed, and the numerous times Zed had saved their lives, all these experiences had forged an unbreakable bond among them.

"We will return to Marineford." Zed reiterated.

"Yes, Instructor." They responded in unison.

...

Three days elapsed before they finally emerged from the New World, returning to the familiar confines of their training grounds.

Zed had promised them one final lesson, a crucial one, for they had but one opponent to confront - Zed himself. Their mentor was now their ultimate evaluator.

"Over the years, you've made remarkable strides in honing your abilities. I'm immensely proud of your perseverance. This will be your final evaluation. I want to witness your true strength, to see the extent of your growth over the past three years." Zed shouted, a smile playing on his lips.

"Are we to face you together?" Momonga queried, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"Excluding Brontes, Sakazuki, and Borsalino, the rest of you will divide into four groups. Each group must withstand my onslaught for ten minutes to pass the assessment. And remember, hold nothing back." Zed instructed, his voice resonating with gravity.

"W-What?!" Zed's proclamation sent a ripple of shock through the recruits.

"Instructor, what if we fail to pass the assessment?" A recruit ventured to ask, his voice trembling slightly.

The question came from one of the less formidable recruits among the elite battalion. While he was a formidable marine within the confines of Marineford, his strength paled in comparison to Zed, the Black Arm Zephyr.

Many recruits shared his apprehension, their gazes fixed on Zed, a sense of impending doom settling over them.

"Failure to pass this assessment won't result in a return to the Elite Camp or prevent your graduation. However, it will impact your rankings post-graduation." Zed replied, his tone stern.

A collective sigh of relief swept through the recruits, particularly the less confident ones. The weight that had been pressing on their hearts seemed to lift.

Although failure would affect their rankings, it was a far more palatable outcome than returning to the Elite Camp, a prospect that would not only be humiliating but would also necessitate repeating their training from scratch.

"Let's enjoy the spectacle." Borsalino suggested, leaning back to observe the square below.

Brontes sat beside him, his gaze fixed on Zed.

He watched as Zed selected nine recruits to step forward. The first three groups comprised nine recruits each, while the final group consisted of ten.

"Come on, brats, show me the fruits of your three years of hard work!" Zed shouted.

"Please guide us, Instructor." Dalmatian, the leader of the first group, responded.

"Unleash your full power. Don't hold back." Zed encouraged, a smile gracing his features.

"White-Dog Form!"

Dalmatian's voice echoed in his mind as his body began to transform. His physique became more muscular, morphing into a bipedal hybrid of a dalmatian and a human.

His arms, legs, and the upper part of his head bore the distinctive black spots of a dalmatian against a white backdrop.

"We procured an unidentified Zoan-Type Devil Fruit from a pirate ship recently. Dalmatian took it." Borsalino revealed.

"It's merely an unnamed Zoan-Type devil fruit." Sakazuki dismissed.

Brontes studied Dalmatian, who was destined to become Vice-Admiral Dalmatian of Marineford in the future Summit War.

His youthful visage bore no resemblance to his future self. In the years to come, he would undoubtedly Awaken his devil fruit ability, enabling him to perform partial animal transformations akin to Rob Lucci's state post-Awakening.

The unnamed Zoan-Type devil fruit had endowed Dalmatian with formidable abilities - exceptional endurance, enhanced speed, and robust physical strength.

"Zoan-Type Devil Fruits should not be underestimated. Dalmatian has the potential to become an exceptional marine." Brontes said with a smile.

"You seem to hold him in high regard." Borsalino noted.

"I have high hopes for each one of them, including you. Only the best of the best could have survived our trials." Brontes responded, with a serious tone.

"You certainly have a way with words. No wonder you're the most respected among us." Borsalino retorted, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.

During their time in the Elite Camp, Brontes had been a solitary figure, focused solely on his training. However, during their days at sea, he started interacting with Momonga, Dalmatian, and others which revealed his introverted nature.

Their numerous encounters with pirates had forged a bond of trust among them, especially with Brontes, due to his affable personality, emerging as the linchpin of their battalion.

While Borsalino and Sakazuki were formidable in their own right, their eccentric personalities made it difficult for the others to place their lives in their hands.

However, with Brontes at their side, they felt a sense of security. Over the course of two years, their camaraderie with Brontes had deepened, and he had seamlessly integrated into their group, unlike Borsalino and Sakazuki.

...

Brontes' attention was riveted on the square below.

Zed was now encircled. Nine recruits charged forward, with Jonathan and Dalmatian leading the charge as the strongest among them.

Regrettably, within a quarter of an hour, all nine were sprawled on the ground, defeated. The Armament Haki on Zed's arms had yet to dissipate.

"The first group has passed the assessment!" Zed announced, his voice booming. He then turned his icy gaze towards the second group:

"You're up next!"