As soon as Zephyr's words landed, all the Marines present were visibly shaken, deep in thought.
Each of them was a top recruit, handpicked by Marine Headquarters from across the world's oceans. While their current strength might not rival "monsters" like Sakazuki and the others, their talent was undeniably top-tier. It didn't take them long to grasp the implication behind Zephyr's words.
Put simply, the Marines Rokushiki might not have been developed as combat techniques in the first place. Instead, they were likely intended as a comprehensive training system.
A system designed to help practitioners lay a solid foundation, unlock their physical potential, and ultimately gain access to even greater power.
Daren's eyes flickered slightly.
Zephyr-sensei's explanation confirmed the doubts he had long held about the Rokushiki.
Each technique had glaring weaknesses in real combat:
The brief stiffness after using Soru, the overconfidence encouraged by Tekkai, Shigan's lack of lethality, Rankyaku being far weaker than a swordsman's slash, the delayed reaction of Kami-e, and Geppo's limited application...
Using techniques like these in actual battle often felt more like a burden than an advantage.
But!
The value of the Rokushiki in developing raw physical power and potential? That was undeniable.
Daren even suspected that his own grueling endurance training had essentially mirrored Tekkai practice—he had just gone a little overboard.
At its core, the Rokushiki wasn't a set of combat skills—it was a method of training.
To put it in simple terms: push-ups are a way for a boxer to build arm strength. But if a boxer tried to use push-ups during an actual match, they'd be an idiot.
From Zephyr-sensei's tone, it also sounded like he wasn't exactly fond of the CP division.
"So listen carefully—don't rely too heavily on the Rokushiki," Zephyr said with a faint smile.
"In real combat, you have to adapt to the situation."
"And one more thing: training in the Rokushiki will directly impact your future ability to develop power—and even your ability to master Haki."
"That's because the Rokushiki helps you break past the limits of the human body. Once you've truly mastered that strength, you'll be able to pursue greater heights and even stronger power... and at that point, mastering Haki will come naturally."
"I imagine Daren has some thoughts on that."
He turned to Daren, his smile carrying a note of encouragement.
"You've all seen it—Daren has already pushed his body beyond human limits. Even under normal conditions, his body's durability is comparable to the level of Tekkai. So it's only natural that he's able to wield Armament Haki."
Suddenly, everything clicked into place for the others.
Zephyr's clear and simple explanation shattered their previous misconceptions about the Rokushiki.
At first, they had assumed that only after becoming "superhuman" could someone use the Rokushiki.
But in truth, it was the other way around.
Through constant training in the Rokushiki, over time, once all six techniques were mastered, the body would naturally evolve into a "superhuman" state.
Cause and effect—it made perfect sense.
"Alright then, I'll now demonstrate the Rokushiki for you."
Zephyr spoke in a low voice, sweeping his eyes over the group before settling on Tokikake, who was craning his neck curiously.
"Tokikake, you're up."
"Me?"
Tokikake pointed to himself, a little hesitant.
"Yes. Come at me with everything you've got—punch me!"
Zephyr grinned.
Tokikake's face twisted with hesitation.
"Zephyr-sensei… is this really a good idea?"
Zephyr blew out a breath, mustache bristling, and glared.
"What's wrong? You think I can't handle a punch from you, kid?"
"That's not it…"
Tokikake looked conflicted and muttered,
"It's just… Zephyr-sensei… you're not going to scam me, are you?"
Everyone: "..."
Zephyr: "..."
"Get outta here!!"
Zephyr barked angrily, then scanned the crowd again.
"Daren, you do it."
Daren frowned slightly, also a bit unsure.
"Zephyr-sensei, are you sure?"
Frustrated from Tokikake's nonsense, Zephyr shot back,
"Even if I'm retired, I'm still a Marine Admiral! Taking one punch from you is nothing!"
"Don't worry. To show the effect clearly, I won't use Haki for defense. Of course, you shouldn't use Haki either—just pure physical strength," he instructed.
"Well… alright then."
Since Zephyr had said as much, Daren didn't argue further. He stepped out from the group.
Everyone's eyes lit up immediately.
They had seen firsthand how terrifying Daren's strength was. One punch from him had crumbled an abandoned military outpost into ruins.
"Listen up, all of you. Tekkai, one of the Marine's Rokushiki techniques, hardens the body by reinforcing the muscles—boosting impact resistance until the body's tough as steel, able to withstand blades and bullets."
Zephyr gave a low shout. As his blood surged, his muscles swelled like molten magma, stretching his uniform taut.
"Come on, Daren."
Daren nodded.
He took a deep breath, eyes locked on the former Marine Admiral standing ten meters away. His entire body tensed, muscles compressing like tightly coiled springs.
In past duels, whether against Dalmatian, Yamakaji, or Kuzan, he'd never truly gotten the chance for an all-out, close-quarters battle.
This time, he wanted to see what kind of strength he could unleash when going full force!
Crack... snap…
The ground beneath him began to fracture visibly, unable to withstand the surging pressure.
Everyone held their breath, eyes wide, afraid to blink and miss what was about to happen.
Boom!!
Like a spring pushed to its absolute limit, the ground beneath Daren erupted as if a high-yield explosive had gone off. The terrain caved in layer by layer, blasting open a massive crater.
Using that terrifying recoil, Daren shot forward like a cannonball, his speed instantly maxed out.
That burst of power… something's off!
Zephyr's pupils contracted. A sudden sense of foreboding crept into his mind.
His body moved instinctively, activating Haki for defense—
But just then, he caught sight of his students' eager eyes.
His mouth twitched.
In that split-second of distraction—
Bang!!
Daren's punch slammed into his abdomen like a meteor hammer.
A ripple of white shockwave burst from Zephyr's back. The sheer impact drove him sliding backward several meters before grinding to a stop.
His boots carved two deep trenches in the ground.
Dust flew up.
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Zephyr exhaled slowly, then looked up with a calm smile.
"Not bad. That's some impressive strength…"
"It's on par with how I was in my youth."
Daren let out a long breath. Seeing that his full-powered strike had barely left a mark, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.
"So strong!!"
"Zephyr-sensei's Tekkai has reached this level?!"
"He really is a former Marine Admiral!"
"That was so cool!"
"..."
The crowd erupted in cheers and awe.
"Hmmm…"
Zephyr chuckled. Surrounded by admiration, he silently turned and walked to the edge of the training field, pausing for a moment.
Then—
He bent over.
"Ugh!!!"
A loud splash followed as a massive amount of liquid hit the ground.
Everyone: "..."
A few seconds later, Zephyr wiped his mouth, turned back around, and said calmly,
"Hm. I overate at breakfast."
Unfazed, he continued,
"Alright, next, I'll demonstrate and explain the Marine Rokushiki, how to exert force, and the basics of training."
"Zephyr-sensei, do you still need my help?" Daren asked.
"No need. The next part's too dangerous—I'd rather not injure you."
"Oh."
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
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