Luo Ye could clearly sense the shift in Luffy's aura the moment he stood up from the ground.
If the fight earlier had seemed like child's play, a mere warm-up, then now—it was obvious Luffy had taken Zephyr's words to heart.
"Well said, four brothers…" Luo Ye murmured.
There was no way Luffy, of all people, would be content with being tossed aside so easily by the former admiral.
Ace and Sabo had already followed Luo Ye into battle, having even challenged a Shichibukai with him. Meanwhile, Luffy was still here—stuck in training camp, being lectured.
Luffy didn't want that anymore.
"Second Gear!"
The change was instant. His body flushed a deep crimson, steam hissed from his limbs, and his blood surged through his body like a raging river.
Luffy's Haki hadn't matured yet, but even so, his presence intensified.
Luo Ye watched silently and nodded with satisfaction.
Because of his arrival, the fates of the brothers—Ace, Sabo, and Luffy—had shifted away from their tragic routes.
Moves that they hadn't even developed by this stage in the original timeline were now within their grasp, taught directly by Luo Ye, who already knew what they would become.
Just like Sabo, who despite not joining the Revolutionary Army yet, was already able to utilize the Armament Haki and execute the Dragon Claw Fist thanks to Luo Ye's teaching.
Similarly, Luffy's Second Gear was unlocked ahead of time under Luo Ye's guidance.
Thanks to the unique properties of the Gomu Gomu no Mi (which the World Government calls the "Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika"), Luffy could pump his legs like pistons, increasing his blood circulation exponentially and supercharging his speed and power.
Once Second Gear was activated, all of Luffy's attacks became drastically faster and stronger—at the cost of straining his body.
Still, even with guidance, each of them needed to discover and refine their own abilities through battle.
Seeing Luffy now, even Zephyr—the Black Arm, the former Admiral—lost the teasing tone he had earlier.
Though he didn't truly believe this rookie could beat him, if Luffy managed to even land a solid blow in front of the Marine recruits, his authority would take a hit.
"Since you're this stubborn… this old man will show you the real gap in strength!" Zephyr declared, his tone hardening.
He couldn't afford to let another Garp-like monster run wild. If Luffy ever left Marineford prematurely, Zephyr knew this boy would charge straight into the New World in pursuit of the most notorious pirates alive.
He couldn't let that happen. Not yet.
"Gomu Gomu no… Jet Pistol!"
Luffy's arm stretched back and launched forward at blistering speed, enhanced by the pressure of Second Gear.
To Luffy, it felt fast—strong enough to break limits.
But to Zephyr, once known as one of the strongest men in the Marines, it was still slow.
Bang!
Their fists collided.
This time, Luffy wasn't blown away immediately. Their clash held for a second—two—before Zephyr overpowered him.
Still, the Admiral felt the heat behind the blow.
"That's more like it… You are Garp's grandson after all," Zephyr muttered, smiling faintly.
"But you're still far too green!"
Bang!
With one decisive push, Zephyr knocked Luffy back again.
"As expected of a Marine hero's rival…" Luffy wheezed, wiping blood from his lip.
Even though he could now activate Second Gear, it was far from being mastered. Luo Ye had warned him: unless he learned to handle the pressure, the technique would damage him more than his enemies.
His stamina was draining fast.
Still—he couldn't stop now.
"Then I'll just have to go faster!"
"Gomu Gomu no… Jet Gatling!"
Fists rained down like a storm, each one trailing steam, battering Zephyr's guard.
"I'm not staying here—I'm leaving training camp! I'm heading to the New World! I'm gonna take down pirates!"
Luffy's declaration echoed through the courtyard as he struck again and again.
Zephyr raised his arm to block the barrage, his expression unreadable.
Of course he could see the cost—Luffy's body was already being pushed too far.
And yet, the boy didn't yield.
Good.
The New World wouldn't show mercy to anyone. Especially not with someone like Luo Ye leading the charge into chaos.
"But you're not leaving Marineford just yet!!!"
Boom!
Zephyr's counterpunch smashed through Luffy's offense.
No matter how much stronger Luffy had become, he was still no match when Zephyr got serious.
His Jet Pistol, Jet Stamp, Jet Bazooka—all blocked.
Luffy gritted his teeth, launching attack after attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All of them—deflected, parried, or stopped cold.
And yet the harder Luffy fought, the more Zephyr's resolve deepened.
He wouldn't let this one go. No—he would train him himself.
If Luffy wanted to leave, then the rule was simple: defeat him.
Only then would he be ready.
"AHHHHH!"
Luffy roared in frustration. Zephyr was like a wall—unmoving, indestructible.
Why was it so hard?
Why did Ace and Sabo get to leave, while he was stuck here like a child?
"Old man Zephyr! Why are you stopping me?!"
Zephyr chuckled dryly.
"I already told you… Beat me, and I'll let you leave. Until then—don't even think about setting foot outside of Marineford!"
With no choice, Luffy charged again, teeth clenched.
Watching from the sidelines, Ace and Sabo couldn't help but laugh.
Zephyr hadn't gone this hard on them.
But that was because they'd already proven themselves.
Luo Ye, too, understood Zephyr's reasoning. This was the only way to force Luffy to grow fast enough.
And he didn't disagree.
The only downside… was that Zephyr had now fully set his sights on Luffy.
And from now on, Luffy's path would be much tougher.