One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

"You are the new generation of Marine elites! You've undergone the most rigorous training, and some among you have even mastered the Rokushiki techniques!"

On the deck, Zephyr addressed the trainees who, despite having just completed an intense battle, stood before him unscathed. It was an unusual experience for Zephyr to lecture a group in such pristine condition after a fight, leaving him with mixed feelings.

"But look at your performance—it's no better than that of green recruits straight out of boot camp!"

"You've fought on battlefields and earned commendations in your respective branches. Yet now, despite being far stronger than before, you find yourselves fumbling when faced with enemies. Why is that?"

Zephyr paced slowly in front of the neatly lined trainees, his stern expression and sharp gaze suffocating their earlier excitement. Just moments ago, they had wiped out a notorious pirate crew with a bounty of 58 million berries. Now, however, their elation had completely vanished.

"Is it because the enemy was stronger? Because they had greater numbers?"

"None of those excuses matter! It's about willpower! You lack the tenacity needed to face life-and-death struggles in close combat!"

Zephyr's voice echoed like thunder.

"When you were new recruits, most of you were ordinary soldiers relying on firearms to defeat enemies. Any formidable foes requiring close combat were handled by officers, and naval battles had the firepower of warships as support. Back then, most of the pirates you faced were disorganized rabble, easily cowed by the Navy's superior equipment!"

"But here, on the Grand Line—even in what's known as 'Paradise'—pirates have survived countless battles, emerging as elites through brutal survival of the fittest. Their strength is formidable, but more than that, their willpower is unshakable. Those lacking in resolve have long since perished!"

The trainees, now sweating, reflected on Zephyr's words. They recalled how their past battles often began with the Navy's overwhelming firepower crippling the pirates before any real combat began. As soldiers, they mostly dealt with terrified or weak foes, enjoying victory after victory.

Their promotions to headquarters had come more from standout performances during such favorable circumstances and their potential, rather than achievements in uphill battles or against overwhelming odds.

"Though you've developed a strong foundation and honed your combat techniques in training, your time here has left you lacking the resolve to confront death head-on. You don't have the composure to turn danger into opportunity or the determination to prove your worth even in death!"

"What did I see in the battle just now? Some of you, injured, froze in place waiting to die! Others, surrounded, flailed chaotically, giving the enemy opportunities to strike! And worse, some of you approached weakened enemies without caution, just to spectate!"

Zephyr's voice, tinged with anger, resembled that of a strict homeroom teacher berating his students.

"You are the worst group I've ever trained!"

It had finally happened. Zephyr had unleashed his infamous "stern homeroom teacher" persona.

"If not for your luck in having a healer among you, even I couldn't have saved a third of you from leaving the battlefield permanently! How will you achieve your dreams or uphold your sense of justice if you can't even survive? Reflect on what it means to have a 'death quota'!"

Standing to the side, Wright blinked innocently, thinking, Is Zephyr-sensei giving me credit? Well, I did a good job, didn't I? Hahaha!

"Now, return to your quarters, rest, and each of you write a battle report—or call it a self-reflection, if you prefer. Submit it to Instructor Goomir by tomorrow morning. Reflect thoroughly on today's experience!"

"In the next battle, Wright will not heal you during the fight. Only those still alive after the battle will receive treatment. Combat isn't training—if you die due to your own foolish mistakes, you'll join the death quota!"

"Dismissed! Wright, stay behind!"

As the trainees dispersed with grim expressions, Wright exchanged a glance with Smoker and Rosinante, signaling that he would catch up with them later. He then approached Zephyr and Goomir.

"Sensei! Instructor!"

Both nodded in approval, clearly pleased with Wright's contributions.

"Just as I expected, your presence has directly altered the structure of this practical training exercise," Zephyr remarked.

"?" Wright tilted his head in confusion. Practical training had been a part of the program for years. Wasn't this just the usual format?

Noticing Wright's confusion, Goomir chuckled and explained, "Previously, we tailored these exercises carefully. Considering the trainees' lack of resolve, we'd select newly arrived, lesser-known pirates on the Grand Line—typically with bounties between 10 and 20 million berries—as the targets."

As expected, Wright's eyes widened.

Zephyr smirked. "Today's target was quite a leap, wasn't it? A pirate crew with a bounty of 58 million berries is considered a seasoned powerhouse in Paradise. Normally, trainees wouldn't face such opponents until after three to five battles, once their willpower had improved."

"But your presence inspired a new approach. By starting with a high-difficulty battle, we directly exposed the trainees to the harsh realities of combat and highlighted their weaknesses, forcing them to confront these issues head-on."

"And if anyone crumbles under the pressure, it just proves they lack the potential to grow. The real despair comes later, after all."

"..." Wright's thoughts wandered. So without a healer, the team grinds small mobs to level up. With a healer? Skip the grind and dive straight into dungeon raids?

Not bad, Zephyr-sensei! Should we power-level to max before soloing the boss? It's free, after all!

"And the results proved me right," Zephyr continued. "Because of your abilities, we ended the battle without casualties. From my observations during the debriefing, the trainees recognized their shortcomings without falling into despair. The insights gained in life-and-death situations are invaluable, and they didn't pay the usual price for it."

"Then, Sensei," Wright asked, "if I don't heal during the next battle, will the target difficulty be lowered?"

"Correct." Zephyr nodded. "Goomir will coordinate with Shuzo at headquarters to select a pirate crew with a bounty between 20 and 40 million berries as the next target."

"During that battle, Wright, you'll only heal them after the fighting is over. If unforeseen situations arise, I'll intervene, just as before."

"Understood, Sensei."

Heh, dear classmates, your combat medic is now officially a cleaning bot! Next time, if you're careless… well, some of you might actually die.

After all, this great me doesn't know resurrection techniques… yet!

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