One Piece My strange ability

Chapter 11: Let's have a showdown

Marine Headquarters, Marineford

Elite Selection Camp

The sun blazed down mercilessly at noon, turning the ground into a steamy furnace. Karen stood motionless under the scorching heat, sweat streaming down his face.

Suddenly, a series of rhythmic footsteps echoed in the distance, growing louder and capturing everyone's attention.

Soon, the bustling school ground fell silent as all the recruits snapped to attention, eyes fixed straight ahead.

A group of dignified Marine officers marched onto the school grounds. At the front of the group was none other than Black Arm Zephyr, the Chief Instructor of the Marine Recruit Training Camp.

Among the instructors, Karen immediately spotted Rapanui Pasqua , the Lieutenant Commander who had spoken with him before. Following behind them were rows of medical corpsmen, carrying stretchers with solemn expressions.

Zephyr surveyed the recruits, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. "Good, there are far more of you who passed the selection this year compared to previous years. However..."

His tone shifted as he paused, "There are too many of you. There are 600 of you here, but we only have space for 300. So, the next phase will test your limits. Only 300 will remain."

The announcement sent murmurs rippling through the crowd.

"What? Over half of us will be eliminated?"

"This second test is brutal!"

"It's no surprise. I heard they only accept around 200 recruits in most years."

Zephyr's declaration left Karen stunned. The first selection had been tough, but he had made it through with his unique abilities. Now, facing the daunting second test, he felt his confidence waver.

But Karen quickly snapped out of his despair. "This is just another challenge. If I can succeed, great. If not, I'll try again next time," he reminded himself.

Zephyr's booming voice silenced the crowd.

"The next test is simple: running. You'll run laps around the school ground. How many laps? That depends on you and your fellow recruits. The test ends when only 300 of you are still running. Remember, walking or slowing down won't count. Only running."

He smirked coldly. "Medical soldiers are here, so don't be afraid—you won't die from exhaustion."

Zephyr's words sent shivers down the spines of the recruits.

"Start running!" he commanded.

The recruits hesitated but began to jog.

"Did you not hear me? RUN!" Zephyr roared. "Anyone who's too slow will be eliminated immediately!"

"Understood!" the recruits responded in unison.

One recruit, Smoker, took the lead, surging ahead at an impressive pace. His determination stood out among the others, inspiring them to pick up their speed.

Karen, like the rest, gritted his teeth under the relentless sun, refusing to complain. He had adjusted to the harsh training over the past two weeks.

"Let's see how I stack up against these elites," he thought.

Running wasn't just about speed—it required skill. Karen adjusted his breathing, keeping his gaze forward and his arms swinging naturally. He strategically stayed behind another recruit to minimize wind resistance and conserve energy.

After countless laps, Karen lost track of time and the number of runners who had dropped out. His legs felt like lead, and his breathing grew ragged.

A small voice crept into his mind, urging him to quit: "You've done enough for someone new. There's always next time."

But Karen shook his head fiercely. "No. Giving up is a habit, and I won't let it control me. Not now, not ever."

An idea sparked in his mind: "Wait, if my unique skill works for my hands, could it work for my legs too?"

Excitement surged through him. "Why didn't I think of this earlier?"

Without hesitation, he whispered, "Lingbo Weibu" (Floating Light Steps).

To his amazement, his feet felt lighter instantly.

"It works!" Karen's heart soared. Though the effect was subtle, it was enough to renew his determination.

Looking around, Karen noticed that most recruits were still running, forming small groups at similar speeds. Among them was Rocinante, an elite recruit with a strength score of 766. Despite his exceptional abilities, Rocinante chose to blend in and run silently with the group.

Hearing Karen muttering, Rocinante turned to him curiously. "What are you saying?"

Karen hesitated but decided to drop the pretense. "I've been holding back, but I'm done pretending. It's time to show my true strength!"

"What?" Rocinante asked, confused.

Karen smirked and shouted, "Divine Transferring Micro-steps!"

With that, he unleashed his full power, surging forward with renewed speed and confidence.

******

If you enjoyed this book, I will greatly appreciate it if you could leave a review.