One Piece: Three Devil Fruits, Beginning with Darkness

**Chapter 28 - The First Day's end**

Kuma bent down, gripped the barely-breathing pirate by the collar as if he were nothing more than a ragdoll, and effortlessly tossed him toward a shimmering sphere of compressed energy—one formed by the Paw-Paw Fruit's power, bouncing off Borsalino moments earlier.

The instant the pirate made contact with the sphere, his fate was sealed. He didn't even have the strength to let out a final scream before his body was consumed by the darkness that surged forth from Jiger. What little remained of his existence vanished into oblivion.

The entire exchange happened seamlessly, a precise series of movements executed with brutal efficiency. For a brief moment, silence fell over those who had witnessed it, as if their minds struggled to process what had just transpired.

Borsalino, ever the enigma, tilted his head and gave an amused chuckle. As soon as the dark sphere dissipated, he reappeared next to Jiger in a blink, his golden light flickering faintly.

"This method is pretty good," Borsalino mused, placing a finger on his chin. "I'll have to catch a few more pirates and send them your way in the future."

Jiger closed his Bible with a satisfied snap, offering a casual smile. "Oh? Catching pirates is hard work, isn't it? Doesn't that tire you out?"

Borsalino sighed dramatically. "Ahh, you do understand me~ But with Kuma's ability, we might as well stock up on some, don't you think?"

Their gazes met, and after a moment, they both chuckled. It was an easygoing exchange, one that reinforced their camaraderie rather than strained it. Borsalino had lost their little contest, but he wasn't the type to hold grudges over such trivial matters. If anything, the match had only deepened the mutual respect between them.

More importantly, after this display, Jiger had earned something more valuable than just a friendly wager—he had proven himself. Not just to Borsalino, but also to Sakazuki.

Despite their status as fellow Marine trainees, it was no secret that they stood apart from the rest. They weren't deliberately isolating themselves, but the sheer gap in ability made forming bonds with others difficult. It was inevitable.

Upon returning to the group, Sakazuki stepped forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Jiger.

"What you did just now," Sakazuki said, his voice low and firm, "was exactly how pirates should be dealt with."

He wasn't praising Jiger in the typical sense—he was acknowledging him. For someone like Sakazuki, that carried more weight than any flattery.

Jiger met his gaze with mild surprise. He had expected Sakazuki to challenge him to a spar, not to openly voice approval.

Then, in an act that was both abrupt and completely in character, Sakazuki extended his hand. His expression was as serious as ever. "From now on, you're my comrade."

Jiger was caught off guard for only a moment before letting out a small chuckle. He reached out, gripping Sakazuki's hand with equal firmness. "Weren't we already?"

Sakazuki gave a decisive nod. "Hmph. That's right."

Before the moment could settle, Borsalino suddenly raised both hands in mock protest.

"Oi, oi, oi! What about me?" he drawled, sounding thoroughly put out. "Sakazuki, we've known each other for so long, and I don't recall you ever saying anything like that to me. What exactly is our relationship, hmm?"

His tone was lighthearted, but the phrasing of his words carried an unintended ambiguity. Jiger blinked, and for a moment, a drop of cold sweat slid down his temple.

Then, his gaze shifted to Sakazuki.

Under Jiger's scrutiny, he noticed something unusual—Sakazuki's face was turning a deep shade of red, and thin wisps of steam began rising from his skin.

Jiger instinctively wanted to pull his hand away, realizing that the heat radiating from Sakazuki's grip was intensifying.

Around them, some of the more perceptive trainees had already begun stepping back, instinctively creating space between themselves, Jiger, Sakazuki, and Borsalino.

Just as Jiger was about to activate his ability to phase out of the situation, Sakazuki exhaled sharply and finally returned to normal. He released Jiger's hand, straightened the Marine cap on his head, and without the slightest hesitation, said, "Borsalino, you are my comrade too."

Borsalino smirked, hands sliding behind his head in satisfaction. "Now that's more like it."

Zephyr, who had been observing the exchange from a distance, couldn't help but smile slightly. He had been watching these three closely, and their dynamic intrigued him.

Jiger, Sakazuki, and Borsalino—three young men who had the potential to become the Marine's strongest combat force in the future. If they stuck together, Zephyr found it hard to imagine any force on the seas that could rival the Marines at that time.

Making a quick decision, he stepped forward and addressed the group. "The three of you performed well today. Jiger, before anything else, let me take care of your dormitory assignment. You and Kuma will be sharing a dormitory with Sakazuki and Borsalino. There happen to be two empty beds in their room."

Sakazuki simply nodded, accepting Zephyr's arrangement without question. Even Borsalino, who usually enjoyed finding ways to tease their instructor, shrugged and made no objections.

The truth was, no one else had dared to take those empty spots.

Living with two of the most formidable and eccentric recruits in the Marine Academy was not an appealing prospect for most. It was better to find a safer, more manageable roommate than risk cohabiting with two "monsters."

As for Ginny, being the only female among them, she was naturally assigned to the girls' dormitory. Given her lively personality and the respect she commanded due to her association with Jiger and Kuma, she fit in effortlessly.

With the accommodations settled, Zephyr glanced at the sky and saw that it was already getting late. It would be best to call it a day and begin formal training tomorrow. Besides, he was in an unusually good mood—so much so that he considered heading to the pub later for a drink with Sengoku and Garp.

With that thought, he waved his hand and announced, "Training is dismissed for today. Get some rest—formal sessions start tomorrow."

The moment the words left his mouth, a cheer erupted among the recruits. However, despite the excitement, most of them didn't immediately leave the training grounds.

Instead, many of them began gravitating toward Jiger.

Unlike Borsalino and Sakazuki, whose personalities made them difficult to approach, Jiger carried a natural ease about him. He had already shown his overwhelming strength, yet he still felt approachable.

And in the Marines, connections mattered.

There were plenty of sharp-minded recruits present who understood what Jiger's performance today meant. His future rank and status in the organization were all but guaranteed to soar. Befriending him now could be a crucial step toward securing their own futures.

After all, once training was over, true battlefield experience awaited them. The Marines weren't known for their low mortality rate.

If they ever found themselves cornered by a powerful pirate crew, having someone like Jiger as an ally could mean the difference between life and death.

As expected, the attention on Jiger naturally extended to Borsalino and Sakazuki as well. Though the two had always kept to themselves, Jiger's presence had seemingly made them more accessible.

Borsalino, keeping one hand in his pocket, lazily entertained those who approached him, offering vague responses and the occasional amused quip.

Sakazuki, on the other hand, was far less receptive. Arms crossed over his chest, he exuded an unapproachable air, making it clear that most attempts at casual conversation would be met with nothing but silence.

However, Jiger noticed that two familiar faces had managed to get through Sakazuki's defenses—Doberman and Onigumo.

Both were future Marine Vice Admirals, and their presence was no coincidence. It seemed they, too, had taken an interest in Jiger's abilities.

Meanwhile, Kuma—despite his impressive performance—stood quietly on the sidelines.

His presence was large, but his demeanor made him easy to overlook. Few recruits approached him directly, though it was clear they saw him as an extension of Jiger. If they wanted to get close to Kuma, they figured it was easier to start with Jiger first.

And then, there was Jiger himself.

As the youngest and arguably the most handsome among them, he quickly found himself surrounded by a disproportionate number of female recruits.

Caught between their eager gazes and endless questions, Jiger found himself maintaining an awkward yet polite smile, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Among the recruits approaching him were Momonga and another young man. Sensing their genuine interest, Jiger deliberately engaged them in conversation a little longer than the others.

Feeling Jiger's special attention, the two couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, their enthusiasm rising.

Just when it seemed like Jiger might be trapped in this social whirlwind indefinitely, a familiar figure finally forced her way through the crowd.

Ginny pushed past the gathered recruits, completely unfazed by the overwhelming number of people surrounding Jiger. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms and clung to him tightly.

"Brother Jiger, I'm hungry! Let's go eat!" she said, her voice sweet and slightly spoiled.

The gathered crowd fell into a brief silence before chuckling at her boldness.

Jiger, relieved by the perfect excuse to escape, let out a small laugh and ruffled her hair.

"Alright, let's go eat."

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