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Chapter 126: Master And Apprentice Meet Again
The New World.
On an unnamed island, a group of pirates hid atop a mountain, peering down at the forces surrounding them from all directions.
These people called themselves the NEO Marines. In reality, they were just a paramilitary organization unrecognized by Naval Headquarters.
"Asshole! That old guy, Zephyr, already quit the Marines! Why is he still making trouble for us?"
"Captain, what should we do now?"
The burly pirate captain, gripping a massive longsword, turned to look at his subordinate with disdain.
"What do we do? What else is there to do but die?"
As he spoke, he grabbed the subordinate who asked the stupid question and threw him down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, the NEO Marines were gathering, ready to charge the summit.
Zephyr, sitting on a pile of corpses, glanced at Ain and Binz, his two most excellent students.
"I'll leave the rest to you."
Zephyr removed his mechanical arm, the Battle Smasher, and flexed his right arm. Controlling the mechanical prosthetic felt unnecessary now. His body had reverted to the state of a sixty-year-old.
Though he was chronologically in his seventies, he was suddenly physically younger. This rejuvenation didn't just increase Zephyr's combat effectiveness by a small margin; it allowed him to fight without relying on medication. The chronic pain that had plagued him was gone.
A smile spread across Zephyr's face.
"Thanks to that brat Yuichi winning several world wars in a row... otherwise, I'm afraid I wouldn't have undergone such a change."
Come to think of it, as a teacher, he really should thank his unprecedented student.
Boom!
Boom!
Terrifying roars echoed from the mountain. Zephyr lit a cigarette and waited for the battle to end.
Ten minutes passed quickly.
Ain and Binz, covered in dust, returned to Zephyr.
"Teacher! It has been handled."
Zephyr nodded, dropped his cigarette butt, and picked up his mechanical arm. "Clean up the battlefield. We rest on this island tonight."
"Yes!"
Ain and Binz went down to make the arrangements.
But at that moment—
Splash!
Suddenly, the sound of water breaking echoed from the shore. Something rushed out of the sea and landed heavily on the beach.
Whoosh!
Zephyr and his students looked toward the shore, the surrounding NEO Marine soldiers equally confused.
What just jumped out of the sea?
When the spray dissipated, a man stood on the shore, wringing the water out of his clothes.
He had a slender, upright figure with angular muscles and almost perfect proportions. His black hair, neither long nor short, was wet and plastered against a handsome, flawless face.
The soldiers froze.
"Who is this person? He jumped out of the sea?"
"Is he a shipwreck victim from nearby waters?"
The man wrung out his clothes and put them back on. Then, he turned his head and looked at the stunned Zephyr.
The corners of the man's mouth rose slightly, revealing a warm smile.
"Teacher, long time no see."
.....
The soldiers stared blankly at him. This guy was addressing their leader! He called Black Arm Zephyr 'Teacher'? Was this person also a disciple of the leader?
However, someone suddenly realized something. "He... isn't he... that Admiral Candidate?"
"Yuichi?"
"A Marine? Why is he here?"
"How did he get here?"
"He jumped out of the sea!"
"He swam here...?"
The soldiers murmured in surprise before falling silent one by one.
Zephyr also came back to his senses. "You... you... you brat... how? How did you get here?"
"How did I get here?" Yuichi smiled and said lightly, "Oh! The weather on the previous island was too bad, and it was too troublesome to travel through the sky, so I just dove and swam here."
"Swam here?!" Binz was confused.
This was the New World! Snorkeling through this perilous sea?
Ain looked at Yuichi. "Wait, where was the last island you mentioned?"
"I don't know the name. That island was very strange; lightning struck constantly."
"Lightning?" Ain recalled something, and her lips turned pale immediately. "Are you saying... could it be Raijin Island?"
Yuichi shrugged. "I don't know the name of that island."
"If it really is Raijin Island, that's nearly a day's flight from here! You swam all the way?"
Yuichi smiled. "My swimming skills are very good. To be more precise, it was diving. Moving underwater is faster than on the surface."
Binz: "..."
Ain: "..."
Soldiers: "..."
Everyone was collectively petrified. This man claimed he swam underwater from that far away to get here. Was this a joke? It wasn't a very funny one.
Zephyr suddenly laughed without hesitation. "See! The terrifying monsters of this world can never be judged by common sense! Only you, a monster of a brat, could swim your way here!"
Yuichi walked toward Zephyr and bowed lightly. "Sensei looks much better."
"Thanks to you. I also gained a lot of benefits from the World Evolution after you defeated that world. My body is stronger, and part of my strength has recovered."
Zephyr glanced at Yuichi. "Why are you here? Looking for me?"
"Yes! This time, I came specifically to find you, Teacher."
Zephyr's face became gloomy, and a fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.
Seeing Zephyr like this, Yuichi waved his hand. "Don't worry, Sensei. I'm not here to fight you."
Hearing this, Zephyr instantly regained his relaxed demeanor. "Then what are you here for?"
Yuichi paused, smiled slightly, and spoke slowly.
"I... have left the Marines."
Boom!
The soldiers, still trying to imagine who could swim such a distance, dropped their jaws again as they stared at the man in front of them.
He said he left the Marines?
How was that possible? This man was currently a vital combat force for the Marines. Why would he leave?
Even Zephyr didn't quite believe it. "Why?"
Yuichi smiled. "The Tailed Beasts."
Hearing this, Zephyr was stunned for half a second before quickly understanding.
"So, when this old man tried to persuade you to leave the Marines, you didn't listen. Now you know the consequences!"
Zephyr smiled and hooked his arm around Yuichi's shoulder.
"Exactly right. This old man has been short of monsters like you! Yuichi, if you join this old man, I can give you the position of leader. You are my best student!"
"You can definitely do better than me!"
These words made the surrounding soldiers, Binz, and Ain nervous.
Yuichi's strength had been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people after three world wars. If such a monster-level existence joined the NEO Marines, they could even attempt to hunt down Yonko-level pirates.
However, Yuichi did not respond immediately. He just turned his head to look at his former teacher.
Through the new character template, Asakura Hao, Yuichi could feel the pain in Black Arm Zephyr's heart using the Spirit Vision ability.
Although Zephyr's arm hadn't been chopped off by a Warlord thanks to Yuichi's interventions in the timeline, his family had still died. That was why he left the Marines.
Yuichi watched a strange light flash in Zephyr's dark eyes.
"Teacher! I'm here to get your support..."
.....
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