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West Blue, the G-1 Floating Base.
This enormous Marine base has stood in West Blue for many years.
Its predecessor was Fortress G-18.
Over the past decade or so, the G-1 Floating Base has undergone tremendous changes. Firstly, Bullet, a Vice-Admiral and the base's deputy commander, experienced a drastic change in temperament, becoming increasingly brutal.
As a result, the younger generation within the base had gradually become dissatisfied in recent years and had eventually left in silence to seek other paths in life.
Compared to its former glory, the enormous G-1 Base was slowly declining.
At the same time, its relationship with the Marine Headquarters in Marineford had become increasingly complicated, sometimes close and sometimes distant.
In one corner of the training grounds sat a girl of around fifteen or sixteen years old.
Watching the Marines ahead of her shout battle cries and drench the grounds in sweat, she looked somewhat lost.
"Not happy, Kuina?"
"Did you finish all the training missions Instructor Kozuki assigned today?"
At that moment, a woman walked over and sat beside her, smiling.
The girl was Kuina. Ever since arriving in West Blue, she had trained in swordsmanship day and night. Compared to her days in Shimotsuki Village, she had improved by several levels.
But recently, she had constantly felt as though she had hit a wall.
No matter how much she practiced, she could not progress any further.
"I finished them. But I think I've hit a bottleneck. No matter how hard I try, I can only stop at this level," Kuina said dejectedly.
Eveya froze for a moment, then recalled the sparring match the two of them had held a month ago.
"You're a genius at practicing swordsmanship. At such a young age, you've already surpassed me."
"Even if you're facing a temporary bottleneck right now, you'll definitely overcome it in the future!"
Eveya smiled and comforted her, feeling very confident in the girl beside her, who resembled her so much.
"Instructor Kozuki said that once I reach his level of swordsmanship, actual combat is the fastest way to improve... I want to go out and see the world," Kuina suddenly said through gritted teeth.
"Go out?" Eveya was startled.
"Also, ever since I came to West Blue, I still haven't met my Sensei. I want to go to Headquarters and find him! Maybe the issue with my swordsmanship can be resolved there." Kuina continued.
"Your sensei?" Eveya's expression changed slightly.
A very long time had passed since Kojin became an Admiral. Yet the entire world seemed to have forgotten him. Even the Marines at the G-1 Base in West Blue no longer mentioned that senior official in their conversations.
Once someone has been gone for more than three years, the grief in people's hearts gradually fades. Not to mention that Senior Official Kojin had been missing for five or six years.
"You want to search for Senior Official Kojin?" Eveya asked solemnly, staring directly into the young girl's eyes.
"Mhm!" Kuina nodded.
"That may be a very difficult thing. You should know that Vice Admiral Bullet and the West Blue officers have repeatedly gone to Headquarters to ask about him, yet they still haven't received any answers. Where Senior Official Kojin is and what exactly happened back then remain a complete mystery." Eveya sighed and spoke with a complicated expression.
"I still want to go to Headquarters and take a look. I'm Sensei's student. Maybe things will be different for me!" Kuina said firmly.
After a long silence, Eveya finally nodded.
"I'll have Aroshu accompany you."
Kuina immediately refused.
"There's no need! This is also proof of the swordsmanship training I've undergone all these years! If I can't survive long enough to meet Sensei, then it means I still don't have the qualifications to receive his guidance!"
Eveya was stunned.
The stubbornness and determination of the girl before her exceeded her expectations and even caused a trace of admiration to arise in her heart.
"Alright!"
That very day, Kuina simply packed her belongings and departed aboard a small boat.
Eveya watched the little vessel disappear into the distance, reluctance visible in her eyes.
"I'm very sorry. Although I'm the base's Chief Swordsmanship Instructor, she is still a girl. I cannot teach her without reservation." A tall figure behind her sighed as he spoke.
"Is this your samurai code, Instructor Kozuki?" A hint of anger appeared in Eveya's voice.
"Kuina is a very talented girl! She possesses the potential to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, and she has always been striving toward that goal!" Kozuki Oden fell silent, guilt appearing in his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
In many Dojos within Wano Country, traditions had always dictated that techniques were passed down to men, not women… including within the Kozuki Family itself. Although daughters were still cherished, they were nevertheless treated differently from sons.
"Hmph, such foolish thinking! If Senior Official Kojin were still here, would Kuina ever have needed to be placed under your guidance?!"
Eveya angrily turned away.
Kozuki Oden lowered his head, not daring to meet her gaze.
That man truly was different.
To willingly accept a girl as a disciple despite women being born with physical stamina disadvantages compared to men, many great masters of swordsmanship could not compare to him in that regard.
"Equal Justice."
"There's truly immense courage within those words."
...…
Impel Down, Wild Beast Hell.
Even the air itself seemed suffocating at this moment.
A terrifying creature, shaped like a gigantic whale with wing-like fins on either side, floated silently before Kojin and Fisher Tiger.
Its body stretched nearly a thousand meters long, while its head alone was two to three hundred meters in size, completely blocking the corridor passageway. Its whiskers resembled countless tangled roots drifting in the wind.
Simply floating there quietly was enough to instill fear in humans from the depths of their souls.
"It's even more terrifying than the aura of a Sea King…" Fisher Tiger muttered.
With a creature of such enormous size, any attack launched against it would be little more than a scratch. How could they possibly fight something like this?
"It's not a Sea King! It's a Zoan Fruit user who has been transformed into a monster after a failed Awakening. In my opinion, this form is only the initial stage of that Devil Fruit's awakening form. It's still far from complete," Kojin said.
He had encountered this Jailer Beast before. Its body could grow to an unimaginable size, yet it could also shrink down to the size of an ordinary fish, making it impossible to distinguish.
Even more terrifying was the absurd speed this fish could reach. It could even surpass the lightning-fast speed he had once had.
With a single flap of its wings, it seemed as if the surrounding space itself folded, making its movements unbelievably fast.
"If it's really that fruit..."
Kojin's eyes flickered as an intense desire arose within him.
He currently possessed two Devil Fruits: one Logia and one Paramecia. If he ate a Zoan as well, he would possess all three categories of Devil Fruit.
At the same time, this would elevate his physique to a whole new level.
"Tiger, hold it down! Don't let it escape!" Kojin shouted loudly.
"Yes!" Fisher Tiger immediately responded.
In the next second, he took a deep breath and launched an attack toward the Jailer Beast before him.
"Fish-Man Karate - Oni Gawara Seiken!"
This was an extremely powerful technique. Given his current strength, Tiger could easily flatten a mountain with it.
But the very next moment, the Jailer Beast opened its mouth.
"Buzz!!!"
Ripples spread through the void as a roughly fifty-meter-wide vortex appeared instantly, releasing a terrifying pulling force.
Fisher Tiger's expression changed drastically. The power of his punch was neutralized and his entire body was dragged uncontrollably towards the creature.
Beyond the vortex was the enormous fish's giant maw.
Whales can swallow thousands of fish in one feeding, and this monster fish was treating him as its prey!
Fisher Tiger's eyes widened.
At that moment, a figure suddenly leapt high into the air.
"Crackle!"
Within the dark corridor, distant torchlight flickered as black-red lightning flashed forth.
"Hahahahaha! This time, don't even think about escaping!" Kojin laughed loudly. Black-red lightning wrapped around his legs as he stomped downwards with all his might.
"Bang!"
The giant fish's back caved in instantly before it smashed violently into the ground, causing the entire corridor to crack apart. The suction from its open mouth ceased abruptly, replaced by a powerful, repulsive gale that blew Fisher Tiger away.
"Wuuuuuuuuu!"
A deep howl echoed out as the giant fish turned around. Its wing-like fins suddenly curled inwards to form fists.
Then it threw a punch directly at Kojin.
"Hahahahaha! Perfect timing!" Kojin burst into laughter as his legs, wrapped in black-red lightning, kicked out ruthlessly.
"Bang!"
A tremendous shockwave exploded outwards, throwing the surrounding air currents into complete chaos.
"It even surpasses the strength of the Giants... A near-perfect lifeform!'
Instead of feeling numbness vibrating through his legs, Kojin felt excitement and exhilaration rising within him.
Although most of his strength had been sealed away, the enhancement from the Conqueror's Haki Infusion made him terrifyingly powerful nonetheless.
Nevertheless, in a direct clash of raw strength, he was at a disadvantage.
Then, his figure shifted again.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"
Deafening impacts echoed throughout Wild Beast Hell as man and beast engaged in fierce combat.
Fisher Tiger stood back up shakily, staring ahead as he felt the violent winds blast towards him; his heart was filled with shock.
He had no idea how long the battle had lasted. All he knew was that the winds raged on endlessly, to the point where he could no longer keep his footing and was swept farther and farther from the battlefield.
In the end, Kojin emerged with a dejected expression.
"It escaped again! It's too fast and can change size at will. This thing's pretty difficult to catch!"
However, he quickly cheered up again.
The creature was trapped in Impel Down anyway. Sooner or later, it would fall into his hands. There was no need to rush. The most urgent matters at present were awakening Kenbunshoku Haki and overcoming the effects of Seastone on Devil Fruit users completely.
Truly powerful individuals would gradually free themselves from the influence of seawater through training.
He intended to perfect that process to the absolute limit.
Time flowed onward, and another six months passed in the blink of an eye.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Kuina rode aboard a battleship as it slowly approached the harbor.
Looking at the greatest fortress in the world, her eyes were filled with shock and curiosity.
"Thank you very much for your help, Rear Admiral Shinbu." Kuina bowed towards the middle-aged man with a mustache before her.
"I just happened to give you a lift. We're both Marines, so there's no need to be polite." Shinbu waved his hand dismissively.
The reason he was willing to help her was because she bore a striking resemblance to the adjutant of an old acquaintance.
"What's your purpose in coming to Headquarters, Lieutenant Kuina?" He then asked curiously.
"I want to meet Fleet Admiral Sengoku and ask him some things about my Sensei!" Kuina took a deep breath and answered seriously.
"And who is your Sensei?" Shinbu froze for a moment.
He had already witnessed this female officer's swordsmanship. It was exceptionally refined, completely worthy of a field-grade officer.
"My Sensei's name is Kojin!" Kuina replied.
Shinbu's entire body trembled as his expression instantly turned solemn while staring into the young female officer's eyes.
(End of Chapter)