"Zephyr-sensei, didn't you want to recruit that guy to the Marine Headquarters? Why did you give up?"
After Ian disappeared from their sight, Binz and Ain appeared behind Zephyr.
"Who said I gave up?" Zephyr rolled his eyes and said to his two students in a sullen tone: "Isn't I still here?"
Binz: "..."
Ain: "..."
The two stared at Zephyr in silence, seemingly unable to understand what Zephyr was up to.
"Why is Zephyr-sensei so eager to recruit that guy into Marine Headquarters?"
Binz asked curiously. "Although he's quite good, and even after retiring, he continues to train diligently, he doesn't seem truly exceptional."
For a 28-year-old Lieutenant, having such strength is certainly a talent, but Marine Headquarters has no shortage of such talents. He's not yet at the level to be called a monster.
"That kid may not be very strong right now, but I have a feeling he will one day become a world-shaking powerhouse."
Hearing Binz's words, Zephyr's lips curled slightly. "He possesses the heart of the strong."
"The heart of the strong?"
Binz was stunned, and even Ain, standing beside him, gave a puzzled look.
The heart of the strong?
The pursuit of becoming stronger?
If so, they possess it too!
But before they could speak, as if sensing their inner doubts, Zephyr continued with a cheerful voice: "That kid dared to swing his axe at me. Would you two dare?"
Binz: "..."
Ain: "..."
Is this what they call the heart of the strong?
Binz and Ain both looked at the cheerful Zephyr with a frown on their faces, seemingly at a loss for words.
"We respect you, Zephyr-sensei."
Binz said seriously, his head held high. "You are our teacher, and that guy isn't your student."
"Even if that kid were my student, it wouldn't change. He would still dare to swing his axe against me, no matter what."
Zephyr shook his head and continued: "Forget it, don't think too much. Once you truly understand, you'll know what the heart of the strong is."
You know, even when he was weak, that kid had already set his sights on becoming an admiral.
For some reason, he retired, and during those 15 years in the Marine Branch, he'd lived a very cautious life, confined to the West Blue. But now, he dared to swing his axe at him. He couldn't understand.
This kid was too contradictory!
"Well, the heart of the strong."
Hearing Zephyr's vague response, Binz grumbled unhappily. "Sorry, I really can't tell. That guy has already retired and gotten married. He even turned down your invitation, Zephyr-sensei. It's obvious he wants a stable life. He doesn't look like he wants to become stronger."
"If he didn't have the heart of the strong, why would he marry that woman?"
"...?"
What does that mean?
"Hahaha, alright, enough."
Zephyr laughed heartily at the two confused people, then stopped talking cheerfully. "We still have to stay here for a while, so we have to prepare well. And you two, don't slack off during this time. Train hard for me!"
...
After that, Ian resumed his training.
As for the arrival of the Chief Instructor of Marine Headquarters, it didn't bring any changes to the Sibia Village.
Everyone was still immersed in the winery opening.
Now that the winery was open and the brewing machinery had arrived, it was time for the Sibia Village to try its hand at brewing. As summer turned to autumn, the green grapes on the Sibia Village ripened.
Although they had previously brewed wine successfully and enjoyed it at a banquet, it wasn't produced by machine.
No one knew if machine production would be any different or if any problems would arise.
So, under the leadership of Village Chief Martin, all the villagers began picking green grapes and experimenting with their first round of winemaking.
Of course, none of this concerned Ian; he continued his daily training.
After listening to Zephyr's words, he felt a surge of inspiration and began researching the development of his Devil Fruit ability.
Previously, he had used the Light-Light Fruit as a power-enhancer and training accelerator, figuring he could train to the point where he could split an enemy with a single blow of his axe.
As for the specific ability, he hadn't really cared much, and therefore hadn't devoted much effort to developing his Devil Fruit.
But he had to admit that, at this point, developing Devil Fruit ability seemed easier to grow stronger than physical training. And honestly, he was also a little curious about the awakening of the Light-Light Fruit.
What would it turn out to be?
Absorbing more light, or absorbing more light sources?
Thus, during training, he would deliberately use his Devil Fruit ability more.
Absorb light, sense light, guide light.
Using both his Devil Fruit ability and Armament Haki, he split mountains apart.
From once every three months to split a mountain, to once a month, then to once every half a month.
He could feel himself growing stronger, bit by bit.
Today, Ian was splitting mountains apart again, but this time he seemed a little different from usual, as if he had realized something. His right hand, gripping the one-handed axe, swung with a rhythm.
Though the naked eye could follow his hand, it seemed almost impossible to see the moment it swung.
And before him, on the massive mountain... Every second, a new, enormous crack appeared, and his speed only grew faster and faster.
Ian swung his one-handed axe.
Twisting his waist, extending his hand, and then swinging his axe!
Bang!
In just the blink of an eye, a crack appeared.
Then he twisted his waist, extended his hand, and swung his axe again!
He repeated this simple movement over and over. It was clearly the same as what he had always done before, but now his brows furrowed, as if he had encountered some difficulty, or perhaps as if he had come to some realization.
As his axe swung once more…
With a bang, the scene before him suddenly opened up.
Another mountain had been split apart by him!
But after splitting it, Ian made no further move. He simply stood within the gap of the mountain, his furrowed brows slowly smoothing out. His eyes closed, as if comprehending something.
At this moment, the sun, high in the sky, was slowly moving from morning to noon.
Time flowed bit by bit.
Noon had arrived.
The sun shone brightly.
The scorching heat pressed down.
Now, when the sun reached its strongest point of the day, Ian's body, bathed in sunlight, seemed once again strengthened.
His bulging muscles grew even more robust, and even under the burning sun, his body shone with a radiant glow.
Ian opened his eyes. His waist, slender yet filled with strength, twisted slightly. His right arm followed the motion of his waist, reaching back, raised a little higher than usual.
In that instant, his entire body seemed to exude a terrifying aura, as if a surge of power were constantly building within him.
At the very moment it reached its climax, Ian, without hesitation, swung his one-handed axe downward!
Instantly, the surroundings seemed to tremble as he swung, and the light concentrated on the axe handle formed a terrifying shape.
The moment his one-handed axe swung down, the light also fell.
Suddenly…
Boom!
The ground shook, as if space itself were distorting.
Before him, a whole mountain was split apart by him with a single blow!
Completely split apart from top to bottom!
Looking at the sudden gap before him, Ian, clasping his one-handed axe and basking in the sunlight, smiled slightly.
Did he succeed?