The crowd widened their eyes in shock.
Tormented by nightmares for three years—
just imagining that level of suffering made their scalps numb.
Now they finally understood—
why Longinus was so much stronger than all of them.
No one doubted the truth of his words.
It was the only explanation for how he endured Kake's ultimate attack without flinching.
"Maybe… what Zephyr-sensei said about 'a true strong man'… maybe he meant someone like Longinus."
They looked at the upright silhouette with complicated gazes, murmuring to themselves.
"Whatever cannot destroy me… will only make me stronger."
Gion repeated the words softly.
A bright, determined light bloomed in her eyes.
"If I managed to survive… then I will return in the most dazzling way possible."
"This talent… this mental strength…"
Zephyr exhaled heavily, unable to hide the tremor in his voice. Then he shot a wary look at Dragon.
"Don't tell your father what happened today."
Dragon's cold, stern lips twitched.
"With so many witnesses, you think we can hide it from him?"
Zephyr swept a grim glare across the instructors and finally abandoned the unrealistic idea.
"…Fine. From now on, Vice Admiral Garp is forbidden from entering the training camp. I refuse to let him destroy the grounds like before."
"Huh!? Longinus is valued that highly by Admiral Zephyr?
Does he really have the potential to grow into the world's highest fighting force?"
The instructors were astonished, but could only respond helplessly:
"But… if Vice Admiral Garp wants to come in, we can't actually stop him."
Thinking of Garp's personality, Zephyr cursed inwardly.
If the old brute wanted to break in, he absolutely would!
"…Forget it. I'll warn Longinus about Garp's danger level later. If he himself refuses, even that thick-skinned bastard Garp wouldn't forcibly kidnap him… right?"
Zephyr nodded to himself, mentally reviewing Garp's "glorious history of misdeeds."
On the battlefield, Kake stared blankly.
"That's impossible… Tormented by nightmares for three years? You should have gone insane long ago! I don't believe it— I REFUSE to believe it! Nightmare Syndr—!"
Before he could finish, Longinus kicked him straight into the air.
Kake's bulky body crashed into the ground with a thunderous boom.
This time, he did not get up.
It wasn't because his injuries were severe—
Zoan users rarely suffered "fatal" wounds as long as they remained alive.
But a wound to the mind…
was not so easily healed.
In Kake's eyes, he had paid such an immense "price" for his ability—
only to discover it couldn't even scratch Longinus.
The psychological blow was devastating.
Reverting to human form, Kake lay on his back, eyes lifeless—
as if he had lost all purpose.
Longinus didn't leave.
Instead, he approached him.
Today's performance required a perfect closing act.
Standing over Kake, Longinus barked sharply:
"Do you still call yourself a Marine!?"
Kake looked up at him with hollow eyes—
as though staring at a stranger.
"I don't know what you experienced. I don't know what you're rejecting or running from.
But remember this—
You are a Marine now.
A soldier who protects justice.
If you cannot give your entire heart to pursuing pirates and upholding the mission of justice…
then take off your uniform.
Because you are not worthy of wearing it."
Longinus inwardly cringed at his own words—
but thankfully, he was currently in his "benevolent persona."
Instead of sounding condescending, his voice rang with righteous conviction.
Life returned to Kake's eyes at last. His voice trembled.
"How would someone like you—someone who's always shone so brightly—ever understand my pain?
I worked so hard… more than anyone… I wanted recognition so badly…
So why? Why is it that no matter how hard I worked, no matter how strong I became…
no one would accept me?
Is it… is it because of this disgusting, ugly face?"
No, you're just naturally sleazy, Longinus retorted silently.
(He almost cited Kizaru as an example.)
"In this harsh world, no one has it easy.
Pain and despair are universal.
You think you suffer the most—
but have you ever considered the towns ravaged by pirates?
The civilians who've cried until their tears turned to blood?
Their suffering is a hundred… a thousand times worse than yours!"
"You don't need to lecture me!"
Kake suddenly roared.
"You people always put yourselves on the moral high ground—so whatever you say must be right!
But if you had suffered what I did, could you still speak so calmly?
Answer me!"
"…Then I'll tell you."
Longinus lowered his gaze, speaking slowly and heavily.
"When I was nine… pirates massacred my village.
No one survived—
except me.
For the next three years… every night… I relived that pain in my nightmares.
But instead of destroying me…
it made me stronger."
A deathly silence filled the training ground.
No one had imagined that someone as overwhelmingly strong as Longinus…
carried such a hidden past.
If they were in his position—
could they defeat a nightmare like that?
If before they admired his strength…
now they revered his resilience.
"I-I never knew Boss had such a tragic past… He never once told us… He just silently supported us all this time…
Boss is… Boss is too kind!!"
Gregory burst into loud sobs.
No one mocked him.
Many even looked at him with envy.
"Maybe… only people who value bonds deeply can follow such a leader…"
"A similar past as mine…?"
Gion whispered.
Then she shook her head.
"No… I'm far more fortunate.
At least… I still had hope. I still had Tsuru-san."
Kake looked as if struck by lightning.
His lips trembled; he didn't know what to say.
The "demonic haze" clouding his mind cleared instantly.
He hadn't truly been a bad person.
It was simply that the fear he had suppressed since eating his Fruit erupted all at once today—
pushing his sensitive, self-conscious heart to an extreme.
If he had been as rotten as he acted earlier,
Zephyr would never have valued him.
Now, with his original gentle personality resurfacing,
shame and remorse flooded his chest.
"What…
What have I done…?"
His physical injuries had mostly recovered.
Under the stunned stares of the watching trainees—
Kake knelt down and bowed to the ground in a formal dogeza.
"I'm sorry! I caused you trouble!"
Even Longinus twitched at the sight.
Does this guy… also have two personalities?
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