"Boom—"
The Marines stationed at the G-5 base were starting to feel sore in their necks from all the craning.
The newly arrived Ensign Ace had been sparring with Vice Admiral Smoker all morning.
The training ground was filled with thick white smoke, yet flames blazed fiercely within it. Smoke and fire clashed endlessly, locked in a deadlock where neither could overpower the other.
"A Logia-type... and not just any Logia, but the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit), one of the most offensively powerful among them. Ensign Ace has already increased the temperature of his flames significantly."
"Yeah, look at the color of his fire—it's turned yellow. That's not the usual red-orange flames we normally see."
A few elite Marines whispered among themselves. It was astonishing how powerful Ensign Ace already was at such a young age. As expected of Admiral Wright's disciple.
There were also rumors that Ensign Ace had an extraordinary background. Some claimed to have heard him call Vice Admiral Garp "Grandpa"...
Although Admiral Wright had quickly stepped in to reprimand him, it seemed to be true!
Damn... the disciple of Admiral Wright and the grandson of Vice Admiral Garp? That kind of background was terrifying!
Not to mention his strength—even most commissioned officers probably wouldn't be able to take him down!
"I heard that this morning, Ensign Ace enthusiastically volunteered to light Vice Admiral Smoker's cigar, but he ended up burning half of it with excessive flames. Vice Admiral Smoker was absolutely devastated!"
"So that's why Vice Admiral Smoker decided to train him..."
"Yeah, and even without using Haki, Vice Admiral Smoker still hasn't managed to overpower Ensign Ace."
"It's fire versus smoke... how do you even fight like that? They can't harm each other!"
"That's not the point. The real shocker is that, despite Vice Admiral Smoker's insane stamina and high-intensity ability usage, Ensign Ace, at only eighteen years old, isn't falling behind at all!"
"Exactly! Neither of them is even out of breath. Ensign Ace must have an insane level of endurance!"
"Tch... you guys are forgetting something. What did Admiral Wright always tell us back when he trained us? 'Stamina is the foundation of everything!'"
"As Admiral Wright's disciple, how could Ensign Ace have weak stamina?"
"Hmm... that makes sense!"
Of course, Smoker could hear the Marines whispering. He wasn't the type to hold a grudge over a burnt cigar, but since he was stationed at this base, it was his duty as a commanding officer to assess the abilities of any new recruits. This sparring session was just a convenient way to do that.
For ordinary Marines, or even commissioned officers, Smoker wouldn't need to personally intervene. But Ace was different.
Setting aside his background, Ace's strength alone was already far beyond normal standards. Even swordsmen like Kuina and Cavendish, who had yet to master Haki, wouldn't stand a chance against him.
So, this training session wasn't just a test of strength—it was also an opportunity to teach him advanced techniques for using Logia abilities.
"Ace, what do you think? Have you gained any new insights about Logia abilities?"
Smoker asked, a cigar clenched between his teeth. So far, their fight had been purely ability-based. Logia abilities were notoriously troublesome, and unlike fire and lightning, smoke and fire couldn't directly overpower each other.
"If the abilities don't counter each other or interact in some way, Logia battles are really frustrating!"
Ace waved his fist in exasperation. "I heard that Admiral Borsalino's Pika Pika no Mi lets him control light. If we were just using our Devil Fruit abilities, wouldn't that fight also be a stalemate?"
"Most likely."
Smoker thought about the self-proclaimed "Thunder God" working on Raijin Island under the Navy's watchful eye and shook his head.
"If it's a case of ability counterplay or a clear power hierarchy, that's a different story. If Admiral Sakazuki or Admiral Kuzan were here, just based on abilities alone, they'd completely overwhelm you."
"Maybe..."
Smoker recalled the two other Logia users he had encountered: former Warlord Crocodile, with the Suna Suna no Mi, and Monet of the Donquixote Pirates, who wielded the Yuki Yuki no Mi.
"Against the Snow-Snow Fruit, you should be able to suppress or even defeat her. But if you faced Crocodile, you'd likely be at a disadvantage."
"However, different application methods can change the outcome even for seemingly equal abilities."
A glint flashed in Smoker's eyes.
"White Coffin."
The smoke that had been billowing across the training ground suddenly condensed at high speed. Before Ace could react, he was completely engulfed and sealed within a massive, solidified coffin of white smoke!
"..."
Ace didn't even get a chance to cry out before he was trapped. The coffin shook violently a few times, then fell still.
Smoker exhaled, then released the smoke. Ace collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
"Huff... huff... smoke can be used like this too?"
"Yeah. Suffocation attack. Fire can't burn in an airtight space, right?"
Smoker smirked. "I can't completely extinguish you since your ability doesn't work exactly like natural fire, but I can definitely drain your stamina."
"If this drags on, you'll eventually run out of energy and oxygen, and you'll lose."
"So, in a situation like this, your first move should be to unleash a powerful burst of fire to break free. Fire has immense explosive force—you can do it."
"If you try to wait it out, you'll definitely lose."
Ace, still catching his breath, fell into deep thought at Smoker's words.
"You mentioned Crocodile earlier... the former Warlord with the Suna Suna no Mi?"
Ace rubbed his chin. "If he used a similar technique, that would be a huge problem."
"Exactly. The question is whether he ever thought of using his ability that way."
Smoker coated his fist in Armament Haki. "If I used Haki, this fight would've been over ages ago. But Wright should have already taught you ways to deal with that, right?"
"Yeah... dodge by transforming just before the attack lands."
Ace groaned. "But it's so hard! My reaction time isn't fast enough!"
"Perfect. Let's work on that."
Smoker grinned wickedly.
"Back when Wright trained us in Haki, it was... unforgettable. And Vice Admiral Garp?"
Ace paled as Smoker's grin turned outright sinister, sweat forming on his forehead.
"That has nothing to do with me!"
"Oh? Your teacher and grandfather? How is it not your problem? Come on, let me give you some proper training..."
"If you awaken either Armament or Observation Haki, as a Logia user, you'll be able to make a real name for yourself in the New World!"
"Ah..."
Watching from the sidelines, the Marines smacked their lips. Vice Admiral Smoker... really had inherited Admiral Wright's love for teaching!
"Don't you all have training to do? Haven't you seen enough?"
A voice rang out, snapping the Marines to attention. They turned and saluted.
"Vice Admiral Rosinante!"
Waving them off toward their drills, Rosinante took a slow drag from his cigarette.
"The Mera Mera no Mi, huh…? No matter how powerful a Logia ability is, you still need to learn the basics."
"That so-called Thunder God… He's got some seriously strong Observation Haki, but he doesn't even know how to use it properly. That's the difference between someone trained and a self-taught brawler."
"Keep at it, kid… A 'D' like you… I wonder what would happen if you and Law ever crossed paths."
"Heh… That'd be something to see."
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