One piece: Dark Smoker

The next day, Smoker and Hina arrived at the training grounds as scheduled.

The cadets' faces lit up as soon as they saw them.

After endless days of monotonous training, they were eager for a distraction.

The group swarmed around them, chattering excitedly.

Some expressed genuine concern, some were curious, and others couldn't resist gossiping.

"Wow, it's amazing! You've really brought honor to us cadets!"

"I'm from the North Blue, and Doflamingo is the most ruthless pirate there! I can't believe you defeated him…"

"Smoker, the title of top cadet belongs to you now, no question about it!"

Smoker blinked in surprise. "Top cadet?!"

"Oh, right. You probably don't know yet…"

"After you defeated Gavinte in the previous assessment and then went on to take down the even more dangerous Doflamingo, you've earned the title of top cadet in the advanced class!"

Unbeknownst to Smoker, news of their accomplishments had already reached the academy before their return.

While every Marine in the elite advanced class was young and brimming with pride, they knew when to acknowledge someone's superior achievements.

Thus, most of them grudgingly accepted Smoker as the rightful top cadet.

Just then, a loud voice shouted from a distance, "Form up!"

Reflexively, everyone froze and scrambled to line up in formation.

Garp appeared, holding a file as he walked up to the group.

"I have an official announcement. Since we're pressed for time, I'll keep it brief!"

"Smoker is hereby promoted to Navy Headquarters Lieutenant Commander, and Hina to Navy Headquarters Lieutenant. Details will be posted on the bulletin board for anyone curious."

A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.

The cadets were visibly shocked—after all, Hina had just been a warrant officer, and Smoker a mere seaman recruit. Both of them had essentially skipped several ranks.

Even Smoker and Hina were taken aback.

It wasn't because the promotions felt undeserved—it was the opposite. The recognition felt underwhelming.

Take Smoker's contributions, for example. Just his improvements to gunpowder and cannonballs alone had strengthened the Navy's arsenal. A promotion to Commander wouldn't have been excessive.

Sharing a glance, Smoker and Hina chose not to voice their thoughts.

Both believed in a merit-based system and didn't care much for ranks.

Besides, they knew Zephyr and Akainu understood the value of their efforts, so this must have been a deliberate decision by the higher-ups.

They didn't know the reasoning behind it, but with Zephyr's character, they trusted he wouldn't let them be shortchanged.

They saluted, accepting their promotions with calm composure, while the other cadets watched enviously.

Most of them rarely left the academy grounds for field experience, focusing instead on training and studying. Promotions were naturally slower for them.

Out of the 200-plus cadets, only a handful of senior officers had reached the rank of Lieutenant, while the rest were still ensigns or sergeants.

Smoker, now the first to become a Lieutenant Commander among them, was undeniably envied.

After finishing their morning training, Smoker and Hina were about to leave when a grating voice called out from behind them.

"So, you two actually survived!"

"Too bad I fell off the ship by accident. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had a chance to shine!"

"Smoker, here's some advice. That top cadet title you're holding onto? It won't be yours for long."

Smoker's eyes narrowed, turning slowly toward the speaker.

Gasparade.

Right. He still had unfinished business with this guy.

In the past, Smoker had ignored Gasparade's provocations, unwilling to stoop to his childish level.

But during the previous battle, Gasparade had attacked Hina, crossing a line Smoker couldn't forgive.

"Fell off the ship? You mean got sent flying?" Smoker retorted, his tone icy.

"Your punches may be soft, but I have to admit, your life is pretty tough."

"Sent flying?!"

Everyone turned to stare at Gasparade, whose face flushed red with embarrassment.

"You sharp-tongued bastard! If my punches are so soft, why don't you come feel them for yourself?"

"These past months, I haven't been slacking off. Honestly, I felt a little regretful when I thought you'd died…"

"But since you're alive, how about proving if you're really worthy of that title? I challenge you!"

Smoker smirked coldly. "A challenge? I was hoping you'd say that."

The surrounding cadets perked up with excitement.

"Yeah, Smoker! Teach that jerk a lesson!"

"Top cadet, we're rooting for you!"

Some, however, were more cautious.

"Can Smoker handle this?"

"I'm not sure. Gasparade's a jerk, but he's undeniably strong."

"Strong? He's just relying on his Devil Fruit powers. Without them, I'd beat him senseless!"

"Fruit powers are still part of his strength. And didn't he almost beat you without using them once?"

"What the hell?! You're bringing that up now?!"

Gasparade's abilities were undeniably troublesome.

While his powers had weaknesses, not many cadets knew how to counter them. Most didn't even know that flour could harden his gummy-like body.

Because of this, Gasparade had always been untouchable in the advanced class.

His arrogance grew unchecked, making him universally disliked.

But his unshakable confidence meant he shrugged off the disdain of others with ease.

Before long, the cadets cleared a space, forming a circle around Smoker, Hina, and Gasparade.

Smoker flicked his cigar to the side, ready to fight.

But before he could step forward, Hina raised a hand, stopping him.

Smoker instantly understood—Hina wanted to take this fight herself.

He stepped aside, blending into the crowd.

Hina locked her gaze on Gasparade.

"Last time, Instructor Gaji interrupted our fight. Let's settle our score now!"

Gasparade smirked. "Doesn't matter who the opponent is. But don't expect me to hold back just because you're a woman!"

"Please, give it your all," Hina replied with a faint smile. "Don't use that as an excuse when you lose."

Gasparade's face darkened. "Me? Lose to you?!"

With a roar, he charged at her, his movements aggressive and forceful.

"Shave!" Hina's figure vanished.

"You're not the only one who knows that move! Shave!" Gasparade disappeared as well.

A loud crack echoed as their fists collided mid-air before they both landed, separating quickly.

Smoker raised an eyebrow. "Huh? This guy's improved a lot..."

A nearby marine nodded. "Yeah, ever since that last incident, he asked to train in the Six Powers. Even Instructor Gaji said his progress has been impressive." The marine glanced at Smoker, as if asking, Aren't you worried?

Smoker shrugged, completely unfazed. Without Haki or Seastone, how could Gasparade even hope to challenge Hina?

Gasparade lunged again, this time aiming a kick at Hina.

She moved to block, but his leg sprouted countless sharp green spikes, turning it into a spiked club.

Hina's eyes narrowed in surprise. She quickly used Paper Art to dodge the attack, landing a few feet away.

Gasparade lowered his leg, the spikes retracting.

"How's that? Tough to handle, right? But hey, props for dodging."

He launched another series of attacks, each one laced with spikes that would give any ordinary marine a tough time.

Hina calmly sidestepped, countering with a Tempest Kick. The sharp air blade slashed through Gasparade's neck, severing his head. She hopped back, keeping a safe distance.

"Impressive," Hina remarked. "I didn't expect you to combine physical techniques with your Devil Fruit ability."

"To think, I used to consider you just a fruit-reliant weakling."

Gasparade's head regenerated as he sneered.

"Thanks to you, I realized my shortcomings. Now, let me return the favor with some of my new moves!"

He stretched out his arms.

"Soft Candy Swamp!"

Green goo spread rapidly, engulfing the entire training ground.

Hina stepped into the air with Moonwalk, avoiding the sticky trap. She slashed at the goo with Tempest Kick, but it simply reformed, undeterred.

"You can't escape! Soft Candy Barrage!"

Gasparade fired countless green spikes from his hands, each one aiming for Hina.

From the sidelines, a marine whispered, "This... kinda looks like Zean's style."

"Yeah," another agreed, "but the speed and technique aren't even close to Zean's level."

Hina, having sparred with Zean extensively, found these attacks laughably easy to dodge.

Gasparade cackled. "How long can you keep jumping around? My soft candy is endless!"

Hina shook her head in disdain. "A frog in a well."

She suddenly accelerated, closing the distance in an instant. With a powerful punch, she slammed her fist into Gasparade's face.

"You think your attacks can hurt me—ugh!" Gasparade's taunt was cut short as blood and teeth sprayed from his mouth.

He hit the ground hard, but before he could recover, Hina stomped onto his chest, pinning him down.

Coughing up blood, Gasparade struggled to breathe as her hand clamped tightly around his throat like a steel vice.

"Even Logia users don't claim invincibility," she sneered. "Yet here you are, a mere Paramecia, trying to tank hits head-on? Foolish."

"Curse you!" Gasparade roared, summoning his power. Green goo surged up Hina's legs, hardening into a solid trap.

"You're mine now! Soft Candy Thorns!"

Countless spikes shot out from Gasparade's body, piercing Hina through.

"Hina!"

"Hina-san!"

"That bastard Gasparade!"

The marines gasped in shock, while Gasparade grinned triumphantly.

"Talk all you want. In the end, strength decides everything!"

But his expression froze as Hina's figure dissipated into white smoke.

"What...?"

Hina reformed a short distance away, entirely unharmed.

"Your moves," she said, her tone icy, "don't deserve to be called thorns."

Before Gasparade could react, Hina's fist crashed into his face with bone-crushing force.

His head snapped to the side, eyes rolling back as he fell unconscious, his body limp.

Hina scoffed, grabbed her coat from the ground, and walked off without a second glance.

.....

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