One Piece: Bloody Devil

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After Asiro's recovery he started his first day as the Seaman Recruit.

The combat hall was alive with energy. The tension in the air pressed down like an unspoken command, forcing every Marine present into rigid focus.

The vast space, reinforced with steel plating and designed for battle drills, now served as an arena. Rows of soldiers lined the edges, their uniforms stiff, their backs straight. The gathering was not just a casual test... it was a spectacle.

Asiro Ashford stepped forward, his boots echoing against the metal floor. He felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him, judging, measuring. He did not flinch under their scrutiny. Instead, he took in his surroundings with a cold, analytical gaze.

The crowd was dense... Numerous Seaman Recruits, Dozens Warrant Officers, and a collection of enlisted staff. Their expressions varied, some indifferent, others brimming with curiosity or skepticism.

And then there were the ones that mattered.

At the front of the gathered officers stood Vice Admiral and the Rear Admiral. Their presence alone was a reminder of the stakes. This was no ordinary evaluation.

The Vice Admiral's sharp eyes watched without emotion, revealing nothing. The Rear Admiral stood beside him, arms crossed, a slight furrow in his brow.

Asiro knew why he was here.

A "welcome battle." A test of strength.

Normally, a new recruit would face off against another Seaman Recruit or, at most, a Seaman Apprentice... someone fresh, someone inexperienced. It was a formality, meant to measure basic combat ability.

But Asiro's opponent was neither.

Across from him, standing tall and ready, was Seaman First Class Kai.

A fully trained combat specialist.

The realization spread through the room like wildfire. Murmurs rippled through the ranks, some excited, others uneasy.

"They're making him fight a First Class?"

"That's insane. A recruit shouldn't stand a chance."

"Wait, isn't that Kai? He's practically a monster with his hammer."

The whispers were inconsequential. Asiro remained still, his mind processing the situation. This wasn't a mistake. This wasn't an accident.

They wanted to see if he would break.

Asiro's sharp blue-gray eyes flickered to his opponent.

Kai stood at 8'3", a towering figure of raw power. His muscles were thick with battle-earned strength, his tanned skin marked with scars.

A sleeveless uniform showed off his heavily built arms, reinforced armor padding resting on his shoulders. His war hammer... massive, black, nearly his height... was strapped to his back like an executioner's blade.

Asiro inhaled slowly. The breath was steady, controlled. His pulse was even, but there was a weight pressing against him... expectation.

But none of them mattered now, Not the crowd, Not the Admiral's.

Only the fight.

Only the victory.

His mind sharpened, cutting through uncertainty like a blade. The odds didn't matter. The difference in rank, experience, and strength didn't matter. Winning was the only thing that mattered.

Even without looking, Asiro felt the tension coiling around the hall.

The recruits stood together in clusters, whispering among themselves. Some looked nervous, others excited, but they all shared one thing... uncertainty.

They didn't know what to expect.

The warrant officers watched from a distance, their expressions neutral but interested. They weren't worried about Asiro losing. They were curious to see how much punishment he could take before going down.

And then there were the higher ranks.

The true power in the room.

Hiroto stood with his hands in his coat pockets, silent, unmoving. His dark eyes betrayed nothing, his presence commanding even without a word.

Beside him, Kiyomi's amber gaze flicked toward Asiro before shifting to Hiroto.

A silent question.

A silent answer.

Neither spoke.

But Asiro knew what she was thinking.

"Is this really necessary?"

Asiro shut out the distractions.

No doubts. No second thoughts.

His cold blue-gray eyes locked onto Kai.

Kai stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. He was still relaxed, amused. The massive war hammer on his back remained untouched, but the weight of it was there... an undeniable presence.

"Still standing like a statue, huh?" Kai grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Hope you can move when the fight actually starts."

Asiro said nothing.

Kai exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Man, I almost feel bad."

He didn't.

Footsteps echoed through the hall.

The crowd fell silent.

A Petty Officer stepped forward,. He was older, hardened, a man who had seen real battle. His uniform was pristine, his stance rigid.

Asiro didn't look at him.

He didn't need to.

This was it.

A Single Motion

The Petty Officer raised his hand.

No words.

Just a single, decisive motion.

For an instant, everything froze.

Asiro's breath was calm, measured, but his heart slammed against his ribs like a war drum. The tension in the room pressed against him, suffocating yet sharpening his focus.

Kai stood a few paces away, completely still. The air around him buzzed with anticipation, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the floor. His golden-brown eyes burned with unrestrained excitement.

But neither of them moved.

Not yet.

Kai rolled his shoulders, the muscles beneath his skin tightening. His weight shifted slightly, stance widening... loose but balanced, like a predator waiting to pounce.

His fingers twitched at his sides, itching for the fight to begin. His massive war hammer, strapped securely to his back, remained untouched.

Asiro's feet adjusted, shifting subtly on the floor. His breath slowed, and the moment stretched thin, pulled tight like a blade before the first strike.

His mind blanked.

No overthinking. No distractions.

Just the fight.

Out of the corner of his eye, Asiro caught a fleeting look from Hiroto.

The Vice Admiral stood motionless, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his gaze... an expectation.

It wasn't encouragement.

It wasn't concern.

It was a test.

The Petty Officer's voice sliced through the silence.

"Begin."