"Peacock wants to duel Black Hair!"
The next morning, news of her challenge to Roya spread throughout the Training Camp, startling even the Vice Admiral instructors from various Branches.
In academics, there's no definitive first, but in martial arts, there's always a clear victor.
In every Training Camp, the competition for the top spot among the trainees was always a major event, representing not only the individual honor of the trainees but also the highest level of this generation of young Officers.
Amidst the Instructors' and trainees' anticipation, Black Hair delivered a clear response.
"Three days from now, at noon, in the Base's largest Training Field!"
----
Gravity Room.
Under the pressure of twice the normal gravity, Roya ran on a treadmill, shirtless, wearing an oxygen mask, and covered in metallic monitoring patches.
Outside the room, Lu Yun monitored Roya's heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and other vital signs, constantly adjusting the treadmill's speed and gravity intensity to keep Roya's Body in peak condition.
He's using scientific training methods!
Peacock's challenge was too sudden. Roya didn't plan to avoid the fight, but he had to prepare. The small woods were too low-key anyway.
Since it was a duel for the top spot, how could there be no audience to cheer him on?
By designating the battle location within the Base, all the trainees in the Training Camp, along with the Vice Admiral Instructors, could watch. This was exactly what he wanted.
He had to set the stage first. Even if he lost to Peacock, it would be seen as a matter of course by the trainees.
After all, Peacock was Tsuru's granddaughter, an elite from Headquarters who had received the best training since childhood - a true darling of the heavens.
And him? An unknown nobody from East Blue.
It was obvious that very few people were optimistic about him winning this duel. Even his East Blue comrades thought his chances of defeating Peacock were extremely low.
What did this mean?
Losing was a small profit, winning was a huge win!
Even if he lost, everyone would remember his heroic and handsome figure, remember the name Black Hair.
He had already made a huge profit.
If he unexpectedly defeated Peacock, the scene would be unimaginable.
The one who should be panicking now was her!
"Huff... Huff..."
Roya's eyes burned with passion.
"Luyun, increase the intensity. Don't worry about my Body."
"Understood!"
Luyun was incredibly excited. She was eager to see how much Roya could evolve in just three days.
As for her sisterly bond with Peacock, what was more important than observing a Man? She had betrayed her the moment she became interested in Roya.
The treadmill's speed increased, and the gravity continued to rise.
Roya felt the pressure increase sharply. His bones creaked, and pain followed, but he had to adapt to the gravity as quickly as possible until he could fight freely under twice the normal gravity.
No time to waste.
Only then would he have enough confidence to defeat Peacock. That woman was strong not only in basic combat ability but also in her Devil Fruit power.
----
Meanwhile.
Peacock wasn't slacking off either. She found Ain.
After leaving the Gravity Room yesterday, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and Black Hair's mischievous laughter kept echoing in her mind.
"Heh heh heh... Heh heh heh..."
It was like it was on repeat!
The longer she waited, the more she felt she was losing; the more she backed down, the more furious she became!
She was the aggressor!
In a fit of extreme anger, she had her partner issue a challenge to Black Hair, but after calming down, she immediately regretted it.
She was the number one right now, holding the dominant position, but she had made herself look like a challenger, making it difficult to back down.
There was no benefit to winning.
If she lost, she would lose face.
Not only that, but when her grandmother found out about her impulsive actions, she would definitely scold her severely, and maybe even lock her in the Small Dark Room.
She was losing big time!
Regret, she was just full of regret.
"It's all that guy's fault for laughing so damn smugly!"
Peacock cursed inwardly. If that guy hadn't laughed so happily, and it wasn't because her chest had been flattened, she wouldn't have been so angry.
It still hurt!
Peacock suppressed the resentment in her heart and sincerely bowed, requesting, "Senior Ain, can you help me with special Training?"
"I can."
Ain nodded lightly.
Having followed Instructor Zephyr for many years, she had a good understanding of how to guide junior students in their Training, and she was also happy to help.
----
Night fell, East Blue Dormitory.
"Isn't Black Hair back yet?"
"They said they're in special Training!"
"Training so late, they're really pushing themselves."
The Officers lay on their beds, chatting.
"Who do you guys think will win?"
"Probably Peacock."
"I also think Peacock can win."
"Me too!"
Almost everyone agreed. They didn't doubt Roya, but comparing the two was difficult, as the difference on paper was significant.
Isca was unhappy: "How can you speak for outsiders? Senior Roya has also defeated trainees in the top ten!"
"But, Isca, Black Hair is indeed very strong, but that Peacock is the recognized number one!"
The Officers didn't want to boost the morale of others and undermine their own confidence, but the problem was that she was overwhelmingly strong.
"I went to the Training Field today. Peacock's Dao power has exceeded 600, while the second place is barely at 500! A difference of a full 100 dao!"
"Hiss--"
The crowd gasped.
They were still striving towards 200 dao power.
Isca was speechless, and pulled the blanket over herself.
ahh.... So Angry!
----
Time passed day by day.
Roya and Peacock disappeared from the public eye, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into special Training, making a final push.
The atmosphere in the Training Camp gradually became tense.
The only ones who were smug were probably the Four of the G-5 Branch, who grabbed anyone they could find and shouted arrogant things like "Black Hair is my big brother, he will definitely defeat Peacock!"
On the day of the duel.
"Let's go, to the Training Field!"
It was still morning, but the trainees ended their Training early and rushed to the Training Field. Even the trainees who hadn't completed their Physical Training in half a day were given half a day off as a special case.
The spacious Training Field was like a large concert venue, surrounded by tens of thousands of trainees, a huge crowd, all excitedly waiting.
"Peacock! Peacock! Peacock!"
The trainees cheered Peacock's name, and only a few cheered for Roya. However, the hundreds of trainees from the G-5 Branch, led by the Four Piques, were particularly enthusiastic.
[Black Hair Will Win!]
A banner several meters long was erected, attracting disdainful glances from countless trainees, and even the Vice Admirals frowned.
"Hmph, birds of a feather flock together!"
"Why must there be this group of scum in the Marines!"
"Aren't they ashamed?"
Few people thought favorably of the Marine thugs of the G-5 Branch, and it was no exaggeration to say they severely tarnished the Marines' positive image.
And that was the truth.
Eating, drinking, playing, and abusing Pirates - the G-5 Branch Marines were good at everything except doing their jobs. However, Base Commander Vergo was very permissive towards his subordinates.
"Transfer Black Hair to the G-5 Branch; it's definitely suitable!"
"That's right."
"It's best to throw them all into the G-5 and let those scum fend for themselves."
----
Meanwhile, in the laboratory.
Roya sat at the dining table, gorging himself. The unmanned cooking machine invented by Vegapunk operated rapidly, constantly delivering freshly cooked Gourmet Food to the table.
Lu Yun had dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't closed her eyes for three days, but her spirit was more excited than ever.
She was now quite certain that there was definitely something wrong with Senior Roya's Body. That extraordinary self-regulation ability was even more magical than the power of a Devil Fruit.
However, with her current means, she couldn't detect it, but she believed that as long as she had enough time, she would definitely crack the secret.
After this Training Camp, she would leave with Senior Roya!
"Senior, it's almost time for the duel."
"Understood."
Roya raised his head. His round belly visibly shrank, and in the blink of an eye, his eight-pack abs returned!
"Ready!"
*
**
***
[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter Access up to Ch 242
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-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
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