One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

Half an hour passed quickly. The fourth squad—comprising five cadets with combat styles ranging from ensigns to captains—was ready. Goomir, their instructor, stepped onto the field wielding two longswords.

"Begin!" Zephyr commanded. The five-man squad engaged Goomir. Despite facing their instructor, a formidable Rear Admiral of the headquarters, they showed no fear, a testament to their growth after their recent life-and-death battles.

Goomir, a dual-sword style swordsman, faced off against two cadets skilled in swordsmanship, each targeting one of his blades. Though they were outmatched in strength, their teamwork allowed them to fend off Goomir's probing attacks.

The remaining three cadets had different roles: one specialized in direct, overpowering punches, another focused on precise kicks, and the last was a dual-dagger assassin. The swordsmen held Goomir's attention head-on, while the punch specialist targeted his shoulders and arms from the side. Meanwhile, the kick specialist aimed at his lower body, limiting his mobility.

Goomir, a battle-hardened Rear Admiral, quickly adapted. Leveraging his superior physique and combat experience, he alternated between using one sword to engage the two swordsmen and the other to defend against attacks from the puncher and kicker, forcing them to retreat multiple times.

The intense battle continued for several minutes. The punch and kick cadets, showing excellent coordination, applied relentless pressure, reducing Goomir's room to maneuver. As he realized he was close to being encircled, his pride as a Rear Admiral demanded action.

Just as Goomir prepared to unleash a powerful move to repel the attackers, a thought struck him: "Four? Shouldn't there be five in this squad? Where is the fifth?"

Alarmed, Goomir began to adjust his technique, but it was too late. A sharp pain radiated from both sides of his ribs as blood sprayed out. Two daggers, wielded by the stealthy assassin cadet, had struck deep into his flanks before slicing outward—a textbook "double-edged strike."

"Stop!" Zephyr's voice rang out. The cadets retreated, leaving the bloodied Goomir standing alone. However, none stepped forward to check on him, knowing full well what would happen next. A golden glow enveloped Goomir, and the wounds on his waist vanished without a trace.

Zephyr stood and approached the field with Wright following behind. Goomir remained rooted in place, dazed, as if unable to process the humiliation of being outmaneuvered by cadets despite his rank.

Smack!

Zephyr patted Goomir's shoulder, snapping him back to reality. Goomir forced a bitter smile. "Teacher… this is such a disgrace. If the folks back at headquarters hear about this, I'll have no face left."

"Hahaha…" Zephyr laughed heartily, though it wasn't at Goomir's expense. "Goomir, it's clear you didn't lose due to arrogance or underestimation. Instead, it was the dense, coordinated assault of four cadets that left you vulnerable to the fifth's stealth attack."

"You didn't activate Observation Haki, but we could see it clearly. The fifth cadet, the assassin with the daggers, is an elite. Having mastered Soru, he exploited his mobility to remain in your blind spot, carefully avoiding your notice while waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

"When you initiated your move to repel the four around you, he seized the opportunity with precision. That was a brilliant strike!"

Zephyr was in high spirits. The new squad tactics had proven effective. A team of five officer-level cadets, through seamless cooperation and complementary combat styles, overwhelmed a Rear Admiral-level opponent and created an opening for the assassin to land the decisive blow—a breathtaking display of strategy!

Wright chimed in, "Their coordination is still somewhat loose. It worked because Goomir is their swordsmanship instructor, and they are familiar with his fighting style, allowing them to tailor their strategy."

"If their opponent were an unfamiliar Rear Admiral or a pirate of equal strength, they might have been overwhelmed before understanding the enemy's style—just like in most current scenarios. However, as their tactics improve and teamwork deepens, these shortcomings will be resolved."

"The ideal goal," Wright continued, "is to prepare tactical plans for different combat styles—swordsmen, brawlers, kickers, technical fighters, powerhouses, speedsters, and so on. With regular drills on these plans, they can adapt dynamically during battle."

"Furthermore, the tactics should not rely solely on fixed squads. Any group of soldiers with the required combat styles should be able to execute the strategies, as battlefields are unpredictable, and no squad can guarantee staying intact."

"Well said!"

Zephyr's eyes gleamed as he looked at Wright, as though witnessing a rising star. Kind-hearted, determined, brimming with potential, immensely powerful, and possessing a sharp mind—this was a student worth nurturing. He silently thanked Garp for recruiting Wright into the Navy and sending him here.

Feeling Zephyr's intense gaze, Wright shifted uncomfortably. "Teacher Zephyr, this is just a concept. I was a solo bounty hunter before joining the Navy, so I'm not particularly experienced in tactics. My insights are based on observations during the battle and are far from complete. Further development will require the expertise of experienced officers at headquarters."

"Indeed." Zephyr nodded, impressed. It was remarkable for Wright to identify flaws and propose effective concepts based on a single battle. One couldn't expect more.

"I will personally report this to Fleet Admiral Kong. Headquarters will assign experienced officers to refine and implement this concept!"

Zephyr's ultimate goal was to strengthen the Navy and suppress pirates. This new strategy promised to unleash the full potential of the Navy's vast number of soldiers and officers, multiplying their combat effectiveness. That this concept came from his own student only added to Zefa's pride.

Just then, a Den Den Mushi in Zephyr's pocket, which Goomir had entrusted to him, began ringing. Picking it up, the snail's face morphed into that of Shozu.

"Zephyr-sensei!" Shozu's voice came through. "Per your instructions, we've locked onto the next target for the field training mission. Intelligence indicates their recent activity near Long Ring Long Land!"

"Excellent. Good work, Shozu!"

"It's my honor, Sensei!"

Ending the call, Zephyr turned to the field, his expression serious. "Training is over! Headquarters has identified our next target!"

"This time, I'll emphasize again: Wright will not use his abilities during combat! I expect none of you to appear on the casualty list!"

Pausing, Zephyr raised his voice, "Now! Set course for Long Ring Long Land! Full alert!"

The cadets erupted with excitement. Finally, they would have the chance to test the fruits of their hard work since the last battle.

"Understood, Chief Instructor!" 

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