Chapter 037: Return to the Island of Savage Beasts

The next morning, the sky was shrouded in a gentle haze, a sliver of dawn lifting the bashful veil from its face and beginning to nourish the earth.

At the harbor, a major general’s warship rocked upon the swelling waves, while on the shore, three hundred eager-eyed figures stood silently in wait.

A sudden whistling sound split the sky—an explosion, a streak of fire descending from above.

“Is everyone ready? This training mission is fraught with danger. If anyone regrets their decision, there’s still time to withdraw.” As the firelight faded, Xuan Ye looked earnestly at the three hundred faces before him.

“Major General, we are not afraid.” Their voices rang out in unison, resolute and unwavering.

“Good. That’s what I expect from my men. Board the ship! We set sail—our destination is Beast Island!”

“Yes, sir!”

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Inside the navy conference room, Kong’s expression was sour and dark, as though he were suffering from a severe bout of constipation—his face nearly as black as Armament Haki.

Crane, too, was frowning, letting out a resigned sigh.

Only Garp was roaring with laughter, munching on a doughnut and banging the table, gleefully stoking the flames. “That kid’s got guts, but I’m surprised you actually approved it!”

“Enough out of you.” Sengoku tugged at Garp’s sleeve, glancing at Kong, whose expression had grown even darker, with a faint tinge of blue.

Bang! Kong slammed the table and stood, his face a portrait of rage. “Zephyr, how could you join him in this madness? Don’t you realize how deadly that island is? Three hundred recruits may go, but half might never return! This is utter recklessness!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, nearly fuming with rage.

That morning, while Kong and Crane were discussing the Roger Pirates, Zephyr had burst in to announce that Xuan Ye was taking three hundred recruits to Beast Island. At first, Kong hadn’t reacted, but Crane’s reminder made his face fall instantly.

Taking three hundred recruits to sea required official clearance, yet Kong hadn’t received any report. These were three hundred headquarters recruits—future pillars of the Navy. Now Zephyr was telling him they might all die. How could Kong possibly remain calm?

“I’ve always thought you and Sengoku were the rational ones. If Garp did something like this, I could understand. But why would you agree to such nonsense?” Kong’s eyes blazed, his chest heaving.

“What do you mean, ‘if I did it, you could understand’?” Garp protested.

“Silence!” Kong snapped, his face thunderous.

“Tch…” Garp picked his nose, choosing not to press the point.

“I trust him!” Zephyr met Kong’s gaze without the slightest hesitation.

“He may have the strength to return unscathed, but what about the three hundred recruits? As an admiral, you know how vital they are!”

“I trust him because his name is Xuan Ye Tang. He is my disciple. He promised me that no more than fifty would die.”

“Fifty… That’s still within acceptable limits,” Crane frowned. Losing fifty to gain two hundred and fifty well-trained marines was a price they could bear.

Sure enough, Kong’s expression began to soften.

“And if he fails to bring back two hundred and fifty marines?” Kong pressed.

“I’ll take full responsibility for the consequences. Besides, that boy will keep his word. I believe in him,” Zephyr replied, his faith in his disciple unwavering.

“I have no objections to that. But will the ones he brings back truly be well-trained marines?” Crane’s tone was odd. In the time she’d known Xuan Ye, she doubted he would ever do anything by the book.

Crane’s words made Kong’s face darken again, and even Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr began to waver.

“Haha, now I’m curious to see what kind of soldiers he’ll bring back,” Garp said, clearly entertained.

Sighing deeply, Kong glared at Garp. “It’s too late to stop them now. We’ll wait for a month and see. For now, let’s discuss the matter of the Roger Pirates.”

“The Roger Pirates?” The room straightened, their expressions turning grave.

“According to reports, the Roger Pirates disappeared after returning from the Final Island. But recently, they were sighted briefly in the West Sea. To confirm their presence, the Five Elders have ordered Garp and Zephyr to head to the West Sea. Sengoku, you stay at headquarters.”

Rubbing his forehead, Kong’s headache was evident. Though the seas had quieted since Roger became the Pirate King, Kong felt inexplicably uneasy, as if some great upheaval were brewing.

“Gol D. Roger, or Gold Roger—just what are you planning?”

“Any movement from Whitebeard’s or Flying Sky Pirates?” Crane asked, clearly pondering the situation.

“Nothing so far,” Sengoku replied, frowning as he sifted through the information for anything useful.

“Strange. Have they all simply accepted this?”

“You two, prepare to depart for the West Sea as soon as possible,” Kong instructed Zephyr and Garp.

“Yes, sir.”

“This time, I’ll catch him for sure,” Garp said with relish.

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Three days later, near the Calm Belt, a medium-sized navy warship glided to a gentle halt at the shore.

Standing on the deck, Xuan Ye gazed at the endless mountains and forests, a surge of heroism welling up in his chest.

To tell the truth, over the past month, Xuan Ye had explored almost the entire island. Only the very center remained untouched—his instincts warned him that the creatures there could threaten even him.

Even his last battle with Akainu here had only brushed the outskirts of the center. Perhaps the beasts sensed the presence of Garp and Zephyr on the warship, or had their own reasons, but they never appeared. During the month Xuan Ye spent alone, he’d caught a fleeting glimpse of one, but never met it directly. This time, he hoped to encounter that extraordinary creature.

Composing himself, Xuan Ye turned to his three hundred subordinates, a smile tugging at his lips. “Apart from your weapons, bring nothing else. For the next ten days, I will be at your side. After that, you will train alone on this island. Remember: share hardship, endure together, and survive by any means necessary.”

With a sweep of his arm, Xuan Ye leapt from the ship. In a rush, the entire crew followed, leaving the warship deserted.

The familiar scent, the pungent sense of danger, the boiling blood—Xuan Ye took to the air with Moonwalk, watching the recruits disperse below, ever vigilant.

Unless absolutely necessary, Xuan Ye would not intervene in their battles. Since leaving Marineford, he had explained the Six Powers to everyone at sea, regardless of whether they understood. The rule was simple: within a month, everyone must master at least one technique. Fail, and you’re eliminated.

On the first day, all three hundred recruits were injured; one nearly died, but survived thanks to his teammates.

The second day, more than half were wounded and five died. That night, Xuan Ye erupted in anger. The training was conducted in squads of five, so the deaths of five meant five teams had lost members.

Those five teams, due to poor cooperation and lack of unity, had led directly to the deaths. That very day, in a fit of wrath, Xuan Ye expelled all five teams, sending them back to the ship.

Thus, on only the second day, twenty-five were eliminated outright—a sharp warning to all the trainees.

That night, as they rested, everyone witnessed a golden-red inferno sweeping across the island.

It was their commanding officer’s act of vengeance—the five who died had been overwhelmed by a pack of sword wolves. From that night on, the sword wolves vanished from the island.

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