One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

The practical training for the recruits of the Marine training camp concluded successfully. This batch of trainees was extraordinarily fortunate—having Wright as their dependable "guardian angel." Even if his role was limited to post-battle recovery, it offered an unprecedented level of reassurance that previous trainees could only dream of. Such treatment was nothing short of miraculous!

Zephyr also set a historic record for the training camp: a perfect survival rate for all participants during their live combat training. Furthermore, a groundbreaking new tactic was tested in combat—coordinated strike formations. This strategy greatly enhanced the combat effectiveness of mid- and low-ranking Marines, transforming them from mere cannon fodder into a force capable of holding their own. Its potential to revolutionize the Navy's overall strength was undeniable.

The tactic was initially proposed and validated by none other than Ensign Wright, the miracle worker behind the zero-casualty record. Zephyr, the camp's chief instructor and a Marine Admiral, refined and formalized the method, personally reporting it to Fleet Admiral Kong. A request was made to allocate officers of all ranks from Marine Headquarters to further develop and standardize the approach.

Due to its strategic significance, this project was highly classified, and all participating recruits were sworn to secrecy until the strategy's official unveiling by Marine Headquarters.

Having completed his supporting role in the practical training, Wright was finally assigned his long-awaited solo mission: to track down and capture the notorious pirate Daniel Joyce, captain of the Mad Dog Pirates. With a bounty of 75 million berries, Joyce was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user who had consumed the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Pit Bull, granting him incredible strength and ferocity.

This was still the early phase of the Great Pirate Era, with an explosive increase in pirates entering the Grand Line. However, only those with bounties exceeding 50 million berries typically made it to the mid-point of the Grand Line, the Sabaody Archipelago, which served as a transit hub. A bounty of 75 million berries placed Daniel Joyce among the more formidable pirates in this chaotic era.

The Mad Dog Pirates differed from the typical crews aiming for the New World. For months, they had lingered along the shipping routes between Sabaody and Water 7, showing no intention of entering the New World. They hadn't even coated their ship with resin for underwater travel, raising suspicion among the Marines. Such erratic behavior naturally caught the Navy's attention, especially given the growing number of pirates with significant bounties.

However, with the rising number of pirates, Marine resources were stretched thin. The Grand Line's Paradise region had seven major routes, and there were barely enough officers to maintain a presence along these routes. The Mad Dog Pirates, being highly elusive and adept at gathering intelligence, made matters worse. They would flee at the first sight of a high-ranking officer and were too powerful for most mid-ranking officers to handle.

Zephyr assigned Wright this mission precisely because Wright was an unknown figure in the Grand Line. Furthermore, Daniel Joyce hailed from the West Blue, not Wright's infamous East Blue, reducing the chances of the pirate recognizing him. Despite holding only the rank of Ensign, Wright's strength was anything but ordinary. Zephyr, who had trained Wright personally, was well aware that his combat prowess was on par with a Rear Admiral. Combined with his near-immortal endurance thanks to his unique Holy Light, Wright was practically untouchable.

Recently, Naval Intelligence uncovered evidence suggesting that the Mad Dog Pirates had turned to slave trading, kidnapping civilians and weaker pirates from nearby islands to sell as slaves at the infamous Sabaody Auction House. This explained their strange movements between Sabaody and Water 7.

While the Marines were well aware of the slave trade's connection to the Celestial Dragons, the Navy's proximity to Sabaody Archipelago posed a dilemma. Destroying or significantly disrupting the slave trade could provoke the Celestial Dragons, leaving the Marines no choice but to focus on combating pirate slavers instead. To deter such activities, bounties for pirates involved in slavery were often raised as high as possible.

Upon learning this, Wright eagerly accepted the mission. Back in the East Blue, pirates would rather turn themselves in at Marine bases than risk becoming slavers. Surrender offered a slim chance of survival, while engaging in slavery meant certain doom—Wright had made it his mission to annihilate such crews without exception.

Hunting pirates in the Grand Line was no easy task. Even in the relatively tame Paradise region, solo pursuits were unrealistic. Wright initially considered ambushing the Mad Dog Pirates at Sabaody but quickly dismissed the idea.

His sword, Ashes, infused with Holy Light over years of training, had become an inseparable part of him. However, Ashes had also acquired a unique characteristic that perfectly reflected Wright's flamboyant personality—it shone. A constant misty golden glow enveloped the blade, making it impossible to hide, even when sheathed or wrapped.

Bringing such a conspicuous weapon to Sabaody Archipelago, combined with Wright's relative anonymity, would undoubtedly attract the attention of shady figures, CP agents, and possibly even the Celestial Dragons. That would force Wright into a situation far beyond his current abilities to handle—something he preferred to avoid.

Instead, Wright decided to take matters into his own hands. Sabaody might not be suitable for a stakeout, but other places could work just as well.

After resupplying, Wright disembarked from the Navy ship that was returning to Headquarters. He took a small spare boat for his mission. Years of experience handling small vessels served him well as he sailed toward a distinctive island he had scouted before—a place impossible to forget: the world-renowned shipbuilding hub, Water 7. 

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