"Point to the gun."
A strong wind swept in all directions.
The two lieutenants clashed and retreated. In the next moment, like tigers descending the mountain, one of them brought his index and middle fingers together.
His muscles tightened as power gathered.
Then he thrust forward with lightning speed.
Clang!!!
Sparks flew as metal collided.
The other lieutenant raised his longsword just in time, barely blocking the attack.
The ground beneath their feet collapsed slightly, and their knees collided before both sides retreated to create distance.
Hastily!
Hermes, who was observing almost at point-blank range, was shouting in his heart.
Six Styles.
Was that the Six Styles?
The Six Styles with overwhelming offensive power — the power Hermes lacked the most right now.
"It's been like this for months!"
The lieutenant who had used the finger gun earlier sighed in frustration while looking at his fingers.
"I've been learning the finger gun from the captain for almost three years now. I made great progress at first, but recently it has become harder and harder to improve."
"I don't know how long it will take before I can flick bullets like the captain."
"You've at least reached the basics."
"I'm still completely clueless."
The other lieutenant shrugged helplessly.
Learning the Six Styles was not something every marine could do.
It required qualifications.
Connections.
And contributions.
Within the vast Navy organization, strict hierarchies and regulations existed.
Being able to learn the Six Styles at the rank of Second Lieutenant was already extraordinary.
It required special recognition and contributions.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Sometimes officers personally trained their subordinates.
Sometimes they favored certain soldiers.
However, people with the authority to pass down such techniques were usually lieutenant commanders or higher-ranking officers from Navy Headquarters.
"That's already impressive."
"It took me more than two years just to reach the basics of finger gun."
A rough yet calm voice sounded from behind.
It was Bastan Yuger.
The highest-ranking officer at the naval base.
"Captain!"
Several lieutenants and second lieutenants immediately saluted.
Their eyes were filled with respect and admiration.
"As expected of Captain."
"It only took you a little over two years."
"I wish I had talent like yours."
The two lieutenants sighed again.
"Don't underestimate yourselves."
Bastan shook his head calmly.
"Talent plays a role, but hard work and sweat are far more important."
"Compared to those monsters in Navy Headquarters, I don't even qualify to be compared."
Bastan was already used to such sighs.
There was always someone stronger.
Always someone beyond your reach.
He might be the strongest person here.
But within the vast naval system, he was nothing more than a grain of sand.
"It's getting late."
"Let's begin the monthly training verification."
Unlike ordinary soldiers who trained daily, these officers gathered once a month to verify their progress.
At the end, Bastan would explain problems related to their training.
Including the Finger Gun.
One of the Six Styles.
This was considered special treatment.
Soon, the two lieutenants joined forces against Bastan.
Another dazzling and passionate battle began.
The excitement rose to another level.
Punches.
Footwork.
Weapons clashing.
It was a spectacle.
After the battle ended, the group sat cross-legged on the ground.
Several lieutenants began asking questions.
"Captain, why does my finger gun always feel unstable?"
"It lacks both strength and speed."
Bastan thought for a moment before explaining.
"Finger Gun is one of the offensive techniques of the Six Styles."
"It has the penetrating power of a gun."
"It concentrates the strength of the entire body into the index finger and releases it instantly."
"When practiced to a high level, it can easily pierce the human body."
"At deeper levels, even steel can become as soft as tofu."
"The force doesn't have to be limited to the index finger."
"It can be used with the middle finger, the little finger, or even all ten fingers."
"In some cases, even the toes can produce terrifying penetration."
"This is only the basic application."
"The truly powerful stage is when finger force leaves the body."
"It can pierce a skull from hundreds of meters away."
"It becomes a long-range attack."
"Some generals in the Navy can flick their fingers like cannon shells."
"However, beginners often injure their fingers."
"In serious cases, they may suffer permanent disability."
"So patience is essential."
"Do not rush."
Every word Bastan said was engraved into Hermes' mind.
His earlier excitement slowly turned into intense concentration.
Hermes was very skilled at learning secretly.
The Six Styles were not simple techniques.
Once mastered, they became powerful abilities that allowed survival in this brutal world.
If someone mastered all six techniques and awakened Life Return, they would become extremely powerful.
That night, Bastan explained the Finger Gun from beginning to end.
He even demonstrated it several times.
With a single finger, he pierced a stone.
Like paper.
If that finger struck flesh, the result would be terrifying.
"Focus all your strength into your finger."
At three in the morning, Hermes arrived at the outskirts of town.
Under the moonlight, he began practicing the Finger Gun.
After Bastan's lecture ended, Hermes couldn't sleep.
So he came to practice immediately.
"First calm your mind."
"Don't rush."
Hermes recalled Bastan's instructions.
He tightened his index finger and repeatedly stabbed the air.
But it was difficult.
Concentrating the entire body's strength into a single finger was extremely hard.
Fingers were fragile.
At the beginning stage, practitioners could only stab the air to find the feeling.
There was no pleasure in it.
None at all.
Soon the sun rose.
Hermes was still not sleepy.
Instead, he felt extremely energized.
However, his hands could barely move.
His back ached.
Even his kidneys seemed to be cramping.
This was a serious problem.
"I can't keep going like this."
Hermes forced himself to rest.
Now that the Finger Gun had appeared, Plan B had to be suspended.
He could no longer leave for the capital.
The next day.
Hermes returned to the training ground as usual.
Maintaining his five-millimeter size, he trained alongside the marines.
At the same time, he secretly observed Bastan and the lieutenants during their private training.
Even though they officially gathered only once per month, they still trained individually most of the time.
For Hermes, this was an incredible learning opportunity.
Days and nights blurred together.
Time passed quickly.
Without anyone realizing it, Hermes had been living inside the naval base for seven months.
During those seven months, Hermes lived a very fulfilling life.
Sometimes he even felt there was not enough time.
During the day he trained with the marines.
Sometimes he secretly watched the lieutenants train.
And he never missed the monthly lectures.
For the first two months, Hermes simply stabbed the air.
Trying to concentrate his strength.
In the third month, he practiced on sand.
Then animals.
Then trees.
He just kept stabbing.
Endlessly.
He wasn't picky at all.
Very thirsty.
If possible, he even wanted to stab a real person.
Not for cruelty.
But to feel the sensation of piercing flesh.
Finally, after six months of training, he made progress.
His fingers were no longer fragile.
They had even become slightly deformed.
Whenever he stabbed solid objects, the pain was unbearable.
Even his soul trembled.
But he had finally reached the basic level of Finger Gun.
A thin wooden board could now be pierced with one finger.
Compared to wood, the human body was far weaker.
At the same time, his Mini-Mini Fruit development had also progressed.
Originally he only had two transformations:
Five millimeters.
Thirty centimeters.
Now he had several more:
Ten centimeters.
Fifty centimeters.
And even…
Five meters.
Yes.
Five meters.
Hermes had discovered how to enlarge himself instead of shrinking.
He had spent months experimenting with this ability.
Honestly, it felt a bit pathetic.
Six months for such small progress.
Other transmigrators would already be beating Admirals and kicking Yonko by now.
Some awakened their Devil Fruits within three months.
Hermes felt wronged.
Every night he questioned his existence.
Why did others have cheat systems while he had nothing?
Was this discrimination?
But despite his complaints, Hermes had gained the most important improvement:
His physical abilities.
Strength.
Speed.
Jumping power.
Endurance.
Appetite.
His body had changed completely.
Those firm muscles and clear six-pack abs were the best proof.
And now…
Hermes could easily defeat one hundred versions of his past self from six months ago.