Time Travel: Age of Discovery

Teya looked up at the starry sky, its twinkling stars guiding him like the guidance of ancient legends. He pondered inwardly: The Celestial Dragons' territory is a forbidden land shrouded in power and luxury, heavily guarded and filled with experts. However, to Teya, these are mere paper tigers. His strength comes from a deep inner tenacity and unyielding dominance, which no other technique can replace. But he also knows that those unique skills, like the brightest stars in the night sky, could reveal his true identity if used.

Just as Teya was lost in his endless reverie about the future, a thought flashed through his mind like a meteor: to sail out to sea, away from this troubled land. However, should he choose to embark on a warship, a legitimate but risky journey, or slip away quietly under the cover of night? This decision hung like a double-edged sword in his heart, both sharp and heavy.

Just as he was hesitating, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts: "What do you mean by smooth or not?" Teya turned around suddenly and saw Zefa, his trusted mentor, standing not far away in casual clothes with a smile on his face, like a wise man walking out of the night.

Teya saluted quickly, and Zefa patted him on the back with a tacit understanding that only they could understand. His eyes flashed with a self-evident meaning, and then he pointed in the direction of the back mountain. Without further ado, Teya immediately understood and quickened his pace to keep up.

The two walked side by side down a winding path, their houses scattered across the landscape. Some were ablaze with lights, bustling with activity, while others lay pitch black, each telling its own untold story. Teya gazed at Zefa's relaxed figure, a warm feeling welling in his heart. He wondered what Zefa's fate would have been without his intervention. Perhaps he would have remained in the navy, but would his unwavering commitment to justice be eroded by the ravages of time, ultimately leading to his untimely departure?

In this world fraught with uncertainty, every step Thea and Zefa take marks a turning point in history. Their choices, like the brightest stars in the night sky, guide them, and this era, toward an unknown yet bright future. With his head bowed, Thea's toes gently tapped a bouncing pebble on the pavement, as if it epitomized his turbulent emotions. An unintentional sigh, as gentle as a summer afternoon breeze, fell perfectly into the ears of Zefa, who walked beside him.

"Tiya, what's wrong with you today? You seemed to have something on your mind all the way here." Zefa's voice suddenly sounded, with a bit of concern and confusion.

Teya suddenly looked up, his eyes flickered for a moment, then quickly dropped them again, "Ah? Oh, nothing, it's just... I have some personal matters to deal with." He was deliberately vague in his words, trying to pass over the subject lightly.

Zefa smiled faintly upon hearing this, a subtle hint of meaning flashing in his eyes. He didn't press the issue further, but instead, as if opening the floodgates of memory, he slowly recounted the scene of his first encounter with Teya—it was a sunny afternoon, the two of them had bonded after a chance encounter saving a beautiful woman, and had fought side by side since then, weathering storms together, growing from youthful youths to elite members of the navy.

As Zefa continued to narrate, a strange feeling gradually arose in Teya's heart, as if every word of Zefa concealed an unspoken meaning. He listened quietly, without interrupting, only occasionally casting a probing glance.

As they unknowingly reached the back hill, the sight before them stunned Teya. The once desolate mountain had been transformed into a modern training ground, boasting comprehensive facilities and a magnificent atmosphere. The familiar trees and rocks of Teya's memory had been replaced by the orderly training facilities, and a feeling of both strangeness and familiarity arose.

"Time flies! This place has completely changed," Teya lamented, a subtle hint of disappointment in his tone. Perhaps it was the passage of time, or perhaps it was the sheer magnitude of the changes before him, but he could no longer find the pure joy and sense of belonging he once had.

Zefa seemed to see through his thoughts and patted his shoulder gently. "You know, those new recruits in the Naval Academy all take you as their role model. Although they know your name, they often have never seen your demeanor in person. Speaking of which, this is really an interesting thing."

Zephyr's smile was tinged with pride. After all, he interacted with these new recruits every day and knew their minds like the back of his hand. He continued, "Those new recruits are full of energy, and you've given them a tangible goal. After all, in this age of Devil Fruits, the fact that an ordinary person can, through hard work and practice, reach a level comparable to yours, undoubtedly gives them tremendous inspiration and motivation."

Hearing this, Toya felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but also a touch of surprise. He hadn't expected to have such a high reputation among the new recruits, let alone that they would compare him to the legendary Vice Admiral Garp. Some even privately called him "Little Garp."

"If you, Teya, knew your nickname among the new recruits, you'd probably be in tears and laughter," Zefa thought to himself, but he didn't say it out loud. He knew that for Teya, the most important thing wasn't these empty names, but his unwavering pursuit of justice and his unyielding spirit.

On the blue coast where fantasy and reality intertwine, a vivid picture quietly emerged in Zephyr's mind: Garp, the ever-energized veteran, was tapping Teya's forehead gently with his rough fingers in a stern yet expectant manner, and said with a smile on his lips: "Boy, you're still a long way from the real sea!" Hidden in these words were Garp's endless expectations and encouragement for the younger generation.

Just as the lingering echo of this imagination was gently lingering in the air, Zefa suddenly heard Teyana's slightly trembling call in his ears: "Teacher Zefa." This voice, like the ripples on the calm lake, broke the tranquility of the night.

Zefa turned around and saw Teya in front of him, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented determination, like a star about to break at dawn, about to spread its light into the unknown sky. Zefa responded with a warm smile, a smile that showed endless understanding and encouragement for Teya. He nodded gently, indicating that Teya should continue.

Teya's lips moved slightly, as if he was engaged in a silent inner struggle. Finally, he took a deep breath and said with the determination of a warrior facing a challenge, "I have decided to go to sea. There is something extremely important waiting for me there."

At that moment, the bright moonlight seemed to sense the weight of this determination and quietly retreated into the clouds, plunging the entire world into a profound silence. Zefa looked deeply at Teya, his eyes filled with insightful wisdom and a fatherly tenderness. He spoke slowly, "It's the mission that touches everyone's heart, isn't it?"

Teya's eyes became more determined. He nodded vigorously and added, "Yes, it's about dreams, about justice, and about the future of all of us."