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At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, the atmosphere on the training grounds was strange.
Two groups of people stared at each other in shock and confusion, clearly not expecting to meet here. But soon, the CP team, led by Rob Lucci, showed sinister grins.
"Chababa! A gift from the heavens?" Kumodari muttered as he unzipped his mouth.
"A pirate hunter just fell from the sky!"
No one could've imagined that in the middle of training at Marine HQ, a pirate would suddenly drop from above.
Before Zoro even realised it, he was surrounded by Marines in uniform.
"Hey, where is this place?" Zoro asked, sensing danger. Sweat began to gather on his face. Looking around, he saw nothing but Marines.
It felt like he'd fallen into the lion's den. "You don't even know where you landed?" Kaku said with a twisted smile.
"This is the world's strongest fortress—Marine Headquarters, Marineford."
"You've got some luck, pirate. You dropped right into the centre," Jabra mocked.
"Marineford…?!" Zoro was stunned, then his face turned pale. Even the dumbest pirate knew that name.
"That bastard… he smacked me all the way here!" Zoro gritted his teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead.
Soon, more Marines took notice and approached.
"Rob Lucci, what's going on here?" Daz Bones stepped forward, voice cold.
But his attention shifted immediately as he spotted Zoro, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Roronoa Zoro? Why are you here?" Zoro's expression tightened, fists clenched.
"Hell if I know!"
Who could understand this?! He'd been peacefully singing hotpot songs with Kuina, and then—BAM—one slap sent him flying into enemy territory.
"The swordsman from the Straw Hat crew!" A tall figure approached, locking eyes with him. "Gecko Moria…!" Zoro's pupils shrank.
A strong sense of shock filled his chest as his gaze swept over the group of familiar enemies. His hands gripped his swords tightly.
The situation now—there was no other way to put it—was life or death.
He recognised many faces here, but had no clue why fate brought them all together at once.
Worse, these were just the ones in front of him. Beyond the training grounds, countless more Marines stood between him and freedom.
Marineford, the most fortified stronghold in the world, is the heart of the entire Marine system.
The odds of escaping? Zero. No—less than zero. "Thrown into the tiger's jaws, huh?" Zoro forced a bitter grin and placed his final sword in his mouth.
His eyes gleamed like a wild beast surrounded by enemies, full of savage intent and killing spirit.
"In my opinion, your best option is to surrender," Kaku said casually. Rob Lucci stepped forward, eyes void of emotion. "Resistance is pointless."
"Leave him to me," Daz Bones said coldly. "We're old rivals."
"Let me crush his skull and settle a score," Moria snarled. Perona floated nearby, scanning Zoro with interest. She giggled behind her hand.
"This is the first time I've seen such an interesting swordsman!" Zoro clenched his teeth. "If you've got guts, then come at me all at once!"
"A true swordsman never shows his back to an enemy. Surrender or escape? Those aren't options for me!"
Rob Lucci stepped forward. At the same time, Daz Bones and Moria also advanced.
Lucci narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "No matter what grudges we had with him before… now that he's here, there's only one goal."
"Capture him, or eliminate him." Everyone silently agreed.
The ease and casualness with which they decided Zoro's fate filled him with rage. Clearly, they didn't take him seriously at all.
"Think I'm just a lamb?" he growled. "Then get ready for a surprise."
Zoro leaned forward, body tense in a battle stance. Just then, a fat man with a swollen, bruised face and pink hair ran over.
Upon seeing the three-sword-wielding swordsman surrounded in the centre of the field, he gasped.
"Mr. Zoro?!! You joined the Marines, too?!" Zoro turned, squinting. Despite the battered face, he could just barely recognise him. "Koby?"
"You're looking… surprisingly impressive!" With his pig-like swollen head, Koby scratched his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, I'm not very recognisable right now and as for being a Marine…I'm sorry, but right now, I may be your enemy like all the others."
Zoro grinned. His body dropped low again. Then, a glint of bloodlust shot from his eyes.
Faced with all these powerful enemies, he took the initiative to attack. His sudden charge caused the surrounding people to react in various ways.
Rob Lucci sneered and vanished, reappearing directly in front of Zoro. Moria burst into maniacal laughter as he charged.
"Kishishishishi! Trying to die, huh?!" Daz Bones remained silent and lunged forward, sword in hand.
Clang! The sound of steel echoed.
Zoro's knees bent under the weight. Sweat rolled down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground.
He had blocked attacks from three directions at once—but the pressure was overwhelming.
His swords trembled. His body quivered. "They've all grown stronger…Perfect," he grinned fiercely. "I'll take all of you down right here!"
"Overconfidence isn't always a good thing," Rob Lucci warned.
"I'll turn your body into the perfect piece of art for Straw Hat!" Moria sneered, eyes cold.
"I've been waiting to face you again," Daz Bones said seriously.
Zoro gritted his teeth, roared, and burst with strength, forcing all three back.
It was only a brief clash, but the pressure they gave off was monstrous—his muscles twitched from the force.
It was clear how terrifying their strength had become. But no matter what, surrender was never an option.
"Taking a sword in the back is a disgrace to any swordsman! If I die, then let me die while swinging my blades!" Zoro shouted.
The three enemies launched their second wave. The pressure was so immense that it made one despair.
Nearby, Koby and Helmeppo huddled together in fear, shouting Zoro's name.
"You have to survive, Mr. Zoro!"
"Someone save Mr. Zoro!"
To them, Zoro—who had fallen mysteriously into the training grounds—didn't even stand a chance of leaving alive. And the truth was, they weren't wrong.
.....
At the same time, on Amazon Lily, Rayleigh carried Luffy ashore, waves crashing at his feet.
Soaked and battered, silver hair stuck to his head, body full of wounds, he staggered forward, all his focus on the unconscious boy in his arms.
"That kind of power… what was it? The rhythm of the Drums of Liberation… such strength, capable of challenging Arashi himself."
"Are you the king Roger once spoke of? The one destined to appear in the future, Luffy?"
Rayleigh stared at the boy, eyes white, completely unconscious. His expression was solemn, but there was a flicker of awe.
"The will from 800 years ago has awakened in you, to clash with Arashi…You really are a miraculous boy," he whispered.
"I will save you… and train you properly. Arashi calls that the will of Joy Boy, but your future will shine even brighter than his ever did."
Rayleigh smiled. He'd lived most of his life, yet this was the first time he had witnessed such a phenomenon.
A second will awakening inside a single man, and judging from that battle…
Luffy's Devil Fruit power might hold secrets far deeper than anyone realised.
"Arashi's strength is terrifying," he admitted. "I've aged… I'm no longer a match for him. It's up to the next generation now."
Holding Luffy in his arms and walking toward the jungle at the edge of the shore, Rayleigh let out a soft sigh.
Two Devil Fruit powers, both fully awakened, and mastering all three types of Haki to the highest level—there was no doubt this man was among the strongest in the world.
"And even then," Rayleigh muttered, glancing down at Luffy, "that kid might not have shown his full strength in that battle."
His eyes gleamed with thought as he looked at the unconscious young man.
"Luffy... the era ahead of you will be the most difficult the world has ever known."
The next second, Rayleigh's figure flickered slightly, effortlessly dodging an arrow infused with Haki. He looked ahead toward the jungle where a female warrior had emerged.
"I wish to see your queen, Boa Hancock," he said calmly. "Just tell her—an old friend has come to visit."
The female warriors exchanged glances. They did not strike again, but kept their guard up while one of them turned to deliver the message.
Moments later, Rayleigh was invited into Amazon Lily.
Facing the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, he spoke solemnly, "I hope you can save Luffy's life. He has a bright and powerful future. His journey must not end here."
.....
Back at Sabaody Archipelago, Arashi had changed into a new Marine uniform with Kuina's help. The previous one had been destroyed during the recent battle.
Exploding his clothes during combat was hardly unusual for him—his muscular body made short work of anything flimsy.
Roughly ten minutes later, Vice Admiral Joyce approached with a stern expression and gave a detailed report.
"Zone 12 was evacuated in time, so casualties were minimal. I also cleared the four surrounding zones in advance, which prevented further losses."
He added respectfully, "We found no trace of Silvers Rayleigh." Joyce deeply appreciated Arashi.
Not long ago, it was this very man who helped resolve the humiliation and danger brought by the Celestial Dragons. Arashi had, in truth, saved his life.
"How's the pirate suppression operation going?" Arashi asked plainly.
"This island is the closest to Marineford and marks the end of the first half of the Grand Line. Its strategic importance makes guarding it a top priority."
"I'm not concerned about the Celestial Dragons' injuries or losses from the pirates' assault."
"Compared to them, the casualties among civilians and the economic damage are far more important," Arashi said coolly.
Hearing this, Joyce took a deep breath and replied carefully, "The Marines stationed at Sabaody were fully mobilised, and we've regained complete control over the chaos."
"The disorder caused by the Eleven Supernovas has been fully suppressed since you intervened. We've captured most of their leaders."
"Including other pirate captains, officers, and crew, we've killed, wounded, or captured more than 3,500 individuals."
At this point, Joyce couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. "Such a large-scale operation to wipe out pirates hasn't happened in over a decade!"
"It's dealt a massive blow to their arrogance. Even the ones still hiding wouldn't dare show themselves now."
He continued, "As for the civilians, we've recorded all the damage and listed the affected individuals."
"Compensation will be processed soon to help them rebuild their homes." Arashi's expression softened slightly as he listened to Joyce's thorough and sincere report.
His impression of the Vice Admiral changed. Joyce was clearly a practical officer who got real work done.
Although he wasn't particularly strong, his ability to make quick and accurate judgments during the chaos and prioritise civilians' lives showed outstanding leadership.
"A man worth keeping around," Arashi thought silently, then smiled. "Well done, Vice Admiral Joyce." Hearing that, Joyce's face lit up with a proud grin.
"May I ask you something, Admiral Arashi?" he asked cautiously, finally voicing a long-held curiosity.
"Go ahead," Arashi said with a smile. He had great tolerance and respect for capable and principled people like Joyce.
"To battle an opponent on that scale—only a few in the world could match you," Joyce said gravely.
"So who exactly was that man at Sabaody Archipelago?" It wasn't idle gossip to him, but a matter of intelligence.
"You mean the one who fought me?" Arashi narrowed his eyes slightly, then chuckled.
"I suppose there's no harm in telling you." Joyce listened closely. "Monkey D. Luffy," Arashi stated, walking past him.
Stunned, Joyce stood frozen as the wind blew around him. His expression changed drastically.
"Straw Hat Luffy? Monkey D. Luffy?!" He couldn't believe it.
"He's only ranked second among the Supernovas—how could he possibly fight Admiral Arashi on equal ground?"
As unbelievable as it sounded, Joyce still believed it. A man of Arashi's level had no reason to lie or inflate another's status.
"Send all captured Supernovas to Marineford," Arashi's voice echoed from afar. Joyce immediately turned and saluted. "Yes, sir!"
Once Arashi had completely disappeared, Joyce summoned his aide with a solemn look.
"Call in all Marines stationed in Zone 12 immediately! I want every detail on the man who fought Admiral Arashi! And have all captured Supernova pirates sent straight to Marineford."
"Make sure they're handed directly to Admiral Arashi or someone under his command!" His aide noted every word, then left with a serious expression.
"The pressure from that battle was suffocating—I couldn't even get close," one officer reported.
"I only caught a glimpse, but the man resembled Straw Hat Luffy. I think it was someone related to him… maybe a twin brother!"
"Can't be Straw Hat himself! Even if he's a Supernova, there's no way he could take on an Admiral!"
After compiling all the reports, Joyce drew a chilling conclusion. "It's true… Admiral Arashi wasn't lying."
"Monkey D. Luffy, the dark horse of this era—he fought the strongest Marine Admiral and left unscathed!"
"Has he already reached the power level of a Yonko?" If word got out, the world would be shaken.
Joyce pulled out Luffy's bounty poster from a thick stack of files and slammed it on the desk, face shifting with emotion.
"They say his grandfather is the Marine hero, Garp… and Admiral Arashi is Garp's disciple!"
"What a bloodline, what a legacy!" After a brief pause, Joyce carefully compiled a written report and personally sent it to the Fleet Admiral's office at Marineford.
Two hours later, Arashi arrived at Marineford. The moment he stepped off the ship, he was greeted with startling news.
"One of the Eleven Supernovas, Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, accidentally fell into the training field and was captured by Marine cadets from the Ashura Unit during their exercises!"
The Marine speaking to him looked nervous as he delivered the report. Arashi grinned.
Bartholomew Kuma flinched slightly, a glint flashing through his eyes. "You didn't really think you could keep tampering under my nose, did you?"
"That would be an insult to me, Kuma," Arashi said calmly. Kuina's face, however, grew anxious. "Sensei, Zoro—"
"I know you're worried, but calm down," Arashi interrupted her gently. Then he turned and began walking toward the training field. "Why don't we go see how that green-haired brat is doing now?"
Kuina took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. She trusted her teacher completely. While his actions often seemed strange or hard to understand, they always carried meaning.
Still, Zoro falling into Marineford and getting captured felt too much like a deliberate move on her teacher's part.
She glanced at Kuma and couldn't help but feel amazed. Even a Warlord like Bartholomew Kuma couldn't escape her teacher's grasp.
A few minutes later, Arashi entered the training field—and found Zoro covered in blood, his green hair stained red.
Seastone shackles didn't restrain him, but he couldn't move at all.
Clearly, against Rob Lucci, the upgraded Moonlight Moria, Daz Bones, and others, even Zoro's resolve and pride weren't enough to turn the tide.
He lost. And it wasn't just a defeat—it was a crushing one.
If Koby hadn't pleaded desperately and used Arashi's name as leverage, Zoro might have already died at the hands of the three who overwhelmed him.
"Zoro!" Kuina's expression shifted the moment she saw him. She rushed over and knelt beside him.
"Are you alright?" Seeing his childhood friend made Zoro relax slightly, but he quickly gritted his teeth and said stubbornly, "I'm fine."
Arashi smiled calmly as he sat down on a chair Perona had brought over. "We meet again, Roronoa Zoro."
Though Zoro lay motionless on the ground from his injuries, his mouth still trembled with pride and defiance.
"I wasn't hoping to see you again," he said. Arashi chuckled, then narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Do you want to live?" he asked. "I can give you a few options." Zoro's eyes sharpened, but he stayed silent.
"Join the Marines, Zoro," Arashi said. "Your swordsmanship talent is impressive. I truly admire it, and I believe you're just as gifted as Kuina."
Zoro froze for a moment before letting out a mocking laugh.
"Keep dreaming," he spat. Join the Marines? That was impossible.
He had already sworn to follow Luffy on his path to becoming King of the Pirates, and Zoro's dream was to become the greatest swordsman in the world.
"That's a shame," Arashi said, shaking his head. Just then, Kuina panicked and stepped forward. She dropped to her knees with a loud thud.
"Please, I beg you—take Zoro as your disciple and teach him swordsmanship!" The sight shocked Zoro to the core.
"Kuina!!!" he shouted. Arashi looked at his beloved disciple with a trace of pity in his eyes and let out a soft sigh.
"After experiencing true helplessness and despair, a person learns the real value of strength."
"They will do whatever it takes to reach the top, no matter the cost." Arashi paused, then turned his gaze back to Zoro.
"You want me to take in a pirate as a student? And teach him swordsmanship, Kuina?"
She pressed her forehead to the ground and stayed silent. Zoro clenched his fists. Arashi's words struck deep in his soul.
Without strength, he couldn't even protect his own life. That helplessness truly was despair.
Then a voice slowly echoed in his ears, shaking him to the core. "You want to become stronger, to rise higher, with ambition as vast as the sea."
"But you're letting a woman speak for you in something as personal as asking for a master. Don't you feel ashamed?"
Arashi's voice was calm but cutting. "Becoming someone's disciple is something you must do yourself."
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