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Zoro's pupils shrank as he clenched both fists tightly. He tried to push himself up, but the injuries he had just sustained left him completely immobilized. He could only lie there.
"Kuina!" he growled through gritted teeth, his expression twisted with conflict.
He understood exactly what his old friend was implying—becoming Arashi's disciple could be his only path to survival.
Otherwise, his choices were execution or life imprisonment in Impel Down. Either way, it would be the end of his dreams, ambitions, and everything he'd fought for.
But to apprentice under an enemy… that was something he couldn't accept so easily.
"Zoro!" Kuina's voice was filled with urgency as she pressed her forehead to the ground.
"If you can't stay alive, if you can't become stronger, how can you ever help Luffy become King?"
Suddenly, Zoro heard a voice echo within his mind. His pupils contracted again, then everything faded to black—he lost consciousness.
Arashi, seated on a chair, waited in silence. When he heard no response for a while, he frowned.
"He passed out," Perona giggled. "You guys didn't hold back at all!"
Arashi sighed and glanced at Rob Lucci and the others. "Even though he's our enemy, his will to fight is worthy of respect," Moria said with a grin.
Time had changed Moria's bloated figure into a broad, muscular frame. Standing tall with a long blade—nearly two-thirds his height—he now gave off a faintly imposing presence.
Besides Lucci and Daz Bonez, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
"Resume your training," Arashi said with a slight smile, then turned to the battered Coby nearby.
"Even though you're my junior disciple," Arashi said, "you have no right to flaunt my name."
He paused, his tone softening slightly as a smile crept across his lips. "But if you can't survive this training session, I'll give you a special privilege… I'll allow you to quit at any time."
Coby trembled. He heard the displeasure and ridicule hidden in his senior's words.
Clenching both fists tightly, he raised his head with sudden determination.
"Please rest assured!" he shouted. "I won't quit this training, even if it costs me a hundred or a thousand times more effort than anyone else!"
"Even if I die, I will not retreat!" His last words echoed in a cry of resolve.
Arashi stood quietly, then slowly rose from his chair and walked toward the edge of the training grounds.
As he reached the door, his voice drifted behind him. "Then let me see that determination for myself… and prove that Garp-sensei's eyes weren't mistaken."
Coby bit his lip and tightened his fists, shouting after Arashi's retreating figure, "Yes!!"
Compared to the class leader, the vice leader, and even Warlord Gecko Moria, Coby was clearly far behind.
He'd suffered immensely in the second phase of training, skirting the edge of death more than once.
Even compared to other trainees, he and Helmeppo were seen as the weakest in the class.
But despite everything, quitting had never crossed his mind. This was the only place where he could truly break free from his old limitations and step into a new realm.
Though dangerous, battling opponents far stronger than himself brought invaluable experience and lessons.
He remembered Arashi's teachings from their sparring not long ago—only through bloodshed can a Marine advance.
Understanding the darkness of the world leads to a clearer grasp of justice and light.
Soon, medical personnel rushed into the training grounds and carried Zoro away on a stretcher.
Kuina stood up, watching Zoro with a hesitant expression before quickly following.
By noon the next day…
"Vice Admiral Joyce sent me to deliver them personally," said a colonel in a formal hat with a sword at his waist, clearly nervous in front of Arashi.
Still, he was polite and even brought fine wine from Joyce's hometown.
"Eustass Kid."
"Trafalgar Law."
"Urouge the Mad Monk."
"Scratchmen Apoo."
"Basil Hawkins."
Arashi glanced at the five Supernovas, the same ones he had crushed on the Sabaody Archipelago not long ago.
"You've worked hard," he said. "Tell Vice Admiral Joyce I enjoyed the wine."
The colonel relaxed a bit and replied, "I'll be sure to deliver your message," then stood at attention, saluted respectfully, and left without asking further about the prisoners.
The room fell silent. Arashi studied the five Supernovas, all shackled with Sea Prism Stone, pondering how to deal with them.
After a pause, he finally said, "Go call Vice Admiral Rosinante. " The nearby Marine immediately relayed the message.
Down below, Law's expression darkened. If there was anyone in this world he still respected, it was Rosinante. And Rosinante knew him all too well.
"As for Eustass Kid, Urouge, Apoo, and Hawkins," Arashi continued calmly, "Lock them in the headquarters prison. I've got no time to deal with them right now."
"Yes, sir!" The nearby Marines quickly moved to escort the four Supernovas away. Then Arashi smiled faintly at Law. "I imagine you're feeling pretty conflicted right now."
"After all, both Rosinante and I had high hopes for you. But in the end, you became a pirate who disappointed us."
Law looked up with burning anger. "Shut up!" Then he lowered his head again and muttered painfully, "Don't let Rosinante come here."
Arashi sneered, "Pirates don't get to make demands." Law dropped even lower, his forehead pressed against the floor, his body trembling.
Time passed in silence. Arashi flipped through a book with a curious smile—it was one he had borrowed from Kuma. Eventually, a tall figure approached.
When Rosinante saw Law lying on the floor, his eyes filled with confusion.
"The headquarters is in the middle of our seventy-eighth operations meeting," he said. "What task required my urgent presence?"
Arashi chuckled and pointed at Law. "No real task. Just wanted you to meet someone." Rosinante looked down.
"Who is—?!" At first confused, his face quickly shifted to shock and then joy. He stepped forward in three quick strides and pulled Law upright.
"Law!" he cried. I'm finally seeing you again!"
"Why are you in chains? Did you do something to anger Arashi-sama?"
"Apologize at once!" He put on an exaggeratedly angry face and slammed a fist into Law's head.
"Apologize!" Law's expression twisted, but he remained silent. "Want me to beat you up again?" Rosinante raised another fist.
That one landed hard, and Law finally cried out. Rosinante's haki and combat ability—passed down from Arashi—were no joke.
"Apologize!!" he yelled again. Law's shoulders drooped, and he sighed. "I'm sorry!" he said at last. Rosinante finally smiled, then turned to Arashi.
"You see? Law knows he was wrong. How about unlocking the Sea Stone cuffs and letting me straighten him out?" Arashi gave him a knowing, amused look.
"Don't you think that act is a little too much for me to buy? But I'll let it slide. I'm not interested in your little drama. Law is yours. I trust you won't let me down."
"Absolutely not!" Rosinante shouted without hesitation. Arashi gave Law one last glance, then turned and walked away.
Elsewhere, Kuma squatted silently in the training grounds, watching the intense sparring sessions of the trainees.
He was no longer a bodyguard—his new role was in the medical unit. His task was to relieve the trainees' pain and fatigue.
As for the price Arashi had mentioned… it hadn't come yet. He still had to wait.
--Five more days passed--
In the Marine hospital, Zoro slowly opened his eyes, his body wrapped in bandages.
"You're awake?" Kuina spoke softly. Only her eyes were visible, and they wavered slightly.
With a hoarse voice, Zoro asked, "You've been here the whole time?"
"Yeah," Kuina nodded. In truth, she was worried that her teacher might suddenly give new orders and take Zoro away.
Their relationship was complicated—not romantic, but more like comrades who deeply understood one another through the way of the sword.
They were rivals, but they were also kindred spirits.
"Thanks," Zoro said. "So, what's my fate? Execution? Or am I being sent to Impel Down?"
Kuina's eyes turned to him. "Our teacher hasn't decided yet."
"Hasn't decided?" Zoro blinked, then broke into a grin. "So that means... I still get to live a little longer?"
Kuina gave him a strange look, not understanding how his mind worked.
Then, even more unexpectedly, Zoro, covered in white bandages, suddenly jumped off the bed.
He reached out and grabbed his three swords from the side.
"Kuina, I need a favor."
She looked puzzled. "?"
"Take me to the training grounds!" Zoro grinned, his eyes burning with a fiery fighting spirit. The sun was just beginning to rise.
At Marine Headquarters' training grounds, the morning drills had already begun.
Led by Rob Lucci, the Ashura Special Training Unit was running swiftly in formation around the grounds. Kuma stood quietly in the shade, watching the scene unfold.
Ever since he'd been removed from his position as a bodyguard, he had become a regular presence here.
Dew slid from the leaves above, but just before it could hit him, it was mysteriously deflected.
Kuma had been watching these training sessions day after day.
He was more familiar with the entire group than anyone else and had even calculated and compared each individual's overall ability.
"Rob Lucci. Daz Bonez. The revived Moria..."
"Their progress is clearly visible. They are the strongest among all. But beyond them, others are training hard—people with potential."
Kuma's gaze swept across the training ground, pausing briefly on each face.
"Kaku, Blueno—members of the CP units."
"Mr. 2 Bon Clay, Gal Dino, Jem the Bomb-Bomb Fruit user from Baroque Works."
"And Perona—who may seem innocent, bold, and naive on the surface, but trains harder than anyone in secret."
"Each one of them is giving it their all, finding their way to grow stronger."
"But there's someone else who stands out, that boy who just joined the Marines not long ago, already carrying a halo over his head."
"Disciple of Marine Hero Garp, junior to the legendary Admiral Arashi. Koby, was it?"
Though he started late and had weak foundations, Kuma could tell—this boy's efforts might surpass everyone here.
That's why he was also the one who came for treatment the most.
"He must have a strong dream, too," Kuma silently thought. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he turned to the side.
A green-haired swordsman, covered in white bandages and carrying three swords at his waist, was striding toward the field.
"Roronoa Zoro," Kuma murmured in surprise.
He had a good impression of this man, from the way he once offered his life in exchange for his captain's, to his performance at Marine Headquarters.
To Kuma, Zoro was the definition of a true warrior. It was just a shame that he now walked a path opposing Arashi. His future likely wouldn't end well.
But then came an even greater surprise. After entering the field, Zoro didn't act like an enemy at all.
Instead, after scanning the area, he walked directly up to Kuma's side. Crossing his arms, he stood quietly, observing the training of the special unit.
After a long silence, Kuma finally asked quietly, "With your identity, this place is dangerous."
"Yeah. But that guy hasn't captured me yet," Zoro grinned. "So, even if this is Marine Headquarters, I'm still free!"
Kuma blinked, then nodded softly. "Is that so?"
"It is," Zoro confirmed.
After that, neither of them spoke again. They stood still in the shade like statues, watching the training unfold.
From the corner of his eye, Kuma could see the expression on the green-haired swordsman grow more serious. Eventually, a flicker of admiration surfaced on Zoro's face.
"Do these guys train like this every day?"
"They're lunatics!" Zoro muttered.
"They have recently," Kuma replied.
"Monsters," Zoro gritted his teeth.
A sudden sense of urgency welled up in him. These people's strength and determination far exceeded anything he imagined.
They weren't just training—they were grinding their bodies down like it was personal.
As someone who also trained relentlessly every day, Zoro understood well how brutal this kind of regimen could be.
But these people didn't seem to care about the toll it took. It was as if they were punishing their bodies on purpose.
Time passed slowly. Morning turned to noon. Zoro still stood there, treating the training ground like his own home.
He watched as Kuma dashed in and out of the field, repeatedly drawing fatigue and pain from the fallen trainees. Seeing this, Zoro finally understood.
"So that's it!!"
"They're pushing their bodies to the limit with no fear—because they don't have to worry about injuries or exhaustion."
"This is their secret to rapid growth in such a short time."
When Kuma returned to his spot, he glanced at Zoro and asked,
"Is this how you're able to stand here so calmly—by casting your own life aside?"
Zoro smiled. "The moment I was brought here, my life no longer belonged to me."
"Staying alive is a gift from the heavens."
"You're not afraid to die?" Kuma asked.
"The word 'fear' doesn't exist in my heart," Zoro replied.
Once again, they fell silent. Around noon, a Marine came with food.
To Zoro's surprise, there was a portion for him as well—his bowl filled with meat and vegetables.
"Eat. If your body has strength, you can do what you need to do," Kuma said.
Zoro nodded. The two of them squatted under the tree and ate heartily.
In this short morning, Zoro had come to a realization.
The man once feared as one of the Seven Warlords—the Tyrant Kuma—was actually a decent person.
In Zoro's heart, Kuma became the first friend he made after diving deep into enemy territory.
By 2 p.m., the lunch break was over, and training resumed. No one paid any attention to the two of them.
Even seeing Zoro, an enemy, the others acted like he wasn't there. It was an odd atmosphere.
Zoro pondered for a moment, then stepped forward. "What are you planning to do?" Kuma asked.
"Do what I must to get stronger!" Zoro grinned.
Kuma stood still, watching as the green-haired swordsman walked up to Daz Bonez. Zoro slowly bowed, a cold, wild smile on his lips.
"Our last fight wasn't satisfying. Let's go another round!"
Daz Bonez pulled his foot off Helmeppo's face and slowly turned to Zoro. A faint smile touched his lips.
"Alright."
Their battle began almost instantly. Since they had once been enemies, there was no holding back.
Swords clashed, sparks flew, and powerful shockwaves burst through the air.
"What about your Devil Fruit powers?" Zoro shouted. "I won't use them again until I master the ultimate swordsmanship," Daz Bonez replied seriously.
Zoro's expression grew even more serious. Clearly, someone had guided Bonez in this decision.
The fierce battle raged on. Neither side gained the upper hand. "Not enough. I need more pressure!" Zoro shouted. "All three of you—come at me!"
"Trying to die?" Moria turned his head but ignored the provocation. Lucci was still violently sparring with Koby and didn't react either, as if he hadn't heard.
"I'll go," Kaku said, flashing forward.
Zoro grinned. "Now that's more like it!"
Time flew by. By dusk, Zoro lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His white bandages were stained red—he was once again at death's door.
Daz Bonez and Kaku were also wounded. They lay still for a while before Kuma healed them. They soon stood up again.
The sky darkened, and a chill crept in. Kuma stood motionless in the shade. Not far away, the bloodied Zoro didn't move either.
Only when everyone else left the training grounds did Kuma's eyes shift to Zoro.
"What a madman," he muttered.
After letting out a sigh, Kuma stepped forward and came to stand before Zoro.
"Heal me!" Zoro grinned through the pain surging across his body. "This isn't something I should be doing, not with who I am now," Kuma replied with a sigh.
"But I know you'll help me anyway!" Zoro laughed loudly.
The next moment, Kuma slowly bent down and reached out his right hand, lightly pressing it against Zoro's body.
Pop! A crimson bubble of energy was forced out of Zoro, shot up into the sky, and burst with a sharp crack.
"Haha! That really is one convenient ability!" Zoro leapt to his feet almost instantly.
He tested his arms and legs, moving freely with surprising ease.
"Well then, I'll be counting on you to treat my wounds from now on, Kuma-Bro!"
Kuma looked puzzled. "Kuma-Bro?"
Zoro's only reply was another loud burst of laughter.
.....
At the same time, inside the Fleet Admiral's office—
"Well then. It's time to make the announcement. This prelude to war has finally reached its end. Marineford's preparations are almost complete."
Sengoku rested both hands on the desk, his voice deep and firm, and his eyes shining with sharp intensity like hawks. "This will be a battle worth witnessing!"
Arashi smiled, nodding in agreement. "Our enemies are world-class monsters... terrifying, truly terrifying," Kizaru muttered with a sigh.
"The public execution will be held one month from now. So, even knowing Marineford is fully prepared... will the Whitebeard Pirates still come to rescue Ace?" Aokiji asked in a low voice.
"He will come," Arashi said calmly, his eyes focused and thoughtful.
"You and I see it the same way," Sengoku said. "The Marines must make not a single mistake before the war breaks out, and when the battle comes, we will seize final victory!"
Sengoku raised his gaze to Arashi and spoke solemnly. "The Marines will triumph! Justice will prevail!"
"The Marines will triumph!" Arashi echoed. "Victory!!!" voices roared in unison throughout the office.
At sunrise the next day—
A shocking announcement, riding on the first rays of morning light, swept across the world, shaking the entire world to its core.
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