Aboard the Oro Jackson.
Everyone on board froze in stunned silence as Roger came sprinting out from the island. He looked like hell—clothes torn, skin scorched, and completely battered.
The moment he set foot on the ship, the crew rushed to his side.
Someone quickly retrieved medical supplies, and the ship's doctor began examining his injuries. But Roger only burst into laughter, full of energy, waving them off as if nothing was wrong.
After the ship's doctor checked him over, it turned out he had multiple serious burns and two broken ribs. Fortunately, nothing seemed too serious. Only then did the crew begin to relax.
Later, bandaged and sitting comfortably in the cabin, Roger devoured a massive hunk of meat while chatting casually with Rayleigh. He washed it down with a deep swig of sake, exhaled, and muttered, "That guy was really a pain."
The vice-captain raised an eyebrow. There weren't many people Roger would say that about.
Seeing the curiosity on his first mate's face, the pirate captain elaborated, "Strong will, ruthless tactics, and the moment things turned against him, he ran without hesitation. That kind of brat... is trouble."
Rayleigh gave a slow, thoughtful nod. His mind drifted to the volcanic eruption back on the island. It reminded him of something he'd read in the newspapers. A name that had stood out.
Vice Admiral Sakazuki.
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
A piercing whistle cut through the air.
Boom!
A cannonball exploded just off the ship's starboard side, sending a column of seawater into the air. Roger and Rayleigh exchanged a look and stepped out onto the deck.
A thunderous voice echoed across the waves.
"Roger!!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several more cannonballs screamed through the air, slamming into the sea and kicking up massive waves.
Roger squinted toward the distant warship. A single figure stood tall at its bow.
A wide grin spread across his face. "Alright, boys! Raise the sails! We're running for it! Wahahahaha!"
"Yeahhhhhh!!!" the crew roared in unison, springing into action.
...
On the marine ship, a conveyor-like platform rolled forward, loaded with cannonballs. Garp stepped up, grabbed two with a wild grin, and locked eyes with the fleeing pirate ship.
"Take this, Roger! Meteor Fist Shower!!!"
His arms bulged as his muscles swelled, and in the next second, he hurled the cannonballs with his bare hands.
BOOM!
The moment they left his fingers, the air exploded with sonic booms. One after another, they roared through the sky like thunder.
Garp's movements blurred, faster than the eye could follow. The platform couldn't keep up—cannonballs rolled forward one after another, yet still lagged behind the speed of his throws.
"Bwahahahaha! Don't run, Roger! Get back here!"
Through the storm of cannon fire, the Oro Jackson danced across the waves like a sea serpent, weaving left and right, dodging the deadly barrage with masterful grace.
Behind it, the marine warship gave chase without pause.
...
Half an hour later, the massive volcanic crater on Kergashi Island finally began to settle. Half the island was now covered in molten rock. From within it, a figure slowly took shape.
Sakazuki solidified his body and stepped onto the lava, his face pale. His body reformed from the magma, steam hissing from his skin. He closed his eyes, extending his Observation Haki across the scorched terrain.
Moments later, his eyes snapped open. With a flick of his hand, the lava across the island began to shift, sliding aside as if alive. Clear paths opened through the wreckage—routes for the civilians who had taken shelter underground.
Sweat streamed down his face. His body trembled from the strain. The effort of reshaping such a vast area, while wounded, was almost too much.
He coughed hard and finally stopped.
'That should be enough,' he thought.
Straightening up, he turned and began walking slowly, heading toward the two people approaching him—figures he had already sensed through his Haki.
...
Nighttime. Aboard the warship.
Sakazuki, covered in bandages, was sitting in the dining area, quietly eating and replenishing his strength. His body had mostly recovered, but the injuries were still severe enough that he'd need time to fully heal.
Floating nearby on his miniature Maxim model, Enel sat cross-legged, watching silently. After a while, he spoke.
"Uncle… I want to become stronger."
Sakazuki looked up, a little surprised. Enel suddenly seemed more mature somehow.
He stared at the boy's determined expression for a moment, then replied, "Let Carlo put together a training plan for you first. In a couple of years, when you're old enough, you'll enter the Marine Academy."
Enel nodded firmly and turned to leave.
Sakazuki watched him go and smiled a little. As if something amusing crossed his mind, he shook his head and returned to his meal.
...
In the officer's private quarters, Carlo sat at his desk, pen scratching across the paper as he wrote furiously.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sound of knocking broke the quiet. Without looking up, he spoke.
"Come in."
Enel pushed open the door and stepped inside, explaining why he'd come.
Carlo had just finished the final line. He turned, handed the paper over with a grin, and said, "This is your temporary training plan."
The paper was completely filled, packed with tasks and exercises. But in reality, it only looked overwhelming because it was broken down into many sections. Each part had a controlled, reasonable time limit. Carlo just wanted to see how shocked Enel would be.
He watched him with a smile.
After a long silence, as Enel studied the plan, his expression turned serious. Finally, he called out.
"Big brother Carlo…"
A sharp glint flashed in Carlo's eyes as he replied, "Hmm?"
Enel looked up, staring at the man who was sitting backwards in the chair, arms resting on the backrest.
"I can't read," he said solemnly.
The words hit Carlo like thunder on a clear day. His eyes widened. The corner of his mouth twitched.
'I'm such an idiot... an absolute idiot...'
He rubbed his forehead, sighing deeply. He had completely overlooked it. How could a child who'd lived on the streets know how to read? Not to mention, he was only three years old. Even kids from normal families wouldn't know all their characters at that age.
Defeated, Carlo took the training sheet back from Enel. He went to the desk, grabbed a notebook, and began writing. He wrote a few basic characters and handed them to Enel, teaching him how to pronounce and write each one. He told him to keep practicing. The ship didn't have any children's books, so he'd have to buy some at the next island.
Enel returned to his small room holding Carlo's notebook.
Under the bright light, he sat at his desk, muttering to himself as he slowly wrote down crooked letters.
"E—n—el..."
"Jus—tice..."
The lights of the warship glowed brightly under the night sky as it slowly sailed forward.
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
After several days of sailing, Sakazuki's warship finally reached the headquarters.
The ship slowly entered the harbor. For the first time in almost a year, the crew laid eyes once again on the massive, imposing structure.
Enel stared wide-eyed at the towering fortress. On the massive outer wall, the bold characters for "Marine" stood tall, solemn and majestic.
It struck something deep in his heart.
As the ship anchored and came to a stop, Sakazuki ordered everyone to rest, then took Enel with him toward Fleet Admiral Kong's office.
Enel floated behind him on his small Maxim model, drawing curious looks from many people along the way. He felt their eyes on him, growing more self-conscious with every step. Slowly, he drifted closer to Sakazuki and kept his head down.
When they arrived outside Kong's office, Sakazuki raised a hand and knocked.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Come in," came a steady voice from inside.
Sakazuki pushed open the door and stepped in.
Enel peeked around his side, only half entering, and looked toward the Fleet Admiral.
**
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