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Marineford. At the inner bay harbour, tension filled the air. Beads of sweat ran down the faces of countless Marines as they stared at the approaching fleet.
The moment they caught sight of Bullet, a chill ran down their spines. To the Marines of headquarters, Bullet—the Commander of the West Blue—was infamous for his ruthless nature.
Over the past decade, Bullet had left Marine officers miserable even during the few rare interactions with headquarters.
Many Vice Admirals at HQ believed that despite wearing a Marine uniform and bearing the rank of Vice Admiral, Bullet's defiant personality, overwhelming strength, and blatant disregard for orders from the top proved that he walked an entirely different path.
Bullet followed the command of only one man. Even if Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself issued an order, Bullet would simply act like he hadn't heard a thing.
Because of this, he had become a terrifying figure among the ranks. Worse still, after Arashi's departure, the West Blue Marine branch underwent brutal training under Bullet's control, producing a wave of elite soldiers.
It was said that Bullet even had access to a powerful scientific research unit.
"Now that Arashi's right-hand man is here, everything's in place." Lost in thought, none noticed the sudden arrival of a figure with short purple hair at the harbour.
"Teacher Zephyr!" A middle-aged Marine bearing the rank of Rear Admiral shouted in surprise.
Standing ahead of the crowd was the former Admiral Zephyr, now retired but still teaching cadets occasionally.
Zephyr stood tall and upright, arms crossed. Though his face showed signs of ageing, he still looked sharp and full of vigour.
His stern eyes stared at the enormous fleet before them.
"The development of the West Blue all these years is truly astonishing," he muttered, shocked.
Undoubtedly, every Marine on the ships Bullet brought was an elite. Aside from essential support personnel, they were all seasoned combatants.
Zephyr knew all too well that the West Blue had not received any financial or otherwise support from Marine HQ in years.
That meant they had built this force entirely on their own. "They've practically formed their mini-Marine kingdom," Zephyr said softly.
But this was a result of years of tension and history. He couldn't say much about it.
Fortunately, some tensions faded after Arashi returned to HQ as an admiral. Still, Bullet's arrival at Marineford on the eve of war was a clear signal.
Gradually, the first warship of the West Blue fleet docked. Under the nervous assistance of HQ Marines, a group of stern, cold-faced officers in Marine uniforms disembarked.
"Does the West Blue have no ordinary soldiers?" HQ Marines were shocked.
"Where is Admiral Arashi?" A female Marine with the rank of Rear Admiral among the disembarking group asked coldly.
"We've already informed Admiral Arashi that the West Blue branch has arrived. He should be on his way," a HQ Marine instinctively responded.
Eveya nodded slightly. Though her face remained serious and cold, her eyes revealed a flicker of emotion as she looked up at the mighty fortress ahead.
She was finally going to see Admiral Arashi again.
Behind her stood a towering man over six meters tall, sword at his waist, wearing a Marine cap. His eyes scanned the surroundings in a daze.
Meanwhile, from another ship, five Rear Admirals also disembarked. Leading them was a man with a sniper rifle on his back.
He nodded when he glanced at Eveya—it was Evans and his squad.
"Twenty years, huh? Under your management, Marineford hasn't changed one bit. That's a miracle in itself." A cold, deep voice suddenly rang out.
A massive warship docked. Bullet leapt from its bow and stood before the crowd of Marine officers, a mocking smile on his face.
"Bullet, enough of your nonsense," Zephyr snapped.
"Take your people and settle in. War is coming—we don't have time for your complaints."
Bullet narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the purple-haired veteran. After a moment, he sneered.
"So it's Admiral Zephyr. After all these years, you've lost an arm. I wonder who did it?" He paused, then smirked.
"If that guy finds out, he'll probably avenge you." Zephyr's expression didn't change, but his eyes grew colder.
This man was as arrogant and untamed as the rumours said. He didn't act like a Marine at all. The pirate's aura still clung to him.
"I assume you don't want to start a war right here, do you? Then keep your mouth shut," Zephyr said coldly.
"Hmph! Where are we staying? So that you know, I brought many people." Bullet grinned arrogantly.
"This time, I brought twenty thousand officers—all with the rank of Commander and higher!" His words stunned everyone at the harbour.
Even Zephyr's pupils shrank. "Twenty thousand officer-level elites? The West Blue is that powerful now?"
"How is this possible? Compared to the other three seas, the West is overwhelmingly strong!"
"No wonder HQ has tolerated their arrogance all these years—this power is terrifying!" Murmurs spread like wildfire.
Countless Marines looked shaken. "You all seem surprised," Bullet said with a sneer.
"The era has changed. That outdated Marineford system should've been scrapped long ago."
"The West Blue's model suits this new age best!"
Bullet knew exactly how powerful his military force was. The twenty thousand elite officers were just the start.
He also commanded special ops units, intelligence divisions, scientific teams, and advanced weaponry.
The West Blue had grown into an undeniable military powerhouse.
"The stronger you are, the more helpful you'll be in the coming war," Zephyr said sternly.
"Follow me. So it's true—you're going to strike at Whitebeard?" Bullet grinned, a savage glint in his eyes. Such a bold move was exactly what he supported.
"Both Sengoku and Arashi made this decision," Zephyr replied, glancing at the beast of a man beside him.
In his heart, he couldn't help but sigh. Monsters surrounded Arashi.
Crocodile—a Logia user who had mastered both types of Haki and was surprisingly skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
Considering his overall strength, he likely wasn't inferior to the current Admirals.
Standing before them, Bullet's presence was overwhelming. Ordinary Marines likely wouldn't even dare to meet his gaze.
One glance and the sheer intensity of his aura would crush them. Arashi's right-hand man—every one of them was a monstrous force.
"He's finally doing something interesting," Bullet laughed. Zephyr said no more and took the lead. Bullet swept a glance over Marineford, then silently followed him.
Behind him, Eveya and the others kept close. Marines from the West Blue fleet were still disembarking.
As the first batch moved out from the inner harbour and reached the plaza, a tall figure stepped off one of the airships.
He had long earlobes, held a golden staff, and wore flared pants. He looked up at the vast fortress before him as he descended, grinning with curiosity.
"So this is Marineford, the largest stronghold in the Blue Sea?"
Seeing the man—standing over two and a half meters tall, with thunder drums on his back and an intimidating aura—the Marines instinctively stepped back in fear.
"Enel, get out of the way! You're blocking my view!" Another massive figure strode forth and shoved Enel aside.
This new man had wings on his back, dark skin, and a hulking build. His aura was like a demon's, sending shivers down the spines of nearby Marines.
"You're from the West Blue branch too?" a headquarters officer asked, trying to sound composed.
"Of course," Wyper chuckled. "Based on your Blue Sea classifications, we fall under the Science Division."
As he spoke, more Skypieans followed behind him—brawny, winged warriors disembarking one by one.
The headquarters officers stumbled back, stunned. Did the West Blue branch even have people from the sky?
Once all the Skypieans had landed—Boom!—a heavy footstep echoed. The Marines looked up in shock as the warship visibly trembled.
"What was that?!" a commanding officer shouted.
"Vegapunk calls them PX—Pacifista models!" Enel took a bite from an apple and sneered. "Take a good look, rookies. These five are true monsters."
"Pacifista?!" The officer stared at the ship in disbelief. As the warship rocked, a golden-haired figure appeared before him.
The man's long hair flowed to his waist. His eyes were sharp as blades, and his face… "G-G-Golden Lion Shiki?!" A scream echoed through the inner harbour.
Golden Lion Shiki?! The sudden outcry threw the entire dock into a strange silence. All eyes turned toward the figure at the ship's bow.
"That face!!"
"It's him! The legendary pirate!"
"Are you kidding?! Shiki disappeared ages ago!"
"More like he was presumed dead in the West Blue!"
One shocked expression after another spread across the Marines' faces.
Marine Headquarters had every reason to be on edge if this was truly the legendary pirate. Everyone knew the destruction such a man could unleash.
But then—another Shiki stepped forward. Every Marine froze. "Another Golden Lion?!"
"What the hell is going on?"
"Is my brain breaking?!"
Someone tugged their hair in frustration as a third, fourth, and fifth Shiki followed, lining up in front of the crowd.
All five bore the same face, cold and expressionless.
Their eyes flickered with blue electric arcs. Their bodies radiated immense power. "These aren't the real Shiki," Enel said, chewing his apple.
"They're the result of the Science Division's work—Pacifistas. Not human. Fully robotic."
"Robots?!" The headquarters Marines looked at each other, stunned and confused. But the West Blue science unit offered no further explanation.
They simply led the five Shiki-lookalike machines toward the plaza, disappearing.
At the plaza in Marineford, Arashi stood quietly. Behind him was the ever-silent Kuma.
Lately, Kuma had acted like his most dependable bodyguard—always present, always on duty. Arashi appreciated him deeply.
Kuma didn't talk much, but he got things done without hesitation. His only flaw? He may have been tied to the Revolutionary Army.
But Arashi didn't mind. He valued and wanted to protect someone like Kuma.
He still remembered the tragic end Kuma met in the original timeline. It had left him with deep regret.
As that thought passed, Arashi looked up and saw Zephyr approaching. At the same time, the five Pacifistas flickered past at the harbour.
"PX was only Vegapunk's early prototype for cyborgs," Arashi thought. "The real core of the project—the ultimate goal—is the Seraphim."
"But of course, that kind of breakthrough won't be revealed yet." His eyes sharpened slightly.
Only the PX units would be deployed for the coming war at the Summit—just the Science Division.
But what caught him off guard was that Vegapunk had recruited even Enel and the war demon Wapol for the Sky Island research army.
He had successfully integrated with the Skypiean population and raised an army on-site.
"Arashi!" Zephyr and his group finally arrived.
"Teacher Zephyr, it's been a while. You still look as spirited as ever," Arashi greeted warmly, bowing slightly.
Even now, as an admiral, he still holds deep respect for those who helped him in the past.
Zephyr was unquestionably one of them—a man worthy of admiration. "You brat. You've grown into someone truly impressive!"
"I'm proud of you!" Zephyr's stern demeanour melted into a rare smile at Arashi's respectful attitude.
"Your arm…" Arashi's gaze shifted to Zephyr's right side, where his mechanical crusher arm had replaced his real one. His eyes turned cold.
"An accident," Zephyr said simply. "But it's not a problem anymore."
"You, kid… Sometimes, you don't act like a Marine at all. This compassion and loyalty—it even surpasses your duty."
He patted Arashi on the shoulder, his tone filled with emotion. "Avenging your teacher—that's what a true disciple should do."
"If I ever run into that pirate in the future, I won't show him mercy," Arashi said in a deep voice.
"No need. That's something your teacher should handle himself," Zephyr shook his head, though his smile only grew warmer.
Though not Arashi's true mentor like Garp, he was still treated with genuine respect, which moved him deeply.
Of all the students he'd trained, perhaps only Arashi had truly held onto that sense of loyalty and gratitude.
Thinking of Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, he could only sigh. People fear comparisons for a reason—because comparisons reveal the gaps.
"Now that you're here, you can take charge of your subordinates," Zephyr said with a smile.
"Please, go ahead, sir," Arashi replied, grinning. Zephyr turned and quickly disappeared.
Arashi's gaze shifted forward. Bullet's ferocious aura had oddly weakened, and his stiff expression seemed caught between a grin and a forced calm.
Behind him stood Eveya, her face flushed with emotion, eyes red from tears.
Though middle-aged, her body and skin retained much of their youth, only marked by a matured presence.
Further behind was Kozuki Oden, wearing a Marine cap and visibly transformed after fusing with Lunarian DNA.
Beside him stood Ashura, now known as "Shu"—white hair, brown skin, long blade in hand, and already a powerful officer.
Evans, Yagyū, and others stood further back, faces full of excitement.
"Long time no see, everyone! It's so good to see you all again," Arashi said with a cheerful smile.
"Commander!!" Eveya finally broke down, rushing forward and hugging his waist with trembling arms.
"You're as beautiful as ever, Eveya," Arashi said softly, bending down to wipe away her tears.
"It seems time hasn't left many marks on you."
"Really?" she asked, joy lighting up her face.
"Of course. To me, my vice-commander Eveya is forever youthful and radiant," Arashi smiled. Eveya's face bloomed with happiness.
"Oi, I don't have time to sit here and watch your mushy little reunion story!"
Bullet suddenly cut in with a cold voice, stepping forward as his aura flared.
A black-violet haze swallowed the air, turning the sky suffocating. "Rather than catching up with old friends, what I care about now… is you, Arashi!"
With a roar, Bullet leaned forward, his muscles tensing, his grin twisting into a mad smirk.
"I want to see if you still have the power worthy of my loyalty!" The others froze and sighed—everyone knew exactly how insane Bullet could be.
"Oh? That eager already, Bullet?" Arashi chuckled. "But…" The moment he spoke, his smile vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness.
"I'm not Roger. I get stronger with every single day that passes." A wave of black and red Conqueror's Haki burst from his body, colliding head-on with Bullet's own.
The sky above Marineford trembled violently as their auras clashed, sending countless Marines into shock.
Sengoku looked up suddenly in the Fleet Admiral's office, eyes filled with disbelief. He rushed to the window, staring at the two figures on the plaza, locked in confrontation.
Seeing the clash of Conqueror's Haki, he blinked, then sighed. "Those two maniacs… are they planning to fight here?"
A second later, the office doors burst open. "Sengoku. Arashi's West Blue Division has arrived. Bullet brought an elite force with him—plus some mysterious robotic soldiers from the science unit!"
Without even turning his head, Sengoku kept his eyes on the window.
"I can see that, Zephyr. Those two are about to go at it."
Zephyr approached quickly, and when he saw Bullet below, he frowned.
"He is a madman."
Sengoku nodded but smiled. "But with Arashi here, even Bullet's madness can be kept in check."
"He might just become Arashi's most loyal right-hand man." Zephyr narrowed his eyes, staring down at the two figures.
"Arashi, before we fight, I need to tell you something. You probably won't like it," Bullet said with a twisted grin.
"Oh?" Arashi looked at him. "If you lose in this war, then you'll have to acknowledge me as your boss!" Bullet roared with laughter.
Arashi shook his head, chuckling. "That's something that will never happen."
"Is that so? Then let's find out!"
With a furious shout, Bullet's thick legs swelled with power. His knees bent, crushing the ground beneath him.
Then, instantly launched forward like a missile, tearing through the air as he appeared right before Arashi.
His massive arm drew back, fingers clenched into a fist. A grin spread across his face.
"Let's see if you've grown stronger—or weaker—all these years!" A punch the size of a boulder surged toward Arashi's forehead, carried by the force of a hurricane.
"So be it," Arashi said calmly.
He raised his arm, opened his hand, clenched it into a fist, and struck. Their fists collided, and a shockwave rippled out, shattering the ground beneath them.
Bullet's pupils shrank, his body suspended in mid-air, stunned. It was a clean, effortless-looking punch that stopped him cold.
"I'm going to get serious now, Bullet," Arashi's voice rang out. Bullet's body tensed, eyes widening in shock.
"What?! That wasn't even serious?!" As the words left his mouth, a tidal wave of pressure came crashing down.
It was overwhelming—like a flood or tsunami. He couldn't even react. Bullet's body was sent flying like a cannonball.
Boom!
Thousands of meters away, dust shot skyward as he crashed. Arashi stood with his fist extended, smoke curling from it. The heat of the impact had scorched the air.
All around him, silence reigned. No one dared make a sound.
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