《One Peice: New Order》 1: I Am Sakazuki North Blue. On an unknown island. A young boy lay unconscious on the rocky shore, his small hand clutching a short dagger. His tattered clothes were soaked, and the cap on his head bore two bold characters: "ÕýÁx." He looked as though the waves had tossed him ashore, another piece of wreckage left behind by the merciless sea. After an unknown amount of time. The boy''s eyebrows furrowed slightly before his eyes fluttered open. Gradually regaining control of his body, he pushed himself up with his hands and sat upright. His gaze settled on the rippling sea before him. "I¡¯m still alive?" A hollow weakness gnawed at his stomach. Instinctively, he reached to rub it¡ªthen froze. Something felt off. Looking down, his hands trembled slightly. This¡­ This was clearly a child¡¯s body. The realization sent a jolt through him. He scrambled to his feet and rushed to the water¡¯s edge, staring at his reflection on the sea¡¯s surface. A boy, no older than seven or eight years old, stared back at him. His clothes were ragged, his body thin and malnourished. He held a small dagger in his hand, and in his somber eyes flickered a cold, murderous glint. ¡®Rebirth? Transmigration? Possession?¡¯ A whirlwind of thoughts stormed through his mind. Suddenly, a wave surged onto the shore, washing over his ankles. The instant the seawater touched him, a crushing weakness spread through his body. He collapsed straight onto the sand. The abrupt sensation shattered his thoughts. Faced with the unknown, fear coursed through his veins, adrenaline spiking. Only one thought remained in his mind. ''Move! Move, damn it! MOVE!!!'' The moment the tide receded, a sliver of strength returned to his body. More and more, until he could finally force himself to crawl. Using every ounce of willpower, he dragged himself onto a nearby rock that sat above sea level. Once he reached it, he collapsed, gasping for breath. Then came the aftermath of the adrenaline rush. His already frail body had burned through its remaining energy. Exhaustion slammed into him like a tidal wave. His eyelids grew heavier, fighting was useless¡ªhis body¡¯s instincts overpowered his will. Darkness swallowed him whole. ¡­¡­ In the depths of unconsciousness, the boy dreamed. In his dream, he was born in a thriving coastal town in the North Blue. He had a loving family. His parents ran several shops, and life was carefree. But that peace was short-lived, Pirates invaded. Everything was lost. His parents were murdered. The town was slaughtered. When the boy returned from playing in the hills, all that remained were severed limbs strewn across the town and the charred remains of his home. Among the wreckage lay two human-shaped corpses, burned beyond recognition. Tears streamed down his face as he dug through the night, burying what little remained of his parents with his own hands. A single thought consumed him. He would kill every last pirate in this world. With the town no longer safe, the boy snuck onto a merchant ship docked at the port the next morning. Days passed, ports came and went. Finally, he found an opportunity to slip off the ship. In a secluded coastal corner, he built a stone shelter. By day, he wandered crowded areas, gathering information. By night, he trained relentlessly. When hunger struck, he dove into the sea, catching fish to survive. Time passed. He turned seven. Then, one fateful day, as he was training on the beach like usual, something strange drifted in with the waves¡ªa bright red fruit with an odd, intricate pattern. Curious, he ran into the water and picked it up. Hunger gnawed at his stomach. He hadn''t eaten all day. After a brief hesitation, he took a bite. The taste exploded in his mouth, indescribably vile. He wanted to spit it out but couldn''t. Forcing it down, he barely had time to react before a wave of weakness crashed over him. His body went limp, and he collapsed into the sea. He struggled, but his strength drained away. Darkness claimed him once more. When he awoke, another soul had taken his place. ¡­¡­ Nighttime. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The boy lying on the reef stirred once more. But now, he was different. In his dream, he had fully merged with the memories of the boy before him. Now, he was awake. And he understood everything. Slowly, he extended his palm. At first, a thick, acrid smoke curled from his hand. Then, his skin turned red. His fingers twisted and morphed. Finally, his entire hand transformed into molten magma. Drips of lava fell from his fingers, sizzling as they scorched the rock, steam rising into the night air. Silence stretched for a moment. Then, he laughed. First, a soft chuckle. Then, a full, unrestrained burst of laughter. It was wild, manic, utterly unhinged. His laughter echoed into the starless sky, carrying with it all the weight of his past life, his new future, and this incredible world he now found himself in. He clenched his molten fist. "From this day on, I will carry everything that was yours." His eyes burned with resolve. "I am¡ª" "Sakazuki!¡± ¡­¡­ North Blue. Blood Bull Pirates'' ship. Bang! With a deafening crash, a massive figure with the body of a man and the head of a bull was sent flying once again, slamming hard into the ship¡¯s deck. The captain of the Blood Bull Pirates, ¡°Blood Bull¡± Johnny, struggled to his feet. Around him, his crew lay dead. Beside him, his younger brother, who had taken a fatal blow meant for him, lay lifeless. Memories of their years at sea, the joys they had shared, flooded his mind. Tears streamed down his face as his bloodshot eyes burned with rage. "You bastard! What did I ever do to you?!" "Why?!" "Damn demon!!!" Blinded by fury, reason abandoned him. His body transformed into a raging wild bull, and he charged at Sakazuki with everything he had. Watching the three-meter-tall beast barrel toward him, Sakazuki spoke in a cold, emotionless voice. "Why? Isn''t it obvious? Because all of you deserve to die." While speaking, Sakazuki''s right arm transformed into a deep crimson mass of molten lava, seething yet refusing to drip. If one looked closely, they could see the magma flowing beneath his skin. As Johnny charged forward, Sakazuki bent his knees and leaped. With a powerful downward punch, his fist slammed into the bull-headed pirate. The instant his fist made contact, a torrent of lava erupted from it. Boom! The three-meter-tall beast was driven straight into the deck. Magma poured over him, swallowing his body in molten fury. Johnny''s transformation shattered¡ªhis bull form faded, revealing his human self. Yet before unconsciousness could claim him, the burning agony of the lava searing his flesh jolted him awake. He was barely alive, completely powerless to resist. All he could do was scream in agony. "AAAHHHHH!!!" Sakazuki stepped forward, gripping Johnny¡¯s throat and lifting him into the air. Slowly, he let the magma creep up the pirate¡¯s body. "Three years," he said. "More than ten villages slaughtered." His grip tightened. "Go repent in hell, trash.¡± As the magma crawled upward, it engulfed Johnny entirely. His body went still, entombed within a molten cocoon. Sakazuki turned away, stepping into the cabin. He gathered some treasure, loaded it onto his small boat, then pulled out a compass. With the sails raised, he set off. He had barely put a hundred meters between himself and the Blood Bull Pirates'' ship when the magma cocoon around Johnny began to pulse¡ªexpanding and contracting like a beating heart. Faster and faster. Then¡ª Boom! It burst apart. Molten rock erupted, spilling over the entire ship. The lava burned and corroded everything, devouring the vessel from within. Slowly, it sank. Until nothing remained. All of its sins were buried beneath the sea. Aboard his boat, Sakazuki paid no mind to the explosion behind him. Instead, he reached into his coat and pulled out a stack of bounty posters. Each one had a large X drawn over it. Flipping to the last one, he took a pen and marked a bold X over Blood Bull Johnny¡¯s bounty. Then, he tossed it to the sea. ¡®They''re all gone, huh? Guess it¡¯s time to join the Marines.¡¯ Standing at the bow, Sakazuki gazed at the endless sea. He was no longer the frail boy from five years ago. With his Devil Fruit ability, hunting beasts had become effortless. With proper nutrition, in just five years, he had grown far beyond an ordinary twelve-year-old. Draped in a red coat, his features were sharp, his frame broad and powerful. Strapped to his back was a long sword, a trophy taken from a pirate crew he had hunted down. He had spent three years on that unknown island¡ªtraining, gathering intelligence, and compiling that stack of bounty posters. This was reality, not the glorified world of his past life¡¯s anime. Every pirate on those posters was a butcher, leaving behind villages drenched in blood. Even picking one at random¡ªkilling them ten times over wouldn¡¯t feel like enough. Everything he had seen over the years only reinforced Sakazuki¡¯s belief. ''The only good pirate is a dead pirate.'' Two years ago, he set sail. Following the faces on those bounty posters, he slaughtered his way through them. In just two years, he had earned a name¡ª"The Demon." This wasn¡¯t the Great Pirate Era yet. Roger hadn¡¯t spoken those final words that would shake the world. But chaos was already spreading. From the bounty posters he had collected, it was clear¡ªevery year, more and more pirates emerged. No matter how many he killed, one man alone could only do so much. He could refine his Devil Fruit abilities on his own, using knowledge from his past life. But when it came to physical combat¡ªhe had reached his limit. Martial arts, the Six Powers, Haki¡ªhe understood the theories. He knew what they were. But without a proper teacher, he couldn¡¯t master them. Take Soru, for example. He knew it involved stepping on the ground at high speed¡ªat least ten times in an instant¡ªto generate explosive force for rapid movement. To an enemy, it would look like teleportation. But theory was just theory. He had no idea how much force to apply or how to control it. And Haki¡ªArmament, Observation. He had no real understanding of how to manifest them, let alone wield them. Trying to figure it out alone would be a waste of time. So¡­ the first step was joining the Marines. Set a small goal. How about¡ªleaving no pirates alive? ¡­¡­ Half a month later. North Blue, Fuwahana Island. 194th Marine Branch, Recruitment Office. "Next!¡± A Marine clerk, busy recording names, barely looked up. "Name?" "Sakazuki." "Age?" "12." The clerk paused, glancing up from his papers. Sakazuki was taller and more built than even him. His mouth twitched slightly, but he continued. "Why do you want to join the Marines?" A faint killing intent seeped from Sakazuki¡¯s body. His answer was calm. "To wipe out every last pirate in this world." The clerk raised an eyebrow but nodded knowingly. Another kid with a grudge against pirates¡ªit wasn¡¯t uncommon. "Do you have any special skills?" Sakazuki¡¯s voice remained steady. "Logia-type¡ªMagma Devil Fruit user." The clerk froze. "H-Huh?" A moment later¡ª "WHAT?!!!" He shot up from his seat, knocking over his chair. 2: Joining the Marines The marine recruitment officer took a sharp breath. As a Marine staff member, he had far more knowledge than ordinary people and even most pirates. He understood exactly what it meant when someone claimed to possess a Logia-type Devil Fruit, especially one with a reputation as fearsome as the Magma-Magma Fruit¡ªa fruit said to hold the greatest offensive power among them. Without a moment''s delay, he led Sakazuki straight into the base, bypassing routine procedures and heading directly for the Base Commander¡¯s office. ¡­¡­ "Reporting!" "Enter." Inside the office, Base Commander Jorisen looked up from his paperwork. His eyes first landed on Sakazuki¡ªa tall, broad-shouldered boy with a resolute expression¡ªbefore shifting to the visibly excited marine beside him. Jorisen frowned. ¡°What¡¯s got you so worked up? As a Marine, you need to control your emotions, Officer Joel.¡± Joel, still breathless from excitement, quickly blurted out, "Commander, this young man here wants to join the Marines. He¡¯s a Logia-type Devil Fruit user¡­a Magma-Magma Fruit user!" "What?!" Jorisen shot up from his chair, his expression instantly matching Joel''s shock and excitement. Sakazuki took this moment to get a good look at Jorisen. The man seemed around forty, his face marked by a jagged scar running across his cheek, and his left arm was missing entirely. His very appearance told the story of a seasoned warrior who had seen countless battles. Jorisen strode over, his face breaking into a wide, genuine grin. He patted Sakazuki¡¯s shoulder firmly, his voice filled with joy. ¡°Good! Very good!¡± For the first time in what felt like forever, a rare, faint smile tugged at Sakazuki¡¯s lips. ¡®This feeling¡­ not bad at all.¡¯ Jorisen studied him for a moment longer, his voice still trembling with excitement. "Forgive me for the outburst, but this is just¡­ fantastic! Truly fantastic!¡± He laughed, his hearty laughter filling the room. After a moment, he settled down, though his grin didn¡¯t fade. He then gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "Come, have a seat.¡± Taking the registration form from Joel, he read through it as he guided Sakazuki to sit. "Sakazuki, 12 years old... damn. Reason for joining¡­¡± Once they were both seated, Jorisen set aside the paper and looked at him seriously. "Sakazuki, welcome to the Marines. I¡¯m the base commander of the North Blue¡¯s 194th Branch, Jorisen.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. "Nice to meet you, Commander." Jorisen leaned forward, his voice steady but tinged with excitement. "A Logia user is an invaluable asset to the marines¡ªespecially someone with the Magma-Magma Fruit. I need to report this to headquarters before we decide on your placement.¡± He glanced at Joel. "For now, Joel will show you around the base and arrange a dormitory." Sakazuki nodded, understanding the weight of his abilities. He knew joining the Marines would cause waves. Even setting the magma fruit aside, any Logia user who reached their full potential was considered a valuable asset. And magma... that was on the level of a natural disaster. After chatting a bit more with Jorisen, Sakazuki followed Joel out the door. Once they left, Jorisen picked up his personal Den Den Mushi and made a call ¡­... Grand Line. Marine Headquarters, Marineford. In the communication room, a Marine operator picked up the Den Den Mushi. "Moshi moshi, this is Headquarters." Jorisen¡¯s voice came through from the other end. "I¡¯m Jorisen, Base Commander of the 194th branch in North Blue. Please connect me to Fleet Admiral Kong immediately. I have an urgent report. This is about a Logia-type Devil Fruit user joining the Marines." Hearing that, the operator didn¡¯t dare delay. "Understood, one moment." They hurried to transfer the call to Fleet Admiral Kong¡¯s personal line. ¡­¡­ Fleet Admiral¡¯s Office. Kong was reviewing a stack of documents when the Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. He answered it without looking up. After the operator explained the situation, Kong had them connect the call to Jorisen. "This is Kong. What¡¯s going on, Jorisen?" Kong didn¡¯t sound distant at all toward his old subordinate, who had been forced back to the Four Blues due to his injuries. Jorisen¡¯s voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "Fleet Admiral, here¡¯s the situation..." ¡­¡­ North Blue, Fuwahana Island Marine Branch. Back at the base, Sakazuki followed Joel around. He watched the marines train hard, their shouts and grunts filling the air¡ªa clear sign of Jorisen¡¯s effective leadership. They spent half the day walking around. With Joel explaining all sorts of things¡ªfrom the structure of the Marines to the famous pirates making waves in North Blue. He also broke down the current power divisions among pirates and crime syndicates. Later that afternoon, a messenger came to find them, saying Jorisen had summoned Sakazuki¡ªthe Headquarters'' orders had arrived. ¡­¡­ Walking into the office, Sakazuki saw Jorisen standing up with a smile. "Sakazuki, your appointment has been finalized. You¡¯ve been granted the rank of Lieutenant." "For now, you''ll undergo basic training at the branch. Once that''s complete you''ll enter the Headquarters for elite training." Sakazuki nodded, acknowledging the decision. "Lieutenant, huh? I thought I''d start as a Warrant Officer." Jorisen laughed. "Haha, only the average Devil Fruit users start as Warrant Officers." He raised the file in his hand and continued, "And putting the Magma Fruit aside¡­ I didn¡¯t expect you to be the infamous ''North Blue Demon'' who¡¯s been making waves lately. Well done, those pirates don¡¯t deserve to walk away alive." ¡­¡­ Three years later. Reverse Mountain, Entrance. A piercing alarm blared with unstoppable force. A marine warship accelerated, ramming straight into a pirate ship, splitting it clean in half. "Charge!" A cold, indifferent voice echoed from the warship. Immediately, numerous Marine soldiers swarmed over the deck, leaping onto the shattered pirate vessel, launching a brutal boarding assault. It wasn¡¯t a battle¡ªit was a massacre. In mere moments, the sounds of fighting faded. One by one, the bloodstained Marines gathered the spoils and leaped back onto their ship, forming orderly ranks. Purururu¡­ pururururu. On the marine warship, a Den Den Mushi rang. A man answered it. Jorisen¡¯s cheerful voice came through. "Sakazuki, come back. This year''s elite class has you signed up. Get ready to report to headquarters." Sakazuki''s lips curled into a faint smirk. "Roger." He hung up the Den Den Mushi, his gaze falling on the silent, shattered remains of the pirate ship. His right arm began to shift, molten magma surging and twisting. It morphed into a massive, blazing lava fist. "Great Eruption!" Boom! An earth-shaking explosion erupted. The pirate ship, already broken, was engulfed in a fiery inferno. The molten blaze devoured what remained, leaving behind nothing but smoldering cinders and bubbling seawater. 3: Bonebreaker Noss Over the past three years of relentless pirate hunting, Sakazuki''s strength had grown tremendously. Through rigorous, guided training, he had mastered the fundamentals of Haki¡ªnow all that remained was to refine it further through experience. By this point, Sakazuki already carried the imposing, unstoppable presence seen in his future self. Dressed in a pristine white Marine uniform, his towering, muscular frame¡ªover two meters tall¡ªstood out like a juggernaut. The "Justice" emblazoned on his billowing cloak only added to his overwhelming aura. Even when standing still, he radiated an oppressive sense of authority. And when he fought, Sakazuki never left survivors. Pirates in the North Blue had come to fear his very name. The word "Sakazuki" was enough to make them tremble. His reputation even began to spread to the other seas, though that was partly because Jorisen couldn''t resist bragging to his fellow base commanders whenever he called them. ¡­¡­ One week later. A Marine battleship from headquarters was scheduled to arrive at the 194th branch the next day to pick up the elite recruits. The night before his departure, Jorisen called Sakazuki into his office. ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe it¡¯s already been three years," Jorisen said with a rare, bittersweet smile. "Time flies faster than I expected.¡± He paused for a moment, then reached into his desk, pulling out a worn, leather-bound notebook. He extended it to Sakazuki. "Take this." Sakazuki accepted the notebook without a word, his brow furrowing slightly as he glanced at Jorisen. Jorisen chuckled. "This notebook holds information I gathered over the years: details on the factions within headquarters, and the personalities and preferences of some key figures.¡± He leaned back slightly, sighing. "I¡¯ve spent most of my life in the Marines. I¡¯d like to think I understand how things work. Strength matters, yes, but connections matter too. Keep that in mind.¡± Hearing this, Sakazuki carefully tucked the notebook away. His expression turned serious. "Thank you, commander." Jorisen smiled, patting his shoulder. ¡°Hah¡­ hearing you say ¡®thank you¡¯ is a rare thing.¡± He then laughed, the sound hearty and genuine. "Don¡¯t keep that serious look on your face all the time. Come on, let¡¯s go for a walk!" ¡­¡­ The next day. After a firm handshake with Jorisen to say goodbye, Sakazuki boarded the warship sent from headquarters to pick him up. It was a large Marine battleship, the kind only headquarters would dispatch. As Sakazuki stepped onto the deck, countless eyes turned his way. Aside from the usual patrolling marines, there were also dozens of young recruits scattered across the deck, quietly observing one another. These weren¡¯t ordinary recruits. Each one had been hand-picked from their respective branch across the Four Blues, recommended for the elite training program at Marineford. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. When Sakazuki boarded, many of them frowned subtly. His name had already spread across the seas¡ªa legend in the making. And among young people, comparisons were inevitable. When they saw Sakazuki in person, most couldn¡¯t help but change their expression. His sheer size alone was overwhelming, leaving many feeling overshadowed, and that was before factoring in the intimidating aura he carried. Led by one of the ship¡¯s personnel, Sakazuki picked a room and settled in by himself. The moment he disappeared from view, whispers broke out across the deck. ¡°Damn¡­ so that¡¯s Sakazuki? He¡¯s just like the rumors say.¡± ¡°Tch, he¡¯s just big. I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so special about him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid. You think someone gets a reputation like that without serious strength?¡± ¡°Pfft, who knows if the stories are even true?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. This time, it¡¯s all about proving our strength. If you stand out here, your future¡¯s set.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t get anywhere if you¡¯re scared of this guy or that guy.¡± ¡°Easier said than done. Compared to the people from the Grand Line, we¡¯re still a step behind.¡± "Still, we have to give it our all. You wanna stay stuck in some backwater corner of the Four Blues forever?" ¡­¡­ Over the next month, the warship continued collecting recruits from the remaining branches. With everyone on board, they finally set sail toward the Grand Line. After crossing Reverse Mountain, Sakazuki expected they¡¯d head straight through the Calm Belt to reach Marineford quickly. But they didn¡¯t. Instead, the ship veered directly into the Grand Line. In hindsight, it made sense. The timeline was still forty years before the original story began; Vegapunk hadn¡¯t even started developing Seastone-coated warships yet. ¡­¡­ On the tenth day in the Grand Line, alarms blared suddenly. Sakazuki immediately dressed in full gear and stepped out. Waiting on deck was Rear Admiral Wells, the officer in charge of their escort. His expression was grim. "Form up!" Wells commanded. Though most of the recruits didn''t know each other, they were all top marines from their respective branches. It didn¡¯t take long for them to line up neatly. Wells spoke, his voice steady and strong. "Two nautical miles ahead¡ªpirate ship spotted." He paused for a moment, then continued, "Confirmed to be Bonebreaker Noss. Each of you here is an elite recommended by your branch. A mere 24 million bounty pirate shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, murmurs broke out among the recruits. Some looked excited, others nervous. Wells¡¯ eyes darkened, and he roared. "Silence! I¡¯m asking you¡ªDo you have a problem with this mission?!" The deck fell dead quiet, no one daring to speak under the furious gaze of a Marine Rear Admiral. Most of the recruits stiffened and shouted in unison. "No, sir!" Wells nodded in approval. "Good. Pass the order: full speed ahead. Prepare for a boarding battle." Under Wells'' firm commands, the warship surged forward, cutting through the waves toward the pirate vessel. ¡­¡­ Aboard the Bonebreaker Pirates¡¯ ship. The lookout shouted anxiously from the crow''s nest. "Bad news, Captain! A Marine warship is chasing us!" Bonebreaker Noss, fresh from plundering a merchant ship, grabbed a massive, blood-dripping beast bone and laughed wildly. "Ahahaha! What are you afraid of? Turn around! We''ll smash them to bits!" "I¡¯m the great pirate Bonebreaker Noss with a 24 million bounty! How dare a single Marine ship chase me down!" His crew roared with excitement. "Hahaha! Captain Bonebreaker is unstoppable!" "Kill those Marine weaklings!" "My blade¡¯s been itching for blood!" "Yeah! Yeah!" "Charge!" ¡­¡­ Back on the Marine warship. Watching the pirate ship turn and barrel toward them, Rear Admiral Wells sneered slightly and barked, "Prepare for boarding combat!" He also adjusted his stance, ready to intervene if needed. A 24 million bounty pirate wasn¡¯t much to him, but for these hand-picked Marine recruits, it was still a tough challenge. As the two ships closed the gap, only a few hundred meters apart now¡­ While the other recruits were tense, Sakazuki''s lips curled into a cruel smirk. He stepped forward to the bow, ignoring the bewildered stares from the others. In his right hand, magma swirled. It pulsed like a living, molten heart, expanding and contracting rhythmically as though alive. Magma flowed endlessly into it, yet it didn¡¯t grow in size. When the pirate ship was nearly upon them, Sakazuki hurled the seething heart forward with force. "Lava Volcano!" It streaked through the air like a blazing meteor. The molten heart crashed straight into the pirate ship¡¯s hull. Before the pirates could react¡ª BOOM! A surge of relentless magma erupted from the ship¡¯s core, blasting upward and engulfing everything. The ship instantly transformed into a floating volcano, spewing fire and molten rock, burning from the inside out. "Damn it! What is this?!" "It burns! I''m burning alive!!!" "Captain! Help me!" "Ahhhhhh!!" Sadly, no one came to their rescue. As for their captain¡­ Unlucky for him, he had been standing right above the eruption¡¯s core. He didn''t even have time to scream before he was reduced to ashes on the spot. By the time the marine ship finally made contact with the half-sunken wreck, silence fell over everyone. They stared at the charred, smoking remains of the pirate ship, then at Sakazuki''s figure. A cold, creeping fear stirred in their hearts, an emotion none of them expected to feel toward one of their own. Numerous pirates had been swallowed by magma, their bodies melted beyond recognition. The deck was littered with scorched, severed limbs. Every corpse bore a twisted mask of agony and despair, forever frozen in their final moments. 4: Marineford Marineford, the Marine Headquarters. The warship slowly sailed into the harbor of the Marines''s main base. Even from a distance, the massive complex of buildings stood tall and majestic. At the heart of the fortress, an enormous wall towered into the sky, its full height impossible to gauge from afar. Carved into this colossal wall were two bold, commanding characters: "º£ÜŠ", standing proud and solemn for all to see. Above the wall rose layers of traditional, imposing structures. The architecture blended with the sheer scale of the fortress, exuding an awe-inspiring, regal aura. Surrounding the area were four towering watchtowers, each flying the Marines'' flag high and strong, standing as guardians of the base. Beyond the fortress, a vast expanse of town-like buildings stretched endlessly. While lacking the grand authority of the main structures, they added a touch of life and warmth to the otherwise solemn, disciplined headquarters. This formed the one-of-a-kind Marine Headquarters. "So this is Marineford?!" The recruits from the Four Blues stared in awe as they took in the full view of the Marine Headquarters. Compared to this place, their branch bases felt like nothing more than small courtyards. Rear Admiral Wells noticed their reactions and smiled faintly. He, too, had risen from a Four Blues branch. He remembered having the same expression when he first laid eyes on Marineford. As the warship docked, Rear Admiral Wells spoke up. "Everyone, gather your belongings and prepare to disembark." Sakazuki followed the others off the ship. Along the way, they passed by countless marines. Despite the sheer number of people, everything remained orderly and disciplined. They eventually arrived at a vast, open plaza, surrounded by towering structures and filled with more trainees and officers, all waiting for what came next. The plaza was massive, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands training at once, divided into many sections. In several areas, marines were already in the middle of rigorous drills. Sakazuki and the others were led to one particular section where many people had already gathered. Most wore standard marine uniforms, but a few were dressed in their own casual clothes. According to Marine regulations, officers above the lieutenant rank were permitted to wear the iconic "Justice" coat over their standard uniform. For more senior officers and admirals, they could pair the Justice coat with their personal attire instead. Sakazuki had been promoted to lieutenant commander a year ago, but he had grown accustomed to his uniform and never bothered to change. The gathered marines were clearly outstanding recruits from all over the world. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Wells stepped forward to meet a group of fellow rear admirals, each one draped in their Justice coats. One of the officers grinned at Wells and said, "Looks like you''ve brought quite the batch this time." "Wells, you''re way too slow¡ªwe''ve been waiting for a while now!" said another officer. "...." "...." "...." ...... On the other side, not long after Sakazuki and the others finished lining up, a group of people approached. Leading them were two towering, burly men in white suits, both draped with "Justice" coats. One had a head of vibrant purple hair, the other jet-black hair, both laughing heartily. "Vice Admiral Zephyr! Vice Admiral Garp!" The moment they appeared, Wells and the other officers, along with the surrounding Marines immediately straightened up, saluting with utmost respect. ''Zephyr and Garp, huh?'' Sakazuki''s pupils contracted as he stared at the two men, a wave of shock hitting him. Even though he''d mentally prepared for this, standing before them in person made the gap in strength overwhelmingly clear. ''So this is what the world''s strongest truly looks like,'' Sakazuki thought to himself. Though impressed by their power, Sakazuki didn''t agree with their ideals or methods. One embodied "idealistic justice"¡ªa man who once held noble beliefs, only to watch those ideals crumble when his family was slaughtered by pirates. That tragedy twisted him, leaving behind a shell filled with hatred and a relentless pursuit of absolute justice. The massacre of his students, coupled with the higher-ups'' decisions, pushed him further into a spiral of obsession and destruction. The other stood for "carefree justice"¡ªhailed as a Marine hero but acting on his own whims. His attitude toward Roger, treating him as a friend despite his atrocities, was nothing less than enabling evil in Sakazuki''s eyes. Roger had wiped out an entire nation''s military simply because someone spoke ill of his crewmate. Garp himself recalled Roger as a monster, a demon of unmatched brutality, yet still, he called him a friend. And after Roger''s death, Garp''s ideals shifted. He began to believe that so long as no blood was spilled, it counted as peace, a dangerously passive mindset. To Sakazuki, it was foolishness. In an avalanche, no snowflake is innocent. As these thoughts burned within him, Zephyr stepped forward and spoke with a commanding voice. "For the next week, Garp and I will personally oversee your training and evaluations. "One week from now, we will select the best among you for an intensive three-year training program. Your performance will be monitored and recorded daily. Only those with the highest overall capabilities will be chosen. "You are the future of the Marines. But how far you go, that''s up to you. "Do you understand?" The gathered Marines, faces burning with excitement, shouted in unison. "Understood!!!" Sometimes, a little fiery motivation worked wonders... Zephyr nodded, his expression stern. "I haven''t looked at your files. It doesn''t matter what you were before, whether you were born with extraordinary talent or earned great merit. "None of that matters now. From this point forward, you all have only one identity: Marine recruits. "Myself, Garp, and the officers behind us, we are your instructors. Your duty is simple: start from scratch and obey orders without question. "Do you understand?" "Understood!!!" the recruits shouted in perfect unison again. Discipline and obedience, the most basic expectations of a marine. For them, this was no obstacle. "Excellent." Zephyr nodded, satisfaction flickering in his stern gaze. "Your first lesson today is this: Justice. "Justice¡ªjust one simple word. But it''s the belief every Marine carries in their heart. "Many people join the Marines for their own reasons, but no matter what those reasons were, before you act, before you make any decision, you must ask yourselves this, ''Is this the justice I believe in?'' "Do you understand?" "Understood!!!" the recruits roared, their voices filled with conviction. Justice was the core belief of the Marines, though each person''s interpretation of it might differ. Still, the majority of Marines held unwavering faith in their version of justice. Zephyr nodded approvingly. "Very good. Next, the captains behind me will conduct your tests." "Firth." "Here!" "Feynman." "Here!" "...." "...." "...." "Ten of you, step forward and begin the test." Swish! Boom! The square erupted with the clash of blades, fists colliding, and bodies moving in a blur of raw strength and skill. Before long, a figure was sent flying, landing hard on the ground. "Next, Lino!" "Here!" .... Time passed, one match after another. Finally: "Sakazuki." "Here." The moment the name was mentioned, it drew countless eyes. Even without considering Sakazuki''s Magma Fruit abilities, his towering, muscular frame alone radiated an oppressive aura. 5: Fighting Assessment Stepping into the arena, Sakazuki stared at the captain opposite him and spoke calmly. "Captain, be careful." Captain Phil let out a laugh. "Haha, don¡¯t worry. Come at me with everything you¡¯ve got." Sakazuki silently activated his Devil Fruit powers. His skin glowed a deep red, slowly morphing as molten magma pulsed beneath the surface. Though his form remained human, steam hissed from his body, rising in waves. He exhaled sharply, a burst of steam escaping his mouth. "Crimson Lotus." Soru! "Molten Burst!" Whoosh! In an instant, Sakazuki appeared right in front of Phil. Caught off guard, the captain¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He had underestimated Sakazuki¡¯s speed; it was too late to dodge. With no other choice, he roared. "Tekkai!" Sakazuki¡¯s magma-covered fist slammed directly into Phil¡¯s abdomen. The impact was brutal. Squelch! His hardened defense held for a moment, but only a moment. The molten power burned through, and Phil''s stomach caved inward under the force. "Urgh!!!" Phil''s Tekkai technique was forcefully broken. He staggered backward, clutching his stomach, sweat pouring down his face. He opened his mouth, trying to speak, but no words came out. The crowd of recruits erupted into murmurs, stunned by the outcome. Many had expected a tough fight, but not this. Even some officers exchanged surprised glances. Zephyr, who had been watching in silence, finally shifted his gaze toward Phil. His sharp eyes softened just a little. "Phil, step down for now," he ordered, his voice steady yet authoritative. "Yes... cough cough!" Phil gasped, barely managing a weak salute before stumbling away from the arena. Two nearby marines rushed forward to support him. Zephyr turned his attention to Sakazuki, studying him for a moment. A faint, approving nod followed. "Sakazuki, huh? Not bad," he said thoughtfully. "For a Logia user, your physical combat skills haven¡¯t fallen behind eithe¡ª" Before he could finish, a booming, familiar laugh cut through the air like a thunderclap. "Wahahahaha! This is getting interesting! Zephyr, let me handle this one!" Everyone turned to see Garp, his arms crossed, grinning from ear to ear. His laughter was infectious, loud, and carefree; a stark contrast to the tension hanging over the recruits. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Zephyr glanced at him, his brows furrowing in mild exasperation. He sighed, shaking his head with a reluctant smile. "You... alright. Sakazuki, any objections?" Sakazuki''s eyes burned with determination. An opportunity to face someone of Garp¡¯s caliber wasn¡¯t something he could refuse. "No problem." He agreed without hesitation, adjusting his stance and locking eyes with Garp. The older man chuckled, stepping forward, his grin never fading. "Come on, kid." Sakazuki''s eyes narrowed. His Crimson Lotus state erupted to full force, molten energy pulsing through his veins. Heat distorted the air around him. He stomped down hard. The ground cracked, and an explosion of magma blasted from beneath his feet, propelling him forward like a cannonball. "Molten Burst!" He appeared right in front of Garp in an instant, his magma-coated fist blasting toward him with brutal force. But Garp didn¡¯t flinch. It was as if he had predicted every movement. His grin widened as he raised his left arm, meeting Sakazuki¡¯s punch head-on. The two fists collided. Boom! A powerful shockwave erupted from Sakazuki¡¯s punch, magma bursting out, surging toward Garp. However, when their punches clashed, the impact alone stirred up a violent whirlwind, preventing the magma from reaching Garp. The gusts were so intense that the surrounding marines had to raise their arms to shield themselves from the wind. Garp, unfazed, stood firm with his wide grin still in place. "Again!" he barked, voice booming like a war drum. Boom! Boom! Boom-boom! Their figures blurred as they moved. Fists flew in rapid succession, creating afterimages. Each clash erupted with bursts of magma and raw power, sending fiery shockwaves through the battlefield. The ground cracked and splintered beneath them, molten rock bubbling up from the fractures as the plaza shook like a localized earthquake, yet neither backed down. The surrounding recruits kept retreating, afraid of getting caught in the blasts. But only Sakazuki himself knew: after so many intense clashes in such a short time, his body was reaching its limit. The Crimson Lotus state, which relied on magma surging through his body to amplify his strength, came with a heavy cost. It burned through his stamina rapidly. After fighting like this for so long, he was barely holding on. If he kept going, he¡¯d probably end up leaving on a stretcher. Their figures crossed once more before Sakazuki finally broke out of his Crimson Lotus form. His right arm transformed into a molten fist and slammed into the ground. Not far away, Garp came to a stop, watching him with an amused expression. "Devil Fruit powers, huh," he muttered, eyes narrowing slightly. Then¡ªSoru! The next moment, he vanished. Boom! A pillar of magma erupted from the ground, exploding outward in all directions. The blast zone was exactly where Garp had been standing moments before. Boom! Boom! Boom! Eighteen more streams of molten rock shot up from the ground in rapid succession, exploding outward in a fiery wave. The recruits gasped in awe. ''Is that all?'' Garp thought as he dodged to the side, landing lightly. "Hellhound!" Before Garp could react, Sakazuki¡¯s figure emerged from the scattering magma nearby. His right hand twisted with compressed, swirling lava, forming a devastating strike. With a fierce punch, he slammed his magma-coated fist directly into Garp¡¯s chest. The lava erupted on impact, engulfing him in a wave of searing flames. "He hit him!¡± ¡°He''s this strong?!¡± ¡°No way!¡± ¡°This¡­ is unbelievable!¡± The crowd of recruits erupted in shock. Even the surrounding officers looked surprised. Zephyr, on the other hand, wore a look of approval. "Careful planning, steady execution¡­ not bad," he murmured. After the strike, Sakazuki staggered back, steam rising from his body as his magma state faded completely. He stood still, breathing hard, waiting for Zephyr¡¯s next command. Meanwhile, the figure buried beneath the molten rock remained still. Bang! Suddenly, the molten rock burst apart, sending lava flying in all directions. From within emerged Garp, completely unharmed, laughing harder than before. "Whahahahaha! That was a good one, kid! When you graduate, join my ship! Hahahaha!" Sakazuki¡¯s eyes widened slightly, his fists clenching in silent frustration. "Enough, Garp! Don¡¯t go leading promising recruits astray!" Zephyr, standing to the side with a helpless expression, quickly stepped in to stop him. ''This one''s too good to let Garp corrupt.'' "Alright, Sakazuki. Fall back into line." "...Yes, sir." Sakazuki exhaled slowly, his body aching all over. He returned to his place among the recruits, his mind racing. The tests continued, but for him, the fire had only just started burning. 6: God Valley Incident Grand Line, First Half. "Captain! Bad news!" "That Marine warship¡¯s catching up again!" "What? Quick, speed up, faster!" Panic erupted on the pirate ship as it surged forward, desperately trying to escape. Yesterday, after raiding a small town, the crew had been celebrating with a feast on board, basking in the success of their latest plunder. They laughed, drank, and dreamed of their bounties rising again. But just as the celebrations reached their peak, a Marine patrol ship appeared on the horizon. Before they could even think about charging in for more glory, the warship accelerated straight toward them. From the sky, molten magma shells rained down, blasting the deck into chaos, leaving pirates sprawled everywhere¡ªthe alcohol knocked right out of them. It was only due to a sudden shift in the unpredictable weather of the Grand Line that they had managed to avoid being caught. They thought they''d escaped after running all night, but that warship was still hot on their tail. ¡­¡­ On the other side. As the warship sped up, the Marine lieutenant commander in charge of the ship¡¯s cannons turned to Sakazuki and asked, "Rear Admiral Sakazuki, we''ve entered the firing range. Should we open fire?" "Fire. Full speed ahead. Prepare for boarding," Sakazuki responded in his cold, emotionless voice. As the distance closed, both sides fired their cannons at once. Boom! Boom! Boom! The warship''s cannonballs roared through the air, slamming into the pirate ship. Half the shots landed square on target, tearing into the hull and nearly stopping the ship dead in the water. The pirates, panicked and scrambling, fired back. But their aim was wild and unfocused, more out of fear than strategy. Most of the pirate ship''s cannonballs missed, flying off into the sea. Only a few managed to head straight for the warship. Just then, a figure leaped from the deck of the warship, stepping through the air with Geppo and heading directly toward the incoming shells. The sound of a blade cutting through the air followed... Several cannonballs were sliced cleanly in half, falling harmlessly into the sea without leaving a scratch on the warship. Sakazuki gave a slight nod. "Well done, Doberman." The young swordsman, landing back on deck, grinned sheepishly at the praise. Doberman was someone Sakazuki had saved during the elite class graduation exam. Time had flown by in the training camp, and the pressure had been far more intense than in later years. The world was in chaos during this time. Pirates ran rampant, especially with the Rocks Pirates forming a growing alliance. Their activity had surged in recent years, leaving the elite class cadets with barely any time for peaceful training. After reaching the minimum passing standard, they were quickly graduated and sent to sea to combat pirates. Doberman was one of those cases. During Sakazuki''s graduation exam, he passed through a small town and rescued Doberman. Recognizing his potential, Sakazuki brought him back to headquarters for further training. Compared to the original timeline, Doberman joined the Marines much earlier. This year, with the Rocks Pirates making major moves, Marine Headquarters was on high alert, preparing for war. Even the instructors from the academy were dispatched, leaving the newly recruited elite class cadets without teachers. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As a result, Fleet Admiral Kong made a temporary decision: the recruits would be split into groups and placed on various officers'' ships for hands-on training. When it was Sakazuki''s turn to select members, he handpicked several hardliners who believed in absolute justice. Then, without delay, he began leading them on pirate extermination missions. Over the course of a year, they wiped out numerous pirate crews. Not a single one was left alive. Zephyr had also noticed this issue and tried to talk to Sakazuki multiple times, but neither could convince the other. Boom! As the warship accelerated, it crashed into the pirate ship. The already battered pirate ship was nearly split in half, with the hull starting to leak water. "End this quickly," Sakazuki commanded. Marines leapt onto the pirate ship, engaging in brutal combat. "Don¡¯t back down! Kill those Marine dogs!" "Kill!!!" With a roar from their captain, Spring-Arm Lenko, the pirates were driven into a frenzy. Each one grabbed a weapon and charged at the Marines like mad beasts. "Spring Punch!" Lenko¡¯s arm transformed into a spring, tightly coiled before slamming forward with tremendous force. The Marines who couldn¡¯t dodge in time were killed almost instantly. Although people in the pirate world have strong physiques, if they meet someone stronger, they are no different from ordinary people. "Spring Dash!" Lenko compressed his spring-like limbs again, launching forward at high speed, leaving afterimages behind him. His fists stabbed out repeatedly like a relentless spear, sending Marines flying one after another, blood spraying as they crashed onto the deck. Nearby, Doberman, who was fighting, noticed the situation. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged at Lenko. "Beast Fang Slash!" He swung his blade, releasing a sharp, cutting force. Faintly, an animal-like shadow roared within the sword¡¯s aura, slashing toward Lenko with ferocity. Lenko twisted his body, raising his arm to block. But the sheer force of the strike pushed him back several meters, his feet scraping against the deck. Doberman seized the advantage, swinging his blade relentlessly. Lenko had no choice but to defend, forced into a passive stance. In his rushed attempts to block, he took a few slashes. Yet his movements stayed sharp, proof that the strikes still lacked the power to slow him down. Even so, he couldn¡¯t find an opening to counter. He was stuck on the defensive. This was the difference between a self-taught brawler and someone trained under a proper instructor. Pirates rarely had professional training. Even with decent strength, Lenko¡¯s movements were sluggish, his ability to seize opportunities clumsy and flawed. Still, his toughness couldn¡¯t be denied. He had fought his way through countless battles to survive this long. Even while taking hits, his endurance and raw physical resilience showed. Despite Doberman¡¯s relentless onslaught and the accumulating wounds, Lenko barely faltered. Suddenly¡ª Doberman shifted his stance, changing his attack. His sword slashed out in a new, unpredictable arc. Lenko instinctively raised his arm to block. In that split second, Doberman¡¯s left hand shot forward, one finger extended. "Shigan!" The strike was fast, precise¡ªaimed directly at Lenko¡¯s eye. Splat! "AAAHHHHH!!!" Lenko screamed in agony as his left eye burst, blood spraying everywhere. He stumbled back, clutching his ruined eye. Seizing the moment, Doberman struck, his blade slicing down in a deadly arc. It bit halfway into Lenko¡¯s neck. But before he could finish the job, Lenko¡¯s left hand shot out, catching the sword. Adrenaline surged through Lenko¡¯s battered body. Knowing he wouldn¡¯t make it out alive, he roared, "You¡¯re dying with me!!!" Gripping the blade tightly, Lenko yanked it free from his own neck with a sickening tear. With one final burst of strength, he pulled hard. At such a close distance, Doberman was unable to dodge in time. Just as Lenko''s right fist, charged like a spring, was about to land on Doberman, a lava bullet shot from a distance, fired from the tip of Sakazuki''s finger. The bullet flew through the gap between the two and struck Lenko head-on. Boom! The projectile exploded on impact, sending molten lava splattering across his body. "Arghhh!!!¡± A painful scream rang out, followed by silence. All that remained was a pool of bubbling lava, hissing and releasing thick, acrid smoke into the air. At some point, Sakazuki had appeared silently behind Doberman. This was a training exercise, and casualties were inevitable. But the numbers had to be controlled. With a flick of his finger, more molten bullets rained down, wiping out most of the remaining pirates. The few left were terrified and quickly surrendered. "Treat the wounded," Sakazuki ordered coldly. Following his command, the Marines began tending to the wounded in an orderly manner, while another team was sent to gather supplies from the pirate ship. The remaining Marines, without needing orders, returned to the warship. All the prisoners were then escorted onto the pirate ship, bound and subdued. A group of terrified pirates huddled together, whispering nervously. "Hey... are they going to release us?" "Impossible, right?" "But they all went back to their ship." "Let¡¯s wait and see... maybe we can sail away once they leave." Being captured and then returned to their own ship, without any punishment or interrogation, was something they had never heard of or experienced. ¡­¡­ Meanwhile, on the Marine warship. "Report! All prisoners have been secured. Also, Headquarters has called. All officers of the rank of Rear Admiral and above are to report to Marineford immediately." "Got it.¡± Listening to the adjutant''s report, Sakazuki calmly replied. ¡®Summoning all the Rear Admirals and above... is that event about to happen?¡¯ He then coldly gazed at the pirate ship. His right arm turned into flowing magma, forming a massive fist that emitted thick black smoke. "Great Eruption!" Boom! "Return to base." "Yes, sir!" 7: The Gathering Storm Marineford, Marine Headquarters. A warship sailed smoothly into the crescent-shaped harbor, navigating its way to an open docking spot. Rows upon rows of warships were already lined up, at least thirty or forty in sight. As soon as the ship docked, a messenger waiting at the port rushed over, informing Sakazuki to head to the conference room immediately. After assigning his subordinates to restock supplies, Sakazuki made his way toward the tallest building in the headquarters. On the way, he exchanged greetings with a few familiar officers, walking together toward the meeting room. Though he wasn''t particularly skilled at socializing, the notebook Jorisen had given him back then had proven to be a valuable tool. Slowly but surely, Sakazuki was beginning to make his mark within the Marines. .... "Hey, Sakazuki! Over here!" A rough voice called out as Sakazuki entered the large meeting room. The speaker was a broad-shouldered man with a cigar clenched between his teeth, waving him over with a grin. It was Vice Admiral Ward Morris. Morris wasn''t just any officer¡ªhe was one of the key figures in the Absolute Justice Faction, a hardliner who had spent the past two years vying with Zephyr for the last vacant Admiral position. Currently, Marine Headquarters had Admiral Sengoku, known as "The Buddha." There was also Garp, a man with strength and seniority that everyone acknowledged as Admiral-level, but who stubbornly refused promotion. That left one final, unclaimed Admiral position, and both Zephyr and Morris were after it. But the fight for that position wasn''t just about strength or seniority. Politics, alliances, and the decisions of the higher-ups played an equally important role. Setting aside Fleet Admiral Kong, who rarely intervenes directly, both Sengoku and Garp lean more toward supporting Zephyr. Additionally, Tsuru, the leader of the female Marine forces, maintained a close relationship with all three, having enlisted alongside them in the same year. While she didn''t oppose Morris''s ambition to become Admiral, she wasn''t exactly supportive either. And when it came to the Five Elders of the World Government, they didn''t really care who filled the Admiral rank. Aside from the Fleet Admiral, who required more careful consideration, the Admirals themselves weren''t given as much importance. After all, if the chosen Fleet Admiral couldn''t control the Admirals, what was the point of choosing one in the first place? Plus, knowing the future events from his past life, Sakazuki was well aware that Morris didn''t stand a chance. Still, his strength was undeniable. He stood among the Marines'' top brass. Sakazuki walked over and greeted him. "Vice Admiral Morris." Morris grinned wider and slapped a hand on the seat next to him. "Come on, sit." Sakazuki sat beside him and asked, "Vice Admiral, do you know why Headquarters suddenly called this meeting?" Taking a long drag from his cigar, Morris exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Tch, it''s those pirate rats again," he said. "Rocks has been amassing forces, hasn''t he? It''s been a few months now, and pirates across the New World have mostly rallied under him. Spies have reported back, the Rocks Pirates have set sail. Their destination is West Blue, God Valley." "God Valley? Isn''t that the Celestial Dragons'' place?" Sakazuki''s eyes narrowed. He remembered seeing it on a sea chart before. It was clearly marked as a Celestial Dragons'' residence. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Morris nodded grimly. "Yeah. Word is, five Celestial Dragons are on the island now, along with countless slaves. Rocks isn''t coming alone either. He''s got Golden Lion with his Float-Float Fruit leading the fleet. They''re heading to West Blue at full speed." He flicked the ash from his cigar. His voice dropped lower, more serious. "The Five Elders sent an urgent order. We''re to gather forces immediately and protect the Celestial Dragons at all costs." Sakazuki''s brow furrowed slightly as he listened. Everyone knew the truth. If someone wanted to kill a Celestial Dragon, Sabaody Archipelago was practically a hunting ground. Wait around long enough, and you could take down more than a few. Flying all the way back from the New World to West Blue just to kill a handful of them? That''s pure madness. Noticing Sakazuki''s confusion, Morris leaned in and whispered. "The message didn''t stop there. If things go south, we have orders to initiate obliterate the God Valley." Sakazuki''s eyes widened, surprised. Rocks was throwing everything he had at this. The World Nobles¡­ if they couldn''t be saved, they''d be wiped out along with the island. Morris spoke again, snapping Sakazuki from his thoughts. "Don''t worry. Sengoku and Garp have already departed for God Valley ahead of us. Now, we''re gathering forces to prepare the Buster Call. Our job is to back them up the moment they signal." They fell silent as more marines filed into the room, each taking their seats with stiff postures and grave expressions. Soon, Fleet Admiral Kong arrived, wasting no time issuing official Buster Call orders and assigning roles. Then, just as quickly as he arrived, Kong left. He followed a figure in a uniform and mask, their identity shrouded in mystery. Before Sakazuki could even register it, both figures disappeared entirely from his Observation Haki perception. ''They vanished¡­ Is that a Devil Fruit ability?'' His mind raced. ''The World Government''s strength runs deeper than I imagined.'' The oppressive feeling of an impending storm weighed heavily on everyone''s hearts. No one spoke. In complete silence, they assembled their forces at top speed, setting off toward West Blue. ...... In the New World, airships streaked through the skies, heading swiftly toward the West Blue. On the largest ship, a grand banquet roared with life. At the head of the table sat a man with wild, unruly hair, downing a massive drink without pause: Rocks D. Xebec. Lined on either side of the table were some of the most fearsome names the sea had ever known. Shiki the "Golden Lion". Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate. "Big Mom" Charlotte Linlin. Silver Axe. Ochoku. Captain John. Each one a high-ranking officer of the Rocks Pirates, notorious figures with bounties reaching into the hundreds of millions. Slamming his bowl down, Rocks began. "As you all know¡­ God Valley is the place of those filthy pigs, the Celestial Dragons. And we, gathered here, are the strongest force in the world! "Let''s kill to our hearts'' content! Drag those arrogant bastards down where they belong! "Everyone, the conquest of the world begins right now! Ahahahaha!!!" His wild laughter echoed through the ship. The pirates around him laughed along, drinking deeply. What they truly thought didn''t matter; in this setting, no one would dare speak up. Whitebeard, amidst the chaos, reflected inwardly, his thoughts far from the grand ambition of world domination. Instead of the world, what he truly desired was family. As he chuckled and drank, the other pirates, including Shiki and Charlotte Linlin, shared a different sentiment. Their expressions were complex. These were individuals with the potential to rule, each possessing the qualities of a king. How could they ever tolerate someone sitting at the top of the world, ruling over them? As the banquet continued amidst the laughter and celebration, the mood was far from light for everyone. ...... Meanwhile, aboard the Oro Jackson. Not long ago, Gol D. Roger had arrived at Lodestar Island. Instead of continuing toward the legendary final destination, he had ordered the ship to turn around and head toward the West Blue. As night settled in, Roger stepped out of the lively banquet hall and walked to the bow of the ship. The cool sea breeze brushed against him, his mind wandering in silence. "What are you thinking about?" A familiar voice broke the quiet. Rayleigh, his vice-captain, strolled over with a bottle in hand. He took a drink as he walked, then leaned against the railing and set the bottle down. "Rayleigh... that thing. Whether it ends up with the Celestial Dragons or Rocks, neither outcome will be good. Should I... try to stop it?" Roger''s voice was low, uncertain. "So that''s what''s eating at you. Haven''t you already made up your mind?" Rayleigh replied, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. Roger stared at him for a moment before his expression shifted. Slowly, his mouth stretched into a wide, familiar grin¡ªsharp and confident, like a crescent moon hanging in the sky. "Yeah¡­ I have." The weight in his voice disappeared, replaced with his usual energy. "Come on, let''s drink ''til we drop tonight! Wahahahaha!" Roger bellowed, his laughter booming across the deck. Before Rayleigh could protest, Roger grabbed him and dragged him back toward the banquet hall. "Hey! My booze!" Rayleigh yelped, reaching for the bottle he''d barely had a sip from. His hand missed it as it wobbled on the railing. "Such a waste¡­" His resigned voice faded into the distance, leaving only the sounds of laughter and celebration echoing through the night. 8: Beginning of the God Valley Incident Deep within God Valley. Using CP0''s Devil Fruit ability, Kong arrived at the island. After meeting up with Sengoku and Garp, he led the two of them deeper into the valley, heading toward the palace. They were there to meet two of the Five Elders. Inside the grand hall, the two Elders sat awaiting their arrival. One was a towering, burly man with a W-shaped beard, paired with a bald head. His presence alone radiated authority, exuding an aura that demanded respect¡ªSaint Topman Warcury. The other wore a loose, white keikogi draped carelessly over his shoulders. He sat lazily, a long sword resting in his arms as he appeared to be dozing off. He lacked the first man¡¯s imposing, overbearing presence yet the air around him was far more unsettling, like an unfathomable abyss¡ªSaint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro. As Kong, Sengoku, and Garp approached, Warcury¡¯s voice, calm yet heavy, filled the room. "You¡¯re all here, sit down. Is everything arranged?¡± Kong sat down and answered, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready. The Buster Call fleet has already set out from headquarters.¡± He frowned slightly. "It''s just Rocks¡­ why is he suddenly attacking God Valley?" Rocks had been gathering his forces for months, leaving many to speculate about his true goal. No one expected his target to be the distant God Valley in the West Blue. The Five Elders must know something. Kong, as the Fleet Admiral, couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. Even now, at the brink of war, he still didn¡¯t know the exact reason for this attack. Warcury glanced at Sengoku and Garp before responding, "Hmm, there¡¯s a treasure hidden here in the valley. It¡¯s tied to the Celestial Dragons¡¯ lineage." He paused for a moment, his gaze piercing. "But a year ago, a brat with a special ability sneaked in. After chasing him for months, he vanished. We didn¡¯t expect him to end up with the Rocks Pirates.¡± Kong''s eyes narrowed. "So that¡¯s how it is¡­" He nodded, understanding the situation. Nusjuro, still holding his sword, spoke up with a detached tone, "Enough, Kong. This is also an opportunity to keep the pirates chaotic. As for Rocks, he¡¯s nothing more than a clown.¡± ¡­¡­ Buster Call Fleet set sail. Forty massive, specially crafted warships advanced toward the West Blue. Each ship was led by a high-ranking officer, commanding a thousand elite marines. On Sakazuki''s ship, he watched the marines on the deck, their faces burning with excitement. He gave a slight nod. Indeed. Big events are the best at stirring people''s fighting spirit. At this moment, Doberman walked over, a hint of worry on his face. "Rear Admiral Sakazuki¡­ do you think we can win this time?" Sakazuki glanced at him. "Why are you asking that?" "Rocks has over a hundred officers under him, and names like Golden Lion, Whitebeard, Ochoku, those are legendary pirates. If we lose¡­ the world¡­" Sakazuki turned to face Doberman, his eyes calm and unwavering. "Don¡¯t worry, Doberman." He understood the man¡¯s concern. No one hated pirates more than someone who had watched their family slaughtered by them. If the Marines lost and the pirates took control of the world, it would truly be a hell on Earth. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Sakazuki spoke again, reassuringly. "You need to understand something. Putting aside the blank hundred years, the World Government has stood for eight hundred years. In that time, pirates have continuously emerged. Heroes, tyrants, they are the most common things on this vast ocean.¡± He paused, his voice deepening with conviction. "But 800 years have passed, and those so-called heroes and tyrants¡­ they¡¯re like weeds. Cut one batch down, another grows. ¡°The only thing that has remained steady is the World Government. Standing firm above it all. Rocks? He''s just another clown. "Rule the world? Hah." Sakazuki''s blunt revelation about the world''s true nature shook Doberman to his core, leaving him speechless "This¡­" Sakazuki patted Doberman¡¯s shoulder, then walked back to his cabin, leaving the young man to digest everything. The fleet sailed on. ¡­¡­ Seven days later. in the palace of God Valley. "Are they here...?" The few people who had been meditating with their eyes closed simultaneously opened their eyes. They walked out of the palace, gazing towards the sky. A suffocating wave of Conqueror¡¯s Haki crashed down, blanketing the entire God Valley. Alongside the overwhelming Haki came a cruel, thunderous voice that echoed across the sky. "Let the world start trembling from here! Xehahahaha!!!" "KILL THEM ALL!!!" ¡­¡­ Aboard Rocks Pirate ship. As Rocks finished his words, the Golden Lion, standing beside him, grinned and stepped forward. Raising his right hand, he gestured downwards with his fingers. Hundreds of pirate ships dove toward God Valley, crashing into the outer slave army and the temporarily deployed Marine forces, causing untold deaths and injuries. But that was not all. After smashing into the ground, countless pirates leaped off their decks and plunged into brutal combat with the army below. Rocks and his crew pressed forward, making their way toward the deepest part of the island, heading straight for the palace. "Impact Wave!" A loud shout reverberated through the air. Following that, a massive golden shockwave, hundreds of meters wide, broke through the sound barrier and shot toward Rocks and his crew. "Gurararara! Sengoku!" Suddenly, Whitebeard leaped forward. He pulled his right hand back, and his fist, wrapped in a white aura, struck out toward the shockwave. Crack! Crack! The air in front of him shattered, sending cracks in all directions. Endless shockwaves exploded forward, colliding with the incoming force. BOOM! The impact was like thunder striking the earth. A massive crater, hundreds of meters wide, appeared in front of them. A gust of wind swept through, dispersing the smoke. At last, the two sides had fully clashed. ¡­¡­ Pururu..rurururu¡­. The Den Den Mushi left in the palace rang, and Warcury answered the call. "Kong isn''t here. This is the Five Elders. What''s the matter? Speak." "Ah! Esteemed Elder, the Buster Call fleet will arrive at God Valley in half a day. Please give instructions." A voice sounded from the other end. "Once they arrive, first eliminate the surrounding pirates, and then we''ll decide on further actions." "Understood!" ...... Half a day later... At the outskirts of God Valley, the slave army and the mobilized marines had suffered heavy casualties. One side was made up of the ruthless pirates from the New World, while the other consisted of slaves and marines from the four blues. Withstanding two waves of attacks had already been an impressive feat. Just as it seemed the defense line was about to be breached, the once blue sky with white clouds suddenly changed. It turned a fiery red, as though the sky itself was ablaze. Numerous pirates looked up in confusion. As the red clouds were pierced by countless small dots, everyone''s expression changed drastically, and they scrambled to escape. "Hey, is this for real? What kind of joke is this?!" "How the hell can something like that fall from the sky?!" "Get out of the way!" "Hurry!!!!!!" Boom! Boom! Boom... Giant molten fists rained down from the sky. Like meteors falling to the earth, they crashed heavily into the chaotic pirates. The pirates struck by the molten fists didn''t even have time to scream, instantly being dissolved by the lava. When the molten fists hit the ground, the lava exploded, destroying everything in its wake. Even more terrifying was the lava¡¯s corrosive and poisonous nature. "Aaaahhhh....!" "Save me!!!!!!" "Pull me up!!!" "Please, take me! Take me with you!" The heartrending screams continued as countless pirates were reduced to severed limbs and bodies. The molten fists kept falling from the sky, mercilessly reaping one life after another. In a matter of moments, a third of the attacking pirates had disappeared without a trace, all dissolved by the lava. The red sky and the molten lava on the ground reflected off each other. At this moment, it felt as if this place was no longer part of the world, but a hellish inferno. Meanwhile, the marines from the four blues were filled with excited shouts. They recognized the lava all too well. "Lava! It''s lava!" "Rear Admiral Sakazuki is here!!" "Hahaha!" "Brothers, hold the line! Reinforcements have arrived!" "Ho!!!!" As the last molten fist landed before the defense line. Sakazuki¡¯s Observation Haki swept over the area, and upon seeing the heavily wounded marines soldiers, his expression turned grim. "Still too late. Damned pirate trash." "Great Death Burial Formation!!¡± With a surge of murderous intent, the last molten fist that hit the ground transformed into Sakazuki''s figure. Following that, countless lava streams began to surge and take shape on the ground. 9: Fighting Kaido Molten giants, each towering four meters tall, charged into the chaos, tearing through the rioting pirates. Sakazuki focused on hunting down the strongest among them, their powerful auras guiding his path. As for why he appeared here alone¡­ ¡­¡­. A few minutes earlier. The outline of God Valley was already faintly visible on the horizon. On the fleet rushing to the scene, the gathered Marine officers could already feel the intensity of the battle raging on the island. It wasn¡¯t just the overwhelming Conqueror''s Haki flooding outward. Above God Valley, the sky itself looked like it had been slashed apart by countless blades. Standing on his warship, Sakazuki frowned deeply. He knew there were many Marines on the island, transferred from branches across the Four Blues. But this battle¡­ The pirates here were all from the New World; the power gap was undeniable. Realizing this, Sakazuki exchanged a brief word with Vice Admiral Morris, then gave his order. "Full speed ahead." The warship surged forward, cutting through the waves. Sakazuki moved to the bow, his stance unwavering. His arms began to shift. Magma surged and flowed, spilling from his body like a living volcano. As the island came into clear view, he raised both arms. "Meteor Volcano!" Power exploded from him. His fists fired forward like rocket launchers, unleashing a relentless barrage of magma, each chunk the size of a cannonball, streaking through the sky at blistering speed. The punches flew one after another. He didn¡¯t stop. He kept going until fatigue finally started to creep into his body. Then, his body shifted. His entire form melted into a surge of lava. Boom! With a roar like a volcano erupting, Sakazuki erupted upward, transforming into a colossal magma fist and soaring into the sky. The officers on the nearby warships were left speechless, their eyes wide in shock. They didn¡¯t understand why Sakazuki launched such an intense barrage of magma skyward, but the sight alone was unforgettable. When he finally crashed back down, Sakazuki had already crossed the sea, slamming into the outer battlefield of God Valley with the force of a meteor. His Observation Haki swept across the battlefield. The number of Marine casualties was staggering, far worse than he expected. "Still too late. Damned pirate trash." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡­¡­ "Great Death Burial Formation!!¡± Inspired by Yamamoto from Bleach, Sakazuki had developed this technique himself. Magma, thicker and more malleable than fire, rose from the ground. Towering magma giants erupted from the earth, surging toward the pirates. These giants had no minds, no fear, only relentless, unstoppable momentum. Facing the attack, ordinary pirates were paralyzed with terror, screaming as they fled. Only the elite¡ªthose who mastered Haki¡ªmanaged to gather their wits and fight back, smashing the magma giants apart after an initial moment of panic. ¡°Damn it! Damn Marines!¡± "Thunder Bagua!" A young Kaido, wielding a massive spiked club, swung it ferociously. With a single, earth-shattering blow, he smashed a magma giant into pieces. At this time, Kaido was still just an apprentice in Rocks Pirates, a newcomer without the status to follow Rocks and the other titans into the depths of God Valley. He could only fight alongside the main forces on the outskirts, cutting down enemies without restraint. He was enjoying the thrill of the battle until the situation took a sudden, brutal turn. The sky erupted, and endless molten magma rained down. Boom! On the other side, Sakazuki was ruthlessly destroying pirate ships, cutting off every possible escape route. Suddenly, he heard a voice, a familiar name of a move buried deep within his memories. His head snapped around, Observation Haki erupting. He quickly locked onto Kaido. A flash of ruthless determination flickered in his eyes as he charged straight at him. Boom! Kaido, having just smashed another magma giant, barely had time to breathe. Every hair on his body stood on end. His heart pounded as a chilling sense of mortal danger surged through him. "What?!" "Hound Blaze!" Kaido couldn¡¯t react in time. Before he even processed what was happening, Sakazuki was already in front of him. His right arm morphed into a massive molten hound, biting down on Kaido¡¯s neck with brutal force. Sakazuki slammed him down, pinning him hard against the ground. This only awakened Kaido¡¯s savage nature. His right hand gripped his kanab¨­, now wrapped in Armament Haki. With a fierce roar, he swung it down. "Thunder Bagua!" Sakazuki¡¯s left hand instantly turned black, Armament Haki coating it as well. Clang! The sound of metal clashing echoed as Sakazuki blocked the strike. He pressed his right arm down harder, trying to end it once and for all. Kaido, driven by the instinct to survive, twisted violently on the ground, thrashing like a wild beast. He finally managed to hurl Sakazuki off him. His hands, still wrapped in Armament Haki, desperately clawed at the burning magma stuck to his neck. ¡°Cough¡­ cough¡­damn Marine," he growled, his voice rough and strained. "Name yourself!" What greeted him wasn¡¯t a name, only an avalanche of raging magma, bearing down on him like a falling mountain. "Great Eruption!" Boom! Blocking the attack, Kaido stared at Sakazuki, who looked like he wouldn¡¯t stop until one of them was dead. His face darkened, but his mind was already racing. He wasn¡¯t thinking about counterattacking anymore. He was thinking about escaping. That¡¯s right¡ªescape. Fighting wasn¡¯t an option. Kaido might look like a brute, but he was far from stupid. He knew when he couldn¡¯t win. "Vajra Arrow!" A spiraling blast of compressed air shot from his club toward Sakazuki. Kaido didn¡¯t wait to see the result. The moment the attack flew, he turned and bolted, charging into the depths of God Valley. Sakazuki smashed through the blast with a single punch, his eyes locking onto Kaido¡¯s retreating figure. He paused briefly, glancing back at the Marines still locked in battle against the remaining pirates. Not trusting their odds, he turned, slamming both hands into the ground. ¡°Volcanic Burial!¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The ground split apart. Magma erupted from the cracks in violent bursts, surging like waves and swallowing everything in its path. Without sparing another glance, Sakazuki charged after Kaido, heading for the battlefield where the sky itself looked like it was being torn in two. ¡­¡­ On the other side of the island. The Oro Jackson quietly docked at the rear of God Valley. A group of crewmates rushed off the ship, eyes bright with excitement as they ran toward the ruined remains of grand palaces, eager to snatch up whatever treasure they could find. Roger and his core crew, however, disembarked calmly. They weren¡¯t here for treasure. They headed straight toward the main battlefield.