A few days had passed since our arrival.
Most of that time had been spent training, relentlessly pushing our limits. The sun rose once more over Kokoyashi, its warm light spilling across the rooftops of the village.
Standing near the outskirts, where the trees began to thin and the road stretched toward the port, I finally broke the silence.
"It's time." I said simply.
Beckman, leaning against a fence post with his rifle slung over his shoulder, tilted his head toward the road. "The Marines are heading back to the base today."
Mihawk gave a brief nod, arms crossed. "We take what we came for… then we move on."
I followed his gaze to the horizon, where a small column of Marine recruits was just beginning to leave the village.
"Then let's get moving." I added.
When we reached the port, there was already activity. Villagers had gathered to see off their loved ones serving in the Marine ranks. Hugs, last-minute advice, and proud farewells filled the air as the recruits prepared to depart.
"Two years from now, I'll be one of you!" a clear, determined voice rang out nearby.
I turned my head and spotted Bell-mère.
We had crossed paths with her a few times during our stay, always loud, always bold, usually in the middle of some argument or trouble.
I didn't dwell on it. Our focus lay elsewhere.
Without a word, we boarded our ship. The wood creaked beneath our feet as we took our positions.
The sails were ready.
We set out to sea shortly after the Marine ship departed. During our days in the village, we had allowed the Marines to believe we were interested in joining their ranks, just a few hopeful recruits looking for purpose. It hadn't taken much effort. A handful of casual questions, a bit of feigned enthusiasm, and the rest fell into place on its own.
Before long, the silhouette of a Marine base emerged on the horizon.
"There it is… the 16th Branch." Beckman muttered, leaning over the railing as he narrowed his eyes.
On the ship ahead of us, one of the Marines shouted, "We've arrived!"
His voice echoed faintly across the water. After a brief exchange with the stationed guards along the coast, the harbor gates slowly began to open, accompanied by a heavy mechanical groan.
We stepped onto solid ground, keeping our composure as officers approached to greet us.
"You three, fall in line with the recruits." one of them ordered, pointing toward a group of new enlistees.
"Sign these papers and write down your names," another officer added briskly, handing us the forms. "Tomorrow, we'll see what you're made of."
We complied. Once that was done, we were shown to our assigned quarters, modest rooms, but clean and orderly.
After spending a few days at the base, one thing became clear: only those who showed real promise were granted access to advanced techniques.
Which made perfect sense.
The Marines weren't about to hand over their guarded secrets to just anyone.
Strength, discipline, potential.
Without those, you would never even get close to Rokushiki, the advanced combat techniques, or even Haki training, if you were lucky enough.
A few weeks later.
"We really have a strong batch this year!" one of the instructors exclaimed as he observed us. "Training is over for today. At ease, recruits." he ordered.
We headed toward the cafeteria. Inside, I spotted Mihawk sitting alone, while Benn was farther away, engaged in conversation with other recruits.
"According to the rumors, a high-ranking officer should be coming here soon to teach the most promising among us." Mihawk whispered to me.
"I've heard about that too." I replied quietly. "It was bound to happen. We've been here for quite some time already."
He nodded in agreement.
Two days later, all the recruits of the base were gathered in the main hall.
"You are all assembled today to welcome a former Marine Admiral, Instructor Zephyr!" a Marine announced.
Behind him stood the man himself.
"I will personally take some of you and train you myself." Zephyr announced without any suspense. "I have observed you and made my decision… Recruit Morca, step up to the platform."
I walked toward it and took my place behind him.
"Recruit Dracule Mihawk." he announced next. Mihawk stepped onto the stage. Then Zephyr continued. "Recruit Ain. Recruit Benn Beckman. Recruit Binz. That will be all. The rest of you, this doesn't mean you are failures. Keep training, and you will still be able to rise through the ranks."
He finished speaking, and the other recruits dispersed, leaving only the five of us standing before Zephyr.
"During these past weeks of observation." he said, "I've come to the conclusion that the five of you possess the greatest potential."
----------------
[1 Month Later]
"Morca, you never cease to amaze me. You've already mastered all the Rokushiki techniques?!" Zephyr asked as we sat across from each other at a table.
"Indeed, I have mastered them, Instructor Zephyr. I believe it is time for you to teach me Haki." I replied calmly.
The first and most basic technique to acquire had been Soru. Pure mobility, an explosive burst of speed at the most fundamental level, and once mastered, the ability to effortlessly move into an opponent's blind spots.
The second stage of training continued to focus on leg strength, but pushed it to its absolute limit. During this phase, I learned Tekkai and Rankyaku simultaneously. I had to strengthen the muscles in my legs to the point where they became like steel, while still maintaining mobility. To achieve that balance, I used Tekkai in extremely short bursts. By adding enough speed to my kicks, they eventually evolved into projectile-based attacks. At that point, I had already grasped every core aspect of Rokushiki.
The third level was more intermediate. It was no longer just about training the body, but about perfecting one's understanding of anatomy, or at least, my own. How muscles behave, how they contract and stretch, and how the body reacts to damage and stimuli. At this stage, one would normally need extensive combat experience to understand how people truly move in real battle, or learn through medical dissection and analysis. But thanks to my past life so past experiences, my comprehension in that regard came naturally.
That was where Kami-e entered the equation. Unlike Mantra, Observation Haki, this technique was purely about reading an opponent's movements and body structure at a glance, predicting where a strike would come from, and identifying pressure points or weaknesses to inflict maximum damage. With my heightened senses and Zephyr's teachings, I was able to internalize it with surprising ease.
At the same time, I trained Geppo. By then, my Tekkai and Rankyaku had reached a level where I could manipulate the air with my strikes, and I had gained enough control over my new body to avoid overexerting myself while doing so.
The fourth and final stage of Rokushiki was a combination of everything, but it required precise anatomical knowledge and peak Tekkai conditioning to reach its full potential. Shigan represented the ultimate expression of focused strength and bodily control, along with a deep understanding of one's physical limits as a Rokushiki user.
Shigan marked the end of my progression.
I had mastered all six techniques.
Though, of course, there was always room for refinement.
[Zephyr's POV]
'It's only been a month since they came under my command. The others are progressing at a good pace, frighteningly fast, especially Mihawk. But even he, compared to Morca… it's not even close.
I couldn't help but think that as I lifted a glass of water and took a sip, watching the Fishman sitting across from me.
He has what it takes to become an Admiral… Strangely, he reminds me of myself in my youth.'
After a moment of reflection, I finally spoke.
"Haki, I see… Very well. I will teach you, Morca. You may take a break for now. I'll check on the others."
I stood up. He thanked me, and I made my way toward the training hall. Inside, I saw Mihawk and Ain engaged in a duel.
"You won't reach me with blades like that." Mihawk said to Ain.
She didn't respond. She simply rushed him again.
He deflected her strikes casually with the small blade hanging around his neck. It wasn't that Ain was weak, far from it. It was just that the raw talent of those three, Morca, Mihawk, and Benn, far surpassed hers and Binz's.
"Mihawk… teach me. Please." Ain suddenly asked, breathless.
I decided not to interfere and moved on to see how Binz and Benn were doing.
"I can't create something like that with the Mosa Mosa no Mi," Binz was explaining. "My plants only respond near me and on terrain that already has vegetation. And they're not sleep-inducing either."
"I see… that's a shame." Benn replied. "I was hoping I could use them to develop a new type of bullet."
I overheard the exchange as I passed by.
Once again, I chose not to interrupt this kind of conversation. Team bonding like that was necessary to shape good Marines.
I then returned to my cabin and took a moment to look at the photograph of my late wife and my late son before receiving a call.
Moshi Moshi.
"Old man! Did you get a good batch this year!? Mine are trash, what about yours?" asked none other than Monkey D. Garp.
"You're just as old as I am, Garp. And no, like last time with Aokiji, I've got Marines with real potential." I informed him.
"Hah! That just means more work for you. Nothing to brag about." he replied before hanging up.
[Morca's POV]
Benn, Mihawk, and I gathered later that evening.
"Zephyr is going to teach me Haki." I told them. "That's the final step before we set sail. I don't know how long it will take, but don't lose sight of our objective."
"Don't worry. It's always on our minds. I think in a few weeks I'll have mastered what's necessary in terms of Rokushiki for me." Mihawk added.
"I've already learned what I needed." Beckman replied.
I nodded in acknowledgment before we separated and headed back to our cabins.
----------------
[One Year Later]
I learned to master Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki.
"Son, I think you are my finest student." Zephyr told me, patting my back, proud of my progress.
Later that day, Benn found me and said, "Morca I think it's time we leave this place."
"I agree but not until you have finished your Haki training." I replied.
"Very well, I'll tell Mihawk." he answered.
----------------
[Another Year Later]
I had now become a Marine Captain, but we weren't here to climb the ranks. We were here to take what we needed and disappear.
Ben and Mihawk had now mastered Haki, which marked the end of our time with the Marines.
Later one evening, once the base had quieted and most lights had dimmed, the three of us regrouped in a shadowy corner near our rooms.
"We'll leave tonight." I said, my voice low.
Mihawk simply gave a nod, already focus.
Beckman cracked his neck and let out a sigh.
Without wasting any time, we moved into action.
We knew Zephyr was here, which meant our window for success had to be silent. There was no room for hesitation.
Every Marine we crossed paths that saw us was taken out on the spot. Knocking them out wasn't an option. If even one of them woke up too soon and alerted reinforcements, it would compromise everything. We needed this to be clean.
As we moved through the halls, a thought crept into my mind. 'We've ended up eliminating more people than I expected.'
The deeper we went, the more committed we became.
We finally arrived at the door leading to the Marine base port.
"I'll break down the door." I said calmly, then charged it without hesitation. The door gave way with a loud crack, splintering off its hinges as we stormed inside.
We immediately scattered and began searching for a new boat.
"This one! It's magnificent." Beckman called out.
"Good. Let's move." I said.
But just as we were about to board and leave, something didn't sit right. My instincts screamed, a sixth sense honed from battle.
We stepped out of the boat and were immediately met with a heavy presence, a man standing at the end of the hall, face shadowed by dim light but eyes burning with fury.
"So you were traitors or pirates.…" he muttered, voice trembling not with fear, but with disdain. "It's always goddamn pirates…"
He stepped forward.
"I'm sick of this shit."
His words dripped with venom and exhaustion. His eyes scanned the corridor, the bodies, the broken door. And then they locked onto me, rage, recognition, and the promise of violence all flashing in a single look.
Yes, Zephyr himself stood at the far end of the corridor.
'Shit.' The word echoed in my mind.
There was no time to think. He didn't hesitate.
Zephyr launched forward like a cannonball, the floor beneath him cracking under the force of his step. His fist came fast.
I barely managed to raise my guard.
BAM.
Pain exploded through my arms and ribs as my body was hurled backward like a ragdoll. I crashed into the boat we had just found, then into another beside it, then a third, and into a wall on the opposite side of the dock where we stood, not just one, but two layers of concrete and steel crumbling as I slammed into it.
Dust and rubble rained down around me.
I pushed off the debris and rose to my feet with a grunt. My arms throbbed from the impact, ribs aching, but I was still standing.
'This isn't good…' I thought, eyes locked on the gaping hole in the wall.
"Morca, you alright?!" Beckman's voice rang out from the other side.
Before I could respond, Zephyr stepped through the dust.
"You greatly disappoint me, Morca… But I will correct my mistake." he muttered,
Then he charged again.
I braced myself, knees bent, arms up, but he closed the distance in a heartbeat.
BAM. His fist slammed into my side, lifting me off the ground.
I countered with a left hook, but he ducked under and drove a heavy punch into my gut, knocking the wind out of me. He followed with an uppercut, I barely managed to block, the force sending me skidding back.
I struck back, a knee to his torso, a sharp elbow to his temple. He took it, grimaced, then grabbed my arm and hurled me into a pillar. The structure cracked and crumbled under the impact.
I rolled, coughing, wiping blood from my mouth. Zephyr was already approaching, unrelenting.
He threw another punch, I ducked and retaliated with a blow to his ribs. He grunted this time. A solid hit.
I followed up with a right hook and then a left hook not wanting him to take control again.
Rain began to fall, we were back out in the open and no longer inside the building.
The floodlights from the base cast long shadows as we faced off in the night, steam rising from our skin.
Zephyr stared at me with fire in his eyes.
"You've got fight… but not enough, I taught you everything."
Then he charged again this time with Haki.
For the first time in a long time, I was being outclassed, I had never felt such a thing before.
Zephyr wasn't just strong, he was ruthless. Every punch he threw landed heavier than the last. I was fighting back with everything I had, my raw strength, my instincts and Haki too.
He was pushing me back blow after blow, and I couldn't deny it, I was on the losing side of this fight.
Each hit rattled my bones, each dodge became slower. 'Damn it... this guy's not like the others. He's a different beast entirely.'
Then he stopped, standing in front of me. His breath was steady. His eyes, cold.
"Enough games… die." His voice was calm, flat, final.
He pulled back his arm it hummed with energy, its force far greater than any of his earlier strikes. Then he launched it straight toward my face with terrifying speed.
But just before impact, something changed.
I opened my jaws.
And my teeth, My teeth turned black.
His fist was inches away when I struck and bit down with all my strength, because my life depended on it.
CHOMP.
I bit down, hard, on his incoming arm. I didn't budge.
CRACK.
He screamed.
With a guttural growl and a final wrench of my neck, I tore straight through the muscle and bone, ripping his arm clean off.
Zephyr stumbled back in shock, eyes wide, his breath caught as he gripped the torn stump where his arm had once been. Blood poured out, staining the earth beneath us.
And as I stood there, jaw coated in crimson, shoulders rising and falling with each breath, a new silence fell over the battlefield.
With all the chaos caused by my fight with Zephyr, the entire base had erupted into full alert.
Inside the main building, Mihawk and Beckman were locked in battle with multiple officers and Ain and Binz.
Together, they pushed forward.
After cutting down the last wave of resistance, they burst through the shattered entrance of the building…
…and froze.
There I was, on my knees, blood dripping from my mouth, my body trembling from the pain. My breathing was ragged, and my jaw still clenched tight. Just a few meters ahead, Zephyr, also on his knees, his face contorted with fury and agony, his right arm torn off at the shoulder, a dark pool of blood spreading beneath him.
The silence between us was suffocating.
Beckman rushed to my side first, throwing my arm over his shoulders. Mihawk followed, wordless but sharp-eyed, supporting me from the other side. Together, they lifted me up.
As we stepped back, preparing to flee, Zephyr raised his head. His glare burned with a hatred deeper than rage.
"I will find you…Morca... all of you. No matter how far you run. That's a promise."
He didn't shout. He didn't scream.
We didn't say a word. There was nothing to say.
We turned and walked toward a ship. The dock creaked beneath our feet.
Behind us, the ruined base stood quiet once more. And in its shadow, Zephyr remained.
Even as the shore disappeared behind the waves, we could still feel his eyes.
At sea, the salty wind brushing against our faces as the tension slowly began to fade.
"I almost died back there." I said, my voice low, still feeling the dull ache from my wounds.
"Yeah." Beckman replied, lighting a cigarette as he leaned on the railing. "Wasn't far off."
Mihawk, sitting nearby, interjected calmly, "Doesn't matter. What's done is done."
He was right. Dwelling on it wouldn't change anything. We got what we came for the Six Powers and Haki even if it took us time.
"You're right." I said, exhaling slowly. "We got what we came for. That's what matters."
The next morning, still sailing under the endless sky, I rose slowly from my bed, my ribs ached with every movement, a sharp reminder of the fight with Zephyr. I got dressed, and stepped out of my cabin.
"Captain, come take a look at this." Beckman called out from the deck.
"What is it?" I asked, making my way over.
He handed me a paper.
"Our first bounties."