Marineford – Headquarters Training Ground
Under the scorching sun and howling sea winds, four figures stood solemnly on the training grounds.
They were the four most elite Vice Admirals of Marine Headquarters.
Onigumo — The ruthless Asura wielding Eight Swords, unyielding as steel.
Strawberry — Calm and taciturn, his mind as deep as an abyss.
Doberman — A fanatic of justice, decisive in slaughter, never compromising.
Momonga — Proud and aloof, he have a strong swordsmanship.
Today, they gathered for one reason—
To welcome the new banner soon to be planted at the core of Headquarters.
Admiral Sakazuki's nephew, the Blade of Justice, Guts!
From the direction of the harbor, the sound of military boots striking the ground grew closer.
Guts, Puck, and Enel strode firmly into the training grounds, their steps unwavering.
Instantly, four sharp yet composed gazes locked onto them, the instinctive scrutiny of warriors—
Guts, posture straight as a blade, aura restrained yet piercing, his dark eyes cold and profound.
Puck, a massive sword resting on his shoulder, muscles coiled like steel, silent as a mountain.
Enel, blond hair whipping in the wind, lightning dancing restlessly at his fingertips, his arrogance impossible to conceal.
The air seemed to freeze for a heartbeat.
After a brief silence—
Onigumo was the first to step forward, his boot slamming down as he saluted with a voice like iron.
"Guts, the Executor. Your deeds in cleansing the East Blue command our respect."
Strawberry gave a slight nod, his tone steady.
"Sakazuki-san bloodline does not disappoint."
Doberman grinned, baring his teeth.
"A brat after my own heart! I like you!"
Momonga spun his sword lightly, the blade glinting as he smirked.
"Far better than some deadweight leeching off the system."
Though his words carried a sting, the atmosphere remained straightforward and earnest.
Guts returned the salute with a faint smile, his voice sharp and concise.
"It is only the beginning."
A single sentence, yet it landed with undeniable weight.
The four Vice Admirals exchanged glances, each suppressing deep approval in their eyes.
Between true powerhouses, no pleasantries were needed.
A single look was enough to know if they walked the same path.
After a brief moment of solemnity, the atmosphere instantly became harmonious.
*****
Marineford · Science Division · Custom Armory
At Guts' personal request and Sakazuki's direct order, the Science Division worked around the clock to forge a special weapon.
Three days and nights later—
A pair of heavy knuckle dusters crafted entirely from Seastone was finally completed.
Jet-black and imposing, radiating an intimidating pressure.
Each piece weighed one kilogram (Seastone was hard but not heavy), integrated with Impact Dial shock absorption and force amplification systems.
The back of the knuckles bore the silver-winged emblem unique to the 'Purge' Army, sharp and cold, like the claws of Death.
On the day of delivery.
Puck grabbed the knuckle dusters and slammed them onto his fists.
The collision of bone and metal produced a dull, powerful thud.
Puck grinned, his face flushed with excitement, "Hell yeah! Now this is a real man's weapon!!!"
Enel, standing nearby, rolled his eyes and sneered.
"Tch, just a couple of worthless rocks—can't even conduct electricity—"
Before he could finish.
Puck suddenly threw a punch and the air seemed to tear apart, emitting a deafening explosion!
BOOM!!!
Enel's hair stood on end, his earlobes twitching wildly as he staggered, his expression shifting dramatically!
He stared fixedly at the knuckle dusters on Puck's hands, genuine shock surfacing in his eyes for the first time.
"...How did that punch just now hit my Lightning Body without that black power?!"
The Lightning Body was intangible, impervious to conventional physical attacks.
Yet this punch had struck his electric form directly, nearly sending him tumbling!
Guts, standing to the side, allowed a faint smirk as he calmly explained.
"Seastone. One of the few minerals in the world capable of suppressing Devil Fruit abilities."
"The higher the purity, the stronger the suppression."
"Especially fatal... to Logia Types."
Enel's expression darkened slightly, a flicker of genuine wariness stirring in his heart for the first time.
So the lightning he had believed invincible was nothing more than child's play in these seas.
Puck waved the knuckle dusters triumphantly, grinning provocatively.
"What's the matter, little godling? Wanna try a taste of my Love Smash?"
Enel's hair bristled with anger, arcs of lightning crackling at his fingertips.
He snorted and turned away, refusing to engage.
The playful banter between brothers.
A rare moment of warmth amidst the storm of iron and blood.
Guts watched the scene quietly, a trace of softness flickering in the depths of his gaze.
*****
Marineford · Classified Training Grounds
The scorching sun baked the training field, the air thick with the residual tension of clashing Haki.
Enel knelt on one knee, his hair plastered damply to his forehead, sweat dripping from his chin onto the blistering ground and instantly evaporating into steam.
His teeth were clenched, shoulders trembling, yet he stubbornly refused to collapse.
Opposite him, Guts stood with his hands behind his back, his expression stern, eyes cold as frost.
"Get up."
"Again."
The command was harsh, devoid of any emotion.
Enel let out a low growl, forcing himself upright as faint sparks danced at his fingertips, his heart pounding violently in his chest.
The expansion of Observation Haki perception.
The brutal tempering of his newly awakened Armament Haki.
The relentless suppression of his lightning and the repeated stimulation of neural connections.
Every training session was a tearing and reshaping of both soul and body.
Pain? Of course there was.
But more than that, there was an exhilaration surging from the very marrow of his bones!
This was the true way to wield power!
Not mere displays of talent, not the reckless abuse of Logia Type abilities.
But tempering, honing—forging oneself into an unshakable weapon.
Meanwhile, under Guts' direction, Enel quietly expanded his 'Mantra' surveillance.
Silently monitoring the words and actions of the mid-ranking officers at headquarters; Tracking the flow of supplies for any irregularities; Secretly recording illicit deals and covert meetings among the officers.
Unseen and unheard, he became Guts' most concealed blade.
In the future, the rot and filth of the seas would be purged by their own hands!
******
Marineford · Fleet Admiral's Office
The afternoon sun blazed fiercely.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, the heart of supreme authority, the atmosphere was unusually tense.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat calmly behind his obsidian desk, his cape swaying slightly in the air-conditioned breeze, his brow exuding steady authority.
Outside the door, Guts entered with a crisp military stride, his footsteps resolute and powerful.
Clad in a pristine Marine uniform, his cape billowing, he resembled a blade freshly drawn from its sheath.
Sengoku raised his head slightly, studying this young enforcer who had shaken the entire headquarters.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a low voice.
"Rear Admiral Guts."
"In light of your outstanding achievements in the East Blue purge campaign, Headquarters has issued a special order—"
Sengoku slid over a thick, encrypted military directive, his tone firm and commanding.
"You are hereby appointed as the Special Operations Commander, granted independent command authority."
"Your first mission—"
Sengoku's voice suddenly darkened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Purge—G-5 Branch."
His word struck like a hammer!
Guts' eyes flickered slightly, a cold light gleaming in their depths.
G-5.
A branch long rotted to the core.
A den of debauchery, bribery, collusion with pirates, and blatant defiance of Marine justice.
The perfect first target for the storm of justice to strike!
Sengoku added gravely.
"Make it clean."
"No stains, no loose ends."
"Just as you did in the East Blue—swift and thorough."
Guts raised his hand in the sharpest military salute, his voice as cold and hard as steel.
"—Understood."
He took the document and turned to leave.
His cape rose high behind him, like a dark blade poised to pierce the old world.
Under the blazing sun, at the distant end of the Grand Line, the sea winds carried the faint scent of impending battle.
The winds of justice were finally sweeping towards the Marine system!
And G-5 Branch would be the first bloody proving ground!