"Boom boom boom——"
The training grounds of the G-3 Branch were ablaze with energy.
The air was thick with the mingled scents of sweat, steel, and gunpowder.
News of Hawke defeating the Logia user Enel with a single punch on Sky Island had already spread through the entire base like a raging storm.
Their commanding officer was actually that strong!
Awe, reverence, and fanatic admiration...
The soldiers who had followed Hawke on the expedition stood tall with pride, enjoying the envious gazes of their comrades as they vividly recounted their experiences, spittle flying with every word.
"You should've seen it! Lieutenant Zoro and Lieutenant Commander Sanji, those two monsters!"
"They handled those four so-called 'priests'!"
"I saw it with my own eyes! Lieutenant Commander Sanji's leg literally burst into flames, and with a single kick, he sent one priest crashing from the sky straight into the ground!"
"And Lieutenant Zoro was even crazier! One slash! Just one! The other two priests were cleaved clean in half!"
Every word was like a red-hot iron spike, stabbing deep into the hearts of the soldiers who had stayed behind.
In the military, strength reigns supreme.
When the entire army collectively acknowledged that these two monstrous recruits had already surpassed most veteran soldiers, everyone lost their minds.
"Hey, do you guys know what Hawke-sama said about Lieutenant Zoro and Lieutenant Commander Sanji?"
A soldier doing pull-ups gritted his teeth and asked.
"'Not bad' and 'pretty good'!"
"And what about us?"
"Total garbage...?"
One soldier roared through clenched teeth while lifting an overloaded barbell.
"..."
"Shit!!!"
The surrounding soldiers stared at him, speechless, but their eyes burned with an even fiercer fire.
Damn it, he had a point!
"Damn it! They've barely been in the Marines for any time at all! Where the hell are we supposed to put our veteran pride?!"
"Increase the intensity!!!"
"Give me another hundred sets of push-ups!!!"
"Run another two hundred laps!!!"
The entire G-3 Branch was gripped by a frenzy of healthy, almost fanatical competition.
...
"Step——"
When Hawke's figure appeared at the edge of the training grounds...
The deafening uproar was instantly strangled, as though an invisible hand had gripped the entire field by the throat.
Thousands of eyes, like iron filings drawn to a magnet, all locked onto him at once.
"..."
Hawke slowly walked to the high platform at the center of the training grounds. He didn't speak at first, only swept his calm gaze across the sweat-drenched yet blazing faces below.
He simply stood there without giving a single command.
Yet within the crowd, Dane, Smoker, Hina, and the others moved as if they had received a silent order. Almost simultaneously, they turned and stepped to the very front of the formation.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
The synchronized footsteps echoed like war drums across the suddenly silent training grounds.
The soldiers rapidly assembled, transforming from scattered chaos into a perfectly aligned, imposing formation within moments.
Even Zoro and Sanji stopped their daily bickering, rushing to take their positions on Hawke's left and right.
Within just over ten minutes, every Marine in the G-3 Branch—except those on essential duty—had gathered.
The flawless ranks stood like a forest forged of steel and flesh, exuding an oppressive aura of killing intent.
"..."
Hawke gazed silently at the scene, a faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips.
Perfect.
On his way here, he had already overheard the soldiers' private discussions.
That unwillingness to fall behind, that burning desire to become stronger—that was exactly what he wanted to see.
Where there's competition, there's progress.
Where there's a role model, there's a goal.
Drive, ambition, and bloodthirsty spirit.
This was the kind of army Rayne Hawke wanted—an iron-clad force.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Hawke finally spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every single soldier's ears.
"Today, I have two announcements."
"First, by special approval of the Fleet Admiral, I, Rayne Hawke, have been promoted to Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral."
"..."
"!!!"
The crowd fell silent for a brief moment.
Then, like magma surging beneath the earth, an uncontrollable wave of elation roiled within every soldier's chest.
They clenched their jaws, forcefully swallowing back the cheers bubbling up from their throats.
Military discipline demanded they maintain formation and silence.
But the rapid rise and fall of their chests, the flush creeping across their faces, and the faint tremble in their bodies betrayed the tsunami of emotions roaring inside.
Hawke-sama...
He was now a Headquarters Rear Admiral!
So fast!
From an East Blue Branch Commander to a Headquarters Commodore, and now to a Headquarters Rear Admiral—how long had it even been?!
If Hawke-sama could rise so quickly, then maybe… maybe his subordinates wouldn't be far behind!
"Second, personnel promotions."
Hawke's gaze swept across the crowd before locking precisely on Dane, standing at the very front.
"Headquarters Captain Dane, for loyalty and unwavering duty, effective immediately, you are promoted to Marine Headquarters Commodore!"
"!!!"
Every gaze turned toward the man standing firm like a rock at the forefront of the formation, brimming with admiration, respect, and unspoken agreement.
Commodore Dane!
Though in raw strength, Commodore Dane didn't display the same monstrous feats as Lieutenant Zoro or Lieutenant Commander Sanji, he had always been Hawke-sama's most trusted and relied-upon man.
Since their days in the East Blue's 16th Branch, no matter how crazy Hawke-sama's decisions were, Commodore Dane was always the first—and most steadfast—to carry them out.
Such loyalty and composure were worthy of his new rank.
"Hawke…"
Dane jerked his head up, staring at Hawke on the platform, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Commodore?!
I… I'm really a Commodore now?
When he joined the Marines, he'd never imagined he'd one day touch the threshold of Headquarters' senior ranks.
All he had ever done was follow in Hawke's footsteps, holding fast to his purpose of revenge and protection.
This weighty promotion burned like fire in his chest, his eyes stinging uncontrollably.
"Headquarters Ensign Hibari, for submitting critical items during the Sky Island mission, effective immediately, you are promoted to Marine Headquarters Captain!"
"Headquarters Commander Kujaku, for precise judgment and execution, effective immediately, you are promoted to Marine Headquarters Captain!"
Hawke's voice rang out once more.
"Shhh——"
Every eye shifted sharply toward the two female officers in the formation.
Hibari's promotion was no surprise to most of the soldiers.
After all, she had turned in a Logia-type Devil Fruit—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
Do you understand what that meant?!
Even though all three Marine Admirals were top-class masters of martial arts and Haki, no one could deny the overwhelming power boost a Logia fruit provided.
Her promotion to Captain was more than justified!
As for Kujaku, though most soldiers didn't know the details, did it even matter?
Hawke-sama's decision was their will!
Their only job was to follow unconditionally!
"Mm…"
From the high platform, Hawke calmly observed everyone's reactions, nodding slightly in satisfaction.
Clear rewards and punishments, balanced authority and benevolence—that was how one commanded subordinates.
He cleared his throat and delivered the final rewards.
"All soldiers who participated in the Sky Island mission: five million Belly each, credited to your military records!"
"All soldiers who participated in the Mock Town mission: three million Belly each, credited to your military records!"
"Those who meet promotion requirements, report to the logistics office for rank upgrades!"
"Effective immediately, everyone will receive a three-day alternating leave schedule. One week from now, we have a new mission!"
"..."
As Hawke finished, a wave of burning emotion swept through the training grounds—an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Military merits!
Bonus rewards!
Vacation!
The joy came so suddenly, so fiercely!
Where else could they find a commander like Hawke-sama?!
"Thud!"
At the very front, Dane suddenly straightened his back.
Eyes burning red, he raised his right fist and slammed it hard against the left side of his chest, producing a deep, resonant thud.
The sound was like a signal.
One soldier. Two soldiers. Hundreds. Thousands.
All of them followed Dane's example, pounding their fists heavily against their hearts.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
The deafening, unified rhythm shook the heavens, coalescing into a roaring torrent of steel.
Finally, all the emotions pent up in thousands of chests erupted into a single word—a soul-deep roar that tore through the skies!
"Loyalty——!!!"
...
T/N: The chapter for 100 Powerstones. Thank you. Next one for 150