"Da-da-da—"
The sound of synchronized footsteps echoed across the docks of the G-3 Branch.
Hawke led the entire G-3 Branch's forces to welcome the five elite Vice Admirals arriving from Marine Headquarters.
"Woo—"
Five massive battleships, like colossal sea beasts, slowly approached the shore, casting their shadows over the entire dock.
Marine battleships.
Onigumo, Doberman...
Five Vice Admirals, each infamous across the second half of the Grand Line, descended from their ships, leading their own elite detachments.
"Salute!"
Hawke's sharp gaze turned serious as he raised his hand in a precise Marine salute.
"Shua—"
Behind him, thousands of soldiers moved in unison, as if they were extensions of Hawke himself.
The sound of their arms slicing through the air combined into one sharp note, like a blade being unsheathed.
The overwhelming aura of killing intent that erupted from them caused the five Vice Admirals—and even their battle-hardened Headquarters elites—to pause mid-step as they set foot on the dock.
"Shua—"
The five Vice Admirals instinctively returned the salute.
Their eyes shifted toward the steel-like formation of soldiers standing behind Hawke.
"This..."
Doberman's pupils contracted slightly.
Beads of sweat still clung to these soldiers' bodies, proof that they had just finished intense training.
Yet their posture was rigid and unyielding.
More importantly, it was their spirit.
This wasn't the aura of ordinary elite Marines. There was no numbness born from discipline, no weariness from endless battles.
Instead, there was an intense, unwavering focus...
A hunger for blood. A feverish craving for battle.
"!!!"
Doberman's heart trembled violently.
What kind of joke is this?!
These soldiers belong to a Paradise branch?
This army could be thrown straight into the New World against the Yonko's top forces and wouldn't fall behind in the slightest!
No wonder—no wonder Akainu-sama personally instructed them before departure.
But still...
If the soldiers were trained to this level, just how terrifying must their commanding officer be?
All five Vice Admirals turned their gaze toward the young man standing at the front of the formation.
Rayne Hawke.
They had already discussed this name several times on their way here.
A monster who skyrocketed from Branch Commander to Headquarters Rear Admiral in record time.
A prodigy acknowledged by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and all three Admirals—the so-called "Future of the Marines."
And a man infamous for his audacity—the "Blood Hawk" who had only just taken office yet dared to bombard and obliterate Mock Town!
But seeing him in person...
The shock was a hundred times greater than anything their intelligence reports described.
So young!
Far too young!
And yet...
Hawke merely stood there calmly, but even so, these elite Headquarters Vice Admirals could feel a subtle, oppressive pressure radiating from him.
"..."
The five exchanged silent glances, each seeing the same realization mirrored in the others' eyes.
Rear Admiral Hawke's strength was far beyond what his rank implied.
This was a Marine officer with terrifying individual power—combined with equally terrifying leadership.
"Welcome to the G-3 Branch, Vice Admirals."
Hawke lowered his hand and smiled warmly.
"Shua—"
Behind him, thousands of soldiers dropped their arms simultaneously, as though responding to an unspoken command.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized, without the slightest noise.
In an instant, the suffocating killing intent dissipated, and the tense atmosphere on the dock eased.
"You've had a long journey."
Hawke stepped forward to greet them personally.
He understood well—while nominally this was a reinforcement mission, in reality, these five hawkish Vice Admirals and their fleets were effectively being permanently integrated into the G-3 Branch.
As the commanding officer here, it was his duty to personally show them around and help them familiarize themselves with their "new home."
"Not at all. Just doing our duty," Doberman replied in a deep voice, forcing a rare, stiff smile onto his usually stone-like face.
Behind him, Onigumo and the others mirrored the awkward expression, their faces unnaturally tense. Clearly, none of them were good at these formalities.
"Come on, I'll show you around."
Hawke stepped aside, making a polite "please" gesture, his demeanor composed and confident.
The Vice Admirals nodded and gestured to the elites behind them.
The Headquarters Marines immediately moved into action, coordinating with the G-3 Branch's soldiers.
Crates of supplies brought from Headquarters were unloaded—materials essential for the massive upcoming expansion of the G-3 Branch.
"Tap—"
The five Vice Admirals followed Hawke's lead, beginning their tour of this steel fortress—soon to become the true heart of Marine operations.
...
Meanwhile, on the Grand Line, near Mock Town.
"Crack... craaack..."
A biting chill swept across the sea, freezing a pirate ship flying a skull flag solid into an icy sculpture.
Surrounding it, five massive battleships without visible identification numbers formed a tight battle formation, sealing off the entire area.
Any ship attempting to approach would be spotted instantly.
"Whoo—"
Kuzan stood at the bow of one of the massive battleships, slowly exhaling a puff of white mist into the frigid air.
They had been here for a full day now, waiting for the Knock Up Stream to reach Sky Island.
"Maah..."
He scratched his messy black curls lazily.
"This makes the third one, huh?"
Behind him, a Marine Captain replied respectfully, "Yes, Aokiji-sama."
"Ever since the news broke about Rear Admiral Hawke completely erasing Mock Town from the map, this whole area's been flooded with pirate activity."
"Heh—"
"Seriously, one after another… rushing straight to their deaths."
Kuzan chuckled softly.
Every pirate crew destroyed here meant less pressure for that kid Hawke on his side.
Just then, the lookout's voice rang out from the observation tower.
"Aokiji-sama! The seawater's temperature and current speed are changing rapidly!"
"!!!"
Kuzan's half-lidded eyes snapped open, sharp and focused as he turned his gaze toward the distant sea.
It's here.
"RUMBLE— RUMBLE— RUMBLE!!!"
Without warning, the calm sea erupted violently. A colossal whirlpool formed out of thin air, devouring the surrounding waters.
Then, with a deafening roar, an enormous water column—over a hundred meters wide—erupted from the ocean depths, piercing straight into the sky!
The pillar connected sea and sky, churning clouds and winds, radiating a force strong enough to tear reality apart.
"Uwaah... Is this the Knock Up Stream?!"
The elite Marines aboard the battleships stared at the awe-inspiring, world-shattering phenomenon, their faces frozen in shock.
"Everyone, hold on tight."
Kuzan shoved his hands into his pockets and took a step forward, placing his right foot lightly on the battleship's bow railing.
"Ice Age—"
"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"
A surge of ultimate cold exploded outward from Kuzan's foot in a fan-shaped wave!
Centered around the five massive battleships, an enormous ice sheet—tens of meters thick and large enough to rival a small island—instantly formed beneath them!
The gigantic floating ice platform held the five steel titans steady atop the surging sea.
"Time to take off—"
The moment Kuzan spoke, the massive water column slammed into the frozen platform he had created.
"BOOOOM!!!"
The terrifying force blasted the entire ice continent upward—launching all five battleships into the sky in an instant!
Below, the deep blue sea shrank rapidly, transforming into a distant, ever-shrinking azure disk.
They were flying toward the heavens!
"Whoo—"
Kuzan stood firmly at the bow of the lead battleship.
The raging winds whipped his Justice cloak into a roaring frenzy.
His messy black curls danced wildly, half-covering his face—but nothing could hide the resolve burning in his eyes.
He gazed steadily at the vast ocean of clouds above.
Sky Island… here I come.
No.
The future of the Marines… here I come!
...
The chapter for 150 Powerstones. Thank you guys