The morning light is just breaking and the sea breeze is blowing.
Naval Headquarters·G1 Branch Outer Harbor, a large-scale military testing ground, is now bustling with people.
Today is the annual [Special Selection Day] of the Marine Officer Academy.
Hundreds of young men stood in a line on the huge stone square, each of them with a look of tension, longing and ambition on their face.
On the cliff path at the edge of the test site, a tall black shadow stood in the wind, as if cast from lava.
Sakazuki.
He was dressed in military uniform, with broad shoulders and an upright posture, like a silent god of war, quietly overlooking the center of the square.
His eyes were as hot as a volcano about to erupt.
He locked his eyes on the boy standing upright—
Rye.
His nephew.
It is also the only bloodline and hope left on his iron-blooded road.
A moment ago——
"...Insist on taking the test yourself?"
Sakazuki spoke in a deep voice, his voice was low and suppressed, as if it could tear the air at any time.
"As long as you agree, I can allow you to enter Zephyr's special training camp as an exception."
In the square, the sea breeze blew the corners of Rogge's thin uniform.
He stood in the morning light, like a sword that had not yet been unsheathed, sharp and firm.
Without even turning his head, his voice was extremely clear:
"unnecessary."
"I will use my own strength to convince everyone."
Sakazuki frowned slightly.
His mood was extremely complicated——
There is both suppressed pride and a vague and difficult to suppress worry.
After a moment of silence, Sakazuki asked in a low voice:
"...What's going on with that breath?"
"It seems that...some power has awakened in your body."
Rogge slowly turned his head, his eyes and brows revealing a hint of stubbornness and confidence that is unique to teenagers.
He spread out his right palm.
The silent breeze swirled and condensed in the palm of his hand, forming an Uzumaki visible to the naked eye. The trajectory of the air flow was clearly visible, as if controlling the breath of heaven and earth.
Rogge said lightly:
"After the North Blue disaster,"
"While escaping, I found a dilapidated treasure chest among the ruins."
"There's a... strange-looking fruit inside."
"I was so hungry at the time that I didn't think much about it and just ate it."
He slowly brought his five fingers together.
The air vibrated.
The wind along the entire path seemed to be gently surging in accordance with his will.
"result--"
"It's become like this."
"Later I heard that it was called Devil Fruit."
Sakazuki narrowed his eyes, a sharp edge flashing through his burning gaze.
He whispered:
"Lodge."
"Air."
Rogge nodded.
His eyes were as cold as ice, yet as hot as fire:
"The most basic and largest element in the world."
"It's also the power that's most easily overlooked."
"But in my hands—"
"It will become the sharpest blade to cleanse this corrupt world."
A gentle breeze blew by.
The boy's words, filled with unshakable determination, sounded like heavy war bells in the sea breeze, lingering for a long time.
Sakazuki exhaled slowly, hot breath.
His fiery eyes finally revealed a strong and hidden pride.
Rogge stood under the scorching sun, the sea breeze blew his slender body, but it could not blow away the mountain of will forged by his faith.
He slowly clenched his fists, his voice low but firm, like a sword drawn from its sheath:
"If you rely on connections to get into the camp, then my justice is no more than that."
"I will use my own strength—"
"Let everyone see my strength."
Sakazuki remained silent, staring into Rogge's eyes, which were so determined that they hurt his eyes.
After a while, he suddenly laughed, his smile was desolate and cold, but when he turned and left, he whispered:
"...Then, use your fists and strength to defeat them."
——The test has begun.
The entire square was filled with hundreds of recruit candidates from all over the world.
Some of them are tall, some are thin, some have pride in their brows, and some have fear in their eyes.
But without exception, they all understood one thing: To enter the [Zephyr Special Training Camp]
We must stand out in this almost cruel competition.
There is no warmth here.
There is only a threshold built with strength, will, blood and sweat.
Basic physical fitness test begins first.
Long-distance running, climbing, weight-bearing, fighting...
Rogge completed all the projects silently.
No trace of ostentation.
No showing off at all.
With an efficiency that was almost cold and indifferent, he broke all the records of the same period one by one.
Under the scorching sun, he was like a sword with its edge hidden deep inside.
Just wait for it to be unsheathed and tear the sky apart.
However, what really made the whole square boil was——
It's the last item: [Ability Assessment Demonstration].
Center of the square.
Stone shooting ranges dozens of meters high are scattered and densely distributed, simulating the most brutal environment of the battlefield.
Rogge slowly walked onto the demonstration stage.
He stood straight, his thin figure casting a lonely and determined silhouette under the scorching sun.
The eyes of the examiners, candidates, and instructors on the field were all cast on him.
Rogge raised his right hand.
Open your palms slightly.
Air Compression
Buzz——
The air vibrates.
Visible air waves slowly spread out with him as the center, like an invisible gravitational wave, shaking the surrounding space.
The next moment—Rogge suddenly clenched his five fingers and clenched his fist!
boom!!!
Dozens of heavy stone shooting ranges—
At the same time, it exploded from the inside!
Gravel poured down like rain, and the rumbling explosions shook the entire bay!
The wind was raging, the air waves were sweeping across, and the entire test site seemed to be swept by an invisible hurricane storm!
There was an uproar on the observation deck!
The examiners on the scene were dumbfounded, and even the adjutant of the monitoring department had no time to remain restrained and jumped up from his seat in shock!
And on the high platform.
Zephyr, dressed in a neat military uniform, stood in the scorching sun with his hands behind his back, like a silent and motionless stone statue.
His hawk-like eyes were fixed on Rogge.
After a moment, a rare smile finally appeared on that usually stern face.
It is barely noticeable, yet as hot as fire.
"This kid..."
"It's a good piece of steel."
The test is declared over.
Without a doubt, Rogge passed all the selection criteria with an overwhelming advantage.
Furthermore, Zephyr personally named him: "Rogge, from today on, you will be under my direct jurisdiction."
That moment.
Rogge, scorched by the scorching sun, slowly raised his head.
His eyes reflected the solemn Zephyr on the high platform, as well as the receding figure - Sakazuki, who left with a breath of flames.
[Zephyr Special Training Camp] This Shura field that gathers the strongest recruits from all over the world has officially opened its doors to Rogge.
The people here are all top-notch in terms of talent, background, and willpower.
But among this group of people—
Rogge immediately noticed a young man.
He was taciturn, dark-skinned and of stocky build.
He has neither the ability of Devil Fruit nor a brilliant background.
But in the basic physical fitness test, he completed all the items with an almost self-destructive will.
Every time he fell, he gritted his teeth and got up, with an unyielding fire burning in his eyes.
His name is Rhett.
Originally from South Blue.
Similarly, he joined the Marine Corps because his family was slaughtered by Pirates.
Not for glory, not for status, only for revenge and justice.
During a group training exercise, when a simulated Pirates attack was about to begin, the other trainees hesitated to move forward.
Only Rhett stood in front of the student without hesitation and blocked a simulated artillery fire for him.
That moment.
Rogge silently memorized his name.
future--
Leiter will become the first lieutenant of his [Absolute Justice Fleet].
However, in this place where new hope is ignited.
The undercurrent is also quietly surging.
Deep in the training camp, some officers hiding in the darkness have begun to pay close attention to this new meteor that has suddenly risen.
corruption.
Benefit.
Dark deal.
It has already been deeply rooted and spread within Marine.
A nail that is too sharp will often not only hurt the enemy, but also hurt colleagues.
Someone whispered in the dark, "This kid... is too dangerous."
And Rogge himself had already noticed it keenly.
Outside of training, he quietly collected clues, bit by bit, quietly uncovering the veil of the deep rot within Marine.
Because he understands.
Just clearing out the Pirates isn't enough.
If even the internal corruption cannot be eradicated, future justice will be nothing more than a castle in the air built on a swamp.
This road will be extremely difficult.
But Rogge never hesitated.
From the moment his homeland was slaughtered by the Pirates, he understood:
"Absolute justice—"
"The world must be thoroughly liquidated from its roots."