The morning sun rose over Marine Headquarters, where training was already well underway.
Led by Rob Lucci, the members of the Asura Special Training Class ran around the training ground in neat formation at a blistering pace.
Kuma stood silently in the shade of a tree, watching them. Ever since he had been relieved of his duties as a bodyguard, he had become a permanent fixture here.
A drop of dew slipped from a leaf above him, only to be mysteriously repelled before it could touch his head.
Kuma had spent the past several days observing the class. He now knew everyone on the field better than anyone else, quietly assessing and comparing their overall abilities.
"Rob Lucci. Daz Bones. And the resurrected Moria."
"Their progress is obvious. They're also the three strongest people in the class."
"But there are plenty of others with potential who train just as hard."
Kuma's gaze swept across the field, passing over every face.
"Kaku, Blueno, and the other members of the CP unit."
"Bon Kurei, Galdino, Gem, the user of the Bomb-Bomb Fruit, and the other former Baroque Works agents."
"And Perona, who acts innocent, carefree, and bold in front of everyone, but secretly works even harder than most."
Every one of them was doing everything they could, using their own methods to grow stronger.
His gaze finally settled on two people.
The one who deserved the most attention was the young man who had only recently joined the Marines, yet already carried several impressive titles.
A student of the Marine hero Garp, and the junior fellow disciple of the legendary Admiral Kojin.
"Koby, was it?"
Compared to the others, Koby had started late and possessed a much weaker foundation. Yet Kuma knew the boy might be working harder than anyone else present.
That was also why Koby required his treatment more often than the others.
"He must have a dream he refuses to give up on."
As Kuma silently considered this, his eyes narrowed, and he turned his head toward the entrance.
A green-haired swordsman stepped onto the training ground. His entire body was wrapped in white bandages, and three swords hung at his waist.
"Roronoa Zoro." Kuma stared for a moment before speaking his name.
He had always held a favorable impression of the swordsman. Whether it was Zoro's willingness to trade his own life for his captain's or his actions at Marine Headquarters, there was much about him worthy of respect.
In Kuma's eyes, Zoro was a genuinely tough man.
Unfortunately, he had chosen a path opposite to Kojin's. His future might not end well.
What happened next surprised Kuma even more. Despite entering enemy territory, Zoro showed no awareness that he was supposed to be an enemy. After scanning the training ground, he strode straight over to Kuma.
He folded his arms and stood beside him, silently watching the members of the Special Training Class.
After a long while, Kuma finally asked in a low voice, "Given who you are, standing here is extremely dangerous."
"Yeah. But that guy still hasn't arrested me." Zoro grinned. "So even if this is Marine Headquarters, I'm still a free man!"
Kuma paused. "Is that so?"
"It is."
Neither of them said another word. They stood beneath the tree like a pair of statues, watching the class train.
From the corner of his eye, Kuma noticed the green-haired swordsman's expression becoming increasingly grave. As the training continued, a trace of admiration appeared on Zoro's face.
"Do these guys always train like this? They're completely insane."
"They have recently," Kuma replied.
"Monsters," Zoro muttered through clenched teeth.
A sudden sense of urgency rose in his heart. Their strength and determination went far beyond anything he had imagined. They trained with absolutely no regard for their own lives.
Zoro was a training-obsessed monster himself, so he understood better than most how terrifying the strain of such exercises was on the body.
Yet the people before him didn't seem to care at all.
They weren't merely training; they were torturing their bodies as though they held a personal grudge against themselves.
Time passed, and before long, the morning was over. Zoro remained where he was, acting as though he belonged there.
Several times, he watched Kuma flash onto the field and repel the exhaustion, pain, and injuries from those who collapsed.
Understanding dawned on Zoro's face.
"So that's it! They can push their bodies without restraint because they don't have to worry about exhaustion or injuries afterward. That's how they've managed to grow so much stronger in such a short time."
Kuma returned to his original position and glanced at him.
"Is it because you've already disregarded your own life that you can stand here so calmly?"
Zoro grinned. "The moment I fell into this place, my life stopped belonging to me. Every second I'm still alive is a gift."
"Aren't you afraid of death?" Kuma asked.
"Fear has never existed in my heart."
The two fell silent once more.
At noon, a Marine arrived with their meals. To Zoro's surprise, there was a portion for him as well, his bowl piled high with meat and vegetables.
"Eat," Kuma said. "You'll need a full stomach and a strong body if you want to do whatever it is you've set your mind on."
Zoro nodded.
The two squatted beneath the tree and began devouring their food.
In the span of a single morning, Zoro had discovered that Bartholomew Kuma, the notoriously vicious Warlord known as the Tyrant, was surprisingly decent.
In fact, Zoro was already starting to think of him as the first friend he had made since venturing deep into enemy territory.
At two in the afternoon, the lunch break ended and the second phase of training began.
Strangely, no one on the training ground paid any attention to the two of them. Even when they noticed Zoro, an enemy of the Marines, they simply pretended they hadn't seen him.
Zoro thought about it for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward.
"What are you planning to do?" Kuma asked.
"Something that'll make me stronger!"
Zoro grinned and strode over to Daz Bones. He stopped in front of him, leaned forward slightly, and flashed a cold, almost manic smile.
"Our fight the other day wasn't satisfying enough. Let's go again!"
Daz Bones removed his foot from Helmeppo's face and slowly turned toward Zoro. A faint smile appeared on his face as well.
"All right."
The fight began immediately. Since the two had once been enemies, neither showed the slightest mercy. The battle reached a fever pitch almost at once.
Their blades collided, throwing off sparks and violent bursts of force.
"Why aren't you using your Devil Fruit?" Zoro shouted.
"Until I've mastered the ultimate form of swordsmanship, I won't rely on my Devil Fruit powers again!" Daz Bones replied seriously.
"Is that so?"
Rather than relaxing, Zoro's expression grew even more solemn. Daz Bones had clearly received guidance from someone.
The battle raged on, with neither man able to gain the upper hand.
"Not enough! This still isn't enough pressure!" Zoro raised his voice. "Why don't all three of you come at me together?"
"Trying to get yourself killed?" Moria asked, turning his head. Despite his words, he made no move to accept the challenge.
Rob Lucci was busy mercilessly beating Koby and didn't respond at all, as though he hadn't even heard Zoro.
"I'll do it!" Kaku appeared before them in a flash.
Zoro threw his head back and laughed. "Now that's more like it!"
By the time the sun began to set, Zoro was lying on the ground, gasping for breath. His white bandages were soaked red with blood, and he was once again hovering on the brink of death.
Daz Bones and Kaku were also covered in wounds, lying motionless nearby. With Kuma's treatment, however, they were soon back on their feet.
The sky darkened, and the air grew cold.
Kuma stood silently beneath the tree. A short distance away, the blood-soaked Zoro remained completely still.
Only after everyone else had left the training ground did Kuma finally turn his attention back to him.
"What a madman."
With a sigh, Kuma stepped forward and stopped beside Zoro.
"Heal me!" Zoro demanded through the pain, grinning up at him.
"That is no longer something someone in my position should be doing," Kuma replied with another sigh.
"But I know you'll help me anyway!" Zoro burst out laughing.
Kuma slowly bent down and extended his right hand, gently pressing his paw against Zoro's body.
Pop!
A crimson bubble was expelled from Zoro's body. It rose rapidly into the air before bursting with a sharp crack.
"Hahaha! That power of yours sure is convenient!"
Almost immediately, Zoro sprang to his feet. He moved his arms and legs experimentally and found that his entire body felt light and refreshed.
"In that case, I'll leave all my future injuries to you, Big Kuma!"
Kuma looked puzzled. "Big Kuma?"
Zoro merely answered with another roar of laughter.
Meanwhile, inside the Fleet Admiral's office...
"Well, then…"
"It's time to make the announcement."
"The prelude to this war has reached its end, and Marineford's preparations are nearly complete."
Sengoku rested both hands on his desk. His voice was low and powerful, while his eyes shone with the sharpness of a hawk.
"It should be quite a battle." Kojin smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Our enemies are all world-class monsters. How frightening," Kizaru sighed.
"The public execution will take place one month from now," Aokiji said gravely. "But will the Whitebeard Pirates really play along? Will they still come to Marineford to rescue Ace, knowing we'll be fully prepared for them?"
"He'll come." A faint smile appeared on Kojin's face, his gaze deep and unreadable.
"We agree on that," Sengoku said. "All the Marines need to do is avoid making a single mistake before the war begins."
"And then we'll claim the final victory!"
He raised his eyes and looked directly at Kojin.
"The Marines will win. Justice will prevail!" Kojin declared.
"The Marines will win!"
"We will prevail!"
A chorus of powerful voices echoed throughout the Fleet Admiral's office.
At daybreak the following morning, a shocking piece of news was revealed to the world alongside the first rays of sunlight.
The entire world was shaken.
(End of Chapter)
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