The rewards for Lloyd and the others from Marine Headquarters were announced with astonishing speed, and when the details spread, shock rippled through the ranks. Veterans and cadets alike stared in disbelief, some of them rereading the notices again and again as if expecting the words to change.
The three female cadets led by Lucia were each promoted to the rank of Colonel. That alone was enough to cause a stir. However, the promotions on the male side were even more outrageous. The four cadets led by Lloyd received ranks no lower than Rear Admiral.
Akainu and Kizaru were promoted to Rear Admiral, yet Lloyd's situation was different from the rest. Although all of them were still technically cadets, meaning their ranks were largely honorary and did not immediately grant them fleets or permanent subordinates, Lloyd alone received a special privilege from the Navy's higher command.
He was granted limited authority to mobilize troops when necessary. He could set sail freely, act independently, and only report back after completing his missions. In practical terms, Lloyd was already functioning as a true Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral.
Even temporary ranks like Akainu's were enough to make countless Marines burn with envy. Many had served faithfully for decades without ever reaching the rank of Colonel, let alone receiving a Headquarters commission straight out of training. Compared to them, Lloyd's group looked almost unreal.
Within the Navy, Headquarters officers held an unspoken advantage. At the same rank, Marines from Headquarters carried far more weight than those stationed in the Four Seas, with the exception of the G-prefixed bases on the Grand Line. Status, influence, and combat strength all tilted in their favor.
Despite how modest Headquarters Rear Admirals sometimes appeared in the anime, few truly understood how many Marines devoted their entire lives chasing that single step upward.
Inside the four-person dormitory Lloyd shared with Akainu, Kizaru, and Kuma, four Marine coats hung neatly on the wall. From largest to smallest, they represented their owners, each bearing the shoulder boards of general officers. The coats were colored gray, black, red, and yellow, reflecting their respective abilities.
From the rank of Colonel onward, Marine officers were permitted to have the logistics department tailor their uniforms to personal taste. At higher levels, some even chose to abandon shirts altogether, much like the future Admiral Ryokugyu. Even so, the four of them rarely wore their coats outside of formal occasions. Wearing them during training felt unnecessary, almost boastful.
Yet when Lloyd and the others stepped onto the training grounds again, the atmosphere had unmistakably changed. The gazes directed at them were no longer those of equals.
Before, no matter how monstrous their talent, they had still been fellow cadets. Now, they were officially ranked Marines, and not just any Marines, but general officers. In the eyes of the remaining cadets, they had already become untouchable figures.
Some even began addressing them as "Commander," their voices tinged with awe.
On the women's side, Lucia and her teammates received similar treatment. Lucia herself felt little change. As the leader of the third squad of the Figarland Family, her standing was already high. Gion was equally indifferent, largely due to Tsuru's influence. Only Ginny seemed uncomfortable with the sudden shift in attitude, though her unease eased whenever her best friend Jessica treated her exactly the same as before.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
On this particular day, Lloyd was once again on the training ground, honing his martial arts. The gap between him and the cadet had grown so vast that ordinary drills no longer offered any value. Beyond developing their Devil Fruit abilities, Lloyd, Akainu, Kizaru, and Kuma relied on intense combat sparring to refine their strength.
Akainu favored fighting Kuma. Both men were blunt, direct, and far more comfortable communicating through fists than words. Their battles were raw and brutal, defined by relentless exchanges and unyielding endurance.
Kizaru, on the other hand, was far less fortunate.
His opponent was always Lloyd.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The Demon Blade Muramasa collided repeatedly with Ama no Murakumo, each impact sending waves of sword energy tearing through the grass beneath their feet. The ground was carved and flattened over and over again.
During these sessions, Kizaru alone was permitted to use his ability, since Ama no Murakumo itself was formed through his light powers. Even so, the clash was far from fair.
To prevent Muramasa from directly absorbing the light blade, Lloyd carefully restrained the sword's nature. Despite that, Kizaru was still pushed hard. The glow of Ama no Murakumo dimmed repeatedly under Lloyd's strikes, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Lloyd suddenly retreated, creating distance. A thin layer of red aura slowly wrapped around Muramasa's blade. The moment Kizaru saw it, his pupils shrank, and he thrust out a hand instinctively.
"Chotto matte!"
Lloyd had been preparing to unleash his sword technique, Gyo Kyoku. His expression was calm and focused, yet when Kizaru called out, he paused. The Haoshoku Haki that had begun to gather around Muramasa dispersed silently into the air.
Akainu and Kuma halted as well. Akainu wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced at Kizaru, irritation mixed with confusion.
"Borsalino, why stop now? Zephyr Sensei isn't even here. Are you slacking off?"
Kizaru pouted, looking strangely aggrieved.
"Sakazuki, you're enjoying yourself, but have you thought about how I feel?"
Akainu stared at him blankly, clearly not understanding, while Kuma stood nearby in silence.
Lloyd sheathed Muramasa and looked at Kizaru.
"Alright. I went a bit too far last time, but it wasn't intentional."
A few days earlier, Lloyd had used Gyo Kyoku on Kizaru for the first time. Unfamiliar with the technique, Kizaru had been pierced by the invisible sword energy and forced to his knees on the spot. Even now, the memory made his skin crawl with embarrassment.
Since then, the moment Lloyd adopted that stance, Kizaru wasted no time calling for a halt. During sparring, Kizaru's only allowance was forming the light sword. Using full photonization to evade was considered a foul, leaving him no choice but to endure Lloyd's attacks directly. His willpower was strong, but not on the same level as Akainu's.
In truth, beyond his Devil Fruit, Lloyd possessed a technique that perfectly countered Kizaru. Gyo Kyoku existed for that very purpose.
With Kizaru calling the stop, the session ended. The four men sat on the ground to rest. Not long after, Lucia and Ginny approached, having completed their own training. They settled beside Lloyd, one on each side.
Akainu and the others had grown accustomed to this sight. The men spoke casually among themselves, while Ginny occasionally joined the conversation.
Lucia remained quietly kneeling next to Lloyd. Whenever he glanced her way, she offered a gentle smile, one that captivated more than a few watching cadets.
The moment was interrupted when Momonga came running toward them, his expression urgent.
"Lloyd, Zephyr Sensei is at the recruitment office. He's calling for all of you."
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