Boom. Boom. Boom.
The battle between Aren and Zephyr shook the entire harbor, violent tremors running through the stone as thunderous crashes exploded again and again above Marineford.
The sound rolled like raging thunder, roaring across the sky.
Every marine on the dock had pulled back, including some trainees who had just staggered to their feet after being knocked out earlier, as well as Ain and the other instructors. Only a few Marine Headquarters vice admirals still remained in their original positions. Even so, every one of them wore a shocked expression, and some of the weaker marines were left dizzy and disoriented from the repeated shockwaves of the clashes.
High above the small town of Marineford, inside the massive headquarters building, in the office of the Fleet Admiral, the true center of power of the Marines...
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood at the window, watching the battle raging below.
On his desk lay the personnel files of every marine transferred here from bases across the seas. The file with the special recruit seal, Aren's file, rested at the very top.
"That old fool Zephyr, what does he think the harbor is for?" Sengoku muttered, his face dark with irritation.
"But you are quite pleased, are you not, seeing a new recruit with this kind of strength, Sengoku-san?"
Leaning lazily against the wall beside the window was Kuzan, one of the three Marine Admirals who represented the highest combat power of the Marines. His gaze wandered down to the fight below with a bored, half-lidded look.
"Inform Zephyr that all repair costs for the damage done to the dock this time will be deducted entirely from the Marine School of Justice's budget," Sengoku said, ignoring Kuzan's comment and turning instead to a Marine Headquarters vice admiral standing inside the large office.
"Still..."
Kuzan tugged lightly on the sleep mask on his forehead, his lazy face tinged with a hint of genuine surprise. "He really is frightening. To have this level of power at such a young age."
"As a special recruit, if he did not possess that much strength, he would not be worthy of the title. Do not forget that."
Sengoku's gaze shifted from the battlefield below to Kuzan. "And do not forget either that back then, all of you were monsters just like this."
Kuzan gave a small, crooked smile.
At that moment, Aren's fist and Zephyr's fist collided once more.
A tremendous force exploded out from both fists at the same time.
Bang.
The stone harbor under their feet crumbled with a roar, a spiderweb of cracks spreading outward from where they stood and then sinking downward.
The shockwave formed by their clash surged in a violent wave, crashing toward all directions.
Everyone around instinctively sucked in a sharp breath, whether they were common marines or regular officers. Cries of shock and disbelief filled the air.
"Too strong... A marine captain can actually fight Zephyr-sensei to this extent?"
"So this is what they mean when they say only monsters can become special recruits..."
"The East Blue... Another monster has emerged from the East Blue. It is supposed to be the weakest sea, yet both Mr. Garp and the Pirate King Roger came from there..."
"They are not using their full strength. Neither Zephyr-sensei nor that special recruit has gone all out yet."
"His name, what is that guy's name?!"
"Aren Neri, I think. I heard Zephyr-sensei call him that just now."
...
Around them, the Headquarters vice admirals were just as stunned and shaken. They had all dealt with special recruits in the past, had watched previous generations grow. Now, as they looked at Aren and the power he displayed, none of them saw a mere rookie.
In their eyes, Aren was a freak of nature, someone fated to sit in the seat of a Marine Admiral one day. A new recruit like this had not appeared in a very long time.
Hope...
Just like Zephyr, those vice admirals looked at Aren and saw the future of the Marines.
"I want to see your true power, brat."
After their latest clash, both Aren and Zephyr retreated two or three meters, leaving about five meters of space between them. For the two of them, it was the perfect distance, both for attacking and defending, though both men clearly believed that the strongest offense was always the best defense.
Now, as he faced Aren, Zephyr no longer cared where they were or what they were supposed to be doing. There was only one thing on his mind: to go all out and learn the full extent of Aren's strength.
The stronger Aren was, the more excited Zephyr became. In this age, only strength, overwhelming strength, could make one's will a reality. As a marine, only absolute power could bring an end to the era of pirates he so deeply despised.
"And I," Zephyr said, "will use even greater power to test you."
The moment his words fell, both of Zephyr's arms turned completely black.
Or rather, it was not exactly that they turned black. From the prosthetic on his right arm to the wrist of his left, a layer of dark purple-black armor seemed to appear, coating both forearms like gauntlets.
Black Arm Zephyr.
Aside from the younger marines, anyone who knew even a little of Zephyr's legend had only one phrase in their mind as they watched this scene.
Black Arm Zephyr.
...