Marineford — Marine Training Base
Sprawling across several thousand square meters, this was the largest military training ground in the world — the Marine 's sacred forge for elite soldiers.
Right now, under the blazing sun, over ten thousand Marine elites were undergoing a brutal conditioning regimen personally overseen by Sengoku and Zephyr.
At the entrance to the grounds, Zephyr stood still for a moment after leaving Kong's office.
He watched the soldiers grind themselves down under the heat.
Then he sighed heavily.
"…."
How many of them would still be alive in three months?
For security reasons, he couldn't tell them the truth — that they were heading toward a war that would engulf the entire world.
Zephyr hadn't expected the Celestial Dragons' God Valley festival to spiral into a global purge and full-scale war because of Romu and Rocks' madness.
He shook his head and walked in.
The Training
The ten thousand Marines were divided into four formations:
Push-up endurance drills
Rope climbing
Long-distance running
Live sparring until one side collapsed
Two thousand push-ups.
A hundred ascents of ten-meter ropes.
Two hundred laps — a hundred kilometers of running.
Full-contact sparring until unconsciousness.
The heat shimmered above the yellow-brown earth.
Every Marine was bare-chested, drenched in sweat, breathing like bellows.
The moment someone slowed —
A justice-cloaked officer's whip cracked through the air.
"Don't slack off!!"
"If you die, die on this training ground!"
"You there — chest lower! Eat the dirt if you won't commit!"
"Medic! Drag that rookie out! Ten minutes — I want him back on the field in ten minutes!"
Men kept collapsing.
Those still standing were running on fumes.
Yet three recruits looked… comparatively relaxed.
They even had energy to talk.
The strongest rookies of this generation:
Borsalino. Sakazuki. Kuzan.
"So scary…"
Borsalino adjusted his sunglasses lazily.
"Wonder why training suddenly got so harsh. Must be because Zephyr-sensei lost to that pirate Romu… now we're paying for it."
"You talk so slow it hurts my brain," Sakazuki snapped.
"If you can't speak faster, keep your mouth shut."
Despite being young, Sakazuki's square jaw already carried a stern authority.
"Sakazuki… your temper matches your face…"
"Say that again?!"
Kuzan sighed.
Too noisy…
Too lazy to intervene, he released a thin chill to block the heat, lowered his green sleep mask, and kept doing push-ups with his eyes closed.
Zephyr watched from a distance.
They're nowhere near Romu… but they're still the Marine 's future.
Please… don't die in three months.
He stepped toward them.
"Zephyr-sensei!"
All three jumped up immediately.
Zephyr nodded.
"Back to work."
"From today on — double your workload."
Four thousand push-ups.
Two hundred rope climbs.
Two hundred kilometers of weighted running.
Then sparring with me.
"If talent can't match Romu…"
"Then effort will."
"No shortcuts."
"No Devil Fruit abilities."
He pointed at Borsalino.
"Especially you. Your Glint-Glint power is strong, but real strength demands physical combat ability."
Without waiting for a reply, Zephyr moved on.
The trio froze.
"…Hah. Once my light reaches true speed, no physical technique will matter."
"Romu again… I'll burn him to nothing with magma."
"…Can't even cool the air, huh…"
Meanwhile — Hachinosu Island
At the peak of Skull Rock, Rocks sat in shadow as usual.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Total war, huh…"
"Those five old men are fired up."
He tapped the table rhythmically.
A figure appeared silently behind him.
"Pass the order."
"Effective immediately — all operations stop."
"Anyone at sea returns to Hachinosu."
"And…"
"No internal fighting."
"Tell Newgate and the others — they personally train their crews. Daily."
The subordinate stiffened.
Since the Rocks Pirates formed, Rocks had never interfered in internal violence.
Survival of the fittest was law.
Hundreds could die — he wouldn't blink.
But now?
No infighting. No voyages. Mandatory training.
Something enormous was coming.
The subordinate didn't hesitate.
He obeyed and vanished.
The orders spread fast.
Confusion rippled through the pirates — but not a single soul dared protest.
The last one who questioned Rocks…
Well.
The sea creatures had long since cleaned his bones.
Within half a day, the once chaotic Rocks Pirates regrouped entirely at Hachinosu.
The air grew tight.
War was coming.
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