One Piece: Marine's Justice

"Haki is a latent power possessed by all humans. It's an innate ability, willpower that turns into a weapon when one learns to control invis

"Haki is a latent power possessed by all humans. It's an innate ability, willpower that turns into a weapon when one learns to control invisible sensations like presence, intimidation, and fighting spirit. This formidable force... is called Haki."

"You already have Observation Haki, so I won't elaborate much there. When the time comes, I'll teach you how to use it more proficiently in combat."

"As for Conqueror's Haki, I don't possess it, so I'm not very familiar with it. When Sengoku gets here, he can teach you that."

"Lastly, there's Armament Haki. It enhances your defense like an invisible armor, but more than that, it can be used offensively. It even allows you to touch... Smoker's body!"

Zephyr was explaining the fundamentals of Haki to Cross, demonstrating Armament Haki as he spoke. But one offhand remark left Cross utterly speechless.

"Zephyr-sensei, don't say creepy stuff like that. I'm not interested in Smoker's body," Cross replied, looking thoroughly disgusted.

"Alright, alright, so you don't like my sense of humor."

Zephyr shrugged, entirely unbothered, and continued, "You said you've fought powerful Haki users, so I'm sure you've gained some insight already. That's why I'll teach you how to train Armament Haki properly."

And with that, Zephyr began his serious instruction, guiding Cross step by step through the training process.

The first requirement: a solid physical foundation. Without a strong enough body, it's impossible to manifest Armament Haki, or if you do, it'll be weak and ineffective.

Fortunately, Cross had already met that benchmark long ago. In fact, across the entire Marine Academy, even including all the instructors, only Zephyr himself could boast greater physical strength than Cross.

And so, as Cross immersed himself in "studying," time trickled quietly onward.

Before anyone realized it, the latter half of Year 1507 of the Sea Circle Calendar had come and gone. Now, it was the beginning of 1508.

Cross turned sixteen that year, his sixteenth year in this world.

Out on the seas, the storms showed no sign of calming. The Great Pirate Era, ignited by the Pirate King Roger, continued to rage with ever-increasing ferocity. In response, the Marines ramped up recruitment and waged relentless war against the rapidly growing pirate threat.

But there was no shortage of injustice in the world.

The World Government and the Celestial Dragons towered above all, oppressing nations beneath them with overwhelming military might and the so-called "sacred authority of the Celestial Dragon's Mandate." In turn, the royalty and nobility of those subordinate kingdoms passed the weight of that oppression onto their own citizens, squeezing them dry with exploitation and tyranny.

Countless people, unable to bear it any longer, took to the seas, becoming pirates in a desperate bid for freedom.

And many, having suffered at the hands of others, then turned around and inflicted even greater cruelty upon the innocent.

The cycle spiraled out of control, plunging the world deeper into chaos. Blood flowed freely. Tragedy was an everyday occurrence.

Blood and tears. Screams and sobs. Corpses and mangled flesh. Oppression and slaughter…

The pirates roared with madness. The innocent cried out in anguish. And the power-hungry reveled in it all.

Many thrived in the chaos of the seas, it gave them the cover they needed to pursue their ambitions, step by step.

Meanwhile, the Marines fought everywhere, wielding the authority of "justice" as they struck down pirates and exercised their lawful power. But despite their efforts, the situation only worsened.

For every pirate they eliminated, two more would appear. For every crew they destroyed, even more would form.

The cycle was unending.

The World Government oppressed the kingdoms. The kingdoms' rulers, in turn, crushed their own people. Those people became pirates, taking vengeance on the world and driving the chaos further. The Marines would respond with force, increasing military expenditures, which in turn drove the World Government to tighten its grip once more.

A vicious cycle.

A twisted loop with no clear end. Who could say whether it would break... or simply go on forever?

That day, at the port of Marineford, activity bustled as far as the eye could see. Marines rushed to and fro, some hauling supplies, others inspecting warships, while entire units assembled in orderly ranks on the open training grounds.

"Move it! Form up, no stragglers!"

"Check your weapons! Bring everything you need!"

"Anyone still missing? Squad leaders, report!"

"All personnel present! Begin roll call!"

"—Six, seven..."

In front of one large warship, an open stretch of the harbor had become a staging area. Fifty members of the Elite Class and more than 300 newly promoted fifth-year students had gathered into neatly organized formations.

Zephyr stood at the front alongside over a dozen instructors, all wearing stern, no-nonsense expressions.

Today marked the start of the Elite Class's field internship.

Zephyr would personally lead this group of cadets out to sea on live missions to hunt pirates, not just to let them experience real combat, but to sharpen their battlefield instincts and prepare them for the brutal reality of the world outside.

At the same time, regular Marine Academy students entering their fifth year were also scheduled for deployment across various branches of the Navy for a two-year internship.

During the first half-year, however, those students would join the Elite Class under Zephyr's command. Only after that would the Elite Class graduate and the rest be dispatched to Marine branches around the world.

Of course, there was another practical reason behind this arrangement.

Because of Zephyr's status and the strategic value of the Elite Class, the Marine Headquarters had naturally assigned one of their best warships.

And the best ships in the Navy were Vice Admiral-class vessels, warships used in Buster Call operations.

Built by the master shipwrights of Water 7, these ships were the most durable and heavily armed in the entire fleet. They could even contend with Sea Kings, and carried a full capacity of up to 1,000 personnel.

But despite their hybrid sail-propulsion systems, a ship of that size couldn't be run by just 50 cadets.

Fortunately, with over 300 fifth-year students joining the Elite Class, the crew now numbered nearly 400, enough to handle the sails, cannons, and maintenance. The ship's full complement of weaponry would not go to waste.

Before long, all preparations were complete. Zephyr gave the order, and nearly 400 cadets boarded the colossal warship. Cross moved with the flow of people, stepping aboard the Navy's top-tier vessel once more.

Both regular and Elite students had previously studied on naval ships during their training, learning the basics of navigation, maintenance, and ship operation. So even though this was the real deal, everyone took to their roles with ease.

Still, Zephyr, Cross, and the other cadets weren't the only passengers aboard.

Also on the ship were a unique group of beings: Enlivened Statues that Cross had brought back from the City of Sculptures, Skoggy.

Over 700 of them, all flying types, had once been lifeless statues and sculptures. Now reanimated, they waited silently aboard the warship. The most eye-catching among them was a massive black metallic dragon, its hulking form sprawled across the vast deck.

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