Ember

The morning sun shone brightly over the fortress of Marineford.

White gulls circled overhead, and the sea breeze whipped up the banner of Justice, Hunting Roar.

A new day has begun, but no one dares to forget the "Holy Land Turmoil" that shook the world.

When Roy and the Three Admirals reappeared at the headquarters dock, the entire area fell silent.

At that moment, everyone felt a suffocating sense of authority.

It wasn't just because of their military rank, but because they "came back alive" from the Holy Land.

The atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's Office was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Sengoku sat in the Head Seat, his gaze sweeping over the four people. The corner of the detailed report on the Holy Land incident in his hand was almost crumpled.

"Black to... Domination?"

The old Fleet Admiral's voice was hoarse and low, carrying a trace of lingering shock.

"Sakazuki... he was almost controlled by that thing?!"

Kizaru pushed up his Glasses, his usual smile long gone.

"Wow, this is really scary..."

Kuzan leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, his tone languid but tinged with lingering fear:

"Oh dear~ If Roy hadn't intervened in time, we would have been facing a raging volcano."

Sengoku looked up at Roy, his expression complex.

Roy simply smiled slightly, his gaze calm.

He didn't say much, but his composure made everything clear to Sengoku.

Roy had known about the existence of "that power" for a long time.

After a moment of silence, Sengoku slowly exhaled. "That power doesn't belong to humans... or even to this world."

He closed the file and looked at Roy with a deep gaze. "Now I finally understand—what you meant by 'taboo' before."

"However, the Navy's 'Justice' cannot be controlled by any one party."

"Whether it's God or Demon."

After a long silence, Sengoku revealed a relieved smile.

"I'm getting old... it's time to hand over the reins."

He turned his head and looked at Sakazuki, who was sitting next to him.

"You shall inherit this flame of 'Justice'."

--

The appointment was officially issued the following day.

Admiral Sakazuki has officially assumed the position of Akainu Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters.

The news sent shockwaves around the world.

Countless people speculate that an unprecedented "bloody Purge" is about to sweep the globe.

However--

They were wrong.

The new Fleet Admiral's first order was neither a purge nor a war.

Rather, it is about institutional integration and the reconstruction of military discipline.

All commands were precise and rational, demonstrating unprecedented efficiency within the naval system.

Training was well-paced, supplies were readily available, and discipline was strict.

The Navy's internal systems are actually more stable, coordinated, and even moderate.

The entire headquarters seemed to have found a strange balance between iron and reason.

This left everyone dumbfounded.

"Huh? Is this guy fake??"

Enel slumped on a bench in the corridor, chewing on an apple, and suspiciously peered into the Fleet Admiral's Office.

Through the half-open door, he saw the man who once burned with rage, whose words could scorch the air—

Right now, I'm sitting in the sunlight, quietly arranging flowers.

White porcelain bottle, red camellia.

Sakazuki frowned slightly, his expression focused, and he even adjusted the angle.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, falling on his shoulders; the scene was eerily serene.

"Flower arrangement?! Akainu --?!!"

Enel almost choked on the apple.

He felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and rushed out the door straight to Roy's office.

"Hey! Roy--!"

"Has that guy been brainwashed by the gods of the Holy Land?! I didn't see him swear at all all afternoon!!"

Roy was processing documents when he was so startled he almost burst out laughing.

He stood up helplessly and patted Enel on the shoulder.

Don't worry, he hasn't been brainwashed.

He's just—training his mind.

Enel's head exploded. "Heart???"

Roy walked to the window and looked out at the vast blue sea in the distance.

His gaze softened, and his tone lowered. "Perhaps that accident at the Holy Land made him truly understand."

"If anger cannot be controlled, it will devour not only enemies, but also allies."

The sea breeze blew by, ruffling the edges of his cloak.

Roy smiled gently, his eyes as calm as an abyss. "Knowing how to hide the volcano about to erupt—"

That's what's truly terrifying.

Punk Hazard Night

That island, forever shrouded in mist and extreme weather, is now silent in the night.

The wind was suppressed, the clouds were stagnant, and only from the deep research area came a low, rhythmic rumble.

It was a behemoth-like "heartbeat" coming from the fusion furnace center of the energy control core area.

Behind the thick, shatterproof glass, a flame was burning quietly.

The flames churned in the transparent liquid, yet they had no temperature.

It is neither hot nor cold, but a strange existence.

Each jump is accompanied by a slight distortion of the air, as if even light is bent under its gravity.

That was the miracle that Vegapunk had developed with all his wisdom throughout his life for the development of the world and the benefit of mankind—the "Mother Flame".

It can generate energy in a constant and non-decaying manner, theoretically freeing dozens of countries, or even the entire world, from the curse of resource competition forever.

Vegapunk called this "the second dawn of human civilization."

At this moment, the Laboratory was empty.

The only source of light was the "Mother Flame" that burned silently in the liquid.

Suddenly, a current flashed across the control panel.

"Zzz--"

All surveillance footage was frozen simultaneously.

The data readings remained stable, but the security system was tampered with in an instant.

Immediately afterwards, the air at the doorway rippled slightly, and a massive figure silently slid in.

The DOM Shoes made a faint "tap-tap" sound on the metal floor, but the built-in soundproofing system swallowed the sound.

She was wearing a lab coat, tall and slender, with Blond Hair falling down her back.

--It is one of Vegapunk's alter egos, Desire York.

Her steps were light, yet clearly hesitant.

She walked slowly to the fusion furnace, the firelight reflecting in her eyes, creating a flickering paradox.

She gazed at the flame and murmured, "... Can this thing really change the world?"

The image of Saint Garling's cold, scarlet eyes flashed into my mind.

And that whisper from the Holy Land's hidden network—

Our cooperation remains valid.

The world needs 'energy'... not that old man's ideals."

York's fingertips trembled slightly.

The orders of Saint Garling, the deal with Saint Saturn, the threat from the World Government...

All of this was tearing at her reason.

But at the same time--

Another image flashed into her mind.

That day, Vegapunk looked at her, knowing full well that she had leaked experimental data, but he only sighed.

"Human desires are the engine of evolution."

"But York, don't let it devour you."

Those words were like cold water poured into her heart, and her eyes wavered slightly.

My fingertip swept across the control panel and stopped at the switch for the "safety valve".

"But... I've already gone too far."

York looked up, gazing at the "Mother Flame" burning in the liquid.

Flames danced in her pupils, like the whispers of a demon.

Her hand slowly reached towards the control panel.