Funeral

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, and it was now the beginning of the second month.

Marine G-3 Branch, parade ground.

Over two thousand Marine soldiers stood packed tightly together in a square formation.

On a temporarily erected platform, a colonel held a sheet of draft paper and shouted:

"Sergeant Maynard, step forward!"

"Yes!"

"Last month, you performed excellently and rendered outstanding service in the battle against the Kiem Pirates. You are hereby promoted to staff sergeant."

"Recruit Karl D. Sephiroth, step forward!"

"Yes!"

Sephiroth answered and jogged out from the formation to stand before the colonel on the platform.

"Last month, you performed excellently and rendered outstanding service in the battle against the Paul Pirates. You are hereby promoted to corporal."

Sephiroth had already known about his promotion after the battle ended.

However, he had not expected to be promoted three ranks in a row.

It was only last night that he learned the reason. The pirate swordsman he had killed while using Bat Transformation during the battle against the Paul Pirates had a bounty of twelve million Beli.

According to Marine regulations, Marine soldiers who killed wanted criminals during military operations would be rewarded according to their contribution and level of participation. If they made the kill alone, they could receive up to fifty percent of the bounty.

Thus, aside from his promotion and pay raise, Sephiroth had also received a reward of six million Beli.

The Marines had directly withheld fifty percent of the bounty. It seemed rather stingy compared to bounty hunters, who received the full amount.

But...

Bounty hunters had costs when capturing or killing wanted criminals. They had to consider travel expenses, weapon wear and tear, injuries sustained in battle... and other such issues. They might even pay with their lives.

Therefore, the Marines deducting only fifty percent of the bounty seemed quite generous to him.

In Sephiroth's view, this was also a way for the Marines to recruit talent and encourage their forces to fight pirates.

Otherwise, why would anyone want to be a Marine? You got bossed around every day, had no freedom, and earned little money. You expected someone to risk his life fighting pirates for a salary of just tens or hundreds of thousands of Beli?

Other than hot-blooded youngsters, anyone with a functioning brain would not choose to become a Marine.

If that were the case, why would capable people be willing to work for you?

With that kind of strength, wouldn't they rather become pirates, burn, kill, and plunder, drink fine liquor, and hold pretty girls? Wouldn't that be more comfortable...?

After the unified promotion ceremony ended, the two thousand-plus Marine soldiers did not disperse. Instead, they marched in orderly steps toward the outside of the base.

As the sun set, sea winds made the wildflowers sway continuously on a hillside by the shore.

Not far away stood rows of stone gravestones, forming a cemetery. Each stone bore the name of a fallen Marine, their date of birth, and the date of their death.

Led by Garp, the Marine soldiers came before thirty-four newly erected gravestones and laid a bouquet of flowers before each one.

These thirty-four gravestones belonged to the Marine soldiers of Marine G-3 Branch who had died in action last month...

"Salute!"

Amid the low, mournful sound of a military bugle, soldiers and officers alike straightened their bodies, raised their right hands, and offered the gravestones their most solemn military salute.

At the same time, they began to sing a military song.

It was a song every Marine had to know, yet one no Marine ever wished to sing.

It was the lament of the living for the dead... "Guidance of the Sea."

The sea sees all, even the beginning of the world.

The sea knows all, even the end of the world.

Thus, what it invites us toward is the path we should walk.

Thus, what it guides us toward is the rightful world.

Pain and suffering, all are embraced by me.

Vast and gentle, all are embraced by me.

The sea sees all, even the beginning of the world.

The sea knows all, even the end of the world.

Should I vanish from this world one day,

It would also be by the guidance of the all-knowing sea.

There is no need to panic, for you are there.

There is no need to fear, for our companions are waiting as well.

March onward, toward that azure distance.

When the lament ended, many Marines already had tears in their eyes.

Their once-living, breathing companions had died in battle upon the vast sea, been laid in cold graves, and received nothing more than ordinary gravestones.

Years from now, who would still remember them...?

Sephiroth gazed at the expanse of gravestones with a calm expression. He greatly respected those Marines who had sacrificed themselves for the justice in their hearts, but he also felt sorrow for them.

At its core, the Marines under the World Government existed only to maintain the rule of the World Nobles.

There was, in truth, a vast gap between their ideals and reality...

The funeral ended, and the sky gradually darkened.

The Marines withdrew in an orderly fashion, leaving this place of sorrow.

"Hey! Sephiroth, kid, come with me for a moment."

Garp suddenly called out to stop the silver-haired youth. Though puzzled, Sephiroth still followed him.

Bogard was like Garp's shadow. Wherever Garp went, he followed.

Only after reaching a beach at the edge of the island did Garp stop and turn to look at him.

"Attack me. Let me see how much you've improved lately!"

As he spoke, Garp clenched his fists until they crackled, looking arrogant beyond measure.

Sephiroth glanced at the Autumn Leaf Blade at his waist and asked cautiously:

"Can I use my sword?"

"Do whatever you want."

Since Garp had already put it that way, Sephiroth could not be bothered to stand on ceremony. With a swish, the long blade leaped from its sheath, carving a graceful red arc through the air as it slashed toward Garp's chest.

Iron Body!

The instant Sephiroth's blade struck Garp's chest, the area from his chest to his neck became covered in jet-black Armament Haki. Sephiroth felt as though he had struck steel, and he could not help but feel greatly shocked.

The next moment.

Before he could react, Garp's casserole-sized fist had already smashed into his cheek.

Sephiroth was sent flying backward at once. He landed over three meters away and rolled several times across the sand before barely coming to a stop.

Lying flat on the beach, he could not help but curse:

"Damn it! You rotten old man are really something, using Armament Haki..."

"HAHAHA! Didn't I already allow you to use a sword?

Besides, Armament Haki, Observation Haki—if your attack power is strong enough and your speed is fast enough, all of that is meaningless." Garp laughed loudly.

"Pah!"

Sephiroth rose from the sand, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his eyes filled with hostility.

"Just wait until I learn Armament Haki. I'll chop you to death..."

"If you want to learn how to use Armament Haki, you need to try pouring your will into your attacks!

With attacks at your current level alone, you can't hurt me!"

Hearing that, Sephiroth sighed softly in his heart.

He knew that the old man before him was one of the strongest people in the world.

Even if he gave it everything he had, he could not possibly defeat him. If they continued fighting, all he could do was take a one-sided beating!

But...

Sephiroth let out a low roar. His height of over 1.7 meters rapidly increased until he stood 2.3 meters tall, his clothes stretched taut by his bulging muscles.

He raised his right leg and stomped hard against the ground. Like an arrow loosed from its bow, he shot forward and swung his blade at the old man.

Yet Garp remained standing in place without moving. Only when the youth closed in did he narrowly twist aside, dodging the slash of the long blade before swiftly throwing a right fist at Sephiroth's abdomen.

Sephiroth's body flew out once again and crashed onto the beach.

Through Observation Haki, he had already foreseen Garp's attack.

But...

The rotten old man's attack was simply too fast, beyond the limits of his reaction speed.

Moreover, whether dodging or attacking, Garp made not a single unnecessary movement. Combined with his incomparably precise grasp of timing, he utterly dominated Sephiroth in every aspect.

Garp grinned and teased:

"Is this all you've got?

Bogard said you had great talent for swordsmanship...

Get serious, brat!

Haven't you already awakened Observation Haki?

Then carefully feel the breathing and rhythm of your body!"

"Again!"

Sephiroth gritted his teeth, got to his feet, raised his long blade, and charged at Garp again.

"Again!"

Whether in speed or strength, Garp completely crushed Sephiroth. Even when Sephiroth gave it his all and struck him, Garp's terrifying Armament Haki defense meant that he only managed to cut Garp's clothes. He could not leave even the slightest mark on the jet-black skin covered in Armament Haki.

As the fight went on, Sephiroth simply stopped using his sword. He stood on the beach, lowered his stance, and traded punches with Garp face-to-face.

One punch from you, one punch from me, every blow landing solidly on flesh!

Relying on his powerful Armament Haki, Garp treated Sephiroth's fists like a massage.

Sephiroth, on the other hand, relied on the ruthlessness in his heart. Whether he could break through Garp's defense or not, if Garp hit him once, he would hit him back once!

An hour later...

Thud!

Sephiroth, his face bruised and swollen, fell backward onto the beach. He gasped heavily, and his Vampire Transformation was released as well.

He stared blankly at the moon in the sky for a long while.

Why am I trying so hard?

Forget it. I should just lie flat and rot instead!

Garp looked down at the youth lying on the beach and suddenly broke into a wide grin.

"You're not bad! Your strength and speed are a little lacking, but you can sure take a beating...

From now on, I'll take an hour every day to beat—no, to guide your training."

Sephiroth: "..."

After saying that, Garp, that rotten old man, turned and left with Bogard.

Leaving Sephiroth alone on the beach, questioning his life.

After more than half a minute, once Sephiroth had consumed one year of Life Force, all the injuries on his body, as well as the bruising and swelling on his face, disappeared completely. He became a handsome youth once more.

Lying on the beach, Sephiroth gritted his teeth and said to the moon in the night sky:

"Garp, you rotten old man, remember this!

One day, I'll definitely beat you flat!"