One of His Reasons for Joining the Marines

The door to the Fleet Admiral's office slowly closed behind them, its heavy panels falling shut with a resounding boom.

The corridor suddenly fell silent.

Rock had barely taken half a step—

"Rock, my boy! This makes us colleagues now too!!!"

—Bam!!

Without warning, Garp gave Rock's shoulder a "light pat."

But that so-called "light pat" was the kind that could sink an ordinary officer into the floor on the spot and flatten a soldier into a pancake.

Rock's body dipped slightly, but his feet remained as steady as bedrock.

Sengoku and Tsuru, walking behind them, stopped at the same time.

The same shock flashed through their eyes: He could even withstand Garp's "light pat"?

Catching their expressions, Garp grew even more spirited. "Well, Sengoku! You still think he's some ordinary brat? This kid is—"

Sengoku immediately coughed, precisely cutting off Garp before he could launch into an exaggerated speech.

He stepped forward and resumed the stern bearing of Marine Headquarters' tactician. "Mr. Rock—"

Rock raised a hand, easily stopping the formal address. "We're companions from now on. There's no need to be so distant. Just call me Rock."

When his words fell, the corridor went quiet for a moment.

Sengoku was slightly startled.

This kid possessed an incredible air about him. He had neither the wild abandon of a pirate nor the restraint of a soldier.

He was more like someone born with the composure and manner of a true powerhouse.

Garp laughed loudly and slapped Sengoku on the back. "Hear that? You stiff old Sengoku!!"

Garp's blow jolted Sengoku's entire shoulder sideways. "Garp, can't you be gentler...?"

Garp answered righteously, "No!"

Rock could not help but laugh. "I'm used to it already."

Sengoku took a deep breath, then finally smiled as well. "Then I'll call you Rock."

Then his expression turned serious again. "Regarding the special role you proposed, Tsuru and I will discuss it carefully."

"Your abilities are unusual, and your target is even more unusual... We must plan this cautiously."

Rock nodded. "I'll wait for your decision."

Garp waved his hand and laughed. "Hey, hey! Don't drag the kid into all that troublesome stuff so quickly! Let him tour Headquarters with me first!"

Watching Rock fool around with Garp, Sengoku suddenly had a strange premonition. This guy would probably change the way the entire Marines operated.

Tsuru said faintly from beside him, "Sengoku, our work... seems like it just got harder."

Sengoku adjusted his glasses. "No, the entire Marines just got harder."

Thud—thud—

At that moment, steady footsteps approached from behind the four of them. A man with an aura like an iron wall slowly walked over.

Zephyr's shoulders were like mountain peaks, his eyes like blade edges. The instant he drew close, he keenly caught the blazing, savage fighting spirit locked firmly onto him.

The currents of power between strong men collided, igniting the air in an instant.

Zephyr narrowed his eyes, looked at Rock, and said in a deep voice, "It seems you have something to say to me."

The corner of Rock's mouth lifted slightly, his gaze sharp. "To be honest, you're one of the reasons I joined the Marines."

"...Hm?" Sengoku and Tsuru were both taken aback.

Garp dug at his ear. "Hey, hey, kid, what are you talking about??"

Rock's gaze remained steadily fixed on Zephyr, as if he were examining a towering mountain of iron.

"I need systematic Armament Haki training."

"Brother Garp's Armament Haki is very strong, but if he's the one teaching someone..."

He paused, his eyes meaningful.

Garp's smile instantly froze. "Hey, hey, hey! Kid!! What do you mean by that?!!"

"How am I unable to teach you???"

Rock simply ignored Garp's indignant outburst.

"And you, Zephyr."

"I can sense that 'iron-blooded will' within you—the kind forged from years of driving your body to its limits and constantly breaking beyond them."

"That kind of presence cannot be granted by Devil Fruits or talent... It comes from pure training, from the accumulation of iron and blood."

"That is exactly the kind of presence I need."

Zephyr was stunned for a moment.

It was the first time he had heard such a "solid" assessment from a Logia user.

Then a rare smile appeared, mixed with gratification and solemnity.

"Kid, the dazzling power of a Logia can easily make someone lose themselves... But you haven't lost your way."

"That reassures me."

"But Armament Haki isn't something you can master just by showing off—it demands blood, sweat, and a will as hard as iron!"

Garp grinned wickedly, as though he had already seen a good show. "Zephyr, don't let your jaw drop later, okay~"

Zephyr frowned. "Garp, what nonsense are you spouting—"

His words suddenly stopped.

Because he could clearly feel Rock's fighting spirit rising madly like a tide.

Lightning flickered faintly, crackling through the corridor.

Zephyr's eyelid twitched, and the corner of his mouth spasmed. "...You're planning to do this right now?"

Rock raised his eyes, restrained lightning gleaming within them.

Sengoku covered his forehead. "Why do I feel like... Headquarters is going to have an 'incident' today?"

Tsuru smiled softly. "Boys are always like this... Once they're ignited, they can't stop."

"Just like you all were back then."

Seeing this, Zephyr took a deep breath, gave his shoulders a slight shake, and turned toward another corridor.

He raised a hand in indication. "The training grounds."

Then he looked back, his gaze like a drawn war blade, sharp and exposed.

"Nothing will help you understand the proper use of power better than actual combat."

Rock's smile widened, a thread of lightning quietly coiling around his fingertips and bouncing lightly.

Marine Headquarters · Marineford · Training Grounds

That mouth of Garp's... once again fulfilled its role as the "Headquarters loudspeaker."

In less than half an hour, everyone in the base—from soldiers to mid-ranking officers to training instructors from every division—had learned the shocking news:

—The mysterious Lightning Boy who had just joined the Marines would clash head-on with Vice Admiral Zephyr at the training grounds!

As a result, the entire training ground was surrounded by layer upon layer of people! Everywhere! Was! Packed!

"Seriously?! That Lightning Boy?!"

"The strongest Logia against a pure physical-combat monster... Isn't this a battle between gods?!"

Garp stood at the highest point of the stands, holding a loudspeaker in his hand.

"Hey—hey! Open your eyes and watch carefully! This is Rock's first battle after joining the Marines!!!"

Sengoku helplessly rubbed his forehead. "Garp, you... have you gone insane?"

Tsuru let out a long sigh. "His true nature has never changed."

Zephyr stood in the center of the training grounds, wearing only a black training tank top.

His muscles looked forged from steel, and the explosive pressure he gave off turned the faces of the surrounding trainee soldiers pale.

Across from him, Rock walked forward slowly. He had the bearing of a youth, yet moved like Thunder itself.

Their gazes collided in the air, and the atmosphere seemed to explode.

Boom—!!

The surrounding soldiers all shuddered.

Meanwhile, at the highest level of the Fleet Admiral's office.

Fleet Admiral Kong stood before the broad floor-to-ceiling window, arms folded across his chest as he narrowed his eyes at the distant training grounds.

The volcanic aura of fighting spirit struck clearly against him even from several hundred meters away.

Kong muttered to himself, "Good kid... He just got here, and he's already thrown all of Headquarters into chaos."

"But then again, I don't hate this kind of atmosphere."

At the center of the training grounds, Zephyr raised both arms.

Hum—!!

Pitch-black, heavy Armament Haki, like tangible steel, instantly wrapped around his arms.

His muscles swelled, power surging through them.

Lightning slowly climbed over Rock's body.

He took a deep breath, a battle-hungry gleam flashing in his eyes. "Senior Zephyr, please guide me!"

"Come on—!!!"

The next second, the power of both strong men soared to its peak at the same time.

Boom—!!!

The ground of the training grounds cracked apart as though struck by artillery fire.

Lightning and black iron Haki met at the center point, and Marine Headquarters' first earth-shaking battle began.