One of the Reasons for Joining the Marines

The door to the Fleet Admiral's office slowly closed behind them, the heavy doors slamming shut with a boom.

The corridor abruptly fell silent.

Rock had barely taken half a step—

"Rock, my boy! That makes us colleagues now!!!"

—Bang!!

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 and flatten a soldier into a pair of pancakes.

Rock's body sank slightly, yet 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 withstand even Garp's "light pat"?

Garp caught sight of their expressions and grew even more pleased with himself. "Hey, Sengoku! You still think he's some ordinary brat? This kid is—"

Sengoku immediately coughed, precisely cutting off Garp before his words could spiral into exaggeration.

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

Rock raised a hand and casually stopped the formal address. "We'll be comrades from now on. No need to be so distant. Just call me Rock."

For a moment, the corridor fell quiet.

Sengoku was slightly taken aback.

This boy possessed an incredible air about him. It was neither the unrestrained nature of a pirate nor the restraint of a soldier.

It was more like the innate composure and manner of a powerful person speaking as an equal.

Garp laughed heartily and slapped Sengoku on the back. "Hear that, you stiff old Sengoku!!"

Garp's blow knocked Sengoku's whole shoulder sideways. "Garp, could you be a little gentler..."

Garp replied with perfect confidence, "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 he turned serious again. "As for the special role you proposed, Tsuru and I will discuss it carefully."

"Your abilities are unusual, and your objective is even more unusual... We need to plan this cautiously."

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

Garp waved his hand and laughed. "Hey, hey! Don't drag the brat 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 Marine Headquarters operated.

Tsuru said calmly from beside him, "Sengoku, it seems our work... has become more difficult."

Sengoku adjusted his glasses. "No, the entire Marines' work is about to become more difficult."

Thud—thud—

Just then, 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 mountains and his eyes like blades. The moment he drew close, he keenly sensed a blazing, savage fighting spirit fixed firmly upon him.

The currents between powerful people 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 corners of Rock's lips lifted slightly, his gaze sharp. "To be honest, you're one of the reasons I joined the Marines."

"...Hm?" Sengoku and Tsuru were both stunned.

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

Rock's gaze settled steadily 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 people..."

He paused, his eyes carrying a meaningful look.

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

"Why can't I teach you???"

Rock directly ignored Garp's indignant outburst.

"And you, Zephyr."

"I can feel that 'iron-blooded will' in you—the kind forged by relentlessly pushing your body to the brink and constantly breaking past your limits."

"That kind of presence isn't something a Devil Fruit or talent can give you... It's the accumulation of pure training, iron, and blood."

"That is precisely the presence I need."

Zephyr paused.

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

Then a rare smile appeared on his face, woven from satisfaction and gravity.

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

"That pleases me."

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

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

Zephyr frowned. "Garp, what nonsense are you talking abou—"

His words abruptly stopped.

Because he could clearly feel Rock's fighting spirit rising wildly 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 lifted his eyes, restrained lightning flashing within them.

Sengoku covered his forehead. "Why do I feel like... something is going to happen at headquarters today?"

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

"Just like you 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, and a strand of lightning quietly curled around his fingertips, lightly dancing.

Marine Headquarters · Marineford · Training Grounds

Garp's mouth... once again served as Marine Headquarters' loudspeaker.

In less than half an hour, everyone in the base—from soldiers to mid-level officers to training instructors from every branch—had learned today's 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 training grounds were packed three layers deep inside and out, with! people! everywhere!

"Is that for real?! That Lightning Boy?!"

"The strongest Logia against a pure martial arts monster... Isn't this a battle between gods?!"

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

"Hey—hey! Keep your eyes open, all of you! This is Rock's first battle since joining the Marines!!!"

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

Tsuru let out a long sigh. "His 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 rolling off him made the surrounding trainee soldiers turn pale.

Across from him, Rock walked forward slowly. He had the bearing of a youth, yet he moved like walking thunder.

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

Boom—!!

The surrounding soldiers all shuddered.

Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Fleet Admiral's office.

Fleet Admiral Kong stood before the wide floor-to-ceiling window with his arms crossed, squinting at the distant training grounds.

The volcanic aura of fighting spirit washed over him clearly, even from hundreds of meters away.

Kong muttered to himself, "Good kid... He's only just arrived, and he's already thrown the whole headquarters into an uproar."

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

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

Humm—!!

Pitch-black, heavy Armament Haki, like solid steel, instantly covered both his arms.

His muscles bulged as power surged through him.

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 strength of both powerful men surged to its peak at once.

Boom—!!!

Cracks exploded across the training ground as though it had been struck by artillery fire.

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