Iron Body-Steel

Marineford, Marine Headquarters!

The warship slowly sailed into the harbor at Marine Headquarters.

Even from a distance,

the enormous complex of buildings at Marine Headquarters was visible, magnificent and imposing.

From the harbor, they could also see the towering wall at the center of the fortress, rising to an unknown height.

Even from here, the two characters spelling "Marines" were clearly visible.

They were carved into the wall, solemn and dignified.

Several tiers of traditional buildings stood atop the towering wall. Together,

they presented a grand, spectacular sight.

Four tall watchtowers surrounded them.

A military flag flew from each watchtower, standing guard over Marine Headquarters.

Beyond those lay an unbroken stretch of town buildings.

Though they lacked the imposing grandeur of the main structure behind them, they brought a touch of everyday life to this solemn headquarters.

Together, they formed the one-of-a-kind Marine Headquarters.

"So this is Marineford?!"

Once the soldiers from the Four Seas saw Marine Headquarters in its entirety,

they were utterly awestruck. Compared to Marine Headquarters,

their branch bases seemed like nothing more than little courtyards.

Rear Admiral Wells smiled faintly at their reactions.

After all, he had also risen through a branch in the Four Seas. When he first saw Marineford,

he had worn the very same expression.

As the warship docked, Rear Admiral Wells said,

"Everyone, gather your belongings and prepare to disembark."

Sakazuki left the ship with the others.

There were plenty of Marines along the way, but everything was orderly.

Following the main group, he arrived at a spacious plaza.

The plaza was enormous, large enough for at least tens of thousands to drill at once, and divided into many sections.

Quite a few Navy Soldiers were training in some of those sections.

Sakazuki and the others were led to an area where many people had already gathered.

Most wore Marine uniforms, though some wore their own casual clothes.

Marine regulations allowed officers of ensign through lieutenant rank to wear a coat with "Justice" written on the back over their standard uniform.

Field officers and flag officers could wear the Justice Coat over casual clothes instead.

Sakazuki had been promoted to commander a year ago, but he was used to his uniform and had never changed it.

These people were clearly outstanding soldiers gathered from across the world as well.

Wells walked over to several officers who also held the rank of rear admiral.

The officers, all wearing Marine Justice Coats, smiled at Wells and said,

"Wells, you're far too slow. We've been waiting for you for a while."

"..."

"..."

Meanwhile, not long after Sakazuki and the others formed ranks,

a group of officers approached.

Leading them were two tall, powerfully built men in white suits,

both in their prime and wearing Justice Coats.

One had purple hair; the other had black hair and was laughing heartily.

"Vice Admiral Zephyr! Vice Admiral Garp!"

As soon as the two appeared, Wells, the other officers, and the nearby Marines from Headquarters all greeted them respectfully.

Zephyr and Garp, huh.

Sakazuki's pupils contracted as he stared at the pair, shaken.

Even though he had prepared himself beforehand, facing them directly made the enormous gap between them unmistakable.

So these were the strongest fighters in the world? (Note: It was currently the year 1482 of the Sea Circle Calendar. Garp and Roger joined forces to defeat Rocks in 1484, so he was considered at the pinnacle-not the peak of his own strength, but one of the world's strongest fighters at the time.)

Though their strength shocked him, Sakazuki did not agree with either man's way of doing things.

One upheld an idealistic justice.

After pirates brutally murdered his wife and child, his temperament changed drastically, and he came to hate pirates.

The slaughter of his students and the decisions of his superiors ultimately drove him toward obsession and destruction.

The other upheld a carefree justice.

Though hailed as the hero of the Marines, he did whatever pleased him.

Judging by his attitude toward Roger back then, he was effectively aiding a villain.

Roger had wiped out a country's army because someone had spoken ill of his companions.

In his recollections, Garp described him as savage as a demon, yet Garp still became his friend.

After Roger's death, his beliefs shifted to treating anything without bloodshed as peace.

It was a passive attitude. In an avalanche, no snowflake was innocent.

Walking to the front of the ranks, Zephyr said,

"For the next week, Garp and I will instruct and assess you."

"After a week, we'll select the best among you for three years of guided training."

"From now on, designated personnel will record your performance every day."

"Only those with the strongest overall capabilities will remain."

"You are all the future of the Marines."

But how far they could go would depend on them.

"Understood?"

Their faces brimming with excitement, the Navy Soldiers shouted in unison,

"Understood!!!!"

Sometimes, a little rousing encouragement really did work...

Zephyr nodded in satisfaction, then said with a stern expression,

"I haven't read your files, because whatever you were before,"

"whether you had exceptional talent or outstanding achievements,"

"now that you're here,"

"you have only one identity."

"New Marine recruits."

"And Garp, the officers behind me, and I are your instructors."

"All you need to do is start over from the beginning and obey absolutely."

"Understood?"

"Understood!!!!"

Their answer came in perfect unison. Following orders was the most basic duty of a soldier.

None of this posed a problem for them.

"Good. Your first lesson today is justice."

"Justice is only two characters."

"Yet it has always been the belief held in the heart of every Marine."

"Many people have their own reasons for joining the Marines."

"But whatever your reasons were,"

"before you do anything, you must ask yourselves,"

"whether it accords with the justice you uphold."

"Understood?"

"Understood!!!!"

Justice was the Marines' faith, though each person understood it differently.

Still, the vast majority of Navy Soldiers and officers were military men who believed in justice.

Then Zephyr said,

"Good."

"Next, the captains behind me will test you."

"Fus."

"Present."

"Fermanson."

"Present."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"The ten people called, step forward and begin the test."

Whoosh!

Boom!

In an instant, blades flashed across the plaza ahead as fists and feet clashed.

Before long, one figure was the first to be sent flying.

"Next, Reno."

"Present."

"..."

Time ticked by until, at last,

"Sakazuki."

"Present."

He drew quite a few eyes. Even setting aside the Magma-Magma Fruit,

Sakazuki's massive frame and bulging muscles exuded an intimidating presence.

Standing in the arena, Sakazuki looked at the captain opposite him and said,

"Captain, be careful."

Captain Phil laughed heartily and said,

"Haha, don't worry. Give it everything you've got."

Sakazuki activated his fruit's power, his entire body turning crimson.

His skin began to turn to magma, yet he retained his human shape, steam rising all over him.

With a low cry, he breathed steam from his mouth.

"Red Lotus."

Shave!

"Molten Burst!"

Whoosh!

Seeing Sakazuki suddenly appear before him,

Phil, who had underestimated his opponent, no longer had time to dodge.

With no other choice, he could only use:

"Iron Body-Steel!"

Sakazuki's fist struck Phil square in the stomach... and sank in.

Pfft!

"Aaargh!!!"