Bali Island.
On a cliff beside the beach.
Billy, Zephyr, and Kizaru stood shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the last of the leisurely sea breeze blowing into their faces.
It also stirred the newly sewn Marine Capes behind them, which retained the old Marines' design while adding light blue accents to symbolize the ocean.
The three looked in the same direction. At the end of their sight, on the distant horizon, they could faintly make out a row of black dots, flickering in the steam rising under the blazing sun.
It was just as the saying went: dark clouds bore down on the city, threatening to crush it.
Once that row of black dots appeared, a murderous sense of pressure crossed the distant waters and enveloped the entire island.
On the beach, the soldiers who had joined the Neo Marines only a few days earlier felt that suffocating presence, and many broke out in goosebumps.
"Is... is that the World Government's fleet? How did they get here so fast?"
"Th-that's... quite a force..."
"Are we... really going to fight them? Is it too late for me to go home...?"
These people had joined the Neo Marines after watching the live broadcast, swept up in hot-blooded excitement without regard for their own safety.
Now, waves of fear and uneasy whispers spread through the ranks.
Rustling murmurs filled the entire beach.
Billy lowered his head to glance at the somewhat disorderly formation below and asked Zephyr beside him, "Instructor Zephyr, can't you keep these people in line?"
Zephyr shook his head and pushed up his sunglasses with the enormous iron arm of his Crusher.
"How many days have they been here? Never mind their physiques or training-with their current mental state alone, they're of no use at all."
Zephyr lowered his head, looking