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On Thunder God Island, a massive thunderstorm had finally drained the electrical energy in the clouds, giving the perpetually roaring island a rare moment of peace.
"Cough, cough..."
Akainu staggered to his feet, with one shoe half on, half off. After a few shaky attempts, he finally steadied himself.
His body was covered in frostbite and stab wounds, but the most gruesome injury was the deep gash around his neck, the flesh had ripped open and blood was gushing out like a river- it was a sight that was enough to make anyone shudder.
This had undoubtedly been a brutal encounter!
Both fighters had pushed themselves to the limit, put their beliefs on the line, and unleashed 120% of their strength to settle the score.
After ten grueling days and nights of battle, the victor was finally determined.
Seeing Aokiji lying unconscious in a crater, Akainu's usually fierce and angry expression was replaced by a rare admiration, a hint of relief and an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
"You did well, Aokiji..."
"But the victory... is mine!"
With flames flickering in his eyes, Akainu stood at the shattered heart of Thunder God Island and roared into the sky.
The new ''Marine Fleet Admiral'' had been decided!
It was Akainu!
Countless people who had anxiously watched the battle day and night bore witness to this outcome.
Though unexpected factors may have played a role, no one used them as an excuse.
Akainu's promotion to Fleet Admiral was well-deserved.
After his triumphant roar, Akainu collapsed, gasping for air.
Immediately, the Marines waiting on the outskirts sprang into action, arranging for medical teams to land on the island and provide urgent care for the new Fleet Admiral and Admiral Aokiji.
"They are a mess. Do neither of them understand restraint?"
Back at the Marine Headquarters fortress, Rowen shook his head as he watched the live broadcast.
Akainu's injuries spoke volumes - the wound on his neck had come dangerously close to being a fatal blow.
And as for Aokiji...
Well, history had shown that events had a way of aligning themselves with fate.
Aokiji had been defeated and suffered severe burns on the right side of his body and the loss of his left leg.
Fortunately, his ice-based Devil Fruit powers allowed him to create solid ice prosthetics with ease. Since his physical fighting skills were only average, the impact on his overall fighting ability would be minimal.
Sengoku, who was watching the same broadcast, let out a heavy sigh.
"Ah..."
"Are you sure that Aokiji won't leave, Rowen?"
To lose in a duel where he had staked everything, even losing a leg—such a devastating blow would be unbearable for most. Sengoku couldn't imagine that Aokiji would stay despite Rowen's confident assurances.
"No, Fleet Admiral," Rowen said firmly, "It's precisely because this was a duel that I'm certain Aokiji won't leave."
In this world, duels carried a deeply rooted significance.
They weren't just about pirates settling scores through reckless bravado - they were sacred and honorable.
Even if one of the ''Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)'' accepted a duel, they would make sure that no third party interfered.
Duels were ''sacred and noble.
When two individuals shed their ranks and titles and fought as pure, primal beings, they were expected to stake their lives on the outcome.
Akainu refrained from killing Aokiji despite his victory, which was proof that he had changed. It also showed that he intended to extend an olive branch.
In the original story, Aokiji had naturally chosen to run away.
But now, even in defeat - injured, unconscious, and near death - Aokiji still clenched his fists tightly, like a sleeping lion ready to spring back into the fray.
Could someone with such unyielding determination really walk away so easily?
One unwilling to give up and the other determined to hold on - there was no scenario in which Aokiji would leave the Marines this time.
"Is that so?"
Sengoku asked uncertainly, "Just because it was a duel?"
Rowen: "..."
"No wonder people think our Marine recruits are a pack of scavenging hyenas... Fleet Admiral, after you retire, you really should spend more time at sea. Maybe then you'll understand how others see duels!"
If Sengoku hadn't fostered a culture of opportunistic scheming within the Marines during his leadership, their reputation would not have sunk so low.
Ultimately, the blame lay with Sengoku as Commander-in-Chief.
It was a burden he could not shake off.
''Sengoku:'' "..."
''Bang!!''
'(￣ε(#￣)'
With a flash of Buddhist light, Rowen was sent crashing through a wall...
''"I'm not officially retired yet, you little punk!"'
---
Though the incident was dramatic, news of Akainu's victory spread like wildfire across the Four Seas.
The battle that would determine the future of the Marines had come to an end, and countless pirates were now terrified and mourning their inevitable demise.
Aokiji's defeat was a seismic event for the pirate world. It was no secret that Aokiji represented the ''peace faction'' within the Marines - a figure known for his measured approach, preferring diplomacy to bloodshed.
In stark contrast, Akainu's philosophy was simple: ''Take it up with Hell!
The pirates' preference for who should succeed Sengoku was clear.
Now, however, the situation was unmistakable.
"Marine Hero" Garp had opted for semi-retirement, though his love for the Marines kept him on duty. After some persuasion from the ''Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)'', he reluctantly accepted the role of Chief Instructor for the Recruit Training Camp, succeeding Zephyr.
The only hiccup was Shuzo's dissatisfaction with the arrangement, which Garp resolved with his trademark "fist-based diplomacy."
The rest of the Marines cheered the decision.
Despite being knocked out with a single punch during the "Great War," Garp's status as a legend remained unshaken. His appointment sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for joining the Marines.
Meanwhile, Sengoku finally received the ''Glory Medal'' he had been yearning for, a recognition of his contributions during the Great War.
But his dream of dining at the estate of a certain Celestial Dragon in Mary Geoise would remain just that - a dream.
Not only would the ''Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)'' likely bar him from meeting the decrepit Celestial Dragons, but the Marine Headquarters was still too chaotic for him to step away.
So Sengoku took the title of ''Inspector General of Marine Headquarters'', a fancy name for his role as ''the man behind the new Fleet Admiral''. He stayed on to help Akainu stabilize the organization.
The old guard of the "peace faction" and the stability-focused group had left the stage, replaced by Akainu and his aggressive, iron-fisted regime.
For the Pirates, their true nightmare had just begun!
---
A few days later, while the seas were still abuzz with the news of Akainu's promotion, a second earth-shattering announcement rocked the world:
"Soryu (Azure Dragon)" Rowen'', hailed for his immense strength and illustrious achievements, had been unanimously confirmed as the new Admiral by both the ''Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)'' and Fleet Admiral Akainu.
His codename remained "Soryu (Azure Dragon)", though his former title of ''Undying Vice Admiral'' was now a thing of the past. From now on, he would be known as ''Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon)!
Classifying Rowen as either a member of the war faction or the peace faction was an almost impossible task.
However, his deeds were well-known: the G-10 legend of impassable defense, the nightmare of Impel Down, his single-handed defeat of Big Mom, his killing of "Whitebeard" Edward Newgate, and his orchestration of world-shaping battles.
He was a danger among dangers!
To pirates, Rowen's ascension to Admiral, granting him even greater authority, was a development far more terrifying than Akainu becoming Fleet Admiral.
In the midst of the Marines' transitional period, which should have been rife with unrest, the seas instead fell into an unprecedented calm.
Neither the Revolutionary Army, hidden in some unknown corner of the world, nor the two remaining Yonko of the New World, "Red Hair" and "Hundred Beasts," made any move.
It seemed as though the seas were left with only one dominant force: the Marines, basking in their glory and showcasing their overwhelming strength.
---
'(End of Chapter)'