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"What do you think is the necessary condition to become strong?"
The sea breeze swept by, carrying the words spoken with a smile. Rob Lucci was covered in bandages, having just regained consciousness from his severe injuries.
Hearing this question, he fell into deep thought.
After a moment of contemplation, he lifted his head, his sharp eyes locking onto the figure before him as he answered in a steady voice. "A strong body and the power of a Devil Fruit!"
Arashi smiled slightly at his response. "That is both right and wrong. I divide the strength of the human body into two parts. One is the physical body, and the other is the spirit."
"The body represents physical strength and endurance—unmatched power, extreme speed, and reflexes beyond ordinary people."
"The spirit is one's will. A powerful will can be the decisive factor in a life-or-death battle, even exerting pressure on an enemy's very soul. When these two merge, that is what makes a true powerhouse!"
Arashi paused, then turned around to face the cold, calculating man before him, smiling once more. "Your body has yet to reach its peak, but your will is passable. That is precisely why I have taken an interest in you."
"If you wish to become truly strong, the next step is to refine your physical body. You must master both Armament Haki and Observation Haki and then, awaken the abilities of your Zoan-type Devil Fruit."
"Only then can your strength rise to a whole new level." Hearing these words, Lucci's pupils shrank, and his heart trembled. His fists clenched unconsciously.
"Haki and Awakening!" These were realms he had never delved into before, yet they now seemed to awaken something new within him. A heart that had been settled in stagnation now surged with excitement.
"Then allow me to see for myself the power you've honed within CP9! I have seen the strength of CP0's leader before. I wonder just how far you are from them now." Arashi spoke casually.
"CP0?" Lucci's pupils contracted upon hearing the term.
Of course, he had heard of this unit—the leaders of the entire CP organization, the most elite squad, the true overseers of the Cipher Pol divisions, and a vital force within the World Government.
At that moment, Arashi suddenly called out. "Buggy!"
Lucci lifted his gaze and turned toward the red-nosed man striding over with confident steps.
"Here!" Buggy responded with a wide grin, his eyes locking onto Rob Lucci.
"Whether it's martial arts, physical endurance, or mastery over Haki, Buggy has honed them all to great levels over the years. In this world, he can barely be considered a strong fighter."
"Your opponent will be him." Lucci nodded slowly, then turned to face his adversary with a serious expression.
Buggy stood with his arms crossed, his Marine uniform slightly unbuttoned, revealing muscular arms. His eyes gleamed with amusement as if he didn't take the fight seriously.
"I heard you're the leader of Kaku and the others. Come on, kid, show me your full strength. On this ship, strength is everything. Don't even think about holding back."
Lucci remained calm, neither responding nor making the first move.
"What's wrong? Are your injuries affecting you?" Buggy asked.
"They won't," Lucci replied in a deep voice.
"Then make your move! Kid!" Buggy shouted.
Lucci's eyes sharpened. His body lowered into a combat stance, and an invisible aura spread around him.
The next moment—
"Whoosh!"
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished. Buggy narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
"Not bad." He suddenly raised his right arm.
"Boom!"
At that very moment, Lucci's right leg came swinging in, colliding heavily with Buggy's arm.
"Good strength!" Buggy praised. His body twisted as his large hand reached for Lucci's leg.
But Lucci was quick—his reaction speed was nearly instantaneous. With both feet stepping rapidly in the air, ripples formed beneath him as he used Geppo, one of Rokushiki.
In the blink of an eye, he had already shifted to Buggy's other side. His right leg lifted high before slashing downward with force.
"Rankyaku!" A powerful air blade slashed toward Buggy.
In response, Buggy suddenly spun, a red light flashing in his eyes. A grin appeared on his face as he lifted his right leg and kicked directly at the incoming slash.
"Boom!"
The air trembled as ripples spread outward. Lucci's Rankyaku was neutralized with ease, and the slash redirected toward the sky. A sinking feeling settled in Lucci's heart.
In that brief moment of impact, he realized something—Buggy had used Rankyaku as well.
Not only that, but his attack was more concealed, faster, and had struck later but still landed first, suppressing Lucci's air blade and sending it harmlessly into the sky.
It was a precise technique, preventing the ship from sustaining damage.
"Whoo!"
Taking a deep breath, Lucci moved once more. His figure blurred, disappearing as he moved at high speed around Buggy, causing the air to ripple.
Arashi watched the scene unfold, a faint smile on his lips. The others were also observed in silence, while the CP9 members wore tense expressions.
They were paying close attention to this battle's outcome. Suddenly, Lucci's eyes flashed with determination. His figure flickered, appearing in front of Buggy in an instant.
He extended a single finger, aiming straight for Buggy's chest. "Shigan!"
Buggy chuckled, raising his right hand and extending a single finger as well. "Shigan!"
The two fingertips collided fiercely, creating a powerful shockwave that swept through their surroundings, causing their clothes to billow.
"Kid, every move you know—I know as well!" Buggy laughed.
He, too, had mastered Rokushiki. In fact, every officer under Arashi's command was proficient in these techniques. Even those who specialized in swordsmanship were at least skilled in one or two of them.
"Whoo!"
"What a powerful guy!" Lucci exhaled deeply, his expression grave.
The man before him—his face somewhat ridiculous yet constantly smiling—exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure. It was clear that Buggy had refined his physical abilities to their peak.
And even now, he wasn't using his full strength. The next moment, Lucci's body suddenly expanded, transforming into his Leopard Hybrid Form. A savage, beastly aura burst forth.
"Oh? A Zoan-type user?" Buggy smirked.
His right hand suddenly clenched into a fist. The very air trembled. "Then I won't hold back either!"
Lucci opened his mouth and let out a heated breath. The next second, his towering figure lunged forward. In his beast form, his strength and speed had greatly increased.
He moved like a blur, almost invisible to the naked eye. In an instant, he had reached Buggy. But just then, Buggy's eyes flashed red as he laughed aloud. "You're still too slow!"
His right fist clenched and swung forward. "Galaxy Divide!"
At that very moment, the surrounding onlookers widened their eyes in shock. Arashi's smile grew even wider.
"Crack!"
Buggy's punch hadn't even landed yet, but the very space in front of Lucci…
Shattered.
Yes, shattered, and it wasn't like broken glass. Instead, it split apart neatly and evenly, turning into perfectly shaped fragments.
Among the countless shattered fragments, there were pieces of Lucci's eyes, his mouth, his abdomen, and his legs. In an instant, his entire body was broken apart by that single punch.
(T/N: Fun Fact: Garp Galaxy Divide is literally the same as a buggy attack. When he punched, countless shattered fragments of the cube formed before it exploded due to a shock wave)
"Hiss!"
"Lucci!!" Kaku and the others gasped sharply, followed by frantic shouts. "A Devil Fruit Awakening that allows for complete fragmentation?"
"It seems my years of training and teaching you weren't in vain, Buggy!" Arashi's lips curved into a faint smile.
The scene before him was undoubtedly the power of an awakened Devil Fruit and not just any fruit—this was the awakening of the Chop-Chop Fruit, a fruit with immense potential.
If fully unleashed, its destructive power might not fall short of Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
In other words, if Buggy were to display his full strength, he would already possess the qualifications of a world-class powerhouse.
"All right, Buggy!" Arashi raised his hand slightly.
Buggy moved his hand, and the fractured space before him instantly restored itself. Rob Lucci's face was filled with shock, sweat trickling down his forehead.
In that brief moment, his entire body had shattered, along with the surrounding space, leaving him completely devoid of sensation.
Had the effect lasted any longer, death would have been inevitable. This red-nosed man actually possessed such a terrifying Devil Fruit ability.
"What exactly was that?" Lucci, as if awakening from a dream, asked gravely.
"That's the power of the Chop-Chop Fruit, kid!" Buggy laughed heartily.
"You still have a lot to learn!" Lucci took a deep breath and fell into silence. He knew full well that against Buggy's previous punch, he had no means of defense.
Even space itself had been shattered along with him. Such an ability was utterly beyond comprehension.
A simple sparring match had made Lucci realize just how terrifying the strength of those under Admiral Arashi's command truly was.
The seemingly small crew aboard this warship concealed the power to challenge even the Four Emperors.
"Crocodile, his strength doesn't match his intelligence reports. A Logia-type user of the Sand-Sand Fruit, his mastery of Armament and Observation Haki has reached the pinnacle."
"Rosinante, equally proficient in Rokushiki, a formidable martial artist, and a Haki user. I've even heard rumors that, like Buggy, he has also awakened his Devil Fruit."
Listening to the gossip Kaku brought back, Lucci's heart grew heavier. His ranking aboard this warship might very well be at the bottom.
"Kuina, a master swordsman. I heard she recently fought against the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk. She is also Admiral Arashi's disciple."
Kalifa spoke with a hint of admiration. There were very few women in the world who could fight Mihawk and walk away unscathed.
"Smoker is also a formidable hand-to-hand fighter. Under Admiral Arashi's command, experts are everywhere! We're nothing in comparison!" Jabra sighed.
Hearing this, Lucci clenched his fists tightly. "Maybe, right now, the gap between us is huge! But in the near future, I will definitely catch up to them!"
He understood very well that as a blade wielded by his superiors if he was not sharp enough, he would lose his value.
...
Five days later, the warship arrived at Marineford.
Arashi stood at the bow with his arms crossed, gazing at the massive Gates of Justice ahead. For a moment, a sense of nostalgia and trance overtook him.
"The last time I saw it…It feels like a lifetime ago." The enormous Gates of Justice stood silently in the sea.
Mist swirled around it, and through its gaps, one could faintly see the neatly aligned buildings of Marineford beyond.
It had been a long time since Arashi last entered the world's greatest stronghold. After leaving Impel Down, he had gone to Alabasta, and only today was he finally returning here.
The Ship slowly advanced, creating gentle ripples in the water. Crocodile smoked a cigar, his Justice cloak draped over his back. He gazed at the massive Gates of Justice before him, seemingly lost in memories.
Over twenty years ago, he had been a spirited pirate with grand ambitions. But after encountering Arashi, his life took a drastic turn.
One punch from Arashi had left him with amnesia, and he had been integrated into the Marines. Though he later regained his memories, by then, it was all in the past.
He did not detest his life as a Marine; in fact, he rather enjoyed working under this man's command.
Over time, he had honed his Devil Fruit ability to its peak, tempered his body to the extreme, and mastered both Armament and Observation Haki.
Even during his undercover mission, he had successfully risen to the rank of a Warlord of the Sea, becoming one of the most infamous figures in the world.
His life seemed to have reached its pinnacle. Slowly lifting his gaze to the massive fortress ahead, a faint smile appeared on Crocodile's lips.
No! His life was only just beginning the moment he stepped into Marineford! He knew very well that this man's return here would not be peaceful!
Twenty years of upheaval, twenty years of preparation—the forces of the West Blue had grown immensely powerful. The people under this man's command had long since gathered a formidable force!
They had returned for one purpose—to claim this place! Turning his head slightly, Crocodile's gaze swept over the people behind him. Buggy, Smoker, Rosinante, Kuina, Fisher Tiger, Tashigi, Rob Lucci, Daz Bonez.
This crew had become overwhelmingly powerful, wielding a force bordering on terrifying levels. "Will we shake this stronghold to its core?"
Muttering to himself, Crocodile quickly answered with confidence. "We will."
The wind grew inexplicably stronger. As the warship neared the Gates of Justice, it approached the sea current leading into Marineford.
Only by following this current could they reach their destination. Gradually, the warship arrived before the massive gates.
The Marines stationed atop the walls peered down through their telescopes.
Upon spotting the ship adorned with a golden scepter at its bow, their pupils constricted sharply.
"Open the gates immediately! Send word to headquarters—Admiral Arashi has returned!" A booming voice rang out.
Instantly, the surrounding Marines wore expressions of shock before scrambling into action.
If, some time ago, there were still people who did not know Arashi's name, that was no longer the case.
Today, there was not a single soul in Marineford who did not know of him.
Even his past glories and incredible feats had been unearthed and widely spread. This was, without a doubt, the work of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Sengoku was laying the groundwork for Arashi's future ascension as Fleet Admiral, building his reputation in advance.
Before Arashi's return, Sengoku had considered Aokiji his ideal successor. But with Arashi's reappearance, his decision had naturally changed.
Compared to Aokiji, Arashi was undoubtedly a better fit for the position. Meanwhile, Sakazuki remained the World Government's preferred candidate.
As news of Arashi's return reached Marine Headquarters, the previously calm building was instantly thrown into turmoil.
"What? Admiral Arashi has returned? That man has finally stepped back into Marineford!"
"I heard that after leaving Impel Down, he went to gather his former subordinates. Now that he's back, it seems he's brought them all together again!"
"His return is bound to trigger a series of major changes within Marine Headquarters!"
"We can already foresee a great upheaval—a storm sweeping through the Marines!"
Marine officers had their own opinions on Arashi's return. However, there was no denying that this news weighed heavily on their minds.
Just two minutes after the message was delivered, five vice admirals emerged from Marine Headquarters.
"Vice Admiral Doberman!"
"Vice Admiral Stainless!"
"Vice Admiral Gurney!"
"Vice Admiral Maynard!"
"Vice Admiral Bastille!"
"These five were said to have been Arashi's most loyal subordinates since he assumed the position of admiral! Now that he's back, they were the first to come out and welcome him!"
"Behind them are many veteran officers, including Rear Admiral Shinp, who, despite not yet reaching the rank of vice admiral, is just as renowned and respected!"
Seeing the officers striding forward, the Marines began whispering among themselves.
"Even after all these years, Admiral Arashi's influence and power within the Marines remain as formidable as ever!" someone sighed.
"Are you kidding? This is Admiral Arashi we're talking about! The legendary vice admiral who captured the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and personally defeated the Golden Lion, Shiki!"
"Time passes, and years flow by. Even Vice Admiral Garp, the hero of the Marines, has grown old and gray."
"As the older generation steps back, the ones shining the brightest now are the four admirals, with Arashi at the forefront!"
"They are the strongest pillars of the Marines, its greatest combat force!"
"They are the force that maintains balance in this world and fiercely holds back the most dangerous pirates!"
Young Marine recruits gazed at the approaching officers, their conversations filled with discussions about that legendary figure.
In the Fleet Admiral's office, The sea breeze howled, rustling the curtains as they flapped violently.
Sengoku stood by the window, overlooking the Justice Gate. He faintly recalled a similar scene from the past.
However, this time, his emotions were completely different. "That monstrous man has returned, huh? Honestly, it's a bit exciting."
With his legs propped up on the desk, wearing a yellow-striped suit and sunglasses, Kizaru chuckled as he spoke.
Sengoku leaned on the window sill, searching for Arashi's warship. "That guy has finally come back!" His voice carried an unexplainable sense of excitement and emotion.
The strongest force of Marine Headquarters had returned at last! For Sengoku, this was undoubtedly thrilling news.
"From today onward, the seas might finally quiet down," Kizaru said with a smirk.
"The only concern is the World Government." As he spoke, he trailed off. The Marine succession event from years ago was still fresh in his mind.
The five elders—the highest-ranking figures in the world—had gathered just to suppress the newly appointed Marine admiral.
No matter the era, such an event was nothing short of earth-shattering.
"Hmph, do you think Arashi would dare show up again without a reason?" Sengoku stood up, letting out a snort, though his tone carried a hint of amusement.
Kizaru blinked in surprise. Then, his eyes widened in shock. "Could it be... that all these years in Impel Down, he's grown even stronger?"
Sengoku gazed at the golden scepter embedded in the prow of Arashi's warship as it sailed past the Justice Gate into the inner bay.
A smile slowly formed on his face. "If not for that, I can't imagine any other reason! But this also proves just how terrifying Arashi is."
"More than a decade ago, he had already reached such a formidable level, yet he continues to push even further."
"The world can no longer fathom how strong he truly is!" Sengoku sighed.
"That is indeed a shocking revelation," Kizaru murmured. The memory of their three-on-one battle during the Ohara incident was still vivid in his mind.
Years had passed, and the three admirals had reached their peak. Yet that man—Arashi—kept climbing even higher.
"I'm curious to see what changes the Marines will undergo from today onward." Sengoku smiled as he spoke.
There was an unmistakable lightness in his tone, something Kizaru could clearly sense.
But he understood—just by returning, Arashi's name alone was enough to resolve most issues.
Marineford Inner Bay.
The Ship slowly sailed forward, leaving gentle ripples in its wake. Arashi gazed quietly at the familiar sight ahead.
Compared to the past, Marineford hadn't changed much, except for some areas that had been repaired. The world's greatest fortress still stood tall.
Majestic Marine warships were docked at the inner bay, their presence imposing.
The harbor was bustling with activity, the shouts of officers blending into the background. "It's been a long time, Marineford," Crocodile murmured beside him.
Arashi chuckled softly. Even without looking back, he could sense the expressions on Rosinante, Smoker, Buggy, and the others.
Rob Lucci and his group, now clad in Marine cadet uniforms, stood aboard the ship, gazing at the grand fortress before them.
"From today onward, we live as Marines," Kalifa murmured as she adjusted her glasses.
"A promising beginning!" Jabura said excitedly.
He observed the Marine elite, the overwhelming presence of the fortress, and, most importantly, the fact that under Arashi's command, they no longer had to worry about their safety.
As the Ship came to a gentle stop, Arashi stood at the prow, looking down at the officers who had been waiting for him.
A smile suddenly appeared on his face. His expression caused the once-serious faces of the vice admirals to loosen, replaced by excitement and anticipation.
"I'm back! Everyone!" His words were simple, yet they ignited a wave of emotion among the vice admirals.
"Admiral Arashi!! We've waited a long time for this!" Bastille roared with excitement.
"Thank you all for waiting!" Arashi leaped down from the prow, standing before them.
"But believe me, all the waiting has been worth it! Flowers wait to bloom, and our fruit is about to ripen soon."
His calm words sent a tremor through Maynard and the others as they clenched their fists with determination.
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