Chapter 115: Return, the Endless Oppression of Cruelty

The Navy, one of the most powerful forces at sea and the official enforcer of law and order.

Marineford—this island has long stood as a symbol of power and justice. Yet in recent years, the Navy has suffered one blow after another, causing its once formidable prestige to plummet.

It all began with the last words of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, whose death ignited turmoil across the seas. Every day, countless ambitious individuals set sail as pirates, intensifying the pressure on the Navy.

Then, the Great Pirate, the Golden Lion, invaded Marineford, dealing a devastating blow to the island.

Soon after, the Navy’s most promising Rear Admiral was killed.

Not long ago, the New World fell under the dominion of the Four Emperors, forcing the Navy into continuous retreat there.

Then came the tragedy of Admiral Kuzan—known as Black Arm Zephyr—who, while traveling with his family, was brutally attacked by pirates, resulting in the loss of his right arm and the deaths of his wife and child.

All these events over the past few years have left the Navy defenseless, not to mention the upheaval caused by the Mary Geoise rebellion and the scandal involving the freeing of slaves.

These incidents all signal a severe erosion of the Navy’s once unshakable authority.

Yet, despite these setbacks, the Navy remains one of the strongest powers at sea. Because today, the Navy will welcome three of its strongest fighters.

With these three formidable forces, Fleet Admiral Sengoku is confident that, even if immediate change is unlikely, the Navy’s prestige will soon rise to a new height.

Such is the advantage of true strength—a single expert can decide the outcome of a battle; now imagine three at once.

At Marineford’s grand plaza, the sea of people is immense. Except for the generals outside, all officers ranked Major and above stand here.

The atmosphere is solemn and reverent, for today the Navy will officially unveil three bona fide Admirals.

Admirals are regarded as the pinnacle of combat power, wielding authority and strength beyond measure—they embody the strength of an era.

"Cough... cough..."

On the high platform, Sengoku, the Navy’s supreme commander, wears a grave and slightly weary expression as he surveys all the officers below. He exhales deeply, a heavy weight in his chest.

Since taking office as Fleet Admiral, his days have been nothing short of miserable. Regardless of whether recent events were directly linked to him, some have cast doubts upon his leadership.

If not for the unwavering support from the Commander-in-Chief Kong and veterans like Garp and Tsuru, and given the lack of better candidates within the Navy, Sengoku might have been forced to resign long ago.

Not long ago, news of Zephyr’s fate left Sengoku distraught. At first, he refused to believe it, but reality was cruel. For the loss of a close friend and one of the Navy’s greatest forces, Sengoku, Garp, and all who knew Zephyr wore expressions of profound sorrow.

Zephyr’s demise not only robbed the Navy of a top-tier combatant but also further diminished its dignity.

"I believe everyone is aware of the events that have transpired recently!" Standing on the high platform, draped in the Fleet Admiral’s coat, Sengoku roared with anger. "The seas are now rampant with lawless pirates, and yet the Navy has suffered repeated defeats. Is the Navy too weak? No."

"Therefore, today I hereby announce the full appointment of new Admirals of the Navy!"

"The Navy’s mission is to eradicate all pirates from the seas and protect all civilians."

"Borushalino, Sakazuki, Kuzan— I officially appoint you as Admirals of the Navy. Your duty is to uphold world order and eliminate all criminals."

With a thunderous sound, three figures appeared straight and tall upon the stage, drawing all eyes.

"Admirals are not only the guarantee of strength but also symbols of power and bearers of responsibility. Are you willing to accept this?" Sengoku stepped forward, holding three Admiral uniforms with utmost solemnity.

"Willing!" came the unanimous response. The three, usually lazy, indifferent, and proud, now wore serious expressions.

"Justice shall never be desecrated!" Taking the uniform from Sengoku, Sakazuki’s voice left no room for doubt.

"Akainu! Akainu! Akainu!" countless Navy personnel shouted from below.

"Justice will always prevail!" Kuzan, equally serious, accepted his uniform.

"Aokiji! Aokiji! Aokiji!"

"Justice shall be safeguarded by us!" Borushalino’s eyes gleamed with a unique emotion as he accepted his uniform.

"Kizaru! Kizaru! Kizaru!"

At this moment, under the world’s watchful gaze, the Navy officially welcomed three of its strongest fighters: the Admirals.

Yet just as Sengoku was about to announce the candidates for Vice Admiral, the sky suddenly turned a fiery gold and red. A meteor streaked across the heavens, trailing a long tail, rapidly descending.

Suddenly, Garp and the others rose to their feet, gazing upwards.

"Could the Golden Lion still be unwilling to die? Is he invading Marineford again?" Everyone tensed.

But as the roaring sound grew nearer, Sengoku’s expression—and those around him—shifted from solemnity to strange excitement.

"He’s not dead!" Sengoku trembled with anticipation, thinking that with an additional Admiral-level force, the Navy’s power would no longer be underestimated.

"Impossible! He’s alive!" Garp stepped forward, disbelief written across his face.

"I knew you wouldn’t die so easily!" Aokiji’s face broke into a broad smile.

"Well, what a surprise!" Kizaru’s pupils contracted, his thoughts inscrutable.

"Damn it." Akainu’s face darkened with hatred. Had his own deeds been uncovered?

With a tremendous roar, the plaza shook as smoke billowed. A great crater opened, glowing gold and red.

From the dust emerged a humanoid figure wreathed in flames. The scorching heat suffused the plaza with an oppressive atmosphere.

In the midst of a hundred-meter radius, no one below Vice Admiral dared stand.

Breathing heavily, the flames around the figure vanished, revealing a silhouette suddenly standing atop the platform.

"Tengniao Xuan Ye Tang!" someone recognized the face and gasped.

"Wasn’t he killed by the Golden Lion?" another exclaimed.

"You’re not dead!" Sengoku sighed with relief upon seeing the figure.

"I have yet to avenge my master—how could I die!" The cold voice uttered with a scarred face made Xuan Ye appear even more fearsome.

"Where is my master?"

Clenching his teeth, Xuan Ye’s voice was tightly controlled, his ferocious visage contorted with rage.

"The Navy Cemetery," Sengoku answered gravely, fully understanding Xuan Ye’s state of mind.

The ground shattered with a boom, smoke soared, and a pillar of fire rose and vanished from the platform.

This spectacle stunned everyone present, but those familiar with Xuan Ye and Zephyr expected nothing less.

"What a disgrace. Is this a Navy man? He’s nothing but a savage villain who doesn’t even know how to salute!" Akainu’s voice cut through the tension, his face dark.

"Akainu, you’d better not provoke that man lately. Whatever he’s been doing these years is unknown, but one thing’s certain—he’s harboring an unbearable fury. If it erupts, you won’t be able to withstand it," Garp warned sharply, casting a pointed glance at Akainu before solemnly watching Xuan Ye’s departure.

"Hmph!" Akainu clenched his fist with a venomous glare. "Fine. Now that he’s back, I’ll send him straight to join that old fool. He won’t be so lucky. This time, I’ll drag all of you—master and disciple alike—down to hell."

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