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New World – Near the Valley of the Gods, a Certain Marine Base
At this moment, a large number of Marines had already assembled at the coast of the Marine Base, stationed strategically near the once-forbidden Valley of the Gods.
"Ugh... it's shift change time again. It's insanely boring being posted here," yawned Vice Admiral Mole, stretching as he looked out over the endless waves.
Although the Valley of the Gods had long since become a ghost sea, devoid of human activity after its legendary collapse, orders were orders. This location was now under constant surveillance per the directive of Fleet Admiral Kong himself. Regardless of the eerie silence surrounding the area, it remained vital to uphold Marine presence and patrol duties.
The last patrol shift was coming to an end, and now it was Mole and the others' turn.
To be honest, the routine here was dull beyond words: train, patrol, eat, sleep, repeat. Nothing exciting ever happened.
"Well, Marshal Kong already said that we'll be reassigned from this backwater post sometime next year," said the Tea Dolphin (Tokikake), lighting a cigarette and exhaling slowly.
"But seriously, it's past the scheduled shift rotation. The patrol squad should've returned already. Why haven't they shown up yet?" Vice Admiral Momousagi (Gion) frowned, glancing at the time on her Den-Den Mushi wristwatch.
"Maybe they extended the patrol to cover more ground?" Ghost Spider (Doberman) muttered, arms crossed, his face skeptical.
"Unlikely," Vice Admiral Huo Shaoyun said calmly, shaking his head. "The standard patrol route doesn't leave room for variation."
"Well... we wait."
A short distance away, Borsalino—known to many as Kizaru—approached with his hands in his coat pockets, his expression unreadable behind his lazy drawl and tinted glasses.
On this coastal outpost stood no ordinary soldiers.
Vice Admirals like Mole, Ghost Spider, and Huo Shaoyun were all up-and-coming elite officers of Marine Headquarters. Both Tea Dolphin and Momousagi were not only Vice Admirals—they were admiral candidates, vetted for future succession to the Admiral rank. And Borsalino... he would eventually rise to become one of the three pillars of Marine force: a Marine Admiral, bearer of the Pika Pika no Mi and one of the fastest men alive.
As for why Kizaru was here in such a remote post?
Following the chaos at Loguetown, where Ayr had made a world-shaking appearance and clashed with both pirates and Marines alike, Fleet Admiral Kong had approved a large-scale expansion of Marine presence in the New World. A new Marine Base was currently under construction deeper within this unpredictable sea.
However, top-tier combatants like Kizaru weren't required for construction duty, and since Central Command had issued an order not to provoke major New World pirates during this sensitive period, Borsalino had voluntarily transferred out here to "fish"—as he jokingly called it.
The tension along the coast gradually increased. The Marines waited for the returning patrol ship, but time continued to pass… and no battleship appeared on the horizon.
Instead, a small silhouette emerged in the far distance.
"Huh? A small boat?" Mole narrowed his eyes suspiciously, stepping forward.
"This sector's been devoid of any sea traffic for decades. What kind of fool would drift into a Marine Base, especially this close to the Valley of the Gods?" Ghost Spider's eyes sharpened as he sensed something was off.
Tea Dolphin motioned to the nearest Marine. "Bring me a telescope."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier saluted and dashed off, returning quickly with a standard-issue scouting telescope. Tea Dolphin took it, adjusted the lens, and peered toward the approaching vessel.
The moment he caught a clear image of the people aboard, his entire body trembled. His pupils dilated, cold sweat erupted down his back, and the telescope slipped from his stunned hands.
"What's the matter?" asked Momousagi, stepping forward, startled by his reaction.
Tea Dolphin's face had turned pale. His throat clicked. "I... I think I saw wrong..."
But he hadn't just seen Ayr—who alone would be enough to cause alarm.
He'd seen Rocks D. Xebec.
The same Rocks whose death was etched into world history. The same Rocks who had fallen in the battle that shook the heavens and rewrote the world order. The same Rocks whose name was erased from textbooks by the World Government out of fear.
"I'll see for myself," Momousagi said, raising the fallen telescope and adjusting the lens.
The moment her eyes landed on the boat—her breath caught. Her lips quivered, and she stepped back involuntarily.
"H-Hey... what did you two see?!" Mole demanded, his voice tight.
"Who's on that boat?"
Momousagi's voice was hoarse, her lips trembling as she finally uttered the unthinkable:
"Ayr... and... Rocks. They're both approaching this base."
"WHAT?!"
The words struck like a thunderclap.
The group of Vice Admirals, battle-hardened and decorated, froze in disbelief.
"You've gotta be kidding!" Ghost Spider shouted. "Ayr's appearance is already problematic enough—but Rocks?! He's dead! He was killed during the Valley of the Gods incident! There's no way!"
Though none of them had fought in that legendary battle, the results had shaped their generation. The defeat of the Rocks Pirates was the cornerstone of Marine dominance. The victors—Garp, Sengoku, Roger—had been immortalized. The losers—Rocks, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Big Mom, Kaido, Captain John, Silver Axe, and Ochoku—had become cautionary tales.
The Valley of the Gods had become their grave.
And now...
"You mean to tell me Rocks is alive?!" Huo Shaoyun exclaimed.
Their eyes all locked on the boat, which was now close enough to view without aid. Their worst fears confirmed themselves.
Two figures stood atop the deck.
One was Ayr, his presence monstrous, his body radiating the eerie stillness of a perfect killer. The other...
The other had long black hair fluttering in the sea breeze. A face that matched the few preserved photos in the restricted archives. Broad chest, fierce gaze, and a grin that could silence armies.
"That's him..." Ghost Spider muttered, horrified. "That's Rocks D. Xebec...!"
"This... this has to be a nightmare..." Tea Dolphin whispered, heart pounding.
They couldn't believe it, but their instincts screamed at them. This was no illusion.
Ayr, the most terrifying force in the current era—who had dismantled Sabaody, shattered Enies Lobby, clashed with Roger himself, and revived the might of ancient eyes and Haki—stood shoulder to shoulder with the overlord of the previous generation.
One man had ruled the world before Gol D. Roger. The other threatened to upend it again now.
The strongest of the past, and the strongest of the present—on the same boat.
Their presence warped the very atmosphere. Fear gripped even seasoned warriors like Momousagi and Tea Dolphin. Their legs shook despite themselves.
And yet, on the boat, neither Ayr nor Rocks spared the Marines more than a glance.
"A decent island," Rocks commented, grinning. "Should be strong enough to withstand a warm-up between the two of us."
"Let's see if time dulled you, or if the legends were underselling it," Ayr replied calmly, flexing his fingers.
They had no interest in the Marines—not because they were kind, but because they were irrelevant.
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