"Meeting adjourned!"
Rosen's dismissal echoed through the chamber. Instantly, the high-ranking officers of Marine Headquarters moved with practiced discipline, fanning out to their posts to execute the Admiral's orders.
Naval Hero Monkey D. Garp departed immediately for Egghead (formerly the Judge Forbidden Zone), taking over surveillance of the Special Science Group from Kuzan. Fleet Admiral Sengoku remained at his command post, orchestrating the deployment of forces across the globe. Meanwhile, "Dark Horse" Victor Seiji, Director of the Marine Crime Investigation Bureau, kept his eyes locked on the movements of the major powers along the Grand Line, his intelligence network the sharpest it had ever been.
In the past, launching an offensive against a Yonko crew would have required months of preparation. Mobilizing troops from distant branches, gathering warships, and stockpiling munitions was a logistical nightmare.
But the Marines had evolved.
In a single morning, the Marine Science Unit assembled at the main plaza.
These were not merely soldiers; they were the elite handpicked by Headquarters itself. When word spread that they were heading to the New World to crush the Whitebeard Pirates, a feverish excitement gripped the ranks. There was no fear, only the burning desire for battle.
Every member knew who was leading this charge: Admiral Rosen, the strongest man in Marine history. Following him into the war to destroy an Emperor meant only one thing—victory and glory.
Thousands of Marines stood in rigid formation, their fighting spirit coalescing into a palpable pressure that hung heavy over the plaza.
Whoosh!
A figure materialized in the air above them, as if tearing a hole in space itself. The Marine cape on his shoulders, embroidered with the banner of Justice, billowed in the still air.
"Admiral Rosen!"
A thousand voices roared as one, the thunderous salute shaking the foundations of Marineford.
"The reason I summoned you is no secret," Rosen declared, his voice cutting through the noise. "Tell me, do you understand why you were chosen to face the Whitebeard Pirates?"
He hovered above the ranks, his gaze sweeping over the elite force. At the front stood his key officers: Doll, T-Bone, Monet, Gild Tesoro, and Commodore Hina.
Behind them stood ten Vice Admirals. The left flank held the elite human commanders: Momonga, Kasakatsuyama, Doberman, Onigumo, and Strawberry. The right flank was composed of the giant squad: John Giant, Lacroix, and Ronse.
The final rows comprised a thousand handpicked soldiers, the absolute peak of Marine strength.
Most wore the advanced Arrancar Uniforms (second-generation combat suits) with their Justice Coats, while the elite officers sported the even rarer Espada Uniforms.
This was a force capable of rewriting history.
"Because," Rosen answered his own question, his voice resonating with absolute conviction, "you are the future of the Marines."
"Within you resides the pinnacle of our science, the sharpest edge of our strength. I want the world to witness this moment. I want them to see the Whitebeard Pirates fall and realize that the age of pirate rule is dead. The Era of the Marines begins now!"
A collective jolt of adrenaline surged through the ranks. The combined pressure of their Haki—a crushing, invisible weight—ripped through the clouds above headquarters.
"Move out!"
As Rosen gave the order, the sky above the plaza sizzled and tore open. More than a dozen massive Gargantas—voids of absolute black—yawned open, resembling black holes that devoured the light.
Rosen stepped forward, vanishing into the lead void.
Behind him, the three Admirals and Douglas Bullet followed instantly.
Then came the officers: Doll, T-Bone, Monet, Tesoro, and Hina leaped into the air, disappearing into the voids like swallows diving into a storm.
Next, the Vice Admirals. Momonga, Kasakatsuyama, Doberman, Onigumo, and Strawberry shot into the portals like arrows. The giants followed, their massive bodies defying gravity as they soared into the voids.
Finally, the thousand elite soldiers, organized into ten squads, marched in perfect rhythm, vanishing into the designated portals.
Snap.
The Gargantas closed, sealing the void. The plaza was empty once more, save for the lingering, suffocating aura of their presence.
"Go forth, seize this era," Sengoku whispered from his office window, watching the sky heal. "Announce the end of the Great Pirate Era to the world, Rosen."
Meanwhile, at the Marine Academy...
Zephyr stood before a class of trembling recruits, lecturing on Armament Haki. Suddenly, the sky ripped apart. The students gasped as the Marine Science Unit vanished into the voids, heading for the New World.
"Envious?" Zephyr asked, a knowing smirk on his face.
"Yes, sir!" the recruits shouted in unison.
Clad in advanced combat suits, draped in Justice Coats, wielding the power of Haki and Devil Fruits—how could they not be?
"Then work for it," Zephyr barked. "Master Armament and Observation Haki before graduation. Dual-color Haki is the passport to the Science Unit. Run!"
The recruits, ignited by the sight of the elite force, shouldered their 200-pound weights and sprinted across the grounds, sweat flying.
Zephyr watched them go, then looked toward the horizon where Rosen had vanished.
"You ushered in a new era, kid..."
The New World – Foodvalten Island (Fordville)
The harbor was choked with ships, a sea of bared fangs. Every mast flew a different Jolly Roger—43 of them.
These were the 43 subordinate crews of the Whitebeard Pirates. After Rosen's capture of Kaido, Edward Newgate had issued a call to arms to face the greatest threat the pirate world had ever known. Every crew had answered.
Unlike Kaido's fortress or Big Mom's island castle, the Whitebeard Pirates had never held a fixed headquarters. To accommodate this massive gathering, Newgate had chosen Foodvalten Island as a temporary base.
However, chaos was already brewing.
"Dad! Squard has raided the town again!" Diamond Jozu burst onto the deck of the Moby Dick, his face twisted in rage. "That's the third time! If you don't stop him, the locals will starve, and our reputation will be dust. Half the captains are following his lead, pillaging the island!"
Vista stood beside him, grim-faced.
Edward Newgate sat on his throne, bisento resting beside him. He didn't roar. He didn't rage. He simply stared at his hands, silent.
"Dad?" Jozu pressed, confused by the old man's passivity.
"Shut it, Jozu," Marco muttered, his expression pained.
"Why?!" Jozu turned on his commander. "These people fed us! They sheltered us! Whitebeard's flag is supposed to protect them, not bleed them dry!"
"We know, Jozu," Marco said quietly. "But look at him."
The Whitebeard Pirates, bar the very top commanders, were mostly drifters, survivors from the dregs of society. They knew hardship better than anyone. But Newgate's silence was terrifying.
"Lawson..." Newgate finally rumbled, his voice heavy. "The Admiral... he changed everything. Even Kaido fell. The 'Strongest Creature' is gone."
The deck fell silent.
"The New World is entering a transition of power," Newgate continued, his eyes hollow. "And when the tectonic plates shift... the weak are crushed first."
"But Dad—"
"Call the captains," Newgate ordered, his voice regaining a sliver of its old thunder. "All 43 of them. We need to talk about the coming storm. And we need to talk about Squard."##
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