Light and shadow swirled across the battlefield. A white cape embroidered with the word Justice danced in the storm winds.
Kuzan stood frozen in place, eyes locked on the towering figure before him. Something hot and powerful welled up in his chest.
"...Zephyr-sensei..."
The sight engraved itself deep into his heart—a memory that would never fade.
The blinding radiance gradually faded.
Smoke coiled into the sky like mourning banners.
All across the field, Marines pushed themselves up with their swords, gazes stunned and breath held as they looked out toward the center.
The smoke obscured everything.
"What was that power...?"
"We trained alongside that guy...!?"
Faces across the square were lined with disbelief.
Then, as a breeze cleared the haze—clarity struck.
An enormous, charred trench cut a burning path through the entire parade ground. Lingering flames flickered along its surface, beginning at Darren's feet and ending just before a massive figure.
"...Zephyr-sensei..."
"He blocked it!! He saved Kuzan!!"
The mountain-like presence of Zephyr stood before Kuzan, one hand calmly raised.
His finger, clad in pitch-black Armament Haki, pressed firmly against a still-spinning coin.
Black sheen faded from its surface as steam hissed into the air.
The heat from the coin's supersonic flight still radiated through the air.
"...Infusing Armament Haki... into a coin. What a brilliant idea."
Zephyr caught the coin in his hand, his eyes settling on Darren—who stood nearby, panting, face pale.
After a pause, the instructor's lips curled into a rare, admiring smile.
"How did you come up with that, Darren?"
Darren took a long breath to calm the erratic rhythm of his lungs.
Like all Devil Fruits, using the Magnet-Magnet Fruit consumed stamina—and the Railgun had drained almost all of it.
The move functioned by overloading his magnetic field, violently accelerating a small metallic object—in this case, a coin—into a high-speed projectile.
And adding Haki to the coin?
That had pushed his energy consumption to double what he expected.
In the canon, Darren recalled, the warrior women of Amazon Lily infused their arrows with Armament Haki to enhance piercing power—though Haki on a projectile rapidly degraded after it left the body.
"It was just an idea. Didn't think it would actually work," Darren admitted, wiping sweat from his brow with a grin.
With Zephyr here, he hadn't needed to hold back. He could unleash everything—even risk breaking his limit.
After all, Black Arm Zephyr was a man who once terrified entire pirate fleets.
The fact that he blocked that Railgun with a single finger?
A lunatic, through and through.
He turned and patted Kuzan on the shoulder.
"You alright, Kuzan?"
Kuzan blinked and finally returned to his senses. He scratched his head, grinning sheepishly.
"I'm fine. Darren's just... way too strong. I lost."
There was no bitterness in his voice. Only awe.
That moment, when death had rushed toward him—he knew he couldn't have dodged.
If Zephyr hadn't intervened...
That coin, laced with Haki, would've torn him apart.
"You've done well," Zephyr said kindly. "Back in their training days, Sakazuki and Borsalino weren't necessarily stronger than you."
His eyes flicked to Darren.
Not that Darren had surpassed those two monsters—not yet.
But they had entered the camp earlier.
He was confident both Darren and Kuzan would undergo explosive growth under his guidance.
"Did you hear that, Darren!?"
"I may have lost, but I'm not done chasing you down!"
He threw a thumbs-up Darren's way.
Darren smiled faintly.
"How could I?" he replied. With someone like you on my heels, how could I ever afford to slack off... Kuzan.
Zephyr clapped his hands, beaming with pride.
"All personnel—assemble!!"
At once, every Marine straightened, adjusted their uniforms, and ran forward with solemn expressions. They formed a clean square in front of Zephyr, boots planted firmly in the dust.
The sun poured down over the courtyard.
Each young face gleamed with vitality, resolve, and the brilliant sheen of ambition.
They raised their hands in perfect unison.
Zephyr's heart swelled. He smiled, then spoke with a voice that rang across the parade grounds.
"Then allow me to formally announce..."
"The top five of this year's Elite Officer Training Camp—"
"Fifth Seat: Yamakaji."
"Fourth Seat: Tokikake."
"Second Seat: Kuzan."
"And the First Seat..."
His gaze fell on the tall, black-haired Marine at the front.
"Let us all congratulate him on earning this honor."
Thunderous applause broke out.
Smiles. Cheers. No resentment—just respect.
Zephyr raised a hand. The clapping faded.
"But remember—this ranking is only temporary."
His voice turned serious.
"During your time here, anyone may challenge a higher rank. Victory means seizing their seat."
"Don't complain. This is how life works."
"Not just in training, but in the world. The moment you slack off, someone else surpasses you."
"And know this—no matter where life takes you... whether you become pillars of the Marines, or rise to the rank of admiral..."
Zephyr drew in a deep breath, his voice booming like cannonfire.
"As long as you fight for the justice in your heart—I will always be proud of you."
The Third Elite Officer Training Camp of Marine Headquarters officially began.
And the man who temporarily claimed the title of First Seat—
Was the Marine from the North Blue...