One Piece: Rising to Fleet Admiral Through a Coup

"Hey! Wait a minute!"

Caught off guard by Xayuki's abrupt departure, Garp struggled to process what had just happened. With growing indignation, he shouted after the retreating figure, "Don't just walk away, Xayuki! I was merely caught off guard! Come back here—I can still fight!"

Xayuki continued walking as if he hadn't heard a word, his pace quickening as he headed toward the mess hall. Along his path, every Marine he encountered—officer and enlisted alike—snapped to rigid attention. Cries of "Loyalty!" echoed continuously in his wake, following him all the way into the dining hall.

The moment Xayuki left the plaza, Zephyr and Sengoku rushed to the scene.

Upon seeing the ghastly wound carved across Garp's chest, Sengoku immediately moved to support his old friend while Zephyr turned and bellowed, "Someone fetch the medical team immediately!"

"Unnecessary, unnecessary~" Garp protested, waving dismissively despite his condition. "It's merely a flesh wound, no need for such—YEOWCH! Sengoku, why are you touching the wound?! That hurts like hell!"

"Oh, so you can feel pain?" Sengoku retorted, glaring at his longtime colleague. "What possessed you to act so recklessly? The power shift at Headquarters is already complete. Even if you somehow managed to defeat Xayuki, what then? Have you forgotten that all three admirals have already pledged their allegiance? They wouldn't simply stand by while you upended everything!"

"Hand me my senbei~" Garp gestured toward his pocket, grimacing through the pain. "That youngster certainly doesn't pull his punches."

Sengoku remained silent as he retrieved the box of rice crackers from Garp's bag. As he passed it over, he casually plucked two pieces for himself and popped them into his mouth.

Witnessing this casual theft, Garp momentarily forgot his injury, his face contorting with outrage. "Give me back my senbei!"

Sengoku ignored the protest, chewing with exaggerated satisfaction.

Just then, two nurses from the medical division arrived, their faces paling at the sight of Garp's wound.

Zephyr's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as his gaze drifted upward toward the Headquarters rooftop. Although Borsalino and Kuzan—who had been observing the confrontation earlier—were no longer visible, Zephyr maintained his contemplative stare.

When he and Sengoku had first sensed the collision of Conqueror's Haki, their only thought had been to prevent further escalation. Now, with a moment to reflect, Zephyr began to understand Xayuki's strategy. The new Fleet Admiral had deliberately chosen to confront Garp rather than challenging Kuzan, who had also returned after the coup.

The reasoning was elegantly simple: while Xayuki had successfully seized control of Marine Headquarters, lingering doubts about his capabilities remained among those admirals and officers who hadn't participated in the mutiny. Many questioned whether his meteoric rise truly reflected commensurate strength.

In such circumstances, Xayuki needed to establish his dominance through irrefutable demonstration of power.

While Kuzan represented formidable opposition as one of the Marines' premier combatants, he wasn't the ideal symbolic target. Garp, however, was legendary—the hero who had cornered the Pirate King Gold Roger multiple times, an idol to countless Marines across generations. Defeating him would send an unmistakable message.

By besting Garp so decisively, Xayuki had not only shocked those who had abstained from the mutiny but also commanded the respect of the three admirals, cementing his position as the new Fleet Admiral beyond any shadow of doubt.

Marine Headquarters Mess Hall

Two officers, in the midst of departing the mess hall, froze mid-conversation when Xayuki suddenly appeared in the doorway. Their casual laughter evaporated instantly as they snapped to attention, saluting with military precision.

"Fleet Admiral Xayuki!"

Their announcement carried across the hall, plunging the room into immediate silence. Every Marine present turned toward the entrance, their expressions shifting from surprise to reverence, eyes wide with awe.

Though the mess hall stood at some distance from the plaza, everyone inside had witnessed the earlier confrontation through the windows. When Xayuki had sent the legendary Garp flying with a single, devastating strike, the entire hall had erupted in astonishment.

While some had initially pledged loyalty out of pragmatic necessity rather than genuine conviction, Xayuki's display of overwhelming power had erased all lingering doubts. Their resolve to follow him was now unshakable.

Xayuki surveyed the room with calm composure, showing no trace of fatigue despite the intense battle he had just concluded. With a warm smile that belied his formidable power, he said, "It's mealtime, everyone. There's no need for such formality."

"LOYALTY!" The entire room responded in perfect unison, hands raised in salute.

"Ah, I just remembered~" Xayuki suddenly raised his hand, gesturing for quiet. When the room settled, he continued in a measured tone, "Though we face many difficult battles ahead, we cannot expect our brothers and sisters to fight on empty stomachs—or empty pockets! Gion, after our meal, please visit the finance department and arrange for all officers and soldiers to receive an immediate pay increase." He paused, his smile widening. "Furthermore, distribute a full year's salary in advance to everyone!"

Before Gion could even respond, the mess hall erupted into jubilant chaos.

"Long live Fleet Admiral Xayuki!"

"This is incredible! A whole year's salary at once!"

"Thank you, Fleet Admiral! With this money, my brother's wedding is saved! Sir, you must attend the ceremony!"

Amid the celebration, a handful of soldiers who had not participated in the previous night's mutiny exchanged uncertain glances. Among them, a young rear admiral nervously made his way through the crowd. After a moment's hesitation, he stepped forward and asked, "Fleet Admiral, sir... will those of us who weren't part of last night's... activities... also receive the advance payment?"

"Of course!" Xayuki replied without hesitation, his smile unwavering. "Now that Headquarters has stabilized, past allegiances are irrelevant. Everyone will receive equal treatment regarding compensation."

"Thank heavens!" The young officer's eyes immediately welled with emotion. His voice cracked as he continued, "Thank you, Fleet Admiral. This money... it means everything to me... I... I..."

Words failing him, the rear admiral suddenly stood ramrod straight, snapped a perfect salute, and proclaimed with raw emotion: "LOYALTY!"

His story was but one among many. As a subordinate of Vice Admiral Onigumo, he had been struggling to pay for his sister's expensive medical treatments. After borrowing from virtually every colleague until they began avoiding him entirely, he had approached his commanding officer for assistance, only to be met with cold disdain. Now, Xayuki's decree had not only solved his financial crisis but earned his unwavering dedication.

The atmosphere in the mess hall grew increasingly festive as the news spread. Yet despite the commotion, no one dared interrupt Xayuki's meal.

Seated by a window, the new Fleet Admiral attacked his food with surprising vigor, consuming portions that would satisfy several men. His apparent lack of concern for decorum wasn't vanity but necessity—the combination of recent imprisonment and the system's enhancement of his abilities to maximum levels had dramatically increased his metabolic requirements.

Across the table, Gion observed him thoughtfully, her own meal untouched. Resting her chin on her palm, she studied the man who had become the youngest Fleet Admiral in Marine history—and the first to claim the position through mutiny. Her mind drifted back to when Xayuki had first entered the officer training camp.

At just eighteen, he had been bright-eyed and curious, his potential evident but raw. Though she had recognized during their training sessions that he was destined for greatness, she could never have imagined he would ascend to power through such dramatic means.

"By the way~" Xayuki suddenly set down his chopsticks and looked directly at Gion. "Can Headquarters actually afford to distribute these salaries?"

Gion nodded thoughtfully. "We should have sufficient funds for now. However, if relations with the World Government deteriorate completely, we won't be able to maintain payroll beyond this year."

"Not a concern," Xayuki replied, visibly relieved that the immediate financial situation was manageable. "The Holy Land is unlikely to sever ties out of wounded pride. For them, the identity of the Fleet Admiral is less important than ensuring the Marines remain under their authority. They'll likely seek compromise." A calculating gleam entered his eyes. "When negotiations begin, we'll maximize our advantage."

Despite Xayuki's confidence, Gion's expression remained troubled. "I'm not worried about Headquarters itself. What concerns me are our bases throughout the Four Blues and the Grand Line. We've yet to receive any communication from a single branch facility."

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