One Piece: Strongest Justice

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December, Year 1505 of the Sea Circle Calendar – Marineford.

Ever since Vice Admiral Gion, who had already been promoted, took on the role of swordsmanship instructor at the recruit training camp, Kanos Atlas's sparring partner had changed from Juzuo to Gion herself. 

After weeks of intense dueling, Atlas had fully mastered the Ox Talisman and even seamlessly integrated the Rabbit Talisman. 

Just as he expected, the Rabbit Talisman primarily enhanced his lower-body strength.

 As a result, his physical power now rivaled that of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral, and he was still growing stronger at an astonishing rate.

In the world of pirates, powerhouses like Garp and Zephyr often boast overwhelmingly strong upper bodies—not because their legs are weak, but because their internal organs are incredibly fortified. 

Atlas was now developing in a similar direction, but the Rabbit Talisman had perfectly balanced his body's overall power.

As for his swordsmanship, Gion remarked that Atlas's style leaned toward powerful, sweeping attacks that lacked finesse, best suited to overwhelming opponents with raw strength. 

At this stage, Atlas was mainly focused on refining his physical foundation and had no intention of eating a Devil Fruit. 

He didn't want to create a new weakness unless he encountered an exceptionally powerful fruit. 

He also had the distinct feeling that he was just one step away from awakening Armament Haki—like a thin paper wall he could break through at any moment.

On the coast, Zephyr stood straight as a rod, facing the sea. Even after retiring from his position as Admiral, the former Marine still burned with the will to uphold justice. 

Ironically, this unshakable belief would later betray him, driving him into extremism. 

It has to be said: the World Government's decisions often seemed absurd in hindsight—proof that the thinking of politicians can differ wildly from that of ordinary people.

Though Atlas disagreed with Zephyr's brand of justice, he deeply respected the man. Both morally and logically, he couldn't accept letting someone like Zephyr suffer in his later years.

"Teacher Zephyr, I heard you wanted to see me?"

Atlas, who had been in the middle of training, had been summoned here by Juzuo. He was still unsure what it was about.

"Ah, I was planning to teach you a bit about Haki today," Zephyr replied, turning around to face him. 

"Normally, this would be third-year material. But your body has long met the conditions to awaken Haki."

"Oh? Then I'll be counting on you, Teacher Zephyr," Atlas said seriously, fully aware that Haki was the last missing piece in his current combat ability.

In simple terms, even though his physical strength had reached the level of a Headquarters Vice Admiral, he still couldn't beat one in combat. 

Worse yet, against Logia-type users, he'd be completely passive—only able to wear them down with sheer endurance, if at all.

"Haki is a power hidden within every person," Zephyr explained. "It's divided into three types: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki."

He paused before continuing, "You've already awakened Observation Haki, so that I won't go into too much detail there." 

"As for Armament Haki, its main function is to enhance your defense, like wearing an invisible suit of armor." 

"It can also be used offensively and is essential for hitting the real bodies of Logia-type Devil Fruit users. Armament Haki can be improved through training to increase both its quality and quantity."

"In Wano, Armament Haki is also known as Ryuo, just like how Observation Haki is called 'Mantra' on Skypiea."

"To break it down further, Armament Haki has three practical stages of mastery, though these are more about technique than actual rank. The real key lies in its strength and volume."

"The first stage is hardening and coating—initially just hardening your body, then eventually coating your weapons."

"The second stage is projection. At this level, your Haki doesn't need direct contact to cause damage."

"The third stage is internal destruction, where the Haki 'flows' into the target, causing damage from within."

Atlas was familiar with some of this. Sentomaru's "Ashigara Dokkoi" technique was an example of second-stage Armament Haki. 

No wonder the man boasted about being the "world's strongest defender." While exaggerated, it did reflect his skill with Haki.

"The majority of people never move past the first stage," Zephyr added, noticing Atlas was deep in thought. "But those who reach the top always master it."

"Don't worry, Teacher Zephyr. I understand how important Armament Haki is," Atlas said with a small smile, realizing Zephyr was reminding him not to underestimate it.

"Good, I'm glad you understand." Zephyr gave a rare look of satisfaction.

"As for Conqueror's Haki, it's the most unreasonable of the three. Not everyone has it. Only one in a million can awaken it. Among the Marines, only Sengoku possesses it. But among pirates, it's as common as the sea itself."

Zephyr's expression turned bitter. He disapproved of this imbalance.

"Conqueror's Haki can also be infused into attacks like Armament Haki, but only top-tier fighters can grasp that skill. The glory of possessing it intoxicates most pirates."

Atlas nodded in agreement. In the original timeline, he only sees Kaido had used that level of Conqueror's Haki, like when he hit Luffy with that overwhelming blow that nearly broke his will. 

Few others ever reached that realm.

"To me, all three forms of Haki are simply manifestations of the spirit, the body, and the will. Observation Haki is spiritual awareness and relies on mental energy." 

"Armament Haki comes from your physical body—your strength and resilience. Conqueror's Haki is the embodiment of sheer willpower and can overwhelm opponents outright."

Zephyr's teachings were incredibly rich. Atlas listened intently—this was wisdom from a top-tier powerhouse, the kind of knowledge no book or training manual could provide. He cherished every word.

"If you don't have the aptitude for Conqueror's Haki, you might want to consult that old rascal Garp," Zephyr suggested after seeing Atlas's focused expression.

"Huh? Vice Admiral Garp has Conqueror's Haki?" Atlas asked, feigning confusion.

"Heh. Ever felt Garp's so-called 'Fist of Love'?" Zephyr smirked. Of course, he had reviewed Atlas's profile upon enlistment and knew he had arrived aboard Garp's ship.

"According to Garp, his 'Fist of Love' is imbued with pure emotion—it's a form of willpower infusion." 

"Yes. Of course, he has Conqueror Haki. His Title as Hero is not for show, even though he is just a stupid old bastard."

Zephyr wasn't one to keep secrets. He explained everything clearly. The top fighters of the sea weren't just strong in body or Haki—they also had unique personal techniques.

For example, "Black Arm" Zephyr's Armament Haki was undeniably elite, while "Iron Fist" Garp specialized in infusing his punches with sheer will.

"As for your training," Zephyr added calmly, "from today, add one more task: have Juzuo strike you using Armament Haki. That's the fastest way to grasp how it feels."

It sounded brutal, but Zephyr had tailored this method specifically to Atlas's monstrous recovery abilities. 

If someone like Smoker tried it, he'd probably be crippled on day one. That day was the annual recruit assessment at the training camp. 

All the recruits were gathered together. For many, this was the most nerve-wracking moment of their year—each had been told upon enlistment that they only had one chance to fail. 

For slackers and those with poor talent, this was a true ordeal. 

The exam primarily consisted of one-on-one duels, with opponents chosen from a list provided by their respective instructors, who were best equipped to assess their capabilities. 

It ensured the pairings were balanced. Several temporary fighting platforms had been built in the training grounds. 

Though makeshift, they were still sturdy enough that the average Marine recruit couldn't hope to break them. 

Don't underestimate the productivity of the One Piece world—especially not here at Marine Headquarters, where superhumans were everywhere.

In front of the platforms stood tiered spectator seats, arranged from highest to lowest. 

Sitting at the very top was Admiral Sengoku—the only active Admiral at the time. Kong had mostly withdrawn from Marine affairs, so the internal power transition was effectively complete. All that was left was for the World Government to officially appoint the new leaders and conduct the Marine decoration ceremony.

Seated beside Sengoku was Vice Admiral Kizaru, with his trademark sleazy grin and amber sunglasses. The other two "monster Vice Admirals" were away on missions, and even Aokiji Kuzan—whom Atlas had met before enlisting—wasn't present today.

Of course, Vice Admiral Gion, who now served as both swordsmanship instructor and Atlas's sparring partner, had also come to observe the heated year-end assessment.

As for the other scattered officers, Atlas wasn't familiar enough to name them.

The other recruits, however, were visibly excited. It was rare to see so many high-ranking Marines in one place, especially someone like Admiral Sengoku. Even the recruits from Headquarters had never seen him this close.

"Wow! That's Admiral Sengoku! First time seeing him in person—he gives off such a commanding aura…"

"Hey, where's Vice Admiral Garp?"

"Whoa~ Even Vice Admiral Kizaru's here! Why do I feel like he looks cooler the longer I stare at him…"

The last comment—who knows which cheeky recruit said it—Atlas could only silently admire their sharp taste.

Soon after, Zephyr appeared before the recruits, accompanied by Juzuo. After exchanging a brief nod with Sengoku, he turned his gaze toward the chattering newcomers.

"Attention! Silence! Form up!"

At the sound of Zephyr's command, the recruits instinctively snapped to attention and lined up in perfect unison, orderly and without hesitation. 

Zephyr nodded approvingly, clearly satisfied, then addressed them again.

"This end-of-year assessment is a test of all the progress you've made over the past year. I don't want to see any of you become lazy parasites in the Marines!" 

"You are the future of the Marines—beacons of hope for the people of the world. So, give your all in every match. Don't waste the sweat and effort you've poured into your training!" Every word came straight from Zephyr's heart. 

This man, who had devoted his entire life to the Marines, held high expectations for each of his students, hoping they would shine brightly in the cause of justice.

"Juzuo, I'll leave the rest to you." Zephyr passed the lead to Juzuo, then casually plopped down beside Sengoku.

"Such energetic brats," Sengoku said with a fond smile as he looked at the young faces below. "Watching them makes me feel years younger."

"Indeed, they are the future of the Marines. Speaking of which—where's that rascal Garp?" Zephyr chuckled, then asked.

"Garp? That bastard went off to the New World—again. And he had the nerve to steal my senbei on his way out!" 

At the mention of Garp, veins visibly popped on Sengoku's forehead. He looked like he had a headache just thinking about him.

"Hahaha! That's something Garp would do. But anyway, let's focus on the recruits for now," 

Zephyr laughed, knowing full well the never-ending love-hate dynamic between Sengoku and Garp. 

Garp's unpredictable nature had always been a source of endless frustration for Sengoku.

"Yo, Zephyr-sensei, I bet you're here to see your prized student—Kanos Atlas, huh?" drawled a mocking voice nearby. 

It was none other than Borsalino—Vice Admiral Kizaru—lounging lazily with his trademark sleazy smirk and tinted sunglasses.

"Of course I am," Zephyr snapped, his tone sharp. "Atlas isn't like you—overly dependent on your Devil Fruit powers, Borsalino!" Zephyr had long held criticism toward Borsalino. 

In his eyes, Borsalino's raw talent had once exceeded even Sakazuki's, but his laid-back attitude and reliance on his Pika Pika no Mi made Zephyr believe he was wasting his potential. 

As a result, there had always been friction between the two.

"Yo, Zephyr-sensei, don't be like that," Kizaru replied in his slow, teasing drawl. "Devil Fruits can make someone just as powerful, too, y'know? You're being a little harsh~."

"Alright, enough! Both of you—watch the matches!" Sengoku cut in before the two could start bickering. 

He had finally managed to take a day off and wasn't about to let their quarreling ruin it.

Meanwhile, on the training grounds, Juzuo had already begun announcing the matchups, holding a clipboard with the assigned pairings.

"Ring One! Smoker versus Hina! Ring Two! Grus versus Helbert!"

There were ten rings set up across the training field—temporary, but solidly constructed. 

They were more than enough to ensure the entire assessment could be completed in one day.

In the world of pirates, where strength is everything and superhumans are the norm, even temporary Marine-built structures were made to endure intense combat, especially here, in Marine Headquarters: Marineford.

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