The Admiral Replacements
"Let the dying man's final wish be granted."
Faced with the condescending ultimatum from Im and the Five Elders, Rosen glanced at the Marines behind him. His voice remained calm, cutting through the tension.
"No one can stop the Marines from reigning supreme."
"Not even a god."
Sengoku was the first to respond. He spoke not just to Im and the Five Elders, but to uphold his own justice—one that placed the Marines above all. For the first time in his career, he carried that conviction to its absolute conclusion.
"Sengoku!"
The Five Elders' faces darkened. Before Rosen's arrival, Sengoku had always been subservient to the World Government. Now, he openly challenged them, attempting to place the Marines above the World Government's authority.
As the highest rulers of the World Government, second only to Im, the Five Elders were arrogant to their core. In their eyes, the ultimatum they'd given the Marines was a favor. Sengoku should have been grateful.
Instead, the former Fleet Admiral—the one most loyal to them—was the first to rebel.
"Eight hundred years have passed," Sengoku declared, his voice resonating with finality. "This world has suffered enough under your filth. It's time to sweep Mary Geoise into the dustbin of history."
Garp cracked his knuckles, a grin spreading across his face. He harbored a deep hatred for the Celestial Dragons. For decades, lacking the power to overthrow the World Government, he had endured for the sake of peace and justice. Now, that time had ended.
"Garp!"
Topman Warcury's eyes grew cold, but a slow, deliberate voice interrupted him.
"It's time to eradicate the evils of the Celestial Dragons."
Borsalino's gaze swept over the Five Elders. While he had always believed the sins of pirates could never be erased, deep down, this man who upheld ambiguous justice harbored a secret: the sins of the Celestial Dragons were unforgivable.
"Kizaru!"
Jaygarcia Saturn's eyes flashed red with predatory rage.
"Ara ara ara."
"I've wanted to say this for a long time."
Kuzan exhaled a breath of freezing air. "This filthy land of Mary Geoise is the one that needs to be burned to ashes by the Buster Call."
"You!"
Marcus Mars felt his eyes blaze with murderous intent at Kuzan's blasphemy.
"Sakazuki."
Nasujuro spoke, his gaze fixed on the magma user. "If you turn back now, eliminate Rosen and these traitors, you will be the new Fleet Admiral. We will fully support you in eradicating the Great Pirate Era. We might even make you the King of the Marines."
The Marines behind Sakazuki tensed. Nasujuro's offer was generous, and Sakazuki was the most rigidly loyal among them.
"How about it?" Nasujuro pressed. "Fleet Admiral?"
"Sounds quite good." Sakazuki smiled, seemingly tempted. "Well, if it's Fleet Admiral, I really can't find a reason to refuse."
"A wise choice." Nasujuro's lips curled upward, but the smile froze the next second.
"However, as for a king—that's unnecessary."
Sakazuki's expression hardened. "This world is too small to accommodate another king. After witnessing Rosen become king and sit on that empty throne, I will, as you five wish, become his Fleet Admiral."
The Five Elders' faces darkened. Im's exposed eyes flashed with a fierce, crimson light.
"The era of the World Government has ended," Rosen declared, looking down at Im and the Five Elders.
"I understand." Im's voice was devoid of human emotion. Her eyes, which made the very air tremble, gleamed with terrifying power. "The light of the Marines... will be extinguished."
As Im's words fell, the Five Elders and the Knights of God paled, not daring to be negligent.
"Arrogant fool!" Saint Pitt roared. "How dare you speak disrespectfully to Lady Im! Then disappear!"
"Don't think the World Government can't do without the Marines," Saint Warcury bellowed. "In the past, we could create your Marines; today, we can create a second Navy!"
"Mars Saint's words have meaning," Saturn stated.
Clink, clink...
The sound of wooden clogs echoed from the distance, growing louder as a burly figure with closed eyes and a cane-sword crossed the bridge, blocking Rosen and the others' retreat.
"Aramaki!" Saturn called out the second name.
A shirtless man with sunglasses and a cigarette dangling from his lips approached, hands in his pockets—Ryokugyu, the new Admiral.
"Loki!"
As Nasujuro spoke, the earth of Mary Geoise trembled. A gigantic giant with enormous horns, as massive as a mountain, strode in with earth-shaking steps.
Aramaki, Ichisei, and the giant Loki—all three were clad in the same righteous cloaks as Marine Admirals.
"Their auras are both very strong," Sakazuki muttered, narrowing his eyes. "The princes of Elbaf?"
Before they even appeared, the three Admirals had sensed their powerful auras using Observation Haki. Those were the signatures of those who stood at the pinnacle of the sea—Emperor-level beings.
Most importantly, they were dressed in Marine Admiral cloaks. Combined with the Five Elders' earlier words, the meaning was clear.
"See that, Rosen?" Nasujuro said coldly. "Marine Admirals and Fleet Admirals are not indispensable to the World Government. We can find replacements anytime we want."
"From now on, you will be the new Three Admirals of the Marines," Mars Saint stated, though his words were clearly directed at Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino.
"Fine, but don't forget what you promised me," Loki grumbled, adjusting his cloak. "After destroying these guys, you must hand Lola over to me! Otherwise, I can be the new Admiral of your World Government, or I can be the Pirate King of the Grand Line."
For his beloved Charlotte Lola, the prince of Elbaf had accepted the World Government's offer.
"Anyone who dares to defy the Celestial Dragons deserves to die," Aramaki snarled, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent toward Sakazuki. "Even you, someone I admire, are no exception."
"I apologize, everyone in the Marines," Ichisei said, his voice filled with shame. "And... Fleet Admiral Rosen."
Rosen's eyes flashed red, instantly reading the thoughts of the three new Admirals.
Loki had been offered an irresistible condition: after the Charlotte Pirates were defeated, Charlotte Lola had fallen into CP9's hands. The World Government used her as leverage.
Aramaki was a staunch supporter of the Celestial Dragons. After being personally received by the Five Elders and promised a position as Admiral, he joined without hesitation.
Only Ichisei had been coerced. The World Government had threatened him with the world itself.
"I see," Rosen said softly.
"It seems you understand, Fleet Admiral Rosen," Ichisei continued. "Under your leadership, the Marines eliminated the Seven Warlords and pacified the Four Seas. The world, once shrouded in the shadow of the Great Pirate Era, is gradually moving in a better direction. I shouldn't be your enemy, but unfortunately... if I don't, the world and its people will be swallowed by the ocean."
Garp felt uneasy at those words. Sengoku, the three Admirals, Gion, and Kakei all felt the same.
"If I do not become your enemy, and all of you oppose the World Government, they will unleash the power of the Ancient Weapons," Ichisei revealed, his voice heavy. "Sea levels will rise continuously. Islands, nations, towns, and the people of the world will all be buried beneath the sea."
Im did not mind this secret being revealed. After today, everyone who knew of her existence—except the Five Elders and the Knights of God—would die.
"Therefore," Ichisei said, drawing his cane-sword, "I dare to ask Fleet Admiral Rosen, and all of you Marines, to die here."
His words ended, but his blade began to move.
Although blind, his extraordinary Observation Haki allowed him to sense that Im's killing intent was nearing its peak. If Im moved first, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Gravity Light!"
Purple energy rings erupted, shooting skyward. The sky darkened rapidly as a meteorite several kilometers in diameter, engulfed in flames, tore through the clouds from the zenith, descending upon Mary Geoise with devastating force.
"Sakazuki," Aramaki roared as he attacked, transforming into a tree-man larger than a giant. "Do you know? I've always admired you, admired your unwavering spirit. But you shouldn't have, you absolutely shouldn't have betrayed the World Government. The Marines were born to be subservient to the Celestial Dragons!"
Before the words finished, Aramaki's roots coiled around Mary Geoise like pythons. Towering trees erupted from the earth, altering the terrain and encircling Rosen's group like a vast army.
Hundreds of giant trees formed a fist shape, enveloped in Armament Haki, unleashing a devastating barrage.
"Wei Guo!" Loki retaliated, wielding his hammer to shatter the earth with a single blow. A violent shockwave capable of piercing mountains and tearing oceans erupted outward.
Meteorites crashed down. Forests went berserk. Elbaf Spears flew like hail.
With the new three Admirals joining forces, the summit of Red Earth—the land of the gods—had become the horn of world war.
—-
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