"Brat, I lost."
In the center of the training grounds, "Cyborg" Kong wore a look of helpless resignation. He repeatedly clenched and loosened his right fist, trying to soothe the trembling in his arm caused by the excessive rigidity of the impact.
But a moment later, a gratified smile broke across his face. He strode over to Rowan, whose breathing had just stabilized, and playfully punched his chest. Grinning, he said, "You brat, I really didn't expect you to be hiding it this deep. Conqueror's Infusion... a power even I haven't fully mastered, yet you use it with such terrifying precision. Out with it—when did you master this?"
Before Rowan could get a word in, Kong stroked his beard and continued with a series of clicks of his tongue.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... No, with this level of strength, staying in the Navy as a mere Vice Admiral is doing you a massive injustice. How about this: come with me to the World Government. If you go there, I guarantee your status will be no lower than mine!"
Almost immediately, Kong dismissed his own idea, rubbing his forehead. "Wait, no—with your free-spirited personality, you'd hate dealing with those politicians and their eight layers of hidden agendas. Sigh, it's a real dilemma."
Watching Kong's internal monologue, Rowan was caught between laughter and tears. "Alright, alright, old man. I'm not a kid anymore; stop worrying about me every second. You should focus on how to handle the situation around us."
Clashing with Conqueror's Infusion in such a densely packed area had consequences. At least thirty to forty thousand Marines had lost consciousness around the training grounds. These were soldiers with duties and missions. If they didn't wake up soon, things across the seas were going to get messy!
Around the perimeter, Garp's declaration acted like a heavy bombshell detonating in everyone's hearts.
"Vice Admiral Rowan... defeated the former Fleet Admiral, Mr. Kong?!"
Momonga's shock was beyond words. Though he hadn't seen the final exchange clearly, Garp's words made the outcome indisputable.
Conqueror's Infusion. To think it possessed such overwhelming power! Does this mean Master Rowan possesses the peerless disposition of a King among millions? No wonder his presence is so captivating. Truly worthy of being my idol!
Gradually, a fanatical smile spread across Momonga's face. Under the disbelieving eyes of the other Vice Admirals, the most high-profile duel in Marine history came to an end.
As the field officers scrambled to deal with the sea of unconscious soldiers, a figure behind a window in the Marine fortress slowly pulled back. Akainu's eyes flickered with an unreadable light as he turned away, lost in thought.
Though the spar was over, the aftershocks of the battle continued to circulate through the Navy for months. The news didn't stay within Marineford; branch bases scattered across the globe slowly learned of the event.
Vice Admiral Rowan unleashed top-tier Conqueror's Infusion and defeated the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government, Kong!
Because of this, Rowan's prestige reached an unprecedented, world-shaking peak. After this duel, every single Marine soldier knew the name of the "Marine Godfather," Rowan. And this time, the name didn't just exist in legend. The man who beat "Cyborg" Kong was alive and well, right there at Headquarters!
About half a month later. Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"Hey, hey! Did you see the spar between Vice Admiral Rowan and Mr. Kong the other day?"
"Heh, of course I did! I even managed to snag a great spot!"
"Whoa! Lucky! I was out on a mission and couldn't get back in time. By the time I arrived, people were already cleaning up the training grounds."
"Tsk, you missed out! The scene was magnificent! The intensity of their clash was beyond anything I could imagine. Just the shockwaves made my head spin. And that final hit? My eyes rolled back and I passed out cold! I had to hear the rest from our Vice Admiral. He said the final collision shook the entire island of Marineford! Even the clouds in the sky were shattered!"
"Good grief, so the rumors are true! I thought we'd had a massive earthquake!"
"Vice Admiral Rowan is just too powerful. Worthy of the legend who raised Garp and Sengoku. With a powerhouse like him sitting at Headquarters, I feel a lot more at peace when I head out to sea."
"You know, now that you mention it, I feel the same way. A lot more secure."
"Right? Wait—look over there! Isn't that Vice Admiral Rowan?"
One of the two Marines chatting caught sight of Rowan strolling leisurely down a distant walkway.
"Yes! That's him!"
The two soldiers' hearts raced. They immediately snapped to attention, offering a crisp, respectful salute. They remained frozen in that position until Rowan's silhouette disappeared from view. Only then did they relax.
Even though the Old Man hadn't looked their way or acknowledged them, the two felt a profound sense of honor. Because that was the man they respected from the bottom of their hearts—the Marine Godfather, Vice Admiral Rowan!
On the other side of the base, under the gazes of thousands of Marines, Rowan walked calmly into the Headquarters building. He was only there to attend a routine meeting, so he hadn't brought Luffy or Zoro along. Gion, who had been sticking to him like glue, had been dragged away by a busy Tsuru to handle paperwork. Even Ain was with Zephyr at the training camp handling the graduation of the current recruit class.
Now alone, Rowan—the biggest "superstar" of the Navy—didn't feel superior. Instead, he felt a bit like a lion in a zoo, feeling slightly "crawly" under the sheer weight of all the reverent stares.