Passing through familiar streets, Darren strolled toward the Marine Academy, savoring a rare pocket of peace. Patrols saluted him with fervor, admiration bright in their eyes. He returned each salute with an easy smile.
Leaving the civilian district behind, he stepped into the heavily militarized zone. Before the familiar yet distant gates and the massive stone tablet beside them, his gaze grew faraway.
"All glory and life belong to Justice."
Zephyr's signature marked the inscription. Golden light dappled the ivy-clad walls, leaves stirring in a soft breeze. The monument's solemn weight invited reverence and quiet.
This was Marineford Academy at Marine Headquarters—the Cradle of Future Admirals.
Yet as Darren studied the tablet, a different image flashed unbidden: a solitary figure slumped on the steps of his childhood home, defeated and alone.
His lips thinned.
"Does the truth... does it really not matter?"
"I suppose it still does... but compared to avenging your family, you chose a nobler ideal, Zephyr-sensei."
After a long silence, he let out a slow breath and murmured:
Pirates infiltrated Marine Headquarters and struck back at Admiral Zephyr by targeting his wife and children?!
How absurd.
Aside from the brazen Golden Lion Shiki, what pirate could set foot in this so-called Holy Land of Justice?
That's just preying on the honest.
"What's on your mind?"
A rasping, cold voice came from behind.
Darren paused, then chuckled. "I was wondering if Zephyr-sensei invited anyone else to serve as a special instructor... besides me."
"Seems he's more cunning than I thought. At first, I figured I was the special one."
He turned to face Sakazuki's imposing figure, the man's presence dense and unreadable.
Sakazuki didn't answer the tease. His polished black Marine boots clicked as he closed the distance. "I heard you clashed with the Roger Pirates on Fish-Man Island."
Their eyes met, capes snapping in the sea wind, pressure rising between them.
"You could say that," Darren replied with a faint smile. "I nearly got wiped out."
"Is he really that strong?" Sakazuki's brow tightened.
"At least the current me is no match for him," Darren said, without embellishment. Defeat was defeat.
Their shared years in the North Blue let Darren speak plainly; he knew Sakazuki's nature well.
Hearing the confirmation, Sakazuki's gaze didn't dim. A spark lit there instead, the look of a man itching to measure himself against a worthy foe—then the light died as quickly as it came.
He moved past the Vice Admiral and stepped through the Academy gates.
As they drew even, Sakazuki stopped. "Darren," he said, "do you remember what I told you when we were partners in the North Blue?"
Darren gave a soft laugh, eyes drifting as an old memory surfaced.
"Back when we were the top two officers of the North Blue 321st Branch," Sakazuki said, clamping a cigar between his teeth and lighting it, "we clashed over how to deal with pirates."
"I argued we could never root them out entirely," Darren said. "Endless hunts waste time and lives. Better to control them and set rules that keep the North Blue stable."
"You insisted on total annihilation," Sakazuki countered, eyes narrowing. "No survivors. Only through that could we uphold Absolute Justice."
He looked down, exhaled smoke. "So... who really won in the end? It's only been a few years, but I can barely remember."
Darren sighed. "You won. We even came to blows over it."
"I spent two weeks in the hospital after that, burned from head to toe," he went on. "You were a monster back then. Without Haki, I couldn't even scratch you."
"No," Sakazuki cut in, voice like ice. "You won."
"I thought I'd won at the time," he said, "but in truth, you came out on top."
"I didn't understand back then," Darren admitted, "but over the years it's become clear."
"Even with the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit, you couldn't have been injured that badly. You let me hit you."
Darren lifted a brow, feigning confusion. "But didn't you win in the end?"
Sakazuki blew a plume of smoke like a dragon's breath, face unreadable. "After that, I was reprimanded—punished for attacking a subordinate and causing serious injury. Demoted and transferred to Headquarters."
"Meanwhile, you slid into my seat and took command of the North Blue Marines."
"So in the end, you won, and I lost."
"It was a political game, wasn't it?"
Darren shrugged. "That's all in the past. Does it even matter now?"
To his surprise, Sakazuki didn't deny it. He nodded. "Yes. It no longer matters."
"But I'll give you a warning."
Darren's eyes narrowed, a curious smile touching his mouth. "A warning?"
"Yes. A warning."
They stood shoulder to shoulder, staring out at the grounds.
"If anything like that happens again, I won't hold back."
"Only by eradicating every last pirate can true peace be achieved. That is the justice Marines must uphold."
He turned and walked away, steps cold and steady, his back as sheer as a cliff face.
Darren watched him go, expression calm. A sudden smile broke across his face and he called out:
"After all these years, you haven't changed a bit, Sakazuki!"
"You'll never make any friends acting like that."
Sakazuki's voice drifted back. "Enemies are all I need."
"When this is all over, let's settle this properly, Darren."
He pivoted, eyes like chips of ice. "...In the name of our respective justices!"
Darren paused, then grinned, reckless as ever. "Agreed."
To be continued...