Kaito's promotion to Admiral was naturally far more grand than when he'd been made a Vice Admiral. Not only was it broadcast live across the entire world, but the attendees were all heavyweights.
First among them was Zephyr, who had been in "closed-door training" recently. There was no way he would miss his most accomplished student's big day. Just thinking of Kaito filled Zephyr's heart with pride.
Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji were all present as well. After all, starting today, someone new would be joining their ranks as an equal.
And although Kaito was only just being promoted to Admiral, in terms of prestige, he was already on par with the three senior Admirals—if not surpassing them.
What shocked people most, however, was the presence of a Celestial Dragon at Kaito's promotion ceremony: Shalria.
When Shalria arrived at Marine Headquarters, she skipped Sengoku's reception entirely and went straight for Kaito.
Sengoku had no idea what kind of relationship this female Celestial Dragon had with Kaito, but given his understanding of the Celestial Dragons, he instinctively felt that nothing good could come from her seeking him out.
At a time like this, he had to act as a gatekeeper for Kaito. He couldn't let her cause trouble.
So Sengoku brought Shalria back to his office and tried to stall her with small talk.
Surprisingly, Shalria was in a rare cooperative mood—thanks to Kaito. At least when facing Sengoku's long-winded dodging, she managed to stay relatively patient and calm.
Eventually, Sengoku simply ran out of ways to delay and reluctantly brought her to Kaito.
...
At the moment, Kaito was chatting backstage with Gion, Kalifa, and Ain. When he saw Shalria following behind Sengoku, his expression was like he'd seen a ghost.
Kalifa adjusted her glasses the moment she spotted Shalria, then leaned over and whispered a few words to Gion and Ain.
After hearing about Shalria's connection to Kaito from Kalifa, both Gion and Ain wore expressions of utter disbelief.
As everyone knows, most women enjoy gossip—and gossip involving Kaito and a Celestial Dragon was especially juicy.
Gion, already used to Kaito's many scandals, simply dragged Kalifa and Ain off to the side, crossed her arms, and started watching the show unfold.
Kaito looked helplessly at Shalria standing before him.
"What are you doing here?"
Shalria glanced at the three women nearby and pouted. Having made it her daily routine to follow Kaito's every move, of course she knew about his relationships with them.
Thinking about how these three got to stay by his side all the time while she could only read newspapers in Mary Geoise, Shalria suddenly felt a wave of frustration. Lifting her chin defiantly, she snapped,
"Hmph! Today's the day you're getting promoted to Admiral. With the kind of relationship we have, of course I had to come celebrate with you!"
Seeing her so smug, Kaito raised an eyebrow. His hand started to itch again—he couldn't help but rub it a little.
Shalria's expression shifted the moment she saw his gesture. Thinking she knew him well, she realized he was considering "disciplining" her.
Not that she was actually afraid of his "discipline," but with Gion and the others in the room, she was determined not to embarrass herself.
Shrinking back slightly, she lowered her voice.
"Okay, okay! I admit, maybe I came at the wrong time... but I swear, I really just came to celebrate. I'm not trying to cause any... scene."
Gion and the other two stared wide-eyed at Shalria, stunned. In their minds, Celestial Dragons were always synonymous with arrogance. Who would have thought one of them could show this kind of attitude?
Looking at the pitiful Shalria standing there, the three women even started to feel a little... sympathetic.
Seeing that she'd backed down, Kaito decided not to push her any further. He softened his tone.
"Alright. Just don't speak during the ceremony. When it's over, I'll take you around. Got it?"
The moment she heard he'd take her out, Shalria lit up. Whatever bit of resentment she'd been holding onto vanished in an instant. She nodded eagerly.
She kept Kaito's words firmly in mind—if he said to stay quiet, then she'd stay absolutely silent. As long as he promised to spend time with her, she'd do anything he said.
Kaito relaxed a bit. Nodding to Gion and the others, he turned and led Shalria out toward the ceremony awaiting him.
...
Outside, Sengoku had just finished his opening remarks. It was time for Kaito to take the stage.
Below the grand platform stood the entire force of Marine Headquarters. Among them were Yamato, Ace, and many others.
The moment Kaito stepped onto the platform, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Admiral Shikiryū!"
The atmosphere surged into a climax right from the start. Kaito's promotion to Admiral wasn't just expected—it was demanded by both the Navy and the world at large.
No one even mentioned his age anymore. With the kind of terrifying record he had built, it had become irrelevant—laughable, even.
Shalria sat in the central seat atop the platform. It was her first time experiencing an event like this. She didn't really understand why the people below were so excited, but knowing it was all for Kaito, she couldn't help getting caught up in the energy.
Staring at Kaito's back, she felt a sense of safety more powerful than anything she'd known in Mary Geoise. This was the man she was obsessed with—Uchiha Kaito.
Kaito smiled as he scanned the soldiers below. His chest swelled with emotion. No man could resist the allure of being crowned a king. And today—this moment—was prepared for him.
He raised his hand and gave a slight downward motion.
Instantly, the crowd's deafening roar stopped like someone had hit a pause button.
Looking at these Marines, eyes full of fervor, Kaito felt a surge of emotion. This was what it meant to be a soldier—pure and passionate.
High above the sky, thunderclouds gathered endlessly. Bolts of lightning rumbled within them, echoing Kaito's emotions.
But the soldiers below felt no fear. They knew—this was one of Admiral Shikiryū's powers: the ability to command lightning.
They stood there in awe, gazes locked on the man above, waiting for him to speak.
Kaito took a breath, steadying his emotions. His voice rang out like a thunderclap across the plaza:
"The Navy will never fall! Justice will live forever!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
As soon as the words left his mouth, bolts of purple lightning crashed down on the sea surrounding Marine Headquarters, sending massive waves surging into the sky.
In that moment—whether at Headquarters or among the people watching the ceremony around the world—faces flushed with excitement. Even Kizaru, usually the laziest of the Admirals, jolted in his seat. He could feel something inside him starting to burn.
But then, something felt off. He sniffed the air and frowned.
He smelled something... burnt.
Suddenly, Kizaru whipped his head around—only to see Akainu sitting beside him, half of his body already transformed into bubbling magma. The chair and floor on that side were charred and melting.
Kizaru's pupils shrank. Without hesitation, he picked up his chair and moved over to Aokiji's side.
Plopping down into the seat, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered,
"Yeah... guess I'm really not the burning type after all..."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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