"Stussy!!!"
Zephyr roared as he charged toward Buckingham Stussy, his fury burning like magma in his chest, yet he had to restrain his strength to shake off the surrounding recruits.
Seeing Zephyr pounce like a ferocious tiger, Buckingham's rose-red lips curled into a sinister smile. A glass tube filled with purple liquid had somehow appeared in her hand.
"Angry, Zephyr?"
"Hahaha! Get even angrier!"
The glass tube smashed violently against the deck and shattered, the viscous purple liquid emitting a pungent odor as deep purple mist instantly spread.
The previously contorted faces of the recruits became numb after inhaling the mist, their eyes vacant.
Their movements were no longer stiff like puppets but swift and fluid.
Swish—
Zephyr turned to see one recruit stabbing his blade through a comrade's heart.
The stabbed recruit showed no reaction, instead raising his own blade to slash the attacker's throat.
"Tedick... Chacha..."
Zephyr's voice was hoarse as he called their names.
...
Though they hadn't been together long, Zephyr remembered every trainee's name here.
Young people who chose to become Marines in the harsh environment of the New World all possessed kindness and courage far beyond ordinary people.
They knew what powerful opponents they would face - great Pirates who had broken through from the Four Seas into the New World, Pirate Emperors who controlled vast territories in the New World.
Perhaps in the future they would become conflicted, learn to endure, learn to compromise, even become corrupt...
But now, without doubt, they had joined the Marines with the most sincere aspiration - to protect civilians.
...
After experiencing his family being killed by Pirates, Zephyr had wanted to leave the Marines. It was only after repeated persuasion from Marshal Kong and Garp that he agreed to take the instructor position.
It was after becoming an instructor that he rediscovered hope in the Marines.
The spirit of those recruits, their fearless eyes that believed they could change the world, were truly...
So beautiful!!
Zephyr gradually came to love this work and was willing to dedicate his life to it until his dying breath.
Sakazuki was his most powerful student, Borsalino was the student he felt wasted his talent the most, Kuzan was the student lost in confusion like his former self...
Griffin was excellent, but Zephyr felt this student carried forbidden burdens in his heart that no outsider could touch, bearing a heavy fate alone - it was too exhausting.
Onigumo, Smoker, Doll...
He remembered not only his outstanding students, but every student he had taught at every Branch over these decades.
Zephyr knew which students had sacrificed themselves, which had left the Marines, which had turned traitor, which...
During every quiet night, he would think about each student's future.
He would rejoice at their achievements, sigh at their sacrifices and those who turned to evil.
He remembered every single one of them, they...
Were his children.
...
Now, he was watching his children slaughter each other, falling one by one before his eyes...
Hoarse sounds spilled from the former Marine Admiral's throat, one by one, like blood and iron.
"Stussy..."
"Only you... only you! I will absolutely never forgive you!!!!!"
"Die!!!!"
...
Armament Haki blacker than darkness coated his wrists as Zephyr moved like a black rainbow tearing through space-time.
"Absolute—CRUSHER!!"
With unstoppable fist momentum that had subdued countless pirates and shaken the world, the Black-Armed Zephyr now threw his punch with killing intent!!
Tiger's roar and dragon's cry echoed as black curtains blotted out the sky!
The next moment—
The fist momentum stopped.
A momentary blankness.
The forcibly halted attack inflicted even greater damage on his already exhausted body and spirit.
...
Stussy stood among the group of new recruits, her voice dripping with mockery.
"The Admiral who doesn't kill, the Black-Armed Zephyr actually wants to kill someone after all..."
"Go on... if this punch lands, I'll definitely die, along with all my capable assistants here."
Stussy shook the potion tubes in her hand, dropping them one by one while putting on a special breathing apparatus that resembled a gas mask.
"Heheheheha... let me tell you something."
"This potion makes those I control become berserk, forcibly drawing out their physical strength for a short time. If they don't receive treatment within ten minutes, they'll die."
"Hearing this, does it make it easier for you to strike?"
Stussy cackled strangely: "I stole this from an old friend. He'd probably be happy to know I'm using it against you."
"After all... you chased us so desperately back then!"
...
Thump—thump—thump—
Zephyr could hear his own heartbeat pounding like war drums.
He couldn't breathe, his blood roaring as if trying to burst through his skin.
He walked step by step toward Stussy, allowing the frenzied new recruits to throw themselves at him, hacking and slashing with blades and axes.
These same people had been listening to him lecture about the path of justice just this morning.
...
Blood stained the path he walked.
The unhurried, steady footsteps made Stussy's heart gradually sink.
As long as this old fool loses his mind and can't use Armament Haki to defend, my ability can affect him.
Just one moment is all I need, then I can cut off his head and exchange it for treasures worth more than an entire country!
But...
She saw the last trace of warmth in Zephyr's pupils completely extinguish.
...
Crack—
He raised his hand and grabbed a new recruit by the neck, lifting him up, his voice cold and merciless.
"You're right, Stussy..."
"This is the only way."
"Whoever tries to stop me from killing you, I'll kill them all..."
"After ending your life, I will take my own."
...
Damn it! I went too far!!
Stussy panicked for the first time.
The reason she dared to confront Zephyr was because she understood his character perfectly, certain that her ability would be an absolute kill against him in this situation.
As long as she controlled the hostages, she could do whatever she wanted—even make Zephyr cut off his own head!
But she had been too eager to vent her anger, wanting to toy with him thoroughly before killing him, to make him experience despair.
Did I use too much potion? Why is this guy being affected by the Berserk Potion too!
Impossible! His Armament Haki is on par with that monster Garp's level, how could he be affected!!
What's wrong with you!!!
"Wait!!"
Stussy raised her hands urgently as Zephyr approached like a demon god: "I have the antidote! Those still alive can be saved! Calm down, Zephyr!!"
Thump—
Thump—
Zephyr continued approaching step by step.
"It's useless. As long as you're alive, tragedies like this will repeat over and over. Only by killing you can we end all this."
Zephyr's fingers tightened. Just as he was about to commit the deadly act and eliminate Zephyr, who was a hero...
"Teacher Zephyr! Don't!!"
"The person you are now! Definitely isn't Teacher Zephyr!!!"