《One Piece: Rising》Chapter 24: Pirates Must Be Purged, For Justice!

At the same moment, on the elevated platform in Marineford Plaza, Xayuki's head suddenly snapped upward, his gaze fixing on the distant perimeter wall.

In the instant his eyes found their target, the section of wall within his line of sight transformed—crystallizing into a massive sculpture of gleaming ice.

A solitary figure appeared atop the frozen barrier, silhouetted against the silver moonlight as he surveyed the assembled forces below.

This was Kuzan, codenamed Aokiji—the third and final Admiral of Marine Headquarters, wielder of the Logia-class Ice-Ice Fruit.

"Well, well," he drawled, his deep voice carrying across the plaza despite his casual tone. "It seems something rather extraordinary happened at Headquarters during my absence."

Standing nearly three meters tall, Kuzan lazily scanned the tens of thousands of Marines assembled in perfect formation before his gaze settled on the central platform. His expression remained carefully neutral, though a hint of confusion flickered behind his half-lidded eyes.

The sudden wave of frigid air that swept across the plaza caused many soldiers to instinctively turn toward its source. Upon recognizing the figure standing atop the wall, flickers of hope momentarily brightened their faces.

Yet just as quickly, that hope faded. One by one, they returned their attention to the new Fleet Admiral standing on the platform.

From their position on the platform, Borsalino and Sakazuki had also noticed Kuzan's arrival. Neither spoke—Sakazuki maintained a vigilant stance while Borsalino appeared characteristically indifferent, as though the entire situation barely warranted his attention.

"Admiral Kuzan!"

Vice Admiral Momonga stepped forward from his position behind the two Admirals, his expression solemn as he addressed the newcomer. "Your timing is fortuitous. Fleet Admiral Sengoku has temporarily relinquished command due to health concerns. Vice Admiral Xayuki is now serving as acting Fleet Admiral."

"Is that so?" Kuzan replied, his gaze shifting back to the platform with renewed interest. "But why Xayuki? If Fleet Admiral Sengoku is indisposed, shouldn't one of the three Admirals assume command? How could a mere Vice Admiral hope to maintain authority over Marine Headquarters?"

Even as he spoke, Kuzan's form dissolved into a flurry of ice particles, rematerializing moments later at the edge of the plaza. Under the watchful eyes of thousands, he approached the platform with unhurried strides, ascending the steps until he stood directly before Sakazuki and Borsalino. From this position, he tilted his head upward to address Xayuki directly.

"I can smell blood in the air," he stated flatly. "Am I to understand that Fleet Admiral Sengoku didn't step down due to illness at all? Rather... you've staged a coup d'état?"

Xayuki met his gaze with a measured smile and nodded. "Your assessment is correct. As you can plainly see, I did not attain this position through Sengoku's appointment. Every officer and soldier in Marine Headquarters—with the sole exception of yourself—has already pledged their loyalty to me."

After a brief pause, Xayuki gestured toward Vice Admiral Hound, who immediately stepped forward and presented Kuzan with an official document bearing Sengoku's signature.

Kuzan accepted the paper, scanning its contents with a furrowed brow before looking up again. "May I speak with Fleet Admiral Sengoku?"

"Of course," Xayuki replied without hesitation. "He's with Instructor Zephyr in the conference hall."

With a slight nod, Kuzan turned and began walking toward Headquarters.

At that precise moment, two figures approached rapidly from the direction of the main building—Ain and Binz, clearly having rushed from whatever duties had previously occupied them.

Upon reaching the base of the platform, both officers snapped to attention, offering crisp salutes as they reported in perfect unison:

"Lord Xayuki—"

"Ain reporting for duty!"

"Binz reporting for duty!"

Kuzan halted mid-stride, his expression momentarily betraying genuine surprise as he regarded the two officers.

As fellow students of Zephyr, Ain and Binz were well-known to him. More significantly, he recognized them as survivors of the devastating attack on Zephyr's training vessel three years prior—an incident that had profoundly altered their mentor's outlook on the Marines and justice itself.

That attack had weighed heavily on Kuzan's conscience. During his leave periods, he had personally scoured the seas for those responsible, understanding all too well how deeply the loss had affected his former instructor. He feared that without closure, Zephyr might eventually sever all ties with the Marines.

Despite extensive searches across all four seas and numerous expeditions into the New World, Kuzan had never located the perpetrators.

But their presence here carried profound implications. If Ain and Binz—Zephyr's most loyal disciples—were openly supporting Xayuki, then it was almost certain that Zephyr himself had endorsed this coup. Perhaps he had even participated in its planning.

This realization crystallized an undeniable truth: regardless of Kuzan's personal feelings, the transition of power was already complete.

Taking a measured breath, he glanced back at his fellow Admirals. From their demeanor, it was evident that neither harbored significant reservations about Xayuki's ascension. Sakazuki, in particular, seemed transformed—his typically rigid expression now reflected unwavering conviction, as though he had not merely accepted but embraced Xayuki's leadership. Even the perpetually aloof Borsalino displayed no signs of dissent beneath his casual exterior.

Having confirmed what he needed to know, Kuzan continued toward Headquarters without further comment.

Xayuki paid little attention to Kuzan's departure. After Ain and Binz took their positions among his officers, he drew a deep breath and surveyed the assembled forces, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces before he addressed them in a clear, measured voice.

"I recognize that many among you are struggling to reconcile yourselves with tonight's events," he began. "During this operation, numerous officers and soldiers lost their lives—including Vice Admirals Onigumo, Doberman, and Maynard."

"Many of you served directly under these officers. If you find yourself unable to accept my authority as Fleet Admiral, I invite you to step forward now. I will personally arrange for warships to escort you safely from Marineford."

"Alternatively, you may choose to remain and pledge your loyalty to the new Marine Headquarters under my command."

Pausing to let his words sink in, Xayuki raised his voice slightly. "I give you one minute to decide."

As his declaration echoed across the plaza, a profound silence descended upon the assembled forces.

As Xayuki had acknowledged, many of those present had served under the now-deceased Vice Admirals. Upon learning of their superiors' deaths, their initial instinct had been rebellion. However, with Marineford firmly under the control of Xayuki's supporters, they had been forced to suppress their outrage, silently plotting to escape and eventually return with reinforcements.

Yet the sight of both Sakazuki and Borsalino pledging allegiance to Xayuki had extinguished those embers of resistance. If even the Admirals had accepted this new reality, what hope could lower-ranking officers possibly have?

More surprising still was Xayuki's offer of safe passage for dissenters. Though many had never interacted with him directly, his reputation for honoring his word was well-established throughout the ranks. If he promised safe passage, they had little reason to doubt him.

After a brief hesitation, several officers stepped forward from the formation. Rather than requesting departure, however, they saluted Xayuki and declared with conviction: "LOYALTY!"

Following their example, the soldiers under their command also saluted, their voices joining in a thunderous chorus: "LOYALTY!"

"LOYALTY!"

"LOYALTY!"

The declaration spread through the ranks like wildfire, growing in volume until it seemed to shake the very foundations of Marineford. Not a single Marine chose to accept Xayuki's offer of departure.

This outcome, while dramatic, was hardly surprising. With the full might of Marine Headquarters—including its most powerful officers—firmly behind Xayuki, resistance would have been not just futile, but suicidal.

As the pledges of loyalty continued to echo across the plaza, Xayuki narrowed his eyes slightly, activating his Observation Haki—enhanced to its highest level by the system. In an instant, his awareness expanded to encompass all of Marineford, allowing him to perceive not just the physical presence but the very thoughts of everyone present.

As he sifted through the minds of those who had pledged loyalty, a subtle smile formed on his lips. While a handful harbored lingering doubts, these concerns were largely self-protective—fears of potential retribution rather than thoughts of rebellion. None posed any genuine threat to his authority.

Satisfied with what he had discovered, Xayuki raised his hand, signaling for the newly loyal officers and soldiers to return to formation.

"You have made the wisest decision of your lives," he announced, his voice carrying effortlessly across the plaza. "And I assure you, the glory that awaits us will not be mine alone to claim."

After a momentary pause, Xayuki once again activated his Observation Haki—but with a different purpose entirely.

This time, he wasn't seeking to read their thoughts. Instead, he was preparing to deliver a speech that would resonate not just with their ears, but directly with their minds and spirits. The system-enhanced Observation Haki granted him not only glimpses of potential futures but also the ability to project his consciousness outward—subtly influencing the thoughts and even reshaping the core values of those within his sphere of influence.

Taking a deliberate step forward, Xayuki projected his voice with newfound authority, each word carrying the weight of absolute conviction:

"Fellow Marines, the future of our organization begins tonight."

"I firmly believe that we who live in this pivotal era have been entrusted with a sacred mission: to cleanse the seas of the corruption that has festered for too long, and to build a new world founded on the principles of harmony, freedom, and true equality."

"The age when Celestial Dragons wielded unchecked privilege must come to an end. The criminals who plague our oceans—these pirates who spread chaos and suffering wherever they sail—must be systematically eradicated—"

"FOR JUSTICE!"

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