Chapter 16: Uncle and Nephew

The morning light tore through the sea mist as the waves of the Grand Line roared mightily.

Marineford, the Navy Headquarters.

This fortress, standing tall in the name of Justice, now stirred beneath unseen currents.

A massive alarm bell tolled slowly through the morning fog, its deep, resonant chime shaking the entire sea.

The Scourge of the East Blue—Lieutenant Guts, has returned.

The higher-ups at HQ had long since assembled in formation.

Rows of pristine white Marine uniforms stretched out like a forest of blades, pointing straight at the heavens.

At the very front—

Fleet Admiral Sengoku, draped in his fleet admiral's coat, stood with the composure of a mountain.

Admiral Sakazuki stood with his crimson cape billowing, arms crossed, molten lava simmering within him.

Admiral Kuzan lazily narrowed his eyes, his gaze cold and assessing.

Admiral Borsalino, behind golden lenses, wore a faint, enigmatic smirk.

Further back, Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals from various branches stood in rigid formation, their expressions as cold and varied as a dense forest.

Some burned with intense curiosity; Others couldn't conceal their wariness; And a few—harbored thinly veiled hostility in their eyes.

Amid this suffocating tension, a standard-issue medium-sized warship cut through the waves.

At the bow stood three figures, unwavering against the wind.

Guts.

His uniform was as crisp as armor, his cape whipping violently in the gale, his black hair defying the wind.

He stood rigid, his presence as unyielding as steel, his sharp gaze seemingly capable of piercing the clouds.

Puck.

A massive battle-axe rested on his shoulder, his muscles taut like a drawn bowstring, his eyes cold and predatory.

An aura of suppressed bloodlust radiated from him, like an executioner's blade still sheathed.

Enel.

His blond hair danced wildly, arcs of lightning flickering between his fingers, his face twisted in a defiant smirk.

Yet, under the weight of military discipline, he forcibly restrained the arrogance that threatened to tear the worlds apart.

The three stood side by side at the bow, like three black iron nails driven straight into the ancient bedrock.

"—Warship arriving at port, reduce speed and prepare to dock!"

The adjutant's stern command echoed across the deck as the crew moved in unison, the winches tightening and the anchor chains crashing into the water.

With a resounding thud, the ship docked firmly.

The third bell tolled.

The entire port of Marineford fell silent.

Countless eyes locked onto that dark figure—The Marines who had returned after years of bloody war.

The blade that had severed the pirates of the East Blue.

The hammer poised to shatter the deep-rooted corruption of Marine Headquarters!

The wind howled like a blade, the military flags snapping sharply.

Guts descended with slow, deliberate steps, his stride firm and unshakable.

Puck and Enel followed closely behind, like twin blades of fate hammering forward.

Each step struck the ground like a mallet against stone, so heavy it made hearts clench.

He marched to the center of the formation and stood solemnly under the collective gaze of Headquarters.

Solemnity, coldness, and bloodlust coalesced into an oppressive force that choked the air.

After a silence so thick it seemed to freeze time—

Fleet Admiral Sengoku took a slow step forward, his deep, authoritative voice resonating like a temple bell across the port.

"East Blue Purification Task Force, Lieutenant Guts, Ensign Puck."

"Return confirmed, verification complete!"

He paused, his gaze steady as a mountain as it locked onto Guts, then declared in a grave tone.

"In recognition of outstanding achievements in the East Blue campaign, as assessed by Headquarters, effective immediately—"

"Guts is promoted to Rear Admiral, and Puck is promoted to Captain, assigned as his adjutant!"

Boom—!

The words landed like a boulder hurled into the heart of the port.

The crowd erupted instantly.

Young soldiers' eyes blazed with fervor; Veteran officers' expressions shifted, some uneasy and the World Government spies hidden at the rear of the formation furrowed their brows imperceptibly.

At the forefront, Sakazuki's lips curled ever so slightly, his eyes burning beneath the flames with fierce approval and ambition.

Meanwhile—

Upon hearing the promotions—"Rear Admiral Guts" and "Captain Puck"—Enel's earlobes twitched violently, his expression twisting into something utterly priceless.

His originally arrogant face darkened in an instant as he muttered under his breath.

"Why is this god only a seaman recruit... These human systems are downright blasphemous..."

Before he could finish his complaint, Puck turned his head with a grin and slapped him on the skull.

"Shut it, you little zealot!"

Enel's hair bristled with rage, yet he had to grit his teeth and suppress the urge to unleash lightning, glaring furiously at the assembled crowd instead.

Guts remained silent throughout, standing rigidly at attention, his dark eyes reflecting the future seas that would soon be set ablaze.

******

Admiral Akainu's Office, Marineford

High noon.

The pure white headquarters complex gleamed like razor edges under the sunlight.

The scorching rays illuminated the entire Marineford, making it resemble a colossal sword unsheathing its cold, gleaming blade.

In the office at the heart of supreme authority, the atmosphere was as heavy as churning magma.

Sakazuki sat imposingly behind his massive obsidian desk, his uniform impeccably pressed, the admiral's coat casually draped over his chairback.

The flaming insignia cast on the wall tinted the entire room with a faint crimson hue.

Propping his chin with one hand, his razor-sharp gaze coldly assessed the three men before him.

Guts. Puck. Enel.

They stood at attention like bayonets, their auras lethal, their military bearing unyielding as steel.

After a brief silence, Sakazuki lifted his chin slightly, his voice hard and oppressive.

"I remember you, Puck."

"...But what's with this blond-haired punk next to you? wearing a seaman recruit uniform but posing like a delinquent?"

His deep voice rumbled like a dormant volcano, making the air tremble faintly.

Enel's earlobes twitched slightly, a flash of impatience in his eyes.

Just as he was about to retort, Guts raised a hand and placed it firmly on his shoulder—a silent warning.

Enel stiffened, swallowing his words with clenched teeth as he lowered his head in silence.

Guts remained composed, his voice calm yet authoritative.

"Logia Type: Rumble-Rumble Fruit user."

"Subjugated Skypiea incidentally during East Blue's purge."

"A troublemaker with a god complex. Needs tempering."

Dead silence filled the office.

Sakazuki narrowed his eyes slightly, fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.

Magma energy pulsed faintly beneath his skin, the scorching aura causing the room's temperature to spike.

Logia? Rumble-Rumble Fruit?

Skypiea?

And only a seaman recruit?!

Had it been anyone else, Sakazuki would've already punched them through the floor.

But hearing Guts had personally recruited him, the admiral merely raised an eyebrow before curling his lips into a cold smirk.

"...Good work."

Absorbing strong people to bolster their forces.

This was the inherent nature of the "Hardliner Faction"!

Meanwhile, Enel stood rigidly, glaring intently at Sakazuki.

A single glance alone made him feel as if thunder itself was being suppressed.

This wasn't mere Devil Fruit power.

It was the indomitable presence forged through countless blood-soaked battles.

Enel's earlobes trembled rapidly, his mind reeling with shock.

Finally, he understood the words Guts had once said to him with detached calm.

'This world has countless monsters in the seas—far more terrifying than you can imagine.'

Instead of fear, exhilaration set Enel's blood!

Deep in his pupils, lightning flickered silently.

'Excellent'.

'This is the sea worthy of challenging this god!'

At the same time, Sakazuki narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.

"Kid, you didn't come back just to receive your promotion, did you?"

Guts raised his gaze, his dark pupils cold as blades.

"Yes, Uncle."

"I want.....to purge the Navy from within, eradicate corruption, eliminate traitors."

"Then set sail towards the seas and with absolute justice, annihilate every pirate across the globe."

These few words, resolute and powerful, struck like a hammer upon an anvil!

The air in the office seemed to combust in an instant!

Suddenly—

Sakazuki burst into booming laughter, his voice erupting like a volcano.

"HAHAHAHA—!!! GOOD!!!"

He stood abruptly, his crimson cape billowing amidst flames, the sheer force causing the floor to tremble faintly.

"THIS—is what I wanted to hear!!!"

"THIS—is a true MARINES!!!"

Striding out from behind his desk he gripped Guts' shoulder with a searing, ironclad force.

"Kid, starting today—Do whatever you damn want!!"

"I got your back!!!"

"Whether it's old fossils or the World Government—if they dare stand in your path of justice—I'll burn them to ash myself!!!"

At this moment, the two generations of hardliners—uncle and nephew—

Had their wills fully aligned!

The winds of justice would sweep across the seas from this day forth, tearing apart the old order.

And behind them, Puck and Enel stood tall, spines straight, their expression silent yet resolute.

They could feel it clearly—

The future of the seas would be rewritten from this very moment, all because of this small meeting.