One Piece: Curse of Immortality

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The young Marine standing before him was someone he'd recently heard rumours about within the headquarters. 

As Garp's chosen protégé, Arashi was already on the radar of the old guard. 

It was also said that his strength had already surpassed that of the current top three young Marines. 

Arashi's future was undoubtedly bright, with a path to becoming an Admiral almost guaranteed. 

On any other day, Vice Admiral Raku would have taken the time to befriend him. But not today.

The Celestial Dragon's assassination was a catastrophe; the aftermath would shake the world. Something like this had never happened before!

"In that case, I'll visit you again, Vice Admiral Raku," Arashi said politely, bowing before leaving.

"Go ahead," Raku waved him off.

On their way back, Saul and the others were shocked by the incident but also felt an undeniable sense of excitement.

"Who could it have been?" someone wondered aloud.

"Someone who dared to attack a Celestial Dragon so quietly and successfully must be incredibly powerful!" another added.

"Directly blowing his head off—that's ruthless!" The heated discussions behind him reached Arashi's ears, but his expression remained calm.

A Celestial Dragon? They were as fragile as ants without the bubble on their head and their high status. 

At that moment, Arashi couldn't help but reflect. 

Once he gained power, the Celestial Dragons, whom he couldn't even approach ten meters from in the past, had become as vulnerable as paper.

When they returned to the Warship, Garp snoozed under his dog-head hat. Bogart glanced at Arashi, nodding in acknowledgement. Soon, the ship set sail from the port. 

Arashi leaned against the railing, gazing at the slowly receding Sabaody Archipelago, a mix of emotions swirling within him. 

He suddenly felt as though he had been reborn—as if everything in Sabaody was far behind him, and a new life awaited him.

At that moment, Kuzan and Sakazuki approached him.

"Haha, Arashi, did you hear?" Kuzan grinned. "When we return to headquarters, the Marine top brass might reward the outstanding young fighters with Devil Fruits!"

"Really? Well, congratulations then," Arashi replied with a smile.

"You should congratulate yourself too! With your strength, you're sure to get a powerful fruit," Kuzan laughed, throwing an arm around Arashi's neck.

"I'm not particularly interested in Devil Fruits," Arashi said, shaking his head. 

He hadn't fully mastered the Six Powers yet, and his Armament and Observation Haki were barely developed. 

He understood that Devil Fruits could enhance one's abilities in certain areas, but the ultimate power still lay in Haki.

"Don't be like that! A Devil Fruit can give you a huge boost in power!" Kuzan teased.

Sakazuki also looked eager. If he could get a powerful Devil Fruit, maybe this guy in front of him wouldn't be his rival anymore. 

Arashi could see the thoughts behind their expressions. 

In the original series, Zephyr, Garp, and other veterans often advised the future Admirals not to rely too heavily on Devil Fruits. 

Arashi understood well that Haki and Devil Fruits were merely tools to master. 

The key was the person using them—he was the one who mattered most. The fruit could only play a supporting role. Moreover, human energy was limited. 

Developing both a Devil Fruit and Haki required difficult choices.

Later that evening, the battleship arrived at Marineford. Seeing the largest Marine fortress in the world with his own eyes left Arashi deeply impressed. 

The massive Gates of Justice, the shimmering inner bay, the black turrets surrounding it, and the series of gates leading to the main headquarters building all left a profound impact. 

The fortress's military strength and defences were undoubtedly among the best in the world. 

The natural geography made it a fortress that was easy to defend and hard to attack—any enemy who entered this place faced almost certain death.

As Arashi followed Garp through Marineford, he marvelled at the fortress's size. 

The living quarters were vast, with entertainment facilities, small towns, and shopping centres.

"Your promotion ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow morning. Tonight, just get some rest!" Garp said with a smile as he led Arashi on a fortress tour.

"Got it!" Arashi nodded. The landscape of Marineford resembled gentle hills, allowing a clear view of the inner bay and the Gates of Justice from the living area. 

As a top talent among the younger generation of Marines—a formidable fighter who could even hold his own against Rayleigh—Arashi was given excellent living quarters in a small, standalone villa. 

Kuzan, Sakazuki, and others were housed not far from him in the officers' district, where the conditions were also quite good. 

This area was essentially an officers' town, with training grounds and other facilities.

As Arashi strolled through the streets, he noticed many retired, white-haired veterans in wheelchairs, being pushed by their younger family members. 

The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious. The night passed uneventfully, and before long, it was the next day.

Senior vice admirals or other high-ranking officials could handle the promotion ceremony for officers. 

Still, for those being promoted to admiral tier (Rear-Admiral, Vice-Admiral and Admiral), the ceremony required the presence of the Fleet Admiral himself. 

Along with Arashi, five others were also being promoted to rear admiral. They were all older than him, with the youngest in their thirties—two women and three men. 

Standing at attention under the watchful eyes of Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr, Arashi was ready.

Before him approached a tall, imposing man with white hair styled in a mountain-shaped pattern and a matching beard. 

As he drew near, an aura of ironclad discipline and overwhelming strength filled the air. This was none other than the current Fleet Admiral, Kong.

"You are all officers who have performed exceptionally well in the Marines recently," Kong began. 

"Therefore, after careful consideration and discussion among the top officers, we have decided to promote you to the rank of rear admiral." 

"I hope that in your future duties, you will remain true to your principles and fight for justice."

Kong was a serious man, rarely showing any signs of humour. 

He conducted the ceremony with great solemnity, personally pinning the rear admiral insignia onto Arashi's uniform and smoothing the creases.

"Young man, your uniform is like your life—make sure it is always in perfect order," Kong said, his voice firm. 

Arashi, momentarily taken aback, then respectfully returned the salute.

The ceremony concluded quickly, and Kong began assigning positions to the other five newly promoted rear admirals. 

When he came to Arashi, he said, "I understand that you've been in the Marines for only a short time."

"While your performance in the battle against the Roger Pirates was outstanding, and your strength is commendable, your foundational Marine training is still somewhat lacking."

"So, you'll need to undergo additional training at the Marine Academy. However, given your exceptional talent, you won't be as strictly confined as other cadets." 

"You'll have the freedom to move around, but you must master all the required courses." Kong's stern face softened into a slight smile as he spoke. 

Arashi nodded in understanding. Kuzan and Sakazuki mentioned these courses before; they weren't difficult but highly beneficial. 

Even now, the three top contenders for future Admiral positions still attended these classes occasionally.

"Additionally, as outstanding young talents, you will be rewarded by the headquarters to further enhance your abilities," Kong added with another smile.

By this time, the other five rear admirals had already left, leaving only Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and others in the room. 

Arashi's curiosity was piqued as he watched Kong clap his hands. Three Marines entered, carrying large boxes.

"These are three Logia-type Devil Fruits!" Kong announced. "You may choose one that you want. 

"However, you must also be aware that once you consume a Devil Fruit, you will forever lose the ability to swim and will be hated by the sea."

As the three boxes were opened one by one, Arashi stared at the three fruits, each radiating a unique glow. 

Without a doubt, these were the very same Logia-type fruits that the future Admirals would later consume. And now, he had the privilege of choosing one first!

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