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Just outside the Gates of Justice, the revolutionaries' ship sailed smoothly and swiftly, propelled by Dragon's controlled winds.
Even Ivankov and the other prisoners, having spent over a decade confined within Impel Down and unaccustomed to the open sea, felt no discomfort.
This steady progress confirmed they had successfully escaped the Marines' immediate pursuit. Ivankov, his massive frame sprawled across the deck, gasped for breath, while the other escapees excitedly discussed their plans for the future.
Admiral Kizaru, one of the Marines' top fighters, a powerhouse among the world's strongest, had just passed them by.
Though potentially outmatched by Dragon, Kizaru could have easily stalled their escape by engaging Dragon while Fujitora, Magellan, and the formidable Black Wing Devil pursued the revolutionaries. Two of the three were adept at aerial combat, leaving Magellan to provide support.
Capturing them would have been a simple matter, yet Kizaru chose to turn a blind eye, allowing them to escape unhindered. Dragon glanced back towards Marine Headquarters.
"It seems even the Marines are dissatisfied with the World Government. Or perhaps you were swayed by our past camaraderie," Dragon mused, though he knew Kizaru, despite his laid-back demeanor, was not one to shy away from a fight, especially with such overwhelming odds in his favor..
It seemed many would welcome the opportunity to overthrow the World Government.
"Oh, what a touching reunion!" Ivankov exclaimed, grabbing a nearby black feather coat and dramatically wiping away his tears, then blowing his nose into it, leaving a sticky mess.
...
"Caw! Caw!"
Karasu, the North Army commander, who had also participated in the rescue mission, let out a series of agitated caws, having witnessed the unceremonious appropriation of his new coat. However, he'd forgotten to activate his Devil Fruit-enhanced voice amplifier, so his protests were lost on the oblivious Ivankov.
"I understand… I understand, Karasu. You're overjoyed by our reunion and the prospect of working together again. You're a true comrade!" Ivankov declared, overcome with emotion.
Karasu, user of the Soot-Soot Fruit, is a Logia-type Devil Fruit that allows the user to create, control, and transform into soot at will, had never felt so speechless. His brand new, meticulously crafted feather coat… But seeing as it was his dear comrade, whom he hadn't seen in over a decade, he let it slide.
"Compose yourself, Ivankov. Thank you for your efforts these past years." Dragon said.
"It was nothing. I didn't suffer much. It was like a long vacation," Ivankov replied, suddenly embarrassed. While he had indeed gathered valuable intel and recruited numerous allies within Impel Down.
"There will be plenty of time for reminiscing later. However, it seems a certain rat has stowed away on our ship. Let's deal with him first."
Ivankov's tears ceased as he felt a sudden shift in Dragon's demeanor. The gentle winds that had propelled their ship now turned sharp and biting, carrying a chilling undercurrent of killing intent.
..
"Come out. My winds reach every corner of the sea. I knew you were aboard the moment you stepped foot on this ship. Even Ivankov, despite his years in Impel Down, couldn't possibly possess the amount of information you have access to."
"Show yourself, former Chief Guard of Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain. It's been a long time." The wind swirling around Dragon intensified, honing into razor-sharp blades that sliced towards a stack of crates where someone could be hiding.
The crates disintegrated into dust, scattered by the wind. A flash of green light intercepted the wind blades, cleaving them in two before they could reach their target. The deflected energy struck the ocean surface, sending massive waves crashing against the ship.
A figure emerged from the shadows, clad in a pilot's cap and Marine coat. In his hand, he held the Meito, Raiu. He had retrieved his sword during the chaos of the battle between the Black Wing Devil and Kaido, escaping Impel Down in the ensuing confusion.
"You used to be much calmer, I recall. I'm quite surprised to find you, the man who aspired to become Fleet Admiral, leading the Revolutionary Army, seeking to overthrow the very system you once served."
Shiryu stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the cloaked figure of Dragon. Karasu and Ivankov tensed, their expressions hardening.
"Former Chief Guard, what's your purpose here? Why have you infiltrated our ship?" Karasu's amplified voice boomed from his beak-like mask.
"No ulterior motives. You saw how Magellan refused to let me slaughter those damned prisoners and threw me into Level Six. I had no choice but to escape with you. I have no intention of spending the rest of my days in that dark abyss." Shiryu raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
"It breaks my heart, really. If you don't mind, I'd like to join your cause. I find that corrupt World Government utterly repulsive."
"As long as you don't interfere with my… pastime," Shiryu added, a sinister glint in his eyes. Whether serving as a Marine guard in Impel Down or joining Blackbeard's crew, his ultimate goal was to indulge his bloodlust. As a Marine, pirates were his targets. As a pirate, Marines became his prey.
Or perhaps, from the moment he embraced piracy, everyone outside his crew was fair game.
"Don't joke! You're the former Chief Guard of Impel Down! Who knows if this is a trap, a ploy to wipe out the Revolutionary Army?" Ivankov roared. Several prisoners who had been under Shiryu's "care" voiced their agreement, their distrust evident.
"Dragon, don't agree to this!" Karasu's voice was low and urgent. The Revolutionary Army couldn't afford to take such a risk.
"Ah, it's hard to be a good person these days. I was a guard undercover. What about you, Dragon? Weren't you a promising Marine, a candidate for Fleet Admiral? You climbed the highest, witnessed the darkest secrets of the World Government. How could you simply abandon the glory that was within your grasp?"
Shiryu's words sowed seeds of doubt among the escapees, their gazes shifting towards Dragon with suspicion. Karasu and Ivankov glared at them. "Control yourselves! Don't forget, Dragon orchestrated this breakout!"
"But it's true that Kizaru let us go. That seems even more suspicious," the prisoners argued. Karasu and Ivankov, having known Dragon for years, trusted him implicitly.
"Impressive, former Chief Guard. A few words and you've already sown discord among us. I'll allow you to join."
"I won't restrict your… activities, as long as you don't harm innocent lives." Dragon's voice remained calm and steady throughout. "Comrades, while the human heart can be deceitful, time will reveal the truth. Doubts are natural, but they will dissipate in the face of reality."
Dragon's impassioned speech assuaged their concerns. He trusted Shiryu. They had both been trained by Zephyr.
Shiryu was a master swordsman, he possessed valuable knowledge of the World Government's secrets. Dragon had no reason to refuse his offer.
Ultimately, he was confident in his ability to control Shiryu. As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate any threat, even from within.
If Shiryu betrayed them, he would be dealt with swiftly and decisively.
"All those years… wasted!" Ivankov wanted to cry. He had spent over a decade living a life of luxury and pleasure within Impel Down, yet Shiryu, with his newfound freedom, likely possessed far more valuable information.
A wave of despair washed over him, but Karasu offered words of encouragement. "It wasn't wasted. You brought all these comrades out with you. Without this opportunity, he wouldn't have joined us."
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The Grand Line watches over the dawn of this world.
The Grand Line also knows its end.
Therefore, it guides us on the path we must tread.
Therefore, it leads us to the right world.
Pain... and suffering, it embraces all.
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it embraces all. The Grand Line watches over the dawn of this world.
The Grand Line also knows its end. Even if I vanish from this world,
The all-knowing Grand Line will guide me. I will not fear, for you are with me.
I will not falter, for my comrades await.
This is the guidance of the sea!
This is the song for the fallen heroes of the Marines!
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As Dragon welcomed Shiryu into the Revolutionary Army, and Karasu consoled Ivankov, a melancholic and heroic song, a requiem for fallen souls, echoed through the air. They turned towards the source of the music.
Their eyes widened in surprise.
"It's… former Admiral, Instructor Zephyr…" Ivankov gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief. What was this former Marine giant doing here?
Had he come to cause trouble? The revolutionaries tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons. As they watched, a mixture of apprehension and confusion in their eyes, Zephyr, the former Admiral, stood at the bow of a Marine ship, three figures standing behind him, two men and a woman.
"It's been decades, Dragon. I thought it was the Marines, but it's you." Zephyr grinned, his purple hair ruffled by the wind.
"Instructor Zephyr." Dragon nodded in greeting.
A stunned silence fell over both ships. Ain, Binz, and the other Marines behind Zephyr stared in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, had just addressed Zephyr as his instructor!
The world's most enigmatic and dangerous revolutionary was Zephyr's Student!
"You still remember me, Dragon? I thought you'd forgotten me, the one who couldn't even protect his own family, let alone his students."
"I've never forgotten your training, Instructor Zephyr."
Dragon replied calmly. Over thirty years ago, a disillusioned Zephyr, having retired from the front lines, had agreed, at the behest of his friends Garp and Sengoku and the urging of Fleet Admiral Kong, to become the head instructor at the Marine academy.
Among his first class of students were the 23-year-old Sakazuki and the 26-year-old Borsalino, future Admirals and monstrously powerful figures. And among them…
…was a third monster, Monkey D. Dragon, son of the Marine hero, for reasons unknown, Dragon had left the Marines and formed the Revolutionary Army, a force dedicated to overthrowing the World Government. His actions were deemed treasonous, his influence a dangerous threat.
Due to his lineage as the son of a hero, the World Government had suppressed all information about Dragon's past in the Marines. By now, few knew that the enigmatic revolutionary leader had once been a Marine.
Even Dragon, the stoic and enigmatic leader of the Revolutionary Army, couldn't help but feel a flicker of nostalgia. His past had been shrouded in mystery, unknown to even his closest comrades, Ivankov and Bartholomew Kuma. Within the ranks of the Revolutionary Army…
Their leader, known for his meticulous planning, steady resolve, and lofty ideals, had become a near mythical figure..
As the initial shock subsided, the revolutionaries began to accept this revelation. "I apologize, Instructor Zephyr."
"I saw no hope in the Marines. The higher I climbed, the more corruption I witnessed. So I left," Dragon explained.
"You were right. You are stronger than I am. You saw the truth in just a few years, while I wasted decades in the Marines, blinded by my own ideals." Zephyr shook his head, a bitter smile on his face. He had lost all faith in the Marines after the implementation of the Warlord system.
Legalizing piracy… it was an abomination. He would never forget the pain of losing his family and students to pirates, the very pirates the World Government had considered recruiting as Warlords.
Fortunately, they had abandoned the idea due to the existing roster being full. He had formed his own Neo Marines, hunting down pirates without mercy.
The pirate who had taken everything from him was no longer a threat. He had returned now, drawn by the news of Ian's actions, his elimination of several Warlords, to observe the World Government's and the Marines' response.
"It's not too late, Instructor Zephyr."
Dragon spoke with conviction. Zephyr nodded, a silent understanding passing between them. Their reunion continued for a while, a quiet exchange between teacher and student.
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