"Hoohhh—!"
The drill yard of G-3 was alive with fire and steel. The air carried the heavy mix of sweat, iron, and the faint sting of smoke.
Ever since the tale of Renn Hawk defeating Enel, the self-proclaimed "god" of Skypiea, with a single punch had spread like wildfire, the entire base had been set ablaze with fervor. Their commander had proven himself to be a man of unfathomable strength, one who could crush even a Logia user with ease.
Respect. Awe. Obsession.
The soldiers who had followed Hawk to Skypiea walked with their heads held high, basking in the envious stares of their comrades. They were animated, shouting and gesturing as they boasted of the incredible things they had seen.
"You didn't see it! Captain Zoro and Major Sanji those two monsters cut through Enel's four priests like they were nothing!"
"I swear on my life! Major Sanji's leg burst into flames, and he kicked one of them straight out of the sky!"
"And Captain Zoro? That guy is insane. With just one swing just one swing! he sliced the last two priests clean in half!"
Their words struck the remaining soldiers like burning iron rods, leaving deep, smoldering impressions on their hearts.
That was the nature of the military: strength ruled all.
And when the entire unit began to accept the same unshakable truth that those two rookies were stronger than most veterans the atmosphere shifted. Madness and hunger seeped into the camp.
"Hey, do you guys know what Commander Hawk said about Captain Zoro and Major Sanji?" one soldier grunted, pulling himself up on the training bars.
"'Very good,' and 'not bad.' That's it."
"What about us then?"
"A complete mess...?"
"No," another roared, straining under the weight of a massive barbell. "We're not even worthy of that we're just roadside trash!!"
"..."
"Damn it!"
The soldiers stared at him, dumbfounded at first. But then, one by one, flames lit in their eyes.
He's right. If we don't catch up, what are we even worth?
"Damn it! How long have those two even been in the Navy? What does that say about us veterans?!"
"Crank up the intensity!"
"One hundred more push-ups!"
"Two hundred more laps!"
The G-3 base had fallen into a frenzy a competitive fire that bordered on madness.
And then, Hawk appeared.
The moment his tall figure stepped onto the edge of the drill yard, the chaos ceased. It was as though an invisible hand had clenched tight around the soldiers' throats. Silence swept through the field.
Thousands of eyes turned as one, drawn to him like iron filings to a magnet.
Renn Hawk walked calmly toward the central platform. He did not bark an order, nor did he raise his voice. He simply stood there, gaze sweeping over the sweat-drenched, flame-eyed faces below.
And yet, without a word, his presence commanded them.
From the crowd, Dane, Smoker, Tashigi, and others stepped forward instinctively. They moved as though carried by an unseen current, forming up at the front lines.
"Boom. Boom. Boom."
The rhythmic cadence of their boots echoed like war drums across the silent yard.
The soldiers scrambled into formation. Chaos melted into order. Within minutes, the scattered men and women had transformed into steel phalanxes, precise and unyielding.
Even Zoro and Sanji, usually at each other's throats, abandoned their squabble and sprinted to their places without a word.
In less than fifteen minutes, aside from those on active patrol, the entire G-3 force stood assembled. The perfect formations looked like forests forged of steel and flesh, exuding a suffocating aura of killing intent.
Hawk's lips curved faintly at the sight.
He had heard their chatter on the way here their desperation, their hunger to grow stronger, their refusal to be left behind. Exactly what he wanted.
Competition bred progress.
Heroes gave soldiers something to chase.
And fire, unyielding fire, was what turned men into warriors.
This was the kind of army Renn Hawk dreamed of leading: a steel-blooded force, tempered by both loyalty and strength.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
His voice was calm, not loud, yet it carried to every soldier's ears.
"Today, I have two announcements."
"First by order of the Fleet Admiral, I, Renn Hawk, have been officially promoted to Rear Admiral of Navy Headquarters."
The crowd froze.
And then, like magma beneath the earth, a tidal wave of joy surged inside their chests. Their discipline kept them silent, but the trembling bodies, the flushed faces, and the pounding hearts betrayed them.
He's a Rear Admiral now!
From a Lieutenant Commander in East Blue, to a Commodore, and now to a Rear Admiral of Headquarters all in the span of a few years.
If their leader could rise so quickly, then perhaps, so could they.
"Second personnel promotions."
Hawk's gaze swept the crowd and fell firmly on the man standing front and center.
"Headquarters Colonel Dane. For your unwavering loyalty and service, effective immediately, you are promoted to Rear Admiral of Navy Headquarters."
Every head turned toward Dane. Their eyes brimmed with envy, respect, and above all, acknowledgment.
Though his raw strength couldn't match Zoro or Sanji, Dane had always been Hawk's most trusted man. From the days back in the 16th Branch of East Blue, no matter how reckless Hawk's decisions seemed, Dane was always the first and the firmest to follow.
That kind of loyalty deserved recognition.
"Big brother..."
Dane's voice broke as he lifted his head toward Hawk. His eyes shone with disbelief.
Me... a Rear Admiral?
When he first joined the Navy, he had never dreamed of standing among the flag officers of Headquarters. All he had ever done was follow in his brother's footsteps, bound by vengeance and the duty to protect.
Now, the weight of the promotion burned in his chest like fire, threatening to spill out in tears.
"Headquarters Ensign Skylark. For your contributions in the Skypiea mission, effective immediately, you are promoted to Colonel!"
"Headquarters Lieutenant Commander Peacock. For your steady command and service, effective immediately, you are promoted to Colonel!"
Gasps swept through the ranks as the soldiers turned to the two female officers.
For Skylark, none were surprised. After all, she had surrendered nothing less than a Logia-type Devil Fruit the Rumble-Rumble Fruit itself. The very kind of fruit that had propelled men like Enel to terrifying heights.
As for Peacock, most of the soldiers didn't know the details, but none dared question it. Hawk's word was law. His decision was their will.
Hawk's eyes scanned the ranks once more. He had seen enough.
Reward and punishment balanced, fair, decisive. That was the way to command.
"Finally, to all who took part in the Skypiea mission: five million berries each in military merit."
"To all who took part in the Jaya mission: three million berries each in military merit."
"Those eligible for promotion, report to logistics to receive your ranks."
"Effective immediately, everyone is granted three days of alternating leave. In one week, a new mission begins."
Silence followed. But it was not empty. It was heavy, pulsing, overflowing.
Happiness. Gratitude. Loyalty.
What other commander in the world could compare?
At the front of the formation, Dane stood ramrod straight, his eyes bloodshot. With every ounce of strength, he hammered his right fist into his chest.
Thud.
The sound carried like a signal.
One soldier. Then another. Then a hundred. Then a thousand.
Every man and woman struck their chest, fists pounding over hearts aflame.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The roar of flesh on bone became a thunderous tide. And then, as if the heavens themselves demanded it, the army cried out as one
"LOYALTY!!"
The word tore through the sky, a cry of iron and fire.
Renn Hawk stood above them, and for the first time in a long while, his heart swelled with pride.
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