The G-1 warship sailed steadily through the waters of the Grand Line. The ocean stretched endlessly in every direction, its surface rippling gently under the breeze.
High above the deck of the marine Vessel, at the very top of the main mast, Adam sat in the crow's nest.
From up here, the ship felt even more enormous. The deck below looked smaller, Marines moving around like tiny figures handling ropes and sails while the helm guided the vessel toward Marineford.
The wind was stronger up here.
Cool and clean.
It pushed through Adam's red hair as he rested one arm over the wooden rim of the crow's nest.
He looked out at the vast ocean stretching toward the horizon.
For a long moment, he simply watched.
The rhythm of the waves, the quiet creaking of the ship's mast swaying with the wind.
Then Adam spoke softly to himself.
"The memories aren't necessarily my own…"
His red eyes drifted across the endless sea.
"So this is technically my first time witnessing this."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He took a slow breath of the salty air.
"This is what I call smooth sailing."
His gaze scanned the waters around them.
"Not a single threat in sight."
The Marine warship sailed proudly beneath him, its flag fluttering high.
Adam chuckled quietly.
"But then again…"
He leaned slightly over the edge of the crow's nest and looked down at the massive ship below.
"…who's dumb enough to attack a Marine warship this close to Marineford?"
The thought made him shake his head slightly.
Then his expression slowly grew more thoughtful.
He leaned back against the wooden frame of the crow's nest.
"I need to understand the limits of my powers…"
His fingers tapped lightly against the wood.
"But how exactly am I supposed to.."
Suddenly
Something flickered in front of his eyes.
Adam froze.
His pupils narrowed slightly.
A faint glow formed in the air before him.
Then
A translucent screen appeared.
Adam blinked twice, then his eyes widened slightly.
"…Oh?"
A slow smile spread across his face.
"Well well…"
He leaned forward slightly as the interface stabilized.
"Why did this take so long?"
His smile widened with amusement.
"Maybe that god was wrong after all."
The faint glow brightened.
Then the screen fully formed.
SYSTEM DISPLAY
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Host: Adam
Devil Fruit: Human Human Fruit – Model: Monarch of Shadows (Mythical Zoan)
Status: Incomplete
Devil Fruit Mastery: 1/100
???
Devil Fruit Powers:
Shadow Extraction
Current Limit: 1/3
??? (Locked)
??? (Locked)
??? (Locked)
"Devil Fruit mastery is key to unlocking further abilities."
Adam stared at the interface.
The smile on his face slowly faded.
"…You must be kidding me."
He leaned closer to the glowing display, scanning every line again.
His eyebrow twitched slightly.
"Everything is ambiguous… Other than the fact that my Devil fruit is a Mythical Zoan..."
He waved a hand through the display as if expecting more information to appear.
"No stats…"
"Nothing…"
His expression slowly turned into mild irritation.
Adam leaned back in the crow's nest and looked up toward the sky.
The deepening blue stretched endlessly above him.
He raised a finger toward it.
"…Damn it... But I.."
"I get it."
He narrowed his eyes.
"This is what you meant."
The wind tugged at his hair as he continued pointing upward like he was scolding someone.
"You're limiting my power."
His lips curled slightly.
"But for how long can you keep this up?"
He lowered his hand slowly.
"I'm not sitting around doing nothing."
A faint smirk appeared again.
"I'll show you."
Down on the deck below
A couple of Marines happened to glance up toward the mast.
One of them squinted slightly.
"…Hey."
His friend looked over.
"What?"
The first Marine pointed upward.
"Is that Lieutenant Adam?"
The second Marine leaned back to look.
Far above them, Adam was sitting in the crow's nest pointing at the sky and talking to himself.
"…I think so."
They watched him silently for a moment.
"…Is he arguing with the clouds?"
The first Marine scratched his head.
"…Maybe he's practicing speeches, you know since I heard he is getting promoted."
Another Marine nearby joined the conversation.
"Or maybe he's just crazy."
The first Marine scratched his chin.
"Maybe he misses someone."
"Huh?"
The Marine nudged his friend with his elbow.
"You know… that lieutenant earlier."
"The one who came to see him off."
The other Marine's face lit up with realization.
"Ohhhh."
He grinned.
"You mean the girl?"
"Yeah."
He nodded knowingly.
"Must be nice."
The second Marine chuckled.
"Guy about to be promoted and has a cute lieutenant chasing after him."
Both of them burst into laughter.
But before the laughter could continue
A sharp voice suddenly cut through the air.
"Are you two daydreaming, idiots?!"
Both Marines instantly froze.
A senior officer stood behind them with his arms crossed and a deeply annoyed expression.
Their faces immediately snapped into panic.
"S-sir!"
The officer pointed sharply toward the rigging.
"Get back to work!"
"Yes sir!"
They scrambled immediately, grabbing ropes and rushing back to their duties.
The officer glanced up briefly toward the crow's nest.
Adam was still lying there now, staring at the sky.
The officer narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…What is he doing up there.."
He muttered quietly to himself.
Then shook his head and walked away.
Meanwhile
High above them
Adam waved his hand casually.
The system screen flickered.
Then vanished.
Gone.
He exhaled slowly.
Then leaned back inside the crow's nest.
The wood creaked softly as he stretched out and laid on his back.
One arm tucked behind his head.
His other hand ran through his messy red hair.
He looked up at the darkening sky.
Stars were beginning to appear.
His voice was quiet now.
Almost thoughtful.
"I'll get stronger."
The wind whispered softly around the mast.
Adam closed his eyes.
And for the first time since boarding the ship, he allowed himself to rest.
****
The wind had changed sometime during the night.
The calm evening breeze that had once rocked the ship gently had grown stronger by morning, carrying with it the sharper scent of the open sea. The G-1 warship continued cutting through the water with steady power, its sails full.
Then
CLANG.
A loud bell rang across the deck.
CLANG. CLANG.
The sound echoed through the ship, bouncing off the masts and wooden structures like a wake-up call for the entire crew.
"Marine Base in sight!"
More bells followed.
The noise traveled upward through the rigging and ropes, climbing the mast until it finally reached the crow's nest.
Inside the small wooden lookout perch
Adam stirred.
He groaned quietly and shifted his position.
For a moment he didn't move.
Then his eyes slowly opened.
"…Mm."
The sky above him was bright now, the deep blue of morning stretching endlessly overhead. The sunlight was strong enough to make him squint slightly as he raised a hand to shield his eyes.
Another bell rang below.
CLANG.
Adam blinked a few times before pushing himself upright.
His red hair was slightly messy from sleep, strands sticking out in different directions as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Oh shit…"
His voice was hoarse with sleep.
"I actually slept."
He leaned forward against the edge of the crow's nest, peering down toward the deck below.
Marines were moving quickly, shouting orders and adjusting the ship's course.
Adam scratched his head.
"…Don't know for how long though..."
He stretched his arms above his head, his shoulders popping slightly as the stiffness from sleeping in an awkward position worked itself out.
Then he looked forward.
And froze.
In the distance
A massive structure had appeared on the horizon.
Even from far away it dominated the ocean like a giant fortress.
Tall walls.
Watchtowers.
Gigantic Marine symbols painted across the front.
Ships were already docking around its bay.
Adam's expression slowly grew serious.
"…So we're here."
The warship continued gliding closer, the massive base growing larger with every passing moment.
Adam leaned slightly over the edge of the crow's nest, studying it carefully.
What had once been known across the world as Marineford now stood rebuilt and reinforced.
The new headquarters.
Marine Base G-1.
Stronger and more fortified.
A symbol meant to replace the shattered reputation left behind after the war.
Adam's eyes remained fixed on it.
His lips moved quietly.
"…Marineford."
The word came out softer than he expected.
And the moment he said it, memories stirred.
The roar of cannons, the sound of thousands of soldiers shouting.
Smoke filling the sky, the ocean boiling with warships.
He could almost hear it again.
Swords clashing.
Explosions shaking the ground.
The desperate screams of wounded soldiers.
Adam's jaw tightened slightly.
Even though the memories weren't entirely his…
They were vivid,too vivid.
The battlefield where legends had clashed.
Where monsters of the sea had stood face to face with the strongest Marines in the world.
Where the sky itself had cracked under the power of men like Whitebeard.
Adam exhaled slowly.
"…War of the Best."
He muttered under his breath.
Below him, the Marines were shouting again.
"Prepare docking ropes!"
"Lower sails!"
"We are going to enter the bay!"
The massive warship slowly adjusted its course toward the base's enormous bay.
Adam watched it all silently.
Then a faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Well…"
He pushed himself to his feet.
Wood creaked softly beneath his boots as he stretched once more. He glanced toward the massive base again.
Marineford.
The old center of Marine power.
Adam's red eyes narrowed slightly with determination.
"Let's see what you have waiting for me this time."
Then he grabbed the rope ladder attached to the mast and began climbing down toward the deck as the G-1 warship finally approached the bay of Marineford.
/-\
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