Blacksoil Island, Sherman Port.
The once-bustling port town was now split in two by a terrifying, bottomless chasm.
The fractured earth, shattered houses, and the lingering dust in the air silently testified to the devastating intensity of last night's earth-shattering war.
"This is just too exaggerated!"
Usopp, having just woken up, stared at the scene before him, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.
The land torn asunder defied all ordinary understanding.
On the divided streets of the town, crowds of residents had already begun clearing the rubble on their own, trying to salvage whatever belongings they could from the debris.
"Hey!!"
Luffy burst out of his room and shouted down the hallway.
"Let's go help!"
Without waiting for Orion's orders, the apprentices volunteered eagerly, rushing out of the hotel to join the rescue and reconstruction efforts.
"SUPER! Time to show off my super carpentry skills!"
Franky, sporting his signature pompadour, stood with hands on his hips, drawing curious glances from the onlookers.
"Is that guy a pervert?" one resident muttered under his breath.
"Shut up! Can't you see the Marine emblem on him?" someone nearby quickly reminded.
Unfazed by the murmurs, Franky strode over to a group of townsfolk struggling with a massive beam and grinned.
"Step aside, step aside! Watch this!"
He took a deep breath, his arm muscles bulging, and with bare hands lifted the enormous beam—which would normally require a dozen people to move—effortlessly tossing it aside, eliciting gasps of astonishment from the crowd.
Franky then walked to a relatively clear area, where various tools sprang from his massive mechanical arms.
With a series of clangs and bangs, he swiftly set up a makeshift workbench.
Gathering a few intact planks from the rubble, he quickly assembled a sturdy table.
"Alright! Anyone who needs furniture repaired, bring it here!"
An elderly, gray-haired carpenter approached, eyeing Franky skeptically.
"Young man, are you any good at this?"
"Old-timer, just watch and learn!" Franky took the broken-legged chair handed to him by the old carpenter and, with just a glance, pulled out a hammer and nails from his back.
"Coup de Burst!"
He blasted a burst of air from his back, launching himself like a cannonball toward a nearby tree that had been snapped by the aftermath of the battle.
"Bam!"
Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, he slammed his shoulder into the tree, breaking off a suitable piece of wood, then used another "Coup de Burst" to fly back to the workbench.
Cutting, sanding, assembling.
The entire process flowed seamlessly, so fast it was dizzying.
In less than a minute, a brand-new chair leg was perfectly installed, fitting so snugly that not a trace of repair could be seen.
The old carpenter ran his hand over the smooth chair leg, then sat on it, shaking his head and muttering.
"Perfect, just the right feel!"
Franky's incredible skills instantly won over everyone present.
Children crowded around him, curiously poking at his steel arms, while women blushed as they handed him clean towels and water.
When they learned Franky was just a Marine recruit, the people's admiration for him soared to new heights.
"The Marines actually have such a skilled shipwright!"
"Waaah, Mom, when I grow up, I want to join the Marines and become a cool cyborg like Brother Franky!"
Many young people even declared on the spot that once the town was rebuilt, they would enlist.
Just then, a dozen black dots appeared on the horizon.
The dots rapidly grew larger—they were over a dozen massive warships flying the Marine flag!
Loaded with relief supplies, they slowly sailed into the temporarily opened port.
A Marine Rear Admiral stepped off one of the ships and broadcasted to the entire island via a Den Den Mushi.
"Attention, all citizens of Blacksoil Island! By order of Fleet Admiral Orion, the World Government will take full responsibility for the post-disaster reconstruction! All damaged houses will be rebuilt at government expense! All affected citizens will receive generous compensation!"
The announcement sent Blacksoil Island into an uproar.
Despair gave way to a glimmer of hope in the people's eyes.
But what surprised them even more was that the legendary Fleet Admiral himself was rolling up his sleeves and hauling lumber alongside them at the construction site.
"Your Excellency, why are you also..." A middle-aged man stammered, overwhelmed with emotion as Orion handed him a plank.
Orion dusted off the man's shoulders and smiled. "Serving the people is one of the Marines' duties. Don't just stand there—come help!"
That simple statement brought tears to the eyes of everyone present.
If even the Fleet Admiral was pitching in, how could they not give it their all?
Instantly, the atmosphere at the construction site surged with energy, filled with the sounds of coordinated effort and vigorous labor.
...
Meanwhile, high above the chasm that split the island, several streaks of light darted back and forth.
The three Vinsmoke brothers, clad in their raid suits, flew across the abyss.
"Damn it, we're royalty. Why are we doing this grunt work?" Yonji grumbled as he ferried a wailing child to the other side.
"No choice. The Fleet Admiral himself is on the ground," Ichiji replied expressionlessly, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward the figure sweating among the crowd.
From childhood, they had been taught that royalty should remain aloof, served by the masses.
But Orion's actions completely overturned their perceptions.
That man, who clearly possessed the power to destroy the world, was willing to bend down for a group of commoners as insignificant as ants.
"Hey! It's the heroes of Germa!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
When they transported an elderly woman's entire belongings from the opposite shore, the crowd on the ground erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
This heartfelt admiration and gratitude was something they had never experienced in the North Blue.
In the past, civilians only regarded them with fear and hatred.
The three Vinsmoke brothers froze in place.
Watching the sincere smiling faces below and hearing the heroic shouts, something deep within them was quietly stirred.
So this was what it felt like to be revered by the masses.
This feeling... wasn't so bad after all.
"Hmph, mere ants," Niji scoffed disdainfully, yet his flying speed increased and his movements became more vigorous.
Of course, not everyone participated in the bustling reconstruction efforts.
Hancock remained by Orion's side throughout, sometimes handing him water, sometimes wiping his sweat, and occasionally gently massaging his shoulders—much to the envy of countless young women who admired Orion.
...
Three days later.
Through the joint efforts of the Marines and civilians, the reconstruction of Sherman Port had taken initial shape.
The training ship set sail once again.
"Woohoo! Let's go! What kind of adventure awaits at our next stop?" Luffy stood at the bow, raising his arms excitedly against the sea breeze.
"I'm definitely going to be the King of Adventures!"
At the stern, Zoro silently polished his three swords, his eyes displaying unprecedented determination.
Taking a deep breath, he walked up to Orion, who was gazing into the distance, and bowed deeply.
"Fleet Admiral."
"What is it, Zoro?" Orion turned around with a smile.
"I want to train in swordsmanship under you!" Zoro mustered the greatest courage of his life, his gaze firm.
Orion chuckled: "No need to rush."
"Your swordsmanship talent and foundation are excellent. Becoming a master swordsman is only a matter of time. After your training period ends and you officially join the Marines, someone will guide you."
Zoro was taken aback: "Who?"
"Hawk-Eye Mihawk. He's currently the head swordsmanship instructor at Marine Headquarters, specifically responsible for training promising talents like you."
Zoro blinked.
Hawk-Eye?
In the past, hearing that name would have provoked a strong reaction!
But after witnessing Orion's formidable strength and his terrifying sword technique that could split the sky and sea, he found the title "Hawk-Eye" rather ordinary and unremarkable.
He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, his eyes growing even more resolute.
"Fleet Admiral, surpassing him was indeed my goal before. But now, it's different."
With that, Zoro knelt with a thud.
"My goal is to surpass you! Please accept me as your disciple!"
Looking at the stubborn green-haired young man before him, Orion fell silent.
He could sense Zoro's pure, unadulterated yearning for the ultimate path of the sword.
"Very well," Orion reached out and helped him up. "During your training period, I'll find time to give you some guidance."
Overjoyed, Zoro stood up excitedly and bowed solemnly once more.
"Thank you, Fleet Admiral!"
"I won't let you down!"
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