One Piece: Holy Light Swordmaster

In the new generation of Marine officers, the most famous figures are the three "monster" vice admirals, future Admirals of the Marines: Kuzan, the "Blue Pheasant"; Sakazuki, the "Red Dog"; and Borsalino, the "Yellow Monkey."

When it comes to factions within the Marines: Sengoku and Garp lead one group, which includes Vice Admiral Tsuru and Kuzan. Vice Admirals Sakazuki and Borsalino each have their own groups. Admiral Zephyr, meanwhile, remains uninvolved in political affairs, although a significant portion of the Marines' core strength has been trained under him.

Each faction has its strengths and weaknesses. Sengoku and Garp's faction leans toward compassionate justice, adhering to their own principles while maintaining their position under the World Government. Sakazuki's faction represents the Marines' young hawkish officers, championing absolute justice, using any means necessary to achieve their goals—even defying the World Government if it serves the Marines' interests. Meanwhile, Borsalino's group maintains a hands-off, non-confrontational approach, avoiding internal power struggles while dutifully carrying out orders. As for Zephyr, let's just leave him out of it for now.

Had Wright joined the Marines independently, he might have been able to observe the internal dynamics and choose a faction to align with over time. However, as a recruit personally scouted by Garp and brought directly into Marine Headquarters as an ensign, he was already marked as part of Sengoku and Garp's faction from the outset.

This spared Wright the trouble of making a choice but also meant he immediately caught the attention of key figures in the Marines. On the bright side, it also signaled the start of a period of rapid growth in strength for him!

The next morning, just before dawn, Wright was already up, infusing his sword, Ashes, with the power of Holy Light. Afterward, he moved to the deck to practice basic swordsmanship and meditate to strengthen his spirit, earning admiration from the Marines on duty.

"Yo! Wright, kid! You're pretty diligent!"

A booming voice startled Wright mid-meditation. Opening his eyes, he saw Garp standing on the deck.

"Vice Admiral Garp, you're up this early?"

"Ahahaha! Old folks like me need less sleep!"

"Come on, kid, let's get a little morning exercise. Spar with me!"

What's with the excuse about old age and less sleep? Aren't you the same guy who falls asleep standing up in broad daylight? You just want an excuse to beat me up, don't you?!

And so, the ship was soon filled with the sound of Garp's hearty laughter, Wright's indignant shouts, and eventually, heavy blows accompanied by Wright's agonized screams…

As the sun rose, the Marines completed their rotations and morning drills, and the warship began to decelerate.

"Report! Vice Admiral Garp, we are approaching the Calm Belt. Awaiting your orders!"

The messenger delivered the report but couldn't help glancing at Wright, who lay beaten and barely conscious.

"Oh? We've arrived already? Time sure flies when… uh… training the rookies! Ahahaha!" Garp laughed loudly. "Prepare to enter the Calm Belt!"

"Yes, sir!" The messenger quickly left to relay the command, silently offering two seconds of sympathy for the battered Ensign Wright.

Sprawled on the deck, Wright looked like a swollen mess. Garp's aide, Bogard, stood by the vice admiral's side, listening as Garp mumbled to himself.

"Did I go too hard? It's been a while since I've seen such a durable young man—got a little carried away! Ahahaha!"

"..."

Bogard glanced at the wrecked Wright and sighed silently. "Sometimes, having extraordinary healing abilities is more of a curse than a blessing..."

"All right, kid! Stop playing dead and get up already!" Garp barked, now draped in his Justice coat and settling into a chair. "We're almost at the Calm Belt. You're in charge of keeping watch!"

Bogard nodded in acknowledgment before adding quietly, "I'll keep an eye on him, Vice Admiral."

Garp, however, was already snoring.

"Smack!"

Even lying on the deck, Wright could feel the vein throbbing on his forehead. But, knowing his protests would be useless, he had no choice but to comply.

"Ow, ow, ow… Why does that old bastard love hitting my face so much?! Is he jealous of my good looks or something?"

"How is his Armament Haki so devastating? Even when I coat myself in Haki, I can't block the damage! Could it be that he developed this technique just for the fun of beating people up?!"

Wright slowly got up and cast a Holy Light Spell to heal himself. It didn't fully restore him, so he cast it again, marking the first time a single spell wasn't enough to recover his injuries.

"Garp's attacks are so destructive that they directly harm the body! I'll need to work on improving my physical defense in the future."

"Such a convenient ability," Bogard mused silently, observing Wright. "That's why Vice Admiral Garp didn't hold back. As long as it doesn't kill him, there's no lasting damage. He's the perfect punching bag."

Clearing his throat, Bogard pushed aside further thoughts about "punching bags" and stepped forward. "Ensign Wright, Vice Admiral Garp has assigned you to oversee the upcoming watch. Let me explain the situation in the Calm Belt."

"Thank you, Lieutenant Commander," Wright replied, though he had only recently confirmed Bogard's rank after inquiring with other Marines. Despite holding the rank of lieutenant commander, Bogard was Garp's trusted aide and handled the training of new recruits, his true strength shrouded in mystery.

"This guy could easily outrank lieutenant commander if he wanted," Wright thought, paying close attention as Bogard explained the Calm Belt.

"The Calm Belt is a unique sea area that borders the Grand Line on both sides and separates it from the Four Blues. Unlike Reverse Mountain, ships passing through the Calm Belt can directly enter the Grand Line. As its name suggests, this sea is perpetually calm, with no winds or currents."

"In the past, ships relied on wind power and couldn't traverse the Calm Belt. However, with advances in technology, the Marines developed steam-powered warships capable of navigating these waters. That said, the Calm Belt is also the territory of Sea Kings, making it extremely dangerous. Even with powerful escorts, safety isn't guaranteed."

"Fortunately, the Marines eventually acquired the technology to forge Seastone. When embedded in a ship's hull, Seastone emits the same energy signature as the sea itself, allowing ships to avoid attracting Sea Kings while crossing the Calm Belt."

"Still, unexpected incidents can occur. That's why, whenever navigating the Calm Belt, a strong officer must remain vigilant to fend off any Sea Kings that do attack. This is your task, Ensign Wright."

It seemed Bogard wasn't used to speaking at such length, as his expressionless face almost cracked by the time he finished.

"Oh, sounds like an important mission! I've never encountered Sea Kings in the East Blue, and now there's a chance to see so many… I can't wait!"

"Sea King meat is such a delicacy—delicious and nutritious! Maybe I'll bag one for dinner tonight?"

The surrounding Marines collectively groaned: "Please, no!"

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