Chapter 66: Cracks in Justice, Shadows in the Smoke
Marine Headquarters — Grand Strategy Hall
The grand war room of Marineford's Headquarters was shrouded in tense silence.
On the central screen, a live Den Den Mushi transmission replayed the climactic battle at the Voidreign Arena — Kuina's impossible breakthrough, the fall of the Five Supreme Void Knights, and Jessie's speech to a legion of warriors reborn.
Veteran officers, strategists, and high-ranking marines stood frozen. Not even the sound of breathing dared disturb the oppressive quiet.
Even the battle-hardened former Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat wide-eyed on the room's upper balcony, a handful of grass dangling limply from his pet goat's mouth.
The old admiral let out a long sigh.
"Each of them..." Sengoku murmured, his voice carrying over the silent crowd, "monsters. Every single one."
He turned to Tsuru, the legendary tactician of the marines.
"How the hell did they train an army like that? Even our elite divisions don't have that kind of unified, raw power."
Tsuru, her face lined with age and wisdom, narrowed her sharp eyes.
"It's not just strength, Sengoku... it's will. Every one of those knights would rather die than break formation. That's the difference."