God Valley, West Marine Evacuation Point
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the deck of the Marine warship, where Marine soldiers were busily transporting the wounded. The air was thick with the mingled scents of blood and sea salt.
“This battle has finally come to an end…”
With short purple hair, a chiseled, resolute face, and a powerfully muscled physique that strained against his standard Marine sleeveless vest,
the deep blue fabric was stretched to a full curve, and a pure white cloak billowed behind him, the word “Justice” on the cloak fluttering in the wind.
With his thick arms crossed over his chest, Zephyr stood at the bow, his Justice cloak flapping in the sea breeze.
“Vice Admiral Zephyr!!” At that moment, a Marine handed him a list. “This is the list of Marine personnel who sacrificed themselves in this battle.”
Hearing this, Zephyr’s brows furrowed, and his gaze swept across the chaotic deck.
Most of the names on the list in his hand had been crossed out. The brutality of God Valley far exceeded expectations.
“Alas, if that’s the case, prepare to retreat and set sail!”
“Yes!” The Marine saluted in response, just about to relay the order,
when suddenly, a commotion erupted in the distance.
“Wait! Someone’s still alive!” A Marine pointed at the coastline and exclaimed.
Everyone’s gaze turned to that spot in unison.
A figure was stumbling forward, covered in blood, with another person on his back.
His Marine uniform was already in tatters, but his back was held perfectly straight, as if he was using his last ounce of strength.
Zephyr’s pupils, standing at the bow, constricted slightly. “That’s…”
Gern’s footsteps were heavy, each step leaving a deep imprint in the sand.
His face was smeared with blood, his breathing ragged, as if he could collapse at any moment.
Derrick’s “corpse” lay limply on his back, his arms hanging down, swaying gently with each step.
The soldiers on the deck were stunned, then erupted into hushed whispers.
“Someone actually managed to walk out of that hellish battlefield!”
“The one on his back is… Chief Petty Officer Derrick of the West Blue Branch? Oh my god, I know him…”
Listening to the Marines’ whispers, Zephyr walked silently down the gangplank and stopped in front of Gern.
His gaze was like a knife, scrutinizing the young soldier.
“What happened? Your name.” Zephyr’s voice was deep, carrying an undeniable authority.
“Gern Reginald Sigma.” Gern slowly raised his head. When he saw Zephyr’s face, he couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly,
“Is this Zephyr at his prime? The pressure of a strong individual!”
However, thoughts were one thing; acting was another, especially since his goal this time was Zephyr!
So Gern’s eyes were tired, his lips cracked, and his voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible:
“Chief Petty Officer Derrick… to cover me, was… by Rocks’s remnant, Whitebeard…”
Upon hearing Gern’s words, Zephyr didn’t doubt this second-class private at all; instead, his brows furrowed even more deeply.
“So, you were so slow because you were carrying him?”
Gern was silent for a moment, then knelt on one knee, lowering his head to hide the downturn of his lips, his voice choked with emotion:
“I… I promised Derrick… I’d take him home…”
Gern furiously recalled the grievances of his years since transmigrating. The genuine despair he had experienced made him cry heartbreakingly.
For a moment, the deck was silent, save for the sound of waves hitting the ship’s hull.
Zephyr looked at the list in his hand and instantly found Gern’s and Derrick’s names.
When he saw that Gern was merely a second-class private from the West Blue Branch, his expression froze.
“You’re a second-class private from the West Blue Branch?!”
“Yes.” Gern nodded. “I begged Chief Petty Officer Derrick to bring me here.
I told him a true man should see greater sights and battlefields!!
But I never thought… never thought… If it weren’t for me!”
Zephyr completely believed Gern’s words.
Because, to facilitate the collection of Gern’s survivor’s benefits,
the name in the beneficiary column was indeed Derrick, while Derrick’s own beneficiary was Gern.
In the Marine, only those as reliable as family would fill in each other’s names in that column when heading to the battlefield.
Zephyr stared at Gern for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out and placed his hand on his shoulder.
The hand was heavy as a mountain, yet it carried a trace of warmth.
“Gern, you did well.” Zephyr’s voice was uncharacteristically gentle. “The Marine never abandons its comrades.”
Gern’s shoulder trembled slightly, but he quickly regained composure.
He kept his head down, so no one could see the mockery in his eyes. “Yes, Vice Admiral.”
The soldiers who had just experienced the life-and-death battle at God Valley were also moved by this scene; some even had red eyes.
They whispered about Gern’s “bravery,” as if he were some tragic hero.
Soon, Derrick’s body was covered with a white cloth, and the military doctor stepped forward to examine Derrick’s body.
And upon lifting Derrick’s uniform, his face changed drastically.
“His… internal organs are completely pulverized, but there are almost no external injuries!” He looked up at Zephyr, his voice trembling.
“This kind of injury… it’s like being directly attacked internally by some kind of vibration force.”
Hearing this, Zephyr’s gaze suddenly sharpened.
“Vibration force?”
“Yes, it matches the Devil Fruit ability characteristics of Whitebeard of the Rocks Pirates,” the military doctor added in a low voice.
Zephyr was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on Gern again.
Gern still had his head down, as if immersed in “grief.”
“Alas, another game of the World Nobles, and how many young children have we lost?
A child raised by a mother for over twenty years wouldn’t survive 5 seconds in front of that group of monsters.”
Zephyr slammed his fist heavily on the ship’s rail, then turned to his adjutant and ordered: “Record the casualties, prepare to return.”
…
Night fell, and the Marine warship slowly sailed away from God Island. The warship cut through the dark sea, leaving a silver wake under the Moonlight.
Gern stood alone at the stern, looking at the dark sea.
Moonlight spilled onto the side of his face, outlining a cold, hard silhouette.
“Crack…” A faint cracking sound came from beneath his feet.
The wooden grain of the deck was quietly spreading spider-web-like cracks, centered around his military boot.
Gern stared at these uncontrollable vibrating particles, a cold sneer playing on his lips, then the faint air cracks disappeared.
His goal had been achieved, but in this world, merely possessing a Devil Fruit was far from enough!
In this world, without a cheat or a system, Gern intended to proceed cautiously, step by step, from being a “three-no product”—no Devil Fruit, no Haki, no talent—
to the peak!
The Devil Fruit was the first step; next, he needed to develop his Devil Fruit ability and master Haki!
Gern unconsciously stroked the hilt of his Eight Desolations Entwining Bandage sword, his thoughts racing.
Without a doubt, Zephyr was the best choice!!
Among the Marine high-ranking officials of this era, Sengoku was meticulously striving for promotion to Admiral, while Garp was chasing Roger all over the world.
Only Zephyr—who was about to be promoted to Admiral under the name of “Black Arm” and would become the Marine’s future Chief Instructor—would have the inclination to teach an ordinary soldier.
Moreover, if the timeline wasn’t mistaken… after this God Valley incident, Zephyr would be promoted from Marineford Vice Admiral to Marineford Admiral.
And after he returned to West Blue and revealed his Devil Fruit ability, he would strive to be promoted back to Marineford.
Whether for factions or future planning, leaving a good impression on Zephyr would only benefit him and have no drawbacks!!
“Heh heh, the Armament Haki mastery of ‘Black Arm’ is not weaker than Garp’s at this moment!”
Gern chuckled softly, raised his hand, and a ball of white vibrating particles condensed in his palm.
“So ‘Justice’…” He suddenly clenched his fist, and the ball of light burst into dazzling white light between his fingers. “Is nothing more than this.”
The waves surged, and the silhouette of the warship gradually disappeared into the darkness in the distance.
…..
PS: Note: Zephyr died at the age of 74. The God Valley incident occurred 38 years ago (calculated based on the current manga timeline).
His birth year can be estimated to be 36 years before the incident (74 years old at death - 38 years = 36 years).
Therefore, Zephyr should have been 36 years old when the God Valley incident occurred.
Zephyr was a contemporary Marine Academy student with Garp, Sengoku, and Tsuru. He joined the Marineford Navy School at 14, and first participated in battle at 18.
At 28, he was promoted to Marineford Petty Officer and mastered the Six Powers. At 34, he was known as “Black Arm” for his mastery of Armament Haki. At 38, he was officially promoted to Admiral.
At the time of the God Valley incident (age 36), Zephyr had not yet reached the rank of Admiral.