Marineford War: I Will Stand in the Sky

On the way to the G-9 branch, a CP0 member said with some distress.

"What should we do? Captain, this is our third contact with Yamato. Even this time, when you personally invited her, Yamato still refused to join the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea'."

Upon hearing this, the CP0 leader answered without hesitation.

"Inviting Yamato to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and then combining the forces of Corazon, the Navy, and CP0 to launch a counterattack against the Revolutionary Army, is a plan personally devised by the Five Elders, and it cannot be allowed to fail."

[Chapter 624. Why Get Stronger?]

The CP0 teammate on the other side said somewhat angrily.

"But how do I get Yamato to change her mind? That stupid woman, even though we have the same goal, she keeps refusing my invitation. Once I've dealt with the Revolutionary Army, I'll make her pay."

As the "shield of the Celestial Dragons," an organization that serves God, CP0 has suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of a barbaric woman like Yamato, which has made them extremely unhappy.

"Um……"

The CP0 leader pondered for a moment before speaking.

"It's not a big problem. I just sensed someone unleashing Conqueror's Haki in the direction of the G-9 branch. It should be Vice Admiral Yann who has recovered."

After a pause, the CP0 leader continued, "It's rumored that Lieutenant General Yann and Yamato have a good personal relationship. Let's have Lieutenant General Yann personally invite them again."

The other two CP0 members, who were unwilling to have any further contact with Yamato, nodded and said, "Yes, that's the only way."

……

Meanwhile, in the training grounds of the G-9 branch, under the terrifying impact of Yan's Conqueror's Haki, Yan unleashed.

Those CP9 members who had just tried to get up suddenly felt their minds go blank and almost instantly collapsed back down. Even Lucci was sweating profusely.

In the past, Lucci had witnessed Arn's power before, but this time, standing on the opposite side, the feeling was even more direct and... terrifying!

At this moment, although Yaen's body was still as slender as ever, the oppressive aura constantly emanating from him was terrifying.

Instinctively, Lucci felt a shiver of fear and instinctively wanted to get away from the man in front of him, instead of baring his fangs at his enemies as he usually did.

'The gap...it's enormous!'

'I...I don't even have the right to stand before Lord Arn???'

Lucci clenched his fists tightly, trying to overcome the fear his body instinctively generated, but... he couldn't!

Just as an ant, when faced with a dragon, could never manage to look up and look directly at the dragon.

Meanwhile, Yann, who was constantly observing Lucci's changing expressions, subtly smiled and thought to himself.

'That's about it...'

The next instant, the terrifying Conqueror's Haki vanished, as if it were all an illusion. Then, Yann's gentle voice rang out again.

"Well, it's a bit of a pity. I was wondering if any of you had unawakened Conqueror's Haki, but it seems there aren't any. So, things will be simple from now on. You can focus on training your Armament Haki and Observation Haki."

"You all take a rest first. I will personally teach you the techniques of Observation Haki later. As for Armament Haki, which I am not very good at, I will have Major General Hope teach it for me."

After a pause, Yann took the tea and towel handed to him by Major General Hope, took a sip to moisten his throat, wiped away non-existent sweat, and then offered gentle encouragement.

"Don't be discouraged. I also went through the same thing, step by step. I was known to be weak, but I worked hard and made progress little by little."

"Especially Kalifa and Kaku, I have high hopes for you two. At your age, my physique may not be stronger than yours."

"Bruno, Owl, Gabra, and Waitori, you've all done quite well, so just recognize the gap between yourselves and the world, and then move forward little by little."

In an instant, after hearing Ya'en's words, which sounded like those of a gentle older brother, the eyes of the CP9 members, who had been somewhat dejected and dispirited, brightened considerably, and their gazes toward Ya'en were filled with gratitude and longing.

What a...gentle man! He actually encouraged them, the losers!

For them, who had always grown up in an environment similar to the law of the dark jungle and were then trained to become CP9, this was like feeling a warm current enveloping their cold and lonely hearts.

As Yann looked at the CP9 members in front of him, who seemed somewhat stunned, he said with a troubled expression.

"Hmm, did I hit you too hard just now? How about this, I'll perform a magic trick for you as an apology."

Immediately, Yann drew his Soul-Slaying Blade and said.

"Watch closely..."

As CP9's attention was completely drawn to Yone, Yone softly murmured, "This magic trick is called... Mirror Flower, Water Moon."

The next moment, in the eyes of everyone in the training ground, a cherry blossom tree suddenly grew on Yann's Zanpakuto, and then a large number of dreamlike cherry blossoms fell.

"so beautiful."

"Is this... the 'Sakura... Flower Fruit' that Lieutenant General Yann is famous for across the sea?"

"No, shouldn't we feel joy for Lord Arn's unparalleled gentleness? There is such a man in the sea."

……

Listening to their murmurs, Yann seemed to be infected as well. His eyes behind his glasses curved gently, and then he spoke.

"Alright, alright, that's the end of the magic trick. You can all get some rest now..."

After a pause, Yann looked at Lucci and said, "Lucci, come with me for a moment, I have something to tell you."

"Yes."

Lucci took a deep breath and followed in Yann's footsteps.

Immediately, Yann led Lucci to a secluded, deserted beach, where he looked directly at the sea and asked, "Lucci, what do you think?"

Lu Qi's face showed resentment, and he clenched his teeth.

Perhaps, the other CP9 members will become happier with Yann's comfort and feel that their future is promising.

However, Lucci knew very well that none of his subordinates would ever be able to touch the hem of Yann's clothes in their entire lives.

"The gap... is so large that I don't know how to bridge it. I... am too weak, Lord Yern."

Yann turned slightly to the side, looking at Lucci with gentle eyes.

“Lucci, don’t say things like that. Of all the CP9 members, you are actually the one I have the most faith in. The main reason I’m specifically teaching you Haki is for your sake. The reason I’m instructing all the CP9 members together is just because I’m worried that it will affect the unity within CP9.”

In that instant, Lucci was almost moved to tears by Yann's heartfelt words, and said with immense shame.

"But Lord Yann, I... am too weak, too weak to be worthy of your guidance."

Upon hearing this, Yann looked at Lucci and asked, "Lucci, why do you want to become stronger?"

Lucci's expression stiffened slightly, and his eyes fell into a moment of confusion.

Why... do I want to become stronger?!

In the beginning, my goal of becoming stronger was simple: in the brutal training within CP9, the weak would die, and the weak would become a burden.

Only by becoming stronger can one survive.

But now... why do I so desperately want to become stronger?

[Chapter 625. Lucci's Awakening]

Past events unconsciously surfaced in Lucci's mind.

Since I can remember, my life has been like a dark, stagnant pool. I instinctively struggled to become stronger in that brutal CP9 training, and then followed orders to complete one mission after another.

"You are the weapon, understand? Lucci, you must be a sharp weapon, utterly destroying anything that threatens the World Government."

This is the idea that Lucci was instilled in his brain from a young age.

But that kind of thing doesn't matter at all, or rather, it doesn't matter what you say it is. It's just a mission. Just eliminate everything that gets in the way!

This was Lucci's guiding principle until he met that man and followed him on his journey from Marineford to the Kingdom of Dressrosa.

That man...

Lucci's gaze shifted subconsciously, looking towards Yann beside him.

The sea breeze ruffled Lord Arn's slightly disheveled hair, and his deep, gentle gaze behind his glasses fixed on the ocean before him, as if he were deep in thought.

At that moment, Lucci's gaze slowly froze, as if he had realized something.

I want to become stronger!

I don't just want to live numbly like before; I want to become a weapon in Lord Arn's hands!

However, despite his burning passion, Lucci maintained a cool and... slightly awkward expression.

I just can't... say a word...

“Lord A... Lord Arn…” Lucci began, pausing slightly.

"Hmm?" Yann turned his head slightly and looked at Lucci.

Lu Qi gritted his teeth and said with some difficulty, "I...I want you to hold my hand..."

Upon hearing this, Yann's eyes widened in surprise, and then he blinked unconsciously.

"what?!"

hold?

What do you want me to hold onto?

Seeing the somewhat confused look in Yann's eyes, Lucci took a deep breath, knelt down on one knee before Yann, bowed his head, and said in a low voice.

"arms!!!"

"Lord Yann, I want to become a weapon in your hands."

Yann pushed up his glasses, looking gently through the lenses at Lucci, who was kneeling before him, and said with a hint of amusement.

"Lucci, you can't just say things like that. You don't even know who my enemy is, yet you want to become my weapon? If that's the case, you haven't even prepared yourself to see who you, as a weapon, will strike, have in the first place, have you?"

"Do not……"

Lucci remained kneeling without changing his stance, and said firmly, "As a weapon, you don't need to be prepared to strike anyone; it's enough to be prepared to become someone's weapon."

With his hands behind his back and his eyes fixed on the boundless sea, Yann said, seemingly casually, "Is that so? Even if... I were to go against the world, your choice wouldn't change?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qi's eyes narrowed as he looked down at Yann's toes.

Lord Yann, everything you have done and said is absolutely not meaningless!

Do you want to be at odds with... the world?!

The next moment, Lucci closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his eyes were firm once more, and he answered in a deep voice.

"My world consists only of Lord Arn!"