One Piece: Starting from Awakening the Cosmo at Marineford

Akainu stopped, narrowed his eyes, and said coldly, "Red-Haired Shanks!"

Red-haired Shanks walks towards the straw hat on the ice.

Akainu didn't move.

All the marines and pirates around stopped fighting, cherishing this brief respite from the battle.

Kizaru stood on the mast of a nearby pirate ship, the golden light on his fingers flashing once more.

Aaron looked to the other side of the mast's crossbar, where a blurry figure sat, pointing a pistol at Kizaru.

The redhead passed by Aaron and gave him a cold glance.

Aaron grinned: "Heh!"

Aaron appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was getting excited; he even had an urge to attack the redhead.

Aaron clenched his fist: "It seems there's still a big gap... but it won't be long before I surpass him!"

Shanks picked up his straw hat from the ground and said coldly, "I'm here to end this war."

Next came the time for the big shots to exchange harsh words.

Aaron yawned, stretched, and turned to leave.

Bellmare had helped Koby up and walked to Aaron's vicinity.

Helmeppo said gratefully, "Thank you for saving Koby!"

Aaron glanced at Koby.

Koby was already in a semi-conscious state, still humming something.

Aaron snorted coldly, "Don't flatter yourself. I originally wanted to kill this ignorant bastard, but I didn't want the pirates to make a fool of themselves by watching the Marines fight amongst themselves. Consider him lucky to have survived."

Bellemere was taken aback, unsure what to say: "What's your name?"

Aaron didn't even turn his head: "Get out! You're not worthy to know my name!"

"Hey! Aaron, they're not trying to cause you trouble, are they?"

Two marines surrounded him, their eyes filled with hostility as they looked at Helmeppo.

Aaron recognized them; they were from the group of more than twenty people they had just met.

"It's alright. Ignore them, let's go. Let's help treat the wounded. The war is over."

"That flying kick you just delivered was absolutely awesome!"

"Yeah, that was so satisfying! What a piece of trash! We were fighting these pirates to the death, and he didn't even have a scratch, just sitting here playing the good guy!"

"Exactly! Aaron, could you teach me that kick? I didn't see it clearly just now, could you describe how it felt?"

"Damn it! This Coby, relying on being Garp's disciple, dares to obstruct an admiral during the war. This kind of behavior will definitely land him in a court-martial!"

"I'm not so sure. He's Lieutenant General Garp's protégé. With that connection, no one can do anything to him."

"Shift! How about we find a chance to put him in a sack and beat him up to vent our anger?"

"Let's hear what Aaron has to say."

Aaron laughed and said, "Forget it. Not only will he not face a military court, but he might even be promoted as a positive figure by some people."

The Navy itself has multiple factions: hawks, doves, and centrists who waver between the two sides.

When Coby shouted that, some people might selectively see his courage and integrity, and even regard him as the Navy's righteousness.

Furthermore, with Garp standing behind him, the Navy's hero and pillar of support, Koby's actions will undoubtedly be widely publicized.

It's good to have a big tree to lean on; having a strong backer makes all the difference.

Aaron also began to wonder if Karp would hold a grudge against him because of this.

Even if Garp had a problem with it, he wouldn't go so far as to make things difficult for himself.

Aaron shrugged and led the two marines up the steps to Oris Square.

The square was in ruins, with rubble everywhere.

Sengoku and Garp stood there, facing Blackbeard and his gang.

Aaron squinted at the black-bearded group.

This group isn't very lethal, but they're really tough.

Despite the relentless attacks from Sengoku and Garp, their faces were covered in blood and dust that had turned into concrete, yet the group still stood there as if nothing had happened.

Just then, the black-bearded man turned around and glared coldly at Aaron.

"Hey, I suddenly feel cold all over, what's wrong?"

"Me too, it feels like I'm being watched by a wild beast."

The two marines standing nearby shivered together.

Aaron stared fearlessly at the black-bearded man.

The man with the black beard didn't linger; he looked in the other direction.

Shanks and his crew had arrived at the plaza.

Shanks drew his sword: "Whoever wants to continue the fight, I'm happy to be their opponent. How about it, Teach? No, I should call you Blackbeard!"

"Damn, is this the domineering aura of Shanks, one of the Four Emperors?!"

"How impressive! To say something like that in front of all the Marines and pirates!"

Two marines were chattering away beside them.

The group of more than twenty marines who were busy treating the wounded also came over one after another, inquiring about Aaron's condition with concern.

"Aaron, I've been curious from the beginning, what's the origin of your mecha suit?"

"Yes, Aaron, are you from the North Sea? Is this Gemma 66 technology? How much did you buy it for?"

"no."

"Is that Vegapunk's technology?"

Aaron shook his head again: "No, not really."

"What's with the flames on your body? It's not the Flame-Flame Fruit, is it?"

Aaron ignored them and looked firmly at one person.

Karp was also looking at Aaron.

Garp was fighting the Blackbeard Pirates earlier, but his Observation Haki allowed him to sense the scene of Coby shouting, and he also saw Aaron kick Coby away.

Kapchon Aaron nodded, seemingly with a hint of gratitude.

Aaron smiled slightly, then turned to the marines around him and said, "Let's hurry and treat the wounded. Every second we save might mean saving another life!"

Led by Aaron, the marines didn't bother chasing after him with questions; they busied themselves with their tasks and introduced themselves to each other.

These twenty-odd marines came from various branches, and only a handful of them knew each other.

It is a tragic fate that brought us together because of this war.

"I come from the Xihai 211 branch. Of the more than thirty people who came together, I'm probably the only one left."

"I was with those two from the 119th branch of the North Sea. I personally witnessed more than a dozen comrades die under the swords and spears of pirates."

"Sigh, we're lucky we're still alive. Those who are seriously injured and missing limbs, even if they survive, they'll probably have to be discharged."

"Not necessarily. Doesn't the Navy have a scientific research unit that can manufacture prosthetic limbs?"

"Forget it. We are too weak to be worth spending money on."

"Yeah, if I lost an arm or a leg, I'd have to retire from the military. Even the cheapest prosthetic arm costs over a million Berries, how could I afford that!"

Why did you join the Navy?

"To say it was for justice, it wasn't really for the beginning. I was an orphan, and I joined the Navy just so that one day I could avenge my family who died at the hands of pirates."

"Well, don't laugh at me, but I heard that the navy provides food and lodging, and you get a salary, so it seemed like a stable job. Who knew the salary wasn't that high, and the training is really tough every day? Through my own efforts, I've finally managed to live a life on the edge, haha!"

"..."