Three Days After the Battle
It had been three days since my battle with Sakura, and much had unfolded in that short time. As I had suspected, the Marshal and the two Admirals had fallen in battle. The loss of such powerful figures had taken a heavy toll on the morale of the Marines, and without a strong leader, the Marines seemed to be on the brink of collapse.
In order to restore some semblance of order, the Five Elders had come to a decision. We had been called to the Holy Land to hear their verdict. Along with Kong, Garp, Zefa, and Sengoku, I was summoned to discuss the future of the Marine organization.
As we made our way to the hall, there was a heavy silence, each of us processing the gravity of the situation. After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the hall where the Five Elders awaited us.
The Sword Elder spoke first, "So, you have arrived."
Saturn then added, "After long discussions, we have come to a decision. We will promote Kong to the position of Marshal."
The Blonde Elder looked at us with a stern gaze. "However, we cannot decide who among you four should be the next Admirals."
The Hat Elder continued, "We are leaving this decision to you. You must decide amongst yourselves who will take these positions."
The final elder spoke, "We will give you some time to think if you need it."
Garp immediately spoke up, "I don't want to be an admiral. I prefer to stay as a Vice Admiral."
The Blonde Elder frowned, "Are you sure? If nothing happens to the current admirals, your chances of becoming an admiral will be slim."
Garp shook his head resolutely. "Even if there is a chance, I would decline it."
The elders took some time to deliberate, and in the end, they agreed on the decisions. Sengoku, Zefa, and I were promoted to Admirals. As a part of the decision, we were also given nicknames, symbolic of our new positions and the power we held.
Zefa was dubbed "Black Wrist Zefa," symbolizing his strength and tenacity in battle.
Sengoku earned the title "Wise Buddha," reflecting his calm and strategic mind.
And I, of course, was given the title "Undead Gojo," a nod to my immortality and near-unbeatable abilities.
The news of Kong ascending to the Marshal position and the three of us becoming Admirals spread like wildfire across the world. The Five Elders had made it clear that we would need to rebuild the Marines and restore their strength.
In the wake of our victory, the Marine had lost more than 20,000 soldiers, a devastating blow. However, we knew that in order to restore the balance of power, we had to recruit fresh soldiers. We sent out recruitment calls to all corners of the world, except for the islands controlled by Rocks and a few other influential figures.
Our success in eliminating the Three Emperors in such a short span of time had sent shockwaves through the world. Pirate activity had drastically decreased as many feared our growing strength. The number of pirates dropped significantly in just a few days, and for the first time in years, the seas seemed quieter. But with the power vacuum left by the Emperors' fall, we knew there would always be new challenges on the horizon.