Hey everyone. I'm Don Krieg, the strong, cool, pirate-like pirate.
Except now I'm a Marine.
It's been four years since I joined the Marines. After enlisting, I trained for a while at a branch in the East Blue before being brought to the Marines' own backyard: Marineford.
I can't tell you how many times I thought about running away. It was hard.
Seriously hard.
Anyway, the result of these four years: I've officially graduated from a recruit and become a "Sergeant"!
The title of "Don" is still a long way off, though.
Then I remember that Coby and Helmeppo became a Master Sergeant and Sergeant in less than a year, and I get depressed.
Also, my batchmates and the other guys kind of avoid me. Is it 'cause of my villainous face?
Whatever! I got stronger! I mutter while doing practice swings.
A Certain Marine's Story
"Hey, His Excellency the Sergeant is doing his swings with that again..."
Krieg's subordinates were watching the scene.
What Krieg was using for his swings was an iron pillar that exceeded the size and weight of a full-grown man. And the one swinging it was supposed to be just a kid.
Vwoom, vwoom. The way he handled it effortlessly with one hand, making it cut through the air, spoke of his monstrous strength and skill.
"That guy's face is scary, and he doesn't talk much, so you never know what he's thinking. Even when he does talk, he's gruff. And he's short," said another Marine watching the same scene.
"I get that, but he's supposedly only 14. Did you know? I heard he was abused as a kid, and that's why he's like that. (Wrong) They say his strength alone is on par with a commissioned officer. Even though he's short."
"Yeah, I heard they're keeping him at Sergeant for a while because of his age. But man, if that's what happened, no wonder he's got such a sour face."
"He'll definitely make it to the Field Officer ranks. I heard that former Admiral Zephyr, who just became an instructor, is going to train him personally."
"Whoa, proof they have high expectations for him. Apparently, he can use three of the Six Powers, and he's got that crazy strength. Makes sense. His face is still scary, though."
A Certain Marine Instructor's Story
"Sorry to bother you right after you became an instructor, Zephyr, but I want you to take this one for a while."
I was summoned by Fleet Admiral Kong, the man who commands the Marines. Entering his office, I was handed a single document.
"Let's see."
The document was for a single Marine. Current rank: Sergeant (Pending).
"Fleet Admiral, what does this 'Pending' mean?"
"Ah, due to his age, we're keeping him at Sergeant for the time being. That's all. His strength alone rivals a commissioned officer. We'll promote him eventually."
I looked down at the document. Currently 14 years old. Well, that seems appropriate.
Still, to have that level of combat power at this age is terrifying.
Hmm, background: from the East Blue.
An orphan, parents unknown. He volunteered for the Marines, stating he "wants the strength to protect."
He can use "Iron Body," "Finger Pistol," and "Geppo." A master of three of the Six Powers. He uses his natural monstrous strength to wield a giant iron pillar as a weapon.
He is not complacent, training greedily without fail. On the other hand, he doesn't talk much, always has a sour look, and works silently alone. He seems to lack communication skills.
"Understood. I'll look after him for a while. How long?"
"For now, make him your attendant. As for the period... yes, watch over him for two or three years."
...And that's apparently how this conversation went.
"I'm Zephyr, and I'll be your instructor starting today! I'm going to beat that 'strength to protect' or whatever firmly into your body, brat!"
...And so, Mr. Zephyr decided to train me personally.
Mr. Zephyr became my instructor.
I'm gonna die! Help me!
...I'm saying that, but as a former Marine Admiral, this Mr. Zephyr is, in any case, strong.
Also, true to his epithet "Black Arm," he specializes in Armament Haki, making him the perfect person to study under. He's strict, though.
And so...
Under his Spartan motto of "Don't think! Feel!!" and "Don't doubt!", I passed Armament Haki, learned the bare minimum of Observation Haki, and mastered (technically) all of the Six Powers! Ta-da! Fanfare!
It took four years. My lack of talent is depressing.
Also, after learning the Six Powers and Haki, I was promoted to Master Sergeant. It's been a long six years.
Meanwhile, while I was spending time with this old geezer, the three original Admirals were getting promoted left and right!!
What's with that light monster, that magma monster, and that ice monster!!
Even if you damage them, they just regenerate, and their attacks are lethal!!
I cry just remembering it.
The light monster is too fast to hit, and his beams are so hot they melt my iron pillar! I thought I blocked it, but that beam pierced right through the pillar!
The magma monster was the most merciless, attacking with full intent to kill. It's hot, and the attack range is huge! Even if my attacks land, he's a Logia-type, so they're useless unless I use Armament Haki!
The ice monster was the most manageable... no, wait, not much different. It's cold, and my iron pillar almost stuck to my hands. But I could at least tell when I hit him, and he didn't melt my pillar, so I guess he was better than the other monsters.
The biggest problem is that they're all Logia, so attacks just don't work. Should I look for a Logia-type fruit? Nah, the only ones that seem obtainable in the story are the Flare-Flare or the Goru-Goru, maybe? That would mess up the timeline badly, and it seems too hard, so I won't.
From there, my training shifted to Haki. I'm now able to coat my own body in Armament Haki.
Can't coat my weapon yet, though!
So, I got some time off from the geezer Zephyr (he kicks me if I call him "geezer") and came here: the Marine Science Division!
"So, please give me a staff made of Seastone."
"Huh!? Are you messing with me? Fine! I'll explain it!"
According to him, it's an ore that solidified the sea (or whatever).
It's super hard and not easy to process.
And it's extremely rare, so they can't make a weapon that big.
I summarized that heavily, but...
"Got it!? We can't make a weapon to match that giant body of yours!"
Smoker used one, though... was it just tipped with it? Or is it because he's a Captain?
Oh, my body got bigger too. I'm over 2 meters tall now.
A Certain Training Scene
"Iron Body!"
"Hmph!!"
Goffu! That hurts! I'm gonna die! Not really, but!
"Hey, you damn geezer! Don't coat that with Haki!"
"Shut up, brat! It takes you too long to activate Iron Body! What's that giant body for! How many times do I have to tell you! Tighten your whole body instantaneously!"
I yelled as I rubbed my side where he hit me with a straight punch, and he just yelled back.
This kid. His body got huge, but his attitude hasn't changed at all, I thought, watching Krieg glare at me with a sour face.
At first, I thought he was an incredibly talented youth, being a master of three of the Six Powers. But he speaks little, his movements are rough, and his supposed mastery of those three Powers seems to be more a result of sheer training than talent.
He seems to have learned those three in his own way, and they were far from perfect, only looking functional because of his monstrous strength.
At first, I corrected that and taught him the Six Powers properly. But then, as part of his development, I had him spar against the three promising young Logia-type users who were steadily rising through the ranks. He held his own, but as expected against Logia-types, he lacked a decisive blow.
He must have realized it himself.
"Hey, geezer!! Isn't there a way to punch a Logia!?"
He demanded. I told him about Seastone and Haki.
"Teach me!!" he roared, so I coated my fist in Armament Haki and punched him in the head.
Gnuoooh! As Krieg rolled on the ground holding his head, I thought, His endurance really is high...
If I'm going to teach him Haki, he might end up half-assing both that and the Six Powers...
"Hey, brat. There's also the option of using a Seastone weapon, you know?" I asked.
"A large arsenal is useful. But if it breaks, I'm left with just my body," he retorted.
"Good resolve! This is going to be tough, but it seems you're motivated! Prepare yourself, because I'm going to drill this into you!"
I ignored his "Hey, wait," and decided to teach him the Six Powers and Haki concurrently.
As a result, in Haki, he has almost mastered Armament, while his Observation is merely at a passing level.
He can use all of the Six Powers. He uses his monstrous strength to master "Geppo" and "Tempest Kick." As for "Iron Body," he overturned the premise that you can't move while using it. "If you can use Iron Body on your arm to do Finger Pistol, there's no way you can't move while using Iron Body!" he'd say. He developed a fighting style he calls "Iron Body Kenpo," allowing him to fight while maintaining the "Iron Body" state.
(You idiot, Finger Pistol only uses Iron Body on the arm...)