For a while after that, Zephyr-sensei suspended classes. Most of the cadets were laid up in the hospital, and with only Ortoren left at school, it didn't feel right to hold public lessons just for him. The upside was that Zephyr could use the time to give Ortoren one-on-one guidance in honing his abilities.
Not long after, the full moon came. Fearing that Ortoren might go berserk and unleash the Goro Goro no Mi, causing massive destruction in Marineford, they shackled him with Seastone restraints on the night itself. Then Garp pinned him down at a beach cove and gave him a relentless beating, knocking him out of his frenzy five or six times before morning.
The next day, Ortoren finally got his wish—he was admitted to the Marine hospital along with his friends. His mental state, however, was far better than before. With the grin plastered on his face, anyone who didn't know the truth might have thought he was getting married rather than hospitalized.
Four or five days later, the Officer Training Camp resumed its regular curriculum. This time, the atmosphere on campus was much more relaxed and friendly than before, and Ortoren could finally say he'd integrated into the Marine system.
Time in a busy, fulfilling learning environment always passes quickly, and so, in Ortoren's eyes, the year 1495 of the Sea Circle Calendar slipped by peacefully and productively.
For a long stretch afterward, his days were calm and steady. Aside from the monthly full moon beatings, he had no other "extra-curricular activities."
Still, his skills in all areas steadily improved.
First came his academics. Once barely able to read a nautical chart, he now knew the locations of every explored and recorded island across the major seas. He also made a point of learning the regional differences, climates, and customs of each sea.
His understanding of the Marines' vast structure grew clearer as well. He could now identify the location of every Marine branch base, the current commanding officer, their main duties, how the internal systems operated, and where to find every relevant department.
Put simply, if you dropped him into Marine Headquarters now, he wouldn't feel lost. If he had a question, he knew exactly who to ask.
He also revisited and deepened his understanding of the World Government's system. It was, without doubt, a massive ruling organization, maintaining between 170 and 200 Member Nations at any given time. Each year, a few nations joined by paying the Heavenly Tribute, while others were expelled for failing to pay.
Whether it was the World Government's hidden hand or simply the keen instincts of evil factions, ambitious leaders, and pirates, those expelled nations almost always suffered major upheavals within a year or two—huge losses, crippling instability, and in some cases outright destruction.
From Ortoren's conspiratorial perspective, it felt like the World Government was intentionally fostering this dangerous precedent—sending a clear message to the Member Nations: disobey, and this is what awaits you.
Meanwhile, his combat strength rose steadily. In just over a month, he'd grasped the basics of all six forms of Rokushiki, advancing at remarkable speed. By comparison, Momonga and the others had taken three to four years to fully master Rokushiki and learn advanced techniques like Seimei Kikan. Ortoren reached that stage in only half a year.
Because of this, his exceptional talent and hard work once again earned him the recognition of many at the academy. Word spread quickly—after all, the cadets here were all Marine elites with their own networks and influence.
Ortoren's name finally spread throughout the Marines, this time without the label of "school bully."
He was hailed as one of the new blood of the Marines, a monster on par with Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino. As a fellow Logia user, he and Sakazuki were privately grouped together with the others under the nickname "The Four Great Logia."
In April, Year 1496 of the Sea Circle Calendar, Ortoren came across an intriguing article in the paper. It was about former Rear Admiral Monkey D. Dragon, who, after leaving the Marines, founded the Freedom Fighters. For attacking a Member Nation under the World Government without authorization, the group had officially been designated a dangerous organization. The World Government issued a public demand for Dragon to apologize on behalf of the Freedom Fighters, disband the illegal armed group, and head to Enies Lobby to face trial and take responsibility for his crimes.
Since the Freedom Fighters were still small in scale and Dragon retained a degree of prestige, the World Government hadn't yet reached the point of calling for his death. Ortoren figured that if Dragon played along with their demands, even turning himself in at Enies Lobby probably wouldn't lead to severe charges. At worst, he'd serve a short sentence—maybe a month or two—before being sent to the Marines for "re-education."
If he kept his head down after the storm passed and showed willingness to serve the World Government again, there was a good chance he'd still be welcomed back as a Marine hero.
But Dragon clearly couldn't care less about the World Government. He publicly fired back in the World Economic News with a single, blunt word: "Scram."
It was obvious that the young Dragon still had a fiery temper.
Over the next few days, Ortoren could tell his "roommate" Garp was in low spirits—part guilt, part self-blame—but every now and then, there was a faint glimmer of relief in his far-off gaze.
It wasn't hard to guess that Garp's feelings about Dragon were complicated. Still, Ortoren wasn't about to dig into the business between a father and son.
Later, during a drinking session with Kuzan, Ortoren casually brought up Dragon's name.
From Kuzan's words, it was clear he'd known Dragon during his "Marine era." Dragon, he said, had been exceptionally gifted from a young age. As the son of the Marine hero, he'd grown up under high expectations, with the upper ranks personally looking out for him.
He'd become a Rear Admiral at a young age, racking up impressive achievements and defeating many long-feared Great Pirates.
Following that path, even the proud Sakazuki—along with other rising Marine officers—saw Dragon as the natural leader of their generation. If nothing went wrong, he would almost certainly be promoted to Vice Admiral, step into the Admiral candidate ranks, and when the time was right, claim an Admiral's seat. From there, even the Fleet Admiral's position wasn't out of reach.
It wasn't just Kuzan's generation who believed in him—veterans like Sengoku had also placed great hopes on Dragon.
The turning point came about two years earlier, in early 1494. That year, Dragon, as one of the Marine's top officers, was chosen as part of the delegation sent to Mary Geoise for the Reverie.
Kuzan didn't know the details, only that something had happened to Dragon there, and during the Reverie he'd stirred up quite a storm of public opinion. By the time it ended, Dragon had declined his promotion to Vice Admiral, resigned his position as Rear Admiral, and vanished from Marineford altogether.
Not long after, word spread that he'd formed the Freedom Fighters, gathering armed forces and keeping largely to himself.
No one paid him much attention back then—until recently, when the Freedom Fighters attacked a World Government Member Nation. That was when his name exploded back into the headlines.
...
Two quiet months passed. By June 1496, the war in the New World was winding down. Charlotte Linlin's Big Mom Pirates and Kaidou's Beasts Pirates had coordinated several times, striking heavy blows against Ochoku, Silver Axe, Captain John, and others, while seizing as much of Shiki's territory as possible.
Not long ago, Shiki—absent from the seas since the Battle of Edd War—resurfaced. Whether it was the lingering fear of his strength or the risk of overextending, Charlotte Linlin, Kaidou, and the other New World powerhouses halted their encroachment on his holdings.
Even so, the former pirate overlord had taken massive losses. Now his forces were barely on par with Ochoku's, confined to his stronghold on Merveille and its surrounding waters.
The New World's pirate hierarchy had shifted: the Whitebeard Pirates now stood unchallenged at the top, Charlotte Linlin in second, Kaidou's Beasts Pirates in third. Shiki had fallen from first to fourth, followed by Ochoku, Silver Axe, and the rest.