Sailing: A Retired Veteran Awakens with Genryusai Template

At the same time...

Compared to Kaido's sudden departure from the Beasts Pirates' base, stirring up a storm in the New World, the first half of the Grand Line faced its own upheaval.

The Marine government and the World Government were reeling from the news of the flying squirrel-led operation's failure. Nothing was more unacceptable than this.

For the Marines, the information on Bai Ye had been comprehensive: a retired veteran from North Blue, with detailed records of his service history, battle achievements, and even injuries. Despite his recent outrageous act of killing a Celestial Dragon, the operation to capture him was considered foolproof.

They had deployed a Vice Admiral along with a fleet of five warships, each equipped with cutting-edge "Pacifists" developed by the Marine Science Corps. The force was substantial—more than enough to apprehend Bai Ye while the Marine's primary focus remained on the looming confrontation with the Whitebeard Pirates.

But the impossible had occurred.

The operation failed spectacularly.

A Naval Headquarters Vice Admiral was dead. Five warships, along with all the Pacifists aboard, had been completely wiped out. The magnitude of the loss was staggering, enough to impact the Marines' next major campaign against Whitebeard.

Marineford.

In the solemn meeting room of Marineford, all the high-ranking officers who had been urgently summoned wore serious expressions. Vice Admiral Tsuru held the battle report, her face grim.

"This result far exceeds our worst estimates," she began. "It jeopardizes our efforts to destroy the Whitebeard Pirates. But even worse, the failure of the Pacifists to deliver any meaningful results has the potential to tarnish Marine's reputation on a global scale."

Tsuru placed the report on the table and turned to face Sengoku, the Marine's Fleet Admiral.

"Sengoku, the situation couldn't be more dire."

Sengoku, his brow furrowed, nodded.

"Indeed."

A Vice Admiral seated nearby couldn't contain his disbelief.

"Marshal Sengoku, the operation failed? How is that even possible? A single man—what could he have done to destroy such a powerful force? Does he have a large organization behind him, or is this an attempt to revive the Rocks Pirates?"

Hearing this, the officers around the room murmured in confusion.

The deployed fleet was formidable, strong enough to challenge even the toughest forces in the New World. That they had been utterly defeated was beyond comprehension.

Sengoku raised a hand to silence the room.

"There are no other forces. No preparations. The enemy acted alone. From the start to the end, the only combatant... was Bai Ye."

The room fell silent.

"What?!"

"A single person?!"

"How is that possible?!"

The murmurs of disbelief turned into exclamations of shock.

Sengoku gestured to the table, where a recording video from a transponder snail began to play.

The officers watched, horrified, as the projection depicted Bai Ye standing alone on the sea. With a single, devastating strike, he obliterated the fleet, evaporating vast quantities of seawater and leaving clouds of steam in his wake.

The room erupted in shock.

"One blow… How is this even possible?!" a Vice Admiral exclaimed, his voice trembling.

"Such terrifying power…" murmured another. "Why was someone like this ever allowed to go unnoticed?!"

Vice Admiral Onigumo clenched his fists tightly.

"A monster of this caliber… and he used to be one of us?!"

Sengoku's voice cut through the din.

"This is why I've convened this emergency meeting. Effective immediately, all Marine branches in the first half of the Grand Line are to enter high alert. Bai Ye's movements must be monitored at all costs. Furthermore, I'm assigning an Admiral to personally lead the next operation to eliminate him."

Gasps filled the room.

"An Admiral…!"

"Is it that serious?"

"But won't this compromise our efforts against Whitebeard's forces?"

Before anyone could voice further objections, the recording continued. The image of Bai Ye's attack—a cataclysmic strike that defied belief—was enough to silence even the most skeptical officers.

Watching the sea boil and evaporate under Bai Ye's power, many felt a chill run down their spines.

At Sea.

Meanwhile, far from the chaos at Marineford, Bai Ye stood aboard his ship, gazing at the endless ocean.

A familiar system notification echoed in his mind.

[Ding! The unlocking progress of the 'Yamamoto Genryūsai' template has increased by 0.5%. Current progress: 60.5%.]

Bai Ye smirked as he felt the surge of power coursing through him. Although the progress increase was small, the tangible growth in strength was undeniable.

At 60% completion, Bai Ye's power already placed him among the strongest beings in the Pirate World. He had assumed the unlocking process would slow down significantly at this stage, but this latest development suggested otherwise.

"What exactly determines the unlocking progress?" Bai Ye mused, his hand resting on the hilt of Ryūjin Jakka. The sheer destructive potential of the weapon was enough to evaporate the entire first half of the Grand Line, should he wish it.

Unfortunately, the system that had awakened within him at the age of sixty provided no answers. Bai Ye had to uncover its mysteries himself.

But one thing was certain.

As long as his power continued to grow, the revenge he sought—the destruction of the World Government—was within reach.

"They've stood unchallenged for 800 years," Bai Ye muttered. "But they've never faced someone like me."

Gripping Ryūjin Jakka, he turned his gaze to the horizon.

The day of reckoning was drawing near.