Leroy Leapt over a vice admiral! Before the VA could React, Felix slammed his giant mech fist into Agate! Sending them skidding as they ground their feet and into the ground forcing their hands against mechs swat! Her devil fruit turning the extremity into mineral rocky surface! The power of the Kobu Kobu no Mi. The Mineral Mineral Fruit! A Paramecia allowing her to turn anything she touches into minerals!
The thunderous explosions of sonic booms dozens of times stronger than any gun shot or thunder boom during a rainstorm came from the Vice Admiral! The Vice Admirals were perhaps the widest amount of difference in strength. Not just because some weren't as strong as others, but because in the Marines, Ranks rarely had large gaps in power. But given the next rank above Vice Admiral was Admiral.
It meant that some of them were no stronger than a Rear Admiral. While others, a select few could rival even the Admirals themselves! With some of them having even nearly gotten the positions but had been edged out by the current Admirals
Vice Admirals; Hemlock [Kihebi;Doku Doku], Uma [Kusauma; Mythical Kelpie], and Rauh [Daitei; Grind Grind] [Not Present at Tovara] were the three Admiral Candidates. And would be the first to be offered the position of Admiral if any of the current positions needed to be filled. And if not. The World Government would search the strongest soldiers and members of Affiliated and Aligned nations of the 350 islands to draft a new Admiral From
This was not only a political move to ensure loyalty among islands if they had a member within in the worlds largest organization, but also motivation of creating stronger marines with big aspirations to shoot for Admiral Position or Candidate later in life.
"Leroy!" A Voice screamed next to Red Sash! A fist slamming into the side of his face! Sending him reeling and smashing into a building. His teeth grit as he looked up to see…
Vice Admiral Gamon!
"Grrhhh ah…Unc…" Leroy groaned…Peeling himself from the building and looking up to the tall man a dozen meters away.
Vice Admiral Gamon. Also known as Dunst Gamon. Or the husband of Leroys Aunt, Daughter of Jack, and sister to Tigre, Dunst Angel. Making Gamon…
Leroys Uncle by his aunts side.
"I'm disappointed Lee. I always thought that you might be able to turn out better that the rest." The Falcon family and extended members were known for being in government affiliated positions. From workers to Marines. After all. East Blue was breeding ground decades ago for Recruits
"And what? Huh! End up like someone like you! Stuck as a Rear Admiral! The fuckin middle management of mairnes! You don't even train people any more!" Gamon was well known for his martial arts skill. Boasted by his Devil Fruit. The Hito Hito no Mi Special Model; Wooden Man. It allowed him to turn into a wooden doll meant for training purposes. Excellent for training Marines in Heavenly Body and Rokushiki
"Don't go there Leroy. You know better than that!" He snapped
"Do I? How old was I? When suddenly stopped talking to me. Showing me books! Comics! Or teaching me stuff with Martial Arts! Right! 18. After Gramps left and was forced to be stationed on HQ. I looked to you!" He screamed. It'd been years since he properly had a conversation with one of the men that had helped teach him how fight. Bolster his want for creativity….
"You were a man! You didn't need me!" Gamon screams! Shooting forward! "Mokuzai; Teha!" His hand formed into wood! Flat and sharp attempting to chop at Red Sash! Leroy brought up his forearms! But at the last second it turned black!
Crashing into his arms! Bypassing his rubber constitution! "No Haki…" Gamon mocked, Leroy slamming against the wall! Shattering it!
"What did I tell you! Apply yourself! Even if it isn't something you like. If you can do one thing that can you money. It means you can do other things you do like! Thats how the world works Lee!" He snapped.
"Agh…Even if he's dick, racist and has temper!" Leroy slammed his fist into the ground. Cracking it as steam began to erupt from his body entering gear second "I prefer Papaw over you!"
"Hyper Shot!" He shot his fist forerward! The shockwave from piercing the sound barrier knocked over the building next to them! Blowing it utterly way like dust in the wind!
"You've old! Fat! But I've actually been trying!" Leroy snapped. Gammon was in his fifties. And has sense relegated himself to the position he was in within the marines…He was getting weak! Even if he'd once known how to even train with Jack! He rusty! Even more rusty than his Grandfather who was out of his prime!
As the fist landed. Gammon formed himself into his full form. Multi-armed and made of wood! He might not be able to keep up with the young mans speed. But with more limbs and rigidity, he could simulate keeping up!
The two slammed their limbs into each other in a clash of fists! Leroy with his Volley and Gamon with Mokutenkanri, Heavenly bodies technique to focus on speed and pressure points!
In that moment however…Leroy thought back…Back to when he was a kid…
It was so strange. In this moment he was fighting his uncle! And yet- The memory had nothing to do with him. If anything. It was a reminder why he was putting himself on the line for this war in the first place…
When he was a young teen. 13 years old. Leroy wore a mask. A literal one. One made of wood, paper and other things. He'd make them because he thought they looked cool. The idea of wearing something he made, he just enjoyed so much
He'd run around Horizon Town, the town he grew up in. Going to people, family members, and even school with it on. Because that was how he expressed himself.
But the truth that hurt, was that most people. Didn't like that. The idea of a child running around with secrets. Even if it was just hiding his face. Or being 'Weird'.
And that very sentiment. Was one of the reasons why Leroy wore those masks. Even if it was only for a few months before his mind went off to think and focus on another hobby.
Because allowed him to both hide himself, but also force everyone to see him. Even if it was a subconscious want. He continued to do it because in his childish mind. He recognized how people would see him because of that blatant difference from normalcy.
Everyone but one person…
Azar.
Azar was 16 at the time. And saw through it. Not in the most…Emotionally intelligent way as if he knew the deep reasons to why Leroy did it. But he knew he was doing it because he wanted to. And because it meant he was seen.
And Azar saw Leroy better than anyone else.
Because Leroy and Azar…
Were the same.
Two people with expectations put them. Two kids growing up with each other. Who even when they had no one else. They had each other.
Truly. Azar was Leroy's first, and most important friend.
Even if he had others. Even if he didn't. He always Had Azar.
And Azar had him. They clung to each other as if like to ingredients that only worked when together. And if separate. Neither would function right.
Thats what it meant for them to be Brothers.
And Gamon reminded him of that fact. Bonds are not strong because you are related by law or by blood to someone like Leroy, or Jack. Those connections are strong, because of what it meant to each other. Because wanted to be. Not because you were forced to be.
That was family. That was what the Red Sash's meant to Leroy…To Leroy his brother-
Azar…Was Bond.
"HRAH!" Leroy slammed a Gear Second enhanced strike right into the jaw of Gammon! A move ironically the man himself had taught him! And now he was using it against him! To go after the family he chose and wanted! Not the family he was forced to have!
"I've always wanted to do this…" He said as Gammon staggered. "Ever since you left…Ever since our bond became conditional…I wanted to show you how much that hurt!"
"Gum Gum! Hyber Arbalist!" He slammed both his hands into his uncle! Cracking his wooden form and sending him flying through a dozen buildings! Even if the fight was easier than his fight against Leery…It hard…
Because of family.
Because of Connections
And now…He was going to get the Connection he loved!
Skidding his feet. Leroy leapt with massive force through the crowd of Marines that now filled the Second City, sending them flying with punches! He was right there! He was at the next stair case!
The Stair Case that lead to the Plaza where Azar was!