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Chapter Text

Marineford:

Portugas D. Ace had always been acutely aware of the perils that accompanied a pirate's life, particularly because of his father's notorious legacy. He relentlessly strived to distance himself from the burden of being related to Gol D. Roger, the man the world both idolized and reviled. However, fate seemed determined to thwart his every endeavor. Now, as he knelt before the executioner's stand in the heavily fortified marine headquarters, an unsettling calm washed over his mind, even as his heart churned with turmoil.

With gritted teeth, the young pirate endured the relentless words of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, who unabashedly exposed his origins, shame, and the source of his profound disdain for the world. As death loomed before him, Ace found solace in the hope that his life might be the only one sacrificed on this fateful day.

Amidst the turmoil of conflicting emotions, he wrestled with questions. Should he feel a glimmer of relief if no one came to rescue him? Was there a sense of betrayal lingering in his heart? Uncertainty clouded his mind, but in the depths of his being, Ace embraced the assurance that he would meet his demise without any lingering regrets.

Yet, life's complexities seldom yielded to simplicity. This truth became evident in the face of what Edward Newgate was prepared to do to save one of his beloved sons.

They arrived, a united force of friends and comrades, old rivals, and even former foes, fearlessly charging into the unyielding defense of the Marines. Amidst the chaos, Ace's heart swelled with astonishment as he witnessed his own Pops refusing to be outdone. His eyes widened in awe as the mighty Moby Dick emerged from beneath the waves, enveloped in a protective bubble coating, flanked by three other vassal ships.

Words escaped him in this overwhelming moment as his father's reassuring smile met his gaze, unwavering and unworried. Despite Ace's desperate attempts to push them away and convince them to leave him behind, his clenched fists remained futile against their steadfast determination. Instead, all he received were resounding roars of support and encouragement, assuring him he was not alone.

Even now amidst the fighting across the frozen bay and the deafening explosions, their spirit remained unwavering and relentless as the Whitebeard pirates charged through the artillery fire and raining bullets towards him.

Sengoku's eyes narrowed as he meticulously scanned the imposing silhouette of the Moby Dick, searching for certain individuals he deemed of utmost concern. His frown deepened when those he dreaded eluded his scrutiny. Despite the perilous turn of events, facing Whitebeard was something Sengoku had grown accustomed to over the years. However, when it came to the elusive figures he sought, an unsettling sense of unease gnawed at him. Their inclinations and the full extent of their powers and strategies remained shrouded in mystery despite the exceptional feats they've accomplished over the years.

This uncertainty compelled Sengoku to seek aid from the elders, who assured him Cipher Pol would dutifully prevent the enigmatic group from reaching Marineford. Despite meticulous preparations, Sengoku could not shake the feeling of apprehension clinging to him, for he knew all too well the adage which governed such moments.

"What could go wrong, will go wrong." He whispered, the words taking on the cadence of a solemn mantra. Frustration etched across his face, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.

No sooner had he uttered those words than a thunderous explosion reverberated across the entire island. Pirates and Marines alike instinctively covered their ears, wincing as the deafening sound threatened to rupture their eardrums. Amidst the chaos, some individuals shifted their attention skyward. Sengoku's eyes widened, a reaction mirrored by Garp and Ace, who stood beside him. Before their eyes, a ship floated gracefully in the air, descending slowly until it reached the same height as the scaffold.

The sight before Sengoku was unlike anything he had ever seen, resembling a creation which could only be attributed to Vegapunk's most audacious innovations. It defied all conventional logic, a metallic marvel of dark and bronze, soaring effortlessly through the skies without the aid of propellers or wings. The pristine hull glimmered under the sun's rays, while a mesmerizing pink crystalline flower adorned the foredeck, emanating an otherworldly, gentle glow captivating the eye.

Some of the marines gasped in shock at the floating ship, the giants clenching their weapons and readying themselves in anticipation of an aerial attack while the Whitebeard pirates roared with cheer and excitement.

"About time they showed up." Whitebeard laughed, his eyes brimming with joy as he watched the flying ship. "Always showing off." He added with a hint of mirth, his amusement shared by the nearby Marco who shook his head.

The rowdy group one-upped their entrance.

"Fire…Moth." Ace's voice cracked as he spoke the ship's name, his body trembling when he caught sight of the figures standing at the foredeck.

At the forefront of the ship, a diverse crew of thirteen individuals stood, their eyes fixated on the captive pirate, each expressing a unique emotion. Aokiji visibly tensed when he caught sight of a masked man amongst them, his eyes narrowing as the man's gaze immediately shifted his way. Flames crackled around his arms, a blatant provocation for the iceman to make a move. The admiral relented once he noticed the marines next to him, men who would be needlessly slaughtered should the two of them come to blows.

Among the newcomers, a strikingly beautiful woman adorned in elaborate steampunk attire stepped forward, removing her cog-decorated tophat with a flourish. From within the hat's depths, she produced a magical loudspeaker, captivating the attention of everyone present.

With a clear of her throat, she beamed with excitement and cheerfulness as she addressed the audience at Marineford, her voice carrying a lively tone. Her graceful movements carried her in a twirl around the foredeck, while her fellow crew members remained silent, observing her with exasperation.

"Hello, and greetings, one and all of Marineford! My name is Vill-V, and I'm delighted to see such a large audience gathered for this unique spectacle!" Her words echoed across the stronghold, drawing attention to their unusual display. "As some of you may not recognize us immediately, allow me to introduce our merry band!"

Her captivating gaze locked with the people gathered at the scaffold, and with the charismatic flair of a seasoned showwoman, she gracefully gestured towards her comrades.

"We are the Flame Chasers, here for a simple magical show consisting of making our friend disappear from that scaffold!" Vill-V grinned, her charming enthusiasm an ill match for the tense situation. "But before the start of the show, you'll have to hear a word from our captain!"

Almost on cue, an oppressive aura descended upon everyone present and encompassed the entire battlefield. A fourteenth ascended the stairs leading to the foredeck, emerging into view. Clad in a black overcoat over a white turtleneck, with black pants and boots, a stern young man confidently strode to the very front of the ship, taking the speaker from Vill-V.

"It can't b-be…" Gasps of fear echoed among the marines as they glimpsed his face, while the seasoned officers and rear admirals took a deep breath, tensing with apprehension. His presence alone was enough to elicit such reactions, for he was the man who singlehandedly battled the formidable King of the Beasts, Kaido.

A legendary figure proclaimed as the strongest of the new generation, who stormed through the New World and turned it upside down. Kevin Kaslana, the uncrowned emperor and leader of the Flame Chasers, stood before them.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku." Kevin's voice rang out, unyielding and devoid of emotion, sending tremors through the ranks of the marine soldiers as his piercing blue eyes surveyed Marineford. "If you wish to avoid meaningless casualties, release Fire Fist Ace to us." His demand hung heavy in the air, met only with an eerie silence as the Buddha's imposing gaze met his unwavering stare. "Do not sacrifice your men's lives in vain."

Sengoku's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his own speaker, as he stared back at the unflinching man before him. "You are decades too young to make such demands, outlaw!" His powerful voice resounded, bolstering the courage of the marine forces. "Marines never shy away from making sacrifices for Justice. We are the protectors of the powerless and our duty pushes us forward despite the dangers. You shall meet the same fate as your comrade soon enough!" His words roared with unwavering determination and resolve, bolstering the marines' spirits and rallying them.

"Wow! There sure are a lot of them." Elysia exclaimed merrily, her eyes gleaming with fascination as she observed the warlords and admirals. "It's enough to make even a girl like me shy." She chuckled, placing her hands on her waist, then turned to face Kevin with a radiant smile.

The Hero, unaffected by the myriad of gazes fixed upon him, returned the loudspeaker to Vill-V before crossing his arms. Though he harbored no desire for this war, the precarious situation left them with no alternative, their comrade's life hanging in the balance.

From the moment they found themselves in this world, Kevin had silently sworn an oath to safeguard those close to him. He vowed to prevent the recurrence of past mistakes and losses, no matter the cost, and he was determined to fulfill his promise.

Even if it meant destroying the formidable Navy or the World Government.

"Gresio, Vill-V." Kevin called the painter and the master of Helix, both nodding in acknowledgment. "Begin." He somberly commanded, his eyes void of worries as he scrutinized the unfolding battlefield.

"Okay, ladies and gentlemen! Hold on to your seats!" Vill-V announced cheerfully to the entire island and the world, lines spiderwebbing across the hull of the ship without warning as pieces shifted and twisted. "The show is about to start with an explosive opening act!"

"No way…" Some soldiers on the battlefield gulped as cannons of all shapes and sizes sprouted around the once-intact hull, pointing menacingly at all three sides of the bay.

'The cannons are ready, mistress.' Fire Moth's voice echoed in Vill-V's mind. The magician performed an extravagant bow and whispered a singular word. "Boom."

In an instant, beams of light showered down upon the navy defenses, plunging the soldiers into a grip of panic and fear. However, their terror was short-lived as multiple rays of light collided with the onslaught. The resulting explosions transformed the skies into a fiery spectacle, shockwaves rippling across the entire battlefield, and smoke momentarily concealing the airborne ship from view.

Yet, for Admiral Kizaru, it posed no obstacle.

"Scary ship you have there~." remarked the tall man in yellow, who effortlessly halted the attack. His body morphed into light, and with a swift disappearance, the admiral harnessed the brilliance of his power. In an instant, an overwhelming number of light beams surged forth, aiming to annihilate the airborne vessel.

Below, Whitebeard observed the assault with a wide grin, seemingly unfazed by the destructive flurry of projectiles. Even without the aid of observation haki, he anticipated what would unfold. Among all his children, there was only one daughter who could surpass such a dazzling display.

From the dissipating smoke screen, pink rays emerged, effortlessly neutralizing Kizaru's assault before advancing toward the startled admiral. Borsalino wasted no time; his body transformed into light as he skillfully maneuvered around the pink arrows. The skies above Marineford became a vibrant dance of yellow and pink for the briefest of moments. The clash reached its swift conclusion when one of the arrows penetrated Kizaru's defenses, slamming him into the fortress walls with a resounding explosion.

"Admiral Kizaru was sent flying..." Hushed whispers circulated among the men as they witnessed the admiral being forcefully pushed back. However, any nascent doubts were swiftly extinguished when Kizaru's figure reappeared in the sky, seemingly none the worse for wear.

"L-Look!" Some soldiers pointed out the pink radiance filtering through the dispersing smoke, unveiling the enchanting figure of the pink-haired archer among the Flame Chaser pirates. Her bow gleamed with distinctive pink crystals traveling along its form as she skillfully took aim.

A face notorious worldwide, her bounty eclipsing that of the entire worst generation combined.

"That's the blighted Alyssum! Elysia!"

An uproar reverberated through the battlefield as Elysia smiled proudly, gracefully soaking in the attention with a nod. It was only fitting for a flower like her to command such an audience, yet she wasn't here for mere amusement. "It's been a while, Kizaru." Her sultry voice captivated soldiers and pirates alike as she threw the laid-back admiral a playful wink. "You look exceptionally shiny today. Did you miss me?"

"I can say the same to you, Elysia~." Borsalino casually cleaned his glasses, tilting his head to avoid an arrow aimed at him. "Will you do me a favor and surrender yourself this time?" His nonchalant request was met with silence before both combatants braced for the impending clash. "I'll take that as a no~."

"I'm sorry, admiral. But I'm not an easy girl." The other Flame Chasers remained entirely composed as their comrade gracefully leaped from the ship, a circular disk ejecting from the hull just in time to catch the elegant lady. It obediently followed her command as she soared towards her opponent.

As the showdown unfolded in the skies, the intensity of the ground battle heightened. With Kizaru preoccupied, the ensuing bombardment from Fire Moth left the marine forces disoriented as they struggled to counter the aggressive offensive. Yet, the soldiers swiftly adapted to the challenging situation, showcasing their training and experience. Their concerted efforts thwarted any significant advance from the Whitebeard pirates.

Smoker's brow furrowed as he dispatched another batch of pirates, a growing unease gnawing at his mind. Intuition warned him of impending danger, yet despite his thorough search, he couldn't identify any discernible threat in the vicinity.

That was until he detected a subtle dimming of light around him.

Glancing upward, the captain's eyes widened. His swift reflexes allowed him to transform into smoke, narrowly escaping an unidentified entity which slammed into his previous position. Multiple explosions resonated across the battlefield as more entities descended upon the frozen bay, drawing immediate attention from both sides.

"Please enjoy the company of our beloved painter's devoted staff members as we ready ourselves for the next act." Vill-V's cheerful tone seemed oddly out of place on the grim battlefield. She snapped her fingers, and red dots emerged from the dissipating smoke of the cannon fire around the craters. "Expect nothing less than the best services from them."

The marines watched in growing horror as unknown mechanical creatures of various shapes and sizes surged forth from the craters. Led by horrifying abominations resembling legless bulls ridden by armored lancers, these creatures fearlessly crashed into their defensive lines, sowing chaos and havoc.

Bullets proved futile against their metallic shells, and ordinary blades snapped against their razor-sharp appendages. Tireless and unyielding, the merciless machines sliced through the soldiers with the force of a relentless shredder.

Tashigi agilely evaded a charging mechanical bull, her mind reeling from the brutal carnage around her. Taking a deep breath, she intercepted an incoming slice from the large machine lady's blade, a shiver running down her spine as alarm bells rang in her head. Shifting to her side, she noticed a subtle disturbance in the air as a blade materialized out of thin air, poised to skewer her. Dodging exposed her to the lady's blade, while standing her ground meant a potentially grievous injury at best, leaving the swordswoman with no apparent escape.

"Tashigi! Get back!"

Fortunately, a burst of smoke sent the invisible machine hurtling away. Smoker swiftly slammed his Jitte into the lady's head, his eyes narrowing as her blade grazed his cheek before she detonated.

"Captain Smoker!" Tashigi exclaimed in panic, crossing her arms as the shockwave nearly knocked her off her feet. However, any concerns she harbored dissipated as the White Hunter reappeared beside her.

"Tashigi, head back and notify command that these monsters are armed with Seastone weapons." Smoker's frown deepened, his weapon held firmly in his grasp as he surveyed their precarious surroundings. "Some of them can turn invisible, so watch your back at all times," he cautioned, preparing himself for the imminent approach of more adversaries.

"Yes, sir!" With a determined nod, Tashigi sprinted away.

The machines' relentless assault allowed the Whitebeard pirates to regroup from their initial setbacks. Their advance unfolded smoothly as they clashed with the painter's creations.

"Let's go, Whitebeard pirates! We can't let Kevin and the others take all the spotlight!" Jozu's rallying warcry echoed with a wide grin, injecting fresh vigor into their forces as they plunged back into the fray.

The struggle intensified, becoming a maelstrom of heat, blood, pain, and fury, painting a chilling picture of agony and death as men fell amidst explosions and blades. Sengoku somberly observed the harrowing scene, his grip dangerously tight on the den den mochi as he cast a piercing glare at Kevin. He expected the flame chasers' presence to present difficult and dangerous threats to their forces, but even his wildest estimates didn't include such a large force of dangerous machines.

Across the entire battlefield, thousands of these menacing machines emerged, their origin shrouded in mystery. Despite the overwhelming odds, Sengoku clung to the belief that the situation was not entirely without hope. The 'Kings' had yet to make their move, and their cards had not been fully revealed.

This war had only just begun.

WANTED: ALIVE ONLY

Name: Elysia :3

Monicker: Blighted Alyssum

Bounty: 3.8 Billion Berries

A leading member of the Flame Chaser Pirates, Elysia's astonishing bounty remained a controversial topic shrouded in mystery. Information on the justification for such a special case remained highly confidential, with the latest wild theories suggesting the highest authorities of the World Government personally ordered it. The rumors were further inflamed within the forces of the Navy by the fact Admiral Kizaru and Cipher Pol was tasked with capturing her on multiple occasions following sightings of her.

Regardless, her special powers and advanced Haki shown in the many battles the Flame Chaser pirates had, especially in their fight against the emperor of the sea Kaido, demonstrated her incredible skill and power.

Unsubstantiated gossips suggest she is in a relationship with her captain and one other member of the crew.

Chapter Text

Walking around the ship, Ace grinned from ear to ear as he eagerly checked every part of it. Climbing the mast, sitting at the foredeck, checking the rooms and especially his food, the pirate couldn't suppress the giddiness washing over him as he marveled at his new loot.

Beating its previous pirate owners was easier than he expected, and although the ship had seen better days, he could still work with it wonderfully. All he needed to do was give it a nice cleanup and a better crew than its previous owners, and it would be good to go.

He remembered seeing a few good candidates back in town, and it was about time he made his team. Journeys ahead are going to be too long to handle alone.

"Wow!" A sudden voice startled the life out of him as a dazzling woman landed on the ship. "It's my first time on a pirate ship like this. Should I wear an eyepatch though?" She pondered, crystalline eyes glinting with mischief as she hummed. "It would be a nice change of style, even if it's not as cute as her usual outfit. Then again, even an eyepatch would look cute on me."

Ace did not know how long he stood there, gazing at the pink-haired stranger. It was the first time he met a girl so unnaturally beautiful, her figure gracefully turning to face him with a warm smile. "W-Who are you?" He stuttered, his cheeks a tad redder when the lady chuckled.

"Hi! My name's Elysia." She waved at him, her entire demeanor putting him at ease despite his earlier reservations. "Is this ship yours? Are you a pirate?" She quickly questioned, arms behind her.

Clearing his throat, he quickly composed himself. "I'm a pirate, yeah. I got this ship recently." He puffed out his chest, proudly displaying the deserted empty vessel. He couldn't afford to look like a loser in front of the first guest on his new ship.

"I see." She crossed her arms and nodded, pink hair fluttering in the breeze. "But don't you need a crew for the ship? I don't see anyone else around here." She glanced from side to side, searching for any sign of others around.

"I'm still working on that." Ace hurriedly explained, keeping a confident front as he spread his arms. "It's going to take a while to find nice crewmates to travel with, but my crew is definitely going to be the best!" He declared with a toothy grin, his mind filled with the endless possibilities yet to be explored.

Elysia smiled at him, growing more intrigued as she began observing the young pirate closely. She began checking his form on all sides, her inquisitive stare and questioning hums making the younger boy fidget. Done with her analysis, the pink-haired maiden offered a welcoming smile.

"I'm sure you will." A glint shone in her eyes, as her friends stepped in. Looking at the confused young man, Elysia reached out to him, palm facing upwards. "You should join us! You'd make a good Flame Chaser." She invited him, her friends sighing at her antics.

It was on that fateful day, that Ace lost his first ship, marking the beginning of his journey with his new friends.

Sabaody Archipelago:

The world watched with rapt attention as new developments continued to flow from the Marineford broadcast, the journalists at Sabaody watching with bated breath as the pictures centered around the ship flying over the bay and the carnage under it. Monstrous machines the likes of which the world has never seen, striking down the elite soldiers without mercy amidst canon fire and laser bombardments from Fire Moth.

It was apocalyptic, a sight of hellish proportions from their deepest nightmares.

The reporters watched the man at the forefront of the flying ship, his image placed next to Whitebeard's atop the Moby Dick. In the shadows, the members of the worst generation watched the scenes of destruction with varying degrees of emotions. Some looked with awe, others watched with frustration, while others somberly bore witness. The strongest of the new generation alongside the strongest man in the world, their intimidating gazes striking fear in the spectators.

"So those are the Flame Chaser Pirates." Law noted with a casual smile, curiously observing the screen focused on Fire Moth. "I've never seen a ship that can fly like that."

"Did they fly all the way from the new world?" Bonney wondered as she bit off a large chunk of meat. Her eyes swept through the feeds looking for a certain figure, her brows furrowing when she failed to spot the one she was searching for.

Kidd frowned as some feeds shifted to the ground assault, the unknown constructs still charging strong against the defensive lines. "How did they make those monsters?" He grunted and crossed his arms, looking rather peeved as his crewmates retreated a few steps away.

Many whispered amidst the crowds, gasping as another volley struck the artillery wall. Some could see the few rays of yellow and pink light colliding high in the sky, the devastating explosions of their clash resounding across the entire battlefield.

The world watched, the uncertainty bearing down on them alongside the Hero's emotionless face showcased on the screen.

Marineford:

Boa Hancock narrowed her eyes at the sight of the mysterious machines descending upon the government's forces, feeling a shiver of disgust run through her as one of the tentacled flying ones took over the form of a fallen machine like a parasite. Her instincts warned her of danger, a powerful kick sending the invisible creature targeting her flying before its petrified form broke against the ice. She had not expected them to have infiltrated so deeply into their lines, the revelation causing many soldiers around them to obsessively watch their surroundings.

The pirate empress frowned and retracted her foot, her eyes shifting to the flame chasers high in the sky. 'They truly live up to their fearsome reputation.' She sighed, blinking repeatedly at the sight of the green-haired lady amongst them, noting the eerie similarity she had to her sister. She shook her head, dismissing the notion as she focused on a more important individual. No one knew what lay behind his mask, but the man standing next to Kevin Kaslana remained a steadfast symbol for many in the world.

Kalpas, the Defiant. A true enemy of the gods.

The man who slew some celestial dragons a few years ago, his name admired and abhorred by many across the world. Like many who bear grudges against the celestial dragons, Hancock held the masked flame chaser in high regard. She came here knowing there was a chance he would participate, to see for herself the kind of man the infamous destroyer was.

The silent man seemed to sense her gaze, his head shifting in their direction. Although the distance between them was considerable, she couldn't shrug off the sudden sensation of imminent danger washing over her. The other warlords must have sensed it as well, their attention shifting to him as the man held his gaze, an unspoken disdain in his posture as he lazily rolled his shoulder.

Both sides remained still, each readying themselves as the defiant uncrossed his arms. Looking beside her, Hancock could see Moria flinching as he hurriedly brandished his scissor blades. Dolflamingo seemed exceedingly agitated, his fury almost palpable as veins pulsed in his forehead. The only level-headed people beside her were Mihawk and Kuma, but she supposed the latter's mechanical self was probably impervious to intimidation of any kind.

Still, he wouldn't truly charge at all of them, right?

Her hesitation slowly turned to shock as Kalpas stepped forward, her lips twitching at the man's blatant recklessness.

He has to be joking, right? Even for a man as powerful as him, tackling five warlords on his own was suicidal! Does he even realize the danger he's putting himself in?!

Salome began trembling beside her, hiding behind her owner when Kalpas took another step. Hancock suppressed her frustrations, readying herself for the man's assault.

Kalpas's body tensed, muscles coiling as he prepared to dive into the enemy lines. Before he could jump, a giant block of ice blocked his path as it was hurled toward the marine forces. Both forces gasped at the size of the projectile, with only a select few maintaining composure as the block approached the scaffold.

"Those idiots." Akainu stared at the incoming attack with contempt, scoffing as he stood from her seat. The block of ice was simple enough to deal with, but what mattered to him more was the flying ship behind it. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the admiral quickly leaped into action as his arm morphed into magma, his target clear. "Great Eruption!" He roared, his lava burning through the colossal ice in an instant.

The Whitebeard pirates watched as their attempt was vaporized in the blink of an eye, many gasping once the lava continued on its path straight to Fire Moth.

"They're aiming for Fire Moth!"

"That bastard." Marco's eyes narrowed, his fist clenched as he readied to intervene, only for Whitebeard to stop him. "Pops?" Marco questioned, blue flames dying out as he glanced at the smiling captain.

"It's going to be ok, Marco." Newgate reassured him, a confident smirk on his face as he looked at the magma approaching the flying vessel. "Kevin is making a move." He simply stated, a sentence carrying more weight than any marine could believe. Those who never fought against the ever-serious leader of the Flame Chasers would not know what such a simple sentence meant.

…Well, that and the words "Kevin cooked the food.", but that was for the better. Memories of frozen food made Marco shudder as they in turn brought about a deep seated fear shared by all those who had the misfortune of hearing even more ominous words. "Dr. MEI cooked some food! Run for your lives!" The mere recollection brought about unholy nausea as the Phoenix rubbed his arms for comfort, reminding himself of how far MEI was from their kitchen at the moment.

In any case, the quake man was far from worried. In his long life and the innumerable encounters he had, Whitebeard held one certainty concerning this son of his.

He had never met a young man stronger than him.

The Flame Chasers watched the incoming attack while their leader advanced, silently raising his hand as the air around him grew bitingly cold. His hand reached forth to the incoming lava before spikes of ice burst forth, colliding with Akainu's fist. Shockwaves traveled across the battlefields, the gales of wind strong enough to reach the fighters on the ground. Both marines and pirates watched as the lava's momentum was brought to a screeching halt, the ice successfully pushing it back. Parvati's powers proved much more tenacious than the block Juzo threw.

"Ice…" The marines watched in shock, some soldiers looking at Aokiji in confusion.

"Akainu's magma was stopped…"

Neither Akainu nor Kevin flinched at the surprising turn, the admiral's scowl growing more prominent as he channeled more strength into his blow. The magma grew even more intense, engulfing the ice and briefly continuing its advance. The marines cheered as the admiral's attack drew closer to the ship, confident Fire Moth would meet its demise.

Kevin remained steadfast, meeting the fearsome attack with indifference. With the clench of his fist, ice pierced through the shower of magma and pushed it away from the ship once more. Down below, the fighters could only watch as the fearsome Admiral's blow was halted a second time, the intense heat of his magma unable to melt the strange ice fast enough to progress anymore.

Akainu felt anger slowly build up within him, gritting his teeth as he glared at the silent pirate on the other side. With their clash ending in a stalemate, the admiral shifted his focus to the enemies on the ground, volcanic rocks raining down on the enemy troops.

Fire Moth's reaction was swift, canons shifting smoothly like clockwork before intercepting the bulk of the volcanic rocks hurdling toward the pirate forces. The devastation wrought by the ones who reached the bay remained chilling as many pirates fell victim to the unforgiving magma.

Akainu retracted his power, throwing a cursory glance at his ripped glove before focusing on Kevin again. The ice shattered, revealing the Hero's composed gaze as he crossed his arms, none the worse for wear. Sakazuki's countenance grew darker, his eyes glowing an ominous red as he observed the flame chasers. 'I must kill him.' He vowed in his heart, knowing what was at stake in this important day. Whitebeard might have been the main target, but he was a relic of times long since passed. Kevin Kaslana presented a greater threat, as the leading figure of the new era. His very existence was far more emboldening and problematic for the world order than an old man on his last legs.

He must be dealt with for the Marines to ever hope to cripple the will of future pirates.

Kevin surveyed the battlefield alongside his comrades, watching as Gresio's creations and the Whitebeard pirates pushed the Marines further back. Their painter wasted neither time nor quality in the making of these creatures, the ample time given between the announcement of Ace's execution and the battle offered the necessary window to manufacture a satisfying force to handle the majority of the fighting.

Still, their opposition remained well positioned despite Aokiji and Kizaru leaving their posts, with Ace firmly in their grasp. Garp and Sengoku stood right next to him, making a direct dash incredibly risky for their friend. They needed more chaos to force the fleet admiral into deploying his trump cards and distance the stronger forces he still had.

Without warning, tremors shook the island as the colossal figure of Little Oars Jr advanced towards the fortress. The Flame Chasers turned to the approaching behemoth, watching as he charged through the marine defenses and into the bay.

Kalpas chuckled as he watched the Giant unit advance, clashing with the hulking monster to stop him. "Idiots." He spoke, voice laced with amusement and disdain. Growing disinterested in the fight, the Mad King quickly returned his attention to the warlords with the focus of a seasoned hunter.

Aponia's eyes shifted to Mobius, her comrade silently gazing at Oars with a frown on her face. "You should stop him…before it's too late." The scion of Discipline urged her friend, her voice soothing.

"Why are you asking me?" Mobius retorted sharply as she glared at the silent nun. "Why don't you just ask him with a pretty please?" She offered a smug grin, to which Aponia shook her head.

"If she does, he'll be left vulnerable." MEI's voice came through their communications, her voice noticeably cold. "He's a prime target now, we can't have him freeze up for them to shoot."

Mobius did not respond, her eyes following Oars's every move as he cut down Vice Admiral Lacroix. She could see Whitebeard trying to convince him to stop, but the old man's words could not convince him. The lumbering idiot was walking to his death, even a bumbling idiot like Ace knew it.

"Doctor." Klein called to her through the comms, her voice gentle and reassuring. "Current analysis shows subject Oars's chances of success are at 0.0012%, chances of surviving an attempted charge are 0.00011%." She noted with certainty, the sounds of tapped keyboards and humming echoing in the background as her dear assistant monitored the ship's condition. "Stopping subject Oars's charge is recommended." She concluded, silently awaiting Mobius's response.

The entire crew knew the snake was simply putting on her usual front, completely aware of the small attachment Mobius held for the gentle giant in the short time they spent with him. If there was any among them whom he would listen to, it could only be her.

"For a creature with such a big brain, he's really stupid." Mobius sighed, her eyes glaring at the approaching Oars as he passed by. Narrowing her eyes, the snake relented. He was a unique specimen, that's all.

"What do you think you're doing, Oars?"

Oars stopped dead in his tracks, freezing up as he turned to the ship flying at eye level. He secretly hoped he wouldn't have to talk with Mobius, but it couldn't be helped. "Big sis Mobius, please don't stop me." He pleaded, meeting the scientist's admonishing gaze with a determined one. "I have to save Ace as soon as possible."

"Are you going to disobey me?" She asked, her usual confident smile replaced with cold stoicism. "I won't help you if you won't listen." She warned harshly, completely intent on following through with her words should Oars continue.

Oars flinched, averting his gaze from the lady before he marched on. "I'm sorry." He apologized, gaze growing sharp as he steeled his resolve. Much as it pained him to anger the one who looked after him when he was stricken with illness, he could not afford to waste a single second whilst Ace remained in captivity.

And so the entire battlefield bore witness to Little Oars Jr's valiant charge.

Even as he suffered through Kuma's Ursus shock. Even as Doflamingo severed his leg. Even as his body was pierced by Moria's shadows and bombarded with cannon fire. Little Oars Jr stubbornly continued moving forward.

Until at last, the descendant of the continent puller fell just as his hand stood inches away from the friend he wished to save, his unmoving body attracting the attention of pirates.

However, whilst others remained in shock, one person immediately leaped into action. A man whose gaze was fixated on his targets from the beginning, patiently observing them throughout the chaos.

Doflamingo's laughter was cut off when he suddenly felt chills running through his body. No one could tell when it happened, only what followed Kalpas's abrupt appearance behind the warlord. Doflamingo's smile receded somewhat, his muscles tensing as he sensed a distinct emotion infesting his heart.

Fear…a fear of imminent death. A feeling shared by those around them when faced with the evil aura oozing off the masked man in waves, the soldiers hesitating to breathe in fear of dying at his hands.

He couldn't be human…

Before them stood a monstrous incarnation of slaughter, a creature of decimation and horror.

His thoughts became clouded with uncertainty, any move he planned infected with doubt. With Kalpas right behind him, he could neither make distance nor block in time to avoid serious injury. Every second felt like an eternity as the masked man observed him with the bloodlust of a manic predator.

It was at this moment, that Doflamingo realized he was made into prey.

"What's the matter, warlord?" Kalpas gazed at Doflamingo's frozen figure, flames engulfing his fists. "You were having so much fun there. Let me have some too."

His strike came too quickly, his searing flames burning Doflamingo's strings to ashes before his fist slammed into his back. The ground underneath them shattered, shockwaves sending the people around them flying in all directions as the fearsome warlords spat blood. His Haki shielded him from certain death, yet still, he could feel his ribs breaking and spine cracking as his body was blown away. His mind was flooded with pain as his jacket was incinerated, crossing his fingers and trying to gain some distance.

Or so he thought, only to feel the searing pain of his leg burning up as the Mad King of Decimation caught it in his grip before he forcefully pulled him back. The warlord attempted to mount a defense against the incoming second blow, crossing his arms and coating them in armament. His defense proved life-saving once more as it saved him from losing his head, although the damage remained extensive as his body was firmly slammed deep into the ice and almost reached the seawater underneath.

Rear admiral Yukimura attempted to take advantage of the distraction, a burst of Soru propelling him behind Kalpas in the blink of an eye. However, Kalpas easily caught Yukimura's blade and pulled him in for a devastating strike to his face. The blow sent Yukimura soaring in the air before his body mercilessly slammed against the ice, with no one able to see the degree of his injury.

Everyone could only stare in terror, as the man stood over the human-sized crater Doflamingo's body left in the bay. Neither the Marines nor the Pirate forces dared approach the masked man, fearful of becoming his next victim. Further back amidst the marine forces, Moria shakily gulped when the fiendish man turned his gaze toward him, his fear distracting him from the second piercing stare watching him from the Fire Moth.

None dared take their sights from Kalpas, the simple act of dusting off his clothes causing the enemies to tense and gulp. Even the giants steered clear of the solitary figure, hands firmly clutching their weapons as Lonz's corpse was thrown next to him. The flame chaser's gaze briefly shifted to Whitebeard, snorting at the sight of the man's smug grin before shifting his attention back to the crater.

Kalpas prepared to deliver one final blow, only to redirect it to the giant ice pheasant thrown at him. Hellish flames engulfed the ice construct in the blink of an eye, the flame chaser's boisterous laughter ringing far and wide as he stepped out of the flames toward the approaching Aokiji.

"Arara, I didn't think you'd move this late." The admiral's eyes narrowed as ice overtook most of his body, his voice unusually serious for the easygoing man. Dealing with this pirate would be quite the pain for the lazy man, but… "I guess I don't have much of a choice." He sighed, gazing down at the shorter fighter's mask.

"You talk too much." Kalpas chuckled mockingly, overwhelming bloodlust radiating from his lone figure amidst enemy forces. "Let's see if you're worth killing this time." A malevolent glint shone in the gap of his mask, his fist turning into a blur as he aimed for Aokiji's head.

The admiral reacted in kind, their fists colliding as the soldiers around them quickly evacuated. Tremors shook the bay and fortress, a deadly struggle of ice and fire spiraling into their surroundings each time they collided against one another.

"It appears our foe is luring the allies deeper into the bay." Back on the Fire Moth, Su abruptly declared.

"Yep. They're not human either." Vill-V agreed as holographic panels appeared beside her, signals resonating near the entrance to the bay echoing in a pattern similar to Kuma's. "These must be Vegy's new toys. I'll take care of it." She noted cheerfully, eagerly anticipating the results of Vegapunk's hard work.

He did ask for her feedback. She can't leave such a cheerful peer hanging.

"Are you sure it's ok to let Kalpas attack so soon?" Sakura turned to Kevin, her voice low as she kept an eye on a certain swordsman amidst the sea of foes.

"I can understand his anger. But acting recklessly might lead him to an enemy trap." Fu Hua added, arms crossed as she sighed. The more time she spent looking at the green giant's mangled body, the more she felt her frustration rise.

"It will be fine. Kalpas would not have listened regardless." Kevin answered, his gaze locked onto Oars's fallen form. While the crew might have done a better job at maintaining composure than their resident Mad King, it hardly meant their outrage was feeble. "Kalpas also understands this, he will be ready when he is needed." He stated, eyes growing cold when he noticed Akainu's sudden disappearance. Channeling his Haki, Kevin's senses stretched across their surroundings, searching for the admiral but failing to find him in the fray. 'He must be somewhere in the town…or near the entrance to the bay.' He shifted his gaze to the ships of the allied pirates, scrutinizing them before he decided to prepare for the Marines's next move.

It was not yet time to begin their full offensive.

Aponia turned to the frozen tsunami wave on the left, her eyes focusing on the ship situated on top of it. "Kosma, get ready to catch our incoming guest." She instructed the silent boy, a hint of mirth briefly shining on her somber face.

Kosma frowned but followed her command, standing near the left rails and waiting for something to happen. He didn't know what to expect until a hand suddenly stretched from the frozen wave all the way to their ship. "..." Kosma silently watched the hand hold on to the railing, thoughts indiscernible behind his stoic face. '...That's cool.' He then noticed a figure flying toward the ship, probably the person grabbing onto it. Their momentum quickly got too quick for them to stop in time, prompting the young man to tense and grab the screaming boy's head as he arrived.

The rest of the Flame Chasers watched as the man's limbs continued to stretch forward due to his momentum before they retracted back to normal. The young man's face was easily recognizable given the countless times they'd seen it in the wanted posters Ace showed around.

"Thanks for the save." Straw hat Luffy jumped to his feet, letting out a long sigh as he looked around with narrowed eyes. On a normal day, Luffy might have stopped to gawk and check every part of this flying ship, but this was far from a casual day. Turning to the scaffold, he smiled in relief when he saw Ace alive and well. Walking to the front of the ship, he took a long deep breath and screamed for the entire world to hear.

"AAAACCCCEEEEEE!" His roar echoed across the entire bay, garnering the attention of every soldier and pirate present.

"Luffy!" Ace couldn't believe his eyes, seeing his little brother standing on fire moth before him. Fear gripped his heart, knowing this conflict was too dangerous for someone as reckless as him.

"We're here for you!" Cracking his knuckles, Luffy felt a fire light up in his chest as he readied himself to charge. His eyes blazed with unyielding determination, his gaze locked onto the scaffold unblinkingly.

'A hothead, just like his brother.' A faint smile appeared on Kevin's face as he observed the boy. His comrades shared in his amusement, watching nonchalantly as the navy ship the rubber boy came on fell down the frozen wave.

High in the sky, Elysia turned to Fire Moth at the sudden scream, her face brightening at the sight of Ace's infamous younger sibling. "So that's Ace's little brother. He looks so cute!" She giggled, crystalline eyes shimmering with glee as she took in his figure.

Sengoku looked like he was about to strangle his friend then and there, the fleet admiral admirably restraining himself as he was met with one issue after another because of Garp and his family. The Hero of the Marines wisely chose to distance himself a bit farther from the irate Buddha, internally panicking at the sheer idiocy of his grandson.

"Alright! Time to get going." Needless to say, Luffy did not have the slightest notion of the ruckus he caused and didn't care either. The only goal that mattered was saving his brother as quickly as possible.

Speaking of which…

"How do I get down there?" He turned to the flame chasers, grinning widely as he pointed to the frozen bay. "Also, who are you guys?"

WANTED: DEAD ONLY

Name: Kalpas

Monicker: The Defiant

Bounty: 3.9 Billion Berries

The infamous murderer of a dozen celestial dragons, Kalpas had set the record for the fastest bounty growth amongst pirates to date. His heinous deeds involve the mass murder of many nobles from different kingdoms and Marijois during the "Blood Bid" incidents in Sabaody Archipelago and other islands. This dangerous individual had a serious habit of going against the world government initiatives every step of the way, although it hardly meant pirates had it easy.

Most accounts of the battle between the Flame Chaser Pirates and the Beast Pirates at Wano tell of the devastating death toll Kaido's powerful crew suffered at the hands of this man. A number of renowned pirates like Marco the Phoenix, "King" of the Beast Pirates, and many others were also defeated by this man. Navy forces didn't fare any better, with a number of Cipher Pol divisions facing their annihilation against him. Slaves have taken to calling him the King of Flames, but the World Government solemnly refused to offer such a title to a murderous madman.

He is a ruthless monster who will kill all in his path, men, women, and children. Very few have crossed paths with him and live to tell the tale.

PLEASE CONTACT THE MARINES IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS MAN.

TAKE REFUGE IF YOU SUSPECT HE IS IN THE AREA.

Chapter Text

Oars couldn't suppress the gleeful grin on his face as he sat under the scorching summer sun without a care in the world. He looked up to his new hat courtesy of Ace and his friends, feeling the soft, cooling breeze brush his face and hair from the strange contraptions attached to it. He didn't understand anything about it, nor did Ace, but he remained grateful for the precious gift. He never got any presents before, mostly due to his immense size, so he never wasted a chance to test his new accessory.

His crewmates tried to keep him company, but the weather was harsher than usual today, forcing them to return to the ship. Oars didn't want to head back, wanting to enjoy the shade his new present offered some more.

Besides, he promised to meet someone here.

"You're here early, Oars." Mobius called out to him, snapping him out of his reverie. Dressed in her usual lab coat, with the new mobile mini-lab following behind her, the green-haired lady gazed at the giant with narrowed eyes. "I told you to avoid staying in the sun too long." She commented her sharp tone a clear indication of her dissatisfaction.

Ever the doctor's shadow, Klein dutifully began taking out the tools and laying them on the pristine table with practiced familiarity, her precision and focus remaining immaculate despite the impressive speed she exerted. The assistant casually snuck glances at her superior and the subject they were analyzing, taking the sight of the giant creature sitting seiza with his head hanging low as Mobius tapped her feet irritably, arms crossed and glaring daggers at him in stride.

"Well? Anything to say for yourself?" She questioned all too sweetly, her serpentine slits glinting with annoyance. Most people wouldn't dare approach the colossal Oars with such an attitude, never mind openly pressing him so haughtily.

Oars shook his head, accepting her chastisement with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, big sis Mobius." Oars apologized sincerely, lowering his head further.

Mobius seemed somewhat appeased, letting out a short sigh before turning to her equipment. "Never disobey me again if you know what's good for you." She grumbled, checking over the files of the latest session. It was the first time Mobius had seen a living creature of his size, surpassing even the giants they met on their journeys manyfold. The Flame Chasers heard a few tales of the famous continent puller and his colossal might, but they remained skeptical of its validity until they met Little Oars Jr.

Oars thought the Flame Chasers were a weird bunch, approaching him with neither fear nor worry. Their first conversations were brief and cordial, with Ace and Elysia doing most of the talking while the others explored the island. He didn't think much of them until he got his new hat, made by the flame man and pink beauty. His new gift made him ecstatic, and he practically never wore it off.

Until he got himself sick from staying in the rain too long. His crewmates didn't like that, and Ace said he shouldn't have done it. Then Mobius came, forcing him to rest as she examined him. At first, he was worried, seeing her smiling so widely as she took bits of his hair and attached some weird machinery to his body. However, he slowly got used to it and began to ask questions every time she came to visit, like how she healed him with some weird medicine she put in his drink or the big needles called "vaccines" she stabbed in his arm. Despite her rough exterior, Oars never felt worse or hurt when she looked after him, always listening to him and explaining the situation when he was lost.

Oars once heard Ace say he looked after his little brother like she did when he was a kid, so the green colossus started calling her big sister.

Mobius said he won't have to worry about getting sick like this anymore. Ever since getting the injection, he got better gradually until he was freed from her constraints.

But with his treatment finished, Mobius told him it was time for him to pay. At first, Oars thought she was going to ask for treasures or other spoils they had, but she demanded he let her examine him for the duration of their crew's stay.

And that's how the two found themselves here, with Mobius furthering her studies on Oars and the giant joyfully following her orders. The immortal snake didn't discuss any unnecessary subjects, focusing solely on her data accumulation and tests. Her subject liked to watch her fiddling through paperwork with narrowed eyes, his eyes brightening at the sight of the floating squares of light beside her.

Mobius frowned when she noticed her surroundings getting dimmer, turning to see Oars placing his flattened hands above her. The weather wasn't hot enough to bother a MANTIS such as herself, yet she did not attempt to stop Oars, watching him with amusement.

"You shouldn't stay in the sun too long, big sis Mobius." He gently reminded her, grinning down at her as he stubbornly moved his hands to shield her from the sun when she tried to get out of the shade.

Mobius snorted, shaking her head and returning to her research. "Don't get cheeky with me, Oars." She warned, though her voice lacked the stinging barb it usually held. She ignored his chuckles and proceeded with her experiments.

Behind her, Klein gave the smiling Oars a grateful nod before she hurried to reorganize the paperwork Mobius left in her erudition rampage. 'At least it isn't her power's wastes.' She comforted herself, sighing tiredly at the memories of the times she had to restlessly clean after the doctor when she used her powers.

Honkai remnants were infinitely harder to wash off than chaotic research papers.

Still, the laborious work was worth it to see the doctor at ease and enjoying herself. She was impatient to see him nearly all day but did not want to come early out of pride, now she was having fun and comfortably progressing her scientific pursuits. As much as Mobius wanted to deny it, the rest of the crew knew she took a liking to the green giant, especially when she started to act smugger when he started calling her 'big sis'.

Klein hoped their stay with Oars would be long as she hurried behind her with various medical tools. Oars laughed at the sight of the tiny girl carrying loads of supplies with ease, wondering where the short assistant's endless energy came from.

The three remained alone throughout the sunny day, keeping each other company in the silent plain.

Marineford:

Gazing at the young man in front of him, Kevin could sense a multitude of emotions; the desperation to save his brother, the determination to sail through hell and high waters for the sake of his goal, and most importantly a complete and total cluelessness about everything around him. A long time had passed since a person who wasn't one of his comrades spoke to him with such nonchalance and honesty, and the same went for the others.

There was neither hostility nor ulterior motives behind his question, his eyes reflecting an unflinching sincerity. It wasn't an unwelcomed experience as it visibly lightened their mood, his curious face amusing the bearer of Deliverance. However, his amusement isn't enough for him to allow Ace's brother to descend into the treacherous battlefield.

"We are Ace's friends." The leader answered, his words bringing a cheerful smile to Luffy's face. "We're here to save him, same as you." He added, the rubber boy's jovial reaction increasing the Flame Chaser's intrigue.

"Can you help me get down there?" Luffy pointed to the bay, lacking any fear or hesitation at the prospect of jumping headlong into the bloody chaos. He had no time to waste if he wanted to save his brother.

"Are you certain about your decision?" Kevin walked up to Luffy, piercing blue eyes staring at the rubber man as he pointed to the bloodbath below them. "Many on that battlefield possess the ability to stop and hinder you, and a good number of them can probably kill you effortlessly." He stated coldly, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes when he was met with a fearless glare. "Do you still believe you could make a difference?" He demanded, the staredown between the two attracting the attention of several figures at the bay.

"Of course I am!" Luffy answered, cracking his knuckles before he turned to the edge of the ship's foredeck. He briefly contemplated jumping down, but even he was a bit skeptical of falling from this height. Luffy's face suddenly brightened, a brilliant idea coming to mind. "Can you throw me at Ace?" He cheerfully asked, pointing to the scaffold as he turned to the Flame Chasers.

"He can, but you will die." Aponia interjected, offering a gentle smile as she approached. "At your current level, you won't be able to save Ace on your own." She declared, her eyes staring deep into what lay beneath the rubbery shell when a rhythmic sound rang in her mind. It was a reinvigorating melody, the beating of drums tugging at the heartstrings despite the fleeting intensity. A power as ridiculous as it was devastating, a perfect match for its exceptional wielder.

Gresio tilted her head, watching Luffy with interest. "His color...is funny and warm." She said, smiling whilst considering the possibilities the young pirate's colors inspired.

Aponia shared a knowing glance with Su, her colleague no doubt sensing the joyful tunes as a fellow psychic MANTIS. The leaf held in the Bodhi's hand danced to the drumbeats he could glimpse, the incomplete rhythm not limiting the awe it inspired.

However, he was not ready to use it yet. The merry song within his chest was still beyond his reach, and the young boy had a long road ahead of him before he could grasp his true strength.

"Hua, Sakura." Kevin called his comrades, his attention shifting back to the scaffold. "You will go with Straw Hat Luffy, get to the walls, and open a breach for the forces to enter the plaza." He ordered, receiving silent nods as the swordswoman and martial artist moved to Luffy's side. As courageous and bold as Ace's brother was, they couldn't leave him alone amidst the disorder, and his presence only made Kevin more determined to pierce into the plaza before the Marines' encirclement was complete.

Luffy looked at the two young women beside him with confusion, still wondering how they would descend from so high up. "Eh?" He uttered once both of them grabbed hold of him, a small frown appearing before he felt weightless for some reason.

…Wait, why was he seeing the ship's foredeck?! Why were they smiling at him like that?!

Realization sunk in rather quickly once gravity took the reins, the young pirate screamed as hard as he could as they began to fall. For a few brief moments, Luffy thought of his friends and those close to him, his brief but chaotic life flashing before his eyes until he recalled an important detail.

"I'm a rubber man! I'll be alright!" He screamed, his fear disappearing with the immediate danger of death was gone. Relief washed over the captain of the Straw Hats and he sighed in relief, his eyes widening once he caught sight of a flying disk heading towards them.

All his earlier hesitation was worthless!

"You just remembered that?" Hua asked dryly, chuckling and landing gracefully on the disk and intercepting the two of them before they were propelled to the center of the battlefield. Sakura's stoicism gave way to an amused smile, already anticipating such childish behavior from a person Ace considered high-maintenance.

Their exceptional entry did not go unnoticed, with multiple canons and artillery units shifting their focus to them as they approached the battlefield. "Shoot them down, men!" Officers screamed their commands, a barrage of cannon fire blazing towards the incoming trio. With their enemy out in the open and far enough from Fire Moth, it was a golden opportunity to deal a major blow to enemy morale by taking out two enemy commanders and a supernova.

Sakura's stern gaze grew frosty, her hand gripping her blade. In an instant, all hostile projectiles were sliced and diced, with the three briefly disappearing amidst the smoke. The disk continued its advance towards the plaza's walls until the two women abruptly pulled the clueless young boy off just in time to avoid a green energy wave slashing through the smoke and the disk effortlessly.

The three landed on the frozen bay, their appearance already anticipated as marine soldiers surrounded them within seconds. Sakura and Hua paid the soldiers no heed, focused solely on the lone figure approaching them, standing at the forefront with his black sword in hand.

Luffy's face paled when his eyes met the man's distinctly hawkish gaze, keenly reminded of the disturbing ease with which he defeated Zoro.

"Hua, keep moving with the boy." Sakura solemnly instructed her friend, hand gripping her weapon. They couldn't afford to turn their backs to the enemy before them, and it was better to keep him busy here while the two behind her continued their charge.

"Understood. Be careful, Sakura." Hua whispered before the two of them rushed forward. Blasting through the enemy forces together, the two slowly built up momentum as they coordinated with each other. Between Hua's elegant, deadly strikes and Luffy's barrage of improvised, devastating blows, the soldiers couldn't find an opening to exploit.

With her comrades out of the way, Sakura stepped forward, her intimidating presence forcing the marines surrounding her back. She continued to advance, calm and steady steps matched only by the fearsome man in front of her.

"The Blade Demon, Sakura. I've heard much about you." Dracule Mihawk calmly observed the silent swordswoman, matching her pace with great focus. The two stopped a few feet from each other before they each took their stance, their standoff notably distancing the fighting from them. Both of them cast aside all distractions, their senses filtering out the unnecessary noise and figures amid this chaotic mess.

Without warning, they sprang into battle.

Sakura's figure vanished, evading the black blade's mighty blow as the frozen tsunami wave behind her was chopped to pieces. Her figure remerged behind Mihwak, their eyes locked into each other before she launched her counter. "Battō!" Setsuna's enchanting blade glimmered in a mixture of crystal blue and dark, and its slash cut through the entire bay before reaching the plaza's outer walls. Neither the gargantuan gash her strike left on the icy bay, nor the chilling ice spikes piercing into the plaza matched her katana's slender build, leaving only shock and awe in its wake.

'Her Haki is razor sharp.' Mihawk remained unharmed, channeling more strength as his blade ground against Setsuna. Neither swordsman relented as the area around them was sliced and diced by each of their strikes, with many fleeing the scene as the hail of slashes cut through everything remotely near either of them.

None dared stay in the vicinity, fearful of being turned into mincemeat amidst their blades. Their fight seemed to be in a world separate from the rest of the conflict, where anyone who dared approach would find themselves on the path to a short and agonizing experience of what going through a meat slicer would feel like.

Smoker observed the two fighters curiously, growing apprehensive of the unnatural aura around the Flame Chaser's eerie katana. "I've never seen a sword like that before." He grunted, his Jitte crushing an enemy machine's head with a powerful swing. The captain was growing used to these creatures' patterns, and it became easier to anticipate some of their reactions with trial and error. However, many of his comrades were not so lucky, given the mounting number of victims tainting the iced bay crimson.

Beside him, Tashigi's eyes lit up once she caught sight of the gleaming crystal blade when Sakura's thumb nudged her katana out of its metallic sheath. "The Frozen Naraka, "Setsuna". One of two swords deemed special grade, with every manufacturing process and characteristic remaining a mystery. None so far have managed to understand how it was created, with only myths and rumors suggesting the pirate Vill-V harnessed death's chill wind and fashioned it into a blade." She elaborated, her eyes surveilled every detail she could glimpse with unrestrained zeal, studying both the weapon and its master.

Smoker took the details with notable skepticism, focusing on the more notable portion of Tashigi's explanation. "I didn't know there was a special grade for swords." He spoke, making a mental note to ensure he stayed informed about the latest information should he survive this conflict.

"They were only added recently for unknown blades whose powers proved beyond a certain norm. The Frozen Naraka's sharp blade and ice abilities are said to have sliced off one of Kaido's horns." Tashigi quickly explained, ducking under an enemy pirate's blow before her sword slashed open his midsection. It was quite intriguing to finally see a blade with renown matching the twelve highest-grade swords if only disconcerting to see it used by an enemy. "Although if the second sword lives up to half the tales people have spun about it, this battle will turn even more grim." She added, her features turning noticeably grim.

"So it is here?" Smoker frowned, remaining composed as his smoke pulled a few soldiers out of the machines's reach before they were trampled underneath.

Tashigi nodded, her gaze turning to the captain of the Flame Chasers with noticeable apprehension. "The second sword is called Star of Destruction, "An-Utu". It's the sword of Kevin Kaslana, reported to have erased the Beast Pirates' headquarters without leaving a trace." She informed, silently wondering where the mysterious sword was. The young swordswoman could easily tell the enemy leaders were holding back because of the prisoner at the scaffold, silently dreading the potential devastation the strongest man in the world and the uncrowned emperor could inflict on the island without such restraint.

On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard watched the flashy entrance with furrowed brows, his sons cheering as they hurried to join the newcomers. He kept his sights on Sakura, gripping his polearm tightly as he readied himself to aid her if necessary. He wasn't startled when his mochi suddenly began ringing, not once losing sight of his daughter as he picked it up. "Whitebeard here." He spoke somberly, not giving attention to the slug's change in appearance.

"This is Kevin." The mochi relayed, its words cold and emotionless as its eyes grew stern. "Vill-V has intercepted important information we want to share." He added equally dryly, instantly garnering Newgate's interest as well as Marco's.

"We're listening."

"The allies are being lured away from their ships. The Marines are planning to cut off their escape route. Sengoku has also advanced the execution time." Kevin continued, the mochi's eyes narrowing to match Kevin's expression as his interlocutors frowned. "Vill-V is already heading there to disturb their forces, but the allies need to sink the enemy ships before they're flanked." He calmly added.

"I already commanded them to do that." Newgate interjected, eyes glaring daggers at Mihawk as the icy ground around Sakura was instantly riddled with gashes. Unlike most of the fighters, Newgate was able to follow their vanishing figures and he watched as Sakura dodged Mihawk's blows. Sakura relied on her superior speed and reflexes to compensate for her disadvantage in strength and reach, forcing her to dodge by a hair's length each time, preparing her counterattack with a quick draw. Seeing the black blade slicing a tuft of her hair, the tremor-tremor man almost crushed the mochi then and there, suppressing the need to join the fray and teach the brat a lesson. "I'll tell them to be on the lookout. Thanks for the information." He grumbled, catching sight of the kid screaming in the middle of the marines as he fought through the endless soldiers with Hua. "Is that brat any good?" Whitebeard snickered, his countenance growing thoughtful when he saw the boy's straw hat. He didn't seem like much for the old emperor, but Kevin wouldn't have allowed Ace's brother to enter the battlefield if that was all he amounted to.

The mochi's eyes shifted in the scaffold's direction, its stern stare softening noticeably. "The boy has an exceptional spirit. He will surprise you." Kevin quipped, and the mochi turned back to Whitebeard with a deadpanned look. "One last thing, someone's coming behind you." He stated unhurriedly a few seconds before sand gathered behind the grumbling emperor.

"Yeah, I know." Newgate responded dismissively, focusing on the same target ever since this conversation began. Some sand irritated his nose, forcing him to sneeze despite his best efforts. The momentary distraction made him lose sight of his daughter, and his mood plummeted.

Crocodile remained calm as he readied to strike, his apathetic gaze unable to see the infuriated look on the older pirate's face. "Long time no see, Whiteb-." He greeted, eyes widening when Whitebeard's fist struck his stomach. His body sailed through the air, turning into sand before he hit the frozen bay. Crocodile spat the blood in his mouth, coughing frantically as he nursed his midsection. The former warlord frowned when he caught sight of Newgate's furious glare, feeling particularly confused about such a drastic shift in his demeanor.

"I will end you, Croco brat." Whitebeard vowed ominously, his menacing frame casting a large shadow over the smaller man's figure. No one wanted to get near the warlord, not even the Whitebeard pirates despite his proximity to their leader. In fact, they seemed to distance themselves from Crocodile even further than the Marines, giving him looks of pity.

Standing beside his pops, Marco sneakily took a few steps away from the enraged man. It was common knowledge among the crew that their pops dotted on his daughters a lot, and was actually very protective of them, even more so than even his sons. It didn't matter how strong they were or what faction they belonged to, anyone who so much as looked at his daughters the wrong way would suffer him without question.

People say that Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, but Marco and the rest of the Whitebeard family knew there was something even more terrifying than a woman scorned.

It was the fury of a father of a daughter.

"It's alright, pops. Sakura is over there." Marco quickly gestured to the green and blue sword waves clashing close to Oars's body, the icy glow revealing Sakura's figure as she landed on Mihawk's weapon. The stoic swordsman tilted his head, avoiding the follow-up slash despite the minute rip in his hat and the small cut on his cheek before responding in turn.

Sensing danger, Sakura rapidly pulled back, twisting her body midair to avoid the incoming attacks before landing on the ground. She didn't bother looking at the cuts on her ankles, the sharp sting of the open wound easily discarded as she focused on her opponent.

Their struggle was a battle where every detail could be the difference between life and death, and any miscalculation could mean the difference between a simple cut or severed limbs.

A large marine attempted to attack Sakura from behind, only to be bisected before he could follow through on his strike. The soldiers around them paled at the gruesome sight, their stomachs lurching as the corpse slowly froze and broke into motes of crystalline particles.

Sensing the opportunity, Mihawk readied to continue his assault only to freeze once he sensed an imminent threat barreling towards him. The earth rumbled around them, the frozen bay quaking and cracking as a shockwave blasted through the ordered ranks of elite Marines toward the composed swordsman. Mihawk wasted no time, meeting the terrifying blow with a single swing. The ensuing clash shook the island, seasoned veterans on both sides holding on for dear life as they beheld the sudden disaster which befell the battlefield.

The sheer destruction left in its wake was an intangible mess of gore and screams, making the struggles of the front liners seem like a joke. Mihawk ignored the gasps and startled chokes, staring fearlessly at the emperor watching from so far away as if he were right before him. It was a testament to their strength as those who reached heights unimaginable to the average soldier or pirate, monstrous individuals beyond standards.

Whitebeard slowly rolled his shoulder, his arm relaxing as he suppressed the urge to charge. From this distance, he could only do so much given the risk of harming his family in the process. He needed to speed up his plan and get in there before anything happened, his impatience slightly appeased when he saw Kalpas's figure land next to his comrade.

With him next to her, the old emperor didn't need to worry.

Piercing through the defensive lines, Hua and Luffy carved a path paved with beaten and bloodied soldiers. Standing back-to-back against the Marines, the two weaved through the blades and the guns almost seamlessly. Hua blocked an incoming sword, her fist slamming deep into the captain's stomach before her elbow struck his jaw. The audible crunch of bones snapping, followed by his jaw flapping open scared the nearby men. The endurer of vicissitudes remained stoic as she continued her advance, her eyes unwavering as she broke one soldier after another.

"Duck!"

Hua bent down as Luffy's outstretched leg swept away the enemies blocking their path, an amused quirk tugging the edges of her lips as she analyzed the eccentric young pirate's fighting style. However, it was far from any martial arts, his honed instincts and experience made up for his lack of form. It felt fitting considering his rubber body, relying more on his flexible mind and unrestrained attacks. However, an experienced fighter such as herself could still see the glaring openings littered all over his stance, made even more blatant for Haki users.

While she disapproved of such a blatantly reckless combat method, it was not the time to give Luffy pointers. She threw a fierce kick, sending the strange creature behind her flying until it slammed into the faraway wall. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed the surrounding corpses getting back up as well as the strange bats gradually approaching them.

"You're high-spirited as ever, Straw Hat!" Moria declared mockingly, laughing as he made use of the corpses to generate even more minions to do his bidding.

"That's Moria!" Luffy grunted and flinched as he was struck with a metal club, swiftly retaliating with a punch and slamming the navy soldier's body against the icy ground. "We don't have time to deal with him." He added, preparing to switch to second gear before Hua stopped him.

"Wait, Luffy." Hua ordered him, her posture relaxing as she offered a cryptic shake of her head. "Don't move, otherwise you'll get caught in it." She warned him, retreating to stand by his side and bracing herself.

"With your shadow and Oars's corpse, I'll make an even stronger monster than my previous work." Moria smirked menacingly, eyes lit with delight at the ambitions he could accomplish with such a powerful creature at his disposal.

"Is that so?" A voice echoed behind the giddy warlord, instilling terror in his heart. A green cross fell from above, borrowing deep in the ice among the navy soldiers surrounding Hua and Luffy. Instantly, green lightning surged from the disturbing construct, smiting the unfortunate men in its proximity mercilessly and ending their lives within mere moments.

A green, muddy substance submerged their surroundings, dissolving the zombie minions into nothing as it writhed around the confused warlord.

"What makes you think you have any right to touch my specimen, worm?" The voice questioned, its tone sharp as it grew closer this time. "Better yet, what idiocy gave you the courage to dare touch what is mine?" It hissed at him, a sweet tone filled with venom as the figure observed him like the snake she embodied.

A snake never took its eyes off its prey, and neither did she. Ever since the warlord's shadow pierced through Oars, Moria marked himself as her prey. Unbeknownst to him, he was already within her fangs's reach, it was only a question of when she wished to instill her brand of agony on him.

Moria's fingers twitched erratically, his heart ramming against his ribs as he slowly turned around, his eyes widening when he saw Mobius staring at him emotionlessly. He was lost for words, finding it difficult to believe she snuck up on him so easily. 'How?! She was still on the flying ship a second ago!' His gaze swiftly turned to the Fire Moth, disbelief etched in every part of his face when he saw the exact same Mobius standing on the foredeck, looking as uninterested as she had been since the Flame Chasers arrived.

His disbelief was shared by the Navy forces and leaders, notably Sengoku and Garp. The Hero of the Marines focused on the Mobius on the ship in front of them, his observation Haki detecting the subtle difference between the two of them rather quickly. "It's an illusion." He concluded, rubbing his beard thoughtfully as he examined the other members.

Was it a devil fruit ability? Or another unknown trick up their sleeves?

"He made us focus on their strongest, all the while a few of their members have already infiltrated." Sengoku maintained his composure, his voice frosty as he glared at Kevin's immovable figure. "He's worse than Whitebeard." The Fleet Admiral admitted, his mind racing with strategies to bring down the flying machine.

There was one option he could try, although he was reluctant to use one of his trump cards so early. They were prepared in case Cipher Pole failed their mission, anyway.

With a sigh, Sengoku quickly dialed his mochi, connecting to the interlocutor within a couple of seconds. The Mochi's eyes remained closed, two scars appearing on its eyes. "Report." The Buddha ordered, face devoid of emotion as he continued surveilling the Fire Moth.

"I am still in position. No enemies have infiltrated the left side." The mochi calmly responded, its voice rough yet tempered.

A glint shone in Sengoku's eyes, his gaze growing colder as Kizaru descended to the battlefield, followed by the Blighted Alyssum. "I have a task for you." He declared, receiving a thoughtful hum in response. Sengoku had to eliminate the air advantage the pirates had as soon as possible. Otherwise, they will be able to bypass the encircling wall and potentially ruin his entire plan.

"Bring down the Fire Moth by any means necessary."

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

Name: Sakura

Monicker: The Blade Demon

Bounty: 1.3 Billion Berries

A master of the sword and Haki, known for her mesmerizing blade and distinct fox ears. Reports from Wano weave a tale of extraordinary swordsmanship hailed as one of the best its Samurai witnessed, befitting a dignified and aloof queen of the sword. Her sword, Setsuna, has been reported to produce ice so chilling it hampered Marco the Phoenix's instantaneous regeneration and bested Flower Sword Vista's flower swordsmanship in their spars. Many renowned smiths and scientists such as Vegapunk openly expressed interest in analyzing it.

When paired together with the Defiant, the two make for a nightmarish enemy. They have been known to work together in the vast majority of incidents related to either of them, leaving behind defeated foes buried under the wrath of ice and fire. A notable case was the incident at one of the Navy's bases in the New World, formerly run by a disgraced Rear Admiral who worked in cahoots with a coalition of pirates, destroying a small town they happened to be in.

The attack happened at dusk, but the base never survived to see the light of dawn. All that was left were ruins and traumatized soldiers, haunted by the frightening figures of a blue sword and monster wreathed in flames. The pirate coalition subsequently disappeared not long after, never to be heard from again.

Some undisclosed soldiers suggest Sakura has a sister, but no sightings of her were ever reported. The consensus so far has concluded she was dead.

Chapter Text

Ace expected to see and experience many encounters on his journey, different foods, different cultures, and sights, and meet different people. It was a given, with the endless horizons stretching as far as one could see. However, among all the scenarios and wildest estimations he spent his youth imagining, he didn't account for what he's experiencing now…

"That's a D-, Ace." MEI reprimanded sternly, sighing as she passed him his blighted exam papers. It was almost impressive how much she wrote in there, he could barely make out the answers he painstakingly wrote.

Ace wasn't far from a coward, nor was he weak. His recent victory over a warlord proved both, but the combined withering glares he's getting from MEI and Aponia made him shiver in ways he didn't think he would ever do. His hair stood on end the colder their prying gaze grew, the sudden urge to test his chances with the sea kings climbing the list of potential retreats. "Is it that bad?" He asked, mustering a symbolic resistance to the two scary ladies.

Last time he protested against the need for these lessons on physics and other such subjects that still go over his head, only to face humiliation when Gresio outdid him by such a wild margin he spent the rest of the day moping and asking the painter for help. MEI and the others insisted it was important for him to learn in preparation for a time when these adventures would end, but Ace disagreed…silently of course, voicing any more protest would get her to call in the great equalizer…namely Kevin.

"Yes." Both answered him, their judging eyes making him even more uncomfortable. "You'll be having remedial lessons in the coming days before passing another exam." The doctor's glasses shone menacingly as she gestured to the door. "It's time for your vaccine." She said, the lovely smile on her face feeling less than welcoming to the fire man.

Ace fidgeted in his spot, eyes scanning his surroundings as he pondered the best hiding spot to use. While sailing the seas was a passion he would never tire of, an unfortunate drawback of being on a ship as a devil fruit user meant he had nowhere to run away from the ship if he needed to. It pushed Ace to be more resourceful when Mobius had a new idea to test on him or when Vill-V needed an assistant again.

That one magic trick with the box and a sea prism saw was enough for his career as a showman.

"Can I n-" He tried to buy some time, however the nun next to him had other ideas.

"Follow her and take your vaccine, please." She instructed him gently, her discipline taking immediate effect as the young pirate stood up and followed MEI with a defeated sigh. His body moved on its own, and he couldn't will himself to disobey Aponia's command without suffering a painful headache in the process.

Dread grasped Ace's heart with every step closer to the doctor's room, his face comically contrasting the stoic, calm pace as he stepped past the threshold and sat on the bed. Then he saw the needle glint in the sunlight, and the infamous pirate began sweating and silently pleading for forgiveness.

"This will sting just~ a bit." MEI warned gently, but her soothing voice failed to comfort him. The door to her office closed ever so slowly, and with it Ace's hopes and dreams.

Just another day in his very unexpected life of piracy.

Marineford:

Sentomaru had many thoughts before arriving on the battlefield. This war would be his first time participating in an actual war, a far cry from his usual job or even the pirate hunts he engaged in. He expected the bloodshed, the chaos, and the noise, he'd seen more than most fighting pirates and scumbags of all sorts. He could handle himself better than any marine grunt, and with the amount of pirates he was going to face, it was a golden opportunity to join the Marines' ranks.

Only, this was different.

War was a whole different world from occasional scuffles with pirates on different islands and keeping Vegapunk safe, even more so when you're not the only force with superior weapons anymore. The large warrior had half a mind to ignore his standby orders and order the Pacifistas into the field against those machines, but his mission came first.

The pirate forces were rushing into the bay blindly, though some of them had yet to pierce through the Navy's defensive lines. With the outlaws so focused on the offensive, their ships made for easy targets for the Pacifistas. "Let's deal with that first. Sink their ships, Pacifistas!" The warrior commanded, the army of Kuma robots behind him opening their mouths and channeling energy to fire at the ships.

The beams were fired, piercing the wind and instantly crossing the distance until they exploded in a fiery blaze…a short distance away from the ships. The pirates gasped and turned back to their ships, taking notice of the abrupt attack which nearly sank all their vessels.

"Shit, that was a close one." One sighed in relief when he saw their ships safe and sound, the smoke clearing to reveal all the ships. It would've been disastrous if they lost their escape path.

"The Navy still has people who can take out ships?" Another asked, taking in the sight of the explosions with dread. They were certain such heavy hitters were already within their sights, and were occupied enough to be unable to shift their attention to the faraway ship.

"Look over there!" Suddenly, a pirate noticed a figure descending in the direction the volley of shots came from.

With a clap, many fireworks took off and exploded above the mouth of the bay, announcing the magician's grand entrance. "Fear not, dear audience. Your entertainer has arrived." A cheerful voice announced from the dissipating smoke screen, a flying disk landing in front of the silent robots as the figure on top of it bowed. "I see Veggy prepared a tough crowd for me. Such a reliable colleague." The lady quipped, playful eyes shining with mischief as she put on her hat.

The pacifista closest to Sentomaru scanned the figure and searched for a match. "Identified: Vill-V of the Flame Chasers, Bounty: Eight-hundred and ninety million berries." It reported, a red light flashing in its eyes and its skin shifting into a more metallic hue. "Special parameters detected: Vill-V directive. Initiating Disaster Aegis protocols." The machine added, its actions mimicked by the rest of the units as glowing lines spiderwebbed across their bodies.

"Oh? I like surprises." Vill-V noted jovially, bringing her hands up as a terminal appeared beside her. "Let's see how these spectators handle an appetizer~" She said, before clapping her hands. Her terminal interface shone a beeping red, and she watched as a few pacifistas began to spasm, sparks flying out of their orifices as their systems went haywire before they shut down. The ones which completely shed their human features remained active, a soft light emitting from their outer shell.

"What? How did you do that?!" Sentomaru demanded, looking between at the incapacitated pacifistas. He couldn't believe a simple clap defeated so many of them, the woman's smile feeling very different from his initial assessment. He couldn't put the sensation into words, but it felt as if she was disassembling him and the pacifistas, one component at a time. The longer her gaze focused on him, the more he felt her prying open another secret. 'Old Man Punk was right, she is really bad news.' He thought, reminded of the genius doctor's warnings to avoid the master of Helix, readying himself for any sudden moves.

"I see how it is. That force field covering them stops all incoming signals." Vill-V noted, a light dancing in her eyes as she contemplated the feature. Her system overrides only managed to catch the units which didn't finish their setup on time. Vegapunk must have not had the time to get his firewalls done, so he opted for a complete isolation of their systems. "As expected of Veggy, he did more than anyone else could in such a short timeframe. This must be what a true genius is like." She complimented with a smile, a simple click on her terminal taking note of her assessments.

In a split second her attention shifted away from the enemies, and Sentomaru crossed the distance separating them. His axe was already mid-swing, aiming for the frail-looking woman before she could pull out any weapon. Without warning, the disk she came in on roared to life, splitting into six parts and spreading between the two and forming a golden barrier. Undeterred, Sentomaru channeled more strength and Haki in his attack, the fearsome collision breaking the ground and blowing away everything in their surroundings.

"That was a good blow." Vill-V's voice cut through the silence, her eyes curiously watching the cracks in the barrier before shaking her head. "But it's a flop! You get the consolation prize!" She announced cheerfully, pointing a finger gun at him. A canon appeared in front of her, already charged and ready to fire. "Boom." she intoned, the barrier disappearing just as the shot was fired.

Sentomaru reacted quickly, coating his giant weapon in armament and using it to shield himself. The impact sent him flying, his body slamming into the Pacifistas and leaving a deep trail before he finally managed to stop. The warrior coughed erratically, feeling his insides churn and twist as he stood up from the force of the projectile slamming his midsection. He didn't expect a weird cannon would damage his defense, not to mention pushing him back to this degree.

"Oh? Still conscious?" Vill-V wondered, her merry mood making Sentomaru's skin crawl. "I thought that much output would knock you out for sure. Veggy likes you, so I don't want to upset him." She said, her smug grin only triggering the bodyguard even more. "The pacifistas, however, will have to entertain me for the time being." She added with a loud whistle, followed by the descent of multiple machines around them.

"Damn you…" Sentomaru cursed, spitting the blood in his mouth before scrutinizing the magician of Helix more attentively. Time was not on his side, he needed to end this quickly and encircle the pirates or else he'd lose his greatest chance to become a full-fledged marine. He charged at Vill-V once more, dragging his axe through the ground and ignoring the ensuing clash between the Pacifistas and the Flame Chasers' machines.

Vill-V threw her hat above her, and it vanished into a large smoke screen, revealing a large tank in the shape of the eccentric lady's accessory. "Let the games begin!" She declared, her armored vehicle ramming through the lines of Pacifistas and closing on the charging man.

Explosions rang in the mouth of the bay as the machines clashed against one another, metal and beams of light flying in all directions. Pacifistas were rammed through by the bull-like machines or slashed through by the large sword-wielding metal warriors, while many of the enemy units were mowed down by the Kuma robots' laser beams, leaving only molten metal or puddles at the slightest touch.

"Get away!" The pirates screamed, pushing further into the Marines' defensive lines to get away from the clash. Despite the chaotic mess, some pacifistas' bombardment still managed to deal a blow to their charge.

"Don't get caught between the machines, men!" A rear admiral commanded as he watched one of those invisible machines appear on top of a pacifista before beheading the bigger weapon. Putting any of their men between those creatures would be akin to sending them through a grinder. They had to put their faith in Vegapunk's creations until the walls were raised.

The fight at the heart of the bay was even more fearsome, with Kalpas's relentless blaze clashing against Aokiji's partisans. Closing the distance, Kalpas fist slammed against the admiral's chest, the Flame Chaser grunting when his opponent's retaliatory kick hit his chin but continued undeterred. Aokiji remained composed, ducking under a haymaker and retaliating with an uppercut, sending Kalpas in the air. With a burst of Soru, the ice man reappeared beside the masked pirate to maintain the pressure. Expecting the follow-up, Kalpas reached out and grabbed the admiral's neck, neither his flames nor the admiral's ice managing to harm either one of them.

The two began punching each other, the shockwaves of each strike ringing louder than cannon fire on the battlefield. While Kuzan delivered continuous punches with his free arms, Kalpas alternated between punching his enemy's face and kneeing his midsection whilst he choked the admiral, their bodies rotating wildly in the air for all to see. One reveled in the pain and struggle with each blow he inflicted or received, while the other endured the heavy blows with his great resilience. Shifting his approach, Aokiji conjured ice blades in his hands to stab the mad warrior.

Without warning, Kalpas released his hold on Kuzan's neck and grabbed both of his arms. With unexpected flexibility, the Flame Chaser turned them around and placed his feet on Aokiji's chest as they plummeted down and collided with the frozen bay. Kuzan grunted in pain before his head was grabbed again and his body was dragged through the ice until he was thrown at the wall not far away.

"Admiral Kuzan!" Navy soldiers called for him, some trying to shoot Kalpas only to be attacked by the Whitebeard pirates.

"Eyes on us, marines!" Izou mocked, shooting down those who tried to interfere and leading his division forward. "Keep pushing, everyone! Don't let them regroup!" He shouted, the rallying crowd with a chorus of cheers as they redoubled their efforts once more.

Until ice spears impaled a number of their comrades, the sudden attack crippling their pirates ceased their advance momentarily, flinching at the brutal sight before their attention shifted back to the dispersing debris beside the wall. Kuzan calmly stepped out of the smokescreen, dusting off the dirt on his clothes. "Don't start celebrating, now." He said, his ice body morphing back to normal before he spat the blood in his mouth. "You'll have enough time to do that when you're dead." He added, face locked in a practiced mask of stoicism. Bits of his jacket were charred, and though he didn't show it those punches weren't something to scoff at. It's been a long time since he traded blows with an enemy like this, and with Navy soldiers all around the battlefield, now was the worst time for it to happen. 'What a pain.' He idly thought, tucking his sleeping mask away. His gaze hardened, his fists turning to ice.

Kalpas stared at the admiral in turn, looking down at the ice shards the man stabbed him with before he was thrown away as they melted. A simple scratch for the Mad King of Decimation, his body already closing them in a manner of moments. Compared to the punches the taller man inflicted, ice remained child's play before his flames. Although he was forbidden from hunting to his heart's content, this prey was more interesting than the rest of the rabble, big or small. He could still feel his organs and chest ache from the punches he endured, a strength he didn't get to experience during their last scuffle. Kalpas clenched his fists, flames engulfing both of his arms.

Both men advanced, measured steps growing into steady strides before exploding into a terrifying sprint. In an instant, the two fighters collided once more, each clash of their fist engulfing their surroundings in an unholy mixture of hellish flames and biting cold. However, beneath all the flames and the ice lay a more brutal battle. Both fighters exchanged blows at every turn, a rather primitive contest of endurance as they delivered blow after blow. Just as one of them seemed to have the upper hand, the other would bounce back with equal retaliation.

Catching the incoming left hook, Aokiji's retaliatory fist was caught in turn by Kalpas. Both fighters planted their feet in the ground, muscles bulging as they pushed against each other. The frozen bay began to crack all around the battlefield, a great rift beginning to form with the two fighters as the center. The mask hid Kalpas's predatory grin, the decimator suddenly pulling the admiral towards him and headbutted the bigger man, before he followed it by driving his elbow into the admiral's chest.

Kuzan's feet dug deep trails in the ice as he was pushed back by the blow, coughing a bit before coming to a halt. He cracked his neck, fixing his messed tie and sighing at the opponent he was stuck with. 'Borsalino got the super sexy beauty, and I got stuck with a buff battle maniac.' He lamented, looking up to see his colleague and the pink-haired lady descending onto the field.

Kalpas rolled his shoulders and prepared to charge when he sensed danger.

"Don't let your guard down." A voice behind him warned coldly.

He quickly turned around and slammed his fist against the black blade slashing towards him. Haki clashed as the area behind Kalpas was split with a deep gash, a deep cut traveling along the entirety of the Flame Chaser's arm. Both of them were sent back by the shockwave of the clash, blood coating Kalpas's left arm as the wound began to heal.

Aokiji tried to make use of the opening, only to shift his midsection to ice before he was bisected by Setsuna. Sakura slid on the ice and stopped next to her partner, baring her fang at the admiral as he morphed back into his normal self…only this time, he sported a slash wound in his midsection. Though she hoped to deal a mortal wound, inflicting a visible injury was just as good.

"Sorry, I'm late. Are you ok, Kalpas?" Sakura asked eyes focused on Aokiji as she readied her draw. The chaos caused by her partner's fight had separated her from her foe temporarily, allowing him to slip into Kalpas's blind spot, but it did allow her to deliver a blow of her own to his opponent.

Kalpas grunted, tensing when he caught the peculiar scent of blood on his partner. Turning to Sakura, a glint shone in his mask when he saw her wounded shoulder. "Idiot. Were you dull or careless, getting injured so easily?" He admonished, his haughty tone betraying a lethal edge as he turned back to Mihawk.

"You're one to talk." Sakura retorted with a small smile as the two stood back to back. "You haven't even beaten your enemy yet." She teased, receiving a chuckle in return.

"Then let's see who the better hunter is!" Kalpas declared just as both of their foes pounced. The two Flame Chasers shifted their positions, as Kalpas turned to jump at the admiral while his partner ducked underneath and drew her blade at Mihawk.

Hawk-eye remained calm, his piercing gaze growing more focused the moment he caught the soft glint of the special katana's blade. Reacting quickly, he placed his hand on the flat of his greatsword and shielded his body from the instantaneous flurry of slashes. His arms and legs were riddled with cuts, but such scratches were a small price to pay for blocking the bulk of Sakura's blows. One only needed to throw a glance at his surroundings to tell how devastating each slash was, each step he took followed by the frozen ground becoming a mesh of deep, clean cuts.

Mihawk did not remain on the defensive, his riposte coming just as fast. He saw the blade coming for his neck, drawn by the risky bet he made to force the assassin close. Stomping the ground with great force, he parried Sakura's blow and threw her off balance before switching into a stab aimed at her head. Many pirates called her name in worry, racing to her help despite the distance.

Sakura used her momentum to drop down, letting the black blade whistle just above her head. She used the opportunity to get into a draw stance once more, her body coiling like a spring. Her right hand hovered over the hilt of her sword, the air growing frigid as she exhaled.

Hawk-eye's eyes narrowed, acknowledging the shift in tactics. His greatsword's trajectory altered ever so slightly, aiming to intercept her draw.

But Sakura was faster.

In a blur of motion, she drew her katana with such speed it sang a sharp note through the air. The blade met Hawk-eye's with a resounding clang, redirecting the greatsword's path away from her body. Sparks flew as the two swords ground against each other, a fleeting moment of contact before Sakura's katana continued its arc.

She stomped forward, closing the distance, her left hand joining the right to guide the katana in a swift, upward diagonal slash. Hawk-eye, thrown off by the unexpected quick draw, barely managed to bring his sword down in time to block the strike aimed at his torso. The edge of her blade kissed Hawk-eye's shoulder, a cut blossoming on his skin as a stark red against the white of the ice. He silently traced the cut, lips quirked up into a ghost of a smile as he began slowly circling Sakura. "It seems I will need to get a little rough." He stated, his sword in both hands as he readied to strike, the aura around him shifting completely.

Sakura sensed the impending danger, dodging out of the way as the world's greatest swordsman struck. A green glow crossed the entirety of the battlefield, slashing through the entire bay and traveling further into the sea. Everyone watched in terror as the sea was split, unable to see where the slash stopped as the ground trembled, the hole the attack left getting filled again.

Mihawk remained indifferent, closing his eyes and turning around to the silent assassin. Once more, both fighters took action, dashing straight ahead only for Sakura to slide on her knees under Mihawk's next blow. The attack was just as powerful as the prior one, traversing the battlefield unimpeded and destroying anything unfortunate enough to stand in its way.

One such close victim was Monkey D. Luffy, who was fortunately pulled out of the way by Hua before he was reduced to diced pieces of meat and gore. The martial artist's brow furrowed at the sight of the destruction left by the sword wave, her gaze briefly shifting to Sakura. She could see her still engaged in combat with the warlord, holding her own for now. "Let's keep pushing, Luffy," she urged, darting into the battle beside the straw-hat clad pirate.

As they drew nearer to the walls, the defenders' resistance intensified, with the Navy's veterans emerging to block their path. Hua halted as a giant loomed before them, his colossal stature casting a vast shadow over the pair. "You're not getting past me, Scarlet Talon, Straw-Hat," he declared, wielding his iron mace with a menacing swing towards them.

Luffy was about to bite his finger when Hua stopped him. "You need to save your energy, Luffy." She warned him, the tinge of a grandmaster leaking in her strict tone. With a serene expression, she assumed her stance, the essence of Haki surging within her. "Rabid brute force is the recourse of the desperate." She advised as the mace bore down on them, her power converging in her fist. With a poised and precise movement, she unleashed a one-inch punch with a sharp exhale. The looming mace shattered before it could reach them, the shockwave opening a wide hole in the rows of soldiers behind the giant and punching a hole in the wall of the bay.

The vice admiral was stunned, glancing at the remains of his weapon for an instant before he released it. His fists fell upon the two as he pummeled the ground, kicking up dust and shaking the frozen bay amid the cheers of the navy soldiers. Pulling back, the vice admiral frowned when he saw no remains of either pirate and he searched his surroundings for any sign of them. Just when he thought they were flattened, agonizing pain sprang from his stomach and enveloped his entire body as he fell to his knees.

Hua did not relent, following her debilitating palm strike with another devastating punch and sending the giant tumbling back like a pile of bricks. As she descended to the ground with Luffy in her grasp, she sensed someone flying towards them. "Keep going!" She quickly instructed, throwing Luffy forward and turning just in time to deliver a roundhouse kick to the Jitte aiming for her jaw.

She glared at the smoke gathering around the weapon, her hand quickly grasping the tip and using it to twist around and deliver an ax kick at her enemy. The smoke was pushed down to the ground before it shifted away to avoid Hua's diving fist. Hua quickly pushed herself away back with her arms, smoothly landing on one foot into her stance as Smoker's figure appeared before her.

"Scarlet Talon, Fu Hua." Smoker said, wiping away the blood on his lips as he held his weapon tightly. The pirate managed to strike him, even though his body was smoke, and it made him more on edge.

"White Hunter, Smoker." Fu Hua responded in turn, eyes narrowing as she shifted her weight subtly, the balls of her feet pressing into the frozen ground as if drawing strength from it. Her knees bent just so, aligning with the direction of her toes, her body angled to one side as if inviting an attack yet poised to deflect.

"Stay away, Luffy!" Ace's voice suddenly echoed throughout the battlefield, catching everyone's attention immediately. His eyes shifted to Fire Moth's captain, bearing with the pain as he continued. "You oughta know too, Kevin!" He said, fighting to force the words he didn't wish to say. "We are pirates! You should be sailing however you want!" He shouted, even as Kevin unfolded his arms and Luffy punched one more soldier in his path. "I have my own adventures, and my own friends now! I stopped being a Flame Chaser the moment I accepted Whitebeard's mark!" His voice almost cracked when Aponia smiled, knowing those two could see through him better than anyone. It didn't matter, so long as he could get them to leave far away from this place.

His friends, and his family, were dying just to save him, all to pay for his own failures. He wanted nothing more than for them to be safe. He might have failed to push his pops and brethren away, but he could still try to get the Flame Chasers and Luffy out of there.

"Do you really think I'd let myself be saved by a weakling like you, Luffy?!" He said, glaring as his brother endured blows and slashes just to get a bit closer to the scaffold. "Do you think I would humiliate myself and my pops, getting saved like this by a crew I used to be in?!" He screamed at his former crewmates, his chains growing taunt when he saw Kalpas's bloodied arm and Sakura's wound. "Go back, all of you! Why did you even come?!" He shouted in anger, swallowing all his bitterness and self-loathing at the words he was spewing deep in his chest. 'Please. I don't want to take any of you with me.' He gritted his teeth, his head bowed down in shame.

'It's alright, Ace.' A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts, his eyes immediately shifting to the Fire Moth. Su offered an encouraging nod, his serene smile unbothered by the pirate's tantrum. 'I hope you didn't believe that act would work on us. It doesn't matter whether we can read your thoughts or not, the moment we showed up, we gave you the only decision that mattered.' The Bodhi quipped, silently pointing at his best friend at the forefront of the ship.

"I am your brother!" / 'We are your friends.'

Luffy's declaration rang loudly and proudly all across the battlefield, drawing all attention to the feeble-looking young man charging recklessly at the impregnable fortress and all its defenders, while Su's affirmation echoed within Ace's mind, a prelude to the Hero's advance.

"Ace." Kevin called his name, staring at him and excluding all others around them. "We are here to get you, and we will get you." He assured, his stoic gaze and demeanor shifting as he switched to the Fleet admiral, disregarding the purple rings suddenly soaring past their ship.

"Don't think that your power makes you above the law." Sengoku responded, a cold glint shining in his eyes as he glared at the flying ship. "The rules we live under justly will never be defeated, no matter how strong a mere crew is. Gold Roger was not above them," He emphasized, looking upwards as a shadow was cast on the Fire Moth and the area around it. "And neither will you."

The fighting stopped momentarily as both pirates and marines looked to the sky, some gulping while others trembled in fear when they saw the large meteorite plummeting towards the Flame Chasers' ship.

"That can't be real, right?!" Some began to shout, making as much distance as they could from the impact zone. The marines began to retreat closer to the walls before the meteorite could decimate the frozen bay, the soldiers heaving and panting as they raced away.

"That's scary!" A voice said fearfully as the group of defenders pushed their limits to get to the walls as soon as possible.

"You got that right, that's gotta be Interim Admiral Fujitora." A grunt responded, a notable admiration in his tone when he saw the man approaching the impact zone of the meteor. He was one of the people the Navy recruited temporarily for this conflict due to the large scale of the conflict should the Uncrowned Emperor join Whitebeard's war effort.

"Interim Admiral? He must be very strong!" The person running next to him said, amazed by the power the man must have to be appointed so high up in the ranks so quickly.

"Yes, he is. You holding…out well?" The soldier trailed off momentarily when he noticed the man he was talking with wasn't a fellow marine, but none other than straw-hat Luffy himself. His eyes opened wide, his jaw dropping in shock as he couldn't believe he was talking to a pirate this whole time.

Luffy also turned to the guy next to him, his mouth opening when he found a marine staring at him. Reacting quickly, the rubber boy punched the unfortunate man in the face before sprinting ahead.

"You've got to be kidding…" Marco and the commanders trailed off, their pops squinting at the large mass and preparing to jump in. "Everyone, spread out! Now!" The commanders acted quickly, dispersing as they readied for the impending collision.

Kevin stared at the incoming meteorite, his eyes narrowing as he raised his hand. "Rules, was it?" The hero whispered, motes of light gathering around him until a baseball bat appeared in his grasp. A select few tensed when a pulse of Haki surged and spread in the skies, many stopping to observe the solitary figure under the burning mass. "Fleet Admiral, let me tell you something." Kevin raised his free hand and traced the length of his bat, armament overtaking it before a soft, blue light began to shine from it.

It was the will of the Indomitable Hero. Unbending and unyielding to his foes, its power suffocating and unforgiving. Beyond Kings and Emperors of the seas, the dragons in the sky, and the monsters of the depths, stood the man who would usurp Finality for the sake of humanity. Much like the sun which burned Icarus's wings, his Haki shone upon all, scorching hot and all-encompassing.

"Conqueror's Haki…" Garp trailed off, frowning at the sight of the distinct light imbued in the armament, his countenance grim at the unexpected discovery. The last thing they needed was another user of monstrous Haki.

The dazzling blue grew more intense, becoming darker and darker until it exploded in a shower of blue sparks as Kevin twirled his weapon in preparation.

"Rules…are made to be broken." The Hero of Deliverance declared, jumping out of the ship and towards the incoming meteorite. His figure shone brightly as he charged straight ahead, channeling more power into it until he reached his goal. He spun around and slammed his bat into the meteorite, the strike stopping it dead in its tracks as the flames covering its form were instantly extinguished.

In front of all within Marineford, and all watching from Sabaody, the fearsome meteorite was smashed to pieces with a single blow. The ensuing shockwave pushed the rubble towards Marineford, some pieces falling upon the fortress and the town behind it. The man behind the feat observed the scaffold indifferently, pointing his unassuming bat at the scaffold in defiance as he began his descent.

Many remained in shock and awe of what just happened, silently witnessing the downpour of pieces and bits of the previously imminent threat. The Uncrowned Emperor demolished an entire meteorite with a single swing of a baseball bat, looking neither tired nor in any distress even as he fell to the ground.

"That brat, always making me worry." Whitebeard sighed in relief with a soft smile, watching the stoic Hero with pride and frustration. Kevin always had a habit of taking drastic decisions and making it the problem of all those who cared about him. Many grew less concerned after witnessing his strength a few times, but Newgate never allowed himself to grow so complacent.

No matter how powerful a son becomes, he will always remain a child in the eyes of the parent. More importantly, a man should never face such dangers in front of their loved one. The old man felt the need to scold him more, lest his reckless stunts sadden his daughter. No amount of Haki will save the Flame Chaser from his wrath should it come to that, old age and sickness be damned.

Sensing someone approaching him, Whitebeard turned to see Squard walking up to him. He seemed distracted for some reason, but the captain decided to put the matter on hold in favor of observing the newcomer behind the weird attack on Fire Moth.

The matter was not over yet.

Su frowned, looking below them before opening his comms. "MEI, Klein, activate the icebreaker hull." He ordered, sensing the gradual increase in gravity around them. "And be ready for a rough landing." He advised, readying himself for the abrupt descent. Kosma was quick to hold Gresio close, while Aponia clasped her hands and closed her eyes.

"Roger that!" MEI's voice rang in their comms, the hull of the ship twisting and shifting as it took on a more durable hue. It was one of Vill-V's more intricate modifications, made to allow for safe travels in the harsher, colder regions of the seas.

"Gravity is reaching critical levels, the ship can't maintain flight." Klein noted through gritted teeth, the pressure continuing to increase as she shifted from one screen to the next despite the increasing weight. "Fire Moth will enter free fall immediately." She declared, taking a seat from the chair appearing under her and buckling the seat belt alongside MEI.

No sooner did they take their place, did the ship began falling. Both sides held their breaths as the vessel slammed through the frozen bay, the metallic sounds of its hull grinding and breaking the thick ice before finally stabilizing. The entire bay shook violently, the impact causing many to lose their footing and fall to the ground. The pirates sighed in relief seeing their friends and their ship still in good shape, while the marines also appeared relieved knowing the bombardment finally stopped with the ship firmly stuck in the ice. The attention centered around the tall figure standing alone in front of the Fire Moth, the proud coat of the marines billowing against the breeze as the shaking stopped.

Kevin landed in the bay, staring at the big man in front of him. Wielding a plain sword in a wooden sheath, the blind man's scarred face remained serene and composed. Despite his lack of eyesight, the swordsman easily managed to look in Kevin's direction, and he gave the smaller man a respectful nod. "I've heard a lot about you, young hero of Auroraport island." He broke the silence, purple robes billowing as he observed the silent Kaslana. Though many might not know much of the leader of the Flame Chaser beyond what the World Government released, he had seen the young man's noble spirit in action once before.

Kevin's eyes narrowed, recognizing the stranger. "You were the one who watched us back then." He surmised, his words drawing a small smile from his enemy.

"I'm sorry for my lack of courtesy. I was not in the best mental state at the time." Fujitora apologized, momentarily reminiscing about the time he observed the benevolence of the silent pirate back then. He was grateful to the man and his friends for showing him a world worth fighting for, despite the many atrocities he witnessed before he blinded himself. "It's regrettable, but this second meeting is fated to be a sour one." He lamented, readying to unsheathe his sword.

Kevin frowned, but did not rise to the challenge. "Maybe, but your enemy won't be me." He said, his bat disappearing as a hand patted his shoulder.

Su and Kosma stepped in front of their leader, their presence noted by the Interim Admiral as their captain returned to the Fire Moth. "We'll be your opponents instead if you don't mind." The Bodhi stated, his peaceful smile and casual demeanor betraying the dangerous aura of a Psychic MANTIS.

"..." Kosma remained stoic, taking a stance and readying himself without saying a word. 'Purple, huh? So admirals get to dress in their favorite colors…cool.' He pondered, hiding his inner musings with an indifferent Kevin-style cold stare.

The stand-off was quickly noticed by Mobius, the snake of infinity finding her squirming prey to be rather boring as the warlord fought to keep her spikes from skewering him. It was all so boring and detestable, seeing this complete waste of her precious time and specimens in this complete mess. She could have done so much more in her lab had her resident fire lab rat got himself caught so pitifully, resulting in the death of an exceptional entity like Oars.

Checking her nails, she threw a glance at Moria, finding him panting as he cradled his injured shoulder. "Still alive? You're a decent stress reliever, at least." Mobius chuckled menacingly, her sultry tone making the warlord shiver. "Although your body isn't as interesting as Oars's, I'm curious to see what I can extract from it. I don't need to be as…careful with you as I am with him." She added, circling around the disturbed warlord, snake eyes glinting mischievously at him as if he were a new toy to play with.

"Get away from me, you freak!" Moria screamed, stopping the encroaching venomous sludge with his shadows. He felt his skin crawl the closer the Flame Chaser got, sweat trickling down his face as he tried to shrug off the constant sensation of death approaching him. The suffocating pressure was gradually driving him to fall deeper into fear and terror, like an animal trapped in a python's vice hold, struggling as best it could before it was inevitably devoured.

"Now now, let's be civil, worm." Mobius said, wagging her finger in a scolding fashion as more of her spikes devoured the zombies. "After all, if you were so open to using the corpses of others, you should be equally fine with your corpse being used, don't you think?" She added, checking her nails while the green sludge around her morphed and twisted around the isolated warlord. With her prey surrounded, Mobius clenched her hand and multiple tendrils solidified into spears ready to end Moria.

"POPS!" The sudden screams made her stop, and she turned to the Moby Dick with a frown. She believed the idiots were overreacting or shouting as usual. As much as she was annoyed by the insufferable geezer who called her daughter, he wasn't someone who would get injured so easily…

…or so she believed until she saw the large sword stabbing his chest.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

Name: Vill-V

Monicker: Blood Helix

Bounty: 870 Million Berries

A member of the Flame Chaser Pirates and the mastermind behind the Blood Bid incidents, this sadistic madwoman is said to be responsible for the deaths of many nobles and influential figures from all over the world, including a few celestial dragons.

She had given devastating bombs of her making under the guise of artifacts extracted from the depths of the sea, detonating the devices on the day of a highly anticipated auction for the perceived priceless artifact. Any survivors of the initial blast in the biggest auction held in Sabaody were killed in a bloodbath by her coconspirator Kalpas. No information about the artifacts delivered to Marijois was released.

A month after this great tragedy, a special broadcast was transmitted to the Navy by the pirate to confess her involvement, judging the current investigative efforts to be "Too bland for her show". This clear provocation was met with the full weight of the Navy's fury and a witch hunt lasting an entire year until Kevin Kaslana's battle with the King of the Beasts.

Intelligence reports stated she is the founder of a secret organization named 'The Omniscient Nexus' regrouping many shady individuals from different scientific fields. Further investigations came up with a moniker of another leading member of this faction, titled 'Keeper of the Archives', but their real identity remains unknown.

There were initial suspicions Dr. Vegapunk was also a part of this dangerous group, but his innocence was established following a series of strict and thorough investigations and questioning.

Government and Navy officials assured the press all procedures confirmed the baseless nature of the accusations, and insisted none of their personnel or scientists would ever associate with such ruthless outlaws.

"Now you do it." -Kevin

"...Are you serious? That was a meteorite." -Caelus/Stelle

"Meteorites are just bigger baseballs." -Kevin

"I agree." -Savior of France.

"Wrong world, Kojiro." -Everyone else.

"You guys travel on a train across the galaxy." -Savior of France

"..."

Chapter Text

Father. 

A term used to categorize the male progenitor of a specimen. A simple, utilitarian label, bloated by humans with unnecessary emotional weight. They clung to it, weaving sentimental narratives around a biological connection that, in Mobius’s eyes, held no intrinsic value. It was a pathetic exercise, a futile attempt to imbue meaning into something that was, at its core, a mere genetic transaction. 

She had a “father” once—a man who fulfilled his role as a genitor and caretaker adequately enough, until he…changed. The memory alone was enough to make her skin crawl, a visceral reaction that disgusted her. Mobius gritted her teeth, refusing to let her body betray her with such a humiliating response. She was a genius, a scientist, a seeker of truth. Death itself had been a temporary inconvenience, a mere setback in her relentless pursuit of knowledge. She had faced it multiple times, each encounter stripping away fragments of her memory but never her resolve.

Yet, here she was, her body reacting to the mere recollection of childhood beatings with a fear she thought she had long outgrown. It was infuriating. Her intellect, her will, her very existence—all of it was supposed to transcend such primal weaknesses. And yet, the past clung to her like a shadow, a reminder of her unfinished work.

It was all Elysia’s fault, as most problems in Mobius’s life were. To take the giant pirate’s absurd offer of becoming his children, right after toying with the flame rat no less, with no hesitation was a special grade of buffoonery only Elysia could accomplish. She was the one at fault for the way Mobius’s muscles coiled when he called her ‘daughter’ with a sickeningly warm smile…and to watch a bunch of grown men, far past the age of needing paternal validation, eagerly calling him ‘father’ made her want to vomit.

Such neediness was beneath her. It was for fools like Ace and the others, who seemed to revel in their own infantilization. She was disappointed most of them went along with the pink buffoon, but when have they ever listened to the voice of reason?

It brought upon a mixture of chaotic emotions pulling at her from different directions. Mobius wouldn’t debase her intellect by acting on petty anger like Kalpas, nor would she insult her pride by entertaining Newgate’s little fantasies. The ill old man wasn’t worth it, she reminded herself as she focused on her work. He was just lucky she found his powers worthwhile to research, and needed him alive and functional for her research, and if that meant tolerating his ridiculous charade, so be it.

Her communicator buzzed, interrupting her thoughts and work. She scowled, her eyes narrowing once she saw it was Klein. “What is it, Klein?” She asked, her fingers never pausing as they danced across her console.

“Your presence is requested aboard the Moby Dick, doctor. It’s very important.” Klein replied curtly, her voice clear despite the cacophony of shouts, laughter, and what sounded like a scuffle. Typical. It seemed the fools were up to their usual antics—or perhaps Ace had tried to kill Newgate again.

“I have better uses for my time than subjecting myself to unfiltered stupidity, Klein.” Mobius replied, her scorn palpable as her delicate brows furrowed. The fact that this ragtag band of misfits had not only survived but thrived as the so-called pinnacle of the seas was nothing but a cosmic joke. Natural selection had clearly taken a vacation.

She should know, having witnessed their ceaseless parties and the innumerable times some of them almost choked to death on their own food. The longer she observed their behavior and banter, the more she felt her intellect wither away in their folly. She held no interest in lowering herself to their level.

Klein hesitated, the sound of muffled feminine giggles and whispers filtering through the communicator. Mobius’s eyes narrowed. She knew that tone. Trouble was brewing.

“...Subject Elysia said to inform you she would release images of you and Hami if you refuse to comply.” Klein said reluctantly, likely pressured by the people around him into this risky statement.

Mobius froze. Her fingers stopped mid-keystroke, and her slitted eyes flicked to the tiny hamster snoozing peacefully in its cage on her desk. Hami, blissfully unaware of the chaos surrounding him, twitched his nose in his sleep.

“...Give me a few minutes.” Mobius spoke through gritted fangs, rubbing her forehead as celebratory cheers erupted just before she hung up.

She could still back out, of course. Let Elysia release the images. They were just pirates, after all—forgetful, easily distracted humans who would move on to the next shiny thing within hours. All she had to do was ignore them until they lost interest. Easy.

And yet, a small, nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that one man aboard the Moby Dick would never let her live it down. Newgate, with his insufferable grin and insufferable patience, would make it his personal mission to torment her until the end of time. With a sigh, she surrendered. For now.

The things she did for peace of mind.

Mobius left her lab, climbing the stairs to Fire Moth’s deck. As she stepped into the open air, she felt it again—the faint whisper in her mind, a voice she couldn’t quite place. Ace and Elysia had mentioned it before, but she had dismissed it as one of Vill-V’s elaborate pranks. The Helix master had denied any involvement, of course, but her growing interest in the phenomenon suggested there might be more to it. Mobius was starting to suspect the ship might actually be haunted. A fascinating subject, but one for another day.

As she hopped onto the Moby Dick, she tempered her expectations of the ridiculous antics she was about to be subjected to. She found Klein waiting for her near the center of the ship, her dutiful assistant beckoning her until they arrived before Whitebeard. The old man’s eyes lit up when he saw her.

“You sure took your time, Mobius.” The giant man spoke, staring intently at her. The sturdy deck creaked as he leaned closer, a cheek grin on his face. “I’m glad you came.” He added, laughing boisterously as the immortal snake glared at him. 

His countenance had improved, Mobius noted, giving a passing glance to the biofeeds and fluids attached to his body. For a sick old man, he remained foolish enough to test her patience. “Save your words for those who are swayed by it. Why am I here?” She asked, slitted eyes glaring at the carefree captain with predatory menace.

“Isn’t it obvious? I guess you’ve been working too hard lately, my daughter.” Whitebeard paid her glare no mind, smiling at the two before he rose from his seat. He towered over them, diminished by age and illness but no less fearsome. “I called you for a single purpose.” The cables and wires strained and stretched as he knelt in front of Mobius, staring deep into Mobius’s eyes. The silence continued as neither side relented, Newgate’s stalwart gaze shining with mischief as his lips quirked into a merry smile. 

“Happy birthday!”

His calm words joined almost seamlessly with the sudden loud cries erupting all over the ship, the spacious area immediately flooding with people as her companions and the rest of Newgate’s crew surrounded them. Mobius’s vision was instantly covered in complete darkness, the pillowy softness blocking her breathing causing her to growl as a dainty hand caressed her hair. “Get off me, Elysia!” With a shove, she freed herself from the hug, tufts of pink hair tickling her skin as Elysia smiled at her.

Mobius refrained from attacking Elysia in public, not while all the attention was centered on them. It wouldn’t be satisfying, either. No, she’ll take her sweet time savoring her revenge slowly, until the vixen would beg for forgiveness. A wicked smile spread on her face, many different ideas flashing in her mind while the elf wisely placed Kevin between them.

Her gaze shifted to the giant beside her, his closed fist slowly opening to reveal the gift he prepared. “Happy birthday, Mobius.” Whitebeard said, looking at the bunch of little animals he and his sons gathered in secret—hamsters, rabbits, snakes, and even a tiny parrot. It took a lot of time to find the cutest ones, especially with Klein’s brutal criteria. His heart swelled with unrestricted joy, seeing the hesitant look on Mobius’s face as she struggled to maintain the haughty persona in front of the little creatures.

Mobius’s mind, in truth, was running on overdrive, the loud cheers and unending congratulations giving her the perfect cover as she glared at the smiling giant. She had no need of these creatures, beyond research and cursory examination perhaps, and yet her eyes did not leave Newgate’s. She studied his face, his breath, every detail she could glimpse in search of anything, even a crumb of ill will…yet she could not even find a hint of boredom. The old geezer even had the gall to be excited, the childish grin matching the curve of his mustache.

Not like the morons on this ship could tell the difference between a beard and a mustache anyways.

Her jaws clenched, realizing this human was having the time of his irritable life at her expense. She prodded, over and over again, even as Klein took the animals away. The silent treatment would crack his composure, likely feeling insulted his gift was treated so callously.

But…he wasn’t fazed. What she saw in the emperor’s eyes was no infinite love born out of innate qualities of an existence beyond humanity, nor a serenity brought about by boundless knowledge and clairvoyance beyond his years or this era. It was worse, she thought begrudgingly even as the celebration continued. Voices she filtered out as easily as snapping her fingers.

He cared. It was an unconditional affection in the worship of nothing but his children. How naive that is, how pure… how bea-

“This is unnecessary.” Mobius muttered. She averted her gaze, crossing her arms awkwardly and casting aside her train of thought with a desperation that shamed her. It was nothing, a misstep in her logical analysis due to all the noise. She could still sense his gaze upon her, a sickeningly gentle and welcoming invitation free of any expectations. It was unbearable. 

She turned to leave, unwilling to waste more of her time on such a meaningless venture, only for a pink blur to cannon into her and pull her deeper into the festivities. “Come on, Mobius! You’re not getting out of this that easily!”

“If you don’t release me, I swear I’ll—”

“—have the time of your life!” Elysia interrupted, her grin widening as Ace approached, his hand raised for a pat on Mobius’s shoulder.

“Yeah, Mobius! You should stop being such a-”

Ace’s sentence was cut short as Mobius’s fist connected with his face, sending him flying over the railing and into the sea.

“Ace is drowning!”

“Quick! Someone get him!”

Mobius allowed herself a small smile, a morbid satisfaction at the sound of the brat gurgling on seawater as she flexed her fingers. Not even Elysia’s incessant ramblings could rob it from her…or so she thought, until her other peers joined in, and her fun was ruined again.

‘This is my life now…’ She thought, her curses were drowned out under the Elf’s constant interjection as the pirates cheered, yet their combined laughter and shouts couldn’t defeat the booming laughter of the Quake man. The captain raised his comically large mug, joining the cheerful party with a thunderous voice that echoed across the vast ocean.

“To our dear Mobius!”

Marineford:

The brutal clashes across the heart of the Marines raged on, the nauseating stench of gunfire seamlessly fusing with the scent of blood and burnt flesh. A brutal clash of titans of unprecedented scale broadcasted to the entirety of the world, a carnage the reporters on the Sabaody Archipelago witnessed in real-time. Every chorus of screams and warcries, every thundering blast of cannon fire and Pacifista bombardment, all displayed with varying clarity following an abrupt cut to the snail feeds.

None in the Sabaody spectators failed to notice the notorious mark of Helix passed through the live feed at the corner after it was restored. They watched in shock as the inhuman weapons, meant to be hidden, were plastered upon a dedicated screen from a bird’s eye view. The magician waved at them, her glowing eyes sparking fear in many a journalist and pirate observing the action before ducking under Sentomaru’s axe.

Armageddon, apocalypse, such words usually spoken in exaggeration, now ringing with grim reality both soldiers and outlaws threw themselves in. Men and women perished in droves, blood soaking the frozen bay as fighters bled and fought under a sky colored in hues of pink and yellow, each deafening explosion heralding destruction beyond comprehension. Giants and superior officers were no exception, consumed by the onslaught just as easily as any other as their bodies piled along with their comrades. The battlefield had turned into an engine of pain, an engine that roared with an insatiable appetite without a care for whose blood fueled it.

It seemed unstoppable, even as those fresh to such hellish combat lost their courage and hid among the violence. The battle demanded too much from them, more than their youthful minds were prepared to give when faced with the banality of their lives within this slaughter. Their superior officers may spur them forward, commanding them to plunge into the heart of this massacre and fight monsters in human form beyond their wildest dreams. Yet, any speeches they mustered, no matter how saturated with demagoguery, couldn’t make up for a lack of abilities or desensitize them to gore and horror beyond measure.

Then, a blade pierced through flesh. One that sparked a unanimous cry no other in the sea of bloodstained blades could ever evoke.

“POPS!”

The engine of war, which didn’t stop even as colossi fell…suddenly ceased. None moved, as every pair of eyes focused on the figures aboard the Moby Dick in terror and shock. The entire world bore witness as the strongest emperor of the sea stood in silence with a large blade stabbed through his chest, ripping through his muscle and grinding against his bones as it was roughly pulled out.

Blood sprayed from the hole, and some with keen eyesight winced as they saw the hint of the mast behind Whitebeard through his wound. The old warrior’s chest heaved with exertion, sweat dripping down his face as his old body betrayed him. He resisted, every part of him fighting to remain standing as he was forced to his knees while blood dripped down his chest.

Then, through gritted teeth, the emperor’s hand lashed out. His attacker, Squard of the Spider Pirates, flinched, closing his eyes as he braced for his impending death. Only, the emperor’s hand went beyond him, closing upon a harpoon made of dark green sludge. The projectile stopped dead in its tracks, the sheer power behind it causing the entirety of the Moby Dick to crack and groan, the ice it was frozen in breaking into pieces as the giant vessel shifted slightly backward.

Whitebeard’s eyes lingered on the jagged edges biting into his flesh, frowning as his skin burned against the sludge. It trembled in his grasp, intent on Squard like a relentless predator single-mindedly intent on its target without cease. His eyes shifted to the source, easily finding the culprit in the middle of an expansive swamp next to a defeated Moria.

Serpentine eyes, frigid and unforgiving, stared back. A flicker of annoyance flashed in Mobius’s eyes, the Flame Chaser lowering her hand when the old captain shook his head. The sludge morphed within the emperor’s grasp, its acidic bite disappearing as it slithered across his arm and chest. It reached his wound, crawling inside the bloody, gaping hole. He felt it slithering within his chest, the ache slowly receding despite the discomfort and itch. His breath wasn’t so short now, nor was it as much of a struggle for his muscles to follow his will.

A foul substance rose in his throat, and he spat mouthfuls of blood, pitted and filthy with a disgusting oily hue. Relief spread across his bones, but he didn’t pay it any heed. Instead, the father ignored the screams and shock of the battlefield..he didn’t punish the son who betrayed him, lending only a bit of attention to the accusations he declared.

Faced with this mess and turmoil, Edward Newgate looked into Mobius’s eyes and smiled. More than a smile, his bloodstained grin defeated the haggard wrinkles all over his face, dashing in its fatherly reassurance. It was a simple gesture of little to no combat purposes, an instinct honed over decades of dangerous struggles and tough times alongside his sons…yet there was something about it that was undoubtedly personal. As if his damnable smile was just for her.

Mobius felt incensed by the gesture, her blood boiling at the mere notion she needed reassurance from a mortal who was already one foot in the grave. She could think of thousands of ways to mock him and this mediocre rescue operation, and dismantle any dignity he might have. It would be so easy…

…so why couldn’t she reproach him, even a little bit?

The flame chaser frowned, turning away from Moby Dick. She took a deep breath, casting aside such distracting emotions. There’s no need to lower herself to such simpletons, they had a goal to achieve. Still, the question remained at the back of her mind, like a small cockroach she couldn’t get rid of. The annoyance was slightly appeased by the painful sounds she wrenched from Moria’s broken body, her heels biting into his bloated form a bit too forcefully.

Mobius leisurely walked all over the warlord, each step easing her frustration with the tunes she made Moria sing with every elaborate twist until she finally hopped down his big head. Marines hurriedly formed around her, swords, pistols, even some of the canons at the ramparts were aimed at her. “Perfect timing. I needed some way to vent.” She spoke, her gaze instilling fear amidst their ranks. All it took was another step, and one of the gunmen fired out of fear. Despite the terrible trigger finger, his aim wasn’t any less lethal. If it were any regular hooligan, he might have scored a headshot. 

Alas, the projectile was caught between Mobius’s metallic nails. “Do try to entertain me, would you?” The bullet cracked to bits, as a tidal wave of sludge erupted around her. The serpent frowned as her attack turned to stone before it swallowed the marines, her eyes turning to the stunningly beautiful lady standing in front of her.

Boa Hancock met Mobius’s stare with narrowed eyes, silently assessing the Flame Chaser without reservation. “That appearance, hair, and eyes…I see how it is.” The Snake Princess hummed, before she pointed at Mobius. “You! You’re my little sister!” Hancock proudly declared, leaning backwards as she did, her snake staring awkwardly between his master and the green lady.

….

“What are you talking about?” Mobius asked, brow twitching at the sudden insolence. The old geezer already pushed her patience beyond every boundary imaginable, and she was not going to tolerate getting dragged against her will into another weird family roleplay.

She refus-

“No, you definitely are.” Hancock insisted, her radiant smile making Mobius very uncomfortable. Before her stood a miniature almost spitting image of her sister Mary, and Hancock was certain her sister didn’t have any children. She sighed, feeling some guilt (misplaced) over the fact a family member was lost for so long while they were happily enjoying their lives in the Amazon Lily. She needed to rectify this! “It’s alright now. You’re big sister is here!”

“Okay. No .” Mobius replied, calmly. She had no interest in any of whatever delusion this warlord was spouting. Her sludge broke free of Hancock’s petrification, coalescing into spears before attacking the pirate empress. The earlier commotion a few minutes ago was completely wiped from her mind, replaced by a complete focus on ending this false notion of relation in the cradle before it was too late.

Mobius was far from the only Flame Chaser unaffected by the ongoing chaos Squard’s betrayal caused, as flames and sword waves morphed the entire battlefield. None of them stopped, offering the entire ordeal a cursory glance before pushing onward with even greater zeal.

None more rabid than Kalpas, much to his opponent’s misfortune. The Mad King’s flames raged on, its ardent blaze burning all in its way. Marines, giants, Pacifistas, all were but fuel to his roaring heart’s fury. His fists grew faster now, stronger, merciless. Aokiji noticed the shift instantly, like a switch turned in his opponent’s mind…no, it was always there, but it was held back almost whimsically. Like a predator who grew bored of the chase, drawing breaths that taste of murder.

‘ This is getting dicey. ’ The admiral thought, sparing no effort on his own end in turn. He couldn’t afford to be casual. Had it not been for his devil fruit’s powers, he was certain he would’ve been nothing but ashes like the rest of those around them. The heat licked his skin like acid, and he could feel the first signs of first-degree burns spreading over his empowered fists.

Ice and Fire met once more, drawing breaths that tasted of murder. Each impact of fist against fist was akin to metallic thundercracks, while those around them screamed in the agony each of their rumbling impacts wrought. Those who were spared Kalpas’s flames, found themselves stricken with the admiral’s unleashed frost.

Aokiji grunted as his back slammed into the frozen ground, rolling sideways just in time as the Mad King slammed both feet where his chest would’ve been. Aokiji retaliated the instant he was up on his feet again, his haymaker landing squarely on his foe’s jaw. Such a direct attack would’ve crushed the head of any lesser man, and might have knocked out some powerful ones…but his opponent didn’t flinch…he didn’t even retreat a single step.

His head snapped sideways, sensing Kalpas’s retaliatory blow right before it struck him. His vision swam for the briefest of moments as his brain bounced against his skull, but the admiral powered through it, pushing his observation to its fullest as he sidestepped an incoming uppercut.

Then, his instincts flared up again right in the middle of his counter. A few seconds too late.

Kalpas ducked under the admiral’s elbow, tackling the admiral and charging both of them straight into the protective walls. The cannoneers screamed as an explosion sent them flying, the men stationed at the plaza stepped back. Whispers and gasps echoed amongst their forces, unease growing amidst the men after the third attack on the last line of defense separating them from a horde of pirates and monsters beyond their worst nightmares.

The earth trembled, a resounding explosion echoed just behind the wall. A violent gale erupted, its strength sending the closest marine soldiers to the ground. Another followed right after, and another, and another. Stronger, faster, a growing stream of deafening sounds no amount of cannon bombardment compared to. One of the soldiers gulped, sweating at the source of such horrifying explosive power. “Admiral Aokiji…” He whispered, flinching as the wall began to crack, its quakes more volatile.

The admiral gritted his teeth, arms shielding his body as blow after blow rained down on him. Every punch he received, he returned with equal fervor and more. Even as his bones ached under the relentless assault, he resolved to make every inch the pirate gained as costly as possible. Alternating between Iron body and Shigan in an attempt to force the lunatic back.

Ice spikes stabbed into the Mad King’s legs, blood spraying as they melted to steam. Kalpas did not relent, even as the pieces of his flesh fell to the ground and the admiral’s hand pierced his stomach. Boiling blood and sliced flesh fell between the two fighters, melting ice and concrete in equal measure as the punches kept on coming.

Kuzan’s arms turned crimson red, his blood boiling as his heart desperately pounded against his ribs before it was cooled down again. Blood pooled at his feet as the back of his head was ground against the wall, every step back bringing this monster he was fighting against closer to the plaza. His fingers felt as if they were soaked in liquid fire, the slimy touch of Kalpas’s blood bringing as much pain as he inflicted upon the Flame Chaser. It wasn’t so quick to cool down either, much to the admiral’s annoyance.

The two men were forces of nature, their opposing powers forcing them back into the most primitive option of attack. Savagery made manifest, the mere sight of their blood-soaked forms enough to deter the brave and the unruly in equal measure. Humans didn’t ignore entire holes in their midsection, nor did they fight through such heat. To gaze upon them was to go blind, to approach was to die .

Garp frowned, anger taking hold for a brief moment as he clenched his fists. His body tensed, ready to pounce upon the Flame Chaser the instant he breached inside the Plaza. No, perhaps it was better to assist Kuzan immediately–!

Sengoku gripped his shoulder, shaking his head at the questioning gaze Garp threw at him. “Don’t move from your post, Garp.” The Fleet Admiral spoke, his eyes brokering no disobedience.

“At this rate, he’s going to break through.”

“He won’t. Kuzan can handle it, and Sakazuki is ready to assist if need be.” Sengoku retorted, gesturing to the Admiral standing at attention in front of his post. The Buddha calmly assessed the battlefield, his eyes narrowing as the frozen tsunami waves collapsed. The destabilized pirate forces seemed to have regrouped, the chaos their little move caused already dispelled by the enemy emperor. Sengoku didn’t have any expectations of the deception, but he’ll take what he can get.

The more he chipped away at Whitebeard’s strength, the better. Sengoku knew Newgate far too well to expect this battle to be anything less than the most grueling trial their justice would face ever since its inception. Whitebeard was staring him down, and the Buddha knew the emperor was about to enter the fray. To be expected, after the insult and betrayal their little trick incited.

Despite the incoming quake man, his attention never left the other elephant in this disaster. The captain of the Flame Chaser pirates stared back, arms crossed while his crewmates waged war at their own pace. Sengoku kept his attention on Kevin Kaslana ever since their ship appeared, scrutinizing his every move as best he could. It was thanks to his unblinking supervision, that Sengoku caught the fleeting shift in the captain’s posture when Garp was about to jump.

He was constantly watching the two of them, waiting for Garp or Sengoku to move so he could pounce. The Fleet Admiral understood the delicate balance at play, how the tables could turn for the worse if they let their guard down. “The moment you make a move, that young punk would also jump in. Don’t do anything unless I say otherwise, Garp.” Sengoku ordered, his sharp tone silencing any further discussion.

The magician’s continued feed must have been part of this, an attempt to goad them into pressing the offensive in any way to find and destroy the transmitters. The same went for his other crewmates, deployed almost purposefully to pin down the marines’ key personnel. This was no ragtag crew of powerful miscreants and meatheads, charging head-first into a heavily fortified stronghold with little strategy.

Sengoku realized he was dealing with a squad of soldiers, with a much more thorough and clearcut method to their madness. Suddenly the dynamic of the battle shifted in his eyes, the Fleet Admiral’s brows furrowing as he turned his snail transmitter on.

“This is Sengoku speaking. I need a status report on the encircling walls.” He spoke, receiving no response for a long, uncomfortable minute. His grip tightened on the snail, his face twisting in anger before he repeated. “I repeat. Status report.”

“This is central here!” A voice finally answered, the snail’s eyes filled with terror as the officer’s voice cracked. “There’s an intruder here! Please send reinf–” His plea for aid was cut off by a pained scream, before the line was abruptly cut.

Sengoku’s eyes narrowed, his hunch proving correct as he switched channels. “There’s an intruder in the encircling wall’s control room.” He ordered, gritting his teeth as his mind raced for a way to fix the situation.

“Yeah. I’m right in front of her…the control room is completely totalled, Sengoku.” His interlocutor replied, the snail’s appearance shifting as its eyes grew contemptuous. 

Sengoku frowned at the uncouth tone of the interim admiral, but now wasn’t the time to speak of such things. “Deal with it, Aramaki.” He ordered, hanging up and switching to other channels to make up for this blow. ‘ The Flame Chasers…they just keep appearing where they shouldn’t be. ’ The admiral thought, eyes narrowing at their leader with growing unease. He was pretty sure there was another Flame Chaser unaccounted for, and he wasn’t sure what the Uncrowned Emperor was planning for them.

On the other side of the call, Aramaki snorted as he put away the snail. Dozens of marines lay around him, between the incapacitated clutching their broken limbs and the unconscious leading up through the hallways leading up to the control room within the fortress. The number continued to grow as far as one could see, the piles getting bigger as he reached the entrance to the room itself, the reinforced iron door torn off its hinges.

He stepped inside, ignoring all the soldiers sprawled across every portion of the small chamber. His focus was only on the singular lady standing amidst the defeated soldiers and ravaged machinery, her beautiful golden eyes as sweet as the scent of wine filling the room. “Oh my, I didn’t expect someone like yourself so soon.” She spoke softly, her angelic voice as sweet as the purest honey. It was such that Aramaki doubted any regular soldier would’ve acquiesced to any request of hers if only for a single velvety look their way.

He could see flashes of the Flame Chaser by the short sparks flying from the destroyed console and screens, recognition alight in his eyes as he took off the shades. “No amount of singing is going to cut it out here, Siren of Gold.” He spoke, his skin shifting to wood as he slowly grew bigger and bigger.

Aramaki didn’t expect to see a world-renowned singer here, especially after all he was put through to prepare them for this battle. Still, it wasn’t going to stop him from enforcing justice.

In a flash, the entire room exploded in a shower of plant life and lightning visible from the battlefield. The giant tree branches expanded and encroached upon the lower half of Marineford’s fortress, quickly matching the stronghold’s size in the blink of an eye. Everyone bore witness as Eden gracefully stepped between branches, big or small, attempting to skewer her. Aramaki’s plant life continued to grow around her, more branches sprouting by the second in an effort to surround her, only to be shot with meticulous precision. Eden was quickly pushed out of the Plaza, jumping upwards each time a new branch rushed to impale her until she found herself amidst the clouds.

The star of the seas leaped out of Aramaki’s reach, letting her body freefall to the frozen bay below. A radiant smile bloomed on her face, unconcerned by the incoming attacks rushing towards her. Closer and closer the branches got, intent on the flame chaser with oozing bloodlust until they evaporated in a dazzling shower of crystal pink.

Eden’s body was caught in a loving embrace, dazzling tufts of pure pink hair tickling the lady’s face. “I caught you, Eden~” Elysia cooed as she smiled at her comrade.

The star chuckled, firing her gun at the beams of light coming behind her dear friend. “Thank you, Ellie. But we need to get down now.” She said, taking note of the combined assault chasing after them. The two flew across the skies, weaving through the bombardment of blinding light and rain of wood as they descended upon the frozen bay.

The smugness in Elysia’s smile was overflowing as she circled through the assault, wiggling her eyebrows at the singer in her arms…until Kizaru’s beam struck one of the disk’s thrusters. Elysia yelped as the flying construct shook and tumbled as it crashed to the ground, the two ladies twisting in the air and landing on their feet some distance away from the Moby Dick.

The Whitebeard pirates sprung into action, pushing the marine lines back to join them. The skies were filled with wooden spikes, raining down upon the Flame Chasers and the pirate forces with impunity. A specter of death cheered on by the marines with seemingly no possible escape.

Until a singular man took action, fury guiding a fist to strike the air with enough force to make the island and the seas shake . The rain of spikes was broken, reduced to crushed wood dust under the immense pressure of Newgate’s blow. The shockwave crushed everything its way, pushing into the left side portion of the plaza and crushing the overgrown plants attached to the fortress to smithereens. The giant landed beside the two ladies with a thundering slam, his face locked in heated wrath as he glared daggers at the fortress and its defenders.

To deceive his son into betrayal, and to attempt to injure his daughters before his very eyes…made the strongest man in the world beyond enraged. “You’ll be nothing but paste by the time I’m done with you, wooden brat.” The emperor snarled, turning his attention to Elysia and Eden with increasing care. “Are you two alright?” He asked, sighing in relief when the two gave him a thumbs up.

In truth, the elderly man’s worry was unwarranted, especially given the far more perilous battles they experienced. However, no matter how many times they’ve tried to explain it to Whitebeard, the man would stubbornly continue behaving this way.

The strength of a child was irrelevant to the father’s duty to care for them. It didn’t matter if they were weaker than him or stronger, because his duty was to fight for all of them.

They were family, and strength didn’t matter when it came to family.

Whitebeard looked up, a shadow looming over the three as a giant vice-admiral lumbered and slashed his way towards them. Edward Newgate’s gloomy face shifted to the colossal man, his gaze locking onto the marine with such domineering intensity the vice-admiral stopped mid swing. The single minded focus of a scorned predator, staring down John Giant with such contempt and anger the man felt small.

Pushing through the fear, the giant did not back down and swung at them with all his might. His strike was welcomed by the old emperor, a sadistic smirk hiding just beneath his ‘beard’.

A perfect target for his pent up fury. Just what he needed.

Meanwhile, with Elysia grounded, Kizaru didn’t waste time pushing back the pirate forces closest to the wall. A hail of light fell upon the vanguard of outlaws mercilessly, a singular attack pushing their forces back to the middle of the bay. Kizaru blinked at the sight of a familiar straw-hat wearing pirate, saved from disintegration by…a former warlord and a revolutionary? Huh, That was certainly beyond any of his expectations.

Nevertheless, the admiral decided to focus on more important matters than a lucky rookie, his figure racing between the chaos until he came upon Kalpas and Kuzan.

The Mad King sensed his arrival, but found his fists caught in Aokiji’s grasp. He kneed the tall marine repeatedly, feeling ribs crunch and fracture under the violent assault. Even so, Aokiji’s grasp didn’t slacken, nor did he release a sound.

Borsalino’s kick slammed into Kalpas’s chest, sending the flame chaser flying back to the center of the bay. He gave his friend a small glance, his eyes widening at the battered state the ice man was in. His jacket was burned and tattered, his shirt, blackened and charred beyond repair, even more so. Blood leaked from Aokiji’s mouth, vapor coming off his body as it cooled the lingering heat in his bruised arms.

Pain spiked up Borsalino’s leg, the admiral sparing a look to find the lower part of the pants covering his left leg burned into a crisp. He could feel the cloth burned into his skin, the easygoing man taking off his glasses to stare into the distance where he threw the one responsible for ruining his clothes. “Scary~. I sure am glad I spent my time with Elysia.” He said, hands in his pockets.

“Tell me about it, I feel like spending all my time-offs after this is over.” Aokiji spat blood, cracking his neck as he filled the hole in the wall with ice. “We need to get the encirclement wall up right away.” He said, watching as more soldiers retreated into the plaza. With the Pacifistas occupied, the pirates’ charge went quicker than expected, the perimeter breached in certain areas both by Oars Jr and the Flame Chasers. They’re going to need to speed up their own strategy a few notches, given the extra tough crowd they’re dealing with.

Though such matters were not their main concern, their observation flaring up with looming danger.

The two admirals frowned, staring at the enemy walking out of the dust cloud of canonfire and laser beams. Kalpas laughed without sound, rolling his shoulders as flames engulfed his arms. Blood, both his and that of his enemies, burned to ashes as he slaughtered any bold enough to stand between him and the admirals. Bits of flesh fell down his torso, replaced anew with reinvigorated muscle and sinew before it was covered by unblemished skin. His neck, scorched to near ashes by Kizaru’s light, was flayed as entire pieces of blackened meat fell down with a shower of crimson before healing just as quickly.

“Do not interfere.” Kalpas spoke, voice slightly distorted as his vocal cords regenerated in clear view of horrified pirates and marines alike. His words stopped the commanders hurrying to support him, the Flame Chaser’s gaze focused solely on the admirals…and the scaffold behind them. “Make yourselves useful elsewhere. This is my hunt.” He added, flexing his newly restored muscles.

The two marines slowly walked up to him, the fighters meeting in the middle as they stared each other down. Despite Kalpas’s warning, they could feel the eyes of the Whitebeard pirates on them, ready to take advantage of any opening to support their ally. Were it not for the man’s searing heat, they doubted the foolhardy sons of Newgate would leave one of their brethren against them.

“More prey won’t make a difference.” Kalpas spoke, his voice sharp with bored indulgence. “But let’s see if you will be more of a sport together.” He added, the flame chaser leaning forward, ready to pounce.

“Your funeral.” Aokiji said, his coat flying off as a chill spread across the battlefield. Until the wall was ready, he wouldn’t allow this monster to get so close to the plaza a second time.

“You’re really scaring me, fire guy~” Kizaru added, sighing as he reached out and made a blade of light. “Let’s take it slow, for a change~.”

In an instant, the three pounced in yet another burst of otherworldly powers. A shower of colors between Kalpas’s flames, Aokiji’s ice, and Kizaru’s light, and while the Mad King was able to keep up with the two admirals, his advance was brought to a firm halt under their combined assault.

The same could be said for Interim Admiral Fujitora, fighting against Kosma and Su. The Flame Chasers didn’t seem interested in pushing him back or making ground toward the plaza, maintaining a more defensive posture as they moved him away from Fire Moth and its captain.

Kosma took to the skies, a green blur sweeping at him from every corner with inhuman speed. A shower of sparks flew each time the young man’s claws ground against the admiral’s blade, their explosive collision of their armament releasing a soaring crack of air displacement. Yet despite the chain of thunderclaps, neither could gain an advantage.

It was a peculiar situation for the blind man, having exchanged enough blows with Kosma to tell his armament had yet to mature compared to his. The young man’s exceptionally strong body, as well as his honed ability to seamlessly shift between two dimensional and three dimensional combat allowed him to make up for the gap in Haki, but it wasn’t a feat entirely of his own accomplishment.

Pressure bore down on the area, as gravity spiked manifold in an instant. The Flame Chaser dove down in the nick of time, rolling on the ice before dashing through the minute openings in the heavy pressure towards the swordsman. Claws clashed against the blade in another burst of sparks, before Kosma ducked under the incoming sheath. He saw through the swordsman’s feint, closing in on Fujitora before delivering a high kick.

Fujitora blocked Kosma’s attack, frowning when the young man flew back to his partner before the admiral could exert stronger gravity. He didn’t chase after him, more concerned with the enigma this skirmish presented. All throughout the fight, the young flame chaser showcased only a budding skill in armament, but it was contrasted by a foresight which eclipsed even Fujitora’s own observation. An uncanny confidence and certainty of the next move, proven time and time again with each exchange of blows.

It wasn’t difficult to tell the source was Kosma’s companion, but it begged the question as to how one man could tap into another’s powerful observation.

Fujitora observed the two Flame Chasers, their colors vastly different from any other human he saw. Overwhelming and colossal would be an understatement, the irony of their near blinding radiance not lost on him. He could see dozens upon dozens of shadows within Kosma’s light, a pandemonium of feral beasts linked together under one solemn apex predator. Within it the admiral could sense hunger, tempered as it was by an iron will and a serene mind.

The man beside him was different. Even with his blindness, Fujitora could feel the otherworldly pair of eyes stare into his soul with unfathomable wisdom. It was beyond the feats of observation Haki, a state of being inherently different and inhuman from simple future sight by a few seconds. The sight of one devoid of ego, capable of seeing beyond the present with eyes unclouded by any veil.

It was every bit as captivating as the first day he sensed them.

“The fallen Buddha…what a poor joke.” Fujitora spoke, taking in the sight of Su’s figure, bathed in golden light. It was ridiculous to call one with such aura as such, doubly so for a doctor who saved many people unconditionally before his own eyes. “May I ask you a question?” He spoke, slowly sheathing his blade as gravity grew more heavier.

“Of course, Issho.” Su replied, stepping closer to the bigger man without fear. The gravity didn’t seem to affect him, nor was he afraid of a sudden strike. The peaceful aura around him was almost disturbing, too good to be true some would say. It was as if he was untouched by the ugliness of the bloodshed and hatred around them.

Issho found it suffocating, so disgusting and filthy that it made him want to vomit. Every moment spent within this place was like waves hammering into him with a force he could barely tolerate. It was an exercise of great endurance to keep his thoughts clear within this storm of malevolent emotions…only, all this hatred, all this pain, seemed to slip off Su’s soul. It wasn’t cold apathy, nor was it an emotionless state separating him from worldly plights.

Those eyes seemed to look at him, yet not. They see beyond what he could sense, somewhere far away.

“Is the world you see beautiful?” Issho asked, the ice around them breaking into pieces from the pressure. “Is there something in there worth fighting for?” He added, staring at the serene Bodhi with rapt attention. It was something he wished to hear, a question always at the back of his mind after every decision he made since the war in the Aoi Kingdom. He had blinded himself, hoping to be spared the sight of further atrocities and pain. But each moment spent with this doctor made him contemplate his actions, think back on his decisions almost unintentionally. 

“It could be…if people fought for it.” Su answered him, his back straight and smile serene even in the midst of this hellish landscape. It was enviable, to see someone so unperturbed within a warzone speaking of the future with certainty.

The pressure disappeared as Fujitora’s blade returned to its sheath. The Interim admiral sighed, a smile spreading on his face. It felt liberating to receive the Boddhi’s answer. The cynical part of him doubted Su’s words, considering it to be little more than lip service for a goal Issho couldn’t grasp, but he couldn’t sense even a flicker of deceit in Su.

Fight for it, huh? An unexpected answer, but one he couldn’t dwell on. His ears twitched as the wall was breached once more by stray cannon fire, with enemy forces slowly advancing through the chaos. Duty called.

“Let’s put this duel on hold for now.” Fujitora spoke, retreating back towards the defensive wall of the fort. The soldiers had already retreated to the safety of the plaza, but the encirclement wall had yet to rise. Fleet Admiral Sengoku was a meticulous person, he wouldn’t allow such a critical delay in the heat of combat when one of the enemy commanders almost broke into the plaza.

Something must have happened, and they needed to solve it quickly. Even he and his colleagues couldn’t keep the pirate forces out forever, especially when two of them already had their hands full tying down the Defiant. In the end, it fell upon him to intervene and salvage the situation.

Fujitora stood in front of the wall, taking a deep breath as he slowly reached out for the giant construct under the frozen bay. The entire bay began to shake and twist, the admiral’s mind casting aside the apocalyptic scenes caused by Whitebeard’s powers as he forced the walls through the ice. It was a labour and a half to break through the thick layer of ice all throughout the bay, the incredible feat taking its toll on the admiral despite his impressive stamina. Not to mention the additional weight Oars Jr’s corpse added to the task, the giant creature’s blood laying waste to the mechanisms below as the portion under him fell back down.

Standing upon the encirclement wall, Fujitora took a moment to catch his breath. He observed the bay from his new vantage point, his two colleagues retreating into the bay as soon as the wall stood ready. A shadow loomed over him, before John Giant was slammed into the wall, violently. Fujitora heard each crunch of the vice admiral’s bones giving out against the harsh wall, his unconscious body sliding down and coating the surface red. Still, the encirclement wall stood, unmoving under the attacks thrown at it by the commanders and their men.

The plan was secure once more, and they would move to the next step of their strategy…or so he thought, until his ears caught the distinct sound of wet gurgles and the familiar splash of blood…

…coming from the scaffold.

For the second time, the engine of bloodshed ground to an abrupt and brutal halt. The eerie silence stretched on, with only the occasional cannon fire breaking the tension as both marines and pirates watched Blood pool from Ace’s mouth, the young pirate coughing more and more until his torso was coated in dark crimson. The unexpected shift caught all participants off guard, as Garp and Sengoku stood frozen beside the pirate.

Kevin’s eyes narrowed, features hardening to reveal cold fury. Aponia and Su sighed, their eyes meeting before the scion of Discipline turned to their leader. “Kevin…we are out of free time now.” She spoke, her voice soft but certain. What little time they had for softening the marines’ defenses and prodding at their hidden cards was over.

Now…it was all hands on deck.

“Let us begin.” Kevin stated, his voice muffled by the screams of the pirates yet heard loud and clear by each of their crew.

Egghead:

Vegapunk stood at the center of his lab, for once placing his research on hold. He had spent the entire day nervously watching the Helix feed of Marineford with equal amounts of fascination and horror, now that the war escalated even more with the latest development.

Morgan has his work cut out for him this time...or he was having the time of his life.

His partner in science was an enigmatic lady, to say the least. She was one of very few people in this world that made his heart skip beats during passionate discussions with her “expert” persona, a phenomenon he examined with zeal at every chance he got. The same went for Mobius and MEI, both intellectuals he learned invaluable knowledge from that helped him advance his projects by leaps and bounds.

Their companionship in the road of progress fueled him more than anything, knowing he was not alone in the journey. His dreams, his ideals, didn’t feel so far away now. To be blessed with such peers of such exceptional caliber was a joy he didn’t realize he needed, the sweetness of productive collaboration with like-minded individuals proving to be much different than his work in MADS.

Their knowledge was revolutionary, their insight beyond his wildest expectations. His brain raced with innumerable schematics and theories for months on end each time he worked with them on new projects, surpassing himself with each mystery he uncovered.

Even now, he scribbled as fast as his muscles allowed while his eyes focused on his colleagues’ combat data. Every instance was recorded in his mind, every detail scrutinized with to every limit the feed allowed. What he lacked was replaced with inferences and questions he would answer through trial and error later on, while others would have to wait for their next discussion. Already he was making designs to make up for the Pacifistas’ flaws, and the potential usage of the signals Vill-V used for both civilian and military applications.

This morbid scene of carnage and despair, ironically also served as a treasure trove of knowledge few could comprehend. At the same time, it was also a reminder for the doctor to speed up his medical projects a few notches after this tragedy in order to save more lives when such disasters occurred.

The scientist had little doubt they would make it out of the hellish battle, his knowledge of their capabilities beyond any rumors or second-hand information riddled with exaggerations and theatrical nonsense. Vegapunk could only hope they would be able to save their friend without going out of control.

“It seems the tide of battle is going to shift.” A voice broke through the feed’s audio, before a man calmly sat beside Vegapunk. Green eyes calmly examined each screen with careful attention, before lingering on Ace’s bloodied figure as he kept coughing erratically. “It appears the Elders made their own moves behind the scene. Reinforcing the Navy with two admiral-level personnel and going so far as to poison the captured pirate under everyone’s noses.”

“It’s not surprising, given how Mariejois was slighted by the Flame Chasers. Fire-Fist Ace is seen as an extension of them.” Vegapunk replied, shifting between his notes as he reached for another fresh notebook. “I haven’t seen the Einherjar anywhere yet, Otto.” He added with a hint of impatience, tapping his pen against the clipboard only to receive an amused smile in response.

“Don’t worry, Vegapunk. They’ll be deployed soon enough.” Otto Apocalypse replied, gesturing to the feed observing Fire Moth as the pirate forces plunged into a frenzy. The two of them could spot the shift in Kevin’s stance, his bat reappearing in his grasp. The sight was nostalgic to the former overseer, even if he was relieved to be so far away from Kevin Kaslana, safe from his wrath. “The Whitebeard Pirates will be a great test for the firstborn prototype.” He added, as certain about their latest project’s efficiency as he was about the lack thereof when faced against the finest work of his world’s ancient civilization.

Both of them knew this truth, but their goal wasn’t such a thing to begin with. Their work was more tailored toward pirates in general, rather than the thirteen who were exceptional beyond measure within the confines of this land, perhaps even beyond. It was for the future of this planet, and the ultimate goal of elevating humanity before it was too late.

Such was the duty he took upon himself in atonement for the suffering he inflicted in the past. However, now was not the time to dwell upon bygone days.

The Hero… advances .

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE

Name: Eden

Monicker: Golden Siren

Bounty: 533 Million Berries.

Member of the Flame Chaser Pirates and a Star known across the seas. Prior to becoming an outlaw, her songs and performances were highly anticipated wherever the mysterious group went. Many of her concerts and plays were highly sought after, with the singer’s fame and exquisite feats soaring far and wide across different kingdoms.

At its peak, recordings of her performances were sought after by many nobles, both mundane and Celestial. Many of her works remain priceless even after she and her friends became outlaws, with some even leading to conflicts between kingdoms on some occasions. Such incidents led to the World Government and its Navy forces banning the star’s works, stating the lady’s voice was enchanting people to chaos. 

Her bounty soared a second time after she caused economic instability among a few nations because of her strangely bottomless riches and generous donations during her events, the sudden spike in wealth amid the lower and middle class hitting many a kingdom without warning. 

Many still wonder how deep the superstar’s pockets were, with no answer. For years, Economists and journalists from all over the world have been working together to put a number to her net worth…and it’s still in progress.

A few notorious incidents also suggest her fans might be secretly working to undermine any effort to arrest or endanger Eden; her continued shows despite her wanted status made for some very awkward situations. The marines stationed at the sites repeatedly testified that NOTHING.HAPPENED.

IF YOU SAW SOMETHING, YOU DIDN’T.

Despite the Flame Chasers’ fearsome reputation growing over the years, Eden’s popularity among the people remained the highest. She remains an idol for all performers across the world, inspiring quite a few youngsters to follow her path and becoming the unofficial patron of Elegia. 

Some rising stars had begun making their debuts around the world, following Eden like moths to a flame. Rumors suggest a certain new idol called Uta had a few lessons from the Flame Chaser, which could explain her equally peerless skills.

In spite of Eden’s stardom, her marksmanship and lightning powers make for a lethal combination few would be able to face. The best advice experts gave aspiring thieves, pirates, journalists and economists alike was: Don’t…just don’t.

Chapter Text

Hello, everyone. Got an important announcement to make.

Unfortunately, I won't be writing any further updates for any of my stories anymore. Due to personal reasons, as well as my own lacking ability, there won't be any continuation for the ongoing projects on my end.

The stories are up for adoption, if anyone wishes to take over. This announcement will be posted on all my ongoing fics. (Anybody who wants to adopt any of the projects can DM me and I will share the notes I've made as well as the resources I've used.)

My sincerest apologies for leaving things like this, and thank you for your support all this time.

Have a nice day and stay safe!