The sun peeked over the shimmering waters of Water 7, casting golden light onto the deck of the colossal ship now known as the Ark of Raijin. It was the morning of their long-awaited departure. A soft breeze danced along the hull, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea and the buzz of a city still waking up. But aboard the ship, the energy was different—electric, like a storm waiting to break loose.
Enel stood at the bow of the Ark of Raijin, a light smile tugging at his lips as he watched his crew begin to assemble on deck. The ship was immaculate—its freshly polished wood gleamed like sunlit bronze, the silver-lined railing glinted in the morning light, and the sails were a pristine white, waiting to be blessed by the wind.
Every room inside the ship had been completed and furnished. The crew quarters were spacious, each with its own enclosed bathroom—an unheard-of luxury on most pirate vessels. The kitchen rivaled any royal galley. The dining area was a high-ceilinged hall with a long obsidian-black table and cushioned seats made from dyed leather. Bolted furniture ensured stability even in the roughest seas. There was even a library, a training chamber fortified with seastone blocks, and a war room lined with navigation tools and ancient maps.
To Enel, the Ark of Raijin felt less like a ship and more like a floating kingdom.
He smirked as his thoughts wandered.
"Even the Celestial Dragons would be foaming at the mouth if they saw this."
Tatsumaki hovered onto the deck, her green hair gently whipping in the wind. Hinata followed, wrapped in a simple white robe, the Byakugan softly active as she marveled at the ship's inner workings. Erza walked tall and quiet, Benehime now slung across her back in a black scabbard laced with gold. She radiated a quiet power that the others had come to respect.
Escanor, as punctual as the rising sun itself, was already present. His chest puffed with pride as he inspected the finished ship—his creation. He turned to face Enel, arms crossed like a lion guarding its domain.
"Well then, my Captain," Escanor said, his voice booming with regal confidence. "The ship is ready. The sun has risen, the sea calls, and your destiny awaits. All that remains is a name for our flag."
Enel grinned. "About that… I've been giving it some thought."
With a slow, deliberate motion, Enel unclasped the cloak that had long covered his back. The fabric fluttered to the deck as his enormous wings extended outward with a crackle of electricity. Thunder crackled across the deck like an audience holding its breath.
The wings were radiant—massive, white with streaks of storm-blue, veins of electricity sparking through their length. They were unlike anything the crew had seen before. Even Erza and Escanor, hardened warriors in their own right, took a step back in awe.
"These wings," Enel said, turning to face them all, "are unlike any creature's in this world. Not even Skypieans grow wings like this anymore—assuming the world still believes they even exist. They're the mark of who I am. My origins, my power, my identity."
He held out his hand, and lightning surged from his palm. In the current, the shape of a skull appeared—its eyes glowing with sparks—and behind it, a pair of stylized wings arced outwards, with bolts of lightning forming the crossbones beneath.
"This is our Jolly Roger."
He looked each of them in the eye. "We will be called the Angel Pirates. Any objections?"
The crew was silent for a beat. Then, Tatsumaki shrugged, a rare grin forming. "Fitting. You do like to play god."
Hinata smiled shyly. "It's… beautiful. I think it fits us all."
Erza bowed slightly. "Angels or not, we'll make them tremble in the sky or the sea."
Escanor laughed heartily, "Then let the heavens bear witness! The Angel Pirates shall carve a legend into the bones of this world!"
The deck erupted in cheers—quiet, dignified approval from Erza and Hinata, a scoff of amusement from Tatsumaki, and a literal crack of thunder from the heavens as Enel smiled.
But the ceremony wasn't done.
As the crew admired the flag being painted onto the sails, Hinata turned to Enel. "So… where are we headed first?"
Enel's eyes narrowed, a sly grin spreading across his face. "The New World can wait."
"What?" Tatsumaki asked, her brow raised.
"We're not ready," Enel said. "We have the ship. We have the beginnings of a crew. But that's all it is—beginnings. We're going to need more. At least six more core crew members. People who can lead their own divisions, if necessary."
Erza nodded. "We won't stand a chance against an Emperor's crew with just five of us."
"Exactly," Enel said. "We're strong—but not ready."
He continued, pacing across the deck, "I also need a weapon. A real one. Something that can channel my thunder and complement my Haki. Everyone else has legendary blades. Escanor has Rhitta, Erza's got Muramasa, Murasame, and Benehime—and I'm still punching people with my fists like a common thug."
Tatsumaki snorted. "You are pretty good at it."
"I appreciate the compliment," Enel said, "but we're going up against people who can turn mountains into powder with a single breath. I need something worthy of the title 'Captain of the Angel Pirates.'"
Hinata tilted her head. "So where to, then?"
Enel folded his arms and looked off into the distance.
"We're going back to the East Blue."
"The East Blue?!" Tatsumaki repeated in disbelief. "That's the weakest sea in the world!"
"Exactly," Enel replied. "Which means it's the last place they'd expect us to go."
He turned toward them again. "We're heading to the Baratie. That floating restaurant is known for one thing—chefs who can cook and fight. If I'm building the best pirate crew in the world, I want a chef who can feed kings and break bones at the same time."
Escanor chuckled. "Now that's a chef I'd like to meet."
Enel nodded. "Once we've got our cook, we sail through the first half of the Grand Line—cause chaos, test ourselves, raise our bounties, pick fights with a few corrupt Marines, and send a message."
He raised a fist toward the sky.
"Then—and only then—we enter the New World. And we claim our first territory."
Everyone looked around. They all felt it—that quiet thrum of excitement in their chests. The plan was bold, insane even, but that was what made it thrilling. They were pirates. And the world didn't know what was coming.
"Raise the sails!" Enel commanded, his voice booming across the deck.
"Aye, Captain!" Escanor roared, springing into motion with the energy of the rising sun.
The sails unfurled with a snap of wind, catching the morning breeze. The Ark of Raijin slowly began to pull away from the Water 7 docks, turning heads across the island as people stopped what they were doing to gawk at the enormous ship with its thundering sails and blazing Jolly Roger.
As the ship cut through the waves, Enel leaned on the railing, lightning dancing at his fingertips.
"Let's give them a show," he muttered.
But far across the sea, in the heart of Marine HQ, a stack of freshly printed bounty posters landed on a Vice Admiral Onigumo's desk.
Five new names.
Five new threats.
"DEAD OR ALIVE. "ARCHANGEL" ENEL – Captain of the Angel Pirates.. Bounty: 310,000,000 Berries."
"DEAD OR ALIVE "TORNADO" TATSUMAKI –. Bounty: 182,000,000 Berries."
"DEAD OR ALIVE "SOLAR ANVIL" ESCANOR –. Bounty: 220,000,000 Berries."
"ALIVE "SCARLET BLADE" FIGERLAND ERZA –. Bounty: 215,000,000 Berries."
"DEAD OR ALIVE "ALL SEEING EYE" HYUGA HINATA –. Bounty: 90,000,000 Berries."
The Vice Admiral frowned.
"You're sure they're already a crew? They just left Water 7," he said.
"Yes sir," the agent replied.
"And they're heading where?"
The agent hesitated. "According to the CP9 agents on Water 7, East Blue, sir."
The Vice Admiral blinked. Then, for the first time in years, he laughed. A crew this powerful with such strong devil fruits and abilities, heading to the east blue? For what? The thought of it was hilarious.
"They're insane." He quickly deduced.
But his hatred for pirates made his laughter die quickly.
"Send word to G-2. The East Blue won't be calm for long."