The sea was never silent in the Grand Line.
Even amidst still winds and calm tides, the world churned beneath the surface—plots, whispers, grudges, and ghosts. And after Harbanos fell under the sigil of the Empire of Mankind, the world stirred once more.
---
Marine Headquarters – New Marineford
"Nova Imperia…"
Fleet Admiral Sakazuki—formerly Akainu—muttered the name like a bad taste on his tongue. His fist cracked the edge of the steel briefing table, steam hissing from his magma-coated knuckles.
"They've attacked a Celestial-sanctioned governor, raised a foreign flag, and declared themselves an empire."
Vice Admiral Tsuru leaned forward calmly. "They're organized. Disciplined. And unlike most pirate upstarts, they didn't pillage or massacre. Their strike was surgical."
"You're suggesting restraint?" Sakazuki barked.
"I'm suggesting we understand our opponent before we burn a hornet's nest."
Behind them, an intelligence agent flipped through den den mushi surveillance, showing glimpses of the Harbanos liberation: masked soldiers in uniform, glowing light constructs, and a towering figure in gold robes—the one they call Emperor Lucius.
Sakazuki's eyes narrowed.
"Send Admiral Kizaru. Observe. Report. And if the opportunity arises… test their resolve."
---
Nova Imperia – Throne Spire
Lucius stood before a massive table map etched with glowing faultlines, ley paths, and den-den relays. The Strategium, as his generals called it, buzzed with soft light and data from across the seas.
"Harbanos has stabilized," reported Primarch Kael Dorn. "We left behind reconstruction crews, food vaults, and a Justice Council. Public support is at 94%."
"Good," Lucius nodded. "How's the world reacting?"
Kael smirked. "The World Government has officially branded us as Imperialist Terrorists. A bounty has been issued on your head."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "How much?"
"Five hundred million. Not bad for a start."
He chuckled. "We'll need to raise the stakes."
Kael's smile faded. "Scouts report a light signature approaching at impossible speed. It's him."
Lucius turned cold. "Kizaru."
---
Skies above Nova Imperia
A thunderclap of golden light screamed through the clouds. Admiral Borsalino, in his usual lazy swagger, hovered casually above the edge of Nova Imperia's airspace.
"Well well," he whistled, golden photons dancing at his fingertips. "Quite the little empire they've built."
Below, alarms echoed across the capital.
"Skyward breach detected! Incoming logia-class threat!"
"Admiral-level haki signature approaching!"
Within seconds, Sol Verion landed on a fortress turret, his fist wrapped in obsidian-armament haki. A dozen Space Marines took defensive positions across the towers, rifles humming with dial energy.
"Stand down," Lucius said calmly as he ascended with a light-step burst from his own Aurora-Aurora Fruit.
He met Kizaru mid-air, surrounded by soft glows of photonic shielding.
Lucius smiled politely. "Welcome, Admiral. I assume this is not a diplomatic call."
Kizaru tilted his head. "Yare yare… You shine almost as brightly as me. That fruit of yours—awfully close to mine. Curious."
"We don't seek war, Kizaru," Lucius said. "But we will not kneel to tyrants who murder in robes of justice."
Kizaru's expression sharpened just a little. "You took Harbanos. That's enough to start a war."
"Then let it begin with honesty," Lucius said, raising one hand.
A solid-light spear formed in his grasp.
---
Clash of Light
The skies above Nova Imperia exploded in golden and white brilliance.
Photon spear met laser foot. Shockwaves rippled for miles. The city below watched in awe as their Emperor dueled a living legend.
Lucius couldn't match Kizaru's pure speed—but he could predict. His battle precognition, learned in simulations with Kael, allowed him to read photon patterns like a chessboard.
He conjured mirrored walls of light to reflect Kizaru's beams, used flash-bursts to blind him mid-teleport, and deployed solar mines around the battlefield—traps made from concentrated light bombs.
But Kizaru adapted.
With a grunt, he unleashed a barrage of Yasakani no Magatama, sending a hail of deadly light bolts across the city.
Lucius blocked most with a solar dome—but two made it through.
A nearby tower exploded. A Space Marine was thrown from the rooftop. Sol Verion caught him mid-fall, his arms burning from the blast.
Lucius's eyes flared.
"Enough!"
He burst forward with a blade of concentrated aurora light, striking Kizaru's shoulder and sending the Admiral back across the sky.
Blood.
Not much—but enough.
Kizaru touched the wound and looked at it with mild surprise.
"Well now… seems you're not just pretending."
And then he vanished—reforming miles away before streaking back toward the Marine fleet beyond the horizon.
Lucius hovered silently in the sky, his chest rising with effort.
---
Aftermath
Medical crews rushed to reinforce the wounded. Sol stood beside Lucius on the airfield.
"You fought him to a draw," Sol said. "That will echo across the sea."
"I didn't win," Lucius replied. "I sent a message."
He looked down at the people below—their faith, their fear, their hope.
"I'm no pirate. No warlord. No god."
"I am Emperor of Mankind. And I will reshape this world."
---
To Be Continued