Chapter 257 – Kill Sengoku! The Gorosei Prepare for War! (Subscribe Please!)
"Shhhk-shhk-shhk!"
At last the long blade sliced through Sengoku's defense.
The sword cleaved his fist; agony wracked him, yet with iron will he endured the heart-rending pain.
"die!"
Roaring, Sengoku clenched his other fist, Armament and Conqueror's Haki cloaking his body, and punched Eustasssquare in the chest.
Eustass's body twisted like ink on paper, bending impossibly to dodge the desperate blow.
His free fist shot forward and punched clean through Sengoku's chest.
"Cough-cough-cough…"
Sengoku's pupils dilated, blood spurting from his mouth.
He glanced down at the wound and staggered back.
"Haha…"
No regret shadowed him, no fear of death.
At nineteen he'd joined the Marines, assigned to Branch 112 in the South Blue.
That same year his brilliance—tactical genius and battlefield prowess—earned him transfer to MarineHeadquarters on the Grand Line.
The same year he entered the Naval Academy alongside Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru.
After graduation the four fought side by side. Sengokucame from wealth; at times he couldn't fathom Garp and the others, yet he always believed one thing: the World Government's word was beyond question.
That conviction clashed with his own justice.
"At last…"
As life faded he hallucinated: his adopted son Donquixote Rosinante smiling at him.
The Tactician slowly closed his eyes, memory drifting back…
…to decades ago, a sobbing blond child before him, and he knelt to comfort Little Mi-gor.
"Great Senbei is here for you, Rosinante…"
Standing, Sengoku shut his eyes, head tilted skyward.
Sengoku—fallen in battle!
…Sabaody Archipelago.
A transponder snail projected Marineford's carnage onto a giant screen slung between two towering mangroves.
Throughout the crowd…
…countless viewers gasped as one.
An Admiral dead was bad enough—now the Fleet Admiral had fallen.
"Are the Marines finished?"
Panic swept the square.
Across every sea, people watched via transponder snails; when Sengoku fell, most screamed in shock.
Admiral Akainu dead, Admiral Aokiji one arm lost, Admiral Kizaru gravely wounded.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slain, plus untold Vice-Admirals and Rear-Admirals; among Commodores, Captains, and Lieutenants the dead were beyond counting.
Some rejoiced, some despaired.
For those tyrannised by Celestial Dragons, hope dawned—under Karina Mola the Resistance treated its islands well.
The World Government's Dragons, however, were frantic.
With the Marines gutted, Resistance and Revolutionaries would strike hard—hit them while they bled.
Red Line, Mary Geoise.
Council chamber.
The Gorosei assembled.
Faces grave, they knew once Marineford fell the enemy would march on Mary Geoise itself.
None believed Eustass would halt his advance.
"Order the Marines to pull back to Sabaody. Concentrate every force near the World Government and build a second defensive line there."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn spoke at once.
"How fares that man's project?"
Saint Mars asked Saint Saturn.
He meant Vegapunk.
"The wretch keeps stalling, shirking at every turn."
Saint Saturn snarled.
"Then it's too late."
Saint Vahcy said, displeased.
"Indeed."
Saint Saturn sighed.
"Prepare for war. If defeat looms…"
Saint Ju Peter finished; all five nodded.
They would have Imu play the final card.
"Relay my order: every Marine Base across the Worldshifts to war-footing—guard against Resistance assault!
All fleets near Sabaody mass on the archipelago; join World Government forces and form the second defensive line!
All New World bases—abandon every island and outpost; sail at full speed to the First Half of the Grand Line and reinforce Sabaody!"
Saint Saturn barked into a transponder snail.
"Aye!"
World Government troops, Marines, and every Basereceived the Gorosei's command.
In the New World countless warships weighed anchor and steamed toward the First Half of the Grand Line.
Across the seas Bases had barely received the order when fierce assaults struck.
Grand Line—first half, waters near Alabasta, Marinebranch.
"Boom-boom-boom—!"
Shells screamed as Resistance steel dreadnoughts raced in, blasting the Base to scorched earth.
Steel hulls meant heavier guns far outclassing sailing-ship cannon.
Shore batteries exploded into scrap.
The Base commander raised his sword and led a counter-charge; Marines died in the steel rain.
A handful of elites, Moon-walking behind their commander, soared toward the enemy ships.
Above them the roar of Jet Flares echoed.
The commander and his elites glanced up—startled.
A dozen iron-man armours hung in the sky, palms glowing.
Sixteen energy beams lanced down.
"Boom-boom-boom—!"
Black-smoked Marines plummeted into the sea.
Never had they dreamed their foes fielded an iron-man corps.
Across the globe Bases suffered the same surprise; Marine losses soared.
New World.
Hulls coated, warships dived, aiming to pass beneath Mary Geoise via Fish-Man Island to reach Sabaody.
In calmer days they'd cross over the Red Line at Mary Geoise, but war left no time.
Nor could they abandon these ships—each would count in the coming fight.
From the clouds steel suits plunged into the sea.
Deep underwater…
"W-what are those?"
A Marine Lieutenant pointed at the black shapes streaking past.
"Just sea creatures—quit panicking."
The captain scoffed.
"Do sea creatures surround us in perfect formation?"
A major, sweat-soaked, cried.
Five unmanned iron-man suits ringed the warship; palms rose.
Ten searing beams pierced the water, burst the bubble coating, and the hull imploded under abyssal pressure—crew crushed to death in an instant.
"Damn it—full speed ahead!"
Captains of the remaining hundred ships screamed, ordering every engine pushed to the limit.
Chapter 258 – The Celestial Dragon Emerges! (Subscribe, please!)
Thick smoke rose above Marineford; under orders from Mary Geoise, the Marines withdrew from headquarters in frustration.
"Are we really running away like this?"
Vice Admiral Momousagi stood on the warship, staring at headquarters with unwilling eyes.
"What else can we do if we stay?"
Kuzan sat on the deck while medics dressed his wounds.
While Eustass and Whitebeard fought across Marineford, the Resistance Army and Revolutionary Army struck simultaneously, launching attacks on the Marines all over the World.
The next instant, above Marineford—
an overwhelmingly terrifying aura suddenly condensed in the sky.
"What is that?"
Borsalino looked skyward, his expression grave.
Many who possessed Observation Haki sensed the strange presence and lifted their heads.
In the heavens, dark clouds blotted out the sun.
Those whose Observation Haki lacked sufficient range could only faintly feel the aura gathering, unable to locate its source.
Marineford, nearby waters—
A steel warship sailed slowly forward. Resistance Admiral Fujitora sat on its deck, brows knitted; within his Observation range he could sense an "iron box" orbiting the Planet in outer space.
And upon that indescribable object, terrifying energy was condensing.
"Hmph!"
Admiral Fujitora snorted, raised his hand toward the sky, and called down a meteor to crash into the Planetbeneath them.
The meteor, its gravity controlled by Fujitora's Zushi Zushi no Mi, plummeted at high speed.
In space the meteor shattered the orbiting weapon that had been gathering energy to strike Eustass and Whitebeard.
Marineford.
Eustass tilted his head skyward; he had sensed the situation in orbit.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the legendary Uranus, the Celestial Dragon, was actually… a giant space station.
"What is that thing?"
Whitebeard's Observation Haki could also perceive the scene outside, but like most people in the Pirate World he had no idea what a "satellite" or "space station" was.
"Something lost to history,"
Eustass replied.
The Pirate World had once possessed an extremely glorious technological civilization.
After the Wano Country arc, the plot on Egghead Islandhad already revealed this fact.
Over two hundred years ago a giant robot had suddenly awakened and flown all the way to Mary Geoise.
Only at that moment had the robot's energy run out; otherwise Mary Geoise would have been turned upside down.
And the ancient Pluton was said to slumber beneath Wano Country.
"Whitebeard, your son's been rescued; now you owe me a favor."
Eustass spoke.
"Yeah, name it."
Whitebeard panted, answering.
The current Whitebeard's health was not yet as bad as in the future; after fighting this long he was merely tired, not suffering relapses like during the Marineford War in the original timeline.
"Launch an all-out assault on Mary Geoise."
Eustass stated.
Whitebeard looked at him in surprise, then nodded silently.
Before long the Resistance's steel fleet arrived.
Whitebeard and his men stared dumbfounded at those fast, heavily armored warships.
The times have changed, My Lords!
At this moment they finally understood how the Resistance had seized so many islands from the Marines over the years.
With high-speed steel warships, both operational tempo and logistics far outclassed traditional three-masted sailing ships.
Top-tier fighters were, after all, only a handful; war was a matter of large-scale forces.
No matter how hard elite fighters worked, they could not greatly influence the overall tide of a massive war.
"Gurararara—!"
Right at this time—
high in the sky—
an extremely loud pirate laugh rang out as a figure with a ship's wheel stuck in his head, wearing an orange cloak and flowing blond hair, flew over rapidly.
"Marines, never thought you'd have a day like this—fantastic! Gurararara!"
Golden Lion laughed wildly; behind him numerous islands floated in the air.
Golden Lion waved his arms continuously, sending huge boulders raining down from the floating islands toward the Marine fleet below.
"Boom—boom—boom—!"
An unlucky warship was smashed through by the boulders; its keel snapped and the vessel broke in two.
Casualties were heavy; before long the broken ship tilted at both ends and slowly sank beneath the waves.
Golden Lion frowned as he glanced at the distant Resistance steel fleet, then warily eyed Eustass far away.
He had originally wanted to trouble the Resistance, but after a moment's thought decided he couldn't beat the father of the Resistance's leader and gave up.
"Evacuate immediately to the Sabaody Archipelago; pirates are being cleared there. We can turn it into our second defensive line."
On a warship, a CP9 agent wearing a black top-hat with a dove on his shoulder spoke.
He was Lucci; previously he had been undercover under Mr. Iceburg in Water 7.
But the Resistance had suddenly sent someone to steal Iceburg's Pluton blueprints; when they gave chase they were nearly beaten to death by the enemy's Haki.
Lucci, who appeared late, had a "baka" he wanted to shout at Oda… After that they were recalled to Mary Geoise.
Just earlier, Lucci and the others had been dispatched to Marineford to support the Marines.
Yet after Sengoku died in battle, Mary Geoise hastily pulled them back and ordered them to establish a defensive line at the Sabaody Archipelago.
"Damn it!"
Borsalino's face changed; he quickly grabbed the transponder snail used for fleet command. "All units, attack the seawater—Fish-Men and Merfolk are coming!"
The moment he finished, a huge spiral of seawater blasted from the ocean.
With a thunderous roar a warship's hull was destroyed.
Under repeated strikes from several massive currents the vessel was battered beyond recognition and sank.
Marines fell into the sea; Fish-Men and Merfolk swam at missile-like speed beneath the waves.
In underwater combat the Marines were no match for the people of Fish-Man Island.
"You bastards! Were you trying to kill us along with them?"
On a Marine warship—
A swarm of shadow bats suddenly burst from a Marineofficer's shadow, condensing back into Moriah's body.
Moriah roared; shadows gathered into a shadow spear in his hand and pierced straight through the officer's body.
"Moriah!"
"Moriah, you bastard!"
"What do you think you're doing!"
On several distant warships Marines shouted in shock.
"Heyhihihi, with the World Government facing catastrophe, I'm done listening to your crap!"
Moriah happily stood on the deck, a shadowy pike appearing in his hand as he repeatedly stabbed at the Marines around him.
Chapter 259 – Mary Geoise's Trump Card! (Please Subscribe!)
Eustass led Whitebeard and the Resistance in hot pursuit of the Marines.
High above, Golden Lion harassed the fleet whenever he pleased, while Moriah hijacked a warship.
Kuma now stood atop the ruins of Marineford, transponder snail in hand, calling Dragon to dispatch the Revolutionary Army to the battlefield—fast.
The sea shimmered emerald, its surface heaving like a breathing leviathan.
A corner of Marineford.
A clot of sand was swept by the rushing tide through streets and alleys, then flung violently into the open sea.
"H-help—mmph—!"
Sir Crocodile, his body elementalized, was submerged in seawater. He managed one cry before a wave slapped over him; the sand sank, carried far away by the current.
Mary Geoise.
Imu sat upon the Empty Throne, face as dark as thunder.
With Uranus they could have killed Eustass and Whitebeard outright.
It was Imu's favored tactic—crude, brutal, and effective for centuries.
Then… out of nowhere, Issho interfered.
A meteor had smashed Uranus beyond repair.
"Let's end this."
Imu sighed.
Uranus was scrap; one Pluton slumbered beneath Wano while the Resistance had built another from the blueprints; Poseidon was the mermaid Princess Shirahoshi—well-guarded by Eustass's men.
With every deterrent gone, Imu had no cards left… Sabaody Archipelago.
The Marines had just arrived; most districts had already been cleared by advance World Government troops.
Marine and Government forces threw up a second defensive ring.
They had barely landed when Eustass, the Whitebeard Pirates, Golden Lion, the Resistance, and the Revolutionary Army appeared.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Without a word both sides greeted each other with a barrage of shells.
"Charge!"
Eustass's vanguard hadn't even reached shore when hordes of pirates from uncleared zones attacked from behind.
Aokiji and Kizaru exchanged glances.
Not everyone chose piracy; many had taken up blades simply because the celestial tribute left them no other way to survive.
Facing a possible new era, they were ready to stake their lives against the Marines.
"Kill!"
"Slay those running dogs!"
"Mary Geoise, Marines—drop dead!"
Pirates surged toward Marine lines; Marines and CP Agents answered with gunfire.
Marine officers cut down wave after wave, yet the onslaught would not break.
"A new era… is coming…"
A pirate collapsed in a crimson pool, gasping. "I—I hope my son… in that new world… won't need to be a pirate…"
The moment the words left him, he died.
Aboard a steel warship.
Eustass stepped off the deck via Moonwalk and glanced at his daughter Carina beside him.
"Father."
"Scared?"
"No. The Celestial Dragons are the root of all evil; I'll destroy them and forge a new age!"
"Then let's fight."
With that, the warship beached. Eustass leapt first, using Soru to sprint straight into the enemy ranks.
He ran a CP9 agent through, then cut down a CP0.
Garp roared in, hurling a fist.
Eustass sheathed both blades and smashed his own fist into Garp's skull.
With a whistle of wind Garp flew like a broken kite, snapped a giant mangrove, and crashed.
Lucci and a CP0 rushed in—one with Finger Pistol, the other with Six King Gun—aiming at Eustass's back.
Using Soru, Eustass cloaked both fists in Conqueror's Haki and flickered behind them like black lightning.
Two punches pierced clean through their torsos.
Rob Lucci staggered two steps and thudded face-first, dead before he could strike.
Not far away Kuzan touched the ground, preparing to freeze the Resistance soldiers in a block of ice.
Eustass Soru-flashed in front of him and hammered a fist down.
Kuzan barely guarded yet still went flying from the blow.
Facing the massed Marines and Government troops, Eustass slapped the ground—turning the earth into countless White Threads.
The threads surged forth, Parasite Threads burrowing into Marines and CP Agents.
Under his control they turned their blades on their own comrades.
In the distance Kuzan knelt, coughing blood. Watching the chaos, he felt the fall of the Dragons and Marines might be salvation.
"Perhaps… they are the ones who are right."
"Indeed," Borsalino murmured.
Close by, Garp—feigning unconsciousness—cracked an eye and gave Kizaru a sideways look. This guy… definitely undercover.
"Ah, such grave injuries—I'm finished~"
With that Borsalino flopped beside Garp. Old man, think you're the only actor here?
While Kuzan bled, Garp and Kizaru vied for Best Actor of 1517.
Just then.
Above the island.
Scores of flying Devil Fruit users—masked CP9—swooped past, clutching the Government's last store of dynamite rock and raining them down on Sabaody.
"What!?"
"How could they?!"
"Damn it—does the World Government mean to kill us too?"
Marines below paled in horror.
They instantly abandoned their fight with the Resistance.
Kuzan's expression hardened; the Government had lost all legitimacy in his eyes.
Eustass watched the dynamite rock plummet.
He wove the sea of White Threads into a colossal wall racing skyward.
Thread fused into thread until a white "eggshell" enclosed the entire archipelago.
Just as Eustass prepared to lace the shield with Haki…
Kuzan stepped up and shook his head.
"Allow me."
Kneeling, he pressed both palms to the white dome and flooded every fiber with his Armament Haki.
Garp and Kizaru dropped their act—
The Government intended to wipe out Eustass, Whitebeard, the Resistance, and the Revolutionaries in one stroke, even if it meant burying every Marine and CP Agent alongside them.
Chapter 260: Princess Shirahoshi's Magnificent Sea-King Corps! (Subscribe, please!)
Garp and Borsalino pressed their palms against the White Wall, coating it everywhere with Haki.
But the battlefield was too vast; the White Wall stretched across an enormous area.
And the flying users had hurled too many Dyna Stones onto the islands—more than forty. One alone could obliterate an island; forty-plus… The Mary Geoise lunatics were ready to blow Sabaody Archipelago sky-high to protect their status.
That's how the World is.
To safeguard their interests, the powerful will propose decisions however idiotic or dreadful they seem to ordinary folk.
Sabaody Archipelago.
Dragon, chief of the Revolutionary Army; Whitebeardand the Whitebeard Pirates' division commanders; the allied pirate captains; Karina Mola and every Resistance elite; plus countless Marine officers—all gathered at the White Wall, channeling their Haki into it.
"Save your strength for the one on the Empty Throne!"
Rayleigh walked up from behind, speaking to Eustass.
Rayleigh had never left Sabaody.
With that, he pressed his palm to the White Wall, feeding it his Haki.
Countless people poured their Haki into the wall; in an instant it likely became the hardest barrier on earth.
Some wanted to live; others had abandoned the World Government and wished it dead.
At this moment every foe set aside hatred, stood together, and chose the same side to face the single enemy—the World Government.
High above, dozens of Dyna Stones plummeted, striking the top of the White Wall. Their casings cracked on contact with air, releasing a radiant yet deadly light.
Over forty tiny points of light flared at once; the next instant they swelled, energy pouring out to annihilate everything around them.
One Dyna Stone can erase an island and raise a towering mushroom cloud.
Forty-plus… Even far-off Alabasta could feel the quake of the blast.
Above the giant circular White Wall of Sabaody, forty-odd colossal columns of fire—each the size of an island—shot skyward, the explosions layering upon one another.
The devastation was World-ending: heaven and earth shook, seas surged, and titanic waves rolled toward the horizon.
The waters around Sabaody were driven downward; the sea level kept plunging beneath the horrific shockwave.
Clouds above were torn apart by the blast.
Vast black mushroom clouds rose, blotting out the sun and plunging the sea into darkness.
"Screeech!"
Even reinforced by everyone's Haki, the White Wall could not withstand forty-plus weapons rivaling Ancient Arms; its outer shell kept shredding.
Under the extreme heat the wall itself ignited, burning fiercely.
Inside, people clenched their teeth, pouring every last drop of Haki into the barrier.
"I—I don't wanna die!"
Marine Colonel Ebott pressed both hands to the wall, channeling every shred of his Haki until nothing remained.
Skin and bone, he collapsed to his knees, wailing in agony.
Because more than forty gigantic fire pillars hammered from above, the temperature inside kept soaring.
The air itself warped. Prostrate, Ebott sobbed; like everyone else the searing heat left his body crimson and drenched as if roasting in an oven.
Kuzan too had poured all his Haki into the wall; now gaunt and dried out, he knelt helplessly.
"Is—isn't there anything else I can do…?"
With that he recklessly summoned his Devil Fruit power.
He had no stamina left; he knew full well what forcing the fruit again would cost.
But he'd be damned if he let the cold, soulless government erase him from the World!
Cold vapor gushed from his hands.
Bit by bit the White Wall frosted over; Kuzan kept forming an inner layer of ice, yet the larger the ice grew, the greater his pain.
His stamina was spent; continuing would burn through his very life.
As the temperature climbed, the ice began to melt; the meltwater steamed away.
Kuzan paled—he had to stop it, or once the water evaporated the entire space would turn into a gigantic steamer.
Everyone inside would be cooked alive.
Gritting his teeth, he drove the ice colder and colder; frost re-formed inside the wall, and the heat finally ebbed.
Outside.
Upon the sea.
Scores of Sea Kings burst from the ocean—over a hundred towering giants encircling Sabaody.
A young Princess Shirahoshi with flowing pink hair popped her head above the waves.
Gazing at distant Sabaody now under assault by forty Dyna Stones, her eyes brimmed with worry.
"Everyone, I'm counting on you!"
Shirahoshi hurriedly pleaded with the Sea Kings.
"Leave it to us!"
"We've got this!"
"Rest easy, Princess!"
The huge Sea Kings answered her at once—though to outsiders it sounded only like titanic roars.
"Let's go, brothers!"
"Oooaah—!" ×120
The hundred-plus Sea Kings began to gulp down seawater; the nearby ocean level plunged as though some colossal drain had opened.
In the next instant—
Having drunk their fill, the Sea Kings raised their heads toward Sabaody and the forty layered pillars of fire above it.
"Pshhh!"
"Whoosh!"
More than a hundred titanic jets of water shot forward, dousing the Dyna-Stone infernos.
The Sea Kings kept spraying; the fire pillars gradually died out.
Only dense black smoke remained, blotting the sky.
"Boom!"
The White Wall on Sabaody shattered and collapsed.
The combined force of forty-plus simultaneous Dyna-Stone explosions was simply too apocalyptic; even the wall reinforced by everyone's Haki had reached its limit.
Had Princess Shirahoshi not led the Sea Kings here, most people—save a handful of powerhouses—would have perished beneath the island-sized pillars of flame.
Amid the ruins of Sabaody.
Kuzan lay prone, nothing but skin and bones. He gave a faint chuckle and, eyes closing, drifted into exhausted sleep.
"Haha…"
Garp panted heavily, then thudded to his knees.
Every last trace of Haki was gone—not a drop remained.
"Father…"
Karina knelt before Eustass, her own Haki completely spent.
"Leave the rest to me."
Eustass said, laying his daughter gently down to rest.
"Shring—!"
ama-no-habakiri and Yama-bito simultaneously slid from their sheaths.
Eustass, face cold, stared toward Mary Geoise.
Chapter 261: Imu and the Gorosei Join the Fight! The Final Battle! (Subscribe, please!)
Rumble—!
A terrifying burst of Conqueror's Haki exploded; black clouds surged across heaven and earth.
A colossal black lightning bolt ripped through the sky and shot straight above Mary Geoise.
The lightning struck the tallest spire of Mary Geoise—the World Government flag atop it.
Eustass gripped his twin blades and strode toward the island's edge.
Eyes blazing, he stared across space toward the direction his Observation Haki had locked on Imu.
Mary Geoise.
Flower Chamber.
Imu gave the sword at her hip a light pat. "Move out."
The Gorosei followed right behind her.
In the next instant all six transformed into their Mythical Zoan human-beast hybrids.
"And order Impel Down to release every pirate inside—starting now."
Imu's voice turned darker, echoing like a demon crawling from the abyss.
The Gorosei hesitated; then the towering Saint Vinsmoke, wreathed in black flame clouds, bowed to accept.
Imu snorted coldly—if she were to suffer, no one else would have it easy either.
"Send someone to kill Vegapunk."
With that, Imu strode out to meet the final battle.
"Yes, My Lord!"
Saint Vinsmoke hastily nodded.
His body shrank back to normal; he lifted a terrified transponder snail and dialled a subordinate.
After giving every order, Saint Vinsmoke gazed at the shaking snail with delight.
The more terror it showed, the more satisfied they felt.
Just as they had done to the people of this World for centuries.
Imu stepped out of the Flower Chamber, drew the long sword at her waist, sensed Eustass's bearing, and stared across the distance—fighting spirit surging.
The streets of Mary Geoise.
Celestial Dragons shrieked and fled at the sight of the monsters passing by.
"Muhahaha—seeing mortals so frightened truly pleases me."
Transformed into a monstrous form with blood-red eyes and black miasma, Imu stretched a long black arm to slay fleeing Celestial Dragons one by one.
In her other hand she swung an enormous blade, cutting down any Dragon who showed disrespect.
To Imu, the Celestial Dragons were merely pets she kept in a pen.
Bathing in her pets' fear, she felt her power grow.
Marcus Mars, now a Garuda, beat his wings behind Imu, scattering black flames that incinerated Dragons in droves.
A Garuda should be golden, but after serving Imu so long the peculiarities of her Devil Fruit had dyed his own, turning him into a black monstrosity.
Saint Vinsmoke hurried after Imu, along with Saint Peter, Saint Vahcy, Saint Mars and Saint Satan—all six now hideous beasts shrouded in black ominous mist.
Colossal and grotesque, they carved a swath of ruin through Mary Geoise, savoring the strength fear gave them as they marched toward the Red Port.
Imu and her cohort were no fools; they understood plenty.
They slaughtered the Celestial Dragons simply because they no longer needed those fools to continue their bloodline.
The reason was simple: victory in this battle was anything but certain… Eustass stepped through the air with Moonwalk and landed atop a giant Sea King.
The beast shot to the foot of the Red Line; the thousand-metre titan leapt high.
With a light hop Eustass reached the Red Line, near the Red Port outside Mary Geoise.
The Sea King slammed into the continent with a thunderous crash before falling back into the sea.
A huge chunk had been gouged from the Red Line.
High above, Golden Lion Shiki looked on eagerly, awaiting the final showdown.
"Gyohahaha—can't wait!"
Shiki laughed and swooped down, landing on the Red Line.
He too meant to join the fray and try his hand at destroying the World Government.
"W-what the—!?"
Shiki stared at the six monsters emerging from Mary Geoise, face pale, brows knit tight.
Imu stood tall, long sword in hand, crimson eyes locked on Eustass.
Black flame clouds coiled around her body.
"Seems this can't be avoided."
Imu said coldly.
"This World has no need of you."
Eustass replied, Conqueror's Haki cloaking the blades ama-no-habakiri and Enma as he shot forward and slashed.
"I am god—I have no need of you!"
Imu roared, flying in to meet him, her own blade wrapped in Haki and black flames as she hacked down.
Boom—!
Steel met steel; the shockwave blasted outward.
The ground cracked, gales howled.
The five Gorosei rushed in to strike Eustass.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
Boulder after boulder came hurtling down, smashing into the ground and forcing the Gorosei back.
"Gyohahaha!"
Shiki hovered in mid-air, sneering at the five grotesque old men.
About to speak, he burst into laughter again.
"Gyohahaha! So damn ugly!"
Gorosei: "…"
"If I kill you lot, even if I never become Pirate King my name will live forever—gyohahaha!"
With that, Shiki dove in and clashed with the five elders.
While fighting he touched the Red Line; the earth heaved and five colossal stone lions rose from the continent, charging the Gorosei under his command.
"Take him down!"
Saint Vinsmoke snorted, katana in hand, leading the other four against Shiki.
Imu's power alone wasn't enough to beat the cheat-like Eustass.
If they didn't charge in to support her now, they would never have another chance.
"Gyohahaha, come on! I'll be one of the men who destroyed the World Government!"
Shiki roared in excitement, sending the five stone lions pouncing.
Black flame clouds swirling, the five Gorosei—each an awakened Mythical Zoan—kicked apart the giant lions and pressed toward Shiki.
Shiki's face tensed—so strong!
He shot skyward to evade.
Just as the Gorosei turned to aid Imu, Shiki swooped back to harass them.
"You're not Joy Boy—I have no fear of you!"
Red light flared in Imu's eyes as she crossed blades with Eustass, speaking coldly between strikes.
"Hmph—no matter how special your fruit, a blade to the head will still kill."
Eustass answered icily.
"Hmph!"
Imu snorted—easier said than done.
Chapter 262: 262. The Great War Against Lord Imu! (Subscribe Please!)
In this World, from more than eight hundred years ago up until Vegapunk appeared, the overall level of technology had barely advanced at all.
It simply hadn't progressed.
Then, two centuries ago, after that giant robot suddenly appeared and attacked Mary Geoise, scientists everywhere began to take an interest in the technology of the 'ancient past'.
But even though many scientists wanted to study that giant robot, the World Government still adopted a policy of suppression—killing some, co-opting others—while secretly having their own scientists research the machine.
After they captured Vegapunk, they merely had him conduct his research in secret; under no circumstances were those technologies to be spread across the World.
The reason lay with Imu and the Gorosei, who had done this deliberately.
Did they not understand that technology can change lives? Actually, they understood it very well.
They were not stupid; they were the absolute pinnacle of the World's power structure.
Moreover, Imu had lived through the war between the Twenty Kings and the Great Kingdom—she was one of those twenty monarchs.
Back then, the Great Kingdom had only just been established upon the seas.
They had truly witnessed technology like something out of the future.
At first, both sides coexisted peacefully.
The Great Kingdom even cordially invited the 'natives' to visit their nation, to see their creations, and to hear their many interesting and grand ideas.
But later an accident occurred: Imu united with the other nineteen kings and struck at the Great Kingdom, barely managing to destroy what she saw as a threat.
After that, they lost the ability to revive the Great Kingdom's technology.
At the same time, underdeveloped technology and the difficulty of sea travel indirectly helped Imu and the others control the World more easily.
The Devil Fruit Imu ate was one of the very first two fruits ever created.
The nika fruit can inspire hearts, bringing smiles to all who suffer, whereas Imu's fruit does the exact opposite.
His fruit feeds on people's fear, regret, and pain, drawing nourishment from them.
Like a demon crawling out of the abyss, he fears nika, yet by tasting humanity's negative emotions he slowly grows stronger.
This is why she allows the Celestial Dragons to become worthless hedonists who do nothing but oppress the World's people.
Over eight hundred years Imu met the Gorosei and, obtaining the Ope-Ope no Mi on multiple occasions, granted them eternal life.
As the World changed, Imu's unique ability also began to reshape the Gorosei into what they are now.
Red-Port.
Dragon and Sabo arrived together; the others hurried in as well.
One look and everyone gasped.
Imu and the Gorosei, having transformed into their Human-Beast Forms, were wreathed in Black Flame Clouds—twisted, clawing, absurdly ugly.
\"The so-called pinnacle of the World looks no different from hell!\"
Sabo exclaimed in shock.
\"They're practically demons.\"
Carina sighed.
Thanks to the special constitutions of people in the Pirate World, everyone had eaten something to recover stamina and rushed over.
Down below, on the Sabaody Archipelago at the foot of the Red Line,
Fujitora, Garp, Kuzan, Borsalino, Whitebeard and the rest were hugging piles of food, eating non-stop to replenish their strength.
They wanted to join this great war too!
\"Splash—!\"
\"Splash—!\"
A large number of warships suddenly burst from beneath the sea; the Marine reinforcements from the New Worldhad finally arrived.
But because of the Iron Legion's attack, only forty-odd ships remained of the New World fleet.
The Marines stared in bewilderment at the Sabaody Archipelago.
\"Huh? Why are Admirals Aokiji and Kizaru, and Vice Admiral Garp, eating together with Whitebeard and his lot?\"
A Vice Admiral stood on deck, utterly baffled.
And so peacefully at that.
It was all too strange for them.
Kuzan and Borsalino exchanged glances, hurriedly Moon-walked over to explain, persuading these Marines to stop fighting the Resistance Army.
From the moment Imu and the Gorosei attacked them, Imu and the Gorosei had stood against the entire World.
\"Eh? Is that so? How terrifying!\"
The fleet Commander exclaimed in shock.
The whole fleet from the New World instantly understood: they could no longer fight for the World Government.
\"Report! Live footage from outside Mary Geoise!\"
A lieutenant rushed over shouting.
The Commander quickly had him project the transponder snail's feed onto the Screen.
A canvas was hung on the ship as a Screen.
The transponder snail projected the image onto it.
A reporter from the World Economy News Company had risked death to climb the Red Line and was broadcasting the battle live.
The president and staff of the World Economy News Company truly had professional integrity.
\"Wha—!?\"
People stared in utter horror.
\"The Gorosei are so ugly!\"
\"Is that the king behind the Gorosei?\"
\"Even in Human-Beast Form he's hideous!\"
\"We risked our lives for these ugly freaks?\"
Seeing the Gorosei and Imu in their grotesque Human-Beast Forms, everyone felt helpless.
It was like the little guys who'd toiled for so long suddenly discovering their emperor was an ugly little dwarf.
The psychological blow was huge; many felt they'd been cheated.
Of course, Imu herself wasn't ugly.
She was actually beautiful; it was only after using her fruit's power and transforming that she looked hideous.
Red Line.
Outside Mary Geoise, near Red-Port.
\"Clang-clang-clang—!\"
Eustass's twin blades wreathed in Conqueror's Hakiclashed with Imu's long sword likewise wrapped in Conqueror's Haki; both moved at extreme speed.
They vanished instantly, then rushed at each other again—so fast no trace of them could be seen, only the Black Lightning of Conqueror's Haki streaking across the sky.
Amid the thunderous roar Eustass and Imu traded blow after blow.
Blade and sword wrapped in Conqueror's Haki slashed rapidly, like three black bolts of lightning colliding again and again.
In the next instant,
a Pitch-Black Arrow suddenly shot from the shadows, stabbing straight at Eustass's back.
Eustass vanished, using Soru to move at high speed and appeared behind Imu.
Imu held her sword in one hand and, without looking, swept it backward, perfectly blocking Eustass's strike.
\"Screeech!\"
Imu slid backward a distance, then turned her head and glared at Eustass.
Chapter 263 – 263. DC World Portal Unlocked! Vegapunk ONEPIECE Hypothesis!
Above the Holy Land Mary Geoise continent.
Two lightning‑fast figures surged toward each other, moving so swiftly that the naked eye could not discern them.
Two blasts of Conqueror's Haki turned into black lightning, colliding at breakneck speed, followed by a massive explosion; the combat's Impact wave whipped up fierce winds that spread outward.
Eustass and Imu advanced from near Red Line Port, cutting straight into Mary Geoise city.
Buildings collapsed one after another, from the area near the amusement park all the way to the Red Line near the New World.
In the city's center, structures along a straight line were all destroyed.
It was as if a giant wielded a massive warblade and cleaved through Mary Geoise city with a single, brutal slash.
Eustass swung his Yama‑ma sword, carving a crack through Imu's long sword.
In the next instant, ama-no-habakiri and Yama‑ma slashed in rapid succession while Imu's horizontal sword continuously blocked.
Without the Gorosei's aid, she was actually weaker than Eustass.
Consequently, she was beginning to lose stamina.
"Clang—!"
In the next heartbeat, Eustass's Yama‑ma sliced, instantly severing Imu's long sword.
Imu's sword snapped, and the black blade spun far away, plunging into the Red Line with a thud.
Imu was cut twice in front of her, spewing blood as she was flung backward, sliding a great distance across the Red Line.
She glanced embarrassedly at the broken sword not far away.
Having lived over eight hundred years, her sword had long become a black‑blade‑like weapon.
She never imagined she would finally be defeated by a junior.
Eustass approached wielding two swords; Imu retreated in terror.
She had lived over eight hundred years; though stronger, she had grown timid.
Accustomed to sitting atop the throne, she now feared death and had lost her former courage… "Y‑you, don't come any closer. Everything in this World is yours now—spare—spare me…"
Imu shouted in panic, her body reverting to its normal form.
"How disappointing."
Eustass looked at Imu with displeasure.
Imu stared at him, confused.
"Eh?"
In the next instant…
Eustass unleashed ama-no-habakiri in a flash.
A cold gleam flashed, and a spray of blood blossomed.
"Gurururu…"
Imu's body was torn apart.
"Imu, you're not burning at all."
Eustass said, then turned and walked away.
Eustass arrived at Red Line Port, coldly glancing at the Gorosei and Golden Lion nearby.
Six Parasite Threads shot out quickly; the Gorosei and Golden Lion dodged.
Eustass wrapped the Parasite Threads with Armament Haki and thrust them again at the Gorosei and Golden Lion.
With a popping sound, the threads pierced the defenses of both the Gorosei and Golden Lion.
In the next heartbeat…
Saint Vinsmoke, Saint Ju Peter, and Saint Vahcy fought alongside Saint Mars, Satan Saint, and Golden Lion.
Eustass watched the scene with amusement, then glanced at Dragon.
Dragon's right eyelid twitched.
That day.
All six members of the Gorosei and Golden Lion fell under Eustass's control of the Parasite Threads—some killed by their own, others mortally wounded.
The World Government's central district was officially annihilated.
Consequently, World Government forces worldwide turned into headless flies.
The complete destruction of the World Government was only a matter of time… beneath the Red Line.
[host Defeated Marine Admiral Sakazuki!]
[Reward Obtained: Magma Fruit!]
[host Defeated Marine Admiral Kuzan!]
[Reward Obtained: Strength ×2!]
[host Defeated Marine Admiral Borsalino!]
[Reward Obtained: Speed ×2!]
[host Defeated Fleet Admiral Sengoku!]
[Reward Obtained: 1 DC World Charge Point!]
[DC World Charge Points: 12/15!]
[host Defeated World King Imu, My Lord!]
[Reward Obtained: 3 DC World Charge Points!]
[DC World Charge Points: 15/15!]
Eustass led everyone to the underside of the Red Line, sat on a ship, and gazed upward.
He could now travel to DC World—truly a cause for celebration.
However, before that, he still needed to help the next generation clear the enemies of the Pirate World.
[host Unlocks DC World Portal; Pirate World and Marvel Universe Portals fully authorized for travel at any time!]
Eustass listened to the system's voice, feeling very satisfied.
He also missed his home in the Marvel side a bit.
The Resistance Army sent the Pluton battleship over.
Pluton continuously bombarded the stretch of Red Linebeneath Mary Geoise.
A single shot from Pluton could destroy an island, yet it was merely tickling the Red Line—utterly absurd.
Even the clash between Eustass and Imu only carved valleys the size of mountains on the Red Line.
But the Red Line is vast; such damage is just a light scratch.
High above, countless iron man armors zipped by, dumping all the dynamite rocks Eustass had stored over the years onto the Red Line's Mary Geoise.
Hundreds of gigantic mushroom clouds rose above Mary Geoise.
Whitebeard, following Eustass's orders, threw a massive punch forward.
The air shimmered with white light, like shattered mirrors.
A terrifying shockwave surged forward, pounding the Red Line fiercely.
In the next instant…
The small section of Red Line where Mary Geoise stood collapsed instantly; hundreds of fire pillars from the dynamite rocks and Pluton's cannon fire accelerated the destruction.
Eustass didn't bother pondering the meaning of ONEPIECE; to him, ONEPIECE carries countless meanings.
In the original Pirate King storyline, each character also has their own interpretation.
He believes ONEPIECE is to demolish the lofty Mary Geoise, pull the opponent down from the clouds, and cause a fragment of the Red Line to crumble—thereby creating the ALLBLUE Sanji dreams of, a sea where fish from all over the World gather.
Thus, the oceans would become a single, unified body.
Meanwhile, the Resistance Army acquired better technology, improving ship propulsion and making navigation easier.
With smoother transport and optimized communications, cultural, ideological, and technological exchanges worldwide would become seamless.
It's essentially a Pirate World Renaissance.
In fact, there are countless other views on ONEPIECE.
For example, from Vegapunk's perspective.
Vegapunk ate the Brain‑Brain Fruit; the more knowledge he gains, the larger his brain becomes, potentially infinitely expanding—meaning his brain capacity is limitless.
Later, Vegapunk even transferred his brain into the egg‑shell interior of Egghead Island.
It's called the Punk Record.
Years later, Vegapunk openly proposed that the entire World share a single "brain," enabling shared knowledge and thought exchange.
He wondered if, step by step, such a system could gradually achieve the extremely difficult ideal of mutual understanding.
ONEPIECE—Eustass never saw Raftel's explanation from the start.
Because he knows this thing itself can have countless possibilities.
No single answer can satisfy everyone, unless the answer itself is a void that can contain all dreams and guesses.
Chapter 264 – Unifying the Pirate World! Luffy Sets Sail! (Subscribe!)
The Red Line collapsed, and Fish-Man Island beneath it was caught in the aftermath.
Hundreds of dynamite rocks detonated while Pluton kept shelling.
The already deserted Fish-Man Island had its streets smashed by falling boulders.
The terrifying blasts spread; within moments the whole island was obliterated.
Like a fragile night-luminous pearl, it was crushed beyond repair.
Ten thousand meters under the sea, among the roots of the giant Sunlight Tree that once funneled sunshine to Fish-Man Island, flames erupted and turned the island into a sea of fire.
Rumble—!
The collapsing Red Line crashed down, flattening Fish-Man Island and filling the original deep trench with its rubble.
That section of the Red Line slowly sank; the water at the break rose only slightly.
Fujitora used gravity to haul away part of the sunken debris.
When the seawall at the break reached a hundred meters, he finally stopped.
Just high enough for ships to pass through.
One week later.
Dressrosa.
Led by Ace, Violet liberated Dressrosa; the Haki-clad Acedefeated Donquixote Doflamingo outright.
One month later.
The Resistance Army founded the Moira Empire.
Another week passed.
The Moira Empire convened the first World Council of the new era.
To prevent future wars, Queen Carina heeded her father's counsel.
The simplest way to end war—unification.
Carina flexed her might at the council, flaunting the Iron Legion and Pluton.
Of the World's two-hundred-plus kingdoms—former World Government allies and neutrals alike—most grudgingly agreed to abolish their monarchies and accept imperial rule.
Many others refused.
One year later.
Vegapunk, rescued from CP-0 remnants, was given Eustass's data.
The Resistance R&D Institute produced… Rockets.
Though far from Uranus's devastation, the Rockets could surveil every kingdom and feed intel to the army.
That same year the Resistance reached the moon, discovered the Lunarian ruins, and reactivated vast industrial plants, robots, ships, and fearsome weapons.
Another year on.
Under Eustass's command, Queen Carina accompanied her father on a global voyage with Pluton and the Iron Legion.
One kingdom after another—conquer or be conquered.
Germa 66 and the Tontatta Kingdom fell; nation after nation surrendered or were wiped out.
Within a year, save for a few unknown islets in remote seas and the closed country of Wano, almost every state knelt to the Moira Empire.
The greater part of the World now flew the imperial banner.
sea circle calendar 1520.
East Blue.
A passenger ship sailed slowly across the sea.
Atop its mainmast the imperial flag snapped in the wind.
When the empire was born, most kingdoms balked—no World Government, no leash—time to run wild.
Then the Iron Legion taught them manners.
Since then imperial merchantmen fly the flag un-molested wherever they go.
And pride in the empire keeps growing.
Sea-breeze stirred clothes and hair alike.
"Ahh~"
A girl with flowing pale-blue hair stood on deck, breathing the fresh air, stretching happily as she gazed at the sapphire sea.
Becky Moira—daughter of Eustass and Whitey Bay.
Only fourteen.
Yet she'd inherited her father's battle talent: at fourteen she'd awakened Observation Haki and was already a fearsome fighter.
And though just fourteen, she stood one-seventy-five centimeters tall.
Apart from her youthful face, she looked nothing like a child.
A couple more growth spurts and two meters would be easy—three if she tried.
Constant bodyguards made home feel like a cage.
So while the family visited their old house in East Blue's Shelz Town she ditched her escort and slipped away.
"Whoa—buried treasure?"
Becky spotted a barrel bobbing near a giant whirlpool.
Her arm shot out like elastic, snatching the barrel from the sea.
The passengers stared in horror.
The pretty girl was a Devil Fruit user!
Whoosh—
Smack!
Her stretching arm caught the barrel; she yanked it aboard, seawater spraying everywhere.
She caught it with her other hand—mustn't break any treasure inside.
Besides, she loved the thrill of a blind box.
So she didn't peek with Haki.
She set the barrel down, rubbed her hands with a toothy grin, and got ready to open it.
Becky had her mother's icy beauty—until she flashed that Luffy-style grin… better if she hadn't.
Just as she reached for the lid—
Boom!
The barrel exploded.
A straw-hatted, sleeveless-red-shirt, blue-trousered "big-mouth monster" popped out.
"Ahhh—!"
Luffy sprang up yawning, mouth so wide it out-stretched his face.
Becky's glutinous-rice hand wrapped around his fist like soft candy.
She blinked at his hinge-free jaw stretched wider than a face.
"Huh?"
"Mochi!" Luffy poked the stretchy hand in delight.
Squelch-squelch—
"Awesome!" His eyes sparkled.
"Morning! Your power's so cool—join my crew!"
Becky stared, lost for words at the non-sequitur.
She'd eaten the Mochi-Mochi Fruit after her father crushed the Tontatta Kingdom and the fruit re-spawned.
Days later.
East Blue.
A tiny pirate skiff fled before a storm.
They didn't get far—an armada of steel surrounded them.
The Iron Legion hovered overhead; Admiral Fujitora stood on the flagship's prow ready to strike.
"No way!"
Luffy couldn't understand—he only wanted adventure.
After recruiting a few pals, imperial fleets surrounded them.
He was a rookie—why this huge fuss?
"I don't wanna go home, Captain, I don't wanna…" Beckywailed.
"Huh?"
Nami, Usopp, and Zoro stared at her.
"The Empress of Moira is my big sister; the World's strongest man is my dad…"
The Straw Hats gaped in shock.
"Hah!?" they chorused.
Chapter 265: 265. Doc Q's Devil Fruit Changes to Luffy! (Please Subscribe!)
They were doomed from the start.
The Straw Hats hadn't even left the East Blue before they were caught.
And because they were Princess Becky's companions, the Empire's Relevant Departments gave them three months of ideological re-education before sending them back to their hometowns in the East Blue.
One year later.
Seeing that all his watchers had left, Luffy immediately set sail again, trying to find his crew.
As it turned out… Nami had applied to join the Empire's Meteorological Bureau a year earlier.
A year ago, the Empire used several newly built Pluton-class battleships to blow up Reverse Mountain; Admiral Fujitora then towed the rubble away.
From then on, all the oceans of the World converged smoothly through the Canals linking the Four Seas.
Consequently, Sanji—backed by an imperial trading company—opened an upgraded Baratie on the sea-crossing where Reverse Mountain had once stood.
Sanji and Red-Leg Zeff's culinary skills became World-famous, and they finally found the All Blue.
Naturally, Sanji had no intention of sailing out with Luffyagain.
He only wanted to be a chef—cook dishes, earn money, and feel content watching guests from all over the Worldleave with satisfied, full stomachs!
Well, it'd be perfect if he could also marry a beautiful woman… As for Usopp, half a year ago he'd enlisted in the Imperial Army and was already a promising sharpshooter.
Zoro, too, joined the Imperial Army after hearing that Hawkeye had been hired as the honorary swordsmanship instructor at the Imperial Naval Academy.
He wanted to challenge Hawkeye.
Only after enrolling did he discover that "honorary" meant "in name only"… Zoro graduated in a year, cutting down every rival.
Now assigned to a patrol unit, he gets lost thirty-one times a month and routinely drives his Captain crazy… As for Becky, no one dared interfere with her.
She simply ran off again, forming a pirate crew with Luffyto go adventuring wherever they pleased.
Later records state that Luffy's road to becoming the Pirate King was filled with hardship.
Because First-Mate Becky had a special status, nine out of ten times Luffy was caught it was because Becky's dad missed his daughter… sea circle calendar 1521.
International Sea Baratie.
Chairman Red-Leg Zeff stood beside the private dining table, introducing the dishes to Lord Eustass.
Luffy and Becky sat opposite; Luffy idly picked his nose.
Yes, the First-Mate's father missed his daughter again.
After finally reaching the New World this year, he'd been dragged back together with Becky.
The reason only two Straw Hats were arrested was simple.
The times had changed; technology advanced rapidly.
An era of stability arrived, and living conditions kept improving.
People now shared a consensus: piracy was a dead end—you'd be wiped out sooner or later by the Iron Legion or by officers.
Imperial satellites covered the skies; pirates were completely exposed and had nowhere to hide.
Thanks to those satellites, every time Luffy and Beckyescaped they were caught in a single sweep.
"All right, seeing you two safe lets me relax. Go get some air."
Eustass waved Luffy and Becky out when his transponder snail began to ring—his wife was calling.
The pair exhaled in relief and hurried out.
Eustass didn't mind his daughter fooling around with Luffy.
After all, Luffy was strong; his daughter could gain experience and grow by his side.
"Hello?"
Eustass lifted the receiver.
The snail imitated Kozuki Toki—flowing light-green hair and delicate features.
"Come home quickly; Hancock seems to be pregnant again."
"Ah? All right, heading back now!"
Eustass nodded excitedly.
After chatting a while longer with Toki,
he ended the call.
He ate a little more,
then left the private room.
Walking down the spiral staircase, he hadn't gone far when he saw a bizarre scene in the lounge.
A girl in a red shirt, blue pants, and slippers,
her black hair flowing, her figure graceful, was shouting in the lounge.
Opposite her stood Eustass's daughter Becky, face full of disbelief.
"Hmm?"
Eustass walked over, puzzled. "Where's that brat Luffy?"
"F-Father, calling him 'brat' is… a bit premature."
Becky said hastily.
"What happened?"
"Because right now it's a little lady."
Becky finished, pointing at Luffy.
Eustass stared blankly and looked over.
No wonder the person opposite looked familiar!
Luffy stood there, shocked at her own situation.
"Hey, what's happened to me—what did you do!"
Luffy pointed at a man in a heavy coat sitting by the window.
He looked sickly.
On the table sat a basket of apples.
Eustass understood: it was Doc Q.
Doc Q ignored Luffy, staring at Eustass in terror.
He'd only meant to tease the youngster,
but had ended up provoking the strongest in the World.
Doc Q's Devil Fruit was the Sickness-Sickness Fruit.
With it he could infect people with disease and even alter their genes.
In the original storyline, after the Wano arc ended, when the Blackbeard Pirates hunted Trafalgar Law,
Law was changed… into Trafalgar Luo-girl.
Under Eustass's gaze, Doc Q dared not move.
He glanced at Luffy—
no, he couldn't call her Luffy now.
It should be Monkey D. Lufei.
Eustass gave Luffy a smile, then took out his transponder snail and called the East Blue Branch of the Academy of Sciences.
Soon scientists arrived with soldiers and dragged Doc Qaway.
Eustass wanted the researchers to study Doc Q's ability; the man could help with many experiments.
"What do I do now!"
Luffy asked in despair.
"Simple: either kill Doc Q, or awaken Armament Haki. If your Haki is stronger you'll change back.
Of course, as long as Doc Q lives you can still infect others with this sickness."
At those words Luffy's face paled.
Eustass still took his daughter home; he didn't want his precious girl catching Luffy's disease… Paradise.
Water 7.
Mermaid beauties frolicked and splashed through Water 7's criss-crossing waterways.
Years earlier, Fish-Man Island had relocated to Water 7.
The city's abundant waterways suited the Fish-Men perfectly.
An ugly man in green floral pants and sunglasses strolled the streets.
Aramaki glared in disgust at the "lowly" mermaids swimming about.
Aramaki had set sail too late; the World Government had already fallen.
Yet his creed—"wholeheartedly support the Celestial Dragons; non-World Government citizens don't deserve human rights"—remained unchanged.
He once tried updating it to "wholeheartedly support the Mora Empire; people must be divided into ranks, discrimination keeps them compliant."
But his ideas were deemed too dark and he was dismissed by the Relevant Department and placed under surveillance.
Chapter 266 – Green Bull's End (Tragic) – Subscribe!
Aramaki really had no idea he was under surveillance.
After all, he didn't know satellites were watching him… Lately, his heart firmly clung to the Celestial Dragons' creed, twisting it into so-called justice, and he'd befriended some like-minded companions.
Those kindred spirits agreed to meet him at Water Seven.
Aramaki arrived at the door of a low, squat house.
He tapped twice.
A crack opened slowly; seeing it was Aramaki, they let him in.
"Former CP0, Algie."
"Former CP9, Basel."
"I'm Aramaki."
The three shook hands and sat.
Algie had infiltrated the Marines, posing as one of them to keep tabs on the Navy.
Basel had been lying low in Wano, waiting for activation.
With the Marines disbanded, Algie's mission vanished.
Basel, embedded among the Beasts Pirates, heard the World Government had fallen; alone, he couldn't scheme for Wano any longer.
Their nest had been razed—what was the point of plotting for Wano?
Algie called himself "Brother Jie," Basel "Brother Ze," never using their real names or the flamboyant CP attire.
They hunted for World Government remnants, but before finding any, they met the extremist Aramaki.
In the old days Aramaki would've been an Admiral, Akainu-level, Mary Geoise's loyal hound!
They talked for ages and became sworn brothers.
They'd snagged themselves a top-tier fighter.
Not that Aramaki was ever a good guy.
In the original plot, after Wano the protagonists were half-dead from fighting Kaido.
Kaido croaked.
The heroes were wrecked.
Only then did Aramaki (Green Bull) slink in, planning to ambush them like a coward.
He even admitted he wouldn't have dared if Kaido were alive.
A disgrace to the Marines!
Worse than Sakazuki!
At least Sakazuki had steel balls—a real soldier.
Aramaki called him "big bro," yet he was a spineless sneak.
His so-called justice was just bullying the weak.
He claimed only when some were oppressed could others feel secure.
The Empire would never want someone like him.
So Aramaki joined the CP remnants to chase his ideals.
He hoped to use the World Government's leftovers to prove himself.
"Brother Jie, what do we do next? Anything you need?"
Aramaki asked eagerly.
He was stronger, but the other was CP0—maybe he could find more remnants.
He felt he should show respect to World Governmentfolk.
Brother Jie eyed him approvingly—good dog… ahem, useful tool.
"I hear Princess Shirahoshi is living in Water Seven, and the only place we know the Empire doesn't rule is Wano."
Aramaki blinked, lost.
The two clues felt Worlds apart.
"Meaning?"
"Simple: snatch Princess Shirahoshi, sail to Wano, use Pluton Shirahoshi against Kaido, turn Wano into our fortress, then expand."
"I see—you've got some heavy hitters ready, Brother Jie!"
Aramaki exclaimed, fired up.
"Yep, all set,"
Brother Jie nodded.
Then pointed at Aramaki.
"Huh? No way—I can't beat Kaido, Brother Jie!"
Aramaki shook his head in panic.
He'd figured the World Government still had hidden aces.
Turns out they wanted him to fight Kaido.
Aramaki was terrified.
"Nonsense. Your fruit is one of the sea's life-sources—forest itself. You're the incarnation of the woods!"
CP0 insisted.
If Eustass can weave weapons from strings, then surely Aramaki can craft deadly trees if he just thinks harder.
"We believe in you, mighty Forest-Forest user!"
CP9 chimed.
Days later.
New World.
Wano Country.
CP0 Brother Jie had scraped together five or six World Government stragglers; they sailed to Wano with Aramaki.
They caught a giant fish, tied the ship to it, and rode the current upstream.
At the harbor they moored.
Jie and Aramaki glanced sideways—then did a double-take.
A steel warship lay at anchor.
"Hold up—that's the Empire?"
"Damn, why him!"
The CP Agents panicked.
If Eustass was in Wano, did that mean the Empire was making its move?
Their faces turned ashen.
Next instant—
"Aaaah—stop chasing me!"
A disheveled swordsman in black sprinted past, hair flying.
Behind him a pack of Beasts thundered after.
Then—
Jie and Aramaki watched in disbelief.
Just ordinary beasts—this samurai couldn't handle them?
Aramaki: "Pathetic. No wonder Kaido trampled Wano."
Jie: "Worse than trash. That's Oden's kid—Kozuki Momonosuke."
Aramaki: "Why doesn't his hair match Oden's?"
Jie: "Ask his mom."
While they bantered, the air shifted.
They spun around.
Admiral Fujitora stood behind them, hand on sword.
The Empire was barely born; remnants were expected—yet they'd hooked a whale.
Aramaki and the CP Agents paled.
Fujitora drew… Days later.
Former Impel Down.
The underwater prison.
After the Empire took over, security had been tripled.
Now the cells were impregnable.
Aramaki and the CP Agents were thrown inside, awaiting sentence.
Aramaki, Brother Jie, and a few pirates shared one cage.
Rations were scarce; they had to fight each other for every crust.
"Brother Jie, no! Don't take my black bread!"
Chained in Sea Stone, Aramaki watched helplessly as Jie swiped his food.
The CP Agents smirked—dogs must know their place; his meal was theirs.
Chapter 267: Momonosuke and the Nine Red Scabbards Annihilated; Little Purple Gifted Two Feet of White Silk! (Subscribe Please!)
Wano Country.
Flower Capital.
Inside a tavern.
Eustass rarely came to Wano; it scared Kaidou out of his wits.
Kaidou thought Eustass was here to take him down.
After all the fuss, he realized Eustass had no intention of fighting.
Instead, he simply strolled into the tavern,
sipping wine
while listening to the nation's top beauty, the oiran Komurasaki—Kozuki Hiyori—play her instrument,
and watching Queen, pale with terror and drenched in cold sweat, dance.
Objectively speaking, Queen looks like a ball, and his dancing is downright hilarious.
"My Lord, we've found that person. How do you want him handled?"
Suddenly,
an Imperial Soldier burst in with a Soru dash, smoothly dropping to his knees before Eustass.
He was referring to Kozuki Momonosuke.
"Hmm… let me think."
Eustass said with a smile.
He'd only come to gauge Kaido's strength; later Kaidocould serve as Luffy's stepping-stone and help him awaken nika.
He wanted to beat up the Sun God nika and milk some rewards.
After all, he already had Portal Points for the DC World; smacking a Sun God on Imu's level might drop a Portalfor yet another World.
Free loot is free loot—why not?
As for Imu's Devil Fruit, he had no clue; that eight-century edgelord kept spouting "divine" nonsense, making it impossible to learn anything useful.
The other goal was to mess with Kozuki Momonosuke.
Back in his past life, even after the Wano arc ended, the Kozuki clan still disgusted him.
So many plotlines were revolting.
Yamato barging into both men's and women's baths was bad enough,
"Hey—keep the music playing, keep dancing! What are you all frozen for?"
Eustass shouted at Komurasaki and Queen.
"Yes, My Lord."
Komurasaki quickly bowed and resumed playing.
Objectively, Kozuki Oden's wife had changed,
but Komurasaki was still stunning.
She took after her mother in looks,
though who knew where that hair color came from… Night fell.
Wano Country.
Kuri.
"Kill!"
A cold cry of slaughter tore through the night's silence.
Numerous Imperial Agents, blades or pistols in hand, raced after the fleeing Momonosoke, hounding him relentlessly.
They shouted deliberately, just to scare him and pile on the pressure.
Eustass had ordered the entire Kuri encircled,
planning to let the chase torment Momonosuke for days
before finishing him off.
Momonosuke fled in every direction, frantic with terror.
Over the years, Kaido had only spared him because he was worthless.
In this life, Momonosuke's mother wasn't Kozuki Toki; no one sent him into the future to escape pursuit.
Thus the Beasts Pirates often dragged him into town for public humiliation.
He'd lived in constant dread, hoping that playing the fool would let him scrape by—until a new group suddenly appeared.
Heaven knew what grudge their Master held; they'd chased him halfway across Kuri.
Momonosuke wanted to cry—but had no tears!
He hadn't provoked them, right?
Misery!
…'But you did provoke the One Piece fans.'
Eustass stood at the inn window, gazing outside, thinking to himself.
"My Lord, allow me to wash your feet…"
At that moment,
Hiyori, dressed in kimono, entered and murmured.
"Mm."
Eustass nodded, sat, and watched her wash his feet.
Thanks to Denjiro secretly guarding her as the samurai Kyoshiro,
no one had ever touched Hiyori during her years as an oiran.
"Your foolish Big Brother has provoked someone he shouldn't. Do you know how to save him?"
Eustask asked playfully, eyeing Hiyori.
Hiyori froze.
"My Lord, please take pity on this lowly woman; I heard…"
She knelt at once, weeping and begging.
"Tears won't help."
He loathed Wano; a few sobs from Kozuki Hiyoriwouldn't sway him.
"I—I understand…"
Hiyori's face darkened as she answered in a low voice.
"Good."
Eustass nodded in satisfaction and gifted her two feet of white silk.
"Eh!?"
Kozuki Hiyori was dumbstruck.
She stared blankly at Eustass walking out, then at the white silk.
Why wasn't he following the usual script?
She—she had assumed he fancied her.
Only now did she realize he meant for her to "reroll."
What a colossal misunderstanding.
If she'd refused just now and let Big BrotherMomonosuke die,
she could have clung to life, right?
Looking at the white silk, Hiyori didn't dare use it.
Before long, Imperial Agents stood watch to stop her escaping.
She glanced at the silk, then at the blades in their hands.
Kozuki Hiyori—tragedy!
…Eustass left the tavern and checked into another inn nearby.
He didn't want to stay where Kozuki Hiyori would soon die.
In his past life, he'd initially found Kozuki Hiyori rather pretty and felt a faint liking.
But later the shamelessness of the Kozuki clan disgusted him.
After the main cast fought tooth and nail to victory, the Wano bards only highlighted the Kozuki Family.
Kozuki Hiyori merely waved her fan at the end, yet the storytellers praised her more than the Straw Hats.
In short—disgusting.
He was a flirt; that much was true,
but he wasn't the type to lose his mind at the sight of a beauty.
Characters that repulsed him
were simply eliminated.
Standing in the street, Eustass looked up at the bright moon.
Oden was dead.
Kozuki Toki had been intercepted by him.
Momonosuke would soon be dead.
Kozuki Hiyori had been gifted two feet of white silk.
Suddenly, Wano looked far more pleasing to the eye.
The Pirate World felt instantly cleaner.
Two days later.
Dawn.
Eustass received word that Kozuki Momonosuke had been eliminated.
Momonosuke had been tormented for days
before finally being put down.
In the end he didn't even get a gravestone—
a single torch turned him to ash.
The Nine Red Scabbards were hunted down one by one and wiped out.
"All grievances settled," he murmured.
With a light chuckle he headed for the coast, ready to leave Wano.
Next, once nika awakened, he'd beat the Sun God nikasenseless, then depart the Pirate World and return to the Marvel Universe to visit family.
After that, he'd head to the DC World and begin a new chapter.
"DC World—can't wait. Wonder Woman, the Son of Krypton, Supergirl, Batman… I'm looking forward to battling them all!"