Inside the prison of the Island of God, Skypiea's Apayado.
Souta Kiryuu stood in front of three chained men, his aura sharp and murderous. The heavy silence of the cell was broken only by the faint hum of seastone restraints.
"I'm about to launch an assault on Mariejois," Souta said, his voice low but thunderous, every word carrying intent like steel scraping stone. "You three… interested in joining? If you are, I'll restore your strength and your wounds right now.
"If you survive the war, you'll earn true freedom. You'll only need to fight for me one more time in the future — just once. Until then, I won't care what you do."
He leaned forward, crimson eyes flashing under the dim light.
"So… what's your answer?"
The three prisoners — men whose names once shook the seas — exchanged glances.
"Ahahaha!" Douglas Bullet's laughter rumbled through the cell like cannon fire. "Attack Mariejois? You're insane! I like it! I'll join you, Souta Kiryuu — and that deal of fighting for you one more time later? I'll accept that too!"
His grin widened, wild and hungry. "Are any of the Four Emperors joining this one? What about the Revolutionary Army?"
He could already sense it — this was going to be another world-shattering war. He'd missed the battle of Shinto Island before, and he wasn't about to miss this one. Even if he wasn't at his peak, he would not sit this out.
"Wahahaha!" World Destroyer Byrnndi World bellowed. "Count me in! But next time you call me, make sure it's another world-class war."
He tilted his head back, eyes gleaming with madness. "To think we'll be attacking Mariejois itself… the Holy Land of the World Government! I've dreamed of this once, but never thought I'd live to see it!"
"I suppose… I'll agree as well."
The third man, Red the Aloof, Patrick Redfield, spoke calmly, his tone smooth and aristocratic. "Originally, I was tempted by that Vampire Fruit you mentioned, Souta Kiryuu. But this new offer sounds even more appealing."
He adjusted his blood-red cloak and smirked. "I've always wanted to repay the World Government a little favor… so I'll join your madness. And perhaps, I can use your resources to restore my full strength."
"Ehhahaha!" Souta burst out laughing. "Who knows — maybe this time, we'll even meet the true face of the World's King, Imu! You boys wanna see a monster greater than Rocks or Roger?"
His laughter echoed through the prison as he slammed his hand down, releasing the seastone locks binding the three legends.
"The World's King?"
"Enough talking — bring food! We need strength fast!"
"Yeah, hurry up! I can barely stand!"
Even freed, the three still looked drained — nowhere near ready to face Imu or even Souta himself.
"You'll have the best recovery materials I've got," Souta said, motioning for his men. "Eat, heal, and get ready. We move soon."
He left the prison with the trio, handing over high-grade nutrient serums and blood-crystal dandelions — Vegapunk's finest recovery concoctions. Their bodies, ravaged by years of seastone suppression, began to surge back to life.
Before long, the entire Kiryuu Pirates' main force was assembled.
"Bartholomew Kuma!" Souta barked. "Once you send us flying to the Sabaody Archipelago, take the Citadel Seraph and the Mirror Seraph — head to Amazon Sky Island and rescue the prisoners!"
Kuma nodded firmly, his face solemn.
"Understood."
Nearby, the colossal forms of two newly activated Seraphs shimmered — one infused with the power of the Castle-Castle Fruit, the other with the Mirror-Mirror Fruit. Though their strength was still developing, Souta had no choice but to deploy them now.
Meanwhile, the three legends — Redfield, Bullet, and World — were inside Capone Bege's body fortress, devouring food like beasts while nutrient fluids coursed through their veins.
In another room, Bonney used her Devil Fruit ability to restore Redfield's youthful appearance. Though it didn't increase his combat power much, the sight pleased the elegant vampire immensely.
For this war, Souta even brought along his Six Seraphs — the full "Six Paths of Kiryuu." It would be their first complete deployment.
Their first true battle… would be the assault on the Holy Land itself — Mariejois.
Souta hadn't invited Kaido this time. Not because he doubted the Beast Emperor's strength, but because he couldn't risk an information leak. Besides, even if he told Kaido, the man would never arrive in time.
However, he did send word to Dragon — asking him to head toward Amazon Sky Island to support Kuma.
At that same moment, chaos engulfed Amazon Sky Island. Smoke and flame filled the sky, explosions lighting up the clouds as warriors of the Kuja tribe screamed in despair.
"What a monster… Souta Kiryuu really mastered the Float-Float Fruit!"
"Damn that Vegapunk! How dare he keep such technology secret!"
"If Souta hadn't moved Amazon Lily near his stronghold, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Has Boa Hancock said where the Kiryuu Pirates' base is yet?"
"Could it be… the Pirate Empress abandoned her people for that man?"
The Five Elders had descended upon Amazon Sky Island in full force. Akainu and Kizaru, leading the Navy, brutally crushed all resistance.
The elderly Gloriosa lay pinned to the ground, a venomous spider leg impaling her shoulder. Blood streamed from her mouth — black and thick from Saturn's demonic toxin.
"Well, well," Saturn Saint sneered, staring down at her frail form. "I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself — the infamous 'Flame Flower' of the Rocks Pirates. Today, I'll finish off what should've been erased decades ago."
He spat on the ground, disgust curling his lips. "Beauty, power, glory — none of it matters. Mortals all wither and die. Only we, the divine, endure eternally."
"Don't kill her," another Elder commanded coldly. "We still need her to lure out the Pirate Empress — and through her, find the Kiryuu Pirates' base."
"You think she really abandoned her country for that man?" another murmured, frowning.
As they debated, the Den Den Mushi on Saturn's arm crackled to life.
It was the voice of the Boa sisters — trembling and tearful.
They'd finally yielded. Under the threat of annihilation, they gave up the coordinates of a deserted island, promising to hand over the Kiryuu crew's vivre cards.
The Elders exchanged glances. After a moment, Marcus Mars Saint spoke up.
"I'll go check it out."
"Fine," Saturn nodded. "Be cautious. Take the teleportation array with you — if there's any trickery, we'll reinforce instantly."
"If they're lying…" another Elder's eyes glinted with cold light, "we'll slaughter half of Amazon Lily's people — and then the rest."
"And if the Empress truly doesn't care for her nation anymore…"
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"…then we'll burn the island to ashes and erase the Kuja tribe from history."