-Real World-
Mary Geoise, The Holy Land
The Five Elders had been holding more meetings in recent weeks than they had in the previous decade combined. The Sky Screen's appearance had disrupted eight centuries of careful control, forcing the World Government's highest authorities to react instead of dictate. Despite deploying their most capable agents across the globe, they had found no trace of whoever was responsible for the broadcasts that now dominated every corner of their domain.
The phenomenon had manifested everywhere light could reach—across all four Blues, the Grand Line, even the Calm Belt. They couldn't destroy it, couldn't control it, and couldn't predict what revelations might next threaten their carefully maintained order. More than once, they had considered awakening Lord Im to deal with this unprecedented crisis.
"At least the Sky Screen served one useful purpose," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said, his scarred face twisted in grim satisfaction. "It concealed the true nature of the Nika fruit."
The eldest of the Five Elders adjusted his cane, his white curly hair catching the chamber's dim light. Recent intelligence reports had confirmed their greatest fear averted—for now.
"The Gomu Gomu no Mi doesn't exist anywhere in our records," Saint Marcus Mars countered, his blonde hair gleaming as he leaned forward. "Is it possible the Sky Screen has been deceived by our own propaganda?"
"Perhaps," Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro replied, the only bald member among them stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It's also possible that by Sea Circle Calendar year 1525, Garp's grandson simply hasn't awakened his true abilities yet. The annotations reflect current perceptions, not ultimate reality."
Saint Topman Warcury nodded slowly, his mustache twitching with barely contained excitement. "An unexpected benefit, regardless. But the revelation about this Terra demands immediate attention. If the Poneglyphs speak truly, we need Nico Robin captured alive. Her translations are the only way to verify the weapon's capabilities."
The ancient weapons had been the World Government's greatest concern for eight centuries. Pluton, Poseidon, Uranus—and now this fourth weapon that seemingly possessed the power to end civilization itself. Such tools of destruction belonged in the hands of those wise enough to never use them.
"Summon Donquixote Doflamingo to the Holy Land," Saint Shepherd Ju Peter commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "As a former Celestial Dragon, he needs to explain how he obtained control of this Terra. Internal conflicts among our bloodlines are one thing, but weapons of mass destruction require our oversight."
The Five Elders had collectively lowered their threat assessment of Monkey D. Luffy to its minimum level. Observing the boy's simple nature and straightforward approach to problems, they couldn't imagine him ever achieving the philosophical awakening necessary to become Joy Boy. Even if his fruit eventually revealed its true nature, as long as he continued treating it as simple rubber, the World Government could tolerate his existence.
During their eight-hundred-year reign, multiple individuals had consumed the Nika fruit. None had achieved the awakening that would herald Joy Boy's return. The fruit itself possessed a will—one that had consistently failed to find a worthy host. The Five Elders believed this generation would prove no different.
Far from Mary Geoise, their carefully maintained narrative was causing different problems for different people.
On Onigashima, Who's-Who felt the bitter taste of betrayal. The "Gomu Gomu no Mi" he had lost to Red-Haired Shanks had cost him his position in CP and forced him into servitude under Kaido. Yet the Sky Screen had revealed nothing about any Nika fruit connection, leaving him to wonder if the World Government had fed him false information to justify his punishment.
In the New World, Red-Haired Shanks found himself questioning decisions that had shaped the past decade. More troubling still, the Sky Screen's treatment of Luffy's fruit as simple rubber contradicted intelligence that had driven Shanks to personally steal it from a World Government transport. Had the Celestial Dragons deliberately leaked false information?
-Broadcast-
Meanwhile, aboard the Thousand Sunny, the Straw Hat Pirates were processing revelations that would reshape their understanding of Devil Fruit mechanics forever.
"Devil Fruits can really be developed through so many stages," Tony Tony Chopper marveled, his hybrid form making note-taking easier as he scribbled observations. "Buggy must have spent decades researching these techniques."
Nami turned her attention to their captain, curiosity overriding her usual focus on treasure. "Luffy, where exactly did you get that Chikara Chikara no Mi? The one that turned your sandals into weapons? Sometimes I really can't figure out how your mind works."
Luffy's explanation left the crew stunned. The Chikara Chikara no Mi had been a gift from Buggy the Clown himself, crafted by someone Luffy described as "a cool uncle who liked playing with snakes." The concept of fusing a Devil Fruit with ordinary footwear represented technology none of them had imagined possible.
"Incredible engineering!" Franky exclaimed, his mechanical parts gleaming with excitement. "I thought only Zoan-type fruits could be integrated with inanimate objects. But Paramecia fusion? That's revolutionary!"
Even Sanji, despite the transformed appearance following time in Kamabakka Kingdom, couldn't help but contribute while lighting her post-meal cigarette. "It might be lost technology from ancient times. These Okama Kenpōgloves I inherited already had the Wappu-Wappu no Mi."
During her stay in the Kamabakka Kingdom, Sanji had become the final successor to a martial arts school that had preserved its techniques for over a millennium. The Okama KenpōGloves represented their greatest treasure—a fusion of combat expertise and Devil Fruit power that had carried away as their legacy.
Usopp, his muscular frame still adjusting to his new proportions, nodded in agreement. "My Black Kabuto slingshot contains a Paramecia-type Sebaki-Sebaki no Mi. I discovered it in ancient ruins covered with indecipherable murals. Robin, maybe you could examine them someday—see if they reveal anything about this lost history."
The conversation painted a startling picture for observers worldwide. These Devil Fruit-infused items weren't random curiosities but products of sophisticated ancient technology that the Buggy Pirates had somehow mastered. The mysterious "uncle" Luffy mentioned was clearly their chief researcher, though his true capabilities remained unknown.
"Devil Fruit Awakening seems relatively achievable for dedicated users," Nico Robin observed, her archaeological expertise lending weight to every word. "But Liberation and Domain represent stages that would challenge even the most gifted individuals. I've never encountered references to such advanced techniques in any Poneglyph."
She paused, considering the broader implications of what they'd witnessed.
"If I'm being completely honest, Buggy the Clown may be the first person in eight centuries to push Devil Fruit development beyond all established limits. He's achieved something unprecedented in recorded history."
Robin's assessment carried the authority of someone who had dedicated her life to studying the past. From her archaeological perspective, the emergence of such a figure meant the world was approaching another era of fundamental change. She couldn't predict how many other geniuses might surface in response to Buggy's example, but history suggested they would come in waves.
The audience watching the Sky Screen could hear the genuine respect in the Devil Child's voice. This genius who appeared perhaps once every eight centuries belonged neither to the Marines nor the World Government—a reality that left ordinary citizens feeling helpless in the face of approaching chaos. If one man could single-handedly drag civilization into darkness, what hope did regular people have?
Across the world, Buggy the Clown earned a new title: Devil Fruit Genius.
The Marines immediately upgraded his threat classification to their highest level, while talented individuals from every corner of the globe began making their way toward East Blue, hoping to find and serve under this revolutionary figure who had just rewritten the rules of power itself.
And once again Buggy become the center of the world attention