[TL/N: Read my new work - Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Wanokuni Conference Grand Hall
"Kishishi! What shocking news this is..."
Moria's grin stretched across his face, but the beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his unease.
Once a shadow of his former self, Moria's strength had now climbed back to the level of an Admiral candidate. While his current abilities were only average compared to the elite of the Entei Pirates Fleet, he was still a valuable asset. Thanks to his connection with Perona, Moria held a seat at the far end of the fleet's hierarchy, just below the giant captains, Dorry and Brogy.
But even with his restored might, Moria couldn't help but shiver at the revelations laid bare in the meeting. The King of the World Government—the shadowy figure known as Imu—was none other than the incarnation of Satan himself, Baphomet, ruling alongside the Five Elders at the pinnacle of global power!?
"A true hell at the top of the world," he muttered under his breath.
"What's wrong, Moria? Scared already?"
Ace's voice cut through the room, carrying a teasing undertone. His lips curved into a sly smile as his eyes settled on Moria.
Moria shifted uncomfortably, but his bloated figure, once soft from years of inactivity, had transformed back into peak form after rigorous training. Though his progress owed much to Ace's aid and Perona's encouragement, Moria had worked tirelessly to reclaim his strength.
Driven by revenge for Kaido—slain by Ace—and the need to protect his daughter, Moria's loyalty was now absolute. Ace held a favorable opinion of the once-tragic warlord.
"Who's afraid?!" Moria straightened, puffing out his chest. "When the time comes, I'll lead the charge as your vanguard!"
At his outburst, Perona glanced his way, her expression a mix of embarrassment and disbelief.
Now a wielder of the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon, an ancient Zoan Devil Fruit once belonging to King, Moria's newfound power had elevated him. Under Ace's guidance and use of the "Realm of Comprehension," Moria had even awakened the Devil Fruit, placing him on par with King's former strength.
Still, Ace chuckled at Moria's bravado. "With your current power, I'd wager you'd be the first of my Entei Pirates' commanders to fall in battle."
The room erupted in muffled laughter, though Moria paled at the thought. Despite his pride, he knew the truth in Ace's words. Under Ace's reign, the Entei Pirates had yet to suffer any casualties—a testament to their leader's overwhelming might.
"Why would I fall? Admiral, you've got the Space Fruit. You could just pull me out of danger in a flash," Moria retorted awkwardly, his face tinged with green.
"Father, stop it! You're embarrassing yourself!"
Perona's cheeks turned crimson as she scolded him, her voice filled with exasperation. She had hoped her father's newfound strength would let him show some dignity, but instead, he shamelessly relied on Ace's ability for assurance.
Though Ace would likely save Moria if it came to that, voicing such thoughts aloud at the Core Conference was far from appropriate.
Caught in his daughter's gaze, Moria gave her an awkward, sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.
"Hahaha!"
The tension in the room broke as everyone burst into laughter.
The lighthearted moment served its purpose, dispersing the heaviness of the meeting. If even someone like Moria was willing to stand against Imu, what did they have to fear? They were the Entei Pirates Fleet, the strongest crew on the seas, standing under the banner of the mightiest man in the world!
Not even the devil incarnate, Baphomet, could intimidate them!
Behind them was a man who could conquer even the underworld. Why should they fear a creature like Satan?
Ace's voice rang out, drawing everyone back to attention.
"Alright, everyone, prepare yourselves. The war begins soon."
"Yes, Admiral!"
The entire hall stood in unison, saluting with resolute determination before dispersing to carry out their orders.
Outside the grand hall, shimmering rifts opened in the air, evidence of Ace's mastery over the Space Fruit. Through these portals, the commanders began returning to their respective territories to make preparations for the coming war.
Among them, Katakuri paused, standing near one of the rifts. He turned to his sister, Smoothie, his expression soft yet determined.
"Smoothie, I'll be heading out now," Katakuri said, his voice calm yet firm.
Smoothie nodded, her gaze steady. "Do your best, brother. This is the most critical moment for our Charlotte family since joining the Entei Pirates."
"We may not yet rival the other squadrons in strength, but we must prove our loyalty to Ace. This is our chance to solidify our family's place in his fleet."
The Charlotte family, once a scattered remnant, now stood united under Ace's banner, prepared to stake their lives for his cause and also for their future.
The squads of the Entei Pirates were renowned for their unparalleled strength, particularly the top divisions, whose power seemed almost mythical. Against such towering might, the Charlotte family, despite its heritage, felt overshadowed.
Apart from Katakuri, no one in the family possessed the decisive strength to influence the tide of a major battle. This reality left the family members relying entirely on Katakuri, placing all their hopes on his shoulders.
"Don't worry," Katakuri said, his deep voice calm yet resolute as he looked at his sister, Smokey. "Even if it weren't for the family, I owe my loyalty to the Admiral. His kindness to me... no, to us, is beyond measure."
In his sharp gaze, a flicker of vibrant purple-black energy glowed—a manifestation of Conqueror's Haki, proof of the overwhelming will he had recently mastered.
Under the tutelage of Ace and the enlightenment provided by the Field of Comprehension, Katakuri had ascended to wield one of the sea's most fearsome powers: Conqueror's Haki: Entanglement. With this ability, his combat prowess had grown immeasurably, far beyond his former self.
His Mochi Mochi no Mi, a Special Paramecia-class Devil Fruit, had always been a versatile tool, though not inherently designed for raw destructive power. Yet, with the fusion of Conqueror's Haki: Entanglement, it became a weapon of transformation—enhancing his abilities to the point of terrifying efficiency.
Now, Katakuri's power, while still slightly constrained by his Devil Fruit's nature, rivaled that of top-tier fighters like Kuzan. In fact, his strongest attacks, empowered by the sheer dominance of Conqueror's Haki, could even surpass those of other Admirals such as Kizaru and Akainu.
All of this, Katakuri reflected, was thanks to the Admiral.
Ace had treated the Charlotte family with fairness and respect, even after they surrendered in defeat. He had not only restored the family's home on Cake Island, but he had also nurtured their growth, providing access to the Orb of Comprehension, where a mysterious light orb accelerated their training and breakthroughs.
Ace's generosity extended beyond battlefields and territories; it transformed lives. For Katakuri, this kindness was something he would repay with unwavering loyalty.
As for Big Mom's death at Ace's hands? That was no source of grief for the family.
The Charlotte siblings knew their mother's true nature—treating them as mere tools for her ambition. Those who defied or disappointed her were often subjected to cruel punishment, their very souls stripped from their bodies.
Her bouts of uncontrollable hunger had claimed the lives of some siblings and left others scarred. Fear and oppression had once defined their lives under her reign.
Now, under Ace's banner, they lived free of such terror. Their only obligation was to follow Ace's orders, and in doing so, they found purpose and freedom. For the Charlotte family, Big Mom's death was a liberation, not a tragedy.
Katakuri tightened his fists, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Hahaha! Brother Katakuri, well said," a hearty voice broke the moment. It was Jinbei, standing near a shimmering spatial rift created by Ace's Space Fruit ability.
As the Captain of the 11th Division, Jinbei led the Special Underwater Unit, a team of formidable fish-men whose strength was unmatched in underwater combat.
"I'll be heading out as well," Jinbei announced. "There's much to do before the war begins."
Jinbei's mission was crucial: returning to Fish-Man Island to bring Shirahoshi, the ancient weapon Poseidon, to Wanokuni. Ace had also acquired the Mini-Mini no Mi, a Paramecia-class Devil Fruit capable of resizing objects and living beings, which would allow Shirahoshi to fight on land in a human-sized form when necessary.
The alliance between the Entei Pirates and Fish-Man Island had grown stronger over time. After negotiations with Whitebeard, the island had chosen to withdraw from the World Government and pledge loyalty to Ace. This shift ensured Fish-Man Island's safety while aligning it with the Entei Pirates' cause in the impending war.
"Good luck, Jinbei," Katakuri said, offering a rare smile. "Let's meet again before the battle begins."
Jinbei returned the gesture, nodding respectfully before stepping through the portal, disappearing into the swirling void. Katakuri soon followed, each man departing to fulfill their assigned tasks.
As the spatial rifts sealed behind them, silence settled over the conference room, leaving only Ace and the female commanders of the Entei Pirates.
Ace turned his gaze toward Vivi, his expression softening into a warm smile. "Vivi, how is Alabasta holding up?"
Thanks to the Space Fruit's power, Vivi could travel freely between Alabasta and Wanokuni, balancing her role as both a princess and a member of Ace's crew. While she spent most of her time by Ace's side in Wanokuni, she still made occasional visits to Alabasta to see her father, King Cobra.
"It's fine," Vivi said with a bright smile. "Thanks to your power, Ace, Alabasta's water shortage has been completely resolved. We're also preparing for the final war."
Though Alabasta had not officially withdrawn from the World Government or declared itself a nation under the Entei Pirates, in practice, it already operated as one of their territories. This subtle arrangement was deliberate, based on Ace's orders.
Alabasta held a unique position in the upcoming war. The country's history, particularly the ties between its former queen, Nefertari Lily, and Imu, hinted at a deeper mystery. Ace suspected that Lily and Imu shared a significant connection.
Until all preparations for the war were complete, Ace didn't want to provoke the World Government by publicly announcing Alabasta's defection. For now, King Cobra and the senior officials of Alabasta had sworn their allegiance to the Entei Pirates in secret.
"How is the investigation going?" Ace asked, his gaze sharp. "The queen from 800 years ago, Lily?"
Vivi's expression dimmed slightly as she responded. "It seems her history has been deliberately erased by some unknown force. Only fragments of information remain, scattered and incomplete."
She paused, then added with a thoughtful look, "But one thing is clear—her appearance seems to bear a striking resemblance to mine."
Ace's lips curved into a faint smile as he absorbed her words. Before being transported to this world, he had read about this connection in the original story. Yet, a shadow of doubt flickered across his mind. His brow furrowed as a faint sense of something missing crept over him.
What am I overlooking?
"Are you okay, Ace?" Vivi asked with concern, noticing his brief distraction.
"It's nothing," Ace said, waving her concern away. Turning his attention to Yamato, he changed the subject. "Yamato, have you made any progress on tracking down Pluton?"
Pluton, one of the three Ancient Weapons, was said to be buried somewhere in Wanokuni, and Yamato had been tasked with locating it.
"There's a lead," Yamato said confidently, her lips curving into a sly smile.
Ace's eyes gleamed with interest.
If Pluton were to be secured, the Entei Pirates would hold two of the three Ancient Weapons in their grasp. Only Uranus would remain with the World Government.
"Good," Ace said, determination flashing in his voice. "Let's find Pluton."
While preparations continued, significant events unfolded in Loguetown, East Blue.
"Straw Hat! Don't even think about reaching the Grand Line!" roared Smoker, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Since you're his brother, I can't let a menace like you keep moving forward!"
Luffy, battered and sprawled on the ground, struggled to rise. Smoker, now a Vice Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, stood towering before him, his presence imposing and relentless.
After the humiliating experience of facing Ace, Smoker had undergone a radical transformation. The encounter had left him feeling powerless, driving him to train relentlessly. He threw himself into countless battles at sea, often risking his life in near-death encounters.
This ruthless pursuit of strength bore fruit. Smoker's skills and achievements advanced rapidly, earning him the rank of Vice Admiral. His newfound authority and power made him a formidable opponent, and he had one particular target in mind.
When Smoker learned that Monkey D. Luffy—the Straw Hat Boy—was attempting to set sail for the Grand Line, he personally traveled from Marine Headquarters to intercept him.
But his motivation wasn't just duty.
Smoker knew Luffy's secret—he wasn't just any rookie pirate.
He was the younger brother of the Flame Emperor, Ace.
The mere thought of Luffy potentially rising to rival Ace made Smoker's resolve burn fiercer. He would stop this Straw Hat at all costs!