In the kingdom of Arabasta, two out-of-place figures strolled the desert casually, as if the scorching heat didn't bother them. One was a woman in her mid-twenties with silver eyes, black hair tipped with red, wearing a black and red dress beneath a white hooded cloak. A heavy war axe rested against her hip, swaying with each step. The woman beside her was also in her mid-twenties, her long black hair falling freely, her crimson eyes sharp and focused. She wore red armor that gleamed under the sun and carried a katana at her side.
The black-haired woman finally broke the silence, her voice edged with irritation as she kicked at the sand beneath her boots. "Why'd we have to get saddled with this Crocodile guy? Why couldn't we go after an Emperor? I mean, come on, Summer, you've gotta be bummed about missing out on a place called Whole Cake Island." Raven's crimson gaze flicked toward her companion, annoyance etched on her face, though a wry smirk tugged faintly at her lips.
Summer exhaled softly and let her white hood fall back, silver eyes narrowing against the harsh sunlight. Her expression was calm, but her tone carried quiet honesty. "I'm not used to my new powers yet. And if I have to use them to take down Big Mom or Kaido—if they're as strong as the briefing from the Almighty says—I don't want to accidentally destroy Whole Cake Island." She glanced at Raven, her mouth pulling into a thin line. "And you aren't ready to take them on yet either."
Raven scoffed, brushing a lock of hair from her face with a sharp flick. "I would be if our oh-so-powerful God had given me one of those keys like the one he gave you." Her voice dripped with irritation, though her smirk returned with a flash of teeth.
Summer arched a brow and shot her friend a knowing look, her voice dry but tinged with humor. "Oh, don't whine. He de-aged you to your mid-twenties, didn't he? And he said you'd get a key when we complete the mission."
Raven let out a low huff through her nose, her expression softening despite herself. "I guess so… What's this Crocodile guy's deal then?"
Summer's gaze hardened as her tone shifted to matter-of-fact. "He apparently has destabilized this country in an attempt to take over. Currently, the king and his forces are holding him at a stalemate, and the princess is missing."
Raven frowned, her crimson eyes narrowing. "So, what's our play?"
Summer's response came sharp, decisive, and without hesitation. "Our only mission is to take out Crocodile. And that means we either kill him or toss him into the nearest naval ship after beating him up. Now, I say we head straight to his base and take him down." Her silver eyes gleamed with conviction, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Raven blinked at her, a surprised grin tugging at her lips. "Oh, thank God. I thought you were gonna say we should gather information and slowly work our way through his subordinates."
Summer shook her head, her expression flat and voice laced with dry resolve. "No. I'd rather just set fire to the beehive, kill the queen, and then put down any workers that cause trouble afterwards."
Raven raised her brows, smirking wide now, though there was an edge of curiosity in her tone. "Wow. Dying made you a bit more ruthless. What happened to the sweet girl that used to try and talk people out of violence?"
Summer's lips curved into a humorless smile, her silver eyes glinting with something colder. She answered without hesitation, her tone dry as bone. "She got stabbed to death by a deranged scorpion faunus."
Raven's grin vanished, replaced with a hard, dangerous expression as she adjusted her grip on the hilt of her katana. "Oh right… We're killing him when we get home, right?"
Summer's answer came instantly, her tone flat and unwavering. "Oh, absolutely."
That earned a bark of laughter from Raven, who smirked slyly, her crimson eyes glittering with mischief. "Fuck, if you were like this when we were in school, I'd have ended up in your bed instead of Tai's."
Then Summer gave Raven a flat look, her silver eyes narrowing as her lips pressed into a thin line. Her tone was dry and laced with exasperation as she muttered, "Oh, wonderful. Being young again has brought your horniness back. I really hope Yang didn't inherit that." She pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh, clearly not amused.
Raven smirked, tilting her head slightly, crimson eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. She waved a hand dismissively, her voice carrying an amused scoff. "Summer, come on. Of course she did." A chuckle slipped out, but her expression quickly hardened as her tone shifted back to business. "Anyway, enough of that. For now, let's get to work."
The two then headed straight for Rainbase with no detours, their strides purposeful and steady, the desert wind whipping around their cloaks as they marched toward their target.
In Dressrosa.
The lively noise of the bustling marketplace drowned beneath the sharp presence of two figures moving among the crowds. Both were dressed in outfits resembling ninja garb, their forms hidden beneath hoods and masks. One wore dark blue, his movements measured and precise, his eyes glinting cold behind his mask. The other was clad in dark yellow, his posture tense yet fluid, a warrior's readiness in every step. On his back rested two swords, while his companion carried no weapons at all—his forearms instead encased in a shifting layer of frost, mist trailing faintly in the air around him.
The one in yellow turned his head slightly, his voice low but carrying a dark edge beneath the mask. "So, tell me, Sub-Zero… who are we here to kill again?" His tone carried a flicker of impatience, though his burning eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Sub-Zero's cold gaze swept the crowd, his voice calm, disciplined, and unyielding. "Did you forget, Scorpion? We are here to assassinate a man named Doflamingo… and kill anyone who gets in our way." Frost crackled faintly along his arms as he spoke, his composure sharp as steel.
Scorpion let out a low hum, his tone shifting into a dark, almost eager satisfaction. "Ah yes, I remember now. Let us separate for now and gather information." His eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint, the faintest growl behind his words hinting at restrained violence.
Sub-Zero inclined his head slightly, his voice clipped and resolute. "Very well. We will meet back here later with what we have found."
Without another word, the two men split off into different directions, and vanished into the twisting streets of the island, each one a predator moving silently through enemy territory.
On Whole Cake.
Two little creatures resembling pink balls with stubby arms and legs—Kirby and Jigglypuff—had appeared. Their tiny eyes sparkled with mischief, and their bouncy, energetic movements made them seem almost unstoppable. They had only one order: cause as much chaos as possible for Big Mom and her people until backup arrived.
Kirby's cheeks puffed slightly as he inhaled and exhaled with determination, bouncing from one spot to another, ready to swallow or smash anything in his path. Jigglypuff's round form wobbled as she hopped along, eyes gleaming with mischievous delight, humming quietly to herself, already plotting the havoc she would bring. Their combined energy radiated unstoppable, childlike chaos, a storm of pink mischief about to descend on Whole Cake Island.
In the land of wano.
One man strolled casually through the streets, every step unhurried yet carrying a weight of quiet confidence. He had long white hair that flowed smoothly behind him, sharp green eyes that glimmered with an unsettling calm, and wore a long black trench coat adorned with silver pauldrons that caught the light with each movement. At his hip rested an impossibly long odachi, its presence alone radiating silent intimidation.
Sephiroth's lips curved in the faintest of smirks as he finally spoke, his voice low, smooth, and laced with cold certainty. "So, I am to kill Kaido and any of the Beast Pirates that resist… and then remain here as the land's protector until someone named Luffy arrives and challenges me. Sounds simple enough." His tone carried no doubt, only quiet amusement at the simplicity of the task before him.
He lifted his gaze skyward, his expression unreadable, the faintest glimmer of something almost wistful in his green eyes. "The air is so clean here… Perhaps, for my reward, I'll ask to retire in this land." His voice softened at the edges, though the weight of his words still carried that same unnerving finality.
Finally at the Jade chamber
Jibril leaned forward, her wings twitching with curiosity as her golden eyes sparkled mischievously. Her tone was lilting, playful, yet edged with a thirst for knowledge. "So, Mister Zhongli, what did Lord Tet give you for this?"
Zhongli folded his hands calmly before him, his expression dignified and unreadable. His voice was deep, deliberate, and steady, carrying the weight of ages. "He restored me and the adepti to our full strength, and resurrected many of my fallen comrades. And finally, he gave me command over a few thousand soulless constructs to use for rebuilding Liyue." His amber gaze shifted toward the bard at his side. "What did he give to you Barbatos?"
Venti grinned, his tone light and sing-song, though a faint seriousness lingered beneath the usual playful air. "Something similar. He restored the Four Winds, and also gave me constructs to rebuild Mondstadt. How about you, Focalors?"
Focalors sat straighter,and said. "He forced the ocean to recede, restoring my lands. And he turned the people of Fontaine into real humans. Finally, he turned Furina into a real archon. In exchange, he wants me to join his pantheon and rule this world as its chief deity."
Zhongli's gaze grew contemplative, his tone solemn. "Yes. He also asked me to join."
Venti leaned back in his chair, grinning, one hand idly twirling his lyre. "Oh yeah, me too. I said yes, obviously."
Zhongli inclined his head slightly, voice even as stone. "As did I. I may want to retire, but the idea of being able to freely travel to other worlds at my leisure sounds pleasing."
Focalors smirked faintly, resting her chin in her palm. "Then we're in agreement."
Jibril suddenly pouted, crossing her arms as her wings drooped slightly. "I didn't get promised anything."
Venti chuckled, his tone playful but edged with teasing honesty. "Oh, Tet told me that you're currently working off a debt you owe him."
Jibril tilted her head sharply, eyes narrowing. "What debt?"
Venti's grin widened, his voice light but with a knowing lilt. "Something about all the messed-up stuff you did back during a war on your world."
At that, Jibril groaned dramatically, her wings sagging as she slumped forward and laid her head on the table. Her voice came muffled, dripping with mock despair. "I'm gonna be Lord Tet's servant till I die, aren't I?"
Zhongli cleared his throat softly, his voice returning to calm authority. "That aside, we need to be ready to jump in in case any of the agents fail. So let us observe."
The four turned their attention to a floating screen, its light casting a pale glow across their faces as they fell silent, each watching with their own quiet resolve.