Superpowers.
That was the term people used.
It described several types of nations:
The first were like the Kingdom of Alabasta, blessed with vast territory, immense populations, and abundant wealth. (Of course, with a fool like Cobra on the throne, it nearly fell to Crocodile's schemes in later years.)
The second were countries such as the Kingdom of Adam or the Iron Empire, who controlled rare resources and gained the support of the World Government, raising them to the level of superpowers.
The third were nations that achieved that title by sheer strength alone. The most famous example: the Giant Nation of Elbaf, a superpower in every sense of the word thanks to its military might.
And then there was Wano Country, whose place in history had been secured ever since the legendary samurai Ryuma carved his name into the annals of the world.
Of course—none of that changed the fact that the Ferguson Empire was nowhere near those heights.
But still…
"Hmm?"
Arthur suddenly felt a hostile presence. A spear-like spike shot from the ground with lightning speed, lunging straight for the center of his forehead.
Clang!
He raised a Haki-coated palm and caught the spike with ease, crushing it to dust between his fingers.
A voice roared—
"Kraken of the Earth!"
Countless spikes surged from the ground, twisting into writhing tentacles like the arms of a monstrous octopus, lashing at him from every direction.
Shff!
Arthur pressed his palms together and shattered them, tearing through the assault and slipping free.
But the attacks did not stop.
More and more spikes erupted, striking relentlessly at his position, chasing him like they meant to swallow him whole.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blades of stone stabbed at him again and again, yet Arthur dealt with each strike as if brushing aside mere pebbles.
Still—this was no ordinary skirmish. His brow furrowed.
And then—
"Wind King's Spear!"
Arthur gathered the raging gales into a long spear and hurled it downward, driving it straight into the earth.
At the same time, he leapt high, stepping onto a staircase of wind, pausing in midair. For short bursts of time, this technique of pseudo-flight was no problem.
His research into the Wind King's Barrier had borne fruit. No longer a mere auxiliary ability tied to his Excalibur, it had become his own original magic.
He wasn't just following the old inheritance blindly. Step by step, Arthur was carving his own path—developing the barrier into new techniques: first the *Wind King's Hammer, then the Wind King's Shield, and now the Wind King's Spear.
*(Ps: I've made it shorter for more blend)
For something that began as simple wind manipulation, his progress was nothing short of extraordinary.
The ground finally stilled.
Arthur spoke calmly:
"Stone-Stone Fruit user."
"Hah!" came the reply. "Why can't this be the Earth-Earth Fruit?"
Indeed, the resemblance was striking. To most eyes, it was impossible to tell if the ability was the Logia-type Earth Fruit or the Paramecia-type Stone Fruit.
The difference lay here:
The Earth-Earth Fruit (fanfic Logia) allowed the user to become and manipulate the element of soil itself.
The Stone-Stone Fruit could not transform the body, but granted control over any dirt or stone the user touched, shaping it and assimilating it into massive constructs—even giant golems of rock.
Arthur only smiled.
"I know because I've seen the real Earth-Earth Fruit. A rising star of the Marines, Gaji, is its Logia-type user."
"Tch!"
The voice's owner emerged.
From the ground rose an old man—white-haired and bearded, yet still powerfully built, his frame encased in heavy armor. He looked every bit the battle-hardened general. His sharp eyes locked on Arthur.
"Rocks Pirates. Why have you invaded the Ferguson Empire?"
Arthur chuckled softly.
"Strange question. Since when did the Rocks Pirates need to explain who we choose to attack? The New World is nothing more than Captain Rocks' private garden."
"Arrogant!"
"It's the truth."
Arthur shook his head at the man's fury. The Rocks Pirates ruled the New World outright—an iron dominion unlike anything that would come later. Even in the ages of the Three Great Powers, the Four Emperors, or the Supernovas, the seas were divided among rivals.
But now?
The Rocks Pirates had carved up the world for themselves. They were the kings of the New World. That was why they were feared as the most dangerous pirate crew in history.
"Humph…!!!"
The old man could only snarl. He knew it was true. The Ferguson Empire had once been stronger, before its foolish challenge against Rocks nearly destroyed it. Now its power was only a third—or even a quarter—of what it once was.
If it weren't, would Arthur dare march here with only a thousand men and a dozen division captains? He'd have been crushed instantly.
But the reality was plain. The Ferguson Empire could barely hold them off—if at all.
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
"Well then. General of Stone… Rubin. As the strongest warrior of this nation—once I defeat you, your country will fall into my hands."
-----------------------///
Advance Chapters on Patreon!
p(a)treon(.)com/HudaLin
-Remove the parenthesis to access patreon normally
Thanks for the Support!