While Ōji was still planning to wait for Souta Kiryuu's next move before deciding his own course, Souta's Sky Fleet had already arrived above the waters of Hive Island.
Aboard the main warship of Ark Oracle—
"Lord Souta, the Whitebeard Pirates are currently patrolling near Sphinx Island's waters. They shouldn't interfere with Hive Island."
"The battle at the G14 Naval Fortress remains intense. Most of the pirate crews from Hive Island and the central New World are still attacking the fortress."
"The Big Mom Pirates' punitive fleet is positioned near the G22 Naval Base. They've already plundered the now-abandoned G20 and G21 bases."
"The Beasts Pirates still haven't ceased fighting the Red-Haired Pirates. The G18 Fortress is nearly destroyed from the aftershocks of that war, and casualties on all three sides are enormous."
"The Kingdom of Adams and the G9 Naval Fortress are comparatively stable. Most invading forces there have already been wiped out by the Navy."
"The Marines' support fleet from the Grand Line Headquarters has moved to garrison G1 Fortress under the command of Black Arm Zephyr."
"Other abandoned naval fortresses have mostly been taken by pirate crews, underworld syndicates, and bounty hunter companies. Battles between the Navy and pirates—and between pirates themselves—continue without pause."
Violet, Nico Robin, and Lafitte delivered intelligence one report at a time.
Most came from Big News Morgans, the Revolutionary Army, and Stussy, while Violet personally verified the real-time battlefield situations using her Devil Fruit power.
"The Navy's main fleets still haven't been dispatched to reinforce the other fortresses?
How amusing."
Souta Kiryuu reclined on a sun chair, enjoying Baby 5's massage.
Even with all the chaos across the New World, he couldn't help smiling.
He had made only the slightest move—yet it already forced the World Government and Navy Headquarters into disarray.
Imu and the Five Elders had sat upon the peak of power for too long.
Arrogance had made them slow… hesitant… dull.
Even this kind of situation made them drag their feet.
If Souta had five warriors of the Five Elders' caliber under his command, he could assassinate his enemies one by one with surgical precision.
If CP0 squads and Green Bull Aramaki could raid Wano with ease, then the Five Elders could also take Wano.
If the Five Elders could command a hundred warships to encircle Egghead, then they could just as easily surround Totto Land.
They claim to be gods—yet refuse to dirty their hands with pirates, choosing instead to watch pirate emperors rise and fall, dynasty after dynasty.
Rocks D. Xebec had once united the monsters of the sea…
And yet even that terrifying age was swallowed by history.
The Government believed their greatest threat had always been the Sun God Nika.
They never expected Souta Kiryuu—an "insignificant lab specimen"—to rise and ignite the entire New World.
"On the G14 Naval Fortress, a colossal clay titan has appeared, guarding the harbor.
And the fortress structures themselves shifted and locked together into a seamless defensive shell.
That fortress clearly has a capable Devil Fruit commander stationed there."
"Once we're done with Hive Island, we should hit G14 next!"
With Hive Island drawing closer on the horizon, Souta's officers began forming the same hungry thought:
The purge of the Navy from the New World had already begun.
"Don't rush," Souta said, rising from his chair and stepping to the prow of the Ark.
"Victory comes bite by bite. The G14 Fortress is already under siege from dozens of pirate crews.
They aren't going anywhere."
He gazed toward Hive Island—once the stronghold of the legendary Rocks D. Xebec.
Its position was perfect.
It was no wonder so many notorious pirates clustered there.
Even with many crews currently attacking G14, the port of Loki Harbor was still jammed with pirate ships.
This was the same harbor that, in another age, would see the infamous Loki Harbor Incident:
Trafalgar Law.
Blackbeard.
Captain Koby.
Three forces clashing by chance—
Ōji defeated, Hive Island falling into Blackbeard's hands,
Koby hailed as a Navy hero,
and Law claiming the hearts of dozens of infamous pirates to gain the title of Warlord.
"Hive Island hosts over fifty pirate crews with bounties above one hundred million," Robin murmured beside him.
"And at least twenty captains exceed two hundred million."
"These pirates refuse to serve under any Emperor. They value independence.
So Ōji can't fully control them.
But they cooperate to defend Hive Island from outside conquest."
"Even Whitebeard needed to pay a price when trying to suppress them."
Souta smiled.
"Hive Island still falls short of Impel Down."
To him, both were simply resource farms.
The monsters imprisoned in Level Six of Impel Down far exceeded the pirates on Hive Island.
In both quality and quantity of elite fighters—
Impel Down was unmatched.
Meanwhile, on Hive Island—
Ōji had just sent his scouts to confirm Souta Kiryuu's movements.
Yet only minutes later, the intelligence officers came running back—nearly tripping over themselves—followed by his three senior lieutenants, all pale.
"B–Bad news, Captain! It's—It's the Sky Fleet! Souta Kiryuu's sky fleet is here!!!"
Their fear was greater than when facing the Whitebeard Pirates.
"WHAT?! Souta Kiryuu?!"
Ōji stood bolt upright from his golden throne.
He had expected Souta to strike either the Red-Haired Pirates or the Navy's main force.
Never—never—did he imagine Souta had come for him.
Why?!
Why would Souta attack Hive Island!?
If Hive Island fell, the Navy and World Government would only benefit!
And Hive Island was under Whitebeard's territorial protection—
Was Souta insane?!
"Spread word across the Underworld—announce that Souta Kiryuu is attacking Hive Island!
DRAW THE NAVY HERE!"
"And send word to Whitebeard! Tell him to defend Hive Island!!!"
Ōji roared.
He feared Souta more than Whitebeard.
If Souta defeated him—
He would not be respected.
He would be collared.
Forced to kneel.
Turned into a loyal hound.
Ōji—once nearly a pirate emperor—
would become nothing but Souta Kiryuu's slave.