"Brother Tong, checking in."
Ding!
"Congratulations, Host, for checking in at Windmill Village! You've received 8,888 Prosperity Points and one Talent Fruit Tree Seed. All items have been distributed. Have a pleasant day!"
"Huh? Brother Tong, that's a lot more Prosperity Points than usual. Did you mess up your calculations this time?"
"Please stop your nonsense. This system has never made an error in its entire operational history. Just take the reward and be grateful."
"Alright, alright, you're the boss." Eli Winters sighed, figuring his system was probably in some kind of cosmic midlife crisis.
He then turned his attention to the reward: a single Talent Fruit Tree Seed.
Talent Fruit Tree Seed:
Takes three years to sprout, three years to grow, three years to flower, three years to bear fruit, and three years to mature. Each harvest yields one Talent Fruit, which grants the eater a random talent. After harvesting, the tree returns to seed form and begins its cycle anew.
Eli's eyes lit up. "Now this this is a powered-up version of a Devil Fruit! Brother Tong, you really do deliver."
He happily planted the seed in the Silver Dragon's garden section, then told his crew to take good care of it.
For the next several weeks, Eli and his crew didn't set foot on any populated islands. Instead, they explored uncharted ones, hunting beasts, gathering treasures, and living freely without the slightest concern for the World Government's revenge.
But while Eli was enjoying his carefree adventures, the halls of the World Government were seething with fury.
In the towering Pangaea Castle of the Holy Land Mariejois, the Five Elders gathered once again in their lavish chamber.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood stiffly before them, face grim. He had just reported Eli's slaying of a Celestial Dragon, and for the last half hour, the Elders had been berating him nonstop.
Steel Bone Kong finally broke the tension. "Sengoku bears responsibility, yes but blaming him alone is meaningless now. We must decide how to respond."
Saint Izanbaron V. Nasuryuro's expression darkened. "Hmph! There's no question about it. Anyone daring to defy the descendants of the gods must face the harshest punishment execution, without exception! I said long ago that this Eli Winters should've been eliminated immediately. You fools ignored my warning."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter interjected calmly, "What's done is done. Pointing fingers will not help us now. Our priority is to capture Eli Winters. If he or his comrades resist kill them on the spot."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Saint Topman Valkyrie added, "Eli Winters is immensely powerful, and his allies are no weaklings either. We must choose our strike team wisely."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter narrowed his eyes. "The Navy has already shown serious negligence. I propose sending two Admirals and three heavy-armed warships. Capture them at all costs."
Before Sengoku could respond, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn's deep, gravelly voice cut through the room. "That won't be enough. Eli controls space itself and his companion, that massive bear, now wields Admiral-level strength. You're looking at two forces equal to Admirals. We need more."
"Then we draw an elite squad from CP0 to assist," Shepherd suggested.
"Approved," the others said without hesitation.
CP0's elite team usually consisted of six agents each with at least Vice Admiral-level strength, and a captain who could rival an Admiral. Together, their coordination made them a deadly force.
Saturn smirked. "Then let Saint Butalis lead the mission."
The others exchanged silent glances but voiced no objection. Since the last mysterious attack in Mariejois, Saint Figarland had grown cautious, while Saturn's faction had been maneuvering for greater influence. Sending Butalis to lead was clearly a political move, but none of the others dared interfere.
After ten more minutes of deliberation, Saturn turned to Sengoku. "You'll coordinate with the Navy. At dawn tomorrow, you'll lead the Eastern Sea operation alongside CP0. Butalis and his squad will assist you. Remember, the dignity of the World Government is absolute."
"Yes, Lord Saturn," Sengoku replied solemnly, leaving with Steel Bone Kong.
Just before he exited, Nasuryuro added coldly, "Send Admiral Kizaru. He will redeem himself with this mission and tell him this chance will not come twice."
Sengoku paused for half a heartbeat but said nothing. He understood all too well what that meant.
Back at Marineford, Sengoku convened an emergency meeting. Even Akainu was recalled from the New World.
"The World Government has ordered a joint operation with CP0," Sengoku announced gravely. "Tomorrow, we set sail for the East Blue. Two Admirals Kizaru and Akainu will lead the strike, supported by five Vice Admirals. Kizaru, you will atone for your earlier mistake."
Kizaru scratched his head lazily. "Yes, yes. But those kids are pretty dangerous, you know."
Akainu frowned. "We don't even know how that CP0 team fights. This collaboration will be troublesome."
"That's an order from above," Sengoku said firmly. "No room for debate."
Then, from the back, Garp said casually, "That Celestial Dragon got himself killed because he was an idiot. Who told him to mess with Eli?"
Everyone turned to stare at him. Only Garp would say that out loud.
"Garp! Watch your mouth!" Sengoku barked.
"Ah, right, right. Forget what I said," Garp waved, popping a rice cracker into his mouth.
"Garp! Get out!" Sengoku roared.
Vice Admiral Tsuru intervened with a sigh. "Enough, both of you. Let's focus on the mission."
Sengoku nodded. "Akainu, Kizaru you'll lead the assault. Capture Eli Winters and his crew alive if possible."
Akainu's face hardened. "If they resist, I'll burn them to ash."
Kizaru chuckled. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Four days later, on a small island in the East Blue, Eli and his crew were resting beneath the sun.
Eli suddenly looked up at the sky and smiled faintly. "Our guests are on their way."
Big Pan cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming. "My Dragon Staff's been itching for a fight."
Fiona drew her sword, Snowdrinker, wordlessly declaring her intent.
Filina giggled. "Heehee, I'll turn them all into walking lightning rods!"
The Fishman brothers grinned, gripping their weapons. Even Chiyo and Reiju looked eager.
Seeing their excitement, Eli laughed. "Then let's see just how strong the Navy really is."
"Doesn't matter how strong they are," Big Pan said confidently. "We'll crush them all the same."
Eli walked to the Silver Dragon, waved his hand, and stored the massive ship inside his spatial domain. No need to risk damage it was about to get messy.
Moments later, three enormous warships appeared on the horizon.
Eli grinned. "Now this this finally feels like being wanted."
Laughter rippled through the crew.
From aboard the lead ship, Saint Butalis glared at the carefree figures on the island. "These filthy commoners don't even tremble before us. How dare they!"
"Fire!" he barked.
Cannons roared.
But before the shells could even land, Fiona's silver threads laced through the air, detonating every projectile midflight.
Butalis' face turned crimson with rage.
Moments later, Marines and CP0 agents landed onshore.
Kizaru approached lazily, hands in his pockets. "Yo, long time no see, Eli-kun."
Eli smirked. "Quite the party you brought this time, Admiral."
Kizaru shrugged. "Can't be helped. You're a dangerous man, Eli-kun."
Butalis snapped, "Enough talk! Eli Winters, you've murdered a Navy officer and a Celestial Dragon! By the authority of the World Government, you're sentenced to death! End yourself now and I'll grant you a painless death!"
Eli laughed. "Who's this clown, Kizaru? Doesn't he realize how stupid he sounds?"
Kizaru sighed inwardly. He didn't disagree.
"This is Saint Butalis, our commander," he explained. "And I suggest you take this seriously, Eli-kun. You've made powerful enemies."
Akainu stepped forward. "You're strong, Eli, but killing a Celestial Dragon was a fatal mistake."
Eli's eyes narrowed. "So I should've let him blow me up instead? Is that your version of justice?"
Akainu's jaw tightened. "You shouldn't have killed him."
Eli's smile vanished. "Then you shouldn't exist."
Before anyone could react, space twisted violently. Butalis screamed as his arm was torn off by an invisible vortex.
"Kill him!" he shrieked but the words froze in his throat as his body locked in place.
Eli vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood before Butalis, sword raised.
A single stroke clean, silent and the Saint's head fell to the ground.
The island went dead quiet.
"Bastard!" the CP0 captain roared, charging forward with his squad.
Eli pressed his palms together. Space folded in on itself.
"Spatial Art Compression."
In an instant, the six elite agents were trapped in a shrinking cube of distorted space, their screams snuffed out in a flash of red mist.
"Stop!" Akainu shouted, lunging with magma blazing.
Big Pan intercepted him midair, grinning savagely. "Round two, old man."
Filina, Fiona, Chiyo, and the others clashed with the incoming Vice Admirals, while Reiju led the charge against the Marine forces.
Above the chaos, Akainu glared at Eli. "You've fallen into evil."
Eli laughed. "Evil? You call yourself justice, yet you burn innocent people alive. Don't lecture me on righteousness."
He clenched his fist, and the CP0 agents' remains scattered like ash.
"Enough!" Akainu roared, lunging in fury.
Eli stepped into the air, eyes blazing. "Tell me, Akainu were you the one who ordered the bombardment of the Ohara evacuation ship?"
Akainu froze for half a second, then said coldly, "Yes. I was."
Eli's expression hardened. "Then you're already dead."
He surged forward, blade in hand, the sky itself twisting as the battle between justice and wrath erupted across the island.
_________________________________________________
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