On a cliff overlooking the shore.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The steep cliff trembled on the verge of collapse as one massive crater after another appeared across the ground while Bonney vented her fury.
"Bastards!!! You all got the easy way out when you died! You left this mess behind for me! What am I supposed to do?! What can I do?! AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
BOOM!!!
A section of the cliff finally broke away and plunged into the sea below.
Bonney dropped to her knees, covering her face with both hands as she broke down crying. Helpless, fragile, and alone.
A long time passed…
* * *
The next morning.
Bonney silently adjusted her clothes. Standing before the mirror, she took a deep breath and tried to force a relaxed smile onto her face, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do it. In the end, all she managed was a bitter smile of self-mockery.
She picked up the whip lying on the table and fastened it to her waist before heading toward the port.
She didn't want to keep struggling anymore. Even if it meant death, she had to meet the man who had killed her father. The bastard who had stolen the Revolutionary Army's achievements through deceitful means, the man who had once slaughtered countless Revolutionary Army soldiers, Sakazuki.
She wanted to ask him something: after killing so many people, could he really pretend that nothing had happened?
* * *
As Bonney walked toward the harbor, she hardly encountered any Revolutionary Army soldiers. She had deliberately chosen a time when few people would be around, yet it was far too quiet. An uneasy feeling gradually crept into her heart.
Then, she saw them. Ahead, near the port, stood rows of fully armed Revolutionary Army soldiers gathered together in complete silence, waiting.
Only then did Bonney realize where that uneasy feeling had come from.
"You all..." Her fists clenched tightly, and her voice trembled slightly.
"Big Sis Bonney, take us with you."
"Yeah. How can we get revenge without joining in?"
"We'll storm Mariejois and tear apart those hypocritical Marine bastards."
"Hahahaha! That's right!"
"Big Sis Bonney, we're ready. We can take the port at any time."
Bonney looked at the smiling faces before her. They spoke as though it were possible, but she knew the truth: every one of them was prepared to die alongside her.
She only wanted to use death as an escape. How could she possibly deserve their loyalty?
Her trembling lips moved slightly, yet no words came out.
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed from above. "As you wish."
Bonney looked up, her pupils contracting sharply.
It was Admiral Murashi, Soter.
As she watched him raise his arm, a terrible feeling surged through her heart. Looking toward the gathered soldiers, she screamed, "Run!!!"
Her right hand reached for the whip at her waist as she kicked off the ground and shot into the sky.
Rumble!!!
The earth twisted and shook violently.
These Revolutionary Army soldiers were well-trained, but before the overwhelming power of an Admiral, they had no ability to resist. Almost instantly, the ground under Soter's control wrapped around them, compressing and sealing them inside a massive sphere of soil.
Bonney's eyes nearly split apart with rage.
"Stop!!!"
Armament Haki coated her whip as she lashed it toward Soter, but he merely glanced at it.
Four stone spears condensed in the air and shot forward.
Puchi!
Bonney's limbs were pierced effortlessly, and all four of her arms and legs were pinned in place and suspended in the air.
Fury and agony twisted her face as a beast-like growl escaped her throat, but it changed nothing.
Controlling the enormous compressed earth sphere and the immobilized Bonney, Soter flew toward the harbor.
* * *
At the harbor fortress, rows of soldiers stood assembled.
Ain stood at the front. Watching Soter approach from the distance, she calmly said, "Begin."
A base officer beside her turned and hurried away to relay the order.
The next moment, a shrill alarm echoed across the island.
Woooooo...
Woooooo...
The entire island entered a state of emergency.
Then, before Bonney's disbelieving eyes, which gradually filled with horror, the soldiers standing in formation were transformed into children by Ain's ability. Afterward, the Marines began damaging the harbor themselves.
Bonney instantly understood, and the despair in her eyes could no longer be concealed.
"You bastards!!! This was planned from the very beginning!!!"
But no one answered her.
* * *
That same morning, news spread rapidly across the world that Jewelry Bonney, Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army, had allegedly led forces in an attack against the World Federal Government.
Most people found it impossible to believe, and even many within the Revolutionary Army doubted it. However, the soldiers who had been turned into children could not be explained away. Everyone knew what Bonney's powers were capable of.
Over the following period, several attacks occurred across different parts of the world, yet most Revolutionary Army-controlled islands remained silent.
For one thing, many members no longer felt a strong attachment to the organization. For another, numerous base commanders had already been replaced during the chaos of the Great Cataclysm.
* * *
The following day.
At the summit of the Red Line. World Federal Government Headquarters.
Inside the office of the Chairman, Carlo stood before "Sakazuki" and delivered the latest reports.
"..."
"The desert restoration project in Alabasta is now more than halfway complete..."
"..."
"And regarding the current Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army, Jewelry Bonney..."
Snap.
Carlo closed the notebook in his hands.
"She was executed yesterday."
For a result like this, "Sakazuki" wasn't surprised, nor did he pay it much attention. He simply nodded to show he understood.
Then he signed his approval on Onigumo's leave request and handed it to Carlo.
* * *
New World, Totto Land Sea.
Under the faint glow of moonlight, two warships gradually drew closer across the sea.
This was once the territory of one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Big Mom. It was also a place where countless Marine soldiers and officers had fought until their final breath. They had exchanged their lives for this peace and tranquility.
Standing at the bow, Onigumo felt the sea breeze brush across his face. As the warships merged into a single formation, Momonga leaped onto Onigumo's ship.
A faint smile appeared on Onigumo's fierce and intimidating face as he asked, "How have things been lately?"
Momonga let out a sigh and shook his head, exhaustion written all over his face. "Not good. The suicide rate among returning soldiers has been climbing rapidly. We barely dare sleep, day or night. I checked the duty roster. It'll be your turn soon. Take care of yourself."
Onigumo took a few deep pulls from his cigar and nodded. "I know."
He understood the psychological problems the soldiers were facing. Unfortunately, there was no good solution for something like this.
Momonga softly grunted in acknowledgment before turning toward the enormous stone monument on the deck, its weight pressing the warship noticeably deeper into the water.
A smile appeared on his face. "It really is impressive. Enough for Doberman to brag about down there."
Onigumo chuckled and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke as he looked toward the massive monument. "Of course. The inscription was personally written by Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
The solemn monument bore Doberman's name at the top, while beneath it were countless smaller names belonging to the soldiers who had fallen in the Totto Land campaign.
On the reverse side of the monument were five words personally penned by "Sakazuki."
[Eternal Suppression of the Pirates.]
Surrounding those five words were countless more names, packed so densely they seemed endless.
Onigumo took a deep drag from his cigar and stared blankly at the monument, murmuring, "All this peace... was bought with lives…"
The calm sea parted before the warships, sending ripples spreading across the water as the vessels sailed side by side deeper into Totto Land's waters. In the past, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
* * *
The next morning, at dawn, using the marked coordinates and reports from soldiers who had dived beneath the sea to investigate, Onigumo and Momonga confirmed they had arrived at the site where the extermination fleet had fallen.
The two men exchanged a glance and walked to opposite sides of the enormous monument.
Taking a deep breath, they shouted in unison.
"Lift!!!"
The monument, as massive as a small mountain, was forcibly raised by the two vice admirals of the World Federation Government. The burst of strength made the warship tremble violently beneath them.
Thump. Thump.
Yet neither man was affected in the slightest.
One step, two steps…
They continued forward until they reached the very limit of what the warship could bear while maintaining its balance.
Then both roared together.
"Stand!!!"
Under their combined strength, the enormous monument was hurled skyward in a steep arc before falling freely toward the sea.
BOOM!
The impact exploded into countless sprays of water, as if Doberman and those fallen soldiers were answering them.
"Salute!!!"
Every movement was perfectly synchronized. They held the salute for a long time.
As a loud military anthem echoed across the sea, the monument slowly sank into the wreckage of the fleet resting on the ocean floor.
There it stood among the ruins beneath the sea, towering and unmoving…
**
**
**
Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:
P@treon/SilverShark769
Vote with Power Stones for Bonus Chapters!
Your support means a lot, thank you!