Sephiroth soared above Punk Hazard Island, his black wings cutting through the poisoned air. Clad in a white protective suit, he circled the desolate landscape, searching for the Marine research laboratory. Below him, the island lay blanketed in corrosive gas—a grim testament to Caesar's chemical weapons. The purple haze hung thick, choking the life from every corner.
The disaster had struck mere days ago, leaving the toxins at their peak concentration. Though Sephiroth's enhanced physique rendered most poisons harmless, the lingering discomfort was enough to warrant caution. After all, Caesar was no ordinary scientist. His twisted genius demanded respect, and Sephiroth wasn't about to risk underestimating him.
Soon, his sharp eyes caught sight of a structure bearing the sign "PUNK HAZARD." Without hesitation, he landed and drew the butcher knife from his waist. With a single swing, the alloy gate shattered. He stepped into the metallic, sci-fi labyrinth of the research institute, his footsteps echoing as he explored its depths.
Room after room fell to his blade until, finally, he found what he sought. Inside a glass container rested a fruit—apple-like in appearance but adorned with yellow concentric circles. The Artificial Devil Fruit: Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form. This was his prize.
Years of studying lineage factors had allowed Sephiroth to perfect the production of artificial Devil Fruits. Yet, Mythical Zoans remained elusive. Their unique abilities posed technical challenges he hadn't yet overcome. Still, mastering their creation would bring him one step closer to producing Paramecia types, as Mythical Zoans essentially combined animal traits with Paramecia powers.
With a deft flick of his knife, he sliced open the glass container and retrieved the fruit. He stashed it in his personal space, planning to analyze it later. Mass production was the ultimate goal, but he wouldn't risk giving it to his companions without thorough testing. Defective products were unacceptable. If necessary, he'd pluck a genuine Devil Fruit from his extensive collection instead.
Mission accomplished, Sephiroth opened a spatial door and left Punk Hazard behind, returning to Angel Island. He headed straight to the kitchen, preparing dinner with practiced ease. Just as he was about to serve the tofu stewed with carrots, the den den mushi in his pocket buzzed insistently.
After plating the food, he answered the call. "Hello?"
"Sephiroth! We've spotted something incredible—a massive elephant called Zunesha. There's an island on its back called Zou. Yamato heard it's home to the Mokomo Dukedom, inhabited by the Mink Tribe. She wants to check it out, but apparently, the place is fiercely xenophobic and doesn't welcome outsiders. I'm worried she might stir up trouble. What do you think?"
"Zou?" Sephiroth's eyebrows rose in surprise. "I didn't expect you'd find it. Zunesha's movements are unpredictable; it's not an easy place to locate."
However, it is said that this country is very xenophobic and refuses outsiders to approach. Proceed with caution, but don't let Yamato provoke them unnecessarily. If she insists, make sure she understands the consequences."
Finding its location without a Vivre Card is no easy task... You're truly fortunate! As it happens, there's something I need there as well, so I'll join you." With that, Sephiroth drew the butcher knife from his waist, sensing and locating the vampire bats before opening a spatial door and stepping through. The scene shifted to a vast expanse of the New World's seas.
On the undulating azure waters, a colossal elephant over 35,000 meters tall moved its pillar-like limbs, aimlessly traversing the ocean. Each step sent towering waves crashing across the surface. This was Zunesha, a creature that had lived for over a millennium and was once the companion of Joy Boy, who committed grave sins eight centuries ago.
Due to its past mistakes, Zunesha had been cursed to wander the seas without attacking any place or creature. However, if commanded by the heir of Wano Country's Kozuki family, it could break this restriction and unleash its devastating power upon a designated target.
Just imagine the sheer terror Zunesha could bring if it were free to attack. This towering beast, tens of thousands of meters tall, could obliterate anything in its path. Even Jack, with his billion-berry bounty and nine-hundred-million-berry ivory, wouldn't survive a single strike. Even the Four Emperors themselves would be brought to their knees if they took a direct hit.
Zunesha's sheer size and weight made its power incomparable. Crushing a Giant Race warrior—or even a Four Emperor—would be as effortless as an ordinary person stepping on a cockroach. Of course, this assumes Zunesha's attack could land. On its back lay an island called Zou, home to the Mokomo Dukedom, where the xenophobic Mink Tribe resided.
The Mink Tribe fiercely guarded their territory, attacking and expelling any intruders who dared set foot on Zou. Not far from Zunesha, a white double-masted sailing ship with a wolf's head figurehead floated on the waves. Yamato stood on deck, gripping her kanabo, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at Zunesha's towering form that seemed to pierce the clouds.
"That thing is incredible!" she exclaimed with genuine awe. "If it decided to attack us, we'd be finished in an instant, wouldn't we?" Nami, standing beside her, shot her a horrified look. "Yamato, don't say things like that!" she snapped.
Kozuki Hiyori, dressed in a soft pink kimono, smiled gently and reassured her, "Don't worry, Nami. Under normal circumstances, Zunesha won't attack on its own."
Suddenly, a red light flashed in the void, and a spatial door silently opened. Sephiroth stepped through, dressed casually in a blue floral shirt and white beach shorts, his butcher knife in hand. His eyes swept across the ship, quickly confirming the presence of Kuina, Iska, Nami, Yamato, Kozuki Hiyori, and Perona. Relief washed over him.
He'd been worried that Perona's call might have been too late—given Yamato's impulsive nature, she might have already dragged the others into climbing Zunesha. It seemed the incident at Lulusia Kingdom had taught her some restraint.
"Sephiroth, now that you're here, can we go check out Zou?" Yamato asked eagerly, her excitement palpable. "Absolutely," he replied. "There's a red Road Poneglyph on Zou, and I need to record it." With that, he moved to the ship's bow.
Using Observation Haki, he pinpointed the island on Zunesha's back and swung his knife forward, opening a spatial door dozens of meters high. The ship, propelled by the wind, sailed straight through, entering the world beyond the door...