West Blue, on a shipping route to the Grand Line
The blue sea was dyed golden by the sun. An inconspicuous merchant ship slowly sailed away from the last island of the West Blue. At the ship's rail, a black-haired woman stood quietly, the sea breeze blowing her long hair. She wore a wide-brimmed hat and held a thick ancient book in her hand, her fingertips gently rubbing the yellowed pages.
"Finally... I'm entering the Grand Line," Nico Robin murmured to herself, a complex light in her deep eyes. Twenty-three years of a life of displacement and solitary survival. But this time—she looked up at the outline of Reverse Mountain that was gradually appearing in the distance, a slight smile on her lips. "The truth of history... I will definitely find it."
The merchant ship slowly sailed into the turbulent current, heading towards the sea route where all the secrets were said to be buried.
And at the same time—
In the East Blue, a small warship had a chance encounter with the Black Cat Pirates.
Under the blue sky, the sea surface shimmered. A small warship cut through the waves like an arrow, its military flag fluttering. At the bow, Ace narrowed his eyes and looked at a black-cat-shaped pirate ship that was rapidly fleeing in the distance, his brow furrowed. "Another one? Why are the pirates in the East Blue so crazy lately, running out to die?"
Beside him, Luffy wrinkled his nose and muttered in a low voice, "They're not after grandpa's pickled radishes, are they?"
The two of them exchanged a look, their expressions sinking. "Did something happen to grandpa and grandma?"
Roy walked out of the bridge, the sun casting a cold light on the epaulets of his military uniform. He walked to the two of them, his tone calm but with an undeniable firmness. "Don't worry."
"The East Blue is already very peaceful."
"They're just unlucky." He raised his hand and pointed to the black cat ship that was gradually entering cannon range. "The few remaining fish that slipped through the net... just happened to run into us."
Roy's gaze was sharp. He looked at the small pirate ship with its cat-eared bow carving, which was trying to turn around and flee, and a memory flashed through his mind.
"The Black Cat Pirates, 'Hundred Plans' Kuro."
"The one from the original story who, in order to get Kaya's family's fortune, could poison Kaya's father and hide for three years as a butler, and even pushed up his glasses every day and pretended to be gentle? Heh, he really is sinister..."
"His plan was indeed meticulous, and his disguise skills could be ranked among the top in the East Blue, but... in the end, it's just East Blue level."
His thoughts turned, and Roy's gaze darkened.
"Marine Captain Morgan."
"He was originally a hot-blooded new recruit with a heart full of justice. In an encounter, all his comrades on the ship were slaughtered by the Black Cat Pirates, and his own jaw was crushed."
"As a result, he was hypnotized by Kuro's subordinate, Jango, and his brain was rewritten, making him mistakenly believe that he had personally captured Kuro."
"From then on, the 'meritorious' Morgan was promoted to a lieutenant in the 153rd branch, and the side effect of being 'hypnotized' also twisted his personality, making him tyrannical, irritable, and greedy."
"This led him to gradually become sinister and shameless, causing the image of the East Blue Marines to plummet... what he tainted was not just the military emblem."
"This kind of tumor... is better cleaned up early."
Roy put away his thoughts and said lightly, "Ace, Luffy."
"Leave no one alive."
Ace grinned, and his right arm instantly ignited with flames. "I like this kind of order."
Luffy jumped up excitedly. "Great, I'm best at beating up guys who think they're smart."
A moment ago, on the main deck of the Black Cat pirate ship
The sea churned, and the waves were rough. At the bow of the ship, Kuro pushed up his round-framed glasses, which had slipped down. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, and his fingers stiffly gripped his cape.
The small Marine warship that was approaching was like a sharp blade cutting through the sea, its black hull and fluttering sails not at all in the style of the East Blue. What was even more terrifying—the three people standing at its bow were standing casually, but their presence was as oppressive as a mountain.
"...Something's not right," Kuro's Adam's apple bobbed, and he murmured, "They're not from the East Blue Marines... that's not a presence that would appear in these waters."
"Captain! What do we do?!" The first mate, Jango, rushed forward, the hypnotic ring in his hand shaking and clinking, his face as pale as ash.
Kuro gritted his teeth and fiercely threw his cape back, his voice suddenly low. "Full retreat—turn around immediately!! Quick—!"
Before he could finish, the sea suddenly changed. "BOOM!!!"
"Flame Pillar!"
The clouds in the sky were as if torn apart by a giant hand. A dazzling pillar of fire suddenly fell from the clouds and crashed into the bow of the Black Cat pirate ship. "Uwaaahhhh—!!!" Several pirates didn't even have time to react before they were swallowed by the flames, screaming miserably as they fell into the sea.
The firelight illuminated the deck. A crimson figure descended from the sky, his flame cape fluttering, his two fists burning with a raging flame. Ace coldly swept his gaze over the deck, his gaze as scorching as fire. "This sea doesn't need pests like you." His right fist punched out, and the flame twisted the air, becoming a giant fire dragon that whistled down.
"BOOM—!"
The entire pirate ship trembled violently. The main mast, along with the sail, broke, and a large fire instantly spread to all parts of the ship.
Kuro spun his head around, just in time to see another pink dragon shadow breaking through the sky. "What is that...?!"
A storm roared. A human-shaped giant dragon with scales suddenly descended—"BANG!!!"—and the half-beast, half-dragon form of Luffy crashed straight into the deck, almost breaking the entire ship in two. Thick smoke and dust rose several feet high.
Butch and Sham, drawing their swords, rushed out. Before they could even see the other's figure, they were swept by Luffy's dragon tail. "BANG! BANG!!" The two of them were sent flying back like rags, crashing through several layers of the cabin wall and dying on the spot.
Jango trembled as he held up his hypnotic ring, his voice broken. "N-No! I... I sur—"
"Swish!"
A flame shadow attacked. Ace was already before him, his fist pressed against his brow, a corner of his lip lifted. "You're too noisy."
"BOOM!!!"
A flash of fire. Jango was sent flying back like a meteor, crashing through the guardrail and falling heavily into the sea in a violent blaze.
In a moment, the entire pirate ship was a sea of fire, its main mast burned and destroyed, its hull broken. Nearly thirty pirates were either sent flying by the flames or by Luffy's punches. Blood and fire intertwined on the deck, creating a picture of death.
"Are you... kidding me..."
"What kind of monster-level Marines are these...?!"
Kuro collapsed on the blood-stained deck, a pathetic sight. His cat's claw blades had fallen to the side. His hands were still in the position of pushing up his glasses but were already frozen. He, who was once known for his "hundred plans" and was calm and cunning, was now pale, his eyes no longer holding any calculations, only a deep fear and—despair.
The entire Black Cat pirate ship had become a fiery hell. His subordinates were either swallowed by the flames or had their bodies crushed by the pink dragon tail. Not a single one survived. He hadn't even had a chance to use a complete move before his mind had shattered, and he no longer dared to stand up. "This is not right..." he murmured. "I shouldn't die here... I am—"
Before he could finish, a tall figure slowly walked out of the flames. Ace walked through the fire, his gaze as scorching as magma. The flame on his right arm became a chain, and he threw the still-not-quite-dead remains of a pirate into the sea, creating a splash of scorched water vapor.
Behind him, a giant pink figure took to the air, and the giant dragon form of Luffy roared, a terrifying stream of air surging from his mouth. "Dragon Breath!"
A scorching dragon flame, mixed with a distorted wave of air, shot out from his throat.
Kuro's eyes widened in terror, his entire face twisted into a savage roar. "No!! I can't yet—"
"BOOM—!!!"
The scorching white dragon flame swept across the entire ship. Kuro, along with the entire deck, was instantly turned to ash. The wreckage flew, and in the sea of fire, Kuro's body was instantly incinerated, his screams drowned out in the roar of the explosion.
The firelight burned through the clouds, and the sea reflected a crimson sky. The sea breeze rolled with the smell of blood. The scorched wooden planks sank into the sea one by one. The entire Black Cat pirate ship—ship and crew—was completely wiped out.
Ace's flame form floated in the air, the flames gradually dissipating, his eyes as cold as ice. Luffy slowly landed back on the warship, transforming into his human form, his eyes still red, his killing intent not yet faded.
They looked back. Roy stood quietly on the warship, looking at the burned-out pirate ship, his tone indifferent. "The East Blue doesn't need this kind of scum." He turned and stepped back onto the warship. Ace and Luffy, without a word, followed closely behind. The waves lapped at the scorched black wreckage, as if sending off this "execution."
From this day on—the Black Cat Pirates were erased from the annals of the East Blue.
....
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