Panic gripped the coastal ports of the Lulusia Kingdom.
Thousands of terrified citizens crowded the stone docks, pushing forward with whatever meager belongings they could carry. High above the chaotic harbor, casting a massive shadow over the city, hovered a vessel unlike anything the people of the Grand Line had ever seen.
The Revolutionary Army Helicarrier held its position in the sky. Massive, rotating turbines generated a deafening hum, keeping the flying fortress perfectly suspended over the water.
Down on the ground, the evacuation effort demanded absolute focus.
Standing on the edge of the docks, Eustass Kid raised his metallic arm. Drawing upon his Devil Fruit, pulled hundreds of discarded swords, iron carts, and scrap metal from the surrounding city. Forging the materials together in mid-air, a boarding ramp slammed into place, connecting the stone pier to the lowered cargo bay of the hovering ship.
"Keep moving!" Kid barked. "Don't push! The bridge will hold your weight!"
Killer meanwhile directed the flow of the crowd. The masked combatant used his calm, steady presence to organize the terrified citizens into orderly lines, preventing the panic from devolving into a deadly stampede.
A few yards away, Koala knelt on the cobblestones. The Revolutionary officer gently wrapped a warm blanket around a crying child, offering a reassuring smile before guiding the family up the metallic ramp.
Standing on a high stone wall to oversee the operation, Sabo gripped his pole arm tightly.
The Chief of Staff watched the frantic boarding process. The intelligence gathered over the past few weeks had pointed to tragedy. Lulusia had been flagged for destruction by the World Government. Anticipating the strike, the Revolutionary Army had brought their most advanced transport vessel to save the innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
"Keep the pace up!" Sabo shouted over the roar of the turbines. "We cannot afford to leave a single person behind!"
Deep within the armored bridge of the Helicarrier, a tense silence dominated the command center.
Standing in front of a glowing tactical table, Dragon stared at a detailed map of the surrounding ocean. The Commander kept his dark green cloak pulled tightly around his shoulders, his tattooed face unreadable.
A soft, blue holographic projection flickered to life on the center of the table.
"Commander," the Red Queen spoke, her voice calm and entirely synthetic. "Long-range sensors have detected an anomaly descending from the upper atmosphere. The power readings are unprecedented. The object is currently adjusting its path, moving toward the Lulusia Kingdom."
Resting his hands on the edge of the table, Dragon did not look away from the map.
"What is the estimated time of arrival?" the Commander asked quietly.
"Based on the current rate of descent, the strike will commence in two hours," Red Queen reported without hesitation.
Turning his head slightly, Dragon addressed a Revolutionary officer managing the communication consoles nearby.
"Status of the ground evacuation," Dragon ordered.
Checking the live feeds streaming from the cargo bays, the subordinate swallowed hard. "The boarding process is proceeding smoothly, sir. But moving the entire population is taking time. At the current rate, it will take at least one more hour to get everyone off the island."
A one-hour window provided a dangerously thin margin of error. Unpredictable weather or a sudden acceleration from the descending weapon could easily close the gap, dooming the ship and the citizens alike.
"Tell Sabo to pick up the pace," Dragon instructed, his tone leaving no room for debate. "We do not have the luxury of time."
Nodding sharply, the officer relayed the command down to the ground teams.
The frantic rush intensified.
Hearing the updated timeline through a small earpiece, Sabo jumped down from the stone wall. The Chief of Staff abandoned his oversight role, moving through the crowd to help carry the injured and the elderly up the steep metal ramps.
Kid pushed his magnetic abilities to the limit. Creating three more distinct bridges from the harbor to the ship, the pirate widened the boarding lanes, allowing hundreds of people to load simultaneously. Killer and Koala worked tirelessly, shouting directions and guiding the frantic masses into the massive, cavernous holds of the flying fortress.
Forty-five grueling minutes passed.
The final stragglers crossed the threshold of the cargo bay. Sweeping the docks one last time to ensure the harbor stood entirely empty, Sabo gave a sharp nod to the red-haired pirate.
Releasing his magnetic hold, Kid let the scrap metal bridges collapse safely into the ocean.
Inside the command center, the subordinate turned away from the monitors.
"Commander," the officer announced. "Every citizen is aboard. The cargo bays are sealed."
"Red Queen," Dragon spoke immediately. "Take off. Get us out of the blast radius."
"Engaging primary thrusters," the AI confirmed.
The deep hum of the turbines shifted into a deafening, powerful roar. The massive Helicarrier vibrated slightly before lifting higher into the sky. Banking sharply away from the coast of Lulusia, the flying fortress accelerated, sailing over the open ocean to put as much distance between the civilians and the doomed kingdom as possible.
However, the reconnaissance mission remained unfinished.
As the massive ship flew away, a small hatch opened on the underside of the hull. Dropping cleanly from the Helicarrier, a sleek, dark Quinjet detached from the main vessel.
Igniting its own rear thrusters, the smaller aircraft hovered in place, stabilizing a few miles off the coast of the island.
Sitting in the pilot's seat of the Quinjet, Koala gripped the control yoke firmly. Sabo occupied the co-pilot chair, while Kid and Killer stood in the small passenger cabin behind them, looking out the reinforced glass windows.
They had chosen to stay behind. Witnessing the nature of the World Government's ultimate weapon was crucial for the coming war. They needed visual of the threat descending upon the world.
The remaining time ticked by in silence.
The sky above Lulusia began to change. The natural, fluffy white clouds parted violently, pushed aside by an unnatural pressure descending from the heavens. The atmosphere grew thick. A dark, terrifying shadow fell over the empty streets and abandoned homes of the kingdom.
Sitting in the cockpit, Sabo leaned forward, his eyes widening.
"There it is," the Chief of Staff whispered.
Breaking through the cloud cover, a massive object hovered over the center of the island. It was too high to make out distinct features, but the size of the weapon blotted out the sun.
The silence broke.
A low, vibrating hum filled the air, so loud it rattled the reinforced glass of the hovering Quinjet.
Bright, blinding light gathered beneath the floating sphere.
Several beams of pure energy shot downward simultaneously. The light moved faster than the eye could track, striking the surface of the island.
The impact did not create a standard explosion.
The power of the beams bypassed mere destruction, achieving total erasure. The stone castles, the forests, the mountains, and the deep bedrock of Lulusia disintegrated instantly upon contact. A blinding sphere of white light expanded outward, consuming the entire landmass in a fraction of a second.
Inside the Quinjet, the four observers threw their arms over their faces, shielding their eyes from the blinding flash.
The shockwave hit a moment later.
The violent rush of displaced air tossed the Quinjet backward. Fighting the turbulent winds, Koala wrestled with the controls, managing to stabilize the aircraft before they tumbled out of the sky.
Slowly lowering their arms, the group looked back out the window.
The light had faded. The dust began to settle.
The island of Lulusia was simply gone.
Not a single rock, tree, or grain of sand remained. Where a thriving kingdom had stood just moments ago, only a massive, gaping hole in the ocean existed. The surrounding sea water rushed over the edges of the abyss, attempting to fill the impossible void left behind by the weapon.
Silence filled the cabin of the small aircraft.
Staring at the empty ocean, a hard gulp echoed from the passenger area. Kid gripped the back of the co-pilot seat, his knuckles turning white. The scale of the destruction defied logic. No pirate crew, no fleet, and no Emperor possessed the power to wipe an island off the map without leaving a single trace.
"Did..." Sabo started, his voice dry. He cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure. "Red Queen, did you record that?"
A small holographic projection of the AI flickered on the dashboard.
"Affirmative," Red Queen replied, her voice remaining entirely devoid of emotion. "All visual data, atmospheric shifts, and energy signatures have been fully recorded and transmitted to the Helicarrier mainframe."
Leaning back in his chair, Sabo let out a slow, shaky breath.
"Take us back to the ship, Koala," the Chief of Staff requested quietly. "We need to report this to Dragon-san."
Nodding silently, the navigator turned the control yoke. The Quinjet banked smoothly away from the swirling abyss, accelerating across the sky to catch up with the retreating Helicarrier, leaving the erased kingdom of Lulusia behind forever.
---
A few days passed since the dramatic departure from the restored shores of Wano.
Sailing steadily through the unpredictable waters of the New World, the Thousand Sunny navigated a shift in the climate. The bright sunshine and clear skies vanished overnight, replaced by heavy gray clouds and a biting wind.
Snow drifted down in thick, heavy flakes, coating the grassy deck of the galleon in a blanket of white.
Stepping out of the galley, the rubber captain rubbed his arms, shivering violently. Despite the freezing temperature, the pirate remained stubbornly dressed in his usual red shirt and shorts.
"It's so cold!" Luffy complained, his teeth chattering loudly. "Why is it suddenly winter?"
Walking past him carrying a stack of thick winter coats, the navigator let out an exasperated sigh.
"Because we are in the New World, you idiot," Nami scolded, tossing a heavy, fur-lined coat at the captain's face. "The climate zones change without warning. Put that on before you freeze to death."
Pulling the coat over his shoulders, the captain felt the warmth return.
The rest of the crew had already adapted to the brutal cold. Standing near the helm, Franky wore a thick, metallic parka. Brook wore a stylish winter hat and a long scarf wrapped tightly around his skeletal neck.
Sitting on a wooden bench near the mainmast, Zoro dozed peacefully. The swordsman wore a thick green coat, unbothered by the falling snow accumulating on his shoulders.
The door to the kitchen opened again.
Sanji stepped out onto the deck, carrying a large silver tray. Steam rose from a dozen ceramic mugs filled with rich, hot cocoa.
"Warm drinks for the ladies!" the cook announced cheerfully, ignoring the freezing temperature in his tailored suit.
Walking over to a small patio table set up under a covered awning, Sanji carefully placed mugs in front of Nami, Robin, Vivi, Carrot, and Bonney. The women wore heavy winter coats and gloves, grateful for the steaming chocolate.
"Thank you, Sanji," Robin smiled, taking a sip from her mug.
"Hot cocoa!" Chopper cheered, waddling across the deck in a thick winter sweater. The reindeer jumped up onto a chair, happily accepting a mug from the chef.
Nearby, Yamato leaned against the railing, catching snowflakes on a bare hand. The horned warrior seemed immune to the bitter cold, wearing simple clothes and watching the white horizon with wide-eyed wonder. Having spent a lifetime confined to a single island, every new weather pattern presented an exciting discovery.
"The snow is beautiful!" Yamato laughed, turning to face the crew.
"Just wait until we hit a lightning island," Usopp muttered, adjusting a pair of heavy earmuffs. The sniper stood near the railing, scanning the misty ocean ahead through a pair of binoculars.
"Do you see anything yet?" Nami called out, wrapping her hands around her warm mug.
Adjusting the focus on the lenses, the sniper squinted through the falling snow.
"Nothing but ice and fog," Usopp reported, his breath pluming in the cold air. "The Log Pose is pointing straight ahead, though. We should be approaching the next island soon."
Hearing the promise of a new destination, the captain bounded toward the front of the ship.
"A winter island!" Luffy cheered, forgetting his earlier complaints about the cold. "That means snow monsters! And giant bears! And winter meat!"
Watching the captain bounce around the snowy deck, the crew settled into the familiar routine of their journey. The terrifying realities of the world, the erased kingdoms, and the looming global war felt disconnected from this quiet, peaceful morning on the ship.
Leaning against the railing, the magician adjusted his dark glasses, watching the snowflakes melt against the wooden hull. The brutal cold stung his cheeks, but the calm atmosphere offered a welcome respite.
The sea remained quiet for now, but the Log Pose continued to pull them relentlessly forward, guiding the Thousand Sunny deeper into the unforgiving waters of the New World and closer to the inevitable conflicts waiting just beyond the frozen horizon.