Under Teach's direct command, the massive fleet of the Nightfall Pirates gradually slowed its advance across the Sageros Sea. The sudden escalation of the Golden Sea war had disrupted their original expansion plans, forcing a strategic shift that prioritized survival and opportunity over momentum.
News spread quickly throughout the fleet.
A selected force, led by Redyat, would depart to reinforce the Golden Sea battlefield. Participation was entirely voluntary, and no one needed to be persuaded. Every member understood that the Golden Sea war would be far more brutal than any territorial conflict in the New World.
Yet for pirates, war itself was the crucible of growth.
Whether in the Sageros Sea or the Golden Sea, the result was the same. Strength would be forged in blood.
Still, Teach had made one thing clear. Wars were ultimately decided by top-tier combatants, which was why he had personally designated Redyat and Shiryu to go. As for the rest, their presence, while useful, was secondary.
The real challenge was distance.
Jaya Island lay far beyond immediate reach, and rapid deployment required a method far more efficient than conventional sailing. That solution came from an unlikely ally.
The Flying Pirates.
Through their control of the Sky Islands, the Flying Pirates had developed airship technology capable of traversing the skies. Though still in its early stages, the innovation was already reshaping warfare.
Each airship could carry up to two hundred people, and with only fifty vessels available, their total transport capacity reached ten thousand per deployment. However, each round trip required extensive maintenance, followed by a half-month recharge period.
It was not a system built for sustained mass transport.
It was a weapon.
A hidden one.
Under normal circumstances, such technology would never be revealed. But the Golden Sea war had reached a point where secrecy mattered less than victory.
The Sky Islands had paid off handsomely. With their network established across the New World, the Flying Pirates had effectively built an aerial empire. The title "Overlord of the Sky" was no longer an exaggeration but a statement of fact.
Airships carried undeniable advantages. Flying at extreme altitudes made them difficult to detect, and interception was nearly impossible on a large scale. Only a handful of individuals in the world could engage them directly.
One by one, selected ships detached from the main fleet.
Those who chose to fight in the Golden Sea gathered aboard and departed the Sageros Sea, heading toward a central island in the New World. That island served as a staging ground for joint reinforcements from multiple factions, where the airships awaited.
The situation between these factions was… peculiar.
They were allies in the Golden Sea.
They were enemies everywhere else.
Conflicts had not ceased. They had merely softened, restrained by necessity. Cooperation and hostility coexisted, shifting with circumstance.
That was the nature of pirates.
Everything revolved around benefit.
In truth, the Nightfall Pirates did not need to rely on such complicated logistics. Redyat's shadow abilities alone could transport forces instantly across vast distances. However, in a joint operation, unity had its advantages. Moving together strengthened both numbers and presence.
There was also the issue of intelligence.
The World Government would not remain blind. The existence of airships would eventually be discovered, and interception attempts were inevitable. Even within their own ranks, spies could not be ruled out. In a world where Vivre Cards existed, tracking was always a possibility.
Redyat's ability offered a solution.
Through the shadows, any hidden threats could be exposed and eliminated before they became problems.
Even in the worst case scenario, the escorting forces were more than capable of handling any interception.
On one of the departing ships, a conversation unfolded.
Clemons crossed his arms, studying the young man before him with a thoughtful gaze.
"I didn't expect you to come as well," he said, his tone carrying both curiosity and concern. "Without mastering both types of Haki, this battlefield is dangerous."
The one he addressed was Enel, now a rising figure within the Nightfall Pirates.
Clemons was not belittling him. If anything, he recognized the boy's potential too clearly. It would be a waste to see him fall prematurely.
Enel simply smirked, confidence radiating from his posture.
"Relax. Do I look like someone who dies easily?" he replied, his voice filled with arrogance that felt almost justified. "I'm not the same person I used to be."
That much was undeniable.
Since joining the Nightfall Pirates, Enel's growth had been explosive. Under Teach's guidance and the crew's brutal training system, he had awakened Observation Haki within three months. His physical combat skills had advanced rapidly, and even without Armament Haki, he could already defeat most elite members.
His bounty had risen to 140 million Berries.
Though his nickname, "Golden Pole," remained a source of endless irritation.
Clemons narrowed his eyes slightly.
Something felt different.
A faint sense of danger.
"Could it be…" he began.
Enel grinned wider.
Without another word, he raised his hand. A sphere of blue lightning condensed in his palm, crackling with intense heat. The energy within it shimmered, unstable yet powerful.
In the next instant, a flash of blue light cut through the air.
Enel vanished.
Clemons' pupils shrank.
By the time he reacted, Enel was already standing behind him.
If that had been an attack, avoidance would have been nearly impossible.
Enel laughed, clearly pleased with the reaction.
"Now you see it," he said, pride evident in every word. "The Plasma Fruit."
Electricity danced faintly around his body, though its destructive force was not yet fully realized.
"It's not complete yet," he admitted, though his excitement did not fade. "But the speed alone is enough to keep me alive."
Teach's evaluation still echoed in his mind.
A Paramecia equivalent of the Goro Goro no Mi.
With proper development, it could replicate nearly everything the lightning Logia could achieve, aside from full elemental transformation.
That alone was enough.
Clemons exhaled slowly, then nodded.
"In that case, I don't need to worry as much," he said, though his tone remained serious. "Just don't get careless."
Enel waved him off, still grinning.
"I won't die that easily."
But beneath the bravado, anticipation burned.
War was coming.
Rain fell steadily over Jaya Island.
What had once been a place of chaos and opportunity had transformed into a fortified war machine. Defensive structures lined the land, patrols moved constantly, and every face carried a sense of urgency.
The island had become a fortress.
At sea, patrol ships maintained constant vigilance, ready to report any sign of Marine movement. Every action was calculated, every resource managed with care.
The World Government's forces had not yet launched their full assault.
But everyone knew it was coming.
The pressure weighed heavily.
Fortunately, reinforcements were on the way.
That alone gave them the resolve to endure.
On the front lines, battles were already underway.
Laffitte had taken to the skies, using his mobility to scout enemy movements while striking at isolated warships. Alongside him were Yamato, Marco, and Charlotte Katakuri.
Meanwhile, the powerhouse known as Kronos dominated another battlefield entirely.
With his lightning-based abilities, he repeatedly clashed with Admirals and Army commanders, destroying fortresses and cutting down soldiers. His durability allowed him to withstand even multiple top-tier opponents for short periods, provided he maintained aerial combat.
He was not trying to win.
He was buying time.
As reinforcements from the World Government had yet to arrive, Jaya Island's forces seized the initiative.
They shifted into counterattack mode.
This was not a traditional battle.
It was a hunt.
Vice Admirals became targets. Warships were destroyed on sight. Every strike aimed to weaken the enemy before the true war began.
The World Government quickly adapted, tightening formations and grouping high-level officers together. Defensive postures replaced aggressive expansion.
They only needed to wait.
But so did Jaya Island.
Both sides understood what was coming.
On a rain-soaked reef, twelve figures gathered.
They were the sharpest blades from their respective factions.
Kronos stood at the center, his voice steady.
"Don't die."
No one laughed.
They all understood the stakes.
From the Flying Pirates came Kronos, Rubert, and Black Widow Iris.
From the Beasts Pirates came King and Lemor.
From the Big Mom Pirates came Katakuri and Oven.
From the Whitebeard Pirates came Marco and Griffon Shi.
From the Nightfall Pirates came Gar, Nelson, and Laffitte.
Their plan was simple.
Divide into three groups.
Strike three war bases simultaneously.
Eliminate Vice Admiral-level defenders before reinforcements could arrive.
Kronos and Marco would handle the Admirals, ensuring they could not interfere.
The rest would execute the operation.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
As the rain continued to fall, the twelve figures moved.
Some took to the skies.
Others rode beasts or constructs.
Each group heading toward its target.
The hunt had begun.