Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
This fortress standing in the first half of the Grand Line was not only the Navy's highest command center, but also an insurmountable wall of justice in the eyes of countless pirates.
The morning light pierced through the mist, falling upon the massive "Marine" emblem—yet it failed to bring its usual sense of authority and solemnity.
Seagulls circled above the harbor, letting out sharp, mournful cries.
The once uniform marching footsteps had become heavy and disordered. The air was thick with suffocating tension, like the stillness before a storm.
On the sea at the port, several main warships limped back to shore.
Their once-polished hulls were now scarred with burn marks and gaping holes. Broken masts jutted out like splintered bones under the morning light.
The Marine flag that symbolized "Absolute Justice" hung in tatters among the wreckage—half of it reduced to ash.
These advance forces that had barely escaped Banaro Island did not just bring back wounded soldiers.
They brought back a shock capable of shaking the very foundation of the Navy.
—
Fleet Admiral's Office.
"BANG—!"
A deafening crash shattered the suffocating silence.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed his palm onto the heavy redwood desk. Stacks of classified documents were sent flying like snow before scattering helplessly across the floor.
Veins bulged on his forehead like twisted roots. His breathing grew heavy and ragged, his eyes bloodshot behind his glasses.
"Sakazuki… failed?!"
Before him, the Den Den Mushi mimicked a grim voice.
It was Admiral Akainu.
Low. Suppressed.
Like magma rumbling before eruption.
"Fleet Admiral… the losses… are immeasurable."
His voice rasped like grinding stone.
"The fleet has suffered heavy casualties. Vice Admiral Momonga—no, Vice Admiral Yamakaji—had his lung pierced by 'Tyrant Spear' Ronan. He remains in critical condition."
"Vice Admiral Onigumo was struck by Straw Hat Luffy—six of his blades shattered—he fell into the sea with severe injuries."
"Additionally… multiple large warships were instantly destroyed by the lightning user's 'electromagnetic cannon.'"
Sengoku's hand trembled.
At the side, Vice Admiral Tsuru sat quietly, her expression grave.
Her sharp eyes reflected the projection before them—
The final moments at Banaro Island.
A blinding white beam tore across the sea.
The ocean itself vaporized under extreme heat and force, leaving behind a vacuum trench stretching for kilometers.
"According to Sakazuki's report, the Straw Hat crew has undergone a qualitative transformation."
Tsuru tapped the table lightly, her voice calm yet chilling.
"Especially that navigator—Nami."
"If the intelligence is correct… she possesses the long-lost fruit known as the strongest Logia—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
She paused.
"That fruit alone holds Admiral-level potential."
"But based on current analysis… she has already developed an attack reaching that level."
"The technique called 'electromagnetic cannon'…"
"…can annihilate an entire fleet from beyond visual range."
—
"WAHAHAHAHA!!"
A loud, carefree laugh exploded through the room, completely shattering the tension.
Garp sat on the sofa, stuffing rice crackers into his mouth, laughing so hard he nearly fell over.
"As expected of my grandson's navigator! She actually beat Sakazuki into that sorry state!"
He pointed excitedly at the projection.
"Sengoku! Did you see that?! Luffy turned into an eight-meter-tall giant!"
"That kind of Armament Haki, that overwhelming punch—Onigumo's nine-sword style didn't stand a chance!"
"WAHAHAHA! The brat's growing up! More and more like me!"
"SHUT UP, GARP!"
Sengoku roared, nearly spitting into Garp's snack bag.
"That's your grandson! He's openly challenging Marine authority! Even an Admiral was humiliated—and you're laughing?!"
Garp snorted, stuffing another cracker into his mouth.
"That's Sakazuki being useless… what's it got to do with me?"
—
Sengoku forced himself to calm down.
He turned toward the massive world map on the wall.
The battle at Banaro Island was over—
But its consequences had only just begun.
"Fire Fist Ace escaped… but CP0 agents are already tracking him."
His eyes hardened.
"The capture of Whitebeard's second division commander cannot fail."
"He is the bait… to trigger a new era."
He pulled out a special document and gripped his pen tightly.
"But these lawless brats…"
"…must be assigned a price that will shake the entire sea."
The pen scratched harshly against the paper.
"We once thought the Straw Hats were nothing more than rookies."
"But now…"
"…they are a fully-fledged, extremely dangerous pirate crew."
He wrote the first name.
—
"Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy
Threat Level: Extreme
Exhibits abnormal transformation—"Diamond Giant" form. Combined rubber abilities with unknown power. Physical defense at monstrous levels.
Defeated a Marine Vice Admiral head-on. Led crew to destroy multiple warships. Escaped from Admiral Akainu's fleet.
Bounty: 800,000,000 Beli
—
"Thunder Goddess" Nami
Threat Level: Strategic Disaster-Class
Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user.
Developed "Electromagnetic Cannon" in an extremely short time.
Capable of annihilating entire fleets with electromagnetic kinetic force.
Bounty: 750,000,000 Beli
—
"Tyrant Spear" Ronan
Threat Level: Extreme
Master of an unknown advanced power system.
Attacks capable of piercing high-level Armament Haki.
Defeated a Marine Vice Admiral decisively.
Bounty: 600,000,000 Beli
—
"Pirate Hunter" Roronoa Zoro
Threat Level: Extreme
Three-sword style at peak mastery. Exceptional physical strength.
Bounty: 500,000,000 Beli
—
"Black Leg" Sanji
Threat Level: High
Master of "Diable Jambe"—extreme heat-based kicking techniques.
High speed and destructive power.
Bounty: 300,000,000 Beli
—
"Sniper King" Usopp
Bounty: 100,000,000 Beli
—
"Devil Child" Nico Robin
Bounty: 79,000,000 Beli
—
"Pet" Tony Tony Chopper
Bounty: 50 Beli (still misidentified as a pet by the Marines)
To Read60+ AHEAD advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146