Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Six months had passed since the battle that shook the seas between Arthur and Admiral Sakazuki. Yet the scars of that battle remained, Not only on the battlefield, But throughout the entire world, especially within the ranks of the Marines.
At the head of the conference table sat Fleet Admiral Sengoku, his fingers interlocked before his face. His immaculate white uniform remained as neat as ever. However, the main conference room was filled with silence.
Standing on the right side of the room was Admiral Akainu. The long scar stretching from the left side of his neck down across his chest had never truly disappeared. It remained clearly visible, serving as a constant reminder of a battle he never wished to remember.
Admiral Kizaru and Admiral Aokiji were also present, accompanied by dozens of Vice Admirals. Garp simply sat in his chair, casually eating rice crackers. Meanwhile, Sengoku studied the report in his hands with a grave expression. Tsuru stood before all of the Marine officers. Dozens of intelligence reports covered the conference table.
Tsuru: "For the past six months, the Art Pirates have vanished from every known sea route. We've lost their trail once again, even after increasing their bounties to draw the world's attention." The room remained silent, No one interrupted than Tsuru continued.
Tsuru: "However, our latest intelligence confirms they never stopped growing stronger. From an island where we discovered traces of their presence, we confirmed they recovered at least one Poneglyph." The moment the word Poneglyph was spoken, several officers were visibly shocked.
Borsalino: "The Art Pirates... they're becoming scarier by the day." Kizaru replied in his usual laid-back tone.
Tsuru: "Based on every piece of information we've gathered, Arthur had already reached the level of an Admiral during his battle against Sakazuki. It is highly likely... that he now stands on equal footing with the Emperors of the Sea." Several Vice Admirals exchanged uneasy glances.
Aokiji: "Ohh... that's quite an evaluation." Aokiji responded as he lifted his sleep mask.
Sengoku: "It's not speculation. It's a fact. A man capable of fighting Sakazuki to a standstill....and leaving behind a permanent scar...can no longer be treated as an ordinary pirate." Everyone's eyes slowly turned toward Sakazuki but No one challenged Sengoku's conclusion.
Sakazuki: "Next time...I'll kill him." After a long silence...Akainu finally spoke.
Far above the Red Line...Mary Geoise.
Inside the Hall of Pangaea, the Five Elders stood surrounding a circular table. Several photographs lay scattered across its surface. Arthur. Hancock. Robin. Monet. Baby-5. Law. Sabo. Koala. Sugar. Bepo. Ikaraos. Nymph. Every one of them silently stared at the bounty posters until one of the Gorosei opened the latest intelligence report.
Gorosei: "Arthur has successfully created an artificial life-form. And most likely...He has discovered a stable method of allowing one person to possess more than one Devil Fruit. Our intelligence indicates that his crew has been actively searching for additional Devil Fruits." Silence immediately filled the chamber. Another Elder spoke quietly.
Gorosei: "If we allow this to continue...The balance of the world will collapse. The true threat is not Arthur's strength...but his ability to create strength. We already warned the Anemone Family. Yet Arthur continues to interfere with the World Government. This is the only course of action left."
Since six months ago, the Art Pirates had officially been classified as the World Government's highest-level threat. The news had long since spread across the world through countless News Coo. Even so... The Art Pirates remained impossible to find. Despite their newly issued bounty posters.
[Captain] Phantasm D. Arthur "ART OF DEATH"
Bounty: Increased from 1,000,000,000 to 4,200,000,000 Berries(Dead or Alive)
First Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Art-Art Fruit (Awakened)
Allows the user to transform any target into an artistic object or anything the user perceives as art, altering both its appearance and function according to the user's imagination. The ability is activated through visible or invisible clouds that either touch or fly toward the target. It can be resisted if the cloud is dispersed beforehand or blocked through Busoshoku Haki or other abilities.
Second Devil Fruit: Logia — Blood-Blood Fruit (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Allows the user's body to transform into blood and become intangible. The user can manipulate both their own blood and the blood of anyone they touch, within a range of 20 meters. Unlike most Logia users, this fruit requires the user's own blood to generate its element, meaning excessive use can ultimately prove fatal.
[First Mate / Archaeologist] Nico Robin "DEVIL CHILD"
Bounty: Increased from 330,000,000 to 730,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Flower-Flower Fruit (Awakened)
Allows the user to replicate and bloom parts of their body from any surface or living being.
Second Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Siren (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Grants hybrid and full Zoan transformations while greatly enhancing physical abilities, stamina, and recovery. Its mythical power allows the user to sing with a supernatural voice capable of causing unconsciousness, hallucinations, and other debilitating mental effects.
[Second Mate / Navigator] Boa Hancock "WEATHER EMPRESS"
Bounty: Increased from 432,000,000 to 1,659,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Logia — Cloud-Cloud Fruit (Awakened)
Allows the user to generate, become, and control every known type of cloud, including rain clouds, thunderclouds, storm clouds, and even Sky Island clouds.
Second Devil Fruit: Human-Human Fruit, Model: Succubus (Not Awakened — Unknown to the public)
Grants hybrid and full Mythical Zoan transformations while dramatically increasing physical strength, stamina, and recovery. The mythical abilities include irresistible charm, life-force absorption, and flight.
[Doctor / Chef] Baby-5 "THE FAIRY QUEEN"
Bounty: Increased from 200,000,000 to 780,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Butterfly-Butterfly Fruit, Model: Fairy Queen (Not Awakened)
Grants the user enhanced physical abilities, flight, and mystical fairy dust capable of concealment and healing while maintaining a deep affinity with nature.
Second Devil Fruit: Logia — Mist-Mist Fruit (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Allows the user to create, become, and manipulate mist.
[Informant / Treasurer] Monet "TELEPORTER"
Bounty: Increased from 220,000,000 to 840,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Swap-Swap Fruit (Not Awakened)
Allows the user to swap positions with any target marked by a [Mark]. The range depends entirely on the user's mastery. The user can also project their consciousness to a marked location, making reconnaissance and espionage remarkably effective.
Second Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Grants hybrid and full Mythical Zoan transformations. The mythical abilities include creating highly realistic illusions, concealing the user's presence, generating phantom images, and utilizing the nine tails as both offensive and defensive weapons.
[Second Chef / Sniper] Sugar
Bounty:140,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Gryphon (Not Awakened)
Allows the user to transform into the mythical Gryphon. Besides enhanced physical strength, wings, and eagle-like eyesight, its mythical power enables manipulation of the air as footholds or weapons, with greater potential upon awakening.
Second Devil Fruit: Paramecia — More-More Fruit (Not Awakened) (Unknown to the public)
Allow the user to amplify the properties of a target by up to 100 times. Its power can be applied to objects, projectiles, or living beings, increasing attributes such as speed, size, power, momentum, or force. For example, a bullet can be enlarged or accelerated up to one hundred times before striking its target.
[Second Doctor / Swordsman] Trafalgar D. Law "SURGEON OF DEATH"
Bounty:200,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Ope-Ope Fruit (Not Awakened)
Creates a spherical operating space known as a Room, where the user possesses complete control over everything within it.
Second Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Horse-Horse Fruit, Model: Unicorn (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Grants hybrid and full transformations while greatly enhancing physical abilities. The Unicorn's mythical power allows purification of negative conditions into positive ones through the light emitted from its horn.
[Second Navigator / Mascot] Bepo (Mink Tribe)
Bounty:500 Berries
Race: Mink Tribe
Possesses physical abilities far superior to ordinary humans, incredible speed, heightened instincts, and the signature Mink martial art Electro, allowing electricity to flow through the body and attacks. During the full moon, Bepo can transform into Sulong Form, dramatically increasing his strength, speed, endurance, and overall combat ability, provided he maintains emotional control while exposed to moonlight.
[Fish-Man Karate User] Koala
Bounty:140,000,000 Berries
Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Hippogriff (Not Awakened)
Grants transformation into the mythical Hippogriff, enhancing physical strength while granting wings and eagle-like vision. Its mythical power enables manipulation of the air as footholds or weapons upon sufficient mastery.
[Staff User] Sabo
Bounty:170,000,000 Berries
First Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan — Monkey-Monkey Fruit, Model: The Monkey King (Not Awakened)
Allows the user to transform into the legendary Monkey King, greatly enhancing physical ability. Its mythical power enables the creation of clones using strands of the user's own hair.
Second Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Spark-Spark Fruit (Not Awakened)(Unknown to the public)
Allows the user to generate, store, and manipulate high-voltage electrical sparks. Unlike a Lightning Logia, the user does not become electricity but instead channels electrical energy to greatly strengthen the body and every attack.
[Angeloid] Type Alpha — Ikaros
Bounty:170,000,000 Berries
Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Weapon-Weapon Fruit (Not Awakened)
Allows the user to transform body parts into weapons, becoming a Full-Body Weapon Human.
[Swordswoman] Kuina
Bounty:120,000,000 Berries
Weapon:Dojigiri (Saijo O Wazamono)
A master swordswoman skilled in Kenjutsu, Flying Slashes, and Iaijutsu, relying on precision, speed, Haki, and years of swordsmanship.
[Angeloid] Type Beta — Nymph
Bounty:120,000,000 Berries
Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Voice-Voice Fruit (Not Awakened)
Grants the ability to manipulate sound and perform techniques comparable to Observation Haki.
[Angeloid] Type Delta — Astrea
Bounty:0 Berries
Devil Fruit: Paramecia — Aura-Aura Fruit (Not Awakened)
Grants the ability to manipulate aura, enabling abilities comparable to Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki, though they are not true Haki.
High above the skies of North Blue, the Athena unfurled her sails once again. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, That ship was carrying a crew of monsters whose strength had already surpassed everything the World Government had ever anticipated.