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"Is it possible they could join forces?" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, silent until now, suddenly broke the stillness.
His single question made the other three Celestial Dragons stiffen in alarm. After a long pause, Saint Topman Warcury finally spoke, his voice low and grim:
"If those people were to join forces, it would create a terrifying situation—one capable of overturning the entire world."
"For us, that would be the most dreadful scenario imaginable."
The four men fell into heavy silence, their faces set in stone.
They didn't even want to picture what such an alliance would mean. If the world's most powerful pirates united, that alone would plunge the seas into chaos.
But if they joined forces with the Marines… it would spell the absolute end of the World Government.
"It's hard to even fathom," Saint Shepherd Ju Peter muttered, his voice trembling.
.....
Meanwhile, at the new Marine Headquarters in Dressrosa, rows of soldiers stood in flawless formation across the grand plaza.
Judging by the insignia on their shoulders, the lowest among them was a Major. At the harbour, heavily armed flying warships waited in silence, gleaming like predators poised to strike.
Not far away, a massive thundercloud loomed above a factory, streaked with lightning that raced along steel conduits like veins of living fire.
"Everyone, form up and stay sharp! We're about to execute a mission of the utmost importance!" barked the leading Vice Admiral, his face taut with tension.
The gathered Marines swallowed hard. What kind of mission demanded such an overwhelming force?
Just then, the Vice Admiral's gaze sharpened.
"They're here!" Instantly, every Marine stiffened, spines straight as spears. In the distance, a group of shackled figures approached, escorted by armed guards.
"The man in the lead…?!" The Vice Admiral's breath caught. His face drained of colour as he recognised the first prisoner.
"The world's most dangerous criminal… Monkey D. Dragon!"
Gasps rippled through the Marine ranks.
"Wait—look behind him!" another voice cried out, trembling.
"The commanders of the Revolutionary Army!"
"The Grand Line Commander, Emporio Ivankov!"
"The East Army Commander, Belo Betty!"
"The South Army Commander, Lindbergh!"
"The West Army Commander, Morley!"
"The North Army Commander, Karasu!"
"And the Chief of Staff—Sabo!"
The murmurs erupted into chaos.
"These are all key figures—the very backbone of the Revolutionary Army! Have they all been captured?!"
The shock thundered across the plaza. But it didn't stop there.
"Look further back—it's the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Another cry of disbelief tore through the crowd as eyes widened. There, bound in Seastone chains, stood the last remaining Emperor-class pirate—Portgas D. Ace.
His face was grim. Behind him marched Marco, Vista, and the other core members of Whitebeard's crew.
"The Straw Hat Pirates too?!"
"Wait… isn't that Zoro, the one who stayed at Marineford for the past two years?" someone whispered in disbelief.
"What a shame. I liked that kid. I thought, being Fleet Admiral Arashi's disciple, he'd join the Marines…"
Whispers spread like wildfire among the ranks. The sheer scale of this operation was staggering.
With the Revolutionary Army and two notorious pirate crews in custody, the New World would soon be under complete Marine control.
The Age of Pirates was ending. As the prisoners were herded toward the flying warships, a deep voice rang out:
"Take them to Sky Prison," Kuma ordered.
The Vice Admiral in charge saluted sharply. "Yes, sir!"
Escorting such high-profile captives required an overwhelming force. Now it made sense why so many elite units had been mobilised:
Fifteen Vice Admirals. Fifteen warships. A display of absolute power. As the last prisoner boarded, the Vice Admirals turned—and froze.
"Fleet Admiral Arashi!"
"Admiral Kizaru!"
"Vice Admiral Garp… and Sengoku!"
Walking at the rear of the procession were living legends. Only now did the Marines truly understand the weight of today's mission.
Moments later, inside the Fleet Admiral's office—spotless despite years of disuse—Arashi sat down slowly, a faint smile curling his lips as he met Garp's stormy gaze.
"Master Garp, Sengoku-san. Please, take a seat."
Garp opened his mouth, but Sengoku placed a calming hand on his shoulder and guided him into a chair.
"Don't lose your temper. If Arashi says he'll work with Dragon, it means he has a plan," Sengoku murmured.
Even he couldn't yet grasp Arashi's true intentions. The handshake on that ship had been significant—but now Dragon and the others were en route to Sky Prison.
And Sky Prison was no ordinary jail.
Built atop a floating island, a massive nine-story tower pierced the clouds, soaring a thousand meters high.
Each floor was a fortress, its walls reinforced with a new alloy of Seastone developed by the Science Division—enough to drain the strength of even the most formidable Devil Fruit users.
The strongest inmates were confined on the ninth floor; the weakest on the first.
A perfect counterpart to Impel Down—the Underwater Prison below the sea—Sky Prison reigned supreme in the heavens.
"The one I intend to unite with is not just Dragon," Arashi said at last, his tone hardening.
His gaze locked on the two veterans as he spoke slowly, each word heavy as iron:
"If we strike at the World Government, we cannot give them a single breath to resist."
"I will annihilate their forces in one decisive blow… and ignite a global war of liberation."
His voice dropped to a near whisper:
"To change this world forever."
Sengoku's pupils constricted. These few words revealed the sheer audacity of Arashi's ambition—a plan so vast it shook even him.
To completely change the world!
For an instant, even Sengoku felt his blood stir like a young recruit's.
"I think I understand," he said after a deep breath.
"Understand what?!" Garp exploded. "When are you letting Dragon and the others out?!"
Arashi blinked, almost amused.
"Release them? I never said that."
Garp froze—then his face twisted in fury.
He shot to his feet, fist cocked for a Fist of Love, but Sengoku grabbed him around the waist.
"You brat! Are you screwing with me?!"
Arashi raised his hands, smiling faintly.
"I wouldn't dare, Master Garp. But you should know—I'm the Fleet Admiral now."
"Cooperating with them and setting them free are two different things. Their crimes remain undeniable."
His tone hardened.
"Before any alliance, we need a full understanding… and not just with them."
He leaned forward, voice cold and sharp:
"The Beasts Pirates. The Big Mom Pirates. The Red-Haired Pirates. And Whitebeard—still rotting in Impel Down. They're all on my list."
"What?!" Sengoku slammed his palms on the table. "You're even thinking of recruiting pirates?!"
Arashi's smile deepened, shadowed by something unfathomable.
"The World Government calls them pirates. But in the world I command…" he paused, voice like steel, "they don't have to be."
Sengoku and Garp fell silent. In that instant, they understood:
This was no longer the same Marine organisation they once knew.
It was an empire—a vast power whose laws bent to one man's will.
"You…!" Sengoku's throat felt dry. He had to admit—this boy had turned the Marines into something greater than ever before.
"I will bring them all under my banner," Arashi said, his tone calm yet resolute. "And then… the final war against the World Government begins."
Far away, on a remote island where the Germa 66 fleet lay anchored…
"It's done! We've succeeded!"
This was Iron Crow Island, a desolate speck between Wano and Lulusia—chosen as a top-secret Marine research base for one reason:
Pluton.
The restoration and mass production of the ancient weapon had consumed staggering resources and years of relentless labour.
But if successful, it would grant the Marines an unrivalled edge—a weapon of absolute deterrence, like a nuclear bomb in another age.
To wield it… or to merely possess it… would change everything.
The project was overseen by Vegapunk himself, with Germa 66 and the Vinsmoke family assisting in this monumental endeavour. And now, at last, the impossible was within reach.
.......
At this moment, on Iron Crow Island, a massive, entirely black warship stood quietly in a dry dock.
Under the sunlight, it emanated a cold, dark light, giving off the feeling of a dangerous and terrifying beast.
Compared to when it was first unearthed, its appearance had changed dramatically.
Three giant masts, like iron plates, were set into its hull, and its overall style was somewhat strange, with extremely sharp angles.
The most conspicuous features were the black cannon barrels covering its entire body and the massive cannon at its bow, as thick as an ancient tree.
A crackling sound came from the muzzle of the main cannon, where black-and-red energy flickered, creating an incredibly oppressive atmosphere.
"It's a success! We actually did it! The legendary Ancient Weapon, Pluton! It's hard to imagine that such a terrifying weapon actually existed in history," Vinsmoke Judge said, his voice trembling.
He looked up at the behemoth before him, his entire body shaking from a mixture of fear and excitement.
Only those who had personally participated in its reconstruction could truly understand the power this giant ship possessed.
It was a might that surpassed all humans and living things, capable of destroying everything in the world.
One shot, one island—this was no mere exaggerated legend from ancient times.
"Pluton, Rebuilding and restoring it... even now, I don't know if this was the right thing to do. Because we have personally created a demon that could potentially destroy the world," the shipwright Tom said with a sigh.
He couldn't imagine what kind of disasters this ship would create if it were used as a weapon in the hands of an evil person.
"Heh heh, how to use it is Arashi's business. But this ship, under my modifications, has far surpassed its original form. It is the greatest scientific creation of my life!" Vegapunk said with a laugh.
His long head nearly touched the ceiling as he looked up at the black Pluton, his face full of pride and smiles.
"Do you really trust him, Vegapunk?" Tom asked gravely.
"Of course, I trust him; my science has only reached this scale because of his full support."
"Besides," Vegapunk said with a mysterious smile, pausing before continuing, "this brilliant mind of mine has already seen through everything."
"Arashi possesses a way of thinking and a consciousness that is completely different from everyone else in this world."
"Perhaps he has the ambition to become the king of the world, but he has no interest whatsoever in destruction or enslavement."
With a long sigh, Vegapunnk became somewhat emotional. "If the world were to be his to command, it might not be a bad thing."
Hearing this, Tom was still not reassured. He knew all too well the terror of Pluton; if it were to fall out of control, the disaster it would cause would be even more terrible than the World Government.
Moreover, who could predict what Arashi would use it for? Great power breeds evil and tyranny, and tyranny, corruption, and darkness will inevitably lead to enslavement.
Because human ambition is endless, it is a fundamental flaw of the human race. "Alright, let's report this news to Arashi."
"What happens next and how Pluton is used is his business," Vegapunk said, clapping his hands.
He had no interest in destroying the world; ruling it was someone else's affair. His only goal was to conduct scientific research and to understand the true nature of everything in the world.
The repair and modification of Pluton had allowed his research institute to understand its principles and technology, which meant mass production was now possible.
Of course, these mass-produced versions might not match the original in terms of materials or strength, but their power would still be formidable.
It was foreseeable that in the near future, the Marines would possess their very own Pluton fleet.
"Just thinking about it is a bit exciting. If Arashi really succeeds, I, Vegapunk, will surely go down in history," Vegapunk said excitedly.
He immediately turned and ran off. Just then, Judge, who was still admiring the new Pluton, seemed to hear something. His expression changed, and he whipped his head around.
"What did you say? That brat Sanji?!" Vinsmoke Reiju's face was extremely grave as she nodded.
"You heard correctly. Sanji was captured on Lulusia Island by a squad personally led by Fleet Admiral Arashi. He should be on his way to the Sky Prison now." Judge clenched his fists.
"That bastard!" His face was ashen, and his eyes burned with fury.
"I worked so hard to build such an amicable relationship between the Vinsmoke family and the Marines! And that brat dares to do this!"
Reiju opened her mouth to speak, but then just sighed. "Actually, we encountered the Straw Hat Pirates' ship before."
"But because of the secrecy required for Iron Crow Island, we didn't make contact. Otherwise, we might have been able to capture Sanji ourselves and avoid this incident."
Judge snorted angrily. "Ready a ship! I am going to Dressrosa personally! I will absolutely not allow our cooperation with the Marines to be ruined because of one Sanji!" Watching her tall father storm off, Reiju let out a long sigh.
She suspected that the reason her stern father was rushing to Dressrosa in such a panic was also because Sanji was his son.
Perhaps, more than worrying about the Vinsmoke family's alliance, Judge was worried about Sanji's safety. Then, she slowly looked up at the Pluton before her.
Her eyes filled with shock, and even a trace of fear and horror. She had to admit, anyone who saw Pluton for the first time would be intimidated by its brutal appearance and menacing cannons.
It was the most terrifying weapon of destruction in the world.
Its silhouette in the shadows was like that of the true king of the underworld, holding the power of life and death over all living things, emanating a cold, chilling aura.
"A weapon like this... what will they use it for?" Reiju murmured.
In the scientific research institute on Iron Crow Island, besides the Pluton restoration project, a plan to study the Lineage Factor was also underway.
As far as she knew, this project had also achieved a certain degree of success.
However, the specific details were known only to her father, Judge, and Vegapunk, and were classified as a top Marine secret.
But she suspected that the goal of this research was to completely master the power of Devil Fruits, allowing humans or cyborgs to use some of their abilities to enhance their strength.
If successful, the Marines would be able to create a powerful army of Devil Fruit users. At that point, ruling the world would be within their grasp.
Being on this secret research base, Reiju was privy to a great deal of information and understood the Marines' potential and future.
It was precisely because of this that her father, Judge, had been so determined to tie the Vinsmoke family's fate to Arashi's.
Only in this way could the Vinsmoke family's existence be guaranteed in the future, and they might even be able to reclaim their lost glory in the North Blue.
But Reiju also knew that when that day came, the Vinsmoke family might face a very different reality, one far from what they imagined. But for Judge, it was the pursuit of a lifetime.
"Sanji," Reiju's thoughts drifted for a moment, and she sighed again. She didn't know what fate her younger brother would face.
But it was undoubtedly not a pleasant one at the moment, so much so that even the head of the Vinsmoke family, Judge, could not sit still and had chosen to go to Dressrosa.
--Time passed--
In the blink of an eye, two days had gone by since Dragon and the others had been sent to the Sky Prison.
In the Fleet Admiral's office at the new Marine Headquarters, Arashi had not been idle since his return, but had been sitting in his office the entire time.
He was constantly flipping through the documents on his desk, sometimes frowning, sometimes with a thoughtful expression.
These were files containing information on the many members of the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates.
He carefully read through all the details, including their ages, strengths, personalities, and childhood experiences, committing them to memory.
"A group of pretty strong individuals. They should be of use," Arashi murmured, his eyes glinting.
Although he had proposed the idea of uniting with pirates, the specifics of how to do it were another matter. He couldn't just recruit anyone.
A good heart and not being overly evil were the primary criteria.
A group like Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach's crew, for example, had already been handed over to the science division to study how not to waste their Devil Fruit abilities.
He had to select those who could be of use, or rather, those who could be persuaded to join the Marines and fight against the World Government.
"Katakuri, King, Shanks," A list of names appeared in his mind.
There were many powerful pirates, and for these individuals, Arashi was able to gather the necessary information to make his selections.
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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