Chapter 63: The Counterattack
[December 1518. The rest of the Pineapple Pirates had made significant progress as well. Enel and Urouge, the two Sky Islanders, had both mastered Advanced Armament and Observation Haki. Enel, thanks to his Logia powers and his broken-level Mantra ability, had reached a bounty of 500 million. Robin's bounty had also risen to 190 million berries, and the Navy had taken note of her existence, pursuing the Pineapple Pirates relentlessly during this time. Fortunately, they had managed to escape danger each time.]
[Late December 1519. Franky helped you acquire a gorilla to test a synthetic Devil Fruit. However, after eating the fruit, the gorilla turned into a kobold—its appearance changed, and it even started barking like a dog. Was this a Zoan-type Hyena Fruit? You weren't sure whether this experiment was a success or a failure.]
[January 1519. The construction of Pluton was progressing much faster than expected. Thanks to the full support of Iceburg and the Galley-La Company, about half of it was already complete, and there was a good chance the ship would be fully built by early 1520. With more shipwrights, it could go even faster. Moreover, your research into Pluton's weapon systems had sparked major inspiration. It was said to be a cannon capable of sinking an island in one blast, and the design was far more intricate than anything the native One Piece world could produce. It used compressed air to launch powerful air cannonballs. By miniaturizing its construction, you managed to replicate it in your Iron Battle Suit, completing the fourth-generation Pineapple Suit. While its power was significantly reduced, your tests showed it was still comparable to modern heavy weaponry.]
[Amid these successes, you also faced setbacks. The composition of Devil Fruits was too complex, and you couldn't fully decipher the arrangement of their devil factors. You were forced to use a special synthetic compound to imitate their effects. As a result, all the Devil Fruits you created turned out to be unknown Zoan types. This half-success left you feeling both frustrated and... well, still frustrated. You gained the skill: Synthetic Devil Fruit Manufacturing. This skill cannot be upgraded.]
[February 1519. You established a Devil Fruit factory and began anonymously selling some of your synthetic fruits on the black market to recoup funds—Pluton's construction was bleeding you dry. Even as a transmigrator, the cost made your scalp tingle. Some of the fruits were used to equip a specialized unit made entirely of Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, inspired by Kaido's forces.]
[Late February 1519. Roger informed you that his soul had recovered significantly and he was now able to assist you in combat temporarily by taking control of your body. This might be your trump card. Even after falling terminally ill in the manga, Roger was still able to fight Whitebeard to a standstill for days. With your Iron Battle Suit enhancing his power, even you couldn't imagine the level of strength you'd wield. A strange idea popped into your head—what if Roger acted as your J.A.R.V.I.S.? A real AI—except it was the top-tier, living kind.]
[So, you headed to the G-8 Fortress to test things out with Jonathan. What you saw left you stunned. Roger didn't just guide you in battle with pinpoint precision; your suit and weapons were now engulfed in overwhelming Conqueror's Haki. With a single Divine Departure, Jonathan was sent flying.]
[March 1519. After starting to sell synthetic Devil Fruits, your wealth surged rapidly. A mysterious organization was also buying them in bulk. Even the Revolutionary Army reached out, seeking to purchase large quantities. You assembled a 300-man unit composed entirely of Zoan-type users. Though not large, it was already enough to give the Navy and other powers serious headaches. With your newfound wealth, you recruited more shipwrights, and construction on Pluton accelerated.]
[One detail kept bothering you: Ace's bounty had suddenly jumped to 1.8 billion berries. Though no reason was officially given, you suspected it was because they had uncovered his lineage—his surname was just too revealing: Portgas D. Ace, the exact same as his mother's.]
[June 7, 1519. The two-year promise with your crew was about to come due. Just as you were about to head for the Sabaody Archipelago, Robin arrived in Water 7 with the rest of the crew, bringing shocking news. Ten days earlier, in the New World, the Pineapple Pirates had been ambushed by Navy warships. Admiral Akainu had led the assault alongside over ten elite Vice Admirals. To cover the crew's retreat, Ace fought Akainu and was defeated. He was captured and taken to Impel Down. Upon hearing this, you were filled with fury—and you felt Roger's rage too.]
[June 9, 1519. News broke that the Navy had officially announced Ace to be the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. To sever the so-called evil bloodline and promote their version of justice, they declared Ace would be publicly executed at Marineford in one week. You knew that, unlike in the original manga, Whitebeard definitely wouldn't be coming. This might be a battle you'd have to fight alone. But looking at how far the Pineapple Pirates had come in two years, you realized your crew now rivaled the top pirate groups. With new members and existing ones like Mihal, Robin, Franky, Enel, Urouge—even Moria and Perona had become formidable in their own right. And then there was the secret weapon nearing completion at Dock No. 1 in Water 7. Perhaps it was finally time to take on the Navy and the World Government head-on.]
[June 11, 1519. Over the past two days, you reached out to Dragon, the Revolutionary Army leader. In exchange for a free batch of synthetic Devil Fruits, you asked him to join this war effort. You made it clear: the time had come to strike back at the World Government. After reviewing everything you had to offer, Dragon agreed—they would be there.]
[June 12, 1519. Today, Water 7 was struck by the annual megatsunami, Aqua Laguna. As you and your crew arrived at Dock No. 1, everyone was stunned by what they saw—a massive black warship, Pluton, standing against the raging sea. Even years later, the people of Water 7 would remember this sight: a colossal black battleship charging into the ocean straight into the tsunami.]
[June 16, 1519. You arrived at the Gates of Justice surrounding Marineford. There, you rendezvoused with the Revolutionary Army's fleet. Staring up at the towering gates, sniper Mihal began shelling them. With just two shots, the Gates of Justice shattered into pieces.]
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