Egghead, once a winter island surrounded by treacherous seas, had become a flashpoint. The Straw Hats had barely spent a day there before CP0 arrived, followed by the Five Elders and Admiral Kizaru.
Time was critical. After selling Ryokugyu to Cross Guild, Roy and Atmos raced toward the island.
"Big bro, why are we in such a hurry to get to Egghead?" Atmos asked.
"We need the 'Mother Flame.' It's Pluton's core power source. If the World Government gets it, Uranus will become unstoppable, we can't let them have it." Roy replied.
"The World Government would move against Vegapunk? Isn't he their own man?" Atmos asked in surprise.
"He's just a collaborator. Vegapunk's research into the Void Century crossed a line, that has already touched the Celestial Dragons' reverse scale. They would never tolerate hid existance." Roy said.
"Will we make it in time?" Atmos asked.
"No worries. We might be late, but someone else is right on time." Roy chuckled, taking out a Den Den Mushi.
"Marco."
"I'm here, big bro."
"Have you guys arrived already?"
"We have."
Shortly after Luffy and the others left Wano, the Whitebeard Pirates had relocated their headquarters Moby Dick Island to Wano.
At first, Whitebeard opposed Roy's idea, but thinking about his crew's safety and Pluton's importance, he had no counterargument and ultimately followed Roy's arrangements.
"Send some people ahead to Egghead." Roy said.
"You mean right now?" Marco asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Atmos and I are on our way. Have Thatch, Fossa, and the others head over first." Roy ordered.
"Got it!"
Marco raised his head, looking toward Wano, then at the people shackled with seastone beside him.
"You understand the price of betrayal, don't you?" Marco sneered.
"Cough… cough…"
Law, Bepo, and the Heart Pirates were bloodied and battered, leaning against the wall, barely able to move.
After leaving Wano, Law had declared his withdrawal from the Whitebeard Pirates, because he wanted to compete for the title of Pirate King.
But fate wasn't kind. On his way, he ran straight into the Whitebeard fleet heading toward Wano. A fierce clash broke out.
After his battle with Big Mom, Whitebeard personally made another move, riding a dragon and leading the Whitebeard Pirates to crush the Heart Pirates.
Law had gotten what he asked for. The moment he announced his departure, he was captured and beaten down by Whitebeard himself.
"I… have never regretted it…" Law coughed blood, but his eyes remained firm.
"Big bro knew this day would come. Originally, we were going to kill you, but the Ope Ope no Mi may still serve another purpose. For now, we're sparing your life. When the time comes for you to use the fruit's ultimate ability, if our technology has matured, you may not even have to die after the surgery." Marco said.
"What…? Survive even after using that surgery?" Law looked at Marco, wide-eyed.
"That's right. Even if you use it, we can clone a new body for you and transfer your consciousness," Marco said.
"Impossible…"
"Nothing's impossible. Cloning technology is already advanced. Creating a replica of you isn't hard. The only challenge is replicating your Devil Fruit ability. If we can mass-produce Ope Ope users…" Marco trailed off.
The outcome would be terrifying.
The appearance of the Seraphim had already proven that even Paramecia fruits could be replicated, using Green Blood.
If Law used his ability and died, they could preserve his memory, or even his conciousness or soul, through Vegapunk's methods, and bring him back through cloning.
He would simply switch bodies, remaining the Ope Ope fruit user, while they could also create multiple clones of him. These clones could be trained in medicine and perform the "Perennial Youth Operation" repeatedly.
When Law imagined this future, he felt a chill. The world would be overrun with immortals, and countless monsters would be born from his fruit. The world would descend into chaos.
Meanwhile, Thatch led Fossa and others to Egghead, while the rest of the Whitebeard Pirates settled in Wano.
Momonosuke hadn't expected this, one Emperor crew (the Beasts) had left, only for another (the Whitebeards) to arrive.
But these were people who had watched him grow up. They wouldn't harm him. In fact, he was glad, especially after learning their purpose.
"We came to Wano to protect it. The World Government's next target may very well be here. Even if they can't erase Wano from the map, they might slaughter everyone within it. And more importantly, we must protect Pluton beneath Wano. Pluton will be our hope for the future."
Marco explained the situation to Momonosuke and the others.
"I understand. I will cooperate with you. We share a common enemy, and it is for the good of the world." Momonosuke, now fully grown, nodded.
"Good. We'll station ourselves in Kuri, we're familiar with that area." Marco said.
"Alright." Momonosuke agreed. That area was already a ruin, so it didn't matter if the Whitebeards occupied it.
The Whitebeard Pirates also took control of Udon Prison, previously held by the Beasts Pirates.
And in an unexpected twist, Big Mom and Kaido were both still alive.
The three former rivals found themselves face-to-face again, each surprised.
"Newgate! Unchain us!" Kaido roared.
"You've got to be kidding. No way we're unshackling you." Jozu said coldly. The pressure was immense, he had clashed with Kaido several times, especially during the ten years when Roy was absent, and Kaido had harassed them more than once.
"Cowards! Since when did you fear us, Newgate?" Kaido sneered.
"Mamama… if you're too scared, then fine. But at least get us some food." Big Mom laughed.
Then, Whitebeard's voice silenced everyone:
"Release them."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone was shocked, thinking they had misheard.
Not only them, even Kaido and Big Mom were stunned.
"Newgate… are you joking? You're really going to release us?" Kaido growled.
"What's your game?" Big Mom narrowed her eyes.
"You're both failures. You've lost your chance to compete for the Pirate King's throne. Just like me, you're relics of the old era. Even if I release you, you'll still just be failures."
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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