Crack, fizzle...
Squeak, squeak, squeak...
A bicycle slowly traversed the surface of the ocean. As the pedals turned with a rhythmic metallic friction, a long, straight trail of ice was left behind on the sea's surface.
In this world, only one man was capable of such a feat: Marine Admiral Aokiji, Kuzan.
He was currently clad in a deep green greatcoat and wore "bean-eye" sunglasses strikingly similar to Alucard's. A decadent, world-weary aura drifted from him; the military uniform that signified his status as a Marine Admiral was nowhere to be seen.
Following behind Kuzan was a giant penguin. It carried a massive backpack and let out rhythmic snores, bubbles popping at its nostrils as it waddled across the frozen path behind its master.
"Ahh... it was supposed to be around here, right?"
Kuzan extended his left hand, checking the Eternal Pose strapped to his wrist. After re-confirming his direction, he reached into the pack on his back and pulled out today's newspaper.
[Clash of the Yonko: Alucard Scores Decisive Victory Over Charlotte Linlin]
The news from this morning detailed more than just the outcome of the battle between Alucard and Charlotte Linlin. It revealed a shocking secondary development: the Big Mom Pirates had sued for peace by ceding territory. They had handed over Juice Island and Cheese Island, two territories formerly ruled by Sweet Commanders and second only to Whole Cake Island in importance, to the Immortal Pirates.
To others, this might have seemed like a standard pirate conquest, but to Kuzan, who had dealt with Alucard long ago, it felt extremely off.
He knew all too well that Alucard was among the three people in this world least interested in territorial expansion.
If Alucard had wanted to expand his domain, he wouldn't have waited all these years to act. If he truly wanted to destroy Big Mom, he would have killed her.
Since neither of those things happened, Kuzan sensed a deeper conspiracy. After much deliberation, the Admiral, currently on a long leave of absence, decided to personally enter the tiger's den.
He knew exactly what this move implied, but he had to go. Whitebeard's death had plunged the seas into chaos, but Alucard's recent actions were pushing the entire world to the brink of collapse.
On the island formerly known as Barbaricia, now "Juice Island," Dr. Vegapunk arrived yesterday under the protection of the Female Dragon Knight, Aranea, and a unit of Pacifistas, acting on Alucard's orders.
"As expected of Alucard-sama, taking two islands from Big Mom so quickly," Aranea praised. However, she quickly wrinkled her nose and fanned the air with her hand. "What on earth... the stench of corpses here is unbearable."
Ignoring Aranea's complaints, Dr. Vegapunk gestured for his subordinates to open a sealed case he had brought. Inside was a mess of glass tubes filled with blood.
"Oh? And this is...?" Alucard asked, tilting his head with curiosity.
"Blood from the Celestial Dragons Alucard-sama captured, but a concentrated, enhanced version," Dr. Vegapunk replied with a mysterious smile. "Regarding the secret of the 'National Treasure,' I've gained some clues recently. Give me a little more time, and I believe I will have the answer."
Half a month later, reports arrived from the Black Thorn Pirates, the Barto Club, and the Kuja Pirates. In the first half of the Grand Line, Missidia, formerly ruled by the Rosward family, and Dressrosa had both declared their submission.
This meant that including Juice Island, Cheese Island, and the Immortal Pirates' original base, Stupeo, five of the twenty kingdoms established by the descendants of the Creators eight hundred years ago had fallen into Alucard's hands.
The following day, Dr. Vegapunk, researching on Juice Island, brought Alucard intelligence. He finally had a lead on the National Treasure.
Led by Dr. Vegapunk, Alucard entered a temporary underground passage, a tunnel excavated by Vegapunk's team upon arrival that led straight to the absolute bedrock of Juice Island.
This was a highly dangerous undertaking. Since the tunnel led to the island's core, a single mistake could cause the entire landmass to collapse.
At the end of the tunnel, Alucard and Dr. Vegapunk entered a grotto. The walls were covered in eerie, vein-like patterns that resembled a blue-ice electrical grid.
However, both men knew that this wasn't electricity. It was a manifestation of soul energy, a visual effect produced by souls clinging to the rock.
"It's the same sight we saw inside the tunnel at the Red Line," Dr. Vegapunk said, his hands tucked into his lab coat pockets as he gave a knowing smile. "Since Juice Island has this, then Cheese Island, Dressrosa, Alabasta, and every other nation once ruled by the Celestial Dragons should have it too."
After a pause, Dr. Vegapunk continued, "Something created by the Celestial Dragons capable of siphoning human souls... Shall we call it the Ryumyaku for now?" [1]
"The name doesn't matter."
Alucard turned and struck the stone wall with his fist. Within the shattered stone fragments that fell, everything was infused with the Ryumyaku.
The previous ruler, Charlotte Smoothie, loved to wring the life out of people to turn their flesh into juice. Given the staggering volume of juice that once flowed across the island, it was impossible to imagine how many she had killed. If those lives were channeled into the Ryumyaku along with those who had died before them, the number of souls trapped within was beyond comprehension.
"Big Mom likely had no idea this place existed. After all, it's at the island's core," Dr. Vegapunk suggested. "Alucard-sama, your ability should be able to extract the souls from within."
The River Styx surged from Alucard's body, completely blanketing the Ryumyaku and beginning to devour the souls trapped inside.
Were there tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Or perhaps... millions?
[1] Ryumyaku = Ley Lines or Dragon Veins.