Enies Lobby.
"This island is truly terrifying!"
Franky, his arms bound in chains, looked around in astonishment at Enies Lobby's bizarre landscape. Moments ago, it had been night aboard the Sea Train, but upon reaching the island, daylight blazed across the horizon.
Not only that, the island seemed suspended mid-air above the sea. Around it, a sunken waterfall plummeted into a bottomless abyss, the roaring waves plunging endlessly, making one's heart pound and vision reel.
"Foolish fellow, entering here means you can never escape."
Lucci regarded Franky coldly, noting his awe-filled exclamations. The man had clearly walked into a death trap without realizing it, and Lucci found it pathetic.
...
Inside the Judicial Tower.
"Good! CP0 Ao Oni, the doctor is ready, you may begin treatment on Inbi Hebi!"
Spandam, CP9's chief, hung up the Den Den Mushi, his expression dark. A disdainful sneer curved his lips:
"Hmph, instructing me not to threaten Nico Robin? Ridiculous CP0. Don't think that just because you serve the Celestial Dragons directly, you can lord over us CP9!"
Earlier, Blue Oni had taken the dying CP0 Hidden Snake for treatment, gently reminding Spandam not to harm Nico Robin. CP0 Ao Oni speculated that the Fifth Emperor, Shirogai Yamikuro, dared hand Robin over so easily because she must still have a clone left by him. Perhaps, if Robin were threatened, the clone would reappear and strike anyone nearby.
However, CP0 Ao Oni had no concrete knowledge of Spandam's arrogance, so the warning was likely wasted.
"Nico Robin, you are finally mine!" Spandam turned triumphantly, a sinister grin on his face.
"This time, I will command Ancient Weapon Pluton and rise to a position capable of reshaping the world!"
...
"The blueprints for Ancient Weapon Pluton don't have to fall into the World Government's hands."
Aokiji rode his bicycle through the storm. Around them, waves froze under his gaze, harmless against them.
"However, these blueprints must never reach the hands of pirates," he said seriously.
"Perhaps, falling into the World Government's hands would be an even greater disaster."
Shirogai smiled:
"Even if pirates got the Pluton blueprints, they could probably only build one or two. But the World Government, controlling over seventy percent of the world's wealth, could manufacture dozens—or hundreds—of weapons capable of annihilating islands with a single blow. It would be a prelude to global destruction. They already hold absolute power; with these weapons, every nation that defies them could vanish entirely. Just as they once erased countless islands from history."
Aokiji's eyes darkened as he imagined it.
"Perhaps such world-destroying weapons should never have been conceived," he sighed.
"The existence of weapons is inevitable."
Shirogai casually flicked a cold mist, freezing a massive wave midair.
Creak, creak…
Aokiji rode his bicycle, leaving deep icy trails as he bypassed the waves.
"What should govern weapons is the restraint of human hearts, not a monster's insatiable desire for destruction," Shirogai said with a smile.
"Like Devil Fruit abilities, any ability can revolutionize technology. But most users act like dragons guarding treasure, unwilling to share. They use these powers for personal gain, unfairly."
Shirogai bent down, placing his glowing white hand on a wave. Whispering softly:
"Never-ending waves, I grant you a special soul. I give you new life, Little Mazu."
Whoosh!
The wave surged and tumbled playfully in his hands. Then, a pair of crystal-clear eyes appeared, singing softly and beautifully:
"Obeying your command, my dear Master!"
Shirogai stood atop the wave, smiling at the rolling sea:
"Little Mazu, take us to Enies Lobby, avoid the waves."
"Yes, Master! La la, la la!"
The wave's voice rang out, then transformed into a monstrous entity, carrying them over the waves along the Sea Train tracks, speeding toward Enies Lobby.
"Is that the Soul-Soul Fruit's power?"
Aokiji paused, observing the massive wave supporting them.
"As expected from Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit, granting life to inanimate things is miraculous. But what's more remarkable is that such an ability is just one of the powers you, Shirogai, possess. What kind of terrifying Devil Fruit is the Talent-Talent Fruit?"
"Be glad, Aokiji," Shirogai replied, gazing at the distant sky.
"If this power was in the wrong hands, the world would already be on the brink of ruin."
"..."
Aokiji yawned, lowering his mask.
"Though I hate to admit it, that makes sense. Perhaps lazy people like us shouldn't wield such power."
"On the contrary…"
Shirogai conjured an ice chair, sitting like a monarch.
"The world is fortunate when power falls into lazy hands. If impatient people held it, chaos would erupt, destroying everything. Impatient people destroy the world; lazy people save it."
...
Little Mazu surged forward, crushing waves in its path, carrying them swiftly toward Enies Lobby.
At the same time, Luffy and the others had already stormed the island. Chaos reigned, with battles erupting everywhere.