The wind is blowing.
The calm sea began to stir again, winds and waves rising as a new storm swept across the world.
It began in Dressrosa, and from there, it surged into the New World, reached the headquarters of the Navy, climbed to the heights of Mary Geoise, and spread across the globe.
Once again, the cause of this uproar was none other than the rebel—Kaelen.
Since his name first appeared in the papers months ago, chaos seemed to follow wherever he went. Each of his appearances had marked a significant event.
More unsettling was the growing realization among many: death followed Kaelen.
And so, he was given a new title. No longer just a rebel—now he was feared as the 'Grim Reaper' Kaelen.
...
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
To assert their divine status and prevent a repeat of past rebellions, the Celestial Dragons relocated their sanctuary to the Red Line, thousands of meters above the sea.
The headquarters of the World Government was established here as well.
Within Pangaea Castle, in the Room of Authority, the mood was heavy. Five elderly men—known only as the Gorosei—sat or stood around, solemn and contemplative.
"What is your assessment of Kaelen?"
The man with the goatee finally spoke, shattering the silence.
The others responded in turn.
"Kaelen's strength has exceeded expectations. If left unchecked, he could become a grave threat."
"Agreed. We need to eliminate him before he matures further. Who knows what kind of monster he could become?"
"This sea always produces new flames. Our role is to extinguish them."
"With Nico Robin at his side, I'm uncertain whether he seeks the True History like Roger did, but either way, he's a significant threat that must be erased."
All four were in agreement. Kaelen had to be dealt with.
They had controlled the world for decades. They wouldn't allow anyone to slip out of their grasp.
"Im-sama will awaken soon. Should we wait for a decision from them?" asked the goateed elder.
After a short pause, the others responded.
"Contact Kuzan first. See where he stands."
"And press Akainu to finish the Dressrosa incident swiftly. We can't afford delays so close to the next Reverie."
"Calm the fools in Impel Down. Tell them to avoid sailing for now. If they run into Kaelen, he won't spare them."
"Raise Kaelen's bounty. He now poses a greater threat than Kaido, second only to that man."
"Then it's settled."
Few knew that these five, the peak of world power, could change the fate of millions with a single conversation.
In this world, status shapes reality, and power defines status.
Rules are made only to restrain the weak.
...
New World, somewhere at sea.
Headquarters of the Heart Pirates—
"That guy actually killed Doflamingo...?"
Trafalgar Law's hands trembled as he held the newspaper, disbelief in his eyes. His fingers clenched so tightly that his nails broke skin.
Even though Law hadn't pinned all his hopes on Kaelen, he had recently been recognized as one of the new Seven Warlords of the Sea.
And now, reading that Kaelen had eliminated Doflamingo, Law felt like he was dreaming. The man who'd once seemed untouchable... gone.
All his effort and obsession had just vanished.
"Cora..."
A fleeting image passed through Law's mind—Corazon's smiling face nodding in approval, fading like mist.
"Tch, guess I still owe that man a reward... and I haven't even done my part yet."
His lips twitched, and a bitter smile crept up as old memories clawed their way back.
"Should I just disappear now..."
...
While Law wrestled with emptiness, Kaelen's mood was far brighter.
Doflamingo's top officers had fallen, and their Devil Fruits were a windfall for him.
Among the new abilities were the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, the Weapon Fruit, and the Snow-Snow Fruit.
The latter two were useful, but the Hobby-Hobby Fruit... that was something else entirely. A terrifying power capable of erasing someone's existence entirely.
Of course, such a broken ability came with its own flaws and conditions.
"Kaelen, your bounty's gone up again. If we're ever short on Berries, we could cash you in—we'd be rich for the next hundred years."
Robin strolled over, newspaper in hand, and offered him the latest edition.
The front page featured a large image of Kaelen—smiling, relaxed, and, in his opinion, dashingly handsome.
The title now read: 'Grim Reaper!'
And the bounty? 3.338 billion Berries.
"Huh... the World Government sure pulled out all the stops this time. Guess the Gorosei are finally getting nervous."
Kaelen smirked. He understood why. His actions lately had shaken the world.
"The World Government... they're more complex than you realize."
Kuzan spoke up, his tone calm, before lazily returning to his nap.
Kaelen and Robin exchanged surprised glances.
"Sounds like a challenge to me."
Kaelen chuckled, eyes gleaming.
The World Government had ruled for over 800 years. It held secrets and power beyond imagination.
But Kaelen Tsukishiro didn't care.
He welcomed the challenge.
___
Thank you all for the constant motivation, it really means a lot, and we've come such a long way together. 💙
Your support keeps me going, and if you'd like to go the extra mile, you can also get early access to chapters on my Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/Zphyr