Chapter 63: Counterattack
In December 1518, the other members of the Pineapple Pirates made significant progress. Enel and Urouge, both natives of the sky islands, mastered two forms of Haki. Enel's bounty soared to 500 million berries, thanks to his Logia-type powers and his incredibly potent Mantra ability. Robin's bounty also rose to 190 million berries, attracting the Navy's attention and leading to a persistent chase that the Pineapple Pirates, fortunately, managed to escape several times.
By the end of December 1518, Franky found a gorilla for you to test an artificial Devil Fruit. After eating the fruit, however, the gorilla transformed into a man with the head of a dog, even barking like one. Is this the hyena form of a Zoan fruit? You couldn't tell if the experiment was a success or a failure.
In January 1519, the construction of Pluto was proceeding much faster than expected. With the full support of the Iceberg-led Galley-La Company, the warship was already halfway complete and on track to be finished by early 1520. Recruiting more shipwrights could accelerate the process even further. Meanwhile, you drew immense inspiration from studying Pluto's weapon system. Its legendary main cannon was said to be capable of sinking an island with a single shot. Examining its structure, you realized its design was unlike anything native to this world—a highly ingenious mechanism that fired powerful projectiles using compressed air. You replicated its design principles on a smaller scale for the Iron Man suit, completing the Pineapple IV. While its power was significantly reduced, testing proved it was on par with modern weaponry.
[While your research was successful, it also had setbacks. The composition of the Lineage Factor was too complex, and you were unable to fully decipher its structure. You had to use a special synthetic substance to replicate the Lineage Factor's effect. As a result, the Devil Fruits you created were all unknown species of the Zoan type. This half-success left you feeling deeply frustrated. You gained the skill: Artificial Devil Fruit Creation. This skill cannot be upgraded.]
In February 1519, you established a Devil Fruit factory and began anonymously selling some of your artificial fruits on the black market to recoup your investment. The financial pressure of building Pluto was immense, shocking even for a transmigrator like you. The remaining fruits were used to equip a new unit composed entirely of Zoan-type users, an idea you borrowed from Kaido.
At the end of February 1519, Roger informed you that his soul had recovered enough to assist you in a short battle by fighting through you. This was potentially one of your greatest trump cards. In the manga, Roger was able to fight Whitebeard at his peak for days on end without a clear victor, even while suffering from a terminal illness. Combined with the power of the Iron Man suit, you couldn't begin to imagine how powerful he would be. A strange idea then struck you: What if Roger could act as my Jarvis? A genuine, top-tier AI.
You immediately went to the G-8 Fortress to test this theory against Jonathan. The results were stunning. Not only did Roger provide precise combat instructions, but he also infused your suit and weapons with an overwhelming amount of Conqueror's Haki. With a single, flawless maneuver, you dodged an attack and sent Jonathan flying with a counterblow.
In March 1519, as you began selling the artificial Devil Fruits, your wealth expanded rapidly. A mysterious organization started acquiring your fruits in large quantities. Even the Revolutionary Army contacted you, hoping to purchase a bulk supply. At the same time, you assembled a force of roughly 300 Zoan-type users. While small, it was enough to become a headache for every major power, including the Navy. With your newfound wealth, you began recruiting more shipwrights, and the construction of Pluto accelerated dramatically.
One development, however, caught your attention: Ace's bounty had skyrocketed to 1.8 billion berries. Though the reason hadn't been officially announced, you speculated that the World Government had uncovered his true identity as the son of the Pirate King. It wasn't hard to guess his full name: Portgas D. Ace, having taken his mother's surname.
On June 7, 1519, the two-year agreement with your crew was nearly up. As you prepared to depart for the Sabaody Archipelago, Robin arrived in Water 7 with the rest of the crew, delivering grim news. Ten days prior, in the New World, the Pineapple Pirates had been ambushed by a fleet of Navy warships led by Admiral Akainu and over ten elite Vice Admirals. To ensure the crew's escape, Ace was defeated by Akainu and taken to Impel Down. Hearing this, you seethed with fury—and you could feel Roger's soul raging alongside you.
On June 9, 1519, news broke that the Navy had officially announced Ace was the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. To sever this "sinful bloodline" and uphold the Navy's justice, Ace would be publicly executed at Marineford in one week. You knew that, unlike in the original story, Whitebeard wouldn't be coming to his rescue. You might be fighting alone, but after two years of preparation, the Pineapple Pirates had become as formidable as any major crew. Not only had new members joined, but your core fighters—Michael, Robin, Franky, Enel, Urouge, and even the more recent additions, Moriah and Perona—were all capable warriors in their own right. Thinking of the nearly complete secret weapon stored at Dock One, you decided it was time to confront the Navy and the World Government head-on.
[On June 11, 1519, you dispatched an envoy to contact the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon. You offered him a large batch of artificial Devil Fruits free of charge in exchange for his aid in the coming war, solemnly telling him that it was time to launch a counterattack against the World Government. After weighing his options, Dragon agreed, promising his forces would arrive on time.]
On June 12, 1519, Water 7 was struck by the annual super-tsunami, Aqua Laguna. As you and your crew arrived at Dock One, everyone was stunned by the sight of the colossal warship, Pluto. Even many years later, the people of Water 7 would remember the scene: a massive, pitch-black warship hurtling into the sea, charging directly against the raging tsunami.
On June 16, 1519, you arrived at the Gates of Justice, the entryway to Marineford. After rendezvousing with the Revolutionary Army's fleet, you gazed at the towering gate. Your sniper, Michael, began the bombardment. With just two shots, the Gate of Justice shattered.
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