As news of the World Conscription spread across the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and the New World, a tide of warriors surged toward Marineford — the headquarters of the Navy.
Those who carried a burning sense of justice or sought the prestige of power all flocked there, eager to undergo combat evaluations and identity screenings.
Among those who heard the news was the blind swordsman, Issho — known to most as "Fujitora."
He couldn't help but let out a weary chuckle, the corners of his mouth twitching with helplessness.
He had once acted out of pure justice — simply trying to rescue innocents during the Sorbet Kingdom incident — yet somehow, his actions had entangled him with Souta Kiryuu.
That one association had earned him the hatred of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.
Now, there was a 1.4 billion Beli bounty hanging over his head.
For a man of justice like Issho, this was a heavy burden to bear.
If not for that wanted poster, he might have actually gone to enlist at Marineford — perhaps even aiming to become a Navy admiral.
He had always believed in reforming the world from within — to mend its wounds peacefully, to end the endless bloodshed that plagued the seas.
But with Souta Kiryuu's rise, that path was shattered.
All he could do now was sigh deeply and continue wandering the seas without direction.
He knew the Kiryuu Pirates and the Revolutionary Army had secretly cleared several obstacles in his path, but Issho still refused to join either side.
He had his own ideals, his own faith in a quiet kind of justice.
Yet now, the path he had chosen — reform through the Navy — was no longer an option. Souta Kiryuu had made sure of that.
And so, with no clear destination, Issho drifted onward, a lonely wanderer across the vast ocean.
Meanwhile, at Marineford, the World Conscription drive had reached its peak.
A man named Aramaki, who possessed the powers of the Mori Mori no Mi — the Forest-Forest Fruit — displayed incredible strength and quickly earned the recognition of high-ranking World Government officials and Fleet Admiral Sengoku himself.
He was soon listed as a candidate admiral, awaiting only the approval of Kong, the Commander-in-Chief, and the Five Elders.
If granted, he would leapfrog over existing candidates like Momousagi Gion and Chaton Tokikake to claim the rank of Admiral — an event that would be unprecedented in World Government history.
Another candidate stood out — a ruthless fighter named Spardam.
With brutal efficiency, he defeated a Vice Admiral of Marineford and was promoted directly to that same rank.
In the future, this man would become a name whispered in fear — a bounty of a Crown, worth over a billion Beli — one of the strongest under the Cross Guild.
At present, however, he was merely a war-hardened fighter from a kingdom on the Grand Line, a part-time bounty hunter with a blood-soaked reputation.
As the World Conscription progressed in full swing, Marineford's strength rapidly recovered.
The completion of the defensive shield around Mary Geoise allowed Kizaru, Momousagi, and Chaton to return to headquarters, easing the pressure on Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Now, he finally had enough elite officers under his command to defend both the Holy Land and Marineford effectively.
Moreover, once the shield surrounding Mary Geoise was completed, Sengoku proposed constructing a similar one around Marineford.
If approved, the Navy Headquarters would no longer require such a large number of top officers stationed there, allowing more admirals and vice admirals to hunt down pirates abroad.
Under special authorization from the Five Elders, construction on Marineford's own shield began — and for the first time in a long while, Sengoku allowed himself a rare smile.
Meanwhile, the reconstruction project of Mary Geoise continued.
The mark placed by the Seraphim "Little Kuma" had vanished, meaning the Kiryuu Pirates could no longer warp objects into the Holy Land from afar — a relief to the Celestial Dragons.
Truly, the World Government's wealth knew no bounds.
For them, any problem solvable with money was no problem at all.
However, that financial strain was passed down mercilessly to the allied nations — their Heavenly Tribute taxes growing heavier by the day.
Across the world, the oppression deepened… and the Revolutionary Army found yet another surge of followers rising from the chaos.
The Sky Islands: The Three Floating Fortresses
High above, on the sacred island of Apayado, the once-legendary Monster Island of Melville and the floating fortress of Golden Lion Shiki drifted nearby.
After the recent series of wars, the Kiryuu Pirates had captured numerous formidable foes and Devil Fruit users — among them, Sakazuki, the Magma-Magma Fruit user; Kidd, who wielded the Magnet-Magnet Fruit; and Dr. Indigo, who possessed the Druid-type Mythical Zoan Fruit.
All of them were now locked away within Dr. Vegapunk's laboratory, subjects of his experimentation — cloned, copied, and controlled at will.
"Captain," said Rain of the Blade, Shiryu, letting out a disappointed sigh. "If the Float-Float Fruit and Magma-Magma Fruit are both off-limits… then how about the Druid-type Mythical Zoan?"
He frowned slightly — truthfully, he had hoped to acquire one of the more powerful fruits, but Souta Kiryuu wouldn't allow it.
Those powers were reserved for the Pacifista Project, the creation of peace-keeping warriors.
Left with no choice, Shiryu turned his attention to the next best option.
The Druid Fruit, after all, wasn't weak. It allowed its user to transform into multiple animal forms and even granted flight.
Once his physique strengthened, he could undergo lineage factor modification — much like the Plague, Queen of the Beasts Pirates — and perhaps one day gain the Invisibility power he had long craved.
The thought alone filled him with anticipation.
"…Alright," Souta Kiryuu said at last after a moment's thought.
He had to admit — Shiryu's tastes were difficult to satisfy. The man had rejected both the Oni and Kappa Mythical Fruits.
Still, it didn't matter. Dr. Indigo was a mediocre scientist compared to Vegapunk or Caesar Clown.
The SIQ Evolution Serum research could be left to them.
With Kiryuu's approval, Shiryu wasted no time. He went straight to Dr. Vegapunk to claim his subject and summoned Pacifista Teach to extract Dr. Indigo's Devil Fruit.
Artificial fruits were beneath him. He wanted the real thing.
Failure to awaken the ability would be a massive loss.
Soon after, Dr. Indigo perished under Teach's power — his Druid Fruit essence absorbed into Shiryu himself.
"This Mythical Zoan… might be a bit weak for now," Shiryu muttered, biting down on his cigar as his right hand morphed into a sharp eagle's claw. "But it'll be far easier to master. Once my body adapts, I'll modify it further — invisibility, flames, lightning… everything I've dreamed of."
His laughter echoed across the floating islands — harsh and confident.
He knew of Queen's monstrous modifications and believed Vegapunk's genius surpassed even that.
Soon, he too would become something beyond human.
In the meantime, Red Earl Ledfield finally returned to the Tri-Island with Paddon the Tanuki, after maintaining secret contact with Kiryuu's fleet.
Having regained his youth, the proud vampire refused to share his and Paddon's Mythical Zoan bloodline samples with the crew.
He would not tolerate counterfeit vampires tarnishing his image.
Elegance, mystery, and uniqueness — those were the pillars of his pride.
"Fuhahaha! Souta Kiryuu," boomed Bundy Waldo, his laughter shaking the air. "When are we storming Mary Geoise again? With our strength now, we could shake the heavens themselves!"
His voice carried a dangerous excitement — vengeance burning in his heart.
The betrayal by CP agents… the destruction of his ship, the Glorosea D. by Sakazuki's hand — those debts would be paid in blood.
"Careful, Waldo," Souta Kiryuu said, half-smiling, his eyes calm but sharp as steel. "The World Conscription has bred monsters — new admirals are emerging. If we're heading for Mary Geoise… tell me, will you take on a Five Elder? Or one of the Admirals?"
Even with their current power, Kiryuu knew — the Kiryuu Pirates still couldn't match the ancient might of an eight-hundred-year-old empire.