Time had a strange way of slipping by unnoticed.
Before anyone realized it, the calendar had quietly turned to the year 1522.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Ezra D. Vale continued his relentless, almost inhuman training routine. He pushed himself day after day with a single purpose in mind: to raise his level of inheritance as quickly as possible.
Sweat rolled down his body as he wiped himself off, yet his appearance remained as striking as ever. It was as if time itself refused to leave any marks on him.
Only his crimson eyes had changed.
They carried more composure now. More weight.
"System," Ezra said calmly.
"Open the status panel."
Host: Ezra D. Vale
Primary Inheritance: Genryūsai Yamamoto
Inheritance Sync Rate: 79.5%
Ezra nodded with satisfaction.
"Almost eighty percent."
For six full years, he had not accepted a single major mission. Instead, he had immersed himself completely in training, pushing his limits again and again.
And finally, his strength had risen just a little more.
After showering, Ezra held a glass of red wine in his hand and sat quietly in the backyard, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon.
"I wonder where that kid Luffy is sailing now."
It had been three years since Ace first set out to sea.
After challenging Whitebeard and experiencing a series of brutal trials, Ace had ultimately joined the Whitebeard Pirates. Ezra had not been surprised. That old man had a strange charisma that drew people in.
As for Luffy, he had begun his own journey this year.
Along the way, he had gathered many companions. Most of them matched the people Ezra remembered, with one notable difference.
Their navigator was no longer Nami, but Kalifa.
Aside from that, there were no major deviations.
Still, to be honest, Ezra had no idea where they were at this point.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
A soft knock echoed at the door.
"Big brother, are you inside?"
Ezra's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Come in, Nami."
The door opened, revealing Nami standing there.
After Bell-mère and the others had been brought back to Marineford, and under Ezra's so called proper guidance, both Nami and Nojiko had joined the Marines.
They had risen quickly through the ranks and were now colonels. Their promotion speed was impressive by any standard.
"What is it, Nami?" Ezra asked.
Nami smiled sweetly.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku asked me to bring you over."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"Hm? The old man wanted me, and he sent you instead?"
Nami stuck out her tongue playfully.
"I just wanted to see you, big brother."
Ezra chuckled and gently patted her head.
"You little troublemaker. Where is Nojiko?"
"She is about to get promoted too," Nami replied. "She has been busy taking missions nonstop."
Ezra glanced at her.
"And you? If she is advancing, do not tell me you are not nervous at all."
Nami laughed.
"Me? I am totally prepared."
"Is that so?" Ezra said warmly. "That is good."
They chatted for a while longer before Nami left. Despite her confidence, she was still a little nervous, and had come to Ezra to ease her mind.
Ezra stretched, got dressed, and headed toward Sengoku's office.
"Old man, do we have a mission?"
Sengoku, who was beginning to show his age, wiped his glasses.
"Yes, Ezra. There is one. It is on the desk. Take a look."
Ezra opened the file casually, then raised his eyebrows.
"Crocodile was defeated?"
Sengoku nodded.
"Yes. And he was defeated by Monkey D. Luffy."
Just saying that name gave Sengoku a headache.
Anyone else defeating Crocodile would have been fine. Why did it have to be that kid?
Garp had already been unhappy with Luffy's last bounty. Now it was definitely going to rise again. Sengoku could already imagine Garp storming in to argue with him.
The thought alone made him sigh.
Ezra laughed quietly.
"Alright, old man. I get it."
"My mission is to escort Crocodile to Impel Down, right?"
Sengoku nodded.
"Leave as soon as possible."
"Oh, and if you run into the Straw Hat kid," he added seriously.
"Do not hold back. Arrest him."
"I understand."
Ezra waved and left the office.
As soon as he boarded the warship, loud arguing reached his ears.
When Ezra saw Rosinante and Law standing together, his head immediately started to ache.
Whenever those two were together, an argument was guaranteed.
"Why is it you two?" Ezra asked, rubbing his temples. "Where is Aokiji?"
"Aokiji left on assignment a month ago," Rosinante replied.
Ezra sighed and tossed the mission file to them.
"Fine, fine. This is the mission."
"Just do not wake me up while I am sleeping."
"Yes, Admiral Blazing Ash!" they answered in unison.
The warship soon departed.
Destination: Alabasta.
Back in Alabasta, Luffy was stuffing his face with meat.
His battle with Crocodile had pushed him to grow far stronger than before.
"Luffy, once you finish eating, we should leave," Kalifa said.
"Huh? Why, Kalifa?" Luffy asked.
She held up a freshly printed bounty poster.
"Did you forget? We are pirates."
"And your bounty went up again."
"Really?" Luffy's eyes lit up. "Let me see!"
He dropped the meat and began counting the zeros.
"Uh… how much is this?"
Everyone stared at him.
"You idiot! That is one hundred million Berries! One hundred million!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"One hundred million! That is awesome!"
Just then, Princess Vivi rushed in.
"Everyone! Something terrible happened!"
"Calm down, Vivi," Kalifa said. "What is it?"
"The Marines are coming!"
Everyone relaxed slightly.
"So what?" Zoro said. "We have seen Marines before."
Vivi shook her head frantically.
"This time is different!"
"They sent Rear Admirals Rosinante and Law!"
"And I heard Admiral Ezra D. Vale might be on that ship too!"
The room fell silent.
Rosinante and Law alone were already terrifying.
If an Admiral was added to the mix, their journey would end right here.
"We need to leave immediately," Zoro and Sanji said at the same time.
Luffy nodded. He understood the danger.
Under Vivi's guidance, they rushed to the Going Merry.
"Goodbye, Vivi!"
"We will meet again, Luffy!"
As the ship sailed away, Vivi finally let out a sigh of relief.
Being captured would have been disastrous.
What Luffy did not know was that Nico Robin had already boarded his ship.
Not long after the Straw Hats left, a Marine warship docked at Alabasta's harbor.
Rosinante and Law stepped onto land.
Their target was clear.
Crocodile.