"That's what happened," Sabo said, settling down casually on the ground next to Ace.
As they sat there, Sabo smiled and recounted the story of why he had come to Wano Country, explaining the series of events that led him there.
In the distance, the Entei Pirates were working alongside the Revolutionary Army, cleaning up the aftermath of the battle in Wano. The once-chaotic battlefield was now a scene of rebuilding, with the two groups working in harmony to restore order.
After the Entei incident, the Marines and the World Government had widely publicized the news of Ace and the Entei Pirates' plan to attack Kaido. They had used every available media channel to spread the story far and wide. The news emphasized that two of the Four Emperors, Kaido of the Beasts and Charlotte Linlin of the BIG-MOM Pirates, had formed an alliance to face the impending assault from the Entei Pirates.
In the past, the World Government had gone to great lengths to maintain the balance of power in the seas. They had always strived to prevent any news of alliances between the Four Emperors from leaking out, fearing the destabilization it could cause. Even the slightest contact between two of the Four Emperors' pirate crews would have been a cause for concern, and the World Government would have done everything in its power to keep it under wraps.
But everything changed after the Entei incident. The balance of power that had once held the seas in check was shattered, and the World Government's image had taken a significant hit thanks to Ace. In this new reality, even the World Government, which had long controlled the world's public opinion, found itself in need of a distraction, something to draw the world's attention away from its failures.
And so, they seized upon the perfect event: the Entei Pirates, a formidable force in their own right, launching an all-out assault on the pirate alliance formed by two of the Four Emperors. It was a story that would captivate the world, shifting the focus away from the World Government's recent setbacks and onto the epic clash between these titanic forces.
Upon hearing the news, Sabo immediately knew he had to head to Wano Country. Despite his immense confidence in Ace's abilities, the reality was that Ace would be facing a pirate alliance of two Four Emperors—an unprecedented challenge. Wano had always been a closed-off nation, its secrets tightly guarded, and information about the country was scarce. Yet, Sabo was well aware of Wano's significance as a major producer of seastone, a resource vital to controlling the seas.
For Ace, who aimed to become the king of the world, securing Wano's seastone resources was a crucial step. Understanding this, Sabo's plan was straightforward: he would go to Wano ahead of Ace to prepare the ground for his arrival, ensuring everything was in place for Ace to take the country under his command.
As Sabo prepared to embark on his mission alone, he was stopped by Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. But instead of forbidding Sabo from going, Dragon instructed him to gather a group of elite Revolutionary Army members to accompany him. Sabo, being the sharp strategist he was, quickly understood Dragon's reasoning.
Before the Entei incident, the Revolutionary Army had been branded the world's most dangerous criminals by the World Government. However, despite this label, the Revolutionary Army had successfully liberated numerous countries. This success was partly due to the World Government's need to maintain a balance of power across the seas. Most of the nations liberated by the Revolutionary Army were not allied with the World Government, so the government didn't feel the need to fully commit to eradicating them. Their primary focus remained on the Four Emperors, who were seen as a much bigger threat to the global order.
However, the Revolutionary Army knew that in order to truly challenge the World Government, they would need a powerful ally. And on this sea, there was no ally more formidable than the Entei Pirates. The Entei Pirates had grown so strong that they could now stand on equal footing with the World Government itself. The fact that Dressrosa, once a member of the World Government, had defected and joined the Entei Pirates with no immediate retaliation from the World Government spoke volumes about the Entei Pirates' current influence and deterrent power.
Dressrosa's defection was particularly significant because it was one of the original twenty kingdoms that had founded the World Government eight hundred years ago. For a kingdom of such importance to break away and join the Entei Pirates was nothing short of a seismic shift in the world's balance of power.
For the Revolutionary Army, which had liberated so many countries but still faced the overwhelming might of the World Government, forming an alliance with the Entei Pirates represented their best—and perhaps only—chance of realizing their dream of true global liberation. The Entei Pirates were not just powerful; they had become a symbol of resistance, a beacon for those who sought to break free from the World Government's iron grip.
Moreover, the bond between Sabo and Ace served as the strongest possible bridge between the Revolutionary Army and the Entei Pirates. While the vast difference in power between the two forces would likely mean that the Revolutionary Army would become a vassal under the Entei Pirate Fleet, Dragon, the Revolutionary Army's leader, was intrigued by Ace's vision and ambitions. Ace's declaration to reshape the world was audacious, almost unbelievable, yet Dragon knew that if anyone could turn such a dream into reality, it was Ace, the Flame Emperor—a man who had already defied the odds countless times.
The most compelling factor for Dragon was the involvement of his son, Luffy. As Ace's sworn brother, Luffy was fully committed to helping Ace achieve his goal of becoming the king of the world. Luffy's loyalty to Ace and his own aspirations aligned with the Flame Emperor's vision, which further convinced Dragon of the importance of this alliance. With both his son and Sabo, the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, so deeply inspired by Ace, Dragon realized that aligning with the Entei Pirates might be their only viable path forward in a world on the brink of upheaval.
However, Dragon was a cautious man. He knew better than to entrust the Revolutionary Army's fate to someone he had never met personally, no matter how remarkable the tales were. The impending battle between the Entei Pirates and the combined forces of the Beasts Pirates and the BIG-MOM Pirates presented a perfect opportunity. Dragon tasked Sabo with selecting elite members of the Revolutionary Army to accompany him to Wano. Their mission was twofold: first, to observe Ace firsthand and determine what kind of leader he truly was, beyond the biased perspective of a sworn brother; second, to assist in the Entei Pirates' campaign in Wano, offering support and goodwill as they worked to liberate the country from Kaido and Kurozumi Orochi's tyrannical rule.
Sabo quickly grasped Dragon's intentions and agreed without hesitation. Although the Revolutionary Army could not match the full might of a Four Emperors pirate crew, they were still a formidable force with extensive experience in overthrowing oppressive regimes. Sabo was confident that their skills and resources would be invaluable to Ace, ultimately making the Revolutionary Army a significant asset within the Entei Pirates' ranks. And as for whether the Revolutionary Army would successfully integrate as a vassal under Ace's fleet, Sabo had no doubts about Ace's ability to win them over.
Upon arriving in Wano, Sabo and his team were horrified by the brutal conditions they encountered. The country had been crushed under the weight of Kaido's and Orochi's iron-fisted rule. Sabo witnessed firsthand the tragic state of the people, who had been so broken by despair that they could only laugh, even in the face of unimaginable sorrow. The situation was dire, but with two Four Emperors pirate crews occupying the country, Sabo knew that a direct confrontation was impossible. For the time being, they had to remain in the shadows, doing what they could to aid the people while awaiting the arrival of the Entei Pirates.
Despite their limited power, Sabo and the Revolutionary Army made significant strides. They reached out to the remnants of the Kozuki family, identifying those who were more interested in saving Wano's people than clinging to outdated loyalties. Sabo presented them with evidence of Ace's strength—the screen recordings of the Entei incident and the bounty orders issued by the Marines against the Entei Pirate Fleet. In the world of piracy, nothing spoke louder than a bounty, and Ace's bounty, the highest in the world, was a testament to his unmatched power and the fear he inspired in even the most formidable of enemies.
Even in a country as isolated as Wano, the significance of Ace's bounty was clear. It was their best—and perhaps last—chance to break free from Kaido's tyranny. The Kozuki loyalists, recognizing the futility of resisting Ace and understanding the desperate need for change, agreed to support Sabo's plan. Under his guidance, key positions within Orochi's regime were quietly taken over by Revolutionary Army operatives, laying the groundwork for Ace's eventual conquest of Wano. Sabo had done his part; now all that remained was for Ace and the Entei Pirates to deliver the final blow.
However, just as Sabo and the Revolutionary Army continued to bide their time, building strength and waiting for Ace's arrival, the Entei Pirates Fleet made a sudden and unexpected descent upon Wano Country. The display of combat power that followed left Sabo and his comrades utterly stunned.
In the blink of an eye, a flash of lightning pierced the skies, heralding the arrival of a striking figure who descended directly upon Kurozumi Orochi's heavily guarded mansion. This figure was none other than Nami, the infamous "Cat Burglar" and second-in-command of the Entei Pirates, whose reputation as the wielder of the Thunder Fruit—a Devil Fruit said to be one of the most invincible in nature—had spread far and wide across the seas.
Nami had already made a name for herself during the Entei incident, where she, alongside Dark King Rayleigh and Dark Ranger Fujitora, had achieved the impossible by capturing Admiral Kizaru alive. Yet, despite her formidable Devil Fruit powers, her relatively weaker Haki had previously placed her overall strength just at the Admiral level. By all accounts, even with her Thunder Fruit abilities, it seemed unlikely that she could single-handedly breach Orochi's fortress. After all, Orochi, paranoid about his safety, had gathered all his strongest fighters within his mansion, fortifying it with the best of the Beasts Pirates and the BIG-MOM Pirates, who were on high alert.
Seeing this formidable lineup, Sabo and the Revolutionary Army elites prepared to intervene, ready to assist Nami in what they anticipated would be a fierce battle. But what happened next left them in absolute disbelief.
Nami, the second-in-command of the Entei Pirates, unleashed a display of overwhelming power that shattered all expectations. Kurozumi Orochi and his gathered forces were utterly crushed, unable to even put up a fight. The sheer might of Nami's Haki, infused with the terrifying power of the Thunder Fruit, was nothing short of extraordinary. It was Conqueror's Haki·Infusion—a technique that only those who stood at the pinnacle of power could master. The devastating synergy between her Haki and Thunder Fruit power catapulted Nami's strength to a level that surpassed even the Admirals.
In that moment, it became clear: Nami was no longer just a formidable pirate; she was a force on par with the Four Emperors themselves. The realization struck Sabo and the Revolutionary Army like a bolt of lightning—another female warrior with the strength of a Four Emperors had emerged, adding yet another terrifying power to the already unstoppable Entei Pirates.
Recognizing that their intervention was unnecessary, Sabo and his men withdrew, choosing instead to focus on their covert operations within Orochi's dwindling forces. The Entei Pirates were more than capable of handling the situation, and Sabo knew that their best contribution would be in the aftermath, helping to consolidate Ace's control over Wano.
But the surprises didn't end there. As the Entei Pirates continued to steamroll through every obstacle in their path, the Beasts Pirates and the BIG-MOM Pirates' alliance arrived to confront them. Yet even before Ace himself appeared on the battlefield, the officers of the Entei Pirates had already driven the two Four Emperors into a corner, showcasing a level of power that left Sabo and the Revolutionary Army in awe. The thought crossed their minds: if Ace were to join the fray, would the Entei Pirates be capable of standing against four Four Emperors at once?
Then, the Flame Emperor arrived. Ace, with his unmatched power, transformed into a blazing sun, incinerating Kaido of the Beasts and Charlotte Linlin, until nothing but dust remained. In that instant, any doubts were dispelled—Ace's power had surpassed the level of the Four Emperors, reaching heights that had never been seen before in history. He was no longer just a pirate; he was a force of nature, a legend in the making.
Ace, the admiral of the Entei Pirate Fleet, had proven himself as one of the two superpowers capable of standing toe-to-toe with the World Government on the seas. Though Sabo and the Revolutionary Army had not played a major role in the battle itself, their contributions in the aftermath were invaluable. They assisted in clearing out the remnants of Kurozumi Orochi's forces and played a crucial role in helping the Entei Pirates establish control over Wano.
The former rulers and influential figures of Wano that Sabo had recruited were instrumental in this process. Their reputations and connections within the country made them vital allies in the transition of power. With their help, Wano was swiftly and seamlessly integrated into the dominion of the Entei Pirates, solidifying Ace's ever-growing empire.
"Well, you truly are worthy of being my brother, Sabo."
Ace's voice carried a note of deep satisfaction as he observed the Revolutionary Army elites, under Sabo's guidance, swiftly taking control of Wano Country. With a seamless efficiency, they were eliminating the last vestiges of Kurozumi Orochi and Kaido's influence, securing Wano's future under the banner of the Entei Pirates. It was clear to Ace that Wano's salvation lay in its integration into the Entei Pirates' domain, and that only by joining them could the country hope for a brighter future.
Ace knew that every profession had its experts, and in the Revolutionary Army, he had found allies who excelled in the very tasks at hand. Their ability to win hearts, restore order, and dismantle tyranny was unmatched.
"Of course, I am your brother," Sabo replied with a broad grin, his smile brimming with pride. It had been far too long since he last heard Ace's praise, and it filled him with warmth and a sense of fulfillment.
Suddenly, a streak of green light shot toward Sabo. Instinctively, he reached out and caught it. As he opened his hand, his pupils dilated in shock at what he held.
"This… this is…!"
In Sabo's trembling hands rested a Devil Fruit of immense significance and power, one that had shaped the very landscape of the world. This was no ordinary fruit, but one of the most coveted among the mythical Zoan types, a fruit that had once been the source of Kaido's unrivaled strength.
It was the Fish-Fish Fruit: Mythical Beast Model, Azure Dragon—a Devil Fruit that had elevated Kaido of the Beasts to the status of a Four Emperors and had made him the most feared creature in the world. Now, it lay in Sabo's hands, a symbol of the Entei Pirates' triumph and a potential key to even greater power.