During the Straw Hat Pirates' ongoing adventures and Ace's meticulous preparations for the final battle, time seemed to slip by unnoticed. Before long, nearly two years had passed, a period marked by intense training, growth, and the relentless honing of abilities.
Throughout these two years, Ace dedicated himself to training alongside Bonney, focusing on unlocking the full potential of her Sui Sui Fruit. Under Ace's guidance and with his full support, Bonney experienced a significant breakthrough—her Devil Fruit powers awakened. This newfound strength allowed her to simulate the future, including the ability to complete the Nika form, a feat once thought impossible.
However, despite her impressive progress, Bonney still lacked the Conqueror's Haki, a vital component that prevented her from reaching the same combat prowess as Luffy in the original timeline. Nevertheless, Bonney's Nika form, combined with the unique and unpredictable abilities of the Sui Sui Fruit, elevated her to a formidable warrior capable of standing toe-to-toe with even the Four Emperors.
Over the nearly two years of preparation and training, the women in Ace's crew made extraordinary strides in their abilities, particularly in mastering Haki and Devil Fruit powers.
Nami, who had always possessed an innate fierceness, saw her Conqueror's Haki grow exponentially. In the original timeline, even without this Haki, Nami could cause significant damage to Luffy and others when enraged. However, once her Conqueror's Haki awakened, she quickly mastered Conqueror's Haki: Infusion—a feat that even Ace, with his extraordinary enlightenment, achieved only after first awakening his Haki. This remarkable progression positioned Nami as one of the most naturally gifted Haki users on the seas.
As the two years passed, Nami's Conqueror's Haki reached a level comparable to Kaido at his peak. Her combat prowess, augmented by the Thunder Fruit and her Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, became nothing short of terrifying. With Zeus, the highest-level Homie created by the Soul-Soul Fruit, as her constant companion, Nami's power exceeded even Kaido's at his zenith. Zeus, already formidable on his own, found a perfect synergy with the Thunder Fruit, amplifying Nami's power to staggering heights. Understanding Zeus' crucial role in enhancing Nami's combat capabilities, Ace used his field of comprehension to further elevate Zeus' potential, ensuring that Nami's battle experience and raw power could match and even surpass the most formidable opponents.
Yamato, too, fully mastered her Conqueror's Haki. Though her Devil Fruit powers did not grant her the same raw advantage as a top-tier Devil Fruit, her mastery of Haki enabled her to hold her own against the Four Emperors. Her strength and resolve were unmatched, embodying the spirit of her father, Kaido, while forging her own path.
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, also experienced a dramatic rise in her Conqueror's Haki. With the blood of Amazon Lily coursing through her veins and the benefits of Ace's field of comprehension, her Haki advanced to a level that rivaled Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom. Hancock's mastery of the Sweet-Sweet Fruit allowed her to wield it with a skill and potency comparable to Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit. Though Hancock's defense did not match the near-invulnerability of Linlin's "steel balloon" body, her offensive power had reached the same heights as the infamous Yonko.
Over the past two years, the Entei Pirates have undergone a remarkable transformation, with all members of the fleet successfully awakening their Devil Fruit abilities, further enhancing their already formidable combat power.
Laki, after awakening her Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku, reached an unprecedented level of strength. Although she lacks Conqueror's Haki, the flames of the Suzaku are terrifyingly potent, capable of burning through even Haki. Her power rivals some of the greatest warriors on the seas, adding another fearsome force to Ace's fleet.
Katakuri, the formidable commander, also unlocked Conqueror's Haki: Infusion. While his combat power is still not on par with those who have fully mastered this ability, he has grown stronger than admirals like Kuzan and Fujitora, bringing him closer to the level of the Four Emperors.
Zephyr, now known as Z, has awakened the Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Model: Black Tortoise, reaching a combat level comparable to Laki. With his unparalleled experience and mastery of Armament Haki, Zephyr has even surpassed her in strength. Once a Marine Admiral who reached his rank without the aid of a Devil Fruit, relying solely on his martial prowess and Haki, Zephyr has now returned to his prime. The field of enlightenment has further honed his Armament Haki, placing him at the top tier in the world. In terms of pure Armament Haki, only Ace, who has absorbed the Haki of both Charlotte Linlin and Kaido, can outmatch him. Even without Conqueror's Haki, Zephyr's combat power is formidable enough to challenge the Four Emperors directly.
Gion, too, has experienced significant growth. After awakening her Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: White Tiger, she gained the ability to absorb and transform Wanokuni's famous swords into powerful White Tiger Winds. These winds, generated by the combined power of her swords, possess terrifying attack power that rivals Kaido at his peak. In recent years, Ace gathered the top swordsmiths of Wanokuni, who, under the influence of the field of enlightenment, have produced numerous legendary swords. While creating large 21-grade swords in batches is nearly impossible due to the rarity of the required materials and opportunities, these master swordsmiths have managed to forge 15 famous swords of Great Grade quality and even two of Supreme Grade—an unparalleled achievement.
These top swordsmiths have also produced a variety of lesser swords that, while not as renowned as the Great Grade, still hold significant power. These blades have been sold across the world, elevating Wanokuni's reputation as a center of swordsmanship. The Entei Pirates now possess an impressive arsenal of famous swords, including seven more Great Grade swords collected over the years. Gion alone wields seven Great Grade swords capable of transforming into White Tiger Winds, with a total of 23 top-tier swords at her disposal.
While Gion's strongest attacks, fueled by the metal energy of these famous swords, can only be unleashed three times in quick succession before the swords need time to recover, the power she wields during those moments is staggering. Her usual combat power exceeds that of admirals like Kuzan and Fujitora, and when fully unleashed, her attack power rivals that of Kaido at his peak. The only downside is that the White Tiger Winds require nurturing, and overuse could result in the swords breaking.
The Entei Pirates have become a force to be reckoned with, their strength amplified by the dedication and strategic growth of each member. With these enhancements, they are more than prepared for the challenges that lie ahead, standing as one of the most powerful pirate crews in the world.
Among the officers of the Entei Pirates, the one who has experienced the most remarkable growth is not Nami or the others, but Vivi. Vivi, once considered the least combat-talented among the group, has undergone a profound transformation. She has awakened Conqueror's Haki and fully mastered Conqueror's Haki: Infusion—a feat that has astonished everyone.
Vivi's journey began with significant challenges. When she first consumed the Sand-Sand Fruit, she struggled to control its power, relying heavily on Ace's guidance and the understanding field to harness its abilities. Her progress in training Armament Haki and Observation Haki was slow, lagging behind the other girls. By all accounts, Vivi seemed to lack the innate combat talent necessary to reach the level of an Admiral.
However, everything changed when Vivi awakened her Conqueror's Haki. The once unremarkable princess of Alabasta revealed a hidden potential that rivaled even the best. Her Conqueror's Haki talent, previously undiscovered, proved to be on par with Nami's, which is among the best on the seas. This dramatic shift was entirely unexpected, marking a clear distinction from the Vivi everyone once knew.
Though her Conqueror's Haki may not yet match Nami's, Vivi's proficiency has reached a level comparable to that of Hancock and even Charlotte Linlin during her prime. With the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, which rivals the might of the Soul-Soul Fruit, Vivi's combat strength has soared to unprecedented heights. She now stands as a warrior capable of challenging the strongest figures in the world, her power on par with that of the former Yonko, Charlotte Linlin.
Vivi's transformation over the past two years is nothing short of extraordinary, making her the one who has shown the greatest improvement among all the girls. This newfound strength has not only bolstered Vivi's confidence but also allowed Ace to explore deeper mysteries using the power of the Time-Time Fruit to enhance his Observation Haki.
Through this, Ace has begun to unravel some of the most closely guarded secrets of the world. The true face of Imu, the enigmatic ruler, has started to reveal itself to him. Ace knows that he is on the verge of a monumental discovery, one that could change the course of history. And now, the opportunity to fully uncover this truth has finally arrived.