The Knights of God, the three Admirals of the Naval Headquarters, Akainu, and the powerful forces of the World Government, including Magellan, found themselves utterly unprepared for the overwhelming assault. Although they had avoided the core of the devastating energy fluctuations due to their ongoing clashes with the officers of the Entei Pirates Fleet, the aftermath left them in a state of disarray. Their once-composed demeanor had given way to expressions of shock and anger as they looked toward the epicenter of the destruction, their faces twisted with frustration and disbelief.
The annihilation of the Pacifistas and Seraphim—a powerful arsenal they had counted on to combat the Entei Pirates Fleet—was a severe blow. These were not just ordinary weapons; they were the cutting-edge creations of the World Government's most advanced science. The Pacifistas, equipped with the ability to release lasers formed from Kizaru's Sparkling Fruit power, were formidable in their own right. While a single Pacifista's attack might be insufficient to challenge an Admiral-level opponent, the combined firepower of ten or even dozens could force even the strongest warriors to tread carefully.
The Seraphim, however, were in a league of their own. Created from the genes of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and imbued with the blood of the Lunarian tribe, these entities represented the pinnacle of scientific advancement. Vegapunk's green blood innovation further enhanced them, allowing the Seraphim to wield the power of Paramecia Devil Fruits. These were not mere copies or lesser versions; they were weapons capable of standing toe-to-toe with Admiral-level warriors, the strongest humans science and technology could produce.
The destruction of these assets was a catastrophic loss for the World Government. Seven Seraphim alone constituted seven formidable forces capable of challenging the mightiest opponents. Their obliteration, along with the countless Pacifistas, shattered the World Government's initial confidence. They had believed that the combined might of the Knights of God and their technological arsenal would be sufficient to combat the Entei Pirates Fleet, so much so that the Five Elders had deemed it unnecessary to intervene immediately.
The Five Elders' decision was not born out of ignorance; they were well aware of the Entei Pirates Fleet's growing power. However, they had underestimated the depth of Ace's capabilities, particularly his mastery of the various powers of the Devil Fruits. They had also misjudged the level of preparation that the Entei Pirates had undertaken for this war. In any conflict, the key to victory lies in the quality of intelligence and the careful deployment of trump cards. Both sides were well aware that revealing all their strengths at the outset would be a strategic blunder, leaving them vulnerable to a devastating counterattack.
The Five Elders had held back, confident in their reserves, and unwilling to expose their hand too early. They had relied on their subordinates, believing that the combination of the Knights of God, Pacifistas, and Seraphim would suffice to turn the tide of battle. Yet, the sudden appearance of Pluton and the destruction it wrought had forced them to reconsider their strategy. The situation was rapidly slipping out of their control, and the smug confidence that had initially characterized their approach to this conflict had given way to a dawning realization that they might be facing an unprecedented defeat.
But who could have predicted that the combat power of the Entei Pirates Grand Fleet would far exceed the Five Elders' most cautious estimates?
Even Tashigi, the "Silent Swordsman," who was considered among the lower ranks of the Entei Pirates' officers, had honed her skills to the level of a great swordsman. She had even succeeded in transforming the famous sword "Enma" into a black blade. This achievement was nothing short of extraordinary. To this day, only three confirmed black blades exist across the vast seas.
These legendary weapons include the supreme sword "Yoru" wielded by the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, the black sword "Shusui," a national treasure of Wano now in the hands of the Entei Pirates, and the First Generation Kitetsu, one of the twelve supreme swords, possessed by Izambaron V. Nusjuro, one of the Five Elders. Remarkably, even the swords of legends like Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard—Ace's saber and Whitebeard's naginata, both supreme swords—had not been forged into black blades.
Yet now, there was a new black blade on the seas—Tashigi's "Enma," a sword transformed through sheer skill and determination. The black blade amplifies a swordsman's attacks, making them incredibly sharp and deadly. When wielded by the swordsman who forged it, the strength enhancement is nothing short of terrifying. Even a casual strike or the most ordinary slash can unleash devastating power. This is evident in the case of Hawkeye, the world's strongest swordsman, and now Tashigi, who stands among the top-tier combatants of the world.
Tashigi's mastery of the black blade, combined with her awakened Transparent Fruit ability, has elevated her to the upper echelons of Admiral-level combatants. The clearest proof of her prowess is the fact that she has single-handedly forced an Admiral of Headquarters into a desperate situation. Tea Dolphin, while not the strongest Admiral, was nevertheless a formidable opponent. His promotion to Admiral was supported by his mastery of the Snake-Snake Fruit, Mythical Beast Model: Snake Belt Form—a power that, under the World Government's guidance, had been fully awakened. Despite his strengths, however, Tea Dolphin found himself utterly outclassed and humiliated by Tashigi.
In the eyes of the Five Elders, Tashigi, who was initially ranked low among the Entei Pirates Fleet, turned out to possess an unexpected and terrifying level of strength. This realization led them to rethink the threat posed by the other officers of the Entei Pirates Fleet, whose overall strength far surpassed their expectations. The Elders had believed that deploying the Knights of God would be sufficient to turn the tide of battle, but they were now faced with the harsh reality that even this elite force could not stem the onslaught of the Entei Pirates.
In response to the worsening situation, the World Government had resorted to deploying their most advanced war machines—the Pacifistas and Seraphim. These units, equipped with the destructive power of Kizaru's lasers and the genetic enhancements of the Lunarian bloodline, were meant to be their trump cards. The Seraphim, in particular, were considered the pinnacle of scientific weaponry, capable of going toe-to-toe with Admiral-level warriors. But the sudden appearance of Pluton changed everything.
The ancient weapon, hidden in the sky through the Transparent Fruit's power, unleashed a devastating blast that obliterated both the Pacifistas and Seraphim in one fell swoop. The destruction was so complete and unexpected that it left the Five Elders, who had been monitoring the battlefield through special means, gritting their teeth in frustration. Their expressions darkened as they realized that their carefully laid plans had been shattered in an instant.
The appearance of Pluton not only erased the World Government's powerful weapons but also exposed the deep flaw in their strategy. The Entei Pirates Fleet, with their superior planning and overwhelming strength, had turned the tide of battle decisively. The Five Elders, once confident in their ability to contain and crush the rebellion, now faced the grim prospect of defeat as their forces faltered under the might of Ace and his allies.
Flame Emperor!
The name echoed in the minds of the Five Elders, a title that had become synonymous with overwhelming power and insidious strategy. The man who had turned the world on its head, using his ability to wield multiple Devil Fruit powers with terrifying efficiency, was now their greatest threat. Ace, the Flame Emperor, had already proven his cunning and strength through a series of monumental actions that left the world government reeling.
It all began with the infamous Sabaody Archipelago incident. Using his powers, Ace infiltrated the Sabaody Archipelago undetected and orchestrated a public trial and execution of the Celestial Dragons—an act that sent shockwaves through the world. The Five Elders, usually unflinching, were forced into a corner, compelled to make unprecedented concessions. The memory of that day still burned in their minds, a reminder of Ace's ability to shake the very foundations of their power.
But Ace didn't stop there. He continued his conquest, toppling two of the Four Emperors—Kaido and Charlotte Linlin—and absorbing the remnants of the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates into his own fleet. These victories were more than just brute force; they were calculated moves that deepened the world's understanding—and fear—of his powers. Ace's mastery over multiple Devil Fruits allowed him to project his influence across the globe, whether by using the Space-Space Fruit to deploy his officers to strategic locations or the Transparent Fruit to enable the Revolutionary Army to infiltrate kingdoms unnoticed.
These tactics were not lost on the Five Elders. They had spent countless hours devising countermeasures, preparing for the day when the Flame Emperor would bring his full might against them. They envisioned him using his powers to strike from the shadows, appearing in unexpected places to deliver devastating attacks. The World Government was on high alert, having laid intricate plans and contingencies to protect themselves from Ace's potential onslaught.
But Ace was always one step ahead. Instead of using his powers for a direct assault, as the Elders had anticipated, he launched a surprise attack from beneath the sea, using a coating technique to conceal his approach. Just when the Five Elders believed they had predicted his next move—that he was conserving his strength for a massive deployment of his Devil Fruit abilities—Ace once again defied expectations. He had used the Transparent Fruit and the Lion Fruit not to attack, but to conceal the presence of Pluton, the ancient weapon of unimaginable destructive power.
And then, at the exact moment when the World Government's most advanced war machines, the Pacifistas and the Seraphim, appeared on the battlefield, Pluton struck with a devastating attack that obliterated everything in its path. The Five Elders, watching from afar, were reminded of the helplessness they had felt during the Sabaody Archipelago incident—when Ace had outmaneuvered them with sheer intellect, forcing them to retreat step by step, culminating in the unprecedented cancellation of the Buster Call.
For the Second time since the Entei Pirates' rise, the Five Elders felt an emotion they had long forgotten—the chilling fear of being dominated. The memory of that relentless pressure, of being driven back by a force they could neither predict nor control, resurfaced with a vengeance.
Damn it! Flame Emperor!!!
The words echoed in their minds, not just as a curse, but as an acknowledgment of the terrifying reality they now faced. Ace was not just a powerful adversary; he was a strategist who could turn the tides of battle with a single, well-executed move. The Five Elders, the most powerful figures in the World Government, were now on the defensive, struggling to keep up with a man who had mastered the art of war on both the physical and psychological fronts.