[A/N] - Support & Read Up to 15 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!
[A/N] - Unlock the Next Level of this Story with your [Power Stones]!
...
For Boa Hancock, the memories were a fresh wound. Captured and sold to the Celestial Dragons, she was forced to fight day in and day out in the gladiatorial arena.
When she reached sixteen, her blossoming beauty attracted unwanted attention from a Celestial Dragon, nearly resulting in her violation.
On their first day in Mary Geoise, the sisters learned the true extent of the Celestial Dragons' depravity. These creatures viewed humans as little more than playthings, They represented absolute power, and defiance meant not only personal ruin but also the destruction of one's homeland. .
The women of Amazon Lily were as rare and sought-after as the mermaids of Fishman Island. Both locations were notoriously difficult to access: one nestled within the treacherous Calm Belt, teeming with Sea Kings, the other a kingdom submerged ten thousand meters below the surface..
It was only thanks to the fish-man Fisher Tiger, who scaled the Red Line and infiltrated Mary Geoise, that Hancock and her sisters were liberated from their torment.
While they escaped physical violation, the scars of their enslavement remained, etched deep within their hearts and on their backs. The Hoof of the Soaring Dragon.
This mark was permanent, a curse that couldn't be removed. Even if the skin was excised, the brand would reappear on the newly regenerated flesh, an eternal reminder of their suffering.
"There's no need for panic. My position as a Warlord was earned through strength, not fear." Hancock's voice, though calming, carried an undercurrent of steel. Her Conqueror's Haki radiated outwards, reassuring her people.
"Sister's right. Even Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, has shown his hand. The Marines have bigger problems to worry about than us. Kaido's attack on Impel Down…whatever deal Doflamingo made with him, it must have been substantial for Kaido to personally invade."
"He won't let it rest. The Marines have a Yonko and the Revolutionary Army to contend with. The Emperors seek to control the New World, while Dragon aims to overthrow the World Government. Their goals partially align. Perhaps we can even be of assistance."
They, too, held a certain respect for the Marines, recognizing their role in maintaining order in a chaotic world. However, they felt nothing but contempt for the World Government. As Warlords, they were privy to the whispers of discontent within the Marine ranks, those who resented the World Government but were constrained by duty and the necessity of their strength.
The situation had changed. A new Warlord Fujitora... Ian, the Black-Winged Devil, a Marine Vice Admiral with the power of a Yonko, had risen through the ranks with meteoric speed. They had anticipated the abolishment of the Warlord system.
Yet, only Gecko Moria, Crocodile, and Doflamingo, those who had abused their power, had been removed. Hancock and Jinbe had become Warlords to protect their people. Mihawk sought worthy challenges, Kuma remained largely inactive.
Issho, Fujitora, the blind swordsman, sought to implement his own unique sense of justice. There was no cause for concern. Perhaps, with the World Government's downfall, they could even attain legitimate nationhood. Dragon hadn't targeted benevolent pirates. He had, in fact, taken down numerous corrupt nobles. Their goals aligned.
....
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar..
Shakky, the bar's ageless owner, addressed the silver-haired man before her, Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King.
"Rayleigh, what are your thoughts on all this?"
A long silence hung in the air before the stylish old man in shorts and sandals drained his glass.
"You should know more about Kaido and Shiki than me, Shakky. While I crossed paths with them often during my time with Roger, I'm not a strategist. My role was more…supporting our idiot captain's occasional bursts of brilliance."
Rayleigh, legendary pirate and the right hand of the Pirate King, finally spoke.
"Sigh…" Shakky nodded. "This era is about to be turned on its head. the leader of the Revolutionary Army, adding fuel to the fire... That's Garp's son, isn't it? He was already a force to be reckoned with when we retired, a monster rookie like the current Admirals. Now, he's even stronger, a Yonko-level threat."
"And Ian… that kid is something else. He's achieved so much in just over a year. From rookie to Vice Admiral, Warlord, Yonko-level power…" Shakky's voice was laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Even her vast information network had turned up nothing on Ian's past before he joined the Marines. A blank slate, unheard of for someone with such overwhelming power.
"Who can say? The sea is vast and full of surprises. Anything is possible. his victories over Shiki and Kaido aren't so hard to believe, are they?" Rayleigh swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his voice thoughtful.
...
Fishman Island.
A breathtakingly beautiful kingdom, a paradise nestled ten thousand meters beneath the waves, encased within a massive, double-layered bubble that defied the immense pressure of the deep sea.
Like Skypiea, Fishman Island had its own sky and clouds, even in the depths of the ocean. The colossal tree, Eve, channeled sunlight from the surface, creating a cycle of day and night..
Past discrimination against fish-men and mermaids, coupled with their refusal to donate blood to humans, had culminated in the tragic death of Fisher Tiger. He had selflessly escorted a young girl, Koala, back to her home after freeing her from slavery at the hands of the Celestial Dragons, only to be ambushed and fatally wounded by the Marines.
His refusal to accept a blood transfusion from humans, rooted in deep-seated mistrust, had ultimately led to his demise. This tragic event had resulted in a law forbidding blood donations to humans, a transgression punishable by the shadowy "Night Trial."
Like Skypiea, visitors to Fishman Island were subject to immigration checks. Those who failed to comply were apprehended by the Neptune Army. An immense, double-layered bubble barrier shielded the island, with a layer of air trapped between the two membranes.
Those who managed to breach the barrier were swept away by the powerful currents. An air tank at the main entrance could generate a massive air bubble capable of encasing the entire island, but it was only used in dire emergencies.
...
On one such beach, a group of beautiful mermaids played in the shallows. Mermaids were renowned for their beauty, and physical imperfections were rare. Almost every mermaid was a vision of grace and loveliness.
In the Sea Forest, northeast of Fishman District, countless shipwrecks lay scattered, carried there by the currents, giving the area its other name: the Ship Graveyard. Sixteen years prior, it had served as a large orphanage, but due to mismanagement, it had become a haven for criminals and outcasts. Fisher Tiger, Jinbe, Arlong, and Hody Jones all hailed from this place.
...
Sunlight Tree Eve, Fish-Man Island
Sunlight Came from the surface down to Fishman Island, nourishing the vibrant coral reefs and attracting schools of fish and even whales. Nearby, a massive poneglyph stood, inscribed with Joy Boy's message, a crucial piece of history. And on Skypiea, in the City of Gold…
The skull's right eye socket contained the inscription pointing towards the location of Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons. The inscription, made by Kozuki Oden at the behest of Gol D. Roger, was a closely guarded secret.
A large, muscular whale shark fish-man sat before the poneglyph, reading a newspaper.
"Silvers Rayleigh… Hatchan owes him a great deal. He and Arlong remained in the first half of the Grand Line after Tiger's death. I should find the time to visit him." His voice was deep and resonant. This was Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea, a master of Fish-Man Karate.
"Hody…that young man is becoming a problem. He's gathering quite a following. Otohime-sama asked me to leave him be, but I can't allow him to become a serious threat."
He, too, was waiting, much like the World Government waited for Crocodile and Doflamingo to slip up, biding his time, gathering evidence before taking action. After all, Hody had initially advocated for peaceful coexistence with humans, yet he now targeted his own people.
It was a blatant hypocrisy, a betrayal of his supposed ideals.
...
On the Red Line, within Vegapunk's laboratory.
The lab, situated near the edge of the Red Line, offered a commanding view of the surrounding sea. A tall, imposing figure stood on the red cliffs.
Clad in black and white, his face an impassive mask behind tinted glasses, he extended his hands as if to grasp the wind. But his palms were soft and fleshy, resembling paws.
"Dragon, my comrade. Were you successful in rescuing…Ivankov? I imagine he made some valuable connections in Impel Down and gathered some useful intelligence."
"Unfortunately, I am now more machine than man. I can no longer feel the warmth of the sun or the chill of the wind. Only my beating heart and unwavering resolve remain. To gather more intel and provide you with the strength you need to achieve your ambitions, I agreed to Vegapunk's modifications."
This was Bartholomew Kuma, the Tyrant, possessing the strength of an Admiral, his Paw-Paw Fruit abilities bordering on the absurdly powerful.
He could repel anything and everything: solid, liquid, gas, fatigue, pain, even souls, slashes, shockwaves, and pure energy. All forms of matter and energy could be deflected by his paw pads.
"At least…they trust me more now."
...
Support and Read 15 Extra Chapters. Ahead of the Rest!
https://p@treon.com/dragonnx
[Replace '@' with 'a' to Access Patreon Normally]
...
There is 6 more exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon page!