The Five Elders, feeling the weight of their failure to protect their Mistress Imu, erupted in a frenzied rage, their unrestrained power surging across the battlefield like a storm of blind fury. Their demonic forms, flickering with energy and hatred, managed to inflict unexpected blows against the forces of Shanks, Garp, Sengoku, and the Sword members. But even with this final burst of power, their doom seemed inevitable, each of their moves more desperate and out of control as their strength waned with each strike.
As their battle approached its end, the focus shifted to another front—where the Straw Hats squared off against the World Government's Grand Army, now commanded by General Kong. Kong, an intimidating figure with a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that transformed him into a gargantuan, gorilla-like deity, stood at the front lines. His body rippled with controlled power, enhanced by decades of Haki mastery, his Conqueror's Haki enough to challenge even the mightiest foes. His piercing eyes held a calm calculation, assessing the Straw Hats with the precision of a seasoned strategist.
Kong's soldiers, loyal and disciplined, gathered around him. But beneath their rigid exteriors, a hint of fear lurked. For even these soldiers—trained and fearless in the face of the unknown—could sense the tides shifting, the legendary Straw Hat Pirates looming like giants over them. Each member of the Straw Hats embodied the terrifying legends they'd become.
With the command given, the two forces clashed. Zoro led with a powerful Haki-infused slash, meeting a contingent of marines head-on as his swords became blurs of silver. Each step forward drove fear into the heart of the soldiers who, despite their ranks, felt their courage falter under his unyielding gaze.
"Press on!" Kong's voice boomed, shaking his troops into action. His eyes locked on Zoro's relentless assault, and he made quick strategic shifts, dispatching hardened marines to flank him, buying time for his own counter. Kong's Haki pulsed outward, his aura a steady drumbeat of dominance that pushed back the most shaken of his men, refocusing them on their duty.
Meanwhile, Nami used her Climatact to generate illusions, lightning, and turbulent winds, throwing Kong's plans into disarray. She struck from afar, targeting key lieutenants within the government forces and creating chaos among the ranks. Kong snarled in irritation, quickly directing a squad of Haki-enhanced marines to intercept her attacks. His tactical mind recognized her strength; he saw her skill as a risk to his coordination and was determined to neutralize her abilities.
Franky unleashed his arsenal with a gusto that rocked the battlefield, launching missiles powered by the Motherflame energy as they exploded in brilliant flames of blue and silver. His enthusiasm and sheer firepower overwhelmed a line of the advancing forces, their defenses no match for his heavy artillery. Even as marines tried to scatter, the destructive radius of his attacks forced them to regroup under increasingly compromised positions.
General Kong himself stepped into action. His transformed arms—massive, covered in fur, and lined with unbreakable Haki—swung with an unstoppable force. He deflected several of Franky's blasts, though the effort visibly wore him down. Each deflection chipped away at his soldiers' morale as they realized that, for every attack they endured, the Straw Hats only pushed harder.
Overhead, Chopper—in his Monster Point—fought fiercely, blocking cannon fire and demolishing artillery with raw physical strength. He batted away enemy after enemy, his monstrous form protecting his nakama. Kong's forces stared in disbelief as Chopper's indomitable will turned each blow into a defense of his friends.
On the other side, Robin created giant arms through her Hana Hana no Mi powers, capturing multiple foes in a single move. With her boundless intellect, she identified the officers leading the units and strategically restrained them, creating openings for her allies.
Kong, sensing the devastating impact Robin was having, ordered his most elite fighters to confront her, but Jinbei intercepted them. His Fishman Karate and mastery over water reshaped the battlefield itself; he launched a massive wave that knocked back the charging marines, his precise moves calculated to protect Robin and prevent the enemy from disrupting her strategies.
Usopp held a high vantage point, using his sniper's eye to target critical assets among Kong's forces. His shots, laced with a combination of Sea Prism Stone and Motherflame energy, pierced through armored vehicles and weaponry, disabling resources and sowing fear among the ranks. The government forces, accustomed to their own long-range artillery superiority, were bewildered by Usopp's pinpoint precision.
"Keep it up, Usopp!" Nami shouted, flashing him a thumbs-up as she parried an incoming assault with a cyclone blast from her Climatact.
Brook, swift and elusive, moved among the chaos like a shadow. With his ethereal soul powers and freezing swordsmanship, he cut down Kong's forces with chilling efficiency. He created patches of ice, causing the government troops to slip and fall, leaving them vulnerable to his allies' attacks.
Vegapunk and EMET used their combined intellect to analyze Kong's formations and weaknesses, quickly transmitting strategies to the crew through small den den mushi communicators they had distributed before the battle. Their guidance was pivotal, as they directed the Straw Hats to exploit gaps in the government's ranks.
Kong's frustration grew as he realized that no matter how many strategies he devised, the Straw Hats adapted. His mind raced as he unleashed a furious Raging Fist of Olympus, a Haki-enhanced punch that generated shockwaves, sending soldiers, debris, and even Straw Hat crew members sprawling back.
"Is that all you've got?" Kong shouted, fury seething in his voice. "The world belongs to those who control it by strength and strategy—not by following childish dreams!"
EMET, absorbing the meaning of Kong's words, responded in a booming voice, "Dreams inspire strength far beyond control. You might rule over soldiers, but you cannot rule over those with the will of kings."
Kong's rage ignited further. "If you believe that, then prove it!"
The Straw Hats, hearing EMET's response, launched a coordinated assault. Zoro and Jinbei charged Kong directly, while Robin trapped his advancing soldiers in a twisting net of limbs. Franky unleashed a barrage of plasma-infused projectiles aimed at Kong's weakened defenses, while Nami amplified their attacks with a cyclone of lightning, increasing the ferocity of the assault.
Kong bared his teeth, his Haki flaring in a concentrated aura, managing to deflect some attacks while countering with his own. But despite his impressive defense, cracks began to form in his strategy; the Straw Hats were relentless, and for every move he made, they had an answer.
Despite the government's rigorous training, morale among Kong's soldiers was faltering. They had faced Yonko crews, pirates, and even revolutionaries before, but this was different. The Straw Hats fought with such unity, such unyielding resolve, that it was impossible to ignore. Every time a marine fell, another would step back, shaken by the realization that the legends surrounding the Straw Hats were no exaggeration.
One soldier, braving his fear, thought to himself, "These Straw Hats aren't just another pirate crew… they're something else entirely."
Kong noticed this hesitation, and a flicker of despair shadowed his face. Yet his strategic mind wouldn't let him back down. "This is not the end!" he roared, rallying his remaining forces. With a swift motion, he activated his final assault formation, an encircling maneuver meant to trap the Straw Hats in a concentrated crossfire.
But the Straw Hats were ready. Nami and Franky combined their abilities to create a storm-shield, nullifying the crossfire's intensity. Chopper used his Monster Point to create a wall of protection for his crewmates, while Jinbei redirected the onslaught with controlled waves of water.
Through it all, Zoro met Kong head-on, his swords blazing with an unbreakable will. "You won't stop us," he declared, his voice like steel. "Not here, not ever."
Kong's gaze hardened as he prepared to counter, but he couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling of doubt that grew within him. The battlefield was crumbling around him, and the Straw Hats' relentless pursuit was proving insurmountable.
The war for freedom had begun in earnest, and with each strike, the Straw Hats drew closer to victory—while the World Government teetered on the edge of despair.