A year had gone by.
During this time, the strength of Sanders' crew had skyrocketed. The original members had long since mastered both Armament and Conqueror's Haki. Through a grueling year of hellish training, Law, Wapol, and the others had refined their mastery to advanced levels.
Combined with their physical prowess and Devil Fruit abilities, they were now more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Marine Vice Admirals.
Along the way, Sanders also distributed Devil Fruits acquired from the Donquixote Family to his outstanding crew members.
Beppo, being a polar bear Mink and vulnerable to heat, was given Monet's Snow-Snow Fruit.
Penguin and Shachi were granted the Stone-Stone Fruit and Sticky-Sticky Fruit, respectively.
Out of the six fruits acquired, Sanders distributed all but Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit. Its overpowered ability made it challenging to find a suitable candidate to wield it responsibly.
One day, Sanders gathered his crew.
"Your training has reached a sufficient level," Sanders announced, his voice carrying authority. "It's time for you to leave Sky Island and make your mark on the seas!"
"Is it finally over?!"
"Thank goodness!"
Shachi clenched his fists in joy, his face lighting up.
The past year of relentless training had driven him to the brink. Every day was a grueling cycle of exhausting drills.
Physical fatigue was manageable thanks to Mansherry's healing abilities. No matter how extreme their training, injuries were never a concern.
But the mental strain?
That was an entirely different story.
To make matters worse, they had to endure constant beatdowns from Sanders during group battles. No matter how hard they tried, a dozen of them couldn't land a single blow on him.
"I can't believe we finally earned the captain's approval!"
"No more feeling like an idiot punching at shadows!" Penguin raised his arms and cheered.
Even Law, usually stoic, allowed a rare smile to surface as he slung Kikoku over his shoulder.
Over the past year, Law had pushed himself to the limits, training with a relentless intensity. His efforts had paid off handsomely.
Sanders judged that Law's current strength could defeat most Vice Admirals.
A year ago, he was far weaker than Sanders had been during his imprisonment in Impel Down. Now, he was catching up.
Sanders surveyed the jubilant faces of his crew, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
Finally, his crew was equipped to stand as a proper pirate fleet.
What they lacked now could only be gained through experience.
After all, no amount of training could simulate real battles. Neither Sanders nor Issho could strike them with lethal intent during practice.
After a long moment, Sanders raised his hands, signaling for silence.
"Now, it's time to carry my name and proclaim your existence to the seas!" Sanders declared, his voice booming with conviction.
For an entire year, the Thunder God Pirates had been quiet, drawing speculation from across the world.
Some believed the crew was afraid to challenge the Yonko of the New World.
Rumors swirled that Sanders had been beaten into submission after his last battle with Kaido.
Others speculated that Sanders had been gravely injured and was recuperating on a remote island, clinging to life.
Sanders ignored it all.
At that time, the Thunder God Pirates' overall strength did indeed fall short of a Yonko crew. His crewmates had needed the time to train.
But now, a year had passed.
His crew's overall power had risen dramatically.
It was time to stir up chaos on the seas.
"Yes, Captain!"
"The title of the Fifth Emperor of the Sea is as good as ours!"
The crew's cheers echoed across Sky Island.
They were well aware of the rumors circulating about their captain and their crew.
Each one of them carried a sense of guilt, knowing it was their lack of strength that had dragged the Thunder God Pirates down.
But they had worked tirelessly to close the gap. Now, they were determined to prove themselves and vindicate their captain's name.
"Then set sail!" Sanders commanded, waving his hand. "Ships have been prepared for you at the port of Dressrosa. Go and weather the storms of the seas!"
The crew saluted, determination burning in their eyes.
Their next chapter was about to begin.
Law, leading Shachi, Penguin, and Beppo, was the first to stride out of the training grounds. Boarding an airship, they departed Sky Island.
Though technically a member of Nami's navigator team, Beppo was temporarily assigned to Law's squad since Nami was still on Small Sky Island for further studies.
Meanwhile, Mansherry, part of Law's medical team, typically did not accompany him on missions. She stayed with the Tontatta squad, led by Leo, the Stitch-Stitch Fruit user.
The Tontatta squad included:
Kama Chille, a mantis with the Soar-Soar Fruit and a blazing sword.
Raki, a Shandian warrior wielding the Spin-Spin Fruit and equipped with a long rifle.
In addition, the Thunder God Pirates boasted several specialized squads:
Nami's Navigator Team
Law's Medical Team
Wyper's Divine Guard, led by Wyper, the Bat-Bat Fruit user.
Leo's Tontatta Squad
Robin and Viola's Intelligence Team
The crew had taken its initial shape but still needed more members to expand their influence.
After Law's departure, Wyper led his squad to embark on their own sea voyage.
Both teams coincidentally reunited at the port of Dressrosa.
"Law, are you planning to go after Doflamingo?" Wyper inquired with a smirk.
Law gave a slight nod. "First, we'll locate the land of Zou. After that, I'll make my move on Doflamingo!"
Finding Zou had always been Beppo's dream. With the New World now within their reach, it was the perfect opportunity.
"Alright, then let's see whose bounty rises faster!" Wyper laughed, his competitive spirit ignited.
"As a squad captain of the Thunder God Pirates, I still don't even have a single beri on my head!"
"Bring it on!" Law responded coolly, his confidence unwavering.
During the year of intense training, Law and Wyper had frequently sparred. Law's Op-Op Fruit allowed for instant spatial movement within a defined range, but Wyper's Bat-Bat Fruit could lock onto targets with incredible precision.
Wyper's natural talent for combat, combined with his mastery of the Marine Six Powers, had made their bouts evenly matched.
After agreeing on the wager, both captains set off with their respective crews—Wyper aboard a standard vessel, and Law on their original submarine.
With his squad captains gone, Sanders returned to his quarters.
Robin was seated on the sofa, a book in hand.
Sanders lay back, resting his head on her lap, eyes closed in mock slumber.
"They've all left?"
Robin's elegant fingers held the book steady as two additional hands—courtesy of the Flower-Flower Fruit—gently massaged Sanders' temples.
"Yes," Sanders replied lazily.
Over the past year, Robin's strength had grown significantly. Despite wearing Pure Gold, her development had not been hindered. In fact, she was now on the verge of awakening her Devil Fruit powers.
"Should I also take a squad out for some experience?" Robin asked, her tone calm, eyes still on the book.
"No need," Sanders said softly. "You've been through more life-and-death situations than all of them combined."
Since she was eight years old, Robin had been fleeing the World Government and the Marines. Her experiences far surpassed those of Law and Wapol combined.
Robin closed her book, placing it aside. She began kneading Sanders' shoulders with her hands.
"Don't you think it's time for you to head out as well?" she teased. "You've been keeping tabs on what the world's been saying about you."
Sanders smirked, opening his eyes. "It's about time I made an appearance. Can't have people thinking I'm dead."
"Besides," he continued, sitting up and pulling Robin into his arms, his fingers trailing along her smooth skin, "Whitebeard's getting old. If I don't challenge him now, it won't be any fun later."
For too long, Whitebeard had held the title of the World's Strongest.
But Sanders felt that era had come to an end.
Over the past year, he hadn't just been resting. He had perfected his mastery of numerous Devil Fruit abilities and developed countless new techniques.
His Heal-Heal Fruit had already reached awakening, thanks to Mansherry's guidance.
Sanders discovered that the fruit's ultimate ability—to restore anything to its original state—was hindered by two factors:
The lack of full awakening.
Mansherry's small stature and lower life force, which limited the fruit's potential.
Now, having pushed the fruit to its limits, Sanders was ready to take his ambitions to the seas once more.
The world wasn't prepared for what was coming.
With Sanders' robust physique and awakened mastery of the Heal-Heal Fruit, he had refined the ability to its pinnacle. Using the fruit's ultimate power no longer consumed his lifespan. Instead, the price was temporary physical weakness—a recovery period of approximately three days.
"Hmm~"
Robin couldn't help but let out a soft hum, her face tinged with exasperation as she glared at Sanders. She caught his mischievous hand mid-motion and warned:
"Be careful. Whitebeard may be old, but he's still the strongest in the world, reigning since Roger's time."
Sanders smirked, his confidence unwavering. "Do you still doubt my strength?"
"In a short while, the title of the world's strongest will change hands. Your man will be the one sitting on that throne!"
With a playful laugh, Sanders scooped Robin into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.
"In broad daylight? What are you doing?"
"What else?" Sanders grinned wickedly. "I'm leaving tomorrow. Gotta make up for lost time while I can!"
With a gentle thud, the door closed. He placed Robin on the bed and leaned over, a teasing smile on his face.
Moments later, the room was filled with Robin's soft, low murmurs.
The following day, after bidding Shirahoshi farewell, Sanders set sail.
During the year, Shirahoshi had returned to Fish-Man Island briefly before deciding to stay on Sky Island. King Neptune, who had visited twice, was relieved to see his daughter thriving and no longer held any grievances against Sanders.
This strengthened the ties between Fish-Man Island and Sky Island. Many fish-men and merfolk began visiting Sky Island, with some even deciding to settle there.
To accommodate them, Sanders had arranged for a new floating island to serve as a permanent residence for those who wished to stay.
Back on the sea, Sanders allowed his small vessel to drift along the waves.
Unlike soaring through the skies where strong winds risked blowing items off the deck, he preferred the steady rhythm of the ocean. The gentle ebb and flow of the waves made for a more relaxing journey.
After two days of sailing, he drew closer to the Moby Dick—the flagship of Whitebeard's fleet.
Elsewhere on the same sea, a mid-sized pirate ship, adorned with a black flag featuring a skull wearing a pirate hat, sailed in a direction that would soon intersect Sanders' path.
On the deck stood a tall, lean man with golden hair, his face pale with anxiety. "Captain, are we really going to challenge Whitebeard? He's a legend—someone who rivaled the Pirate King, Roger."
"Can't we wait a bit longer?" he pleaded, his voice trembling.
Standing before him was the ship's captain, a round, stout man clad in a black coat with a high collar. A black pirate hat sat atop his head, and a rapier hung at his side. He puffed on a cigar, his expression one of disdain.
"Stop being such a coward, my dear first mate!" the captain scoffed.
"I am Sward, the man who will become Pirate King! Whitebeard? Just a washed-up relic of the past!"
He burst into arrogant laughter. "To make it in the New World, we have to challenge a Yonko and claim their throne as a sea emperor!"
The first mate winced, his unease palpable. "But Whitebeard is a seasoned veteran. Can't we find another pirate crew to test ourselves against first?"
Sward waved dismissively. "Nonsense! They're all overrated! Every one of them will fall to my blade!"
"I'll take Whitebeard's head and show the world my power! A measly bounty of 400 million berries is nothing. My true worth is at least 4 billion!"
Unaware of the storm brewing ahead, Sanders leaned casually against the helm of his ship, gazing at the horizon.
He could feel the faint tremor of battle looming in the air. His lips curled into a smirk.
"Whitebeard, the era of the old guard is over. It's time to test myself against the legend."
The New World was about to witness a clash that would reshape its balance forever.
Despite his first mate's persistent warnings, Captain Sward remained resolute in his decision to challenge a Yonko. His arrogance left no room for retreat.
"Captain! A pirate ship spotted ahead, slightly to our starboard!" shouted a lookout from the crow's nest.
"Hm?"
Sward's cold gaze sharpened, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Another group heading to challenge Whitebeard?"
"Men! Turn the ship toward them! Roll out all the cannons! Sink that ship!"
"Whitebeard is my prey, and his head will be mine alone!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Under Sward's command, his crew sprang into action, adjusting the ship's course and readying the cannons.
Meanwhile, the golden-haired first mate exhaled in relief. Perhaps the approaching pirates were strong enough to deter his captain, or at least stall him.
Sward picked up a spyglass, peering at the distant ship. The vessel was much smaller than his own, and the sight prompted sneers from his crew.
"Is that supposed to be a pirate ship? Looks like a toy!" one of the officers mocked.
"It's tiny! Are they playing house?"
The crew's laughter filled the deck, but the first mate's face grew serious as he examined the pirate flag fluttering on the small ship's mast.
"Captain," he said with a frown. "That flag... it looks familiar."
"Oh?" Sward chuckled, lowering the spyglass. "Do you recognize it? Must belong to a somewhat noteworthy crew then."
The golden-haired first mate nodded, his expression darkening. "If I'm not mistaken, that's the flag of the Thunder God Pirates."
Sward paused, the name stirring vague memories. "Thunder God Pirates… oh, them! Weren't they the ones who got thrashed by Kaido and haven't shown their faces in over a year?"
"Yes, Captain," the first mate confirmed, his tone cautious. "The flag's lightning emblem is unmistakable."
Sward sneered. "So, they're just a bunch of cowards licking their wounds. Pathetic."
"Captain," the first mate interjected, his voice tinged with urgency. "It's said their captain, Sanders, is incredibly powerful. Some even call him the 'Fifth Emperor of the Sea.'"
"Hahaha! Fifth Emperor? What a joke!" Sward roared with laughter, dismissing the warning.
"If Sanders were truly that strong, why has he been hiding for a year? Clearly, Kaido broke him."
He grinned maliciously, gripping the hilt of his rapier. "This is perfect. Before I claim Whitebeard's head, I'll take Sanders' first. His scalp will be the offering for our rise to power!"
"Full speed ahead!" Sward barked, his voice brimming with ambition.
"Destroy the Thunder God Pirates and let the world know our name! Fame and fortune will be ours!"
"Yes, Captain!" the crew roared in unison, their eyes blazing with zeal.
"Fire the cannons! Sink that ship!"
The first mate sighed, a hint of resignation in his expression. He tightened his grip on his weapon, bracing for the inevitable battle.
Standing on the deck of his small ship, Sanders gazed calmly at the approaching vessel, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"A group of nobodies thinks they can challenge me?" he muttered, cracking his knuckles.
The air around him crackled with electricity, the faint hum of thunder reverberating across the sea.
"Let's teach them why I'm called the Thunder God."
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T/N:
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