One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

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In the Marine branch office at Logue Town...

"I told you! I'm going to the Grand Line!" Smoker's bloodshot eyes glared at the transponder snail as he yelled into it, his voice thick with frustration.

"Calm down, Smoker! We're talking about a man who can completely paralyze you with a single wave of Conqueror's Haki. What do you think you can do, even if you go after him?" The voice on the other end shouted back, equally as intense.

Boom! 

Smoker's fist crashed into the table, his nails digging into his palms until blood trickled down his arms like that of a wounded beast.

He clenched his hands and stared at them, feeling a sense of powerlessness creeping over him. What could he even do if he did pursue? Could he bring Tashigi back? Could he even arrest Portgas D. Ace?

No. If Ace unleashed his Conqueror's Haki again, Smoker would be knocked unconscious without even putting up a fight.

Am I... afraid of him?

The thought struck Smoker as he looked at the blood on his hands. For the first time, he felt truly weak.

"I need to return to headquarters... and get stronger!" Smoker spoke firmly into the transponder snail, his resolve shining through his voice.

"I'll report your request," the voice replied before the line went dead with a sharp click.

"Portgas D. Ace..." Smoker muttered, his eyes locked on the bounty poster before him. Bloodshot and intense, his stare didn't waver.

Without even fighting, that man had overpowered him with just his Haki. 

"I will arrest you!" Smoker whispered, suppressing the dull ache left in his chest by the impact of Ace's Haki.

——

At the Naval Headquarters, Marineford…

Bang! Major Brannew slapped Ace's newly updated bounty poster onto the board. Around him, the seasoned generals of Marine Headquarters sat in a tense silence, their eyes sharp and focused. Unlike the officers in branch divisions, these were the true backbone of the Navy—veterans hardened by countless battles.

"This man, Portgas D. Ace, a Logia-type Devil Fruit user of the Mera Mera no Mi... He recently destroyed the Arlong Pirates in East Blue. Arlong himself had a bounty of 20 million Baileys," Brannew announced loudly, his voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere.

The seated generals listened carefully as Brannew continued. "Ace also killed Colonel Nezumi and openly defied Marine Headquarters during a transponder snail broadcast."

Brannew's gaze swept across the room, locking eyes with the battle-hardened officers. "According to recent reports from Captain Smoker, Portgas D. Ace possesses Conqueror's Haki."

At that, the room erupted.

"What?!"

"This greenhorn has Conqueror's?!"

Several generals shot up from their seats, their pupils dilated in shock. One of them slammed the table in disbelief.

Conqueror's Haki... in East Blue? A sea known as the weakest, with bounties typically no higher than a few million Baileys? A newcomer, fresh out of the East Blue, wielding such power?

Only a handful of individuals in the entire Marine Headquarters possessed Conqueror's Haki. Even among them, it was rare.

Brannew continued, his voice grave. "This man wiped out the entire Logue Town Marine branch using nothing but his Conqueror's Haki."

The room fell deathly silent. Cold sweat dripped down the backs of several high-ranking officers.

Annihilation? Did that mean even Smoker, a Logia-user and a disciple of the renowned Admiral Zephyr, had been incapacitated without resistance?

Impossible!

Smoker wasn't just any branch officer. Despite his aggressive nature and insubordination, his strength was undeniable. He wielded the Smoke-Smoke Fruit, a Logia-type Devil Fruit, and his power surpassed many of the Commodores at Headquarters. And yet, he had been completely overpowered by Ace's Conqueror Haki.

Some of the officers dared to entertain a terrifying thought—could Ace be another Red-Haired? No, that couldn't be possible. One Red-Haired Pirate was already enough to give the entire Marine force a headache. Another one? That would be a nightmare.

But still, the thought lingered in the room like an unwelcome guest.

"This man... also kidnapped one of Smoker's subordinates, a female officer," Brannew said, pinning a photo of Tashigi next to Ace's bounty poster. "He calls himself Flame Emperor."

Though the abduction was mentioned, it was brushed aside by the generals. In comparison to the revelation that Ace possessed Conqueror's Haki, this was a minor issue.

Brannew's tone darkened as he delivered the final blow. "Ace's power is beyond what any branch of the Marine can handle. Even here, at Headquarters, we would face severe losses without the leadership of a Vice Admiral or higher."

The officers grew more solemn with each passing word.

"More importantly, we still don't know the limits of his strength. Without a Vice Admiral or higher leading the pursuit, the chances of capturing him are close to zero."

The generals exchanged grave looks. A pirate who had only just made his debut, already requiring the attention of Vice Admirals? These were the Marine's most elite forces—officers capable of commanding a Buster Call, the Navy's ultimate attack.

"We must warn all Marine branches. If they encounter Portgas D. Ace, they are to report to Headquarters immediately and avoid direct confrontation. We cannot afford unnecessary losses," Brannew concluded.

The room remained heavy with tension. The officers knew all too well that numbers meant nothing against someone with Conqueror's Haki. Weak soldiers would simply fall like leaves in a storm.

Brannew's voice cut through the silence one last time. "This man's latest bounty..."

Slap! 

He posted Ace's new bounty on the board, causing an almost palpable shift in the room's atmosphere.

"Portgas D. Ace, aka Flame Emperor. Dead or alive. Bounty: 85 million Baileys!"

The assembled officers stared at the poster, their minds racing with thoughts of what this would mean. Many realized this bounty would draw the attention of countless pirates, eager to challenge Ace.

"No matter what, justice will prevail!" One of the Rear Admirals stood up and marched out, his resolve unwavering. Outside, the neatly lined-up Marines stood at attention.

"We are the guardians of justice! Absolute justice, in the name of the Navy!" the Rear Admiral proclaimed.

"Hurrah!" the sailors roared in unison, their swords raised high.

——

Meanwhile, Ace—unaware that his bounty had been updated once again—stood on the deck of the Going Merry, gazing ahead.

"So this is Reverse Mountain... It's even more incredible than I imagined," Ace said, adjusting his hat as he admired the towering Red Line and the extraordinary channel of water flowing upward.

With a smile, he spread his arms wide, embracing the awe-inspiring view before him.