Chapter 238: 238: The Great Powers Move, Stirring the Seas
Time passed swiftly.
In the blink of an eye—
There were only five days left until the agreed meeting at Punk Hazard.
All factions, whether sooner or later, had begun to take action.
…
New World, Dressrosa.
Zephyr led Ain, Binz, and the rest of the Neo Marines, sailing across the calm seas aboard five newly constructed warships provided by Dressrosa. Their destination: the waters of Punk Hazard.
…
Elsewhere, Kaido of the Beasts set sail from Wano with an overwhelming force.
Jack, Queen, Yamato, the Tobiroppo, the elite Gifters, and the most formidable Shinuchi—all of them, the strongest Zoan-type Devil Fruit users—stood upon the decks of more than fifty massive warships, each bristling with cannons. The fleet advanced like a rolling storm, unstoppable and terrifying.
Wherever the Beast Pirates' Armada passed—
Ordinary people, veteran pirates of the New World, and even the major forces of the underworld trembled at the sight.
"The Beast Pirates are really going all in this time…"
A cold sweat dripped down someone's forehead.
"Gulp."
Another swallowed hard, their voice shaking.
"The world… is truly heading toward war."
…
Meanwhile, Law and the Heart Pirates had already arrived at Sabaody Archipelago, successfully regrouping with the Straw Hat Crew.
…
From Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock led a thousand elite Kuja warriors, each proficient in Armament and Observation Haki. The massive Kuja Pirate Ship sailed fearlessly through the Calm Belt, heading straight for Sabaody.
…
From the shadows, Dragon and the Revolutionary Army moved as well.
Their fleet emerged from the Four Seas into the Grand Line, a formidable armada cutting through the waves. Cloaked in black, the revolutionaries stood tall on their ships, gripping rifles and swords, their gazes resolute and unwavering. The sheer presence of their force sent chills down the spines of those who beheld them.
As the fleet passed near Water 7, its citizens gathered at the shores, murmuring anxiously among themselves.
A heavy sense of unease loomed over the city.
The revolutionary fleet pressed forward, navigating into the dense fog of the Florian Triangle—the infamous Devil's Triangle.
With a mere gesture, Dragon summoned a mighty gale, scattering the thick mist like torn parchment, revealing a clear path through the treacherous waters.
But as the fog lifted—
A colossal, ghostly ship loomed in the distance.
…
"That's… a lot of ships," Perona gasped, shading her eyes as she looked toward the dark mass of vessels breaking through the mist. Her voice trembled. "Moria, what is that?!"
Gecko Moria's face turned pale as sweat dripped down his temples.
"T-The Revolutionary Army?!"
Perona's shriek echoed across the deck.
"They have this many troops?!"
"Forget that! We need to get out of here—now!"
Heart pounding, Moria barked orders, commanding the massive vessel to retreat deeper into the mist, avoiding contact with the revolutionary fleet at all costs.
On the flagship, Sabo stood at the bow, his fingers brushing the brim of his hat as he gazed at the ghostly ship with amusement.
"So… Moria, huh?"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"I'll be right back."
Before anyone could react, his body transformed into pure golden light—Flash!
With an explosive burst of speed, he shot toward the ghostly island.
…
"Ugh, Sabo's acting on his own again…"
Koala puffed her cheeks, placing her hands on her hips as she watched the golden streak cut across the sky.
"Ever since he ate the Glint-Glint Fruit, he's been getting way too reckless!"
Turning toward Dragon, she huffed, "Commander, you should really talk some sense into him!"
Dragon, his gaze fixed on the horizon, nodded slightly.
"I will."
…
Just as the ghost ship veered away, disappearing back into the mist, Moria exhaled in relief—
But before he could finish his sigh…
The sky flashed with a dazzling burst of light.
Wearing a hat, a trench coat, and black gloves, Sabo suddenly appeared in the air above Moria and Perona, startling them both.
Moria's heart skipped a beat when he recognized Sabo, the highly active figure from the Marineford War.
Why was the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army here?!
"Gecko Moria, huh?"
Sabo smiled down at him. "I heard that my little brother, Luffy, received quite the hospitality from you last time."
Moria's pupils contracted slightly.
And in the very next instant—
A brilliant flash of light erupted.
Before Moria could even react, a powerful kick sent him flying like a meteor, tearing through countless buildings before crashing into a distant hill.
With a thunderous rumble, the hill crumbled into rubble.
…
Holy Land, Mary Geoise – Inside the World Government Headquarters
In the extravagant and regal conference hall, a round-table meeting was taking place.
Seated at the table were:
- Supreme Commander of the World Government's military, Kong.
- Marine Fleet Admiral, Sengoku.
- Marine Chief of Staff, Tsuru.
- Marine Admirals: Akainu, Aokiji, and Fujitora.
- Vice Admirals and Admiral Candidates: Aramaki, Gion, and Chaton.
- The Supreme Commander of CP0 along with two of his subordinates.
Kong clasped his hands together on the table and turned toward the CP0 officials.
"Any updates on their movements?"
The CP0 leader gestured toward one of his subordinates.
"Report the current situation."
"Yes, sir."
A CP0 agent, clad in an eerie white mask and bizarre attire, held up a report and began relaying the latest intelligence:
"In the New World, Kaido has already set sail for Punk Hazard, leading the Beasts Pirates with fifty-three heavily armed warships and a total force of thirty thousand men."
"Marco, Ace, and the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates have departed from Fish-Man Island toward the New World, numbering around nineteen thousand."
"Two days ago, the Sabaody Archipelago completely fell out of government control. The Worst Generation's Eustass Kid Pirates, Hawkins Pirates, and Fire Tank Pirates, along with former Warlord of the Sea Trafalgar Law, have allied with the Straw Hat Pirates, taking full control of the island and cutting off communications. We currently have no means of assessing the situation in Sabaody."
"Former Warlord of the Sea, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock is also leading the elite warriors of Amazon Lily toward Sabaody."
"As for the Revolutionary Army, Monkey D. Dragon has mobilized his forces—104 large warships, 21 smaller vessels, with an estimated force exceeding 200,000 soldiers. They have crossed the Florian Triangle and are now also headed for Sabaody."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the report concluded.
"Two hundred thousand men…"
Kong's voice was deep and grave. "The Revolutionary Army has grown this powerful under our noses?"
"For too long, the World Government has focused its efforts on controlling the seas," the CP0 leader said coldly. "That negligence has allowed the Revolutionary Army to expand unchecked. After their conquest of Tequila Wolf, their numbers skyrocketed."
"Numbers alone aren't the issue."
Sengoku spoke up, his tone measured. "If it were simply a matter of manpower, we have nearly a million troops at our disposal. We would still hold the overwhelming advantage. But war isn't won by numbers alone."
"Agreed," said Tsuru, her expression solemn. "The key to this war lies in top-tier combat power. That will determine the true victor."
Sengoku turned to Akainu.
"How is the situation with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit?"
Akainu's voice was cold and confident.
"Weevil has adapted well to the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, though he's nowhere near Whitebeard's level. At best, his destructive capability is about half of what Whitebeard displayed during Marineford."
"Half of Whitebeard's power is still more than enough."
Kong nodded in satisfaction before turning to Aokiji.
"What about Blackbeard's subordinates? Are they willing to cooperate with us in exchange for a seat among the Warlords?"
Aokiji responded calmly.
"Shiryu of the Rain, Jesus Burgess, and Van Augur have agreed to the deal."
"Additionally, Magellan has completed the transition of his duties at Impel Down and is ready to join the battlefield at any time."
"Good work."
Kong exhaled slightly. "That will be the extent of our forces."
He turned to Sengoku.
"I'll leave the battle formations and strategic planning to you."
Sengoku's eyes burned with determination.
"Understood."
…
The Highest Authority of the World Government – The Five Elders
In a secluded chamber, the Five Elders observed the meeting through a hidden transmission.
"We should discuss this with the Celestial Dragons… It's time to retrieve that."
"Are you certain? Using it now could be… unpredictable."
"As a precaution, we must prepare."
"You're right. We are responsible for the entire world. We cannot entrust everything to those below us."
"...Very well. Let's begin the arrangements."