The old caravel glided into port like a lover returning, sails whispering her secrets to any who cared to listen. The strange wanderers had been at sea near a month, and fair Loguetown rising before them shone as a mirage in the desert, promise of life returned at journey's end.
The captain lolled at the rails, hat tilted just so and grin stretching as elastic as the limbs beneath it. The captain was ever an oddity, yet odder still was the uncanny gift awakening within him. Haki, he called it—an inner sight piercing veils of the visible world, reaching out to brush each living soul abiding in the town ahead.
His chuckle rang out free as seagulls crying, popping knuckles loud as firecrackers. "Shishishi! What say we go stretch our legs, eh friends?" The motley crew gave a roar of assent, half seadogs itching for tavern revels and other half monsters longing to prowl where mortals teemed.
And so at the docks they made their gaudy procession, each outlandish as the last, captain strolling at their helm. The eyes of all Loguetown turned out to mark their passing, whispering rumors of the feats wrought at Arlong Park and half-believing yarns of powers strange as any devil's handiwork. Little did they know what now came calling at their gates, demons and drakes wearing human grins, led by a chosen fool with destiny writ large as any signpost for the course ahead.
The times were turning strange as sea-change, age of wonders waking from slumber to challenge all that came before. And heralding each marvel bleak and bright, calamity and cheer in equal measure, strode their champion marked both bane and blessing; light to some as beacons in the dark, and to others doom with every dawn's first gleaming ray.
So milled the huddled masses, seeing without comprehending the terrors and tempests to break upon the morrow. But for today the sun shone golden-bright, and they its heralds wandered laughing into the breach, hunting adventure down each cobbled street and alleyway where shadows clung. The feast was laid before them, and all the world their thralls to play with as the whim took them. Glory and chaos, hand in hand went they to claim their due.
"Time for a little demonstration, don't you think?" the captain said.
Zoro smirked, resting a hand on each of his swords. "About time. I was getting bored." His Haki-infused blades hummed with energy, eager to slice through anything in their path.
"I can't wait to try out my new Clima-Tact!" Nami exclaimed. She spun her staff with blinding speed, conjuring a miniature thundercloud that rumbled ominously above her head.
The motley crew gave a roar of assent, half seadogs itching for tavern revels and other half monsters longing to prowl where mortals teemed. And so at the docks they made their gaudy procession, each outlandish as the last, captain strolling at their helm.
The marksman twirled a pistol around his finger, soru-stepping up walls and across water as light as any feather. The orange-haired thief sprouted limbs like branches at her whim, weaving a cloak of invisibility with a wink of her too-clever eyes.
The blonde cook spun fiery kick after kick, shredding empty barrels into smoking shards and blowing craters in the cobbled stones underfoot. A whirlwind of blades heralded the swordsman's coming, carving furrows in every surface within his hawk-eyed sight. The long-nosed liar plucked tales from the air as easily as the tune he coaxed from his violin, bending truth into grand illusion on a whim.
Each smiling monster bore gifts to match their captain's own, powers awakened by ordeal and meditation and instincts as primal as any beast's. They were creatures one and all now barely contained behind human masks, drunk on strength and skills ordeained by fate to shake the world.
The captain's chest swelled fit to burst at the merry chaos wrought by his unlikely flock. Glories and hardships they had shared in equal measure, bonds forged by struggle into chains no force of hell or heaven could break. In the space of a season they had matured into terrors and champions both, ready to blaze a trail through flame and shadow side by side.
So wandered the heralds into the fray with laughter loud and songs of old, doom and delight in every step. Behind bright smiles lurked the monsters men had made them, horrors half-glimpsed in the space between heartbeats.
Mortals milled and mingled, blind to the freaks and fiends prowling in their midst. But legends straying into forbidden lands must always take toll, and the devil himself walked abroad today wearing a straw hat and smile to chill the burning sun.
The world awaited their debut in trembling suspense, though what curtain rose on portents bleak or glad none yet could say. And striding at the vanguard of each coming tempest went their captain, weaving chaos with his every breath.
"All right, let's go wild!" Luffy cried, shooting off the ship with a burst of Soru speed. His crew whooped with glee, following swiftly after their captain. The poor unsuspecting townspeople of Loguetown were in for a shock. They had no idea what was about to hit them.
The captain's senses unfurled to brush every inch of the town, graspng at strands of intent and whispers of the yet-to-come. Out among the tangle of lives ablaze with purpose mundane, one thread burned venomous as any asp - a flickering serpent coiled to strike from the shadows.
Luffy's grin stretched wide, popping knuckles loud as gunfire. Adventure had come calling right on cue. "Shishishi! Found ya." In a blur of motion too swift to trace he vanished over rooftops, following that trail of ill will to its source.
There in a dingy side-street cowered the remnants of a once-proud crew, reduced to skulking vermin since their defeat at Arlong Park. The captain chortled, perching atop a chimney to peer down at his quarry like some feathered trickster-god.
"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Buggy!" The clown pirate startled at his name on those mocking lips, peering in vain for the owner of that voice. In a shower of tiles his sworn enemy dropped without warning before him, straw hat shading mischief-glinting eyes.
The clown squeaked in dismay, scrambling back with arms windmilling. His crew stood frozen between fight or flight, awaiting the order that might save or doom them all.
Luffy cocked his head aside in patent curiosity. " Not still sore about last time, are ya? I was only paying back what I owed." He shrugged, dismissing old grievances with the ease of passing clouds.
Buggy growled low in his throat, pride demanding vengeance for the wrongs suffered at this whelp's hands. But fear held fury in check, whispering reminders of strange skills and shadowed monsters flanking the youth who stood so nonchalant before them now.
The captain sighed, shaking his head in mock regret. " And here I thought we could be friends. My nakama get so excited meeting old faces again." As if summoned by his words, familiar horrors peered around corners with hungry stares; The green-haired thrill-seeker cleaning his nails with a dagger. The orange-haired witch sprouting phantom limbs. The cook wreathed in flames, cigarette dangling from smirking lips.
Buggy met each grinning nightmare in turn, bravado melting away to leave stark terror unveiled. His crew trembled as beasts scenting prey, awaiting only the word to pounce - and there at the heart of the horror stood their master, giving a cheery wave with fingers like guns.
"Now, let's not make my friends impatent. How about we pick up where we left off?" Laughter followed swift and dire as any executioner's blade. The clown pirate wailed, stumbling over himself to escape the devils loosed upon his heels.
And over quieted streets rang the peals of a laughter fit to wake the dead, heralding the coming of a new age in which all sins and old scores gathered now for payment due. The times, it seemed, were turning strange indeed.
"Buggy's here. And he's brought friends."
His crew gathered around him, a fierce light in their eyes. "Snipers on the rooftops," Zoro reported, gesturing to several buildings. "At least a dozen. Armed with rifles and cannons."
"Leave the snipers to me," Usopp said, loading a Haki-infused pellet into his slingshot. "I'll take them out before they even know what hit them."
"The rest of you, follow me," Luffy ordered. "It's time to say hello to our old pal Buggy." He shot off toward the alleyway, his crew hot on his heels.
Buggy emerged at the end of the alley, flanked by his subordinates. "Well, well, if it isn't Straw Hat Luffy," he sneered. "Back for another beating?"
"We've gotten a lot stronger since we last met," Luffy scoffed. "You might actually put up a fight this time."
Rage twisted Buggy's painted face. "You insolent brat! Get him!"
Buggy's motley horde came on in a surge of gnashing steel and bellows fit to wake the dead. Their captain capered at the rear, urging his pawns to the attack with frenzied gesticulation.
Luffy snorted, sidestepping each lumbering blow by a hairsbreadth. Clumsy blades whistled past to skitter off stone walls, hacking chips from the cobbles underfoot. The youth wove between their ranks untouched, hands stuffed in pockets like some vagabond without a care.
A heartbeat later the first brute fell, eyes rolling up in his skull. None had seen the blow land, but its mate came swift on its heels; another thug collapsed as if poleaxed, limbs asprawl.
The captain sighed, dodging axe and cutlass with hands still pocketed. "Too slow." Soru-quick blows landed with meaty thuds, crumpling forms that flailed one instant and lay unmoving the next.
Panic raced through the horde as comrades dropped before some shadowy doom. Blades slashed empty air and boots scrambled for purchase, all formation shattered in the press to escape whatever curse had claimed their brethren.
Luffy plucked at wayward limbs as they flew past, pitching heavily-breathing bodies into snoring piles. The alleyway grew choked with the limp and slumbering dead, felled by fists and feet alone.
A stray cutlass winged past to nick the captain's cheek, drawing a hiss between clenched teeth. Now annoyance flickered in those eyes, humor fading before a wrath as black as the powers at his beck and call. He surged forward in a streak of scarlet and gold, anger lending speed to every step.
The horde descended into shrieking panic. Swords and axes raised in trembling hands against the monster rampaging through their ranks; specter of death wearing a straw hat, stealing souls with a touch.
In the space between eyeblinks limbs were sundered clean off. Steel shattered into glittering fragments under haki-hardened fists. The captain wove chaos with each blow, breaking bodies as easily as matchwood against the fearsome skills at his command.
When the last thug had been cast into oblivion Luffy stood amidst the wreckage, dusting off gloved hands with a satisfied nod. The alley lay in ruins around his feet, choked with the fallen.
Laughter echoed between narrow walls, hint of dangers vast as the sea and changeless as the tide. The times were turning strange indeed, and at their front strode champions borne of ordeals bleak as any pit—monsters in the shape of men, claiming due and glory both with careless cheer. Legends in the making wandered here today.
"Or not …"
Buggy gaped at the display, stunned into silence. Then Luffy was in front of him, fist pulled back for a punch. "Surrender," Luffy commanded, dark eyes gleaming, "or I won't hold back."
Buggy's eyes bulged. He promptly passed out, foam dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Pathetic," Zoro scoffed, sheathing his swords. The rest of the crew emerged from the alleyway, victorious grins on their faces.
"We'll find you a better challenge next time," Luffy promised. "For now, the day is ours!"
Luffy laughed.
The townspeople swarmed around the Straw Hats, clapping them on the back and offering thanks. Luffy grinned at their enthusiasm, basking in the glow of victory and admiration.
A piercing scream cut through the revelry. The crowd parted to reveal a middle-aged man pointing at the docks, face pale with terror. "It's Smoker!"
The captain's gaze narrowed upon a familiar figure prowling the docks ahead, smoke and scorn swirling together in his wake. No mortal man but force of lawless justice given flesh, come to claim what was not his to take.
Smoker stalked the pier with labored steps, eyes fixed on the shrinking sail where wonders fled his grasp. The taste of smoke and ash hung bitter on the breeze, powers that once cowed lesser souls roused now to righteous indignation. His curse rose restless, pluming escape in puffs and gouts with every breath.
Luffy swung atop the mast in a burst of soru speed, peering down at the hunter turned prey this day. No fear stirred at the lawman's approach but amusement instead, humor to match the smiles breaking like the dawn across his scattered flock. The times were ripe for legends, and old scores gathered due demanding payment now in full.
"Oi, Smokey!" Laughter rang across the narrowing gulf between. "Come to see us off?"
The captain took grim offense, jitte clutched in whitened knuckles. "Don't take me for a fool, Straw Hat. I'm bringing you in." Smoke rose in writhing coils, serpents eager for the strike.
Luffy cocked his head, smile fading with pretense of good will. His crew paused in their labors, awaiting the word to turn powers honed past human ken upon their hapless prey. "We've no time for your games today. Be off before my friends grow impatient."
A hush fell sudden as the grave, thicker than smoke and weighing mortal souls beneath its pall. The lawman stood alone now where devils prowled in plain sight, beasts that once cowered from his gift now stalking without fear of reprimand. The board lay bare between them, pieces poised for horrors yet unveiled.
Smoker paled, curses melting into futile wisps against such dire skills. For the first time misgivings stirred of dangers vast unleashed beyond recall by feeble mortal whims. The age was dawning strange and fell indeed, and terrors wandered here no more his strength could quell.
Retreat alone remained, leave horrors to their hunt and live to stand against them on some empty day to come. The lawman turned away in silence, cloak of dignity wrapped close against the terror and defeat alike. His kingdom faded into ruins with each retreating step, crumbling before champions of a dawn no earthly power might outrun.
And so times change as titans rising from the deep, heedless of the realms that fall away into their stride. The board lay ravaged, pieces fleeing wild before such gambits grim, with only stragglers remaining now where once proud legions stood arrayed. The dogs of law slunk off to lick their wounds and mourn glories lost, while wonders wandered laughing on their way.
Legends loosed upon the waking world this day.
"He must have seen the fight," Zoro said grimly, hand dropping to his swords.
"Let me handle this," Luffy said. He walked forward to meet Smoker, hands tucked into his pockets. The two captains stopped a few feet apart, sizing each other up.
Smoker's gaze raked over Luffy, noting signs of growth and new strength. "Straw Hat," he grunted. "You've gotten stronger. Wait… no… that's impossible…"
"So have you," Luffy said evenly. His Observation Haki probed Smoker, detecting a core of righteousness beneath the gruff exterior. "But you don't actually want to hurt anyone here, do you?"
Smoker's eyes widened fractionally. He took a long drag of his cigar, smoke coiling around his head. "You're smarter than you look, brat. More dangerous too."
"I get that a lot," Luffy said with a cheeky grin. "How about we call it a draw this time? You go back to chasing real criminals, and we'll be on our way."
"Tch. You're still a pirate," Smoker said. But there was a hint of wry respect in his tone.
How the hell are we supposed to fight this guy? Smoker thought.
The lawman stood alone amidst the ruins of the fair world he knew, smoke coiling into futile knots against the doom unleashed this day. His gift rose restless yet diminished, vainly grasping for the heights of power that once turned mortal hearts to stone. Those glory days had sunk beyond recall, and with them crumbled the kingdom of his making into dust.
Luffy peered down with humor faded into warnings dire as any executioner's drum. The board lay ravaged between them, followers turned to terrors vast and fell, unleashed by ordeals to shake the firmament itself. No force of heaven or hell could drive back the age they heralded, its champions bearing down upon the dying age in peals of mirth too merry for such bleak tidings.
Smoker clenched his fists until knuckles stood as bone, longing for the strength that once gave pause to even nightmares such as these. But fate had turned against him, granting favors fell to those who walked a different path. His Haki lay diminished, helpless to defend against the newfound gifts this upstart crew commanded. Only withdrawl remained from perils now beyond him.
The lawman nodded once, bitter pill of wisdom swallowed against inclination. This round went to the dogs unleashed, the powers that be cast down before the coming era's dawn. Today retreat alone could salvage dignity from defeat, leave terrors to their hunt and weather changeless change when next they crossed down days yet to come.
Luffy's grin stretched with victories both claimed and promised, mysteries to match the monsters gathered at his call. But honor lingered yet amidst the coming storm, granting enemies their due when glory's hour was won. "Be off with you then, and take your paltry smoke tricks, Smokey. We've giants to hunt, and no time for your mischief."
The board lay bare between them; hard-learned lessons of the fray etched into the cobbles still remaining. Kings rose and fell before the eternal change; today a straw hat ruled where seasoned conquerors had failed. No mortal power could stand against such gambits grim and fell, against the age awakening with madmen at its helm.
So passed the champions into lore this day, and with them went the world now fading back into dreams. Ruins alone remained where sages once proclaimed eternal law, and stout hearts quailed to see such glories lost before the new dawn's spread. The times were turning strange indeed, beyond all reason's rule or call. And doom strode on before them, wild at heart and trailing laughter fit to wake the dead. Legends unbound went they upon their way.
Through gritted teeth, Smoker said, "You've won this round, Straw Hat. But don't think you've seen the last of me."
Luffy just grinned and tipped his hat. "Wouldn't dream of it, Smokey!"
As the Straw Hats sailed off into the horizon, Smoker stared after them, jaw tight. Someday, he would be strong enough to take Luffy down. He had to believe that.
A few yards away, Tashigi confronted Zoro, hand tight around the hilt of her sword. "You have my men's swords. I demand a duel to get them back."
Zoro studied her with a bored expression, arms crossed over his chest. "Those swords chose me as their master. I won't be giving them up."
"You arrogant—!" Tashigi lunged, blade flashing.
Zoro drew one of his swords in a smooth motion, deflecting her attack with ease. "I already told you, woman. You're not skilled enough to defeat me."
Tashigi attacked again and again, fury etched into every line of her face, but each strike was parried by Zoro's single dagger, the very same Mihawk used against him. Finally, she staggered back, chest heaving.
"Had enough?" Zoro asked.
Panting, Tashigi shook her head. "Never!" She charged at him once more.
The swordsman sighed, weariness seeping into marrow and soul alike. These bouts grew tiresome as a mummer's farce, chasing doomed hearts and feeble skills against the powers time and fate had granted. Glory flickered for a heartbeat, then guttered into smoke and ash.
His rival stood with blade unsheathed, trembling from more than exertions of the flesh. The frontrunner peered through eyes unseeing, fixed upon the fairer worlds beyond this ruin. Her weapon glittered with intent, serpent coiled to strike in vain. Its mistress longed for legends lost, refusing still to wake into the age of new wonders come.
A flash of steel too swift for mortal sight, and the lawman's blade went spinning end o'er end to land quivering in the earth. Again the wanderer sighed, shaking his head in mock regret. These bouts were tiresome as the cries of gulls, chasing things now little more than dreams against the doom unleashed today.
The girl gasped, hands grasping empty air where once her sword had lain. At last misgivings stirred of fatal hour now at hand, the kingdom's fall no earthly skill could salvage. Yet still she scowled defiance at the heralds dire of dawn's first gleaming, unwilling or unable yet to yield before its light.
Tashigi froze, eyes wide. Zoro slid his sword back into its sheath. "Go home, little girl. You're out of your league."
He turned and walked away, ignoring Tashigi's wordless cry of rage behind him. His crew was waiting, and they had places to go.
Zoro rejoined his crew as they finished mopping up the last of the Buggy Pirates. Luffy grinned at him, fists on his hips. "Took you long enough! I was starting to think that woman had actually managed to beat you."
Zoro snorted. "As if. She's not worth the effort. Not yet, at least."
"Shishishi!" Luffy laughed. "Well, let's get going. Nami says there's a huge storm coming, and she wants to get into it before it hits!"
"Of course she does," Sanji muttered, already heading for the ship. The rest of the crew followed.
Zoro paused, glancing back at Tashigi one last time. She was still standing where he had left her, staring at the sword embedded in the ground. He sighed. "Hey, Tashigi!"
She looked up, eyes flashing. Zoro jerked his head toward the sword. "You'll want to pull that out before the storm hits. Wouldn't want it to get ruined."
The swordsman turned away into the rout, pace quickening before pursuit took form. Behind him rage shook mortal hearts bereft, shaking the fair world into ruins dire with feeble cries and pounding feet. A smile plucked at his lips to hear such antics fond yet futile, chasing legends into the dark beyond all reason's rule.
His rival shrieked with weapon freed at last from earth, too late awakening into the new age now at hand. Her kingdom crumbled into loss with each retreating tread, fair world given way before grim heralds of the dawn. Still she came on, demons goading blindly at her heels while powers grasped in vain for glories fallen now beyond recall.
Zoro chuckled low, a thing of dark and bladeless mirth. These feeble souls could hound him into perdition's iron grasp in vain. Their gifts amounted to madness, measured against strange skills honed deep within the dark of time and fate. No force of heaven or hell remained beyond the champions awakened this dread morn.
Too swift her feet, too late her eyes unbound; again he sighed to know such faithful hearts now fell before the new age coming. Ruin claimed its due when kingdoms rose and fell as changless as the tide. Though bitter came its pill, wisdom lingered in defeat alone this twilight hour. Retreat must serve where once bright blades had flashed, behind him fading into futile screams against the dying light.
The wanderer strode on into the deep amidst his scattered flock, leaving mortal men bereft to rattle empty cages in his wake. Their antics grew familiar as the gull's harsh cries, chasing souls long fled and powers diminished into smoke against the madness now unleashed. His smile stretched with secrets grim and fell, mysteries to match the monsters gathered at his call.
She was far too easy to rile up, that woman.
By the time Zoro reached the Merry , the rest of the crew was already on board, preparing to set sail. Luffy waved to him from the helm, grin stretched wide across his face. "Time for an adventure!"
Zoro settled into his usual spot and let the familiar sounds of his crew readying the ship wash over him. Yes, it was good to be back on the sea, chasing storms and adventures with these idiots he called friends.
The navigator's call rang loud to stir slack souls from revels into the fray, pace quickening with wonders vast awaiting now beyond thought's rule. The caravel leaped at her word, sails unfolding to grasp the wind and bear grim heralds far from dying days into doubt's sea-dark deep.
Allures of the new age linger still to pluck at mortal hearts grown cold, chase souls along strange paths no earthly voice could call them back. And at their helm the endless dawn took form, wild souls unleashed on the waking world at last with pied piper's song.
The stormclouds gathered as at their mistress' whim, veiling the heavens and each bleak portent in their shroud. Their coming heralded fresh perils to shake the firmament, dark as the doom and promise intertwined with every league now fled into the deep. Lightning split the pall on high to cast strange shadows over souls and boards alike, etching warnings dire and deep as any epitaph of kingdoms lost.
All fade and fall away unmourned before grim heralds of the coming age. Their tread gave speed and potence to hidden harmonies until now silent, notes to pluck at mortal hearts and set strange paths aright. The chorus swelled as hounds unleashed upon a scent, matched by the percussion of slack canvas fillled and boards protesting their advance. The times were turning strange to music fell as any knell.
The sea rose wild beneath their passing, chasing doubtful souls too late awakened to dead yesterdays beyond reprieve. No earthly voice remained to call them back from perils chosen and strange horizons far from reason's rule. Light died in fitful flashes, gleaming from strange souls and blades alike honed in the deep, as dangers dire took form at last given flesh.
On sped the caravel through breakers steel-capped, plunging heedless into mysteries and madnesses unleashed until now in dreams alone. Its mistress wove bright strands of fate and melody to bind strange wanderers in her train, plucking at their hearts until all lure of soft and simple days had fled. By wonder's gift and doom's design they came with dawn's pale gleaming, nature's dissent sung at their passing and strange harmonies to shake the spheres; immortal's doom-song skirling fit to rive the veils of night.
So passed grim heralds into legends fell and fair, heeding wonder's call into strange seas and perils eternal as the tides. Light flickered in the deep, coiling swift and silver around willing thralls ensnared by dream and design alike undone. The board lay ravaged, pieces fled beyond reprieve; and in their wake went wisest fools with piper's song, unleashed onto the waking world at last by fate's fell hand. The light paled strange upon strange souls, and fresh horizons stirred from slumber deep, as doom strode off before them into the dark of storms, of ages waking now to wonders wild.
The elders gathered as dying stars around a guttering flame, grave voices falling soft with portents grim unveiled at council this dire morn. Their kingdom crumbled into loss with each faint scratch of quill on parchment, warnings from lands asea brought now with breathless haste before frail eyes.
Brows furrowed deep as chasms yawning at their feet, crags and gullies etched by ages and dread cares alike. Feeble hearts quailed within withered husks to know strange tidings come, disasters vast as empires fallen loosed until now in idle fancy. their fair world given way before grim heralds of the dawn, no mortal power might stand against such gambits dark.
A chill crept through the hall as tombs long sealed, stirring ancient sins and secret shames unearthed by day's pale gleaming. Vainly had they labored through long years to purge all strangeness from the waking world, bind wonder's call behind cold iron doors of reason chained. Yet still dark melody lingered to pluck at mortal souls, unleashing doom and promise both in turn. Their kingdom crumbled with each portent brought ablaze, laws and lives alike unmade by terrors earthly might could ill outface.
They clutched with palsied hands at fading power, a thing diminished into smoke against such dire skills. Once glory cowed both mortal and immortal souls to bend as now before its rule, age of order holding chaos chained by hallowed writ and creed. The light grew strange upon those bygone days, golden ages drifting into legend's hold.
In silence grim reports were passed from trembling hand to hand, vellum sheets that tolled as any knell the coming end of all things once held dear. No earthly voice or writ remained to turn grim heralds from their path, bar terrors loosed until now in dreams alone gathering shadowy form. The times were turning strange, and stout hearts quailed before their fall.
So passed the kingdom's doom from parchment onto tongue, laments and dire portents spreading their dark pall. And deep within the maze of power fading fast away, stray wisdoms lingered still; this too would pass as wonders rise and crumble both, all things must change as shorelines in the sea. The board lay ravaged, pieces scattered into smoke, yet still strange players wandered on through perils grim and fell.
No mortal power might stand against such gambits dark, or call grim heralds back from doom and promise in their wake. Vain were their works and reasons cold against immortal hands that shaped the waking age. Their kingdom faded as dead leaves before the pitiless dawn, fondest hopes and sole salvations falling into loss alike beyond reprieve. Legends strode here unleashed today.
The times were turning strange, and at their dawn there gleamed dark souls unresting still, heedless of ruin left behind.
"This is unacceptable!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku slammed his fist on the table. "That damn Straw Hat Luffy is becoming more of a threat with each passing day. And now you're telling me he has the power to copy any devil fruit ability? He'll be unstoppable if left unchecked!"
The other officials murmured in dismay. "His bounty is already up to 200 million in less than a month," one said anxiously. "At this rate, he'll soon be our biggest threat."
"Leave it to my blasted grandson to cause this much trouble," Vice Admiral Garp grumbled. But his eyes gleamed with amusement at the uproar.
Sengoku shot him a withering glare. "You think this is funny, Garp? That delinquent of yours needs to be stopped immediately!"
"You're free to try," Garp snorted. "But that boy's got destiny on his side. The more you try to stomp out that wildfire, the faster it spreads! I warned you fools his era was coming—looks like it's arrived!" His booming laughter echoed through the chamber.
The commanders scowled, realizing their old rival might be disturbingly right. All their attempts so far had only increased the chaos. But what else could they do but place a higher bounty and issue another warning…
Miles away, renegade pirates poured over their newest wanted posters in mingled glee and dismay….
Bounties:
"Mimic-Master Straw-Hat" Monkey D. Luffy: 200,000,000B
"Demon" Roronoa Zoro: 120,000,000B
"Cat Burglar" Nami: 30,000,000B
"God" Usopp: 40,000,000B
"Black-Leg" Sanji: 60,000,000
These bounties are astronomical for the East Blue. The Captain is known to have the most dangerous devil fruit in existence, being able to mimic the powers of other devil fruits upon contact, as well as a mastery over all three forms of Haki. As a result, we highly recommend that devil fruit users refrain from engaging the target until further information is gathered. As for the other crew, they also seem to have at least basic proficiency over the two learnable types of Haki. Most notably, first-mate Roronoa Zoro singlehandedly destroyed our fleet at Loguetown, which is why he has the second highest bounty on the crew.
*courtesy of the World Government
