A/N: Its an incomplete chapter however its an a view into what the next phase of the story will/would look like. As always enjoy. —Tyus Arterberry
Akainu grins falling back at the strike thrown by Luffy. "Then this whole thing is your fault. Without you none of this would be happening!" Luffy adjusts the straw hat placing it on his head. After hearing every word of Akainu's testimony about what happened to cause himself to take the Regime's reigns and create an empire that threatened to span over more worlds than just this one. "You killed Nami, you monster you'll pay for that, you'll pay for that!" Zoro stands aside allowing his captain vent his emotion to Akainu. "You stole my life! You're gonna regret telling me that Akainu!"
"I'd expect that reaction from you son of Dragon. Be lucky you still have your navigator in your world. You stole my family from me, that's why I'm going to kill the high councilor the first chance I get." Akainu says resting on a knee slamming a fist on the deck.
Law gets in between the two facing Luffy, "Straw hat there's no need to fraternize with him. He's here for his own reasons and will get what's coming to him." Law says standing at the helm of the Insurgency mothership noting Barrington Rock in the distance. "Besides, we've arrived." Law clutches his sword tighter glancing at the vessels following their convoy. They gathered every resource from every corner of the world for this battle. The Regime hadn't revealed its true power to them yet the government took them seriously putting their campaign to conquer other worlds on hold to deal with them. This battle was two years in the making since that night in the capital. Since then they'd been going through a Cold War gathering intel against each other. The Insurgency knows that without the media to cover for their true intentions the people would deem them similar to the government that came before turning on them before they had a chance to recover.
Akainu raises himself up noticing the fleet surround their ship as Barrington Rock comes into view. Regime ships gather around a platform off the coast remaining still awaiting the arrival of the Insurgents. "It seems the Regime is already here just like you said they were. This troubles me, you're really going to go through with their demands, you know they won't keep their word." Fujitora says.
"I've got no choice. I made a promise to my friends to get Brook and Doctor Marlo back. I'm not going back on my word." Law stands next to the admirals keeping distance from Akainu.
"Its imperative we help the straw hats get their man back otherwise they will halt their alliance with us." Hancock glances at Luffy and Zoro standing beside the railing unsure of what they were entirely doing here. She knew after hearing Akainu's story Luffy would have trepidation about fighting beside someone like him. It was the same as Law, there wasn't a choice when three admirals volunteered to fight for your cause regardless for their reasons for being there or the events that caused them to show up. She supposes its the consequence of teaming with the former fleet admiral Sengoku.
Hancock walks up to the ship bridge dismissing a crewman standing across from Sengoku and the war table. "Empress Hancock what can I do for you?"
"You never told me why you decided to join the Insurgency. You had every chance to join the Regime and you turned them down."
Sengoku nods clasping hands behind his back, "yes on more then several occasions the high councilor's representatives have contacted me through various means to try and get me to come out of retirement and serve a term under the Regime, however you're right I turned them down. You know better than anyone else empress about disagreeing with their ideals for a better world."
Hancock places a hand on the table, "you and I both know the Regime aren't who they claim themselves to be to the world. They're different from the World Government but the same in many ways. They stand for a strong centralized nationalistic government giving the power back to the people yet they're planning to do heinous things to others."
"Right, you mentioned they plan to move this plan of expansion to other worlds such as the one where we brought the other straw hats from. That means they're going to enslave the worlds they find taking over the centralized government."
"That's one of the reasons I left."
"And the other?"
"You made the wrong decision allowing the former fleet admiral into our alliance." Hancock says ignoring his question leaving him with that. There wasn't any use talking to him about bringing along Akainu, there wasn't anything that would've stopped him from being apart of this attack today.
"I see it! That's the place Traffie and the others were talking about!" Usopp yells from the top of the mast landing next to the straw hats circling them up.
"Yeah that's definitely the place." Elseworld Franky says pointing to the map sitting on the deck table. "They say its just as heavily guarded as the capital."
"More than likely it is. There's a gold mine buried underneath the rock sitting in caverns. In any event we need to focus on how we're going to recover Brook once he's set free." Elseworld Robin places a hand on the railing noticing the ships converge gathering closer together.
"Brook can wait, he'll be alright. The question is what do we have to gain by fighting in this battle? We can't forget Luffy is on the other side." The others remain silent contemplating Zoro's words.
"Traffie and the others need our help Zoro, besides the other you and Luffy are involved now. If the new straw hats are getting involved we've got no choice." Elseworld Usopp says.
The two groups split standing on opposing sides of the Sunny witnessing the Insurgency ships halt only hundreds of meters from the nearest Regime vessel. Nami pulls Usopp and Chopper aside unable to keep the beri signs out of her eyes, "I don't know about you guys but I'm going to find the treasure underneath the fort. They said there's a gold mine there we could end up being rich after all is said and done."
"Really Nami all you can think about right now is going for the treasure. We won't have time—"
"We're going so get your treasure hunter gear ready you two."
"I can't go Nami if there's a battle going on I have to help the other Chopper heal any injuries that others will get I should focus on finding Luffy and Zoro."
Nami places a hand under her chin, "alright Chopper I understand you're needed more on the battlefield."
"I'll go on the treasure hunt with you Nami-swan." Sanji puffs his cigarette glancing around at the two straw hat factions, "you have a point. If we manage to grab the gold stash while winning the battle it would help us once we get back home."
Usopp crosses his arms, "if you're sure about this Nami then I'm in. We really can't let this chance of getting our hands on the Regime's gold mine get away, plus it could capture their attention away from the battle."
"Everyone, get ready! Our mothership has started moving again, the battle is starting soon." Zoro says standing at the steering wheel letting Franky take it following the alliance.
Trafalgar Law steps toward the Regime ships staring up at the wall where the high council stands glaring down at the Insurgency. Brook is hoisted up by Regime soldiers being carried to helm on the nearest ship next to the platform. The Regime and Insurgent ships line up across from each other stretching across the coast. Law steps onto the platform built off Barrington rock specifically for this event. "Its about time Trafalgar Law is finally turning himself in." Marco says standing next to the high councilor and other members.
"Traffie's giving himself up!" Luffy shouts as the others watch in silence Law walk up to the top of the platform glancing around at the overwhelming number of Regime ships gathered around Barrington Rock. He takes a look back at the Insurgency ships coming to a realization he's known since their planned attack on the Rock; they're outmanned and the Regime outnumber them ten to one. The smart and only thing to do is to hand himself over to the Regime letting everyone escape without consequence surely the high councilor will make an exception. He was given orders from the Regime to give himself up to avoid this war and get back the hostages.
"Its time Trafalgar, ready to give yourself up." A Regime officer says prepping sea prism handcuffs, "soon as you're in custody high councilor gave the word the hostages go free." Brook and Dr. Marlo are brought up onto the deck of the nearest ship.
Law stares up at the spot where the high council and its councilor reside watching the proceeding below. It didn't surprise Law the Regime elite didn't entertain the thought to capture him personally deciding to leave it up to their militia. During their first initial encounter they decided to make it personal killing Bepo while on a mission to recover Dyna stones. He'd never allowed himself to forget that day nor the way they terrorized his crew and alliance throughout the years. The Regime always used extreme and deadly force when dealing with people associated with him. They viewed him as public enemy number one outside of their war efforts the past two years, something his Insurgency needed. While the Regime were off fighting their wars plotting another they'd forgotten about the Insurgency acting as direct opposition becoming new revolutionaries. There were some countries out there the Regime neglected only using them to get their resources.
Most of the world previously supported the World Government and Navy out of necessity since they held the power to govern every country and province. The world never had an opportunity to choose their next government, the one who'd taken the previous one over happened to be the revolutionary army some were supporting in the past. The Revolutionary Army and the Regime are two completely different conglomerates with separate ideologies. Somewhere along the line Law surmised the Revolutionaries changed after taking power forcefully from the last government becoming the very thing they fought years to overthrow. It all started with the death of the straw hat navigator Nami. Had Nami lived the world would've changed by the straw hats and their captain finding Laugh Tale not their captain taking over the government turning it into a Regime. If Nami were still around Law wonders if things would be different, would they be still going to war today—Then again none of that mattered now.
High councilor Luffy glances up unable to stop a Regime mothership crashing through the wall igniting the high council into battle. The Insurgency charges behind Law dashing to the Regime frontlines clashing against their militia overtaking the field.
Luffy's eyes found Charlotte Katakuri, Cracker, and Ovens' in the front working his way down the line. Kizaru, Crocodile, Aokiji, Wapol, Buggy the Clown, Gekko Moriah, Bartholomew Kuma, former Impel Down Warden Magellan, the zombified trio and former all stars of the beast pirates; King the flaming calamity, Queen and Jack. Flower Sword Vista, Diamond Jozu, Marco the Phoenix, Hannyabal (silver kings Raleigh, his grandfather Garp), Ivankov, Dragon, Ace, Sabo and finally himself sitting on the high throne.
Candevish Ideo Sai Hajrudin and Orlumbus Kidd Apoo Hawkins Urouge and Killer, Don Krieg, Gin, Pearl 'Iron Wall', captain Kuro, Fujitora, Greenbull, Akainu, Straw Hats, Germa 66, Daz Bones, Gem, Smoker, Carrot, Wanda
Candevish, Ideo, Sai, Hajrudin and Orlumbus make their way through Regime soldiers dodging incoming venom projectiles. Impel Down Warden Magellan, Hannyabal, Wapol, Gekko Moria, and Bartholomew Kuma appear standing in the former straw hat fleet commanders' path. "You five were the ones who helped straw hat liberate Dressrosa alongside straw hat Luffy against Doflamingo. You five aren't the ones with the highest bounties in the Insurgency. The former supernovas are the ones we're after." Kuma says approaching the five opening his mouth releasing an energy beam forcing them into action.
Pearl rumbles through on top of the ship's decks smashing his iron plate chest against Regime soldiers leaping onto a Regime ship. "Fire Pearl." The armor plates ignite in blue flames as fireballs burst from the armor wrecking havoc on the ship. Regime soldiers pour out onto the deck receiving reports about the ship standing in Pearl's path. "You're going to try and stop me, good luck with that shit." Pearl smashes his iron gauntlets together smashing his way through soldiers creating a path to the middle deck of the Regime ship. Soldiers shoot at point blank range crumpling to the ground unable to penetrate Pearl's wall. The soldiers charge with riot shields attempting to match Pearl's intensity quickly falling to the ground yelling at the top of lungs. Jozu's diamond forearm clashes against Pearl halting his forward progress.
"So you're the one causing this uproar? You'll be stopped like all the rest!" Jozu shoulder rams Pearl through the nearby wall sending soldiers scrambling after the enemy impressing their superior at the way the Regime military carried themselves. Jozu strides toward the enemy recalling the high council's words about the discretion used when dealing with the enemy. This rebellion had been gathering for two years while they were all participating in the Wano war evacuating citizens out of enemy territory having to navigate past Orochi's strategic positions in the country. This war is considered a battle among the superiors, they would end it here. Even if Trafalgar hadn't surrendered there is still a chance to not shed blood—It all depends on how strong the drive of the rebellion is. "You apart of the rebellion huh? Let's see how bad you want to overthrow the Regime." Jozu activates his diamond ability avoiding a blue fireball to the face as Pearl clashes against the former Whitebeard commander.
Katakuri sprints past the allied forces avoiding the Insurgency soldiers battling against the Regime soldiers having a clear destination in mind. He runs toward the Insurgency front line finding his target "Straw hat! Let's finish what we started!" Katakuri throws off his cloak sprinting across the ship decks surrounding his fists in supreme armament haki, "unstoppable donuts!" Mochi shapes into large donuts protruding giant Busoshoku Haki enhanced arms. Katakuri speeds up leaping past the railing reeling his arms back to strike.
Luffy surrounds a forearm in haki sprinting past his allies matching Katakuri's intensity, "You won't be the stronger than me! I'm going to be pirate king!" Luffy emerges out smoke in Snakeman form flying toward Katakuri clashing against his power mochi brawling against the emperor.
"Weaklings better flee the battlefield...Here I come." Borsalino teleports on a cannonball riding it into the charging Insurgency lines clashing against Sanji who intercepts him at the last minute. "You're not my intended target," Borsalino says keeping an eye on Fujitora hovering on a boulder toward the Regime frontlines.
"That's not your fight Kizaru!" Sanji and Borsalino separate landing meters apart.
Borsalino places a hand in a pocket watching Akainu and Greenbull follow Fujitora's path making their way into the battlefield. "I see, so you made it here after all."
Borsalino gathers light on a leg aiming it directly at the pair making their way across the vessels. Sanji kicks the underside of Borsalino's leg as the beam explodes in the air catching the attention of the nearby soldiers. "Stay out of their way! Stay out of their way! They're monsters!" Sanji kicks down Regime militia making their way across the decks finding another area to fight as Borsalino and Sanji ignite their legs clashing again.
"I really don't have time to fight you, this is going to be meddlesome."
"We all don't get what we want Kizaru!" Sanji skywalks into the sky before zooming toward Borsalino spinning in a circle. The concasser smashes into the vessel's deck breaking a crack to the ship hull.
"That was some attack. Though you should know from Sabaody attacks like that won't work on me." Borsalino kicks Sanji sending him flying to the other side of the ship landing below deck, "seems I may have overdone it."
Sanji dashes through the opening throwing diablo extra haichis forcing Borsalino to match the intensity being thrown by the straw hats cook. Borsalino's eyes widen as Sanji's kick repels one of his own hitting him directly in the sternum sending him skidding back. "You should know I've gotten stronger since Sabaody." Borsalino adjusts his tie knowing this fight is just getting started.
Marco flies past the Regime ships halting at the nearest one glancing toward the darkening sky. A meteor descends making their way toward the Regime fleet sending soldiers scrambling to the nearest cover. The Regime officers shout orders to the captains of the ships via transponder snail unable to move due to the Insurgency ships blocking their path. Marco soars toward the meteor activating his full Phoenix form three sixty nosediving into it. The meteor explodes sending chunks ricocheting crashing onto the decks of the Regime and Insurgency battleships as soldiers clash against each other. "Sir we're blocked in there's no where our fleet can maneuver to." The captain of ships yells as the Insurgency clamp down on the Regime.
"We're not running we end the rebellion here. All ships are staying put for the remainder of the battle captain." Sabo says clicking off the transponder snail standing in the bridge of his ship witnessing Marco zoning in on Fujitora and Ryokugyu. Sabo vanishes in a dance of flames landing outside throwing a fire fist against Akainu. Magma sticks to the titanium arm as Akainu throws the flames aside landing on the Regime ship. "You showed up, you've had every chance to run and hide and yet here you are." Sabo grins taking the pipe off his back igniting it in flames.
"The only reason I'm here is to seek vengeance for what the high councilor did to my family. Don't compare me to a coward that runs I've been looking forward to this." Lava surrounds Akainu dripping onto the titanium limbs resembling how he appeared at Marineford.
"I'm going to put you down for good this time."
"I'm going to avenge my family!" Fire and Lava clash sending soldiers from both sides scrambling.
Cracker claps his hands together striding across the battlefield summoning biscuit warriors beside him. The biscuit warriors spread amongst the ships' decks wrecking havoc against the Insurgency soldiers. Cracker slashes through enemy troops scaring some warriors away as he stabs one through the chest. He corners a soldier licking his lips prepping to strike as he clashes against Enma. "You seem like a strong one, perhaps you can take me on."
"Heh you're no hinderance to me, you're just in my way!" Zoro unsheathes Wado Ichimonji, and Sandai Kitetsu slashing Cracker's sword sending the Totto Land sweet commander flying through the ship bridge. Zoro places his arms diagonally across his chest hunching over slashing through the ship landing on the other side, "purgatory onigiri!"
Cracker emerges out the ship grasping a bleeding shoulder. "What the hell was that? You really tried to end this fight that soon. I'm going to enjoy this." Zoro and Cracker slash at one another pushing back the soldiers rushing in to enter the fray.
Kid and the former supernovas run across the battlefield not bothering with the Regime soldiers yelling at them to halt. The five are the farthest to make it toward the execution platform and Barrington. "Hold it." Kuzan sits up glancing at Apoo, Hawkins, Urouge, Killer, and Kid. "I can't just let you guys roam the battlefield as you please you're Insurgency after all."
"We don't have time for this!" Kid runs ahead leaving behind Hawkins.
Hawkins pulls out cards moving them through the air, "if I stay back and fight former Admiral Aokiji my team has a forty percent chance of success of reaching the high councilor."
"I see. You're going to fight me." Ice covers half of Kuzan's body as he walks toward Hawkins. "You know you don't have the means to fight me. You're classified as a trickster or a magician, crap like that doesn't fool me."
"You forget I'm the owner of the Wara Wara no Mi fruit, I can manipulate straw at will." Hawkins turns over a card facing it at Kuzan. "My chances to succeed have greatly increased to sixty five percent. Let me introduce you to my straw man card." A large straw monster appears out Hawkin's sword towering over the ship deck. Regime soldiers fire at the straw monster as the Insurgent army continues their advancement shouting for their leaders to proceed to the high councilor.
Kuzan sends several ice birds at the straw monster freezing it in place summoning an ice sword at his side, "seems like your monster isn't immune to ice." The straw monster bursts free reeling a giant spike club at Kuzan smashing him to pieces. Hawkins withdraws his sword parrying Kuzan's strike aware the former navy admiral reformed behind him.
Trafalgar Law rotates a hundred Regime soldiers in the air inside a room slashing the air once sending them flying across the battlefield continuing his stride toward the Regime mothership. The Insurgency would have to put their plan to attack the Dreadnaught on hold due to its disappearance. They must've stationed it on the other side of the isles not willing to use it right off the bat—the Regime still didn't take them seriously. Law teleports to the Regime mothership peaking his gaze from underneath his hat at the familiar face.
Crocodile appears in a wiping away the sandstorm with a hand, "Trafalgar Law the most wanted man in the world, we should've known you would've never turned yourself in. The high councilor thought as much you really got yourself quite the rebellion."
"Where is the high councilor?"
Crocodile laughs summoning sand to a hand, "you shouldn't worry about that you'll never make it to him." Law makes a room surrounding Crocodile as sand overtakes his vision.
Luffy, Dragon, Garp, Ivankov, and Big News Morgan stand at the war room table overlooking the entirety of the battlefield. To the Regime elite the battle had played out exactly how they envisioned. They managed to rescue their hostages successfully while igniting the war.
"What caused you to eliminate them?" Morgan asks.
"Don't make the mistake thinking they're some evil organization that secretly rules the world. The truth is they had no governing body. In that same truth every foreign country, every state and districts have their own governing bodies called a Grand Lodge. Just as our capital city in a certain country has a municipal government that runs local and state affairs and a state government that governs on a larger scale each lodge under the Grand Lodge has its own officers, bylaws, and traditions and the individuals of these lodges must regulate themselves within the rules of the statewide lodge or Grand Lodge." Garp says leaning back in his chair glancing around the table, "order to understand why we eliminated we're disclosing classified information to you Morgan."
"I see. Something you might want a story on in the World Economic Journal, continue."
"The members of the lodge meet at regular intervals throughout the year. Most assemble once a month for a business meeting at which communications are read, bills are paid, and proposed members are voted on, and the members catch up on each other's lives. Usually a member would give a presentation on the ritual, history, philosophy, or symbols of Masonry. These gatherings are called stated meetings or stated communications. Other special meetings are held to initiate new members and to perform the various ceremonies to advance them to full membership. These ceremonies are called degrees. The members of the lodge elect officers although the Worshipful Master appoints a few." Dragon says standing over by the window overlooking the battles turning toward the table, "these Worshipful Masters gather once a year in a Grand Lodges from their own jurisdictions. Grand Lodges are governing organizations that oversees all local lodges in its jurisdiction where they elect Grand Officers, vote on legislation, and address other business."
Garp crosses arms taking a coffee cup and rice crackers from an officer, "look we're not going to lie what you've heard is classified but we're only hitting the tip of the iceberg. This Masonic group had rituals that were beyond what we expected to find. We were able to find valuable information on their proceedings and had an inside man. Anyway these people would perform ritualistic human sacrifice and seances for power, wealth, and fame. We thought it was the most reasonable thing to evacuate the children away from them. The people we took out have no problem bathing in babies' blood or decapitating them putting a goat head on the babies body over a pentagram. These people hid under the guise of being the world's elite, people we were supposed to idolize and worship as you know through media. They deflect these actions by using humor ultimately admitting to their sins by guilt, their endgame was to take our place as the government while creating a new world agenda."
Morgan places a wing under his chin glancing around the table stopping at the high councilor. "You were the one who witnessed their actions. I assume you were told exposing them is a death sentence. Had you left them alive they would've invited you back and attempted to trap you and sacrifice you high councilor. They never let anyone in unless you're related to the royal bloodline, all of them are relatives. Back when I was a young and upcoming journalist me and a few other colleagues tried to investigate and expose the ritual seances they would put the newcomers through. One thing we found out from an inside source is the selling of your soul. You would ink your signature in blood on a contract and turn out in a room and from there you would have to continually turn out in order to keep receiving your status and wealth."
"That's not all." High councilor Luffy sits up in his chair folding hands over his face, "the moment you sell your soul it becomes apart of satan's army. You give it up to a demon becoming one inadvertently. These souls or spirits hunt down people causing them to get into life threatening accidents or commit suicide depending on how the person reacts to finding out demons are real. This is how the people at the top decided how to deal with people personally. Should anyone think about joining they would scare or kill them off. There's also a weapon they have that is called the 'devil's assassin.'
Law grasps the spot where his arm is severed from the fiery blade. He heaves glancing at the high councilor hovering above the ship glaring straight through him. I should have seen it from the beginning, straw hat. I should have seen through the bright colors, those friendly eyes, and that Boy Scout grin. I should've known what you were doing to me. What you were doing to all of us. You told us to love each other. To tear down the walls that kept us from trusting each other. We wanted to believe you. We wanted to believe the strongest man in the world was there to save us. That we could let go of our fears and hope again. But we were wrong." Law pulls out a vile filled with turquoise crystalline fluid injecting it into the bleeding arm surprising Luffy. Rock and crystalline surround Law as a furious wind breaks out across the battlefield. The Devastator burst free from its crystalline imprisonment roaring at Luffy.
