Disclaimer:

I don't own One Piece or Honkai Impact 3rd Content.

Walking around the ship, Ace grinned from ear to ear as he eagerly checked every part of it. Climbing the mast, sitting at the foredeck, checking the rooms and especially his food, the pirate couldn't suppress the giddiness washing over him as he marveled at his new loot.

Beating its previous pirate owners was easier than he expected, and although the ship had seen better days, he could still work with it wonderfully. All he needed to do was give it a nice cleanup and a better crew than its previous owners, and it would be good to go.

He remembered seeing a few good candidates back in town, and it was about time he made his team. Journeys ahead are going to be too long to handle alone.

"Wow!" A sudden voice startled the life out of him as a dazzling woman landed on the ship. "It's my first time on a pirate ship like this. Should I wear an eyepatch though?" She pondered, crystalline eyes glinting with mischief as she hummed. "It would be a nice change of style, even if it's not as cute as her usual outfit. Then again, even an eyepatch would look cute on me."

Ace did not know how long he stood there, gazing at the pink-haired stranger. It was the first time he met a girl so unnaturally beautiful, her figure gracefully turning to face him with a warm smile. "W-Who are you?" He stuttered, his cheeks a tad redder when the lady chuckled.

"Hi! My name's Elysia." She waved at him, her entire demeanor putting him at ease despite his earlier reservations. "Is this ship yours? Are you a pirate?" She quickly questioned, arms behind her.

Clearing his throat, he quickly composed himself. "I'm a pirate, yeah. I got this ship recently." He puffed out his chest, proudly displaying the deserted empty vessel. He couldn't afford to look like a loser in front of the first guest on his new ship.

"I see." She crossed her arms and nodded, pink hair fluttering in the breeze. "But don't you need a crew for the ship? I don't see anyone else around here." She glanced from side to side, searching for any sign of others around.

"I'm still working on that." Ace hurriedly explained, keeping a confident front as he spread his arms. "It's going to take a while to find nice crewmates to travel with, but my crew is definitely going to be the best!" He declared with a toothy grin, his mind filled with the endless possibilities yet to be explored.

Elysia smiled at him, growing more intrigued as she began observing the young pirate closely. She began checking his form on all sides, her inquisitive stare and questioning hums making the younger boy fidget. Done with her analysis, the pink-haired maiden offered a welcoming smile.

"I'm sure you will." A glint shone in her eyes, as her friends stepped in. Looking at the confused young man, Elysia reached out to him, palm facing upwards. "You should join us! You'd make a good Flame Chaser." She invited him, her friends sighing at her antics.

It was on that fateful day, that Ace lost his first ship, marking the beginning of his journey with his new friends.

Sabaody Archipelago:

The world watched with rapt attention as new developments continued to flow from the Marineford broadcast, the journalists at Sabaody watching with bated breath as the pictures centered around the ship flying over the bay and the carnage under it. Monstrous machines the likes of which the world has never seen, striking down the elite soldiers without mercy amidst canon fire and laser bombardments from Fire Moth.

It was apocalyptic, a sight of hellish proportions from their deepest nightmares.

The reporters watched the man at the forefront of the flying ship, his image placed next to Whitebeard's atop the Moby Dick. In the shadows, the members of the worst generation watched the scenes of destruction with varying degrees of emotions. Some looked with awe, others watched with frustration, while others somberly bore witness. The strongest of the new generation alongside the strongest man in the world, their intimidating gazes striking fear in the spectators.

"So those are the Flame Chaser Pirates." Law noted with a casual smile, curiously observing the screen focused on Fire Moth. "I've never seen a ship that can fly like that."

"Did they fly all the way from the new world?" Bonney wondered as she bit off a large chunk of meat. Her eyes swept through the feeds looking for a certain figure, her brows furrowing when she failed to spot the one she was searching for.

Kidd frowned as some feeds shifted to the ground assault, the unknown constructs still charging strong against the defensive lines. "How did they make those monsters?" He grunted and crossed his arms, looking rather peeved as his crewmates retreated a few steps away.

Many whispered amidst the crowds, gasping as another volley struck the artillery wall. Some could see the few rays of yellow and pink light colliding high in the sky, the devastating explosions of their clash resounding across the entire battlefield.

The world watched, the uncertainty bearing down on them alongside the Hero's emotionless face showcased on the screen.

Marineford:

Boa Hancock narrowed her eyes at the sight of the mysterious machines descending upon the government's forces, feeling a shiver of disgust run through her as one of the tentacled flying ones took over the form of a fallen machine like a parasite. Her instincts warned her of danger, a powerful kick sending the invisible creature targeting her flying before its petrified form broke against the ice. She had not expected them to have infiltrated so deeply into their lines, the revelation causing many soldiers around them to obsessively watch their surroundings.

The pirate empress frowned and retracted her foot, her eyes shifting to the flame chasers high in the sky. 'They truly live up to their fearsome reputation.' She sighed, blinking repeatedly at the sight of the green-haired lady amongst them, noting the eerie similarity she had to her sister. She shook her head, dismissing the notion as she focused on a more important individual. No one knew what lay behind his mask, but the man standing next to Kevin Kaslana remained a steadfast symbol for many in the world.

Kalpas, the Defiant. A true enemy of the gods.

The man who slew some celestial dragons a few years ago, his name admired and abhorred by many across the world. Like many who bear grudges against the celestial dragons, Hancock held the masked flame chaser in high regard. She came here knowing there was a chance he would participate, to see for herself the kind of man the infamous destroyer was.

The silent man seemed to sense her gaze, his head shifting in their direction. Although the distance between them was considerable, she couldn't shrug off the sudden sensation of imminent danger washing over her. The other warlords must have sensed it as well, their attention shifting to him as the man held his gaze, an unspoken disdain in his posture as he lazily rolled his shoulder.

Both sides remained still, each readying themselves as the defiant uncrossed his arms. Looking beside her, Hancock could see Moria flinching as he hurriedly brandished his scissor blades. Dolflamingo seemed exceedingly agitated, his fury almost palpable as veins pulsed in his forehead. The only level-headed people beside her were Mihawk and Kuma, but she supposed the latter's mechanical self was probably impervious to intimidation of any kind.

Still, he wouldn't truly charge at all of them, right?

Her hesitation slowly turned to shock as Kalpas stepped forward, her lips twitching at the man's blatant recklessness.

He has to be joking, right? Even for a man as powerful as him, tackling five warlords on his own was suicidal! Does he even realize the danger he's putting himself in?!

Salome began trembling beside her, hiding behind her owner when Kalpas took another step. Hancock suppressed her frustrations, readying herself for the man's assault.

Kalpas's body tensed, muscles coiling as he prepared to dive into the enemy lines. Before he could jump, a giant block of ice blocked his path as it was hurled toward the marine forces. Both forces gasped at the size of the projectile, with only a select few maintaining composure as the block approached the scaffold.

"Those idiots." Akainu stared at the incoming attack with contempt, scoffing as he stood from her seat. The block of ice was simple enough to deal with, but what mattered to him more was the flying ship behind it. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the admiral quickly leaped into action as his arm morphed into magma, his target clear. "Great Eruption!" He roared, his lava burning through the colossal ice in an instant.

The Whitebeard pirates watched as their attempt was vaporized in the blink of an eye, many gasping once the lava continued on its path straight to Fire Moth.

"They're aiming for Fire Moth!"

"That bastard." Marco's eyes narrowed, his fist clenched as he readied to intervene, only for Whitebeard to stop him. "Pops?" Marco questioned, blue flames dying out as he glanced at the smiling captain.

"It's going to be ok, Marco." Newgate reassured him, a confident smirk on his face as he looked at the magma approaching the flying vessel. "Kevin is making a move." He simply stated, a sentence carrying more weight than any marine could believe. Those who never fought against the ever-serious leader of the Flame Chasers would not know what such a simple sentence meant.

…Well, that and the words "Kevin cooked the food.", but that was for the better. Memories of frozen food made Marco shudder as they in turn brought about a deep seated fear shared by all those who had the misfortune of hearing even more ominous words. "Dr. MEI cooked some food! Run for your lives!" The mere recollection brought about unholy nausea as the Phoenix rubbed his arms for comfort, reminding himself of how far MEI was from their kitchen at the moment.

In any case, the quake man was far from worried. In his long life and the innumerable encounters he had, Whitebeard held one certainty concerning this son of his.

He had never met a young man stronger than him.

The Flame Chasers watched the incoming attack while their leader advanced, silently raising his hand as the air around him grew bitingly cold. His hand reached forth to the incoming lava before spikes of ice burst forth, colliding with Akainu's fist. Shockwaves traveled across the battlefields, the gales of wind strong enough to reach the fighters on the ground. Both marines and pirates watched as the lava's momentum was brought to a screeching halt, the ice successfully pushing it back. Parvati's powers proved much more tenacious than the block Juzo threw.

"Ice…" The marines watched in shock, some soldiers looking at Aokiji in confusion.

"Akainu's magma was stopped…"

Neither Akainu nor Kevin flinched at the surprising turn, the admiral's scowl growing more prominent as he channeled more strength into his blow. The magma grew even more intense, engulfing the ice and briefly continuing its advance. The marines cheered as the admiral's attack drew closer to the ship, confident Fire Moth would meet its demise.

Kevin remained steadfast, meeting the fearsome attack with indifference. With the clench of his fist, ice pierced through the shower of magma and pushed it away from the ship once more. Down below, the fighters could only watch as the fearsome Admiral's blow was halted a second time, the intense heat of his magma unable to melt the strange ice fast enough to progress anymore.

Akainu felt anger slowly build up within him, gritting his teeth as he glared at the silent pirate on the other side. With their clash ending in a stalemate, the admiral shifted his focus to the enemies on the ground, volcanic rocks raining down on the enemy troops.

Fire Moth's reaction was swift, canons shifting smoothly like clockwork before intercepting the bulk of the volcanic rocks hurdling toward the pirate forces. The devastation wrought by the ones who reached the bay remained chilling as many pirates fell victim to the unforgiving magma.

Akainu retracted his power, throwing a cursory glance at his ripped glove before focusing on Kevin again. The ice shattered, revealing the Hero's composed gaze as he crossed his arms, none the worse for wear. Sakazuki's countenance grew darker, his eyes glowing an ominous red as he observed the flame chasers. 'I must kill him.' He vowed in his heart, knowing what was at stake in this important day. Whitebeard might have been the main target, but he was a relic of times long since passed. Kevin Kaslana presented a greater threat, as the leading figure of the new era. His very existence was far more emboldening and problematic for the world order than an old man on his last legs.

He must be dealt with for the Marines to ever hope to cripple the will of future pirates.

Kevin surveyed the battlefield alongside his comrades, watching as Gresio's creations and the Whitebeard pirates pushed the Marines further back. Their painter wasted neither time nor quality in the making of these creatures, the ample time given between the announcement of Ace's execution and the battle offered the necessary window to manufacture a satisfying force to handle the majority of the fighting.

Still, their opposition remained well positioned despite Aokiji and Kizaru leaving their posts, with Ace firmly in their grasp. Garp and Sengoku stood right next to him, making a direct dash incredibly risky for their friend. They needed more chaos to force the fleet admiral into deploying his trump cards and distance the stronger forces he still had.

Without warning, tremors shook the island as the colossal figure of Little Oars Jr advanced towards the fortress. The Flame Chasers turned to the approaching behemoth, watching as he charged through the marine defenses and into the bay.

Kalpas chuckled as he watched the Giant unit advance, clashing with the hulking monster to stop him. "Idiots." He spoke, voice laced with amusement and disdain. Growing disinterested in the fight, the Mad King quickly returned his attention to the warlords with the focus of a seasoned hunter.

Aponia's eyes shifted to Mobius, her comrade silently gazing at Oars with a frown on her face. "You should stop him…before it's too late." The scion of Discipline urged her friend, her voice soothing.

"Why are you asking me?" Mobius retorted sharply as she glared at the silent nun. "Why don't you just ask him with a pretty please?" She offered a smug grin, to which Aponia shook her head.

"If she does, he'll be left vulnerable." MEI's voice came through their communications, her voice noticeably cold. "He's a prime target now, we can't have him freeze up for them to shoot."

Mobius did not respond, her eyes following Oars's every move as he cut down Vice Admiral Lacroix. She could see Whitebeard trying to convince him to stop, but the old man's words could not convince him. The lumbering idiot was walking to his death, even a bumbling idiot like Ace knew it.

"Doctor." Klein called to her through the comms, her voice gentle and reassuring. "Current analysis shows subject Oars's chances of success are at 0.0012%, chances of surviving an attempted charge are 0.00011%." She noted with certainty, the sounds of tapped keyboards and humming echoing in the background as her dear assistant monitored the ship's condition. "Stopping subject Oars's charge is recommended." She concluded, silently awaiting Mobius's response.

The entire crew knew the snake was simply putting on her usual front, completely aware of the small attachment Mobius held for the gentle giant in the short time they spent with him. If there was any among them whom he would listen to, it could only be her.

"For a creature with such a big brain, he's really stupid." Mobius sighed, her eyes glaring at the approaching Oars as he passed by. Narrowing her eyes, the snake relented. He was a unique specimen, that's all.

"What do you think you're doing, Oars?"

Oars stopped dead in his tracks, freezing up as he turned to the ship flying at eye level. He secretly hoped he wouldn't have to talk with Mobius, but it couldn't be helped. "Big sis Mobius, please don't stop me." He pleaded, meeting the scientist's admonishing gaze with a determined one. "I have to save Ace as soon as possible."

"Are you going to disobey me?" She asked, her usual confident smile replaced with cold stoicism. "I won't help you if you won't listen." She warned harshly, completely intent on following through with her words should Oars continue.

Oars flinched, averting his gaze from the lady before he marched on. "I'm sorry." He apologized, gaze growing sharp as he steeled his resolve. Much as it pained him to anger the one who looked after him when he was stricken with illness, he could not afford to waste a single second whilst Ace remained in captivity.

And so the entire battlefield bore witness to Little Oars Jr's valiant charge.

Even as he suffered through Kuma's Ursus shock. Even as Doflamingo severed his leg. Even as his body was pierced by Moria's shadows and bombarded with cannon fire. Little Oars Jr stubbornly continued moving forward.

Until at last, the descendant of the continent puller fell just as his hand stood inches away from the friend he wished to save, his unmoving body attracting the attention of pirates.

However, whilst others remained in shock, one person immediately leaped into action. A man whose gaze was fixated on his targets from the beginning, patiently observing them throughout the chaos.

Doflamingo's laughter was cut off when he suddenly felt chills running through his body. No one could tell when it happened, only what followed Kalpas's abrupt appearance behind the warlord. Doflamingo's smile receded somewhat, his muscles tensing as he sensed a distinct emotion infesting his heart.

Fear…a fear of imminent death. A feeling shared by those around them when faced with the evil aura oozing off the masked man in waves, the soldiers hesitating to breathe in fear of dying at his hands.

He couldn't be human…

Before them stood a monstrous incarnation of slaughter, a creature of decimation and horror.

His thoughts became clouded with uncertainty, any move he planned infected with doubt. With Kalpas right behind him, he could neither make distance nor block in time to avoid serious injury. Every second felt like an eternity as the masked man observed him with the bloodlust of a manic predator.

It was at this moment, that Doflamingo realized he was made into prey.

"What's the matter, warlord?" Kalpas gazed at Doflamingo's frozen figure, flames engulfing his fists. "You were having so much fun there. Let me have some too."

His strike came too quickly, his searing flames burning Doflamingo's strings to ashes before his fist slammed into his back. The ground underneath them shattered, shockwaves sending the people around them flying in all directions as the fearsome warlords spat blood. His Haki shielded him from certain death, yet still, he could feel his ribs breaking and spine cracking as his body was blown away. His mind was flooded with pain as his jacket was incinerated, crossing his fingers and trying to gain some distance.

Or so he thought, only to feel the searing pain of his leg burning up as the Mad King of Decimation caught it in his grip before he forcefully pulled him back. The warlord attempted to mount a defense against the incoming second blow, crossing his arms and coating them in armament. His defense proved life-saving once more as it saved him from losing his head, although the damage remained extensive as his body was firmly slammed deep into the ice and almost reached the seawater underneath.

Rear admiral Yukimura attempted to take advantage of the distraction, a burst of Soru propelling him behind Kalpas in the blink of an eye. However, Kalpas easily caught Yukimura's blade and pulled him in for a devastating strike to his face. The blow sent Yukimura soaring in the air before his body mercilessly slammed against the ice, with no one able to see the degree of his injury.

Everyone could only stare in terror, as the man stood over the human-sized crater Doflamingo's body left in the bay. Neither the Marines nor the Pirate forces dared approach the masked man, fearful of becoming his next victim. Further back amidst the marine forces, Moria shakily gulped when the fiendish man turned his gaze toward him, his fear distracting him from the second piercing stare watching him from the Fire Moth.

None dared take their sights from Kalpas, the simple act of dusting off his clothes causing the enemies to tense and gulp. Even the giants steered clear of the solitary figure, hands firmly clutching their weapons as Lonz's corpse was thrown next to him. The flame chaser's gaze briefly shifted to Whitebeard, snorting at the sight of the man's smug grin before shifting his attention back to the crater.

Kalpas prepared to deliver one final blow, only to redirect it to the giant ice pheasant thrown at him. Hellish flames engulfed the ice construct in the blink of an eye, the flame chaser's boisterous laughter ringing far and wide as he stepped out of the flames toward the approaching Aokiji.

"Arara, I didn't think you'd move this late." The admiral's eyes narrowed as ice overtook most of his body, his voice unusually serious for the easygoing man. Dealing with this pirate would be quite the pain for the lazy man, but… "I guess I don't have much of a choice." He sighed, gazing down at the shorter fighter's mask.

"You talk too much." Kalpas chuckled mockingly, overwhelming bloodlust radiating from his lone figure amidst enemy forces. "Let's see if you're worth killing this time." A malevolent glint shone in the gap of his mask, his fist turning into a blur as he aimed for Aokiji's head.

The admiral reacted in kind, their fists colliding as the soldiers around them quickly evacuated. Tremors shook the bay and fortress, a deadly struggle of ice and fire spiraling into their surroundings each time they collided against one another.

"It appears our foe is luring the allies deeper into the bay." Back on the Fire Moth, Su abruptly declared.

"Yep. They're not human either." Vill-V agreed as holographic panels appeared beside her, signals resonating near the entrance to the bay echoing in a pattern similar to Kuma's. "These must be Vegy's new toys. I'll take care of it." She noted cheerfully, eagerly anticipating the results of Vegapunk's hard work.

He did ask for her feedback. She can't leave such a cheerful peer hanging.

"Are you sure it's ok to let Kalpas attack so soon?" Sakura turned to Kevin, her voice low as she kept an eye on a certain swordsman amidst the sea of foes.

"I can understand his anger. But acting recklessly might lead him to an enemy trap." Fu Hua added, arms crossed as she sighed. The more time she spent looking at the green giant's mangled body, the more she felt her frustration rise.

"It will be fine. Kalpas would not have listened regardless." Kevin answered, his gaze locked onto Oars's fallen form. While the crew might have done a better job at maintaining composure than their resident Mad King, it hardly meant their outrage was feeble. "Kalpas also understands this, he will be ready when he is needed." He stated, eyes growing cold when he noticed Akainu's sudden disappearance. Channeling his Haki, Kevin's senses stretched across their surroundings, searching for the admiral but failing to find him in the fray. 'He must be somewhere in the town…or near the entrance to the bay.' He shifted his gaze to the ships of the allied pirates, scrutinizing them before he decided to prepare for the Marines's next move.

It was not yet time to begin their full offensive.

Aponia turned to the frozen tsunami wave on the left, her eyes focusing on the ship situated on top of it. "Kosma, get ready to catch our incoming guest." She instructed the silent boy, a hint of mirth briefly shining on her somber face.

Kosma frowned but followed her command, standing near the left rails and waiting for something to happen. He didn't know what to expect until a hand suddenly stretched from the frozen wave all the way to their ship. "..." Kosma silently watched the hand hold on to the railing, thoughts indiscernible behind his stoic face. '...That's cool.' He then noticed a figure flying toward the ship, probably the person grabbing onto it. Their momentum quickly got too quick for them to stop in time, prompting the young man to tense and grab the screaming boy's head as he arrived.

The rest of the Flame Chasers watched as the man's limbs continued to stretch forward due to his momentum before they retracted back to normal. The young man's face was easily recognizable given the countless times they'd seen it in the wanted posters Ace showed around.

"Thanks for the save." Straw hat Luffy jumped to his feet, letting out a long sigh as he looked around with narrowed eyes. On a normal day, Luffy might have stopped to gawk and check every part of this flying ship, but this was far from a casual day. Turning to the scaffold, he smiled in relief when he saw Ace alive and well. Walking to the front of the ship, he took a long deep breath and screamed for the entire world to hear.

"AAAACCCCEEEEEE!" His roar echoed across the entire bay, garnering the attention of every soldier and pirate present.

"Luffy!" Ace couldn't believe his eyes, seeing his little brother standing on fire moth before him. Fear gripped his heart, knowing this conflict was too dangerous for someone as reckless as him.

"We're here for you!" Cracking his knuckles, Luffy felt a fire light up in his chest as he readied himself to charge. His eyes blazed with unyielding determination, his gaze locked onto the scaffold unblinkingly.

'A hothead, just like his brother.' A faint smile appeared on Kevin's face as he observed the boy. His comrades shared in his amusement, watching nonchalantly as the navy ship the rubber boy came on fell down the frozen wave.

High in the sky, Elysia turned to Fire Moth at the sudden scream, her face brightening at the sight of Ace's infamous younger sibling. "So that's Ace's little brother. He looks so cute!" She giggled, crystalline eyes shimmering with glee as she took in his figure.

Sengoku looked like he was about to strangle his friend then and there, the fleet admiral admirably restraining himself as he was met with one issue after another because of Garp and his family. The Hero of the Marines wisely chose to distance himself a bit farther from the irate Buddha, internally panicking at the sheer idiocy of his grandson.

"Alright! Time to get going." Needless to say, Luffy did not have the slightest notion of the ruckus he caused and didn't care either. The only goal that mattered was saving his brother as quickly as possible.

Speaking of which…

"How do I get down there?" He turned to the flame chasers, grinning widely as he pointed to the frozen bay. "Also, who are you guys?"

WANTED: DEAD ONLY

Name: Kalpas

Monicker: The Defiant

Bounty: 3.9 Billion Berries

The infamous murderer of a dozen celestial dragons, Kalpas had set the record for the fastest bounty growth amongst pirates to date. His heinous deeds involve the mass murder of many nobles from different kingdoms and Marijois during the "Blood Bid" incidents in Sabaody Archipelago and other islands. This dangerous individual had a serious habit of going against the world government initiatives every step of the way, although it hardly meant pirates had it easy.

Most accounts of the battle between the Flame Chaser Pirates and the Beast Pirates at Wano tell of the devastating death toll Kaido's powerful crew suffered at the hands of this man. A number of renowned pirates like Marco the Phoenix, "King" of the Beast Pirates, and many others were also defeated by this man. Navy forces didn't fare any better, with a number of Cipher Pol divisions facing their annihilation against him. Slaves have taken to calling him the King of Flames, but the World Government solemnly refused to offer such a title to a murderous madman.

He is a ruthless monster who will kill all in his path, men, women, and children. Very few have crossed paths with him and live to tell the tale.

PLEASE CONTACT THE MARINES IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THIS MAN.

TAKE REFUGE IF YOU SUSPECT HE IS IN THE AREA.

Thank you for reading! I hope you found this chapter enjoyable.

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