N/A - Hey everyone,
Once again, thank you for your feedback! I make sure to read all of it to keep improving, and your comments are really helpful, even the negative ones.
From now on, I'll be highlighting some of the most relevant comments in the next chapters and doing my best to respond to them.
That way, we can have more discussions together!
As for this chapter… I hope you've set aside at least half a day to read it.
No joke, this is the longest chapter I've ever written so far!
POV: Visha
Location: An island near Amazon Lily
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, casting an oppressive heat over the island of the Amazons. But deep within the lush jungle, a training ground had turned into a true battlefield.
Visha, her breath ragged and her body covered in scrapes struggled to steady her stance. Standing across from her was Luffy, grinning carefreely as always.
"Come on, one more try!" Luffy called out, bouncing lightly on his feet. "Try to hit me with your Haki!"
Visha clenched her fists. Armament Haki was her priority right now. If she wanted to survive in this world, she had to learn how to strike down enemies far stronger than her, to land blows that could hurt even those with Devil Fruit powers.
Taking a deep breath, she charged at Luffy.
Her feet dug into the ground as she channeled energy into her right arm. A faint vibration coursed through it an invisible force surging inside her.
This was it!
She swung with all her might.
Luffy dodged effortlessly, tilting his head to the side as if he could see her attack in slow motion.
Before she could react, a sharp kick slammed into her abdomen, sending her flying backward.
She tumbled across the ground, finally stopping in the dust with a pained grunt.
"You're too predictable," Luffy said, crossing his arms.
"You're using Haki, but it's not flowing naturally with your movements yet." said Rayleigh
In frustration, Visha slammed a fist into the ground as she pushed herself up.
"I can't get it right…"
A calm voice broke through the tension.
"You're making a rookie mistake," Rayleigh said as he stepped forward, his hands casually clasped behind his back.
"You're trying too hard to force your Haki out. It's not just about hitting harder… Your body needs to accept it as a natural extension of yourself."
Visha frowned.
"How do I do that?"
Rayleigh shrugged. "Watch Luffy."
Visha glanced over at him.
Luffy was still bouncing in place, completely relaxed. He wasn't thinking, he was feeling. His body and his Haki moved as one.
"Try not to overthink it," Rayleigh added. "Close your eyes and sense your opponent."
Visha hesitated, then took a deep breath and shut her eyes. She tried to perceive Luffy beyond just sight and sound.
At first, there was nothing.
Then… A sensation. A presence. A flickering heat moved just in front of her.
She opened her eyes.
Luffy was already mid-attack.
Without thinking, she shifted to the side, narrowly dodging his elastic punch.
She had felt it.
A grin spread across her lips.
"Not bad, huh?!" Luffy laughed.
Visha let out a breathless chuckle. "Yeah… I think I'm starting to get it."
After hours of relentless training, both of them collapsed onto the ground, exhausted but satisfied.
The cool night breeze offered some relief, and stars began to dot the sky.
Luffy stretched, resting his arms behind his head.
"You're pretty good in a fight, Visha!"
She turned her head toward him, smirking.
"Are you trying to flatter me, Luffy?"
"No, I mean it!" He laughed. "You're way stronger than before!"
Visha sighed, gazing up at the sky.
"I still have a long way to go."
"Me too," Luffy replied, eyes gleaming with determination. "I'm gonna be the King of the Pirates!"
Visha shook her head in amusement.
"You never have any doubts, do you?"
Luffy simply shrugged.
"If you hesitate too much, you'll get stuck. You just gotta keep moving forward and see where it takes you."
She studied him for a moment.
That way of thinking… was what made Luffy so unique.
He never doubted. He never stopped. He just kept going.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she pushed herself up.
"Well, I'd love to keep chatting, but I've been summoned to the palace…"
Luffy blinked at her.
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm not sure… but I have a feeling it's going to be complicated."
Luffy scratched his head, then shrugged.
"Well, good luck then!"
Visha rolled her eyes.
"Yeah… I think I'm gonna need it."
She took a deep breath and turned toward the Kuja Palace.
Deep down, she already had an idea of what was waiting for her… and she wasn't sure she was ready.
But before she could take a step, a tanned woman with sharp eyes approached her.
"Empress Boa Hancock demands your presence at the palace."
A shiver ran down Visha's spine.
She exchanged a glance with Luffy, who just grinned and shrugged.
"Oh, it's Hancock! Maybe she wants to congratulate you!"
Visha hesitated. Hancock wasn't exactly the type to praise anyone other than herself…
Taking a deep breath, she followed the Kuja warrior toward the grand royal palace.
Visha walked at a steady pace through the island's streets, her eyes tracing the shifting shadows cast by the torches mounted on the walls. The Kuja royal palace loomed atop a hill overlooking the city, an imposing fortress of stone and intricately carved wood, adorned with banners bearing the emblem of the Imperial Serpents.
She inhaled deeply before ascending the stairs leading to the grand entrance. Two Kuja warriors clad in light armor watched her with curiosity before motioning for her to enter.
"The Empress is expecting you," one of them stated in a neutral tone.
Visha gave a small nod and stepped inside.
The palace corridors were carefully decorated, draped in rich fabrics and softly illuminated by lanterns, their light casting rippling shadows along the walls. The atmosphere was peaceful, almost mystical.
At last, she arrived before the massive doors of the throne room. One of the guards pushed them open slowly, revealing a vast hall bathed in dim, golden light.
At the far end, seated atop an elevated throne, was Boa Hancock the Empress of the Kuja. She sat with effortless grace, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. The moment Visha stepped inside, Hancock's piercing gaze locked onto her.
The air grew heavy.
Visha took a few steps forward before stopping, waiting for the Empress to speak.
"Visha…" Hancock's smooth voice carried a subtle coldness. "You finally decided to show yourself."
Visha instinctively straightened her back.
"You summoned me, Empress."
Silence stretched between them as Hancock slowly rose from her throne. She descended the steps with deliberate elegance, each step echoing in the quiet hall.
"I've heard that you've been spending a lot of time with…" She narrowed her eyes. "Luffy."
Visha raised a slight eyebrow.
"That's true."
Hancock stopped just a few feet away, arms crossed, suspicion flickering in her gaze.
"Why?" she asked, her tone sharper.
Visha crossed her arms and let out a small sigh.
"Because I'm training with him."
"Why him?" Hancock pressed. "Why Rayleigh?"
Her interest in Visha's training choices was obvious… but there was something else beneath it. A tension. A hint of jealousy, barely concealed.
Visha chose her words carefully.
"I don't remember who I was before," she said, meeting Hancock's gaze. "But Rayleigh was the first friendly face I encountered."
She took a breath before continuing.
"But one thing I do know, I need to become stronger if I want to survive."
Hancock didn't react immediately. Then, she took a step forward, leaning dangerously close to Visha's face.
"You claim to have no memories…" she murmured. "And yet, you seem instinctively skilled in combat. You learn quickly. Too quickly."
Visha held her gaze without flinching.
"Maybe because my body remembers what my mind has forgotten."
A faint smile ghosted across Hancock's lips.
"An interesting answer."
She straightened back into her regal posture.
"If you truly wish to grow stronger, then you must understand what true power means in this world."
She began circling around Visha slowly.
"Strength is meaningless without purpose. Without a goal."
Visha remained silent.
She had a goal. Even if she couldn't yet put it into words, she knew she didn't want to be weak.
She refused to be at the mercy of this world.
"And you, Visha?" Hancock stopped behind her. "Why do you crave power so much?"
Visha closed her eyes briefly.
"So I won't be crushed."
Hancock's smirk deepened slightly.
"Then prove it."
Visha frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Turning back toward her throne, Hancock declared:
"Tomorrow morning, I want to see for myself how far you can go."
Visha understood immediately Hancock wanted to test her.
A thrill of anticipation coursed through her.
"Alright."
POV: Tanya Degurechaff
Location: Egghead's Western Port
The sound of a collapsing world.
That was the only way to describe what was happening on Egghead at that very moment.
Standing amidst the smoldering ruins of the port, Tanya Degurechaff felt a tremor ripple beneath her feet. A fraction of a second later, the very ground seemed to scream as deep cracks spread across the island, as if the earth itself sought to swallow those who dared walk upon it.
"An earthquake… No, this is something else."
She didn't need to look up to know who was responsible. Only one man could unleash a cataclysm of this scale.
Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard.
She bit her lower lip, trying to steady herself. Chunks of concrete broke off from nearby structures, some buildings crumbling with deafening crashes. Around her, her soldiers shouted as the ground split open beneath them, massive crevices swallowing some whole while others desperately clung to debris.
It was pure chaos.
For a fleeting moment, Tanya felt more vulnerable than she ever had on the Rhine front. At least there, she could predict most attacks. Here, the destruction was erratic, the island itself breaking apart unpredictably. Towering waves crashed against the docks, adding another layer of devastation.
But she didn't have time to panic.
Kizaru's orders were clear: "If Whitebeard appears, retreat immediately."
Tanya clenched her fists. Running wasn't in her nature, but facing Whitebeard head-on was suicide. Not here, not now.
Her sharp gaze swept the battlefield. She had to act fast.
"Fall back!" she shouted, forcing her voice to cut through the chaos. "Retreat to the laboratories! Watch your backs and avoid the cracks!"
It took a second for her soldiers to register the order, but their training kicked in. The surviving troops regrouped quickly, helping each other as they moved. Tanya stayed behind to cover their retreat, her rifle raised, ready to shoot anyone who got in their way.
Another quake struck.
A shockwave of pure force rippled through the air. Tanya watched as an entire tower tilted forward, collapsing right in front of her. A storm of debris and dust engulfed the area, momentarily blinding her.
"That old monster isn't holding back… He'll tear this entire island apart at this rate."
She cursed under her breath but pressed on, senses on high alert.
After a grueling retreat through the ruins, Tanya and her troops finally reached one of Vegapunk's secondary laboratories an underground facility reinforced to withstand massive assaults. She signaled her men to hurry inside before sealing the reinforced door behind them.
Inside, an eerie silence filled the air, broken only by the distant rumble of explosions and quakes from above. Fluorescent lights bathed the lab in a sterile glow, contrasting with the chaos outside almost surreal.
Tanya exhaled slowly.
They had survived the first stage of the onslaught.
But it wasn't over.
"Whitebeard and his commanders will land soon. They won't stop after just one strike."
Her mind raced. She couldn't run again. She had to delay them.
Then, an idea took shape.
Tanya ordered her men to fortify the lab. Without another word, she rushed to her quarters.
There, she found the materials she had prepared earlier.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. She closed her eyes and activated one of her most advanced spells, combining her magic with the power of her newly acquired Devil Fruit. A golden glow surrounded the materials on the floor.
A moment later, a replica of herself stood before her.
A perfect copy.
Every detail was identical, her torn uniform, her messy blonde hair, her piercing gaze.
The duplicate turned its head toward her and smirked.
"Impressive," Tanya murmured. "Time to test its effectiveness."
She crossed her arms, satisfied.
The double wouldn't be as powerful as the original, but it was good enough to fool the enemy for a while.
Sitting cross-legged on the cold, metallic floor, Tanya closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed, but her mind was elsewhere.
In front of her, a golden thread pulsed, an intangible link to her clone. A flawless illusion, an extension of herself she could control remotely with terrifying precision.
She felt everything the double did, the wind against its skin, the scent of gunpowder and blood, the trembling earth beneath its boots.
And she saw her enemies.
Vista of the Flower Swords. Marco the Phoenix. Diamond Jozu.
The three Whitebeard commanders had surrounded her double, determination etched onto their faces. They had already wasted time searching the ruins for her. Now that they had found her, they wouldn't let her escape.
After a grueling battle, Tanya made her double step back, assessing the situation.
The test was a success. The copy responded to her will as if it were her own body.
But…
Its power was greatly diminished. The flow of magic wasn't as smooth as she'd hoped, and maintaining both her magic and her Devil Fruit ability was far more exhausting than fighting herself.
Even so, she had to buy as much time as possible.
She took a step forward.
Vista reacted immediately, his twin swords coated in Haki, their blackened edges radiating menace. He struck first, his blades carving a swift and deadly arc.
Tanya met his attack head-on.
Steel and magic clashed in a blinding spark. The shriek of metal on metal filled the air as she twisted to dodge his second strike, feeling the blade slice the air just above her head.
"He's fast."
But she was faster.
Seizing the moment, she countered, her blade glowing gold as she slashed at his hip. But Vista dodged at the last second, suffering only a shallow cut.
No time to celebrate.
Marco dived at her from above, his blue-flame wings slicing through the air with an eerie whistle. Tanya barely managed to leap back in time, the heat searing her uniform. But she felt no physical pain, her real body remained safe.
The instant she landed, Jozu charged.
His diamond-coated body gleamed under the glow of distant fires.
Tanya dodged, rolling aside just as his attack shattered the ground where she had stood.
"They won't give me a second to breathe."
But neither would she.
Extending her free hand, she summoned a rifle out of thin air. Without hesitation, she pulled the trigger.
The bullet cut through the air.
Marco barely avoided it, the shot grazing his shoulder. He scowled, surprised by the speed of the attack.
Tanya didn't let him recover.
She vanished in a golden flash, reappearing behind Vista. With a single fluid motion, she struck at the back of his neck.
A deafening crack echoed.
Vista blocked just in time. But he hadn't expected what came next, his blade snapped in half.
His eyes widened.
A moment later, Jozu and Marco struck together.
Marco attacked from the flank. Tanya dodged, but Jozu rammed into her at full force.
The impact sent her flying.
Her body crashed through a concrete wall, rolling across the dusty ground.
She felt it. The connection to her double was fading.
But this wasn't over.
She stood, staring down Vista, Marco, and Jozu as they prepared a synchronized final attack.
She had no time to think.
Three attacks struck at once.
The last thing she saw was Vista's blade gleaming as it cut through the air.
Then darkness.
Back in her quarters, Tanya's real body jolted upright. The golden thread linking her to her clone vanished.
Her double was gone.
But she was alive.
A smirk crept onto her lips. "Interesting… Now, let's see how they react."
Tanya sprang to her feet, gasping for breath. She had just lost her double, but that no longer mattered. What truly counted was what the enemy believed. Her illusion had fought, and now she had to convince Admiral Kizaru that she had personally stood her ground against Whitebeard's commanders before retreating.
She cast a final glance around, making sure no one had seen her use her Devil Fruit inside her quarters. Her deception had to remain a secret. If the Marines ever discovered the truth, her tactical advantage would vanish.
Without wasting a second, she left the room and sprinted through the ruined corridors of the complex. The alarms were still blaring, lights flickering as Marines scrambled amidst the growing chaos. Some rushed outside with weapons in hand, others carried equipment or supported the wounded. The tremors caused by Whitebeard had severely damaged several buildings, making parts of the base unstable.
Tanya moved swiftly, dodging debris and panicked soldiers. Her plan was clear: reach the command post and deliver a controlled version of events to Kizaru.
She finally reached the emergency lift, pressed the button, and felt the cabin tremble as it ascended at full speed toward the Marine's temporary command quarters on Egghead.
When the doors slid open, she stepped into a room where several officers were gathered around holographic screens displaying the island's current situation. At the center, a man with a relaxed posture stood with his hands in his pockets, watching the reports with an amused smile.
Tanya approached without hesitation and saluted crisply.
"Admiral! I engaged the enemy commanders but was forced to retreat."
Kizaru slowly turned his head toward her, his tinted glasses barely concealing the way his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh… really…? Fufufu… Facing men like that and still standing… that's quite impressive…"
Tanya nodded, keeping her expression steady.
"Vista and Marco were incredibly fast. Jozu was like a living wall, my bullets didn't even leave a scratch. I managed to slow them down, but their combined attacks made the situation unbearable. I decided to retreat before they could take me out."
Kizaru remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the screen displaying the enemy forces and the three Whitebeard Commanders regrouping. He seemed to be weighing every word she had just spoken.
"Hmm… So, they're still advancing towards the main laboratory… Ah, what a bother… A real bother…"
He rubbed his chin, a slight smile stretching across his lips.
"But tell me, young lady… Did you have fun?"
Tanya kept her face expressionless.
"They're strong fighters, but I've gathered enough intel on their fighting styles to adjust our defenses."
Kizaru slowly nodded. "Hooo… That's good to hear… Very well…"
He picked up a Den Den Mushi and called the command unit.
"This is Kizaru… Deploy all remaining Pacifistas on the main road… Ah… and prepare the elite units for a possible evacuation of Professor Vegapunk…"
"So he's seriously considering a retreat… If it were anyone else in charge, this battle would be winnable. Whitebeard is severely weakened and cut off from his main force. Nothing is stopping us from taking him down."
Tanya showed no hint of displeasure. She stood tall, hands clasped behind her back, eyes locked onto Admiral Kizaru. He was casually spinning the Den Den Mushi between his fingers, his gaze slightly raised to the ceiling, as if lost in thought.
But Tanya knew better. It was all an act. Kizaru might be the most laid-back man in the Marine, but beneath that carefree facade hid a monster of both power and intellect. Nothing he did was ever random.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke again.
"Hmm… You know, kid, I'm impressed you managed to hold your ground against so many of Whitebeard's commanders. Those guys are tough…"
Tanya didn't respond. It wasn't a compliment it was a setup. She knew an order was coming.
And sure enough, after a slight pause, he continued, still speaking in that slow, drawn-out manner that made it impossible to tell if he was mocking her or being serious.
"But anyway… You've done your job, and I think it's time for you to do something else, hmm…"
A chill ran down Tanya's spine. Something in his tone told her she wouldn't like what came next.
"I'll be handling those guys myself."
She raised an eyebrow slightly. Kizaru, personally taking on Whitebeard and his commanders? That meant he was finally taking the situation seriously.
"But you, my dear… You're going to deal with something even more troublesome…"
A small smirk tugged at his lips, never a good sign.
"You're going to escort Vegapunk and his satellites off this island… and bring him safely back to HQ."
A heavy silence followed his words. Tanya remained motionless, but internally, alarms blared.
"Keeping me away from the front lines? Sticking me with a protection mission? My dream assignment! Admiral Kizaru, please be my commanding officer forever!"
She opened her mouth, ready to put up a fake protest, but Kizaru lazily raised a hand, stopping her before she could utter a word.
"This is an order, Captain Degurechaff. And you better follow it… even if it kills you."
His tone had shifted. Beneath the usual air of nonchalance, there was a barely concealed threat.
Tanya's body tensed instinctively. This wasn't just a mission it was a directive with no way out.
Kizaru wasn't just telling her to protect Vegapunk. He was ordering her to defend him to the death if necessary.
Her throat was dry, but she managed to reply in a neutral tone:
"… Understood, Admiral."
Kizaru's satisfied smile returned as if nothing had happened.
"Good, good… Now don't waste time. Grab Vegapunk and get out of here before that old man Whitebeard decides to bring the whole place down."
Tanya snapped a sharp salute, turned on her heel, and walked briskly out of the room, carefully keeping her excitement in check.
She knew Kizaru never made decisions randomly. If he assigned her to this mission, there had to be a reason. But what was it?
As she continued walking, a final remark from Kizaru made her pause.
"Sentomaru… Fufufu… It's time to get ready, my boy… Prep the combat-ready Seraphims we'll be needing them."
She turned slightly, catching a glimpse of the Admiral as he lifted the Den Den Mushi to his mouth again.
"I've been waiting for this, Uncle," came a deep, confident voice. "These pirates are about to taste my axe!"
Kizaru let out a small, amused chuckle.
"Hooo… That's what I like to hear… Alright then, let's get started."
Tanya didn't bother listening to the rest. Sentomaru, the head of the Science Division's guard, was entering the battlefield.
But she had her mission. Escorting an old man instead of fighting on the front lines.
Her fists clenched as she picked up her pace toward the main laboratory where Vegapunk was waiting.
But then, an idea formed in her mind.
"He never said I couldn't eliminate obstacles along the way…"
A thin smile crept onto her lips as she disappeared into the shadows of the metallic hallways.
Tanya strode quickly and purposefully through the winding corridors of Egghead's scientific complex. The aftershocks of Whitebeard's earthquake still reverberated through the structure, and shrill alarms wailed across the laboratory. Red warning lights flickered along the walls, signaling critical damage in several sections of the building. The air was thick with static electricity, and the faint scent of something burning lingered likely the result of a short circuit in one of the lab's advanced energy systems.
There was no time to waste. If Vegapunk died here, the Marines would lose an irreplaceable asset. It didn't matter if the scientist believed he was safe behind his famed defense dome; Kizaru had given his orders, and Tanya would see them through to the end.
She burst into a corridor where several panicked scientists were scrambling in every direction. Some frantically hauled research equipment, while others crouched under desks as if that would somehow shield them from another earthquake.
"Clear the way!" she ordered sharply, forcing the scientists to move aside.
Finally reaching the reinforced door to the main laboratory, she quickly activated the biometric scanner. A green light swept across her eye, followed by a confirming "beep" and the sound of mechanical locks disengaging.
The doors slowly creaked open, revealing the interior of the laboratory.
Dr. Vegapunk, the world's greatest scientific mind, sat before a control panel, surrounded by his satellites. His massive skull, a result of his highly developed intellect, gleamed under the light of the monitors. He typed frantically on a keyboard, his eyes glued to dozens of holographic projections displaying real-time analyses.
Vegapunk slowly straightened up, smoothing the folds of his white lab coat before clasping his hands behind his back. His sparkling, intelligent gaze landed on Tanya, and a mysterious smile spread across his face.
"Captain Degurechaff, it seems you're not one to waste time."
Tanya didn't respond immediately. She was waiting for the scientist to get to the point, but his lack of urgency was clear. She had no time for unnecessary formalities.
Vegapunk turned away from her and tapped a few commands on a holographic screen, which displayed several glowing projections of the laboratory's systems.
"Since we're going to be working more closely together, let me make an official introduction to my team."
He slightly turned and made a grand sweeping gesture toward the six individuals present in the room.
"I believe you've already met Shaka and Edison."
Shaka, the embodiment of logic and wisdom, nodded solemnly. His metallic helmet, which covered his entire face, gave him an impassive appearance.
"We've exchanged a few words, although our priorities differ somewhat," he stated in a calm tone.
Next to him, Edison, the embodiment of ingenuity, bounced nervously on his feet, his small body always in motion.
"Yeah, we've talked! And I have to say, your approach is pretty interesting. Direct, brutal... but interesting!"
Tanya didn't respond to the remark, instead focusing on the other figures she had yet to meet.
Vegapunk continued his introduction by pointing to a woman with an imposing presence, long blue hair, and arms crossed with impatience.
"This is Atlas, the fighter of the group. She handles most of the durability tests and combat simulations."
Atlas gave Tanya a long, assessing look before shrugging.
"Hmm, you look tough, but you're not exactly tall. Can you hit hard though?"
Tanya didn't bother responding, offering only a cold stare.
Vegapunk continued with a man of average height wearing a massive metallic head, his eyes glowing with an analytical light.
"Pythagoras, the aspect of pure reflection and reasoning."
The mechanical scientist tilted his head slightly, clearly recording every detail about Tanya without saying a word.
Then Vegapunk pointed to a woman with silver hair, a mischievous, playful expression, tapping her foot impatiently as if waiting for this to be over.
"Lilith, my darker side. She tends to prefer... more expedited methods."
Lilith flashed a carnivorous smile and said with amusement:
"Tssk, let me guess, you're the type to follow orders to the letter? Must be a drag, huh?"
Tanya didn't flinch, though she was tempted to reply.
Finally, Vegapunk sighed slightly and pointed to the last person, a young woman lounging lazily on a couch, munching on an apple with a relaxed expression.
"And this is York. The embodiment of pleasure and basic needs. She doesn't do much other than eat and sleep… but believe it or not, she's essential to our balance."
York simply yawned and waved her hand.
"Yeah, yeah, nice to meet you or whatever... Have you eaten today? It's really important to eat well, you know."
Tanya didn't react.
Vegapunk approached her, hands clasped behind his back.
"Now that you've met everyone, would you reconsider your evacuation order? After all, with a crew like this and an impenetrable dome, we're probably safer here than rushing into a hasty retreat."
Tanya took a deep breath and fixed Vegapunk with a sharp gaze.
"My orders are clear. You're coming with me."
Vegapunk raised an eyebrow as if expecting a more convincing argument.
"You're a soldier, Captain Degurechaff. But I'm a scientist. I have to preserve knowledge, innovate, and improve humanity… not to run at the first sign of danger."
He tapped his screen again, displaying a detailed simulation of the island under its protective dome.
"Look, Captain. My dome is practically impregnable. Even Whitebeard, with all his strength, won't be able to get in so easily."
Tanya crossed her arms, her face impassive.
"And what if it's not him getting in, but us needing to get out? You could end up trapped by your protection."
Vegapunk frowned slightly, clearly annoyed by Tanya's logical counterpoint. He liked having the last word, but this time, he knew she was right.
"Even then, the island has plenty of internal defense systems. I'm more useful here, coordinating those defenses, than being transported like fragile cargo to a command center where I can't oversee anything."
Tanya clenched her fists. The man was brilliant but stubborn.
"You think Whitebeard can't get in? He's a Yonko, a monster capable of destroying the world! You think your walls will stop him? If he hasn't destroyed the island yet, it's because he's looking for something. And what do you think he'll do once he finds it?"
Vegapunk fell silent for a moment. He knew his confidence was based on calculations and probabilities, but when it came to the unknown, no equation could predict everything.
It was then that York, who had been uninterested up until now, slowly stretched and spoke in a casual tone:
"What if she's right?"
All eyes turned to her. She bit into a new apple and continued nonchalantly:
"If the Marine is panicking enough to send a kid after you, it means they know something we don't."
A heavy silence descended on the room. Tanya added, echoing York's point: "You're too valuable to be left here. If we lose you, we lose decades of progress."
Vegapunk sighed deeply, then gave a faint smile.
"Alright, you win. But this won't be a hasty escape. I want everything done methodically."
He tapped his screen and ordered his satellites to prepare for departure.
"Captain Degurechaff, you have your mission. Protect me, but don't expect me to obey without discussing things first."
Finally satisfied, Tanya nodded. "In that case, don't slow me down."
The evacuation was underway. Vegapunk's laboratory, a maze of metallic corridors filled with advanced technology, echoed with emergency alarms and the hurried footsteps of scientists and satellites. Tanya led the group, her sharp gaze scanning every corner, ready to eliminate any threat.
But they weren't alone.
Pirates, likely allied with Whitebeard's crew, had managed to infiltrate. How? She didn't have time to question it. The priority was immediate elimination.
A first group appeared at the intersection of a hallway, three men armed with rifles and swords, their faces marked by ferocity and determination. No sooner had they spotted the scientists than they raised their weapons and opened fire.
Tanya reacted instantly.
A faint green glow enveloped her left arm as she raised her hand. Her magical shield materialized with a sparkling flash. The bullets ricocheted off the energy surface with a deafening metallic noise. Some bounced off the walls, others fell harmlessly to the ground, losing all lethality.
The pirates didn't even have time to understand what had just happened. Tanya propelled herself forward like a lightning shadow. She extended her right arm, covered in destructive magic, and struck the first man square in the chest. Her fingers pierced his flesh like paper, sinking deep before ripping his heart out with a swift motion. The pirate collapsed in a bloody gurgle, his eyes wide with confusion and pain.
The other two didn't have time to react.
With a fluid movement, she spun on her heel, her leg arcing perfectly, striking the second man under the chin. His neck twisted with a sinister crack before he crumpled, dead instantly.
The last one tried to flee, dropping his rifle in panic. He only took a few steps before Tanya extended her arm once more. A strand of green energy shot from her palm and pierced him through.
His body froze, his muscles paralyzed by the sudden burn that tore through his insides. He tried to plead, but Tanya clenched her fist, and the energy exploded in a blinding flash. He collapsed, a gaping hole where his abdomen had been.
"Keep moving." Tanya ordered Vegapunk.
Her voice was cold and mechanical. She didn't waste another second and continued, guiding Vegapunk and his satellites through the maze of the laboratory. But more enemies were coming.
A second group appeared at the exit of an airlock, this time more organized. Four heavily armed men, carrying precision rifles and swords. They immediately scattered, taking strategic positions to maximize their effectiveness.
"Watch out for the kid ! Bring her head!" one of them barked, aiming at Vegapunk and Tanya.
Tanya, unfazed, raised her left arm.
The shield materialized once again, but this time, it wasn't static. It spread across the entire width of the hallway, forming an impenetrable energy barrier. The bullets flew towards her and crashed against the protective surface, sparking before falling, harmless.
The pirates exchanged panicked looks.
Tanya didn't give them a chance to react.
She released her shield and extended her right arm. Magic concentrated in her fingers before she struck. A beam of light shot from her arm, a sharp energy blade that cut through the air with incredible speed.
The nearest man didn't even have time to understand what was happening. His body was sliced diagonally from the lower abdomen to his shoulder. The top of his torso slowly slid before collapsing to the ground in a pool of blood.
The second pirate yelled and lunged at her, sword raised, but Tanya ignored him. She extended her free hand and closed her fingers into a fist.
An invisible force slammed into him.
His body froze, suspended in the air by an overwhelming pressure. He gasped for breath, his limbs twitching as Tanya tightened her grip.
With a sharp motion, she hurled him violently against the wall. The impact was brutal. His spine shattered on contact, and his body crumpled lifelessly to the ground.
The last two men realized they had no chance.
They turned and attempted to flee.
Tanya took a step forward, her expression unmoving, and drew her Luger.
Bullets flew down the corridor like golden lightning. One of the fleeing men was hit in the leg and collapsed, screaming in agony. The other wasn't so lucky. One of the projectiles lodged directly in his head.
The last man, writhing on the ground in agony, raised a trembling hand, as if to beg for mercy.
Tanya didn't even look at him.
She lowered her hand, and one last surge of energy shot forward.
The corridor fell silent again, only the smell of blood and burnt flesh hanging in the air.
Vegapunk and his satellites, though used to the horrors of science and war, froze for a moment.
Finally, Shaka broke the silence.
"Quick and efficient."
Tanya simply nodded and resumed walking. "I only used abilities already known to the World Government. They shouldn't have learned much from watching me."
"Let's keep going. There will be more…"
POV: Edward Newgate
Location: Near Egghead
The salty sea breeze howled across the deck of the Moby Dick, lifting the long white coat draped over the old pirate's shoulders. Despite the gusts and the rolling waves, a heavy tension had settled over the flagship. All the men stared out at the horizon, where a scene of horror unfolded before their eyes.
Far in the distance, one of their ships erupted into a ball of fire and golden light.
The masts snapped like twigs, the deck split under the shockwave, and flames consumed the sails in an instant. Charred pieces of wood flew through the air, hurled with unimaginable force.
Piercing screams echoed over the waves.
"What the hell was that?!" shouted one of the men posted at the bow. "Was that Kizaru?"
"I don't think so. I didn't see any big light sources before the explosion," another answered, eyes wide in shock.
Whitebeard didn't flinch. His gaze, as sharp as a sword, fixed on the source of the attack. His features remained impassive, but Marco, standing by his side, knew the old man was simmering with rising anger.
A second shot illuminated the ocean.
The golden flash cut through the air with a high-pitched whistle, drawing a perfect line before crashing into another allied ship.
The explosion shattered the silence of the sea, and the ship, unable to withstand the force of the projectile, broke apart with a terrifying crash. Sailors were hurled off the deck, some disappearing beneath the waves, others clinging desperately to floating debris.
"Shit!" Marco hissed, gritting his teeth.
Whitebeard remained silent, but his gaze darkened. His sons were being slaughtered before they could even set foot on the island.
"This wasn't just an attack, Oyaji," Marco growled, narrowing his eyes. "This shooter… he knows exactly where to aim. There are no mistakes, no random shots."
Whitebeard remained silent for a few seconds, his fingers tightening slowly around the handle of his naginata. He was observing. Analyzing. Waiting for the right moment to strike.
Then, a third flash streaked across the horizon.
The deadly projectile shot straight toward another allied ship. But this time, something intervened: Jozu, the commander of the third division, had appeared on the deck of his vessel.
His entire body shone with a metallic glow. In an instant, he transformed into a living diamond.
The shot struck his chest with the force of a meteor.
The impact was titanic, sending a shockwave that almost capsized his ship. But Jozu didn't budge an inch. The explosive magic dispersed around him in a whirlwind of light, unable to pierce his indestructible skin.
Marco let out a fierce smile at the sight of his comrade taking the hit.
"Nice one, Jozu!"
But their brief respite was short-lived.
A fourth shot flew at an insane speed, targeting another ship behind Jozu. This time, it struck dead center.
The galley, which had held back thinking it was safe, exploded in a burst of flames and debris. A flaming mast toppled into the water, sending even more sailors into the churning sea.
Whitebeard's gaze hardened.
He, who had spent decades protecting his men, treating them like his own children... seeing them die like this stirred a cold fury deep in his gut.
He let out a slow breath, his broad shoulders rising gravely.
"Tch…" he grumbled, his jaw clenched.
Marco, still airborne, nodded.
"I can go, Oyaji. If I find him and neutralize him, the others can land with fewer casualties."
But Whitebeard, with a simple wave of his hand, ordered him to wait.
His massive fingers slowly gripped his bisento, and a strange shiver ran through the deck of the Moby Dick.
Those who knew him well knew what this meant.
The sky suddenly felt heavier.
The air itself trembled lightly as if caught in an invisible fear.
A savage smile curled the lips of the strongest man alive.
"You want to go after my sons...?" he murmured. "Then let me teach you the cost of angering a father."
With a single motion, he raised his naginata, and a tremor ran through the crew.
Everyone knew what was coming.
The salty breeze halted for a moment, as if the sea itself was holding its breath.
Then, with a deafening crash, Whitebeard swung his weapon into the air.
The world shattered.
The air split under the titanic pressure of his Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and a monstrous seismic wave erupted from his strike.
An invisible force shook the ocean, raising a gigantic wall of water. The waves, propelled by the quake, rolled like a divine storm, forming an artificial tsunami that surged toward the island.
But that was just the beginning.
On the island itself, the ground rumbled violently.
Wherever the mysterious shooter was hiding, a cataclysmic earthquake struck.
The earth cracked into numerous gaping fractures.
Buildings began to collapse under their weight, sending torrents of dust into the air. The foundations of the laboratories trembled dangerously, and the very base the mysterious shooter had taken cover in became unstable.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes.
He wanted to see if his attacker could still aim with precision as the entire environment around him crumbled.
"Take this, you damn shooter..." he growled.
Marco, seeing the opportunity, immediately ignited his blue flames and prepared to leave.
"I'll use this chance to find out who's behind these attacks!"
Whitebeard nodded, his naginata resting once more on his shoulder.
"Go, my son. But stay on your guard. This isn't an ordinary opponent we're facing."
Marco spread his fiery wings and rocketed toward the island at full speed.
The old pirate remained on the deck of the Moby Dick, observing the aftermath of his tremor.
The raging waves crashed against the shores. The sounds of gunfire had ceased. He knew his attack had thrown the enemy into chaos.
But there was one thing he also knew…
An opponent who could strike with such precision would not be defeated so easily.
Whitebeard scanned the battlefield. His sharp gaze swept over the smoldering ruins, the collapsed buildings, and the bodies of several Marine soldiers lying in the dust, some still alive, others not.
His sons had finally made landfall.
Marco had been the first to take flight, followed by Jozz and Vista, the fastest and most experienced commanders. Behind them, hundreds of pirates leapt from their ships, charging across the beaches, carving their way through the shredded corridors of the scientific base.
But something caught his attention.
An intense fight was taking place nearby.
He saw Vista and Jozz battling a small figure, yet one with remarkable agility.
Tanya Degurechaff.
At least, that's what he initially thought, his old eyes narrowing slightly.
Something felt off.
The clash of weapons echoed in the smoke-filled air. Whitebeard squinted as magical flashes lit up the surroundings, contrasting with the battlefield's dark aura. Vista, in a deadly dance, slashed through the air with his swords, pushing back the young girl whose eyes shone with an unsettling intensity. Jozz, transformed into a diamond, blocked the enemy's artillery fire, while Marco, in his phoenix form, occasionally swooped down to strike.
Despite the seemingly youthful appearance of their opponent, she was formidable. Too formidable.
Whitebeard knew well the power of those who rose in this world. And this child, although impressive, didn't seem quite... real. He watched her more closely, scrutinizing her movements, noting every detail in her behavior. Her fierce smile, her precise actions, her skilled use of her abilities, everything was flawless. Too flawless. As though she had participated in hundreds of battles before.
"Hmmm…" he grunted between his teeth.
A dry wind swept across the battlefield. The cracked ground beneath his feet was a tangible testament to his power, the power of a man who could shake the world with a single will. He had not moved yet, observing, weighing the situation. But his instincts screamed that something elusive was happening before his eyes.
Suddenly, Marco surged forward, his blue flames lighting up the darkness. Tanya dodged skillfully, rolling to the side, then countered with an energy blade that shot toward him. Marco blocked with his fiery wings, but the impact forced him back.
Vista, seizing the opening, lunged forward. His swords crackled with Haki, cutting a deadly path toward Tanya. A green flash of light appeared.
The young girl sliced through one of Vista's swords with ease.
An icy silence fell over the battlefield.
Vista stared, incredulous, at his broken sword. He hadn't found himself in such a situation in decades.
Jozz, sensing the urgency, charged with his full crystal mass. Tanya flashed a triumphant smile and readied to counter.
He turned his head slightly toward Marco and Vista.
Without hesitation, the three commanders launched themselves at Tanya. Marco struck with his foot, flames swirling around him. Vista attacked with his lone sword, channeling all his power into a single, precise blow. Jozz, inflated with strength, charged with the full force of his diamond body.
Tanya instinctively blocked, but there were too many attacks, too much speed, too much power. She sliced again into the air, but this time, her illusion wouldn't suffice. Sword, fire, and diamond converged on her in an instant.
Her body froze.
A sinister screeching sound echoed.
Tanya's head rolled to the ground.
But it wasn't blood that splattered.
A green glow erupted, and the body collapsed like a puppet drained of its essence.
A decoy.
After the head of Tanya's puppet had finished rolling across the ground, Whitebeard slowly approached the lifeless remains. His gigantic shadow loomed over the girl's remnants, as silence hung over the battlefield. Marco, Vista, and Jozz, still poised for battle, watched the scene cautiously, expecting a final trick.
The old pirate narrowed his eyes and planted his naginata into the ground before leaning slightly over, examining the lifeless body. There was no blood, no agony, only that strange green glow that gradually faded. Then, before their eyes, the body began to decompose.
The puppet's limbs crumbled, its artificial skin evaporating into wisps of mana, slowly revealing the true nature of the ruse. Where there was supposed to be flesh, there was nothing but pieces of metal, enchanted fabric fragments, and remnants of carved wood. The mage blade that Tanya had wielded so skillfully was now a broken stick, its edge nonexistent. The puppet's empty eyes, once full of intelligence, dulled until they were nothing more than soulless glass orbs.
"Tch," Vista muttered as he sheathed his only remaining sword. "A puppet…"
Jozz, who had been ready to block one final attack, relaxed his muscles and took a more casual stance.
"I had a feeling," Marco murmured, crossing his arms. "I knew she was tough, but this…"
Whitebeard remained pensive. He pulled his naginata from the ground, hoisting it onto his massive shoulder. His eyes scanned the remnants of the illusion with calculating intensity.
"A pretty clever trick," he admitted finally, his deep voice resonating across the ruins.
He exhaled slowly before turning his gaze to the island, where Vegapunk must still be hiding.
"She was never here," he added, pointing at the puppet with the tip of his weapon.
A heavy silence followed his words.
"She slowed us down," Jozz realized, clenching his fists.
"Exactly," Whitebeard replied with a wry smile.
The wind lifted the dust from the battlefield, carrying away the last fragments of the illusion.
The heavy silence was only interrupted by the crackling of flames and the distant waves crashing against the shore.
Vista, still holding his broken sword, cast a puzzled look at the golden fragments vanishing before his eyes.
"This wasn't just any puppet…" he said in a grave tone. He ran a hand through his beard as he thought. "This double fought like a real swordsman. It anticipated our attacks and countered with precision. It was like fighting a true warrior."
Jozz, his chest gleaming with his diamond armor, crossed his arms. His features were tense, marked by the strain of battle.
"Yeah. I've never seen anything like it. It wasn't just a copy, not just an illusion." He glanced at the fragments of light evaporating in the wind. "It had substance. It took hits and countered with deadly precision."
He looked toward Vista, whose broken sword testified to the intensity of their duel.
"Breaking one of your swords, Vista... That's not something just anyone can do."
Marco, his wings folded against his back, stared at the remains of the puppet in silence, his face marked by contemplation. He finally let out a long sigh.
"It's not just a Devil Fruit power. She's mixing it with another form of energy. Something we don't fully understand yet."
The phoenix glanced at his companions one by one, trying to gauge their thoughts. They were all veterans, exceptional warriors. And yet, even they had been unsettled by this fight.
Whitebeard listened in silence, his steely gaze fixed on the ruins of Vegapunk's labs. He had been through wars, challenged legends, faced the worst monsters of this world... and yet, what he had just seen both amused and intrigued him.
Finally, he spoke.
"Hmph... This girl's clever. She didn't just fight us... she made us waste time."
His deep voice resonated through the dusty air.
He slowly moved toward the remains of the decoy and gave it a light tap with his naginata. Immediately, the green light particles evaporated completely, leaving behind only fragments of various objects metal bits, fabric, and polished stones.
A simple trick. His sharp gaze turned toward the commanders.
"She wanted to hold us here." He slightly turned his head toward the shattered laboratories, from which columns of smoke still rose.
"But she made a mistake." The pirates froze, waiting for what came next.
"She underestimated us."
His grin became feral, revealing the savagery of a lion who could already taste victory at the end of his claws.
He abruptly thrust his naginata into the ground, the impact echoing like thunder.
"We're not giving her any more time."
The commanders immediately straightened, awaiting his orders.
Whitebeard wasted no time.
"Marco." The phoenix looked up, already ready to receive his instructions.
"Take a squad and fly over the laboratories. Find me an entrance, a weakness, an exploitable way in. If they try to flee by air, intercept them."
Marco nodded and unfolded his blazing wings.
"Got it, Oyaji. I'll see what I can spot."
With a beat of his wings, he soared into the air and quickly flew off, leaving a trail of blue flames behind him.
Whitebeard then turned to Jozz.
"You and your men, force your way through the main structure. Break anything that gets in your path."
The diamond-bodied colossus grinned fiercely.
"With pleasure. These walls won't hold up for long."
He cracked his knuckles before signaling a handful of pirates from his squad.
"Let's go. No mercy."
Then, he turned to Vista.
"You and your group, stay alert. If our target or any other Marine officer shows up, eliminate all resistance."
The swordsman nodded slightly, his lone intact blade glinting under the battlefield's reflections.
"Understood, Oyaji."
Whitebeard let the moment pass, then waved his hand.
"Now, let's go get Vegapunk and that girl."
A roar rose from the pirates as the various squads began to move out.
The first explosions rang out just moments after their advance.
Jozz, leading his squad, charged toward the main entrance of one of the research complexes. His body glowed as he accelerated, his colossal diamond frame slamming into the reinforced doors.
The impact was colossal.
The metal bent like paper under the force, sending shards flying in all directions.
"Let's go, guys! Move out!" he roared as he rushed inside.
Behind him, his men and Whitebeard followed through the gaping passage he had created, weapons drawn, ready to face any defenses the Marines might have left behind.
Meanwhile, Marco flew over the facilities below, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. He spotted several scientists fleeing through the hallways, trying to evacuate equipment or carry off crucial data.
He narrowed his eyes.
"They're trying to save something…"
He signaled to a group of pirates below.
"Cut off their escape! They can't take anything!" Whitebeard shouted.
The men nodded and charged.
In the meantime, Vista and his men moved forward in formation.
With swords drawn, they carefully advanced through the half-shattered corridors.
"Stay alert. That girl could still be around."
Whitebeard, for his part, moved slowly behind them, his gaze fixed on the main structure of the laboratory.
He felt that this battle was not over.
The young girl was still somewhere on this island.
And he was determined to get his hands on her before she vanished again.
Once inside, silence reigned in the depths of Vegapunk's laboratories, only interrupted by the crackling of damaged machines and the distant echoes of the battle outside. The scent of burnt metal and fried circuits hung in the air.
Whitebeard moved forward at a steady pace, his naginata resting on his massive shoulder. Behind him, a squad of his men advanced cautiously, weapons in hand, ready to face any threat. Marco, Jozz, and Vista had spread out to cover different areas of the complex.
As they entered a wider corridor lit by the flashing red light of an alarm, a chill ran down the pirates' spines.
The old man stopped dead in his tracks.
Ahead of them, a lean, nonchalant figure stood at the center of the passage, a lazy smile on his lips.
Borsalino, aka Kizaru.
Whitebeard's gaze hardened.
Beside him, a stocky man, armed with a massive axe and wearing a heavily armored tunic, crossed his arms confidently.
But what caught Whitebeard's attention even more were the three imposing cyborgs standing behind them.
The Pacifistas. Giant metal shells with familiar faces, replicas of Kuma, one of the former Shichibukai. Their red eyes glowed under the neon lights, their energy cannons already charged.
The atmosphere grew heavy.
The old lion knew how to spot a trap when he saw one.
Kizaru broke the silence, lazily raising a hand.
"Well, well... How intimidating all of this is..." he said in a slow, drawling voice. "The legendary Whitebeard in person... You're a bit ahead of schedule, aren't you?"
His smile widened slightly, his sunglasses reflecting the artificial light.
"But you know, ... This is a restricted area. You and your men have no business being here..."
He cracked his fingers, a thin beam of golden light dancing around his hand.
"So why not turn around?"
Whitebeard didn't flinch.
His massive frame contrasted with the Marine's casual demeanor.
Then, without warning, he slammed his naginata into the ground.
A tremendous shockwave reverberated throughout the structure.
The walls vibrated, pipes cracked, and several screens exploded under the pressure.
Even Kizaru raised an eyebrow slightly, Sentomaru narrowed his eyes, and the Pacifistas emitted an alert signal.
"You talk too much, kid." The old pirate tightened his grip on his weapon, his smile turning predatory. "If you wanted to stop us, you'd have already struck."
The aura of a predator surrounded Whitebeard as he took a step forward.
"So stop showing off and show me what you're really made of."
Kizaru sighed, raising his hands in the air as if giving up.
"Oh boy… You old guys are really a pain…"
Then, in an instant, he vanished in a flash of light.
The corridor exploded with brilliance as Kizaru reappeared at lightning speed, his foot covered in light energy speeding straight toward Whitebeard.
But the old pirate wasn't a rookie.
With a surprisingly swift movement for his size, he raised his naginata and blocked the blow. An electrifying shock rang out, sending bursts of light in every direction.
Kizaru, midair, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're faster than I thought, considering your defeat at Marineford."
Whitebeard didn't respond.
With a sharp movement, he swung his naginata and hurled Kizaru into a wall.
But the Marine disintegrated into light before hitting the obstacle and reappeared a few meters away, unharmed.
"You really are a monster from another time."
Meanwhile, Sentomaru leaped forward, his axe raised.
"I'll take care of the old man!"
He swung his weapon with phenomenal force, aiming for the pirate's flank.
But Whitebeard pivoted, his fist covered in a white aura.
With a roar, he struck.
The impact was monumental.
Sentomaru was sent flying down the corridor, crashing into several metal structures before coming to a halt, his armor cracked. The Pacifistas then sprang into action.
"Targets identified. Extermination order."
Their cannons charged, and laser bursts flew toward Whitebeard and his men.
"Take cover!" one of the pirates shouted.
But Whitebeard wasn't backing down. With a brutal motion, he slammed his fist into the ground, infused with the power of the Gura Gura no Mi.
A colossal shockwave instantly rippled out.
The lasers were deflected and the ground cracked.
The Pacifistas were sent flying backward, their metal screeching under the impact But they were resilient. One of them immediately got up and opened its mouth. A sphere of concentrated energy formed.
Whitebeard flashed a fierce smile. "Not today."
He readied his naginata, and in a flash of power, he sliced through the air. The shockwave tore through the corridor, reducing the Pacifista to a twisted wreck.
Sentomaru, groggy, stumbled to his feet.
"This guy is too strong…"
Kizaru, meanwhile, continued watching the scene, hands in his pockets, as if waiting for his moment.
Then, he grinned, and his body shimmered again.
"But tell me… How much longer can you keep this up?"
Whitebeard stared at him, impassive, then tightened his grip on his naginata.
"As long as it takes to wipe out this base and capture that girl and Vegapunk."
Sure! Here's the translation adapted for an anglophone audience:
POV Tanya Degurechaff
Location: Egg Head
The metal floors echoed under Tanya's boots as she moved swiftly through the ruined corridors of the lab. Behind her, Vegapunk and his satellites followed closely.
Every second counted, the evacuation was underway. A recorded voice echoed throughout the island, directing people to the evacuation zones.
The small group led by Tanya reached the last door at the end of the hallway, finally arriving at the extraction zone.
It was a large open space leading to a golden Hyperloop.
"This is my personal evacuation system," Vegapunk began, his chest puffed out with pride. "It will take us to the neighboring island in just a few minutes, going underwater."
Tanya glanced at the vehicle and the display screen beside it. A red light blinked constantly, and the screen showed a percentage of the evacuation process.
"However, unable to leave anyone behind, this system will only activate once everyone is safe," Vegapunk explained, crossing his arms and nodding.
"He's telling me we can't evacuate urgently, and the Whitebeard pirates could catch up with us at any moment," Tanya thought, gritting her teeth and fists.
"Captain Tanya Degurechaff."
A calm, almost measured voice cut through the heavy silence of the battlefield.
Tanya turned toward the voice.
Standing before her, perched on a beam of the shattered corridor infrastructure, Marco the Phoenix was staring at her.
He didn't seem hostile. Not yet. His gaze was filled with curiosity, but also with a strange mix of sadness and resignation.
Tanya, however, felt nothing but irritation.
Having faced him earlier with her clone, Tanya knew this man was a problem.
She quickly assessed the situation. Behind her, Vegapunk and his creations were vulnerable. In front of her, a fighter with near-divine powers. She knew a war of attrition would not work in her favor.
She took a deep breath, her gaze cold and unyielding as she stared at the man blocking her path.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Marco didn't move. "You, I suppose."
Tanya tightened her grip on her pistol. "So, you're planning to stop me?"
Marco slowly shook his head. "Before that, I'd like to understand."
Tanya raised an eyebrow. "Understand what?"
"Why you're doing this." The pirate studied her carefully.
A silence fell between them. Tanya watched him cautiously, trying to figure out his true objective.
"It's war," she finally answered, as if that explained everything.
Marco gave a sad smile.
"Yes, I get that. But why you? Why go so far? You're not like those fanatic Marines, nor like those who fight just to follow orders. You seem… to have a purpose." He crossed his arms. "What is it?"
Tanya remained silent.
She could have responded with a taunt. She could have ignored the question and shot him immediately. But something about Marco's attitude irritated her deeply.
Maybe it was because he didn't see her as an enemy. But as a puzzle to solve. Exactly like how Being X had treated her in her second life.
"You want to know why I'm doing this?" she finally said, her voice lowering.
Marco nodded.
Tanya gave a cold smile. "I want to survive."
The commander raised an eyebrow.
"Survive?"
"Yes. Simply survive. Not just here, not just on this battlefield, but in a much bigger fight than you can imagine."
Marco stared at her, intrigued. "A fight against who?"
Tanya's smile widened slightly. "A being of overwhelming power."
Marco furrowed his brow.
"Blackbeard? The World Government?"
"Not exactly." She tilted her head slightly.
"Let's just say, if I lose this war, my very existence will be erased."
Marco felt a chill run down his spine.
He didn't fully understand her words, but he could tell that Tanya wasn't speaking lightly.
"And that's why you're doing all this? For a war that only you can see?"
Tanya shrugged.
"You fight for family. I fight for my right to exist."
A long silence passed between them.
Then Marco sighed.
"I see. So even if I tell you to stop, you can choose another path… you'll refuse?"
Tanya nodded. "That's the alternative I've chosen."
Marco closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them again, a burning determination shone in his gaze.
"In that case…" He raised his fists, and blue flames erupted from his body. "I'm going to have to stop you here."
Tanya smiled faintly, raising her pistol.
"Try me."
Time seemed to stretch for a moment.
Then, everything exploded. The fight erupted in an instant. Tanya immediately fired a burst of magic bullets, aiming directly at Marco's head and chest. But the Phoenix disappeared in a burst of bluish flames.
Tanya had been expecting this.
Spinning on her heel, she aimed to her left and fired.
Marco reappeared, but his fiery hand swiped the projectiles aside as if they were nothing.
Tanya leapt back just in time to avoid a lightning-fast kick.
The impact pulverized the wall behind her, sending debris flying down the corridor.
Using the cover, she infused mana into several of her bullets.
A rain of magical projectiles fell upon Marco. Explosions distorted the air. But through the flames, a winged figure emerged.
Marco, unscathed.
His body was already regenerating.
Tanya gritted her teeth.
She knew his power was a serious problem, but seeing it in action made the situation even more frustrating.
If she wanted to win, she needed to change her approach.
She created a magical barrier around herself, preparing for the counterattack.
Marco charged at her, moving like lightning.
She dropped her pistol and unsheathed her mage blade, infused with destructive energy. The clash between them shook the very foundation of the laboratory. Flames and magic intertwined in a deadly dance.
And yet, deep down, Tanya knew this battle was just another obstacle in her real war.
As long as they existed, she would never know peace.
The lab echoed with the sounds of battle. Metal groaned, walls cracked, and lights flickered under the shockwaves. Magical sparks intertwined with blue flames, lighting up the shattered corridors.
Tanya froze for a moment, panting. Sweat beaded on her forehead, leaving glittering trails in the dust and blood. She fixed her gaze on Marco, whose golden flames pulsed gently, healing his wounds.
"That regenerative power… it's a real pain," she muttered, voice laced with irritation. "And with Vegapunk here, I can't fight at full strength…" Tanya thought, glancing over at the scientist who was watching the battle, surrounded by his satellites.
"Quite the match for your strange abilities," Marco replied with a shrug, his calm smile still on his lips.
His gaze pierced Tanya, as though he was trying to read her, to understand the turmoil driving this warrior with the cold eyes.
"Why all this?" he asked suddenly, his voice softer, full of sincerity. "You seem ready to destroy everything to achieve your goal… but what is it, really?"
Tanya stayed silent for a moment. Her face betrayed no emotion. She clenched her fist, causing sparks of magic to crackle around her palm.
"I've said it before. To survive."
"You're a formidable fighter. With your powers, you could live freely anywhere. Why serve the Marines? Why side with those who oppress the world?"
Tanya let out a bitter laugh. "You talk like an idealist. One of those fools who believes in fairy tales and happy endings."
She stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
"In this world, the weak are crushed by the strong. That's the only rule. The only truth."
Marco looked at her with deep sadness.
"I thought like you, once… Before I met the old man."
"Whitebeard, huh?" Tanya spat the name with contempt. A foolish old man who thought he was the father of the world. Someone like him had never known the fear of death.
"You're wrong," Marco replied, shaking his head. "He knew fear. Pain. Loss. That's why he protects his sons. Because he knows how cruel loneliness can be."
Tanya felt her heart tighten. Buried memories resurfaced. Images of a past life, of an existence marked by war, betrayal, and death.
"Loneliness…" she murmured. Her gaze hardened immediately. "No. That's not it."
She raised her right arm, concentrating intense energy into her hand. The air crackled with static.
"This world is a battlefield. And I refuse to lose."
"Against who?" Marco asked, squinting. "Us? The Marines?"
Tanya paused, her arm trembling slightly as she pointed towards the sky without adding anything further.
A heavy silence fell. Marco furrowed his brow, confused.
"God?"
"I refuse to call that being 'God'. They are sadistic, cruel creatures who play with my life as if it were a toy."
She gritted her teeth, rage twisting her angelic face.
"I'll prove to everyone that I'm right."
Marco felt a shiver down his spine.
"You speak like someone who has already faced death…"
"Faced it?" A deranged smile appeared on Tanya's lips.
Marco understood then. This wasn't just another enemy. This was a tormented soul, at war with something beyond comprehension.
"You really think you can defeat a god, assuming they even exist?"
Their conversation didn't go any further.
In an instant, they lunged at each other, their bodies turning into moving lightning bolts.
Tanya leapt into the air, her mage blade tracing a bright arc of pure energy. Marco met her midair, his flames exploding around him.
Their bodies collided, creating a shockwave that bent the metal walls.
Tanya unleashed a barrage of artillery spells with her pistol. Magical projectiles crackled through the air, exploding into destructive bursts of light. Marco zigzagged at an insane speed, his blue wings twirling in an aerial ballet.
They clashed in a storm of flames and magic, tearing apart the corridor. Walls crumbled under the pressure. The floor cracked. The ceiling disintegrated.
Their duel could have gone on for hours if not for a deafening crash.
A shock so violent the entire building trembled.
A wall exploded, sending debris flying across the room.
Kizaru burst through the shattered concrete, shooting across the room at blinding speed before crashing into a pillar.
The impact made the air tremble.
Slowly, he got back to his feet, adjusting his sunglasses, which somehow remained perfectly in place.
"Ooooh… That was quite the hit," he murmured in his usual lazy tone.
Marco and Tanya stared at him, momentarily stunned.
Then, a deep, rumbling laugh echoed like distant thunder.
The already broken wall exploded once more.
Through the dust and debris, a massive figure emerged.
Whitebeard. His eyes burned with cold fury.
His gaze swept across the room, first locking onto Tanya, then onto Kizaru. He rolled his shoulders, the muscles in his massive arms flexing with raw power.
"So this is where you've been hiding…"
He planted his naginata into the ground, the metal beneath it cracking from the sheer force.
"Marco. You holding up?"
"As always."
Whitebeard grinned. A predator's grin, devoid of mercy.
"Good. Then let's tear this place apart."
A deathly silence fell over them. And then—the storm broke loose.
The laboratory had become a war zone. Dust hung in the air, mixing with sparks from damaged circuits and flames licking at the crumbling walls. Amid the wreckage, four warriors clashed with a force that shook the very foundations of the building.
Whitebeard, towering over the battlefield like an unstoppable titan, gripped his naginata with unyielding strength. His predator's gaze locked onto Tanya and Kizaru. Above him, Marco hovered, engulfed in his blue flames, ready to strike at the slightest opening.
On the other side, Tanya Degurechaff tightened her grip on her Luger, her mind racing. A direct confrontation was a dead end. Whitebeard was a monster of pure strength, capable of shattering the ground with a single blow and reducing mountains to rubble. Marco was a menace fast, evasive, and nearly unkillable as long as his phoenix flames healed him.
Victory through sheer power was out of the question.
She exchanged a glance with Kizaru, who raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses.
"Captain Degurechaff, do you have a plan?" the admiral drawled lazily.
A smirk played on Tanya's lips.
"The goal isn't to win… just to hold out until the evacuation."
Kizaru tilted his head slightly, amused.
"Oooh… I like the sound of that."
Without warning, Tanya leapt back, unleashing a volley of magical bullets.
Whitebeard reacted instantly, swinging his naginata to shatter the projectiles before they could land. But it was just a distraction.
Kizaru vanished in a flash.
A beam of light shot across the room, aimed directly at Marco with blinding speed. The phoenix barely managed to dodge, but a second shot clipped his wing, sending him crashing into the wall.
Tanya seized the opening.
She activated her body enhancement magic and flight spell, launching herself forward at supersonic speed straight at Whitebeard.
"Hmph."
Whitebeard swung his weapon.
Tanya twisted at the last moment, drawing her rapier, which flared into a luminous bayonet. She struck directly at the giant's side.
The impact wasn't nearly as deep as she'd expected, even with the momentum behind her attack.
His Emperor's Haki had hardened his skin like steel.
Tanya cursed internally.
Before she could be countered, Kizaru intervened.
With a lazy motion, he reappeared behind Whitebeard, one leg raised high.
"Yasakani no Magatama."
A storm of glowing projectiles rained down on the titan.
Whitebeard growled, tanking the barrage without flinching.
Tanya used the chaos to leap backward and aimed her gun at the ceiling.
She activated a new spell Tactical Eclipse.
Instantly, a thick, dense smoke engulfed the battlefield.
Marco, just starting to recover, blinked in confusion.
"What the hell is this?!"
Even Whitebeard, a veteran of countless wars, felt his senses momentarily dulled.
"Tch… Another damn trick."
The ground trembled.
Whitebeard slammed his weapon into the floor.
A titanic shockwave tore through the room, blasting away the smoke and sending Tanya and Kizaru flying.
Tanya rolled across the debris before stabilizing herself midair.
She glanced at Kizaru despite the impact, he was already stretching, as if casually waking up from a nap.
"This old man is a real pain to deal with," he sighed.
"We've stalled long enough… Vegapunk, is the Hyperloop ready?"
"Thirty seconds!" the scientist called out, watching Tanya closely.
A cruel smile spread across her lips.
"Perfect."
She extended her hand toward the back of the lab.
A deep rumble shook the walls.
Then, a series of massive armored doors slid open.
From the darkness, dozens of metallic figures emerged, their eyes glowing red with a sinister light.
The Pacifista. A hundred units. Whitebeard narrowed his eyes;
"Hmph. Those toys again, huh?"
Marco landed beside his captain, eyeing the machines cautiously.
"Father, this is going to slow us down."
Whitebeard didn't respond immediately. He exhaled slowly, tightening his grip on his naginata.
"Then we'll crush them."
The Pacifista raised their arms in unison.
"Target locked…"
A second later, a hundred energy beams fired at once.
The explosion engulfed the entire lab in blinding light.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Tanya darted toward the Hyperloop, gripping Vegapunk by the arm, his satellites following closely behind.
Kizaru, on the other hand, glanced briefly at Whitebeard.
"Well, old man, it was a pleasure."
His body dissolved into a stream of golden light.
Whitebeard roared, swinging his weapon with brutal force, scattering the Pacifista like ragdolls. But it was too late. Tanya and Vegapunk had vanished into the Hyperloop tunnel.
As the dust settled, Marco rushed to the tunnel's entrance.
"They're getting away!"
Whitebeard remained still for a moment. He took in the wreckage, the fallen Pacifista, the sheer destruction surrounding him.
Then, slowly, he straightened up and fixed his gaze on the Hyperloop entrance.
A cold smile spread across his lips.
"Run as much as you like, kid…"
He lifted his weapon.
"One day, you'll have to pay the price."
POV VEGAPUNK
Location?
The tunnel stretched endlessly, rushing forward at a dizzying speed.
Inside the capsule-train, a heavy silence filled the air. Only the faint hum of the engine and the crackling of internal circuits disturbed the atmosphere.
Dr. Vegapunk, seated on a metallic bench, stared at the young girl across from him.
Captain Tanya Degurechaff.
She looked perfectly calm, as if she hadn't just faced one of the greatest monsters this world had ever known. Her pistol rested on her lap, hands clasped over it. Her uniform was in tatters, still bearing the scorch marks from Marco's flames and the shockwaves of Whitebeard's attacks.
But her eyes…
Cold. Sharp.
Not a trace of emotion.
Vegapunk narrowed his gaze behind his glasses.
He was the world's greatest scientist, a man who could unravel the very essence of nature itself yet he still couldn't comprehend what she truly was.
A child?
No.
There was nothing childlike about her.
His mind drifted back to the battle.
The way she had anticipated every movement. The surgical precision of her attacks. Her ability to exploit the smallest weakness.
Had it not been for Kizaru, she likely would have lost. But that wasn't the point. What fascinated him was the feeling that she had never intended to win.
She was fighting for something else. Something deeper…
"A personal fight."
That's what she had whispered to Marco.
And Vegapunk, as a scientist, as a man obsessed with answers, needed to know why.
"You don't seem exhausted, Captain Degurechaff."
Tanya slowly turned her head toward him.
"Exhaustion is useless."
Her response was cold, mechanical.
"You fought Whitebeard in direct combat. Few people walk away from that."
She merely shrugged.
"He was predictable. Strong, but predictable."
A quiet chuckle rumbled in Vegapunk's throat.
"Calling the world's greatest monster predictable now that's bold."
Tanya didn't answer. She simply stared into the empty space before her.
Vegapunk crossed his arms, thinking.
She wasn't telling him everything. He was sure of it.
But before he could probe further, a soft chime sounded.
"Approaching Sector 0."
The train decelerated slightly. Through the reinforced windows, Vegapunk caught a glimpse of a massive underwater structure hidden beneath the depths of the ocean.
A secret base, built as a contingency for escape.
As the train finally emerged into a cavern bathed in artificial light, Vegapunk let out a slow breath. He was finally safe.
But Tanya remained perfectly still, as if she already knew something was wrong.
The train came to a heavy stop.
The doors hissed open.
And a deep, rumbling voice filled the air.
"Zehahahaha… So, you've finally arrived."
Vegapunk felt his blood run cold.
Tanya didn't even flinch.
Standing on the platform, a towering figure awaited them. His long black coat billowed slightly, and his predatory grin gleamed under the harsh floodlights.
Marshall D. Teach Blackbeard.
A titan of a man stood at the center of the dock, draped in his signature dark coat. His yellowed teeth shone as his massive chest heaved with laughter.
Beside him stood some of the worst scum the world had ever produced.
Van Augur, the sniper with legendary precision, calmly polished the barrel of his rifle.
Lafitte twirled his cane absentmindedly, a sly grin playing at his lips.
Burgess, the brute, cracked his knuckles loudly, his predatory gaze sweeping the surroundings.
Blackbeard took a few steps forward, arms crossed, his gaze locked onto Tanya with amusement.
"So, Captain Degurechaff… have you thought about my offer?"
Vegapunk slowly turned to Tanya.
He wanted to speak, to question her, but the sheer iciness of her gaze stole the words from his throat.
She rose to her feet and stepped out of the train, her rifle still in hand.
Facing her, Teach's grin remained unchanged.
"So, Captain Degurechaff… have you made your decision?"
Vegapunk felt his breath hitch.
An offer?
His overworked brain raced to analyze the possibilities.
Tanya had been following Marine orders all along. She had fought to protect the operation. But ever since her battle with Marco, she had spoken strange words.
"A personal fight."
"I fight only for my survival."
And now, she was standing before one of the most dangerous men in the world, a man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
What was her true objective?
Tanya stared at Blackbeard for a few moments before answering.
She didn't seem surprised.
She held his gaze for a few seconds before speaking.
"I have always made my decisions based on my survival, Blackbeard. Nothing else matters."
Teach roared with laughter.
"Zehahahaha! An honest answer, I like that!"
He extended a hand.
"So, what will it be? Join me… or become my enemy?"
Vegapunk felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.
He knew that, whatever Tanya's choice, the consequences would shake the world.