"If reinforcements had arrived in time, perhaps the tragedy of the Marineford War could have been avoided."
Caesar and Lily walked side by side. According to their earlier division of labor, the two were responsible for gathering information about the next island, planning the route, and acquiring necessary supplies.
Lily, in particular, needed to purchase sea charts and update her navigational maps.
The sun hung high in the sky—it was just past two in the afternoon. It was the time of day when sailors often relaxed after lunch and a short nap.
As they walked, Caesar and Lily discussed the potential of the Yunyun Fruit and its future applications.
"Celestial phenomena are nothing more than wind, rain, thunder, hail, and changes in temperature," Caesar mused.
"They may seem ordinary, lacking destructive power, but their true potential runs deep. If we focus on thunderstorms, for example, we could unleash devastating lightning strikes, capable of electrocuting enemies instantly. Or if we harness storms, we could—"
Lily listened attentively. As someone deeply knowledgeable in astronomy and navigation, her understanding of celestial phenomena was on par with Nami's.
Meanwhile, the other members of the Caesar Pirates carried out their assigned tasks, scattered throughout the town.
The next day, with their supplies replenished, the Caesar Pirates set sail once more.
As their ship departed, the island's residents breathed a collective sigh of relief.
A Day Earlier – Marine Headquarters
An urgent intelligence report was delivered to the Fleet Admiral's office by the head of the intelligence division. Moments later, Steel Bone Kong's enraged voice erupted from within.
"Trash! What a bunch of incompetent fools! The Navy's reputation is in tatters because of them!"
A loud crash echoed as something heavy was thrown against the wall.
Steel Bone Kong's voice carried through Marineford, his fury unmistakable.
The reason?
An island that had applied for official recognition as a World Government territory—with a noble poised to ascend into the Celestial Dragons' ranks—had been obliterated by none other than the Caesar Pirates, who had returned from the East Blue.
Even though their captain was a world-class powerhouse—an individual the Navy found particularly troublesome—this event was an utter humiliation for both the World Government and the Marines.
It was a public slap in the face.
Thus, Steel Bone Kong raged for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, as he took a deep breath, he recalled something that made his blood boil even further—Garp had left for the East Blue and casually granted himself an extended vacation.
As if pouring oil onto the fire, this realization pushed Steel Bone Kong over the edge.
"That damn Garp!"
Without hesitation, he snatched the Den Den Mushi and dialed Garp's number.
The instant Garp picked up, a barrage of expletives thundered through the receiver. Steel Bone Kong ordered him to return immediately.
After regaining his composure, the Fleet Admiral turned to Sengoku, his trusted successor.
"Sengoku, this mission is about the Navy's honor. You carry a heavy responsibility."
"The Caesar Pirates are formidable—one of the strongest pirate crews in the world. But we cannot allow this incident to go unanswered. If we do, pirates everywhere will think the Navy is weak. They'll trample over us without hesitation!"
"I will not allow that to happen! Do you understand, Sengoku?!"
Steel Bone Kong's voice was so forceful that the tea table in front of Sengoku rattled.
Sengoku straightened his posture and saluted.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral! I will carry out the mission and restore the Navy's honor!"
"Good! I entrust this operation to you!"
Preparing for Battle
Though Sengoku had received his orders, he knew that confronting the Caesar Pirates alone was unwise.
Caesar himself was a force to be reckoned with. Even Garp had struggled to defeat him.
Sengoku needed reinforcements.
Pacing his office, he muttered, "I can't handle them alone… I'll need support."
A realization struck him.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru—her Wash-Wash Fruit is unpredictable and could be an invaluable asset."
With renewed determination, he rushed to contact Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had recently returned from a mission.
While Tsuru's strength wasn't on par with an admiral, her Devil Fruit abilities were uniquely formidable.
Sengoku, along with Tsuru and a contingent of Marine officers, departed Marineford aboard two warships, heading straight for the first half of the Grand Line.
Present Time – At Sea
The Caesar Pirates were in no hurry to reach their next island.
Instead, they took this time to hone their abilities.
Caesar personally oversaw the training of Lily, Eli, and Arnold, who had recently acquired Devil Fruits.
Mastering their newfound powers was crucial. The quicker they adapted, the stronger their crew would become.
"The strength of the captain sets a pirate crew's upper limit," Caesar told them. "But the strength of the crew determines its lower limit. Both are equally important."
At this moment, Caesar was training Arnold, whose Double-Speed Fruit granted him up to 100 times acceleration.
Though a subordinate ability to the Momo Momo no Mi, it was still immensely powerful—like a pirate version of Kizaru's light-speed movements or Enel's lightning reflexes.
However, Arnold could currently only manage five times the speed. Reaching his fruit's true potential would require relentless training.
[113] "If you want to push your limits, you must constantly practice in high-intensity combat situations."
Arnold nodded, determined to master his ability.
Meanwhile, Eli, who had consumed the Self-Healing Fruit, trained separately. Unlike Arnold's speed enhancement, Eli's power focused on physical resilience and endurance.
The trade-off? Rapid healing demanded an enormous intake of food to replenish his stamina.
Lily, having eaten a Logia-type Devil Fruit, required specialized guidance.
Though she had natural talent, controlling a Logia fruit was notoriously challenging.
However, within a few days, she had already learned to summon and manipulate various cloud formations, including rain clouds, thunderclouds, and snow clouds.
Her range, though still limited to a few hundred meters, was growing with each passing day.
Just as their training continued…
"Navy spotted ahead!"
Arnold, perched atop the mast, peered through his sniper scope.
"Two warships approaching fast!"
The crew gathered at the ship's bow.
"That's Vice Admiral Sengoku… and Vice Admiral Tsuru!"
Eli's eyes widened in disbelief.
"They're coming straight for us!"
Gnarli, one of Caesar's senior officers, narrowed his eyes.
"Be cautious of Tsuru. Her Wash-Wash Fruit is deceptive—even high-ranking Marines have fallen prey to it."
Despite the looming threat, Caesar remained unfazed.
"It doesn't matter who comes at me. Even if it were Rocks D. Xebec himself, I would still fight."
The warships drew closer.
The tension in the air thickened.
Then—the battle erupted.
Caesar leapt onto the Marine ship, clashing swords with Sengoku.
Gnarli engaged Tsuru.
The rest of the Caesar Pirates fought against the Marine officers.
With a single burst of Conqueror's Haki, Caesar overwhelmed the lower-ranked Marines, leaving only the Vice Admirals and the elite officers standing.
The battle for supremacy had begun.
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