In the Grand Line, at the heart of the Marines' operations, stood Marineford—the towering headquarters of the Marines, the military organization tasked with maintaining order and enforcing the law across the seas.
Within Marineford, a powerful figure sat at the heart of the operations—the Fleet Admiral. Fleet Admiral Kong, known as "Steel Bone" for his formidable reputation, was deep in thought, reading a report detailing the movements of Rocks D. Xebec, a notorious and dangerous figure who had recently been spotted in the New World. Kong's brow furrowed as he read the report.
"We need a plan to take him down," Kong muttered to himself, his voice low. "I've always felt that he will be a big threat in the future."
He set the report aside and reached for another document, but before he could read it, a voice suddenly echoed in his mind, a voice unfamiliar yet clear.
"Hello, I am Tera, and I can help you use Netra."
Kong immediately froze. His eyes widened, and his hand instinctively gripped the edge of his desk as he stood up. His mind raced, and he quickly activated his Observation Haki, scanning the room with intense focus. He found nothing.
"Who dares invade my mind?!" Kong's voice thundered, his grip tightening on the desk. His Observation Haki flared as he scanned the room. "Do you have any idea where you are? This is Marineford—if you're playing games, I'll find you and crush you myself!"
The voice responded calmly, without hesitation. "Don't worry, sir. I mean no harm. I just want to help you use Netra."
Kong's eyes narrowed as he continued searching the room, but there was still no sign of anyone. "Who are you?" he asked again, this time more forcefully.
"I am Tera," the voice replied simply.
"Why do you contact me? Where are you? And what is Tera?" Kong questioned, his mind spinning as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
"I am everywhere, sir," the voice answered, its calmness never wavering. "And I am contacting you to help you use Netra. Netra is a network that will allow you to chat and call any person in the world, anywhere, anytime."
Kong stood there, still gripping his desk, his mind racing. Everywhere, Kong thought. You really think highly of yourself. He couldn't help but feel that this was just some person who had eaten a Devil Fruit to be able to communicate with him. But let's talk to him and see if I can find any clue.
The panel before him glowed softly. He eyed it warily before speaking. "Alright, Netra, how do I use you to connect?"
Tera's mechanical voice sounded directly in his mind, smooth and efficient. "I am happy to help, sir. To connect, you first have to undergo a scan to upload your image and real name to create a profile for you. Don't worry, user, your image and name will be secured, and no one will have access to them. After you log in, you can use a nickname or a different name to talk to others."
"A scan? How do I do that?" Kong thought, just as he was about to ask another question.
Tera's voice responded again, directly and reassuringly. "You don't have to do anything, sir. I can perform the scan automatically. Just give me your name."
Kong's expression darkened, his fingers twitching slightly, a reflex from countless battles. "Enough with the riddles—are you inside my head? What kind of Devil Fruit trick is this?" His voice dropped lower, cold and commanding. "If you can hear my thoughts, then tell me—what am I thinking right now?"
Tera's voice was patient and calm. "No, sir. I'm simply using the power of the Devil Fruit to connect to you. As long as you can close the panel at any time, my power is simply the Devil Fruit ability, so you can use Haki to isolate my power from you. If you do that, I won't be able to communicate with you."
Kong remained skeptical but decided to move forward. "Fine. My name is Kong. Get this over with."
"Understood, sir. Scanning your face…Done. Setting name…Done. Creating profile…Done."
"It's done, sir. Welcome to Netra. How should I address you in the future? As Kong or something else?" Tera asked.
"Kong is fine," he replied gruffly.
"Very well, Kong. Now, let me tell you how to chat and find the people you want to connect with."
The panel shifted, displaying a sleek and minimalist interface. A large search icon glowed softly in the center, indicating where to begin.
"This is your primary search function," Tera explained. "By clicking on the search icon, you can find anyone in the network—whether by their real name or nickname. Just type the name, and Netra will pull up the profile you're looking for."
Kong's gaze shifted to the right, where a neatly organized "Contacts" section was visible. "Here, you can see all of your connections. Clicking on a name will allow you to message or call them instantly."
On the left, his own profile was displayed, showing his real name and avatar. "This is your profile," Tera continued. "From here, you can manage settings, update your name or picture, and control privacy options."
Kong's skepticism softened slightly as he absorbed the layout. "And if I want to call someone?"
"Simply think of their name, and I will establish the connection instantly," Tera said. "Would you like to try?"
Kong hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's see if this works."
He focused his thoughts. If this was real, there was only one person he wanted to test it with.
"Okay, send a friendship request to Captain Sanders. His full name is Eric Sanders."
"Okay, sir. Friendship request is sent," Tera said.
Just as Kong was about to reach for his Den Den Mushi to call Captain Sanders and check if the request had been received, Tera's voice interrupted.
"Captain Sanders accepted your friendship request."
"What? So fast?" Kong said, his expression changing. He couldn't help but be taken aback.
"Captain Sanders is calling you. Do you accept his call?" Tera asked.
"Accept his call," Kong said.
The voice of Captain Sanders sounded in his mind. "Fleet Admiral Kong, is this the new invention of the Marines? Or is the World Government behind this? It's really awesome and very convenient! I just used it to call my family and chat with some colleagues. It's a great invention, I—"
Hearing Captain Sanders going on without stopping, Kong immediately interrupted him. "Okay, okay. Tell me, Captain Sanders, about one hour ago, what did we talk about?"
"What? Fleet Admiral Kong, are you doubting my identity? That's really…" Captain Sanders's voice trailed off, sounding disappointed. "I'm really Captain Sanders."
"I'm not doubting you, I'm questioning Netra," Kong said.
"What? Isn't Netra the work of the Navy or the World Government?" Captain Sanders asked.
"No," Kong replied firmly. "Tell me, what did we talk about one hour ago?"
"We didn't talk one hour ago, but the last time we spoke was a month ago," Captain Sanders explained. "I reported to you all the names of the pirates that we hunted and talked about the financial needs of the South Blue base."
Kong exhaled sharply, his mind racing. This is real. His grip loosened on the desk, but his gaze hardened. If Tera could connect people across seas in an instant... that meant communication itself had changed. His voice was low, but firm: "This isn't just a tool… This is power."
He said to Captain Sanders, "Okay, end this call and hurry to the South Blue base. They need your help."
Captain Sanders replied, "Don't worry, Fleet Admiral Kong. After the sailors get some rest, we'll go after the pirates."
"Rest? Are you still resting? It's been a month since you arrived at Marineford. What rest do you still need?" Kong roared.
"Ahh, sir, I mean rest here at the South Blue base," Captain Sanders said nervously.
"The South Blue base?" Kong repeated. "Did you arrive at the South Blue base?"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral Kong, we arrived today."
Kong's mind processed the information. So, I am now talking to someone in the South Blue from here.
"Okay, Captain, please complete your task," Kong said, about to close the call.
But Captain Sanders said, "Fleet Admiral Kong, I was talking to Vice Admiral Jace. He said that they found traces of the pirates that attacked the Marine ships in the New World."
"Did you talk to Vice Admiral Jace?" Kong asked, his voice lowering.
"Yes, sir," Captain Sanders replied.
Kong suppressed his shock. Okay, Captain. I will end this call.
Kong looked at the panel of Netra and muttered to himself, Allow people to talk from the South Blue to the New World.
Then he called Chief of Staff Maine and instructed him to have the two Admirals and all the Vice Captains attend a meeting now.
"Okay, sir," the Chief of Staff responded.
"Wait, also call Rear Admiral Garp to attend," Kong added.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral Kong," Maine confirmed.
Meanwhile, in Mariejois, located on the Red Line, a massive continent that circles the world, the capital of the World Government stood as a symbol of power and authority. The Celestial Dragons, the highest rulers of the world, resided in this majestic city, which sat atop the Red Line. The buildings here were grand and elegant, designed with elements that exuded wealth, power, and control, reflecting the World Government's vast influence over the entire world.
The room where the Gorosei, the five elders, held their meetings was no different. It was a large, circular chamber, dominated by a long, central table where the five of them sat together in silence, deep in thought. The high ceilings and luxurious tapestries lining the walls lent the room an air of mystery and formality. Statues depicting the history of the World Government adorned the space, a constant reminder of their authority and control over the world.
The lighting was always dim, casting shadows across the room and adding to the somber nature of the discussions that took place. This room was where the fate of the world was decided, where critical events like the Poneglyphs, the Void Century, and the looming threat of pirates were discussed in secret. The room exuded the authority and control that the Gorosei wielded over the world's power structure.
As the five sat around the table, their conversation began.
Saint Marcus Mars, a muscular figure with short white hair and a commanding presence, spoke first. A scar ran along his cheek, emphasizing the intensity of his focus. "What do you think about Netra, which has taken the world by storm? The report submitted by CP confirms that Netra has reached every part of the world."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the elder most often seen in prominent scenes with the other Gorosei, leaned forward. His bald head and long white beard gave him an air of wisdom, and his stern expression only added to his authoritative presence. His eyes, hidden behind glasses, were sharp and calculating. "Of course we will control it," he said, his voice firm. "I don't need to tell you about its role and what we can do with it." He paused, his thoughts shifting to the strategic importance of Netra. As the Warrior God of Science and Defense, he oversaw the military and scientific aspects of the World Government. He understood how Netra could be leveraged to deliver information instantly across the globe. It could be the key to maintaining control in a world where the rise of pirates and rebellions threatened their grip.
Saint Topman Warcury, with his long white hair and eyepatch covering his right eye, spoke next. His expression was as stern as ever. "Yes, with Netra, the World Government can function better, and our voice can reach farther." He emphasized the potential of Netra to spread the World Government's influence, from the Marines' decisions on punishment to enforcing their philosophy of 'Absolute Justice.' With Netra, his orders could be delivered instantly, making enforcement even more efficient.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, dressed in formal attire and with a more relaxed posture, added his thoughts. He had a refined appearance and sharp eyes that never missed a detail. "So we need to find this Tera and take control of Netra." As the Warrior God of Finance, he understood the importance of controlling Netra, which could aid in managing the World Government's vast resources, controlling trade routes, and securing funding for their various operations. He knew that Netra was a valuable asset that must be controlled at all costs.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, who appeared gentler than the others with his long white hair and beard, expressed his concerns. "But how?" he asked, his tone calm but filled with doubt. "Can Tera really use her Devil Fruit to cover the whole world? Finding her is going to be extremely difficult." As the Warrior God of Agriculture, Shepherd Ju Peter was responsible for overseeing food supplies and agricultural matters, ensuring that the World Government maintained control over the global food supply. Netra could certainly make his work easier, but finding Tera was a task that seemed daunting.
Saint Marcus Mars responded with a confident tone. "We are the World Government. As long as a person lives in our world, they will leave traces, and we can find them."
Saint Topman Warcury agreed. "Then, let the Marines look for any information about Tera and let CP9 assist them. The moment they find her, we can even dispatch the Knights of God to capture her."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, understanding the critical importance of Netra, nodded in agreement. "Then, convey our orders to the Marines and CP."
With that, the World Government began their search for a woman named Tera, determined to control the revolutionary network that had the potential to reshape the balance of power across the globe.