Let's go back in time a little.
Far away at the Navy Headquarters, Marineford.
On the top floor of the majestic and solemn Navy Headquarters building, inside the cluttered office—
"Call…" After breathing heavily for a while, Buddha Sengoku clapped his hands together and let out a long sigh of relief.
He didn't even glance at Garp, who was sprawled out with a swollen nose and bruised face, pretending to be unconscious.
Adjusting his uniform, Sengoku sat back down in his chair as if nothing had happened.
"But… having said that, what is going on with those troublesome Straw Hat Pirates?"
The Marshal's expression was grave.
He furrowed his brows, pressing his palms against the desk: "For three days straight, disturbances have erupted without pause…"
"And why did the Butcher Ren appear there? Weren't the Straw Hats supposed to be heading toward Water 7?"
According to the intelligence compiled by the Naval Intelligence Department—
After entering the first half of the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Pirates had chosen the seventh route.
By that path, they should already be en route to the Water Capital. Shouldn't they have set sail?
Yet the Pocris sea zone, where Stainless's fleet patrols, is nowhere near the seventh route.
If anything, it lies closer to Alabasta.
But that distance is not something covered in three or five days. To reach it in three days, they would have had to backtrack.
"The report stated only the Butcher Ren and a woman suspected to be his accomplice were sighted. None of the other Straw Hat members were present…"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's face was stern as she spoke in a low voice: "There is one detail we cannot overlook. That man must have awakened an extraordinary ability!"
She declared.
Placing several photographs on the desk, she gestured toward Sengoku and Garp.
"These were faxed back by Stainless's fleet earlier. Take a look!"
Sengoku and Garp froze, instinctively leaning forward. Their pupils contracted sharply: "That's…"
The leading photo revealed—
A scaled beast engulfed in blazing fire, a mythical zoan form that seemed born from purgatory itself, its presence enough to make the scalp crawl
It was soaring high in the sky, its presence overwhelming and momentum astonishing.
"It should be the same as you, Sengoku—one of those mythical zoan species, rarer even than the logia types…"
Vice Admiral Tsuru spoke firmly.
She was convinced the opponent's strength was anything but ordinary.
Clearly, this was no longer someone a standard Vice Admiral could hope to contain.
"His entire body is wreathed in flames, and yet he remains suspended in mid-air…"
"Judging from the photos alone, that man most likely possesses the ability to command fire and flight. A terrifying monster indeed!"
Sengoku's expression hardened, his face solemn.
To conceal his true nature, Ren had tempered himself to the utmost.
Cautious by instinct, he rarely revealed his ability to manipulate flames before others.
After all, there was no need—he would never foolishly expose his trump card and allow enemies to fully grasp his powers.
Even now, despite the Navy Headquarters' formidable intelligence network, they had not discovered that before consuming a devil fruit, the Butcher Ren already wielded mastery over fire.
Now, with the powers of the Mythical Zoan: Black Dragon, his menace had multiplied.
"'Blood Hell' Sparks Ren… this man is far too murderous…"
At that moment, the battered Garp rose to his feet.
He frowned deeply and muttered: "If memory serves, ever since he joined the Straw Hats back in Rogue Town, we've seen him at Whiskey Peak, Drum Kingdom, Alabasta, Gaya Island, and just days ago at Branch G-8… most of the killings trace back to him!"
"I can't understand how Luffy's personality could mesh with someone like that!"
Though he had failed to keep Luffy from running off to sea and becoming a pirate, Garp still knew his grandson's nature well.
The boy was careless, mischievous at times, always talking about becoming Pirate King, and eager for adventure.
But he was certainly not the type to revel in slaughter, nor one to abuse strength for bloodshed.
"It seems that kid is far more dangerous than we imagined…"
Beside him, Sengoku let out a cold snort, his face grim.
But he didn't attempt to challenge Garp any further. Instead, Sengoku turned directly to Vice Admiral Tsuru and asked in a deep voice:
"Grandma Tsuru, can any nearby branch base spare the time to support Stainless and his men?"
The Vice Admirals of Navy Headquarters are the backbone of the organization.
Each one is a veteran of countless battles, wielding considerable strength, and capable of mastering Observation Haki and Armament Haki with ease.
Ordinarily, there is little pressure when dealing with rookies who have yet to enter the New World.
Moreover, Stainless's strength, even among Headquarters Vice Admirals, is above average—he belongs to the elite group.
Yet it was clear that his fleet had suffered heavy losses and was now requesting aid from headquarters.
That meant the power of the Butcher Ren had grown so formidable that they could not withstand him, and annihilation loomed over the entire force.
Although Stainless's fleet had originally been dispatched to eliminate the Tiger Shark Pirates—a minor threat—it was not a small detachment.
The total manpower numbered at least two thousand.
Naturally, Sengoku, as Marshal of the Navy, could not sit idly by.
"As for that sea zone, the G-2 branch is relatively close, but even at best speed it will take three days to arrive…"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's expression was grave as she continued without hesitation:
"As for the G-3 branch, five days at the fastest… If headquarters dispatches a fleet directly, it will take no less than ten days!"
"If Admiral Aokiji were to rush from headquarters without pause, disregarding exhaustion, it would be faster."
After a brief silence, Tsuru added her counsel:
"Moreover, Sparks Ren is extremely dangerous now. Only if Aokiji himself intervenes can we ensure safety."
As Chief Staff Officer of Navy Headquarters, she had already weighed this possibility in advance.
But Tsuru did not yet realize that Admiral Aokiji, who should have been on duty and stationed at headquarters, was not present at all.
On weekdays, although he carried a lazy demeanor, Aokiji was generally conscientious and rarely caused problems in his duties. Yet now, he had unexpectedly abandoned his post without permission and slipped away in secret.
"In addition, Stainless's fleet just reported that they heard the Butcher Ren himself admit he had quit the Straw Hat Pirates, though this has not yet been confirmed…"
Glancing at Garp, her old comrade, Vice Admiral Tsuru added: "Perhaps, as you said, Garp, Sparks Ren clashed with the rest of the Straw Hats due to incompatibility!"
"In other words, that man may have left the crew directly after awakening such formidable abilities?" Sengoku frowned, his gaze fixed on the photo of the blazing Black Dragon.
He was not surprised by this possibility.
Pirates did not engage in honest work; they went to sea under the banner of freedom, but in truth they burned, killed, looted, and stirred chaos wherever they went. In the end, they were nothing more than villains gathered together for profit, not noble men of justice.
It was not uncommon for pirates who gained powerful abilities to deem their weaker companions unworthy, abandoning the crew to act alone. Many who suddenly acquired overwhelming strength sought to overthrow their leaders and seize command.
"Brannew…"
Sengoku wasted no time, making his decision swiftly.
He directly ordered Brannew, who had just entered and had not yet saluted: "Notify Admiral Aokiji immediately. Have him rush to the Pocris sea zone at once to support Stainless and his men… I only hope it is not too late!"
"If he encounters the Straw Hat Pirates' vice-captain, the Butcher Ren, he must capture him!"
Regardless of whether Sparks Ren had truly separated from the Straw Hats or not.
The vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates possessed formidable strength despite his youth, and had awakened the rare ability of a mythical zoan. His potential was staggering—far beyond ordinary.
Compared to other pirate newcomers with bounties exceeding one hundred million, the so-called "supernovas," his power was already superior.
In terms of ability, he was no less dangerous than the case three years ago, when the Navy's invitation to the Shichibukai was refused, and instead "Fire Fist" Ace of the Whitebeard Pirates rose to prominence.
Moreover, Ren was a ruthless criminal.
If left unchecked, he would soon become a grave threat.
"Ah?" Brannew, who had been about to report to the Marshal that Admiral Aokiji could not be reached, suddenly froze in shock.
"I… I'm very sorry, Marshal Sengoku…"
Sweat poured down his face as Brannew stammered: "We cannot contact Admiral Aokiji at all right now!"
"What!?"
Before Sengoku, his face darkening, could unleash his fury, a major from Navy Headquarters rushed in, drenched in sweat.
After a hurried salute, he ignored Tsuru, Garp, and the others, blurting out in panic:
"Marshal Sengoku—it's terrible…!"
"Just now, Vice Admiral Stainless's life card burned completely to ashes!"
"What!?"
At that moment—
Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the rest all felt their expressions twist in shock.