Rumble—rumble—rumble…
Deafening thunder roared across the skies above God Island, like an enraged deity bellowing from the firmament, or nature itself unleashing divine punishment upon the world.
This… was Red's expectation for Nami.
A woman who could command nature itself—a Weather Queen!
Yet even such a terrifying display could only be considered a fleeting flash of brilliance on today's battlefield.
Nami's outburst did briefly draw the attention of the surrounding powerhouses, but their gazes soon returned to their own battles.
Only the Shandians hiding in their grass huts within Cloud-Hidden Village trembled as they stared at the sky above God Island.
Especially Wyper, who had only recently been disgracefully "exchanged back" from the Straw Hat Pirates.
As he watched the kaleidoscopic clash raging across the distant heavens, he finally understood why that man had once called him…a frog at the bottom of a well.
"Is the Blue Sea… really that vast?!"
For the Shandian warrior who had dedicated his life to reclaiming his homeland, curiosity about the Blue Sea below inexplicably took root.
…
…
Several minutes later, the thunder dispersed.
Like a vanishing illusion, everything faded away.
Aside from occasional electric arcs flickering across damp, charred soil, the land lay deathly still.
Clutching her Clima-Tact, Nami descended cautiously from the sky. Once her feet touched the soft earth, her sharp eyes darted swiftly in every direction.
"Nami!"
At that moment, Usopp, riding atop a rhinoceros beetle, flew back from afar, waving enthusiastically.
With a soft flutter of wings, he landed and gave her a confident thumbs-up.
"I'll handle the cleanup!"
"Go check on Robin and the others!"
"Got it~!"
Knowing Usopp was better suited for this, Nami didn't hesitate. Her body lifted once more as she prepared to assist elsewhere.
But before she could fully ascend, a massive figure flew in from the horizon.
Behind Robin, soft pink flesh-wings spread wide. A tail-like extension formed from arms behind her, suspending three unconscious Marine vice admirals as she glided toward Nami and Usopp.
"Huh?!"
Nami froze, then immediately waved.
Robin spotted them too and responded with a gentle smile.
Moments later, amid the thunder-scorched ruins, Usopp directed swarms of insects to bind every surviving Marine soldier and agent.
Despite the overwhelming spectacle of Nami's attack, it was ultimately no more than a serious casual strike from an Admiral-level powerhouse.
And those who survived the insect onslaught were elites among elites.
As a result, the Marine survival rate was surprisingly high.
In total, Usopp's swarm recovered over a hundred people.
A few hovered on the brink of death, moments away from crossing into the afterlife.
Most were gravely wounded and unconscious.
And a handful… still retained combat capability.
Among them were three agents from CP9.
Bzzzz—!
The hum of insects startled Jabra awake.
He coughed violently and scanned his surroundings.
Nearby lay Fukuro and Kumadori, both unconscious.
"Fukuro! Kumadori! What happened to you?!"
He rushed forward, shaking them frantically.
Before he could do much, Kumadori abruptly opened one eye.
"Shh!"
"Don't shout!!!"
"Huh?!"
Jabra froze.
At the same time, Fukuro quietly unzipped his mouth and spoke with eyes closed.
"Don't attract the insects, Jabra!"
"Lie down and play dead with us!"
"Do you want to get caught by those bugs?!"
"You two…"
Jabra stared in disbelief, then dropped them with a thud.
"Forget it," he sighed, relieved they were alive.
Glancing at the insects overhead, he muttered:
"Insects don't perceive the world like humans."
"You think they can't tell the living from the dead?"
As if to prove his point, a swarm descended above them.
Before they could react, countless vines shot out, wrapping all three tightly.
The vines suddenly displayed extraordinary elasticity, hoisting them into the air like fish on a line.
"Chapapa~ Where are we being taken?!"
Even wrapped head to toe, Fukuro could still speak—his mouth was just that big.
Unfortunately…
No one was there to answer.
Moments later—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three human "rice dumplings" were tossed onto a growing pile.
Usopp dusted off his hands theatrically, smiling with satisfaction.
"That should be everyone still alive."
He grinned at Nami and Robin.
"165 in total. Add the three vice admirals Robin brought—should be enough for Ace to trade back our captured companions, right?"
"Only this many?" Nami stared at the mound, her expression complex.
"I never thought I'd see the day my hands were stained with so much blood."
"Nearly a thousand lives… gone just like that. So this is war."
Usopp froze, the pride on his face fading.
During battle, all he'd thought about was defeating the enemy and not holding his friends back.
Only now did he realize…
He had personally directed his "subordinates" to end hundreds of lives.
Those Marines were not just soldiers—they were sons, husbands, fathers.
And now they lay dead in the sky, sacrificed for someone utterly unworthy.
"There's no helping it. This is war."
Robin spoke quietly.
Even though she had watched Marines annihilate her homeland, staring at their corpses brought her no sense of vengeance.
Life was never meant to be this cheap.
Fortunately, neither Nami nor Usopp were weak-hearted.
Nami had grown up in darkness—she knew the world's cruelty.
This was merely her first time killing so many.
As for Usopp—
Under Red's guidance, the budding capitalist in him was already calculating how to reduce insect casualties next time while maximizing lethality.
His insects were still too weak!!!
Robin, meanwhile, felt no pleasure—but no sorrow either.
The three looked up, saw understanding in each other's eyes, and smiled.
Just then—
A Hyperspace Hole opened nearby.
Red emerged, Momonga slung over one shoulder and Doberman in the other hand.
Seeing the mound, he tossed the unconscious vice admirals onto it.
Then he turned back and sent Vice Admiral Stainless, whom Chopper had brought out, over as well.
Afterward, Red scanned everyone and grinned.
"Hard to believe… my companions have grown this strong."
Over a thousand Marines. Six vice admirals.
A force rivaling a Buster Call—eradicated without even engaging the Straw Hats' main combatants.
They were now… the strongest force beneath the Yonko.
"Red!"
Nami and the others rushed over.
Red nodded.
"Ace defeated the two CP0 agents and is helping Zoro fight the Admiral."
"I checked on Luffy—his battle's almost over."
"If nothing unexpected happens, our captain wins."
"Usopp, contact Gem and Laboon."
"We're preparing to retreat."
"Roger!"
Usopp instantly sprang into action.
…
On the deck of the Going Merry, hidden in the White Sea, a Hyperspace Hole opened.
The Klabautermann, Little Merry, floated down from the mast.
Swarms of insects poured out, each carrying a bound prisoner.
"This way! This way!"
Merry opened the cargo hold and guided them.
All prisoners were loaded neatly into the hold, where a pre-prepared Grassy Terrain kept them alive.
Since help should be thorough, Red prepared a generous "gift" for Whitebeard.
Every Marine captured today.
With vice admirals like Momonga among them, the Navy couldn't refuse.
Whether Whitebeard demanded prisoners' release—or Blackbeard himself—the Navy would comply.
Once the hold was full, Red and the crew returned aboard.
"Good work, Merry."
Then Red issued orders:
"Usopp, stay in constant contact with Laboon."
"Chopper, assess the prisoners' injuries."
"Remove lightly wounded ones from Grassy Terrain—we can't let them recover too much."
"Nami, Robin…"
"Separate Marines from CP agents."
"Marines are Whitebeard's greeting gift."
"As for CP agents…"
"Treat them well."
"They may become our own people someday~"
With a mysterious smile, Red stepped back into the Hyperspace Hole.
Leaving stunned Straw Hats behind.
"Our own people?" Usopp blinked.
No one understood.
Because this idea was just a spur-of-the-moment inspiration before the war.
Since realizing the value of intelligence, Red had pondered how to build an information network.
Seeing CP agents mixed among Marines sparked a thought—
Why build one from scratch?
Why not just take the World Government's best agents?
Few intelligence operatives rival CP agents' experience and skill.
Capable. Patient. Obedient. Disciplined.
Perfect agents.
Wasted on serving Celestial Dragons.
So—
"Abandon the darkness. Serve the Straw Hats."
Red emerged again, pink light flickering in his eyes as he stood before two unconscious CP0 agents.
Grassy Terrain spread beneath them, healing burn marks.
Their consciousness returned.
The moment they opened their eyes—
Their world turned pink.
Their pupils followed.
Smiling, Red removed their masks and tossed them Akatsuki cloaks.
"From today on, you are Akatsuki members."
"I am your leader—Zero."
"Your first mission…"
"Assist the others in defeating Marine Admiral Kizaru!"
"Yes, Lord Zero!!!"
They donned cloaks and spiral masks, then vanished using Shave.
One effect of Psychic Power—Hypnosis.
Like Mewtwo controlling Nurse Joy, Red could control minds.
But his strength was limited.
Maintaining hypnosis on two CP0 agents consumed nearly two-thirds of his energy recovery.
He could only control three more ordinary CP0 agents before losing access to Pokémon moves.
Not efficient—but satisfactory.
Because…
His power would not stagnate forever.
(End of Chapter)