Marine Headquarters, New Marineford
The atmosphere in the central command room was particularly tense, a stark contrast to the triumphant mood that had filled it just weeks prior.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood rigidly at the center of the platform, his gaze fixed intently on the blurry, flickering images projected onto the main tactical screen.
His brows were deeply furrowed, revealing thick lines of worry etched into his forehead.
The projected images, pieced together from frantic reports and long-range Den Den Mushi feeds, showed a horrifying, almost unbelievable sight: dozens of islands, ripped from the sea, suspended high in the sky as if supported by some invisible, malevolent force, slowly moving across the Grand Line.
Shiki's jamming technology was proving incredibly effective, making clear observation nearly impossible.
"What exactly is that madman trying to do?" Sengoku's voice echoed through the silent room, carrying a heavy weight of suppressed anger.
"Even if that's only Paradise, it's no place for him to run wild! Has he forgotten what happened the last time he flew his fleet over civilian populations?!"
The surrounding officers, Vice Admirals and strategists alike, also frowned, their attention focused intently on the chaotic, glitching projection.
Everyone present understood the grim reality: whenever the name "Golden Lion" Shiki was involved, nothing good would come of it.
There was certainly some hidden, destructive scheme at play.
Vice Admiral Momonga had deep furrows etched into his forehead.
He leaned forward slightly, his expression grave.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," he said, his voice low and serious. "Shiki's sudden and unprovoked seizure of so many islands… it undoubtedly conceals a massive conspiracy. Shouldn't we take immediate action? Intercept him before he reaches the New World, or worse, uses those islands as weapons?"
"Exactly!" another officer chimed in immediately, his voice tight with indignation.
"That Shiki is far too arrogant! Openly snatching islands like this—it's as if he doesn't even regard the Marines, the World Government itself, as a threat!"
"If we don't act decisively," a strategist added, pointing at the projected trajectory, "his actions could destabilize the entire Grand Line! Encourage other pirates to commit similarly outrageous acts!"
At that moment, a younger officer, reviewing recent deployment logs, spoke thoughtfully.
"Fleet Admiral, I recall Admiral Aokiji was conducting patrols in that sector, near Water 7…"
Though his voice was soft, it cut clearly through the tense silence.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku nodded slightly, sinking into deep thought.
He was aware of Aokiji's current location.
Sending Aokiji, one of their strongest assets and a man known for his cool head, to investigate might be their best bet to uncover Shiki's true intentions.
After all, Shiki's actions were truly, utterly baffling.
Why now? Why Long Ring Long Land?
Sengoku's gaze grew increasingly profound, his mind racing through catastrophic scenarios.
If Shiki intended to use those stolen islands as kinetic weapons… the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just imagine—dropping even one of those landmasses onto a kingdom… few nations could withstand such an assault.
It would be a disaster on a scale unseen since the Void Century.
"Contact Admiral Aokiji immediately!" Sengoku ordered decisively, his voice sharp with urgency.
"Patch him through now!"
"Yes, sir!" a communications soldier responded promptly, his fingers flying across the console.
.....
Meanwhile, in a deserted alley corner in Water 7…
The sounds of panic from Shiki's passage had mostly subsided, replaced by a cautious, fearful silence.
Nami and Nico Robin sat slumped against a damp stone wall, chests heaving as they gasped for breath.
They were disheveled, exhausted, and running on pure adrenaline.
Nami's eyes, usually bright with mischief or calculation, were wide with a residual shock, yet deep within them, a desperate, almost forgotten glimmer of hope flickered back to life.
"Robin," she panted, her voice tinged with a breathless uncertainty.
"Are you sure? Was that really… him? The Golden Lion, Shiki?"
"I'm certain," Robin replied, her own brow slightly furrowed, her expression grave as she gazed up at the now-empty sky where the impossible islands had vanished.
"Based on the descriptions, the scale of the power involved… If he's still alive, he's the only one in the entire sea capable of such a feat."
Nami nodded, a sense of profound awe mixing with her fear.
"It's terrifying… making so many islands fly! It defies all logic!"
Robin sighed softly, pulling her knees closer to her chest.
"Shiki is a legend from the era of the Pirate King," she continued, her voice low.
"On par with Roger and Whitebeard in his prime. His power is unfathomable, and his ability to command islands as his personal fleet… it's utterly fearsome."
Hearing this, hearing the confirmation of his legendary status, the light in Nami's eyes grew brighter and brighter, until the desperate flicker ignited into a blazing conviction.
"Robin!" Nami suddenly grabbed Robin's hand, her grip surprisingly strong, her eyes sparkling with a wild, almost manic excitement.
"Nami?" Robin was taken aback, unsure why her friend was suddenly so elated.
This was the first time Nami had shown any real spark of hope since… since their crew had been shattered, since Luffy had been taken.
"Robin, don't you see?" Nami said joyfully, her voice trembling with a desperate energy.
"If Shiki is really as powerful as you say, as powerful as Whitebeard… then he must be stronger than that guy!"
"You mean…" Robin whispered, already guessing where Nami's thoughts were heading, a familiar sense of weary dread settling in her stomach.
Nami looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with a burning, hopeful light.
"Yes, Robin! Just as you thought! We need to find him! We need to ask Shiki for help! He's so powerful—he'll definitely be able to defeat that monster, Teach!"
At the mention of Blackbeard's name, Nami's eyes blazed with a pure, unadulterated fury, and her entire body trembled with anger.
If it weren't for him, their Straw Hat Pirates crew wouldn't have been scattered to the winds!
Luffy wouldn't have been captured!
'Damn him! I'll definitely make him pay!' Nami secretly swore in her heart.
Robin watched the furious, hopeful Nami and sighed inwardly.
'Hope… it's such a dangerous, double-edged thing.'
She knew the harsh reality.
Why would a powerhouse like Shiki, a legend known for his arrogance and ambition, help two insignificant, stranded pirates for no reason?
But she couldn't bear to extinguish that fragile flame in Nami's eyes.
"Nami," she began gently, trying to inject a note of caution, "even if we wanted to ask him, we don't know where Shiki is going. How could we possibly find him? So, perhaps it's better to focus on…"
"You're right, Robin! Thank you for reminding me!" Nami suddenly interrupted, completely misinterpreting Robin's hesitation.
She scrambled to her feet, pulling Robin up with surprising strength.
"We need to chase those islands! They're such huge targets—they have to stop somewhere! As long as we keep following the direction they went, we'll definitely find Shiki!" Nami stubbornly pulled Robin along, her eyes filled with an unwavering, desperate determination.
Robin didn't say anything more.
She, too, was at a loss, adrift in a sea of uncertainty.
She let Nami drag her out of the alley, out of Water 7, towards the endless, unforgiving ocean, chasing an impossible fleet in the sky.
....
Marine Headquarters…
Inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's command room, the communications soldier finally established a secure connection.
"Sir! We have Admiral Aokiji on the line!"
"Kuzan!" Sengoku barked into the receiver, his voice grave. "Report your current location and status!"
Aokiji's voice came through the communicator, carrying its usual infuriating laziness, though perhaps laced with a hint of something colder.
"Ara ra… still a few kilometers from where Long Ring Long Land used to be, Fleet Admiral. Didn't expect to witness such a… grand spectacle this morning."
"Shiki is plundering islands on a massive scale," Sengoku stated bluntly, cutting through the pleasantries.
"His purpose remains unknown, but his trajectory seems to be taking him towards the Knock-Up Stream. Proceed immediately to investigate. You must uncover his plans before he causes irreparable damage."
"Understood, Fleet Admiral," Aokiji's voice remained calm, but the usual drawl was gone, replaced by a hint of chilling gravity.
"I'm on my way."
After ending the communication, Sengoku took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the blurry, frustrating projection.
He knew Shiki's actions had already exceeded their worst expectations.
If they couldn't intercept him, couldn't figure out his plan in time… the consequences of him randomly dropping those islands were truly unimaginable.
"All stations!" Sengoku ordered, his voice echoing with grim authority.
"All Marine bases, fleets, and personnel are to enter Level 1 Combat Readiness! Effective immediately!"
"Yes, sir!" came the unified, thunderous response throughout the command room.
.....
Water 7, inside a quiet canalside bar…
Blueno, in his disguise as the barman, was calmly wiping a glass, his movements precise and economical.
His eyes, however, occasionally drifted toward a lone figure sitting in the darkest corner—Nico Robin.
Her presence was like a shadow, quiet and mysterious, seemingly out of place amidst the low murmur of patrons discussing the impossible flying islands.
Blueno's brow furrowed slightly behind his impassive mask.
'Nico Robin? 'he pondered.
'Why is she here?'
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