Back on Sky Island, Souta Kiryuu handed the Ancient Zoan: Stegosaurus Fruit he had taken from Spandam into Nico Robin's care.
He intended to pass it on one day to a subordinate with great achievements.
But when the war demon Waipa learned of this genuine Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, he abandoned his nearly completed artificial Mythical Zoan project and chose the Stegosaurus Fruit instead.
Souta had no choice but to give it to him.
From then on, Waipa became the wielder of the Ancient Zoan: Stegosaurus Fruit. His hairstyle even morphed into the jagged spikes of a stegosaurus's back, radiating an aura of murderous intent.
With the power of the Devil Fruit, Waipa's strength surged dramatically—so much that even Lafitte and Capone Bege struggled to withstand him.
The Araryū Pirates had gained yet another formidable warrior.
On this journey to the New World, Souta brought along three Seraph weapons as his hidden trump card, deploying them only when absolutely necessary. Kuma remained stationed on Sky Island.
Unless faced with a dire crisis, Souta had no intention of revealing these technological creations too early. He preferred to bide his time—at least until he secured blood samples from Whitebeard or Big Mom.
Under his command, the crew boarded their ships. Even ten Pacifistas were packed into Bege's fortress body, while another ten remained to guard Sky Island.
Souta also brought along the partially modified Crocodile, prepared to deliver a "surprise" to the World Government—and a warning to any pirates who hoped to claim a seat among the Seven Warlords.
Boa Hancock had hesitated about confronting the Celestial Dragons, but Souta was determined to take her along this time, forcing her to crush her inner fears and shadows.
To avoid unforeseen accidents, he even brought the altered Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, and tossed him inside Bege's fortress.
In this coming war, there was no telling whether top-tier Devil Fruit users might fall.
If Teach was on hand, perhaps they could even pick up something valuable in the chaos.
Thus, the Araryū Pirates set out in force, descending from the skies of the Grand Line once more into the New World.
If they could find Fire Fist Ace before the Celestial Dragons left Mariejois, Souta planned to capture him, thereby drawing in Whitebeard's crew.
Perhaps, with Teach used as bait, Ace would rush forward recklessly—straight into their trap.
But Souta also had to prepare. The Celestial Dragons might suddenly announce their deadly "games." He needed to warn the great powers beforehand.
As of now, he still didn't have Golden Lion Shiki's transponder snail code.
How was he supposed to reach him?
Send Kuma personally to Shiki's floating battleship?
Or fling a snail directly into Shiki's territory and hope his men picked it up?
Big Mom's number was easier to acquire. Whether through Stussy or Morgans, the underground emperors all had it.
Inside the captain's office of the Ark Maxim.
"Kaido," Souta said coldly into the receiver, "a world-shaking war greater than Sorbet is about to begin. Prepare yourself, but don't let your spies find out. A Log Pose will be delivered to your territory when the time comes."
Kaido's booming laughter rattled the snail.
"Wurororo! A world war? Don't tell me you mean attacking some allied kingdom—that's child's play. Unless you're aiming at the Knights of God themselves. If you're planning to strike Marineford or even Mariejois, then count me in—I'll tear the place apart with you!"
For a war that required a permanent Log Pose, it couldn't be something small. The only possibilities were an assault on Souta's base itself by Marine Headquarters and the Knights of God—or a conflict where the Revolutionary Army joined in alongside Kaido's Beasts Pirates.
Such a clash could indeed erupt into a true world war.
"You just wait," Souta replied coldly. "Don't go running off to die and vanish. Miss this war, and you'll regret it forever."
He gave a few more terse, confidential instructions before slamming the receiver shut.
Kaido almost crushed the snail in his rage, but Souta's words had left him curious. He wanted to see just how colossal a war greater than Sorbet could be.
Totto Land — Whole Cake Island.
"Souta Kiryuu! You dare call me again? I'll never forgive you!"
Charlotte Linlin's shrieking fury exploded the moment she heard his voice. In the Sorbet War, she had suffered losses, failing to seize more of the Pluton blueprints. Her rage still burned.
"Interested in the location of a red Poneglyph?" Souta's voice was calm. "One of my subordinates can read it. And the Pluton designs the World Government seized last time—they're there as well."
He held the transponder snail far from his ear; Big Mom's voice was deafening.
"Hmph! You think you can fool me again?" she snapped, her saliva hissing as it corroded holes into the floor.
At Sorbet, she had gained almost nothing—only fragments of blueprints whose authenticity she now doubted. Slowly, she realized she had been used as a pawn.
"I've given you notice. Whether you come is up to you. But this involves treasures that will reshape the world order. Even the Poneglyph recording Pluton's location will appear." Souta's tone remained indifferent.
He was only setting the stage—baiting Big Mom. When the Celestial Dragons arrived on that island, then he would reveal more, drawing her in completely.
Big Mom screeched another curse, but Souta hung up first. Her fury surpassed even Kaido's.
After notifying these two main forces, Souta had Kuma scatter special transponder snails onto Shiki's Lion-Headed Flying Ship using his Paw-Paw powers. Hopefully, Shiki's useless underlings would pick them up quickly.
If not, convincing Shiki would be troublesome. But after this war, the Golden Lion's era would end. The Float-Float Fruit deserved a new master.
With that settled, Souta turned his thoughts to the Revolutionary Army. Would Dragon have the courage to strike at the Celestial Dragons?
"Dragon," Souta said into the snail, "I've found the island where the Celestial Dragons are holding their 'Extermination Games.' Interested?"
Unlike with others, Souta withheld nothing. Dragon's secrecy was unparalleled; Souta knew he had nothing to fear.
"What?!" Dragon's voice trembled. Souta's claim aligned with fragments of classified reports he had received from Garp, Kuma, Ivankov, and Ginny. The cruelty of the Celestial Dragons' genocidal games was already infamous.
"I'll need to discuss this," Dragon replied heavily. "I'll give you an answer in two days."
Joining would plunge the Revolutionaries into mortal danger. Yet refusing to rescue innocent lives would betray their very foundation.
"Do it. Have you ever seen Souta Kiryuu suffer a loss?"
At the Revolutionary Army's council, East Army commander Bello Betty rose, cigarette clenched between her teeth. She slammed the table and shouted, "I've wanted to crush the Celestial Dragons for Ginny's sake long enough!"