The wind over Egghead Island shifted without warning.
Moments before, the afternoon breeze had carried the smell of roasting meat and simmering spices from the pirate camp. It had moved through the forest canopy with a steady rhythm, providing a calm backdrop to the fighting around the perimeter. Now the temperature dropped. The breeze turned cold, cutting through coats and shirts as it swept across the clearing, tearing dead leaves from the branches and dragging them across the dirt.
At the portable stove, smoke from the cooking pan was pushed back down by the descending air, spreading across the grass in a gray haze.
High above the island, the afternoon sky began to darken. Clouds rolled in from the ocean, moving faster than they should have. They covered the sun, casting Egghead beneath a broad shadow and turning the greens and blues of the island into dull shades of gray.
At the edge of the clearing, the battle stopped.
Ben lowered his hands. He kept his guard but shifted his attention away from the Marine standing across from him.
A few paces away, Kizaru stood still. The light gathering around his shoe disappeared. The Admiral brushed dust from the sleeve of his yellow coat, but his posture had changed. Behind his glasses, his eyes narrowed.
Both men turned.
Their attention moved toward the center of the pirate camp.
The air seemed to grow heavier. It pressed down on the clearing, making every breath harder.
In the middle of the camp, where grass met packed dirt, the earth began to move.
It was not caused by an impact.
Lines of light burned into the soil. They joined at angles, crossing and looping until they formed a large circle covered in strange symbols.
Then fire erupted.
A pillar of black flame rose into the sky. It twisted upward toward the clouds, resembling smoke made solid. It gave off no heat. Instead, cold spread through the clearing, and moisture in the air began to crystallize.
Sitting on the grass, Luffy stopped eating.
For the captain of the Straw Hats, abandoning a meal was unusual. He sat still, meat hanging loosely from his hand as juice ran down his wrist. His carefree expression disappeared beneath the shadow of his hat.
He stared at the black flames.
Beside the tree trunk, Zoro pushed himself away from the bark. His wooden canteen slipped from his hand and struck the ground, spilling water into the grass. He ignored it.
His hands moved to the hilts of his three swords.
Near the stove, Sanji ignored the food in the pan. The meat began to burn as smoke from the fire mixed with the smell coming from the black flames.
He removed his cigarette from his mouth and exhaled.
Then he stepped away from the stove, his hands going into his pockets.
The rest of the crew reacted.
Nami stood from the fallen log. Without taking her eyes from the flames, she rolled up her map and placed it inside a waterproof case.
Usopp stopped working on his tool. He reached for his slingshot and tightened his grip.
Chopper placed his bowl of medical paste on the dirt. His nose twitched as he caught the smell coming from the flames.
Robin closed her book. The sound of the cover echoed across the clearing.
Franky raised his metal fists. The machinery inside his arms began to whir.
Brook stopped humming. He reached toward his cane and drew the blade an inch from its sheath.
Yamato stood, lifting her club from the grass and resting it across one shoulder. A smile appeared on her face.
Carrot stepped forward, raising her fists. Her ears turned toward the center of the camp.
Bonney dropped her food and wiped her mouth. Her expression hardened.
Vivi rose from her blanket and tightened her grip on her weapon. Caroo squawked beside her, feathers raised.
Nearby, Merry and Sunny stood at the same time, dropping their plates into the grass.
The black flame suddenly collapsed inward.
Then it disappeared.
A creature stood in the center of the circle.
Six spider legs, each thick as a tree trunk, dug into the dirt. Cracks spread outward beneath its weight.
A humanoid torso rose from the spider body. Thick hair covered its form, while two large horns curved from its head. Pale hair fell down its back, framing a scarred face.
St. Jaygarcia Saturn had arrived.
The ancient creature looked around the camp.
His gaze moved across the pirates, paused on the crew, and then shifted toward the giants standing near the trees.
It was the look of someone surveying an enemy he intended to remove.
The crew remembered Ben's earlier warning.
A threat was coming.
A threat stronger than a Yonko.
Looking at Saturn, they understood what that meant.
This was not a Marine Admiral. It was not another pirate captain.
Something about his presence felt wrong.
Saturn looked directly at Luffy.
"It seems we have let this motley crew get away with a lot of crimes," Saturn said.
His voice was calm, yet everyone could hear it.
"It is time to eliminate them."
Far from the island, high above the ocean, a dark room remained silent.
Four figures sat within the shadows, listening to the words spoken on Egghead through mind connection.
There was no discussion.
The four figures nodded.
The decision had been made.
Back on Egghead, Saturn moved.
He raised one of his spider legs and drove it into the ground.
The earth shook.
Four more magic circles appeared around him. Light burned through the grass as the symbols connected.
Black fire rose from each circle.
The four pillars twisted together before disappearing.
Four creatures stood in their place.
The first resembled a large wild boar. Its hooves dug into the dirt, and four tusks curved from its mouth.
To its right stood a large bird. Its dark feathers shifted in the wind as it spread its wings.
Beside it, a skeletal horse stepped forward. Cold radiated from its body. A swordsman sat upon its back, holding a curved blade.
Finally, a segmented worm raised its head toward the sky. Its mouth opened, revealing rows of circular teeth.
The Five Elders stood together in the center of the camp.
The Straw Hats did not run.
They raised their weapons and lowered their stances.
The crew that had been eating lunch moments earlier had disappeared. In its place stood a group preparing for battle.
At the edge of the clearing, Ben took a step backward, increasing the distance between himself and Kizaru.
The Admiral watched without interfering.
Ben looked toward the crew.
Then he raised his voice.
"Everyone, normal attacks will not work here. Do not bother trying."
He pointed toward the creatures.
"Steel will not cut them. Fire will not burn them. Brute force will do nothing. Only a clash of wills can hurt them. Advanced Conqueror's Haki is the only thing that will cause real damage. Anything else is useless."
His eyes moved across the support fighters.
"If you don't have the required will, stay back. Support the others. Keep the perimeter clear. Don't throw your lives away in a direct fight."
The battlefield divided itself almost immediately.
Luffy finally stood.
He ate the rest of his meat and cracked his knuckles.
The grin returned to his face.
Black lightning began to spark around his fists.
Luffy kicked off the ground and charged toward Saturn.
Near the tree, Zoro watched the swordsman skeletal horse.
The presence of the blade in his hand was enough to draw Zoro's attention.
Zoro reached for the dark green cloth around his arm.
He wrapped it around his head and tightened the knot.
His hands moved to the three swords at his hip.
The blades slid from their sheaths.
Black lightning coated the steel.
Zoro walked across the grass toward Nusjuro.
At the stove, Sanji struck a match and lit another cigarette.
He took a drag and exhaled.
Then he stepped away from the cooking station.
Black lightning sparked around his ankle and moved across his legs.
His hands remained in his pockets as he walked toward the massive boar.
Warcury would not reach the weaker members of the crew.
Yamato gripped her club with both hands.
Cold air escaped her mouth as she breathed.
Black lightning traveled along the weapon, striking the ground.
She stepped past the fallen log and charged toward the massive bird.
Mars would not take the sky uncontested.
At the back of the camp, Vivi stared at the worm.
She tightened her grip on her weapon.
Her heart was beating hard.
Ben's warning had been clear. She understood the difference between her strength and that of the creatures in front of her.
Vivi possessed the will of a ruler, but she did not know how to use advanced Conqueror's Haki.
No black lightning surrounded her hands.
She swallowed.
Fear was there, but so was her determination.
She was a Straw Hat.
She would not stand aside while her family fought.
This battle might give her the opportunity to learn what she had been missing.
Vivi took a breath and stepped toward Ju Peter.
The matchups were set.
Five fighters moved toward the Five Elders.
The remaining crew followed Ben's instructions.
Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Bonney, Carrot, Merry, Sunny, and Caroo moved toward the outer edges of the clearing.
They were not retreating from the battle.
They were securing the perimeter.
Usopp drew his slingshot.
Nami's weather weapon began to spark.
Franky's weapons charged.
Brook kept one hand near his sword.
The others prepared to distract the Elders or assist the main fighters if necessary.
Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii watched the battlefield.
Ben had not forgotten them.
He raised his hand and snapped his finger.
The sound cut through the clearing.
The magic affecting the four giants disappeared.
Dorry, Brogy, Oimo, and Kashii began to grow.
Their bodies expanded rapidly as they returned to their true size.
Within seconds, they rose above the trees.
Their boots crushed the edge of the forest, snapping branches and breaking trunks beneath their weight.
The four giants stood above the battlefield.
They gripped their massive weapons and looked down at the Five Elders.
Ben turned toward his crew.
His expression remained serious.
Then he spoke.
"Leave the Five Elders to the people who can hurt them."
His words carried across the clearing.
"Everyone else, support the front line. Keep the pressure off them and don't get caught alone."
Ben turned back toward Kizaru.
The Admiral had watched the entire sequence without moving.
The relaxed expression he had worn earlier was gone.
Ben raised his fists.
The air around him shifted.
Kizaru lifted one leg.
Light gathered around his shoe once again.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then both disappeared.
Ben and Kizaru rushed toward each other at the edge of the clearing.
A coated fist collided with a kick of concentrated light.
The impact sent a shockwave through the forest.
Leaves tore from the trees.
The ground shook beneath the battlefield.
The battle for Egghead had begun.