While the Beasts Pirates' fleet and the combined New World Marine forces faced off across the sea, the battle between Setsuna and Kaido continued unabated.
The two fought from the sky to the ocean, each collision seemingly shaking the world.
This world-shaking conflict lasted for seven days and seven nights.
During this time, pirate crews originally active near Hachinosu fled in panic, fearing being drawn into the battle between monsters.
The Marines were also forced to temporarily withdraw from the area, only daring to observe this epic duel from afar.
Ultimately, the war concluded with Weevil's death and Moria's capture.
However, this was merely the prelude to a new round of warfare.
From that day on, Setsuna led his fleet in continuous assaults against Wano Country.
Unlike other pirates, his goal wasn't to plunder resources or expand territory. He deliberately engaged Kaido in a protracted war of attrition.
A small battle every three days, a major battle every five. The two sides clashed constantly on sea, land, and sky.
Each battle further honed the strength of both parties, and Setsuna's combat experience continued to accumulate.
Thus, two and a half years passed in the blink of an eye.
Aside from the protracted war between Setsuna and Kaido, the IGO established by Setsuna was quietly altering the world's structure.
This organization, dedicated to solving the food crisis, dramatically increased global food production, allowing countless impoverished people to have enough to eat.
Ironically, however, this benevolent act ended up consolidating the World Government's rule.
After all, with enough to eat, few people were willing to rebel.
In light of this, the Five Elders even proposed bestowing upon Setsuna the title of [God's Followers' Sword], but Setsuna politely declined, citing insufficient merit.
...
Hanafuda respectfully entered Setsuna's castle, carefully holding a strangely shaped Devil Fruit.
The fruit's skin had a dark red sheen. Its stem was slightly twisted, resembling some ancient rune.
"Setsuna-sama, this is the Mythical Zoan fruit you requested," Hanafuda's voice held a trace of suppressed fanaticism, both fearful and expectant. "The Batto Batto no Mi, Model: Vampire."
"So it's this fruit," Setsuna took the fruit, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
'This should have been the Devil Fruit that [Red Count] Patrick Redfield, would find after escaping Impel Down. I hadn't expected Hanafuda to locate it ahead of time.'
"Very good," Setsuna said calmly. "You've completed your task. Now, it's my turn to fulfill my promise."
He reached out and lightly tapped a point on Hanafuda's body, unsealing the long-restricted pressure point.
Hanafuda's body trembled violently, then he fell to his knees in ecstasy, tears streaming uncontrollably.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"
Setsuna waved his hand. Hanafuda withdrew from the room as if granted a pardon, nearly tripping over the threshold on his way out.
But he didn't care. Covering his crotch, he limped hastily out of the hall, eager to find a secluded spot to verify whether his newly reborn 'weapon' could still 'function' normally.
Not long after Hanafuda left, Ace rushed in urgently, his expression grave. "Captain, something's happened! The Yami Yami no Mi sent by the Whitebeard Pirates was stolen by that bastard Teach!"
Ace clenched his fists, fury burning in his eyes. "That damn traitor! I'll go capture him right now. He has to learn the price of betrayal…"
However, his words trailed off as he froze.
He saw Setsuna sitting leisurely in his chair, opening a treasure chest beside him. From it, he retrieved a pale purple, pineapple-shaped fruit… seemingly exactly the Yami Yami no Mi as recorded in the compendium.
"...Captain?" Ace blinked, momentarily confused.
The corner of Setsuna's mouth lifted slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What? Did you think I'd let Teach succeed so easily?"
Ace was stunned. "Then… the treasure chest Teach stole… it didn't contain the Yami Yami no Mi?"
"Of course not," Setsuna chuckled lightly. "I've been on guard against him since the day he jumped ship from Whitebeard's crew."
Ace sucked in a sharp breath, looking at Setsuna with admiration. "Captain, you're really cunning… Cough, I mean, far-sighted!"
He then quickly asked, "So we still need to hunt down Teach?"
"Of course we hunt him," Setsuna flicked his finger gently, the Yami Yami no Mi spinning once in his hand before being caught steadily. "No one can steal from me without paying the price."
Ace nodded, unable to resist asking, "Then what was in the chest he stole?"
Setsuna smiled slightly. "The Hiso Hiso no Mi." (T/N: Whisper-Whisper Fruit. For those who don't know, it's the fruit Apis, the non-canon character, has eaten. It's ability is to 'speak' telepathically to animals.)
Ace's expression instantly stiffened. An image flashed in his mind: that ambitious man laughing uproariously as he opened the chest, only to discover he'd obtained a useless fruit…
"Pfft…" Ace nearly laughed out loud, but quickly composed himself. "What a pity. Since Teach is so focused on the Yami Yami no Mi, he'll surely examine it carefully. That Hiso Hiso no Mi probably won't fool him."
"Under normal circumstances, of course not. But what if he's backed into a corner and doesn't have time to check?" Setsuna asked meaningfully.
"Hiss…" Ace suddenly began to understand Setsuna's intention in having him pursue Teach.
"So I should go hunt him down now?"
"No rush. Take Enel and Cavendish with you," Setsuna's smile faded slightly. "That guy's strength is greater than you imagine."
Truthfully, even without Enel and Cavendish, Setsuna wasn't overly worried about Ace. The current Ace was far stronger than his counterpart in the original work.
Ace didn't refuse. "I understand, Captain. I won't give him the chance."
…
Four weeks later, Drum Island.
The cold wind howled across snow-covered mountains.
Teach and his newly recruited crew were gathered inside a hidden cave. Before them lay an exquisite metal safe.
The safe's surface was engraved with intricate patterns. The lock mechanism was inlaid with sturdy Seastone material.
Burgess said impatiently, "Captain, why not just smash it open? You only need to eat one piece of a Devil Fruit to gain its power, right? Who cares if it gets damaged?"
Teach's eyes flickered uncertainly. "No. If the patterns are damaged, I won't be able to tell if it's the real Dark-Dark Fruit. There are many Devil Fruits with similar shapes. What if that [Maelstrom Spider] guy made a mistake?"
Van Augur said calmly, "Let me. My sniping precision is enough to open the lock without damaging the safe."
Teach still shook his head. "This is a top-grade safe. If external force tries to break it, the internal self-destruct mechanism will destroy the contents along with it."
Doc Q coughed twice, speaking weakly. "Then… poison? Slowly corrode the lock core?"
"Too slow," Teach grinned widely. "I have a better method. I came to Drum Island specifically to find their king, the user of the Baku Baku no Mi, Wapol."
"The Baku Baku no Mi?" Lafitte raised an eyebrow slightly.
"The Baku Baku no Mi allows the user to incorporate anything they eat into their body. That way, we can retrieve the fruit without damaging the safe," Teach explained, then burst into laughter. "Zehahahaha! Once I obtain the power of the Yami Yami no Mi, I will become the King of the World!"