Chương 156: Chapter 156: Preparations for the Final war!
Wanokuni, Conference Hall
"Hehehe! Such astonishing news... it's almost unbelievable."
Moria's laughter filled the room, yet beneath his jovial facade, a cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His once bloated figure, long neglected and out of shape, had returned to its prime condition, thanks to intense training and the rejuvenating influence of the Entei Pirates. Now, his strength had climbed back to the level of an Admiral candidate. While this might be average among the current Entei Pirates Fleet, it was still a respectable combat force.
Despite his outward bravado, Moria couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him. The revelation of Imu, the king of the World Government, as the incarnation of Satan—Baphomet—was staggering. Coupled with the Five Elders, each wielding supreme power, it was as if the very top of the world was a gateway to hell itself.
Moria's seat in the conference hall was at the end of the row, just before the giant captains, Dorry and Brogy. His position reflected his status within the fleet—a combination of his past prestige and the efforts he had made to regain his former strength. Yet, despite his smile, the weight of the news had shaken him deeply.
Ace, seated at the highest point in the room, noticed Moria's discomfort. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he teased, "What's wrong, Moria? Are you scared?"
Moria's eyes flickered to Ace, his laughter momentarily faltering. He knew better than to hide anything from Ace's sharp observation. The truth was, he was scared—scared of what this revelation meant, scared of the power they were up against. But more than that, he was scared of failing Ace, the man who had not only given him a second chance at life but had also avenged his deepest grudge by killing Kaido.
Despite his fears, Moria was determined. His relationship with Perona, his daughter, had strengthened his resolve. Ace's assistance in getting his revenge had cemented Moria's loyalty beyond any doubt. He had spent the past year training rigorously, reclaiming his former strength and honing his abilities, all for the sake of standing by Ace's side in the final battle that loomed ahead.
Ace, recognizing the effort Moria had put in, couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for the man. Despite decades of decadence and defeat, Moria had managed to claw his way back to relevance. The smile on Ace's lips softened as he regarded Moria, knowing that, despite his fears, Moria was a valuable ally.
In the end, Moria's loyalty and dedication, driven by his love for his daughter and his gratitude to Ace, made him an integral part of the Entei Pirates. Ace's good impression of Moria wasn't just due to his strength, but because he knew that, when the time came, Moria would fight with everything he had.
Moria's chest puffed out with bravado as he responded to Ace, his voice filled with pride. "Who, who is afraid? I'll be the vanguard when the time comes!"
The room's attention turned to him, especially the gaze of his daughter, Perona. Moria's posture straightened further, and he held his head high. His recent power boost bolstered his confidence—having eaten the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Pteradon, the same fruit once possessed by King, the former Flame Disaster, Moria had undergone a complete Devil Fruit awakening with the aid of the field of understanding. His strength now rivaled that of the powerful All-Star, a feat that filled him with renewed determination.
Ace, however, was quick to remind him of the reality. "Forget it, Moria. With your current strength, you might just become the first cadre of the Entei Pirates to die in battle," Ace teased, a smirk playing on his lips.
The room grew quiet for a moment. Since the Entei Pirates set sail, led by Ace, they had yet to face a single casualty, their dominance unchallenged across the seas. Moria, despite his considerable power, would be up against the might of the World Government—a daunting opponent. If he were to truly take point in such a battle, Ace's jest carried an uncomfortable truth: Moria might indeed be the first to fall.
Moria's face paled slightly at Ace's words, his bravado faltering. "Why, I won't die in battle! Admiral, you have the Space-Space Fruit—you can save me immediately, right?" Moria's voice carried an edge of desperation, his earlier confidence wavering.
Perona, who had initially looked at her father with admiration, now blushed in embarrassment. "Moria Daddy, stop talking! It's embarrassing!"
She had hoped her father would display courage, but instead, he was openly relying on Ace to save him. While it was true that Ace would never allow Moria to die in battle, given their close relationship, such an admission at the core meeting felt shameful. The idea of relying on a retreat rather than standing strong was not the message she wanted her father to send.
Moria caught his daughter's disapproving gaze and quickly offered her a sheepish, apologetic smile, his earlier bravado crumbling under her disapproval.
The room, which had been filled with tension and anticipation, suddenly erupted into laughter. Moria's expression, coupled with the absurdity of the situation, lightened the mood significantly. Even Ace couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the once-proud Shichibukai looking so sheepish.
In that moment of shared laughter, the heavy atmosphere dissipated. The reality of the upcoming war remained, but the morale in the room soared. If Moria, despite his fears, was willing to stand at the forefront against Imu, what did they have to fear? They were the Entei Pirates, led by the Flame Emperor, the strongest man in the world. What could the incarnation of Satan, Baphomet, do to them?
They served under a man who could even control the underworld itself. With Ace leading them, not even Satan himself could instill fear in their hearts.
As the atmosphere in the conference hall shifted from light-hearted camaraderie back to the seriousness of impending war, Ace's expression hardened slightly. He raised his voice, cutting through the murmurs and laughter that lingered. "Alright, everyone, get ready. The war will start soon."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled in. The cadres of the Entei Pirates Fleet, a formidable assembly of some of the most powerful individuals on the seas, immediately stood to attention. Their voices rang out in unison, filled with determination and respect. "Yes! Admiral!"
With their orders clear, the cadres began to file out of the conference room, the tension of battle hanging heavy in the air. As they stepped outside, several shimmering space gaps—created by the power of Ace's Space-Space Fruit—appeared, ready to transport them to their respective stations.
Katakuri, the towering and stoic figure of the Charlotte family, paused at the threshold, turning to his sister, Smoothie. His usually stern face softened slightly as he spoke. "Smoothie, I'm leaving then," he said, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Smoothie, always poised and composed, met her brother's gaze. "Do your best, brother. Our Charlotte family joined the Entei Pirates relatively late, and this is our moment to prove ourselves. Even if our strength isn't as overwhelming as some of the other squads, we must show our loyalty to Ace."
She spoke with the weight of their family's legacy behind her words. The Charlotte family, once a dominant force in the New World, had faced many challenges and setbacks. Now, under Ace's banner, they had a chance to redeem themselves and solidify their place in history. But much of that responsibility rested on Katakuri's broad shoulders.
Katakuri nodded, his eyes reflecting the heavy burden of his role. "Don't worry, Smoothie. Even if it weren't for the family, I would still be loyal to the Admiral in this war. His kindness to me is too great to repay."
His voice was firm, filled with unwavering resolve. In his eyes, a flash of intense purple-black energy crackled—the unmistakable sign of Conqueror's Haki. But this was no ordinary display of willpower. With the aid of Ace and the field of enlightenment, Katakuri had achieved mastery over Conqueror's Haki Infusion, a rare and formidable technique that allowed him to channel his Kingly Haki directly into his attacks.
The Mochi Mochi Fruit, Katakuri's special Paramecia Devil Fruit, had always been more versatile than powerful in direct combat. But with the addition of Conqueror's Haki Infusion, his attacks had become overwhelmingly potent. The combination of his Devil Fruit and his newly enhanced Haki made Katakuri a force to be reckoned with, placing him on par with the likes of Admiral Kuzan, if not stronger in certain aspects.
Ace had played a crucial role in this transformation. Despite the Charlotte family's initial surrender after their defeat, Ace had shown them not only mercy but also guidance. He had allowed them to return to Whole Cake Island, their homeland, and had provided them with the means to grow even stronger. The field of enlightenment, with its mysterious light ball, had been the key to Katakuri's newfound strength.
Katakuri felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Ace, a loyalty that went beyond simple allegiance. The Admiral had given him and his family a second chance, a path to redemption, and power they had never dreamed of. For that, Katakuri would repay Ace with unwavering loyalty and ferocity in the coming war.
The death of Big Mom at the hands of Ace was not a source of bitterness or grief for the Charlotte family. Instead, it was a release from a reign of terror that had kept them in constant fear. Every member of the Charlotte family knew the truth: to their mother, they were nothing more than tools, expendable and disposable. Big Mom ruled with an iron fist, and her children lived in constant fear of her wrath. If anyone angered her, death was often the swift consequence—sometimes even worse, as she would mercilessly extract their very souls.
Big Mom's unpredictable bouts of hunger pangs only heightened this fear. When overcome with bulimia, she would destroy everything in her path, often leaving her own children severely injured or dead. The siblings had long lived under the oppressive weight of their mother's volatile nature, trembling at the thought that any of them could be the next victim of her insatiable rage.
Katakuri, the strongest of Big Mom's children, had harbored deep resentment toward his mother for her treatment of his brothers and sisters. He had even entertained thoughts of rebellion. But those thoughts remained just that—thoughts—until now. Since joining the Entei Pirates under Ace, the oppressive fear that once gripped him had lifted. For the first time, Katakuri felt free. There were no more whims of a tyrant to fear; only the clear and fair orders from a leader he respected. In this light, the death of Big Mom was a blessing to the Charlotte family, a release from a nightmare they had all endured for far too long.
"Hahaha, brother Katakuri, then I'll set off too," Jinbei's voice broke through the silence, full of warmth and camaraderie. Standing in front of another shimmering space gap created by Ace's Space-Space Fruit, Jinbei grinned at Katakuri.
Katakuri looked at the fish-man, a man he had come to admire. "Safe travels, Jinbei," he replied, his tone respectful and appreciative. The bond between them, forged in the fires of battle and loyalty to Ace, was strong.
Jinbei, now the captain of the 12th Division of the Entei Pirates, was responsible for leading a specialized underwater force composed of powerful fish-men warriors. This division was vital for operations beneath the sea, and its strength was unmatched in the watery depths. Jinbei's next mission was to return to Fish-Man Island to complete an important task assigned by Ace—bringing Shirahoshi, the mermaid princess with the power of Poseidon, back to Wanokuni.
As the war loomed ever closer, Shirahoshi's presence was critical. Her ability to control the Sea Kings made her an invaluable ally, one that Ace needed by his side in the final battle. To facilitate this, Ace had acquired a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit with the ability to shrink or restore a person's size. This allowed Shirahoshi to adjust her height, making it easier for her to move about on land and participate in the coming conflict.
The alliance between the Entei Pirates and Fish-Man Island had grown strong. After discussions between Ace and Whitebeard, it was agreed that Fish-Man Island would now come under the protection of the Entei Pirates. Whitebeard, who had previously protected Fish-Man Island by allowing it to fly his flag, recognized that the island could not remain neutral in the upcoming war. With Shirahoshi's power and the island's strategic importance, they were fully committed to the Entei Pirates' cause.
With this decision, Fish-Man Island had formally withdrawn from the World Government and pledged allegiance to Ace, becoming a territory under the Entei Pirates' control. This ensured the island's protection and also secured their active participation in the war.
Katakuri nodded at Jinbei, a silent acknowledgment of the importance of their roles. "Then, see you before the war, Jinbei."
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