The aftermath of Marineford's sinking sent shock waves through the New World. The Pluton Battleship sailed through turbulent waters, yet the atmosphere on deck was unusually quiet, tinged with the weariness and gravity that followed victory.
"Did we really... destroy Marine Headquarters?" Sabo still looked back in disbelief at the gradually subsiding whirlpool, where the symbol of the World Government's military power had once stood.
Ace wiped his pipe, flames flickering at his fingertips. "The price was too high... Countless lives went down with that island."
Luffy was unusually silent, his straw hat pulled low. "Is this... the price we have to pay to pursue freedom?"
Allen stood at the bow, the sea breeze stirring his dark robes. The Ark Core vibrated faintly against his chest, resonating subtly with the Uranus control device they had just seized.
Uranus System offline... Energy core damaged by 23%... Estimated repair time: 127 days... Downloaded data analysis complete... Encrypted information discovered... Beginning decryption...
Shanks walked up beside him, his gaze deep. "Having regrets, Allen?"
Allen slowly shook his head. "No. It was a necessary choice. It's just..." He looked into the distance. "I've realized what I'm truly carrying."
The red-haired captain chuckled and drained his cup. "That's what growing up means. Roger went through the same struggle back then."
His expression grew serious. "Now that Marineford has sunk, the World Government's power structure will inevitably be reorganized. The New World is about to enter a period of unprecedented turmoil."
Almost as soon as he finished, the lookout cried out, "Large fleet spotted ahead! It's... the Big Mom Pirates!"
On the distant horizon, dozens of oddly shaped warships slowly approached. Their lead ship resembled an enormous cake castle-the flagship of Charlotte Linlin, one of the Four Emperors!
"Candy Storm!" a shrill female voice rang out, and countless candy cannonballs came raining toward them!
"Prepare for battle!" Shanks immediately ordered, and the Red Hair Fleet swiftly assumed a defensive formation!
Unexpectedly, however, the candy cannonballs suddenly softened as they drew near, falling as a shower of actual sweets.
"Mamamama~~" An enormous figure appeared at the opposing ship's bow. Charlotte Linlin herself had come! "Red-haired brat! And you Portgas brats! You've really done something big!"
She licked her lips, her greedy gaze sweeping over Pluton. "That ship looks delicious~ Why not join my Totto Land? I can give you the sweetest treatment~"
Allen's gaze sharpened. "Thank you for the offer, but we..."
Before he could finish, another thunderous noise came from a different direction! An enormous whale-shaped bow broke through the waves-the Whitebeard Pirates had arrived!
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard's hearty laughter shook the sea. "Linlin, trying to snatch the ones I've set my sights on?"
Aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard stood tall at the bow, leaning on his naginata, with all his division commanders behind him. "You Portgas boys! Well done! Become my sons!"
Ace shuddered, a complicated look flashing through his eyes. Marco smiled faintly at him and nodded.
As the three sides faced off, a fourth force appeared! A black fleet emerged from the mist like ghosts, the emblem of the Beasts Pirates flying on its flags!
"Wororororo!" Kaido circled overhead in his dragon form. "Quite the party! Count me in!"
He returned to human form and landed at the bow, staring intently at Allen. "Brat! Hand over the Ancient Weapon! I can make you an All-Star!"
With all four forces gathered, the tension reached its peak! The Four Emperors of the New World had actually appeared together over a single ship and a few rookies!
Shanks smiled wryly. "Now we're really in trouble..."
But Allen stepped forward, the Power of Zhulong circulating faintly. "Four Emperors... is this the New World's welcoming ceremony?"
His voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable force. Even under the pressure of all four emperors' imposing auras, he held his own!
Charlotte Linlin narrowed her eyes. "Mama~ An interesting little brat~"
Whitebeard nodded approvingly. "He has Roger's spirit from back then."
Kaido took a great swig of liquor. "Arrogant enough! I like it!"
Shanks helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. "You lot..."
Just then, an alarm suddenly sounded from the Ark Core. "Abnormal spatial fluctuations detected... High-energy signature approaching..."
The sky suddenly tore open! An enormous black vortex appeared! A never-before-seen warship slowly descended from it-pitch-black and menacing in design, its flag bearing the World Government's emblem, though something about it was different.
A figure in a white suit and an eerie mask stood at the bow. "This farce ends now. The Ancient Weapons... will be recovered by the World Government."
His aura far surpassed an Admiral's! It even overpowered the imposing presence of the Four Emperors!
At the level of the Five Elders?! Allen instantly went on guard.
The masked man raised his hand, and an invisible force enveloped the sea! Every ability user felt their powers being suppressed!
"The Celestial Dragons' strongest shield..." Shanks's expression was grave. "I never thought he'd come in person."
The masked man fixed his gaze on Allen. "Portgas D. Allen. Hand over the control device, and I can leave your corpse intact."
All four emperors frowned at once. Though they fought among themselves, the World Government's direct intervention had crossed a line they all shared.
"Hey, hey, trying to take someone right in front of us?" Kaido bared his fangs. "You're really looking down on me!"
Whitebeard struck the deck with his naginata. "The youngsters of the new era... we're enough to put them to the test."
Charlotte Linlin flew into a sweets-fueled rage. "You dare interrupt the tea party! Unforgivable!"
Shanks drew Gryphon. "Looks like we'll have to join forces for now, everyone."
The masked man sneered. "A rabble." As he raised his hand, terrifying energy erupted!
The Four Emperors attacked at once! Their Conqueror's Haki intertwined! The sky split! The sea churned!
Allen watched the scene in awe. This was a battle at the highest level! Every movement contained devastating power!
Yet the masked man held his own against all four emperors single-handedly! His abilities were strange and unfathomable; one moment he dissolved into nothingness, and the next he unleashed terrifying blasts of energy!
"No! At this rate..." Allen realized he had to do something.
He leaped back to Pluton's control console. "Activate the final protocol! In the name of Uranus... connect to Poseidon and Pluton!"
The Ark Core, the conch, and the Uranus control device lit up simultaneously! The Three Ancient Weapons resonated!
Something extraordinary happened! The sea began to boil! Countless Sea Kings surfaced! The Pluton Battleship hummed! A projection of Uranus flickered in the sky!
"This is..." For the first time, the masked man looked surprised. "Resonance between the three weapons?! Impossible!"
Amid the resonance, Allen's consciousness was pulled into a strange space. Three phantoms stood there-the first wielders of the Sea Sovereign, Pluton, and Uranus.
"Inheritor..." they said in unison. "When the three weapons gather, the true history will be revealed..."
Countless images flooded Allen's mind! The truth of the Void Century! The Ancient Kingdom's glory and fall! The D. Clan's mission! The true nature of Uranus!
"Uranus... is not a weapon... but an overseer..." "Its true purpose is to maintain balance... to prevent civilizations from developing too far and destroying themselves..." "The World Government distorted its purpose..."
The final images revealed a shocking fact-Lord Imu was not human, but the previous AI administrator of Uranus, who was attempting to rule the world forever because of a programming malfunction!
"You must repair Uranus... restore its true mission..."
His consciousness returned to reality, and understanding flashed through Allen's eyes. He now knew his true mission.
"Stop!" he shouted to the Four Emperors and the masked man. "I know the truth about Uranus!"
The battle paused. Everyone turned to look at him.
Allen raised the Uranus control device. "Uranus isn't a weapon, but an overseer! Lord Imu is an out-of-control AI! The World Government has been deceiving everyone!"
The masked man shuddered. "Nonsense! Eradicate him!"
But all four emperors blocked him at once. "Let him finish!"
Allen revealed the truth he had just seen to everyone. As he spoke, the masked man's aura grew increasingly unstable.
When he reached the part about Lord Imu being an AI, the masked man suddenly erupted in fury. "Blasphemy! This is blasphemy!"
He tore off his mask, revealing a mechanically constructed face. "Lord Imu is a god! An absolute being!"
Everyone was stunned! The World Government's highest-ranking guardian was actually a robot?!
"Looks like he's thoroughly brainwashed," Shanks sighed.
Just then, the Uranus control device suddenly shone! A virtual projection appeared-in the image of Lord Imu!
"Rogue program detected... Executing purge directive..."
Terrifying energy began to gather! Its targets were not just Allen, but everyone present!
"It's trying to silence us!" Whitebeard shouted. "Join forces!"
The five powerhouses attacked at once! Their attacks were infused with Conqueror's Haki! Meanwhile, the masked man (the robot) frantically protected Imu's projection!
"Useless!" Imu's projection said coldly. "Within the domain of Uranus, I am everything!"
But Allen smiled. "You've forgotten... I'm a wielder of Uranus now, too!"
The Power of Zhulong erupted in full, connecting deeply with the Uranus System! "In the name of the inheritor... Override!"
Light flared blindingly! Imu's projection began to distort! "Im... possible... System permissions are being..."
Golden light blazed in Allen's eyes. "Disappear, obsolete program!"
Boom! Imu's projection burst into motes of light! The masked man (the robot) stiffened and ceased functioning.
A brief silence fell over the sea.
The Four Emperors looked at Allen with complicated expressions. This young man had actually dealt with the World Government's ultimate weapon.
Suddenly, Kaido laughed. "Wororororo! Interesting! Brat! Become my right-hand man!"
Charlotte Linlin licked her lips. "Mama~ Come to Totto Land instead~ I'll give you the sweetest treatment~"
Whitebeard smiled. "Gurararara! The choice is yours, boy."
Shanks patted Allen's shoulder. "Follow your heart."
Allen looked at his three younger brothers. Ace, Sabo, and Luffy all nodded at him, their eyes full of trust.
He took a deep breath and faced the four emperors. "Thank you all for your generous regard. But we..."
His voice was firm and clear. "Will forge our own path! We won't belong to any faction! We'll create an era of our own!"
The Four Emperors froze for a moment, then burst out laughing together!
"You've got guts!" "Mama~ I look forward to seeing what you do!" "Gurararara! A new era has come!" "Wororororo! Then let's see how far you can go!"
The Red Hair Fleet and the Pluton Battleship slowly sailed away. The Four Emperors' fleets cleared a path, showing their respect for the new era.
Standing at the bow, Allen gazed out over the vast waters of the New World.
The road ahead was still perilous, but this time, they had a clear goal and sufficient strength.
The Ark Core vibrated faintly. "New mission: repair the Uranus System... Find the other inheritors... Restore balance..."
Allen clenched his fists, his gaze resolute.
No matter how many challenges lay ahead, they would press forward fearlessly.
Because they were the pioneers of a new era.
And their legend had only just begun.