The Hell Pirates, overlords of the New World, had pulled off a brazen heist, snatching a mysterious, high-value island right under the noses of two Navy Admirals. The news spread like wildfire across the globe.
For an island important enough to warrant two Admirals' intervention, its worth was undeniable. Yet, the World Government had underestimated the Hell Pirates, a crew that had only recently risen to prominence. The Navy suffered heavy losses, unable to protect their prize.
...
Hachinosu.
Rocks stared at the intelligence reports, his face a mask of stone, his fist clenched tight. The Hell Pirates' reputation was now threatening to eclipse his own Rocks Pirates.
His crew couldn't even defeat a single Admiral-led force, retreating with minimal casualties and no notable victories—a humiliating withdrawal. Meanwhile, the Hell Pirates faced two Admirals and their fleets, cutting the Navy's forces in half. Pirates and civilians alike now whispered of the Hell Pirates' terrifying power.
The world didn't care that Admiral Aokiba's Vice Admirals were formidable or that the Hell Pirates' losses were mostly low-to-mid-tier soldiers, with their core strength intact. The raw numbers told a brutal story: the Hell Pirates had outdone the Rocks Pirates.
As his subordinates recounted the Hell Pirates' devastating natural-disaster attacks, Rocks realized just how formidable Brook and his crew were. Compared to his own officers, it was a painful reality—his crew paled in comparison.
Rocks coveted the Hell Pirates' four key fighters and their Devil Fruits, but Brook's crew had grown too powerful to challenge. A war against them would mirror the Navy's disaster against their apocalyptic onslaught. Could his pirate fleet withstand such a storm?
For a fleeting moment, Rocks wondered if a ten-year peace with the Hell Pirates might not be such a bad deal—maybe even a stroke of luck.
But that only fueled his obsession with the rare Devil Fruits rumored to be on God Valley. Without them, a decade from now, Brook would crush him without breaking a sweat.
The Hell Pirates' victory cemented their legend, intimidating rival pirates while drawing countless recruits to their banner. Their influence swelled at breakneck speed.
...
On Elan Island, cheers erupted. The Hell Pirates had cemented their place as the unchallenged overlords, their name ringing across the world without a shred of doubt.
In stark contrast, the mood at the Navy's G-1 Branch in the New World was grim.
The Navy Headquarters had made the unprecedented move of deploying all three Admirals to the New World, leaving Marineford and even the Sabaody Archipelago unguarded. Yet, despite this show of force, they'd been defeated, battered by two dominant pirate crews.
"What do we do now? How do we counter the Hell Pirates and their disaster-level attacks? What happens when they breach the allied nations' defenses again and invade another country?"
Admiral Aokiba broke the silence. His forces had clashed with the Rocks Pirates and suffered minimal losses, leaving him free of blame.
But Admirals Kong and Devo stayed quiet. They'd failed to stop the Hell Pirates, losing Punk Hazard and countless men in the process—a double blow of defeat and humiliation.
No one in the room dared speak. How could they counter tsunamis, earthquakes, floating islands, and lightning bombardments? These natural disasters were beyond comprehension.
Even the fearless Monkey D. Garp sat in silence. If it were him, how would he face the Hell Pirates? He might endure their onslaught, but could his men or his warships withstand such cataclysmic attacks?
The answer was clear: no.
The scariest part? The Hell Pirates' Four—Brook, Newgate, Shiki, and Redfield—were still young, their powers not yet at their peak. In a few years, each could rival an Admiral. How could the Navy fight that?
Youth, potential, top-tier Devil Fruits, and Conqueror's Haki—each of them was a walking template for a pirate king. How had they all ended up in one crew? In the past, such titans would've split, each ruling their own faction, fighting over territory in the New World's chaos.
But now, with Rocks and Brook uniting their forces, the Navy faced a unified front they couldn't hope to challenge head-on.
Against the Hell Pirates, no strategy seemed to work. Naval battles, land skirmishes, fortified defenses—none could withstand Whitebeard Newgate's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, its destructive power unrivaled. Golden Lion Shiki's aerial assaults were untouchable, and now Redfield had unleashed Thunder Welcome, a move capable of obliterating entire islands. Each was a war machine, leaving even the Navy's top strategists at a loss.
"We need to infiltrate them. The Hell Pirates' guild is relatively lax—send more spies and agents. Pick loyal Marines who've stayed under the radar, have them pose as pirates, join their ranks, and report back. Wait for the right moment to strike."
Kong shifted the conversation, sidestepping the unsolvable problem of the Hell Pirates' disaster attacks. Their combo moves were simply unbreakable.
Could the World Nobles' rumored "national treasure" destroy the Hell Pirates' overwhelming threat?
"Wait, have you noticed? Brook's targets are always deliberate, aimed at expanding his influence. The Eighteen Hell Islands are thriving—word is, they're more prosperous than Sabaody now."
Vice Admiral Sengoku spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension.
"One of my undercover agents, through underworld connections, visited Elan Island. It's a bustling hub, outshining Sabaody. They've even got a sea train—a technological marvel our own World Government scientists can't replicate. It's boosted trade across the Eighteen Hell Islands, turning them into a paradise. Brook's raid on Punk Hazard was clearly to secure its scientists for tech development. Add to that his earlier grab of Ohara, the island of scholars. Everything he does shows a sharp strategic vision. If he weren't a pirate, you'd think he was some legendary ruler!"
Sengoku's words, meant to analyze, came off as praise, earning glares from the Navy's hawkish faction.
"What does that have to do with stopping the Hell Pirates?"
As a hardline hawk, he bristled at any hint of admiration for pirates.
Sengoku's wisdom and strength in the New World campaign had caught Fleet Admiral Kurotaka's eye, positioning him as a potential candidate for Admiral—a direct rival to Braille. Worse, Sengoku's Conqueror's Haki gave him an edge, making him a formidable contender.
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