Meanwhile in a New World, The Territory of Whitebeard Pirates.
There was a group of pirates who are celebrating the winning of Strawhat Pirates and that group are Whitebeard Pirates.
Since the day Ace told them that Luffy are his little brother, they had taken notice of the action from them. Everytime they advanced and do something big, Whitebeard Pirates would look at them like a proud dad.
The Whitebeard Pirates, a crew that had seen countless storms, now found themselves grinning like children at a festival.
Marco stood near the railing and he hold a newspaper in his hand, though by now almost everyone had already heard the news.
"Oi, Marco!" Jocu called out, waving at him. "Tell me again, is it real? That brat really captured Akainu?"
Marco sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah, it's real. Admiral Akainu are captured by rookie pirates and that's not even the craziest part, yoi."
Vista adjusted his hat, stepping closer. "The Revolutionary Army part?"
Marco nodded, tapping the paper. "They got their hands on the magma Devil Fruit power. Reports say Sabo the one using it now."
A whistle came from one of the crew. "That's insane… stealing a Devil Fruit ability?"
Jozu crossed his arms, frowning. "That shouldn't be possible."
"That's what I thought too," Marco replied. "But according to this…" He lifted the paper slightly. "There's a scientist in Straw Hat crew and his name are Jack F Corrie, he is someone capable of extracting and transferring powers to others.
The group fell silent for a moment even Whitebeard had frowned on his face but suddenly.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Laughter exploded again, louder than before.
"Who cares how they did it?" Rakuyo grinned widely. "That's Ace little brother we're talking about!"
"Yeah!" another crewmate shouted. "Of course he'd do something crazy like that!"
Vista chuckled softly. "It does suit him and almost similar to Ace, bold… reckless… and completely unreasonable."
Marco scratched his head. "You guys are way too relaxed about this, yoi. This kind of power could shake the entire world."
"Exactly!" Izou slammed his hand on the table. "That's why it's amazing!"
Before Marco could respond.
"GURARARARARA!"
The ship deck trembled slightly as Whitebeard laughter roared across the sea.
All eyes turned toward him.
He sat at the center with his massive body and the newspaper now in his hand. His grin stretched wide beneath his crescent mustache.
"That brat…!" Whitebeard rumbled. "He didn't just make a name for himself, he went and flipped the whole world upside down!"
Marco walked closer, his expression more serious now. "Old man, this isn't just some small incident. The Marines, the World Government… they won't stay quiet after this."
Whitebeard glanced at him, completely unbothered.
"Of course they won't," he said. "That's what makes it interesting."
He looked back at the paper, his eyes sharp despite the laughter.
"Straw Hat Luffy… Ace little brother…"
For a brief moment, his expression softened.
Then the grin returned.
"Gurarara… I like him!"
The crew cheered again, raising their drinks.
"He's family, after all!" someone shouted.
"Ace little brother is also our family," another person answered.
Whitebeard slowly stood, his towering presence instantly silencing the noise.
The wind picked up, his coat fluttering behind him.
"I've lived long enough to see countless fools rise and fall," he said, voice deep and steady. "But every now and then…"
His eyes gleamed with interest.
"A monster appears."
Marco watched him carefully. "Pops, you think Luffy can become Pirates King?"
Whitebeard smirked.
"He captured Akainu at the same times he changed the rules of power itself and he's shaking the seas before even reaching the top."
He let out a low chuckle.
"If that's not a monster… then what is?"
Whitebeard turned his gaze toward his sons.
"Marco."
"Yeah?"
"Prepare the ship."
Marco blinked. "You're not serious…"
Whitebeard's grin widened.
"I want to see him."
A pause before suddenly he laughed.
"GURARARARARA!"
"Let's go meet the boy who's daring to conquer the world!"
"Pops, it is not a good idea because who else wanted to protect our place," said Marco.
"You are right," agreed Whitebeard.
He had forgot for a moment because of his excitement.
***
The news of Sabo had acquired Magma devil fruit are also spread on the other part of the world.
On a jagged island littered with scrap metal and broken ships, the Victoria Punk sat anchored like a beast waiting to pounce. Sparks flew as metal twisted and reshaped under invisible force.
This ship owned by Eustass kid and right now he is grinning like madman while reading the newspaper, his grip tightened, veins bulging along his arm.
"Keh… Straw Hat…" Kid muttered, his voice become low and dangerous.
Killer stood beside him. "The reports are confirmed," he said. "Akainu has been captured and his power… stolen."
Kid grin slowly stretched, wild and unhinged.
"Stolen?" he repeated. "Don't mess with me."
He slammed the newspaper against a pile of metal, sending pieces scattering.
"A Devil Fruit power isn't something you just take!" he barked. "That's not how the world works!"
Killer tilted his head slightly. "It seems the world has changed."
"Heh…" answered Kid then he began to laugh.
"Kehahahaha!"
His magnetic field surged, dragging massive chunks of metal into the air around him, forming a swirling storm.
"Good! That's good!" Kid shouted, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's exactly what I've been waiting for!"
Killer watched him carefully. "You're not angry?"
"Of course I'm angry!" Kid snapped, his grin never fading. "That bastard Straw Hat keeps getting ahead of me!"
He clenched his fist, the floating metal compressing violently.
"First he makes a name for himself… then he crushes the Marines… and now he's rewriting the rules of power itself?"
Kid laughter returned, it become sharp and filled with madness.
"Keh… this is perfect."
Killer crossed his arms. "Explain."
Kid turned toward the horizon, eyes burning with ambition.
"If someone can steal powers… then nothing is off-limits anymore."
The metal around him began forming a massive arm, jagged and monstrous.
"No limits of power."
He smirked.
"That means I don't have to follow anyone path to the top."
Killer gaze sharpened behind his mask. "You're thinking of going after them."
Kid didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he picked up the torn newspaper again, staring at Luffy name printed boldly across the front page.
"…Straw Hat Luffy."
His voice dropped, heavy with intent.
"Don't think you're the only one who can shake the world."
The metal arm slammed down, crushing the ground beneath it.
Kid grin widened. "I'll tear you down myself… and prove who's really meant to stand above the rest."
***
The reaction of people are varied from civillian, pirates and Marines.
When Buggy the Clown read the news, he stood frozen, the newspaper shaking violently in his hands.
His usual loud presence was nowhere to be found. Instead, there was only silence.
"EEEEHHHHHHHH?!"
His scream tore across the ocean.
The Buggy Pirates jumped in shock, others stumbling over themselves as they rushed toward their captain.
"Captain Buggy-sama?! What happened?!"
Buggy face had gone pale after reading the news.
His eyes bulged as he pointed at the newspaper with a trembling finger.
"T-T-THIS—THIS IS INSANE!!" he shrieked. "THIS HAS TO BE FAKE, RIGHT?! RIGHT?!"
Mohji leaned closer, squinting. "Uh… it says here Straw Hat Luffy captured Admiral Akainu…"
"THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM!" Buggy screamed.
Cabaji grabbed the paper and read faster, his expression slowly changing. "Wait… it also says the Revolutionary Army obtained the magma Devil Fruit power… and..."
He froze.
"…there's a scientist in Straw Hat crew who can steal abilities."
Everyone become silent, they know the ability of Devil fruit and had heard many rumors about it but none of them thought the Devil Fruit power can be stolen.
Then—
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Buggy collapsed to his knees, clutching his head.
"IT'S OVER! WE'RE ALL DOOMED!"
The crew panicked instantly.
"What do you mean, Captain?!"
"They can STEAL DEVIL FRUIT POWERS?!" Buggy wailed, tears streaming down his face. "Do you know what that means?! That means my power isn't safe either!"
He grabbed his own face dramatically.
"My beautiful Chop-Chop powers! My legendary invincible body! They're gonna take it! THEY'RE GONNA TAKE IT FROM ME!!"
"C-Captain, calm down...."
"HOW CAN I CALM DOWN?!" Buggy snapped, grabbing one of his crewmates by the collar. "That idiot Straw Hat… he's not normal anymore!"
His mind raced back unwillingly into the past, when he was beaten by Strawhat Pirates.
Back then, Buggy had laughed at him and even dare to think to kill him and now.
"That monster…!" Buggy whispered, his voice trembling.
Cabaji frowned. "Captain… are we in danger?"
Buggy slowly stood up, his entire body shaking.
"In danger?" he repeated.
Then he pointed dramatically toward the open sea.
"WE ARE THE TARGET!"
The crew gasped.
"Think about it!" Buggy continued, pacing frantically. "Who was Straw Hat first enemy before they went to Grand Line?! WHO FOUGHT HIM IN EAST BLUE?!"
"…You?" Mohji said weakly.
"EXACTLY!" Buggy shouted. "I'm basically his rival! HIS ARCHENEMY!"
The crew looked at each other, unsure whether to agree or not.
Buggy didn't wait.
"That means once he's done messing with the Marines… once he's done stealing powers…" His voice dropped to a horrified whisper. "He's going to come for me."
Thunder seemed to rumble in the distance. Buggy imagination spiraled out of control.
Luffy standing above him, grinning.
Reaching out to him and stealing his power.
"NOOOOOOO!!"
Buggy snapped back to reality, grabbing Mohji and Cabaji.
"WE'RE LEAVING!"
"Eh?! Leaving where?!"
"BACK TO EAST BLUE!" Buggy screamed.
The crew froze.
"…East Blue?" Cabaji repeated.
"Yes!" Buggy shouted. "The weakest sea! The safest sea! No monsters! No insane power-stealing lunatics!"
He pointed forward with absolute conviction.
"Prepare the ship! We're going home!"
"B-But Captain… what about our reputation in the grandline?"
"WHO CARES ABOUT THAT?!" Buggy roared. "YOU CAN'T HAVE A REPUTATION IF YOU'RE DEAD!"
The crew scrambled instantly.
"Aye, Captain Buggy-sama!"
Sails were raised in a frenzy. Anchors lifted and the ship turned sharply, almost tipping as it began its desperate retreat.
Buggy stood at the front, arms crossed, though his legs were still shaking.
"…Straw Hat Luffy…" he muttered.
His expression twisted between fear and disbelief.
"How did you become something this terrifying?!"
Buggy sniffed, wiping his tears, trying to regain some dignity.
"That's right… a wise man knows when to retreat…"
A pause.
"…I'm not scared," he added weakly.
From behind him, one of the crew whispered, "He's definitely scared…"
"SHUT UP!!"
And just like that buggy the Clown, future Pirate King (in his own mind), fled from the storm before it could swallow him whole.
........
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