Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
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The Marine fleet cut through the tranquil azure waves of the Calm Belt, with Amazon Lily visible on the horizon. Akainu stood at the front of the fleet, his gaze fixed on the distant pirate island. As they came within range, a soldier approached and handed him a receiver.
"Boa Hancock! This is the Marines, come out. You are under arrest!"
There was no response from the other side. Akainu repeated the message, but again, silence prevailed. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the island, sensing that something was amiss. Just as he was about to make one last call, he noticed movement on the island.
From the forests of the island, two figures were walking, side by side until they came to an imposing stop on the shore of the island.
"Tha- That's Straw Hat Luffy. and Boa Hancock. What are they doing together? Fleet Admiral!" A marine on Akainu's ship shouted to him.
"I can see it just fine!" He exploded at the poor marine for stating the obvious. It was always the plan to catch Monkey D. Luffy by attacking Boa Hancock. But something about this was off. But that would not stop his justice!
"Prepare the cannons and fire at will! Eliminate those pirates!" the Fleet Admiral commanded. Moments later, the air was filled with cannonballs streaking toward Luffy and Hancock on the shore.
"Hmph." Hancock leaped into the air, positioning herself directly in the path of the incoming cannonballs. The Marines watched in bewilderment as she soared above the ocean. With a graceful motion, Hancock struck her signature pose, her hands held out in front of her.
"Be careful and watch out for her beams men!" A Vice Admiral ordered those on the ships.
"Mm, it's too late despicable marine, Mero Mero…STONE WORLD!"
Heart-shaped beams emanated from Hancock's hands, targeting the Marines. Despite their attempts to evade, they were unprepared for the sheer power and size of Hancock's attack. The beams were nearly as large as warships themselves, leaving no chance for escape. In an instant, everything turned to stone. Cannonballs, along with over ninety percent of the Marines aboard the eight ships, were petrified. Only a few of the more powerful Marines managed to escape the transformation.
"Boa Hancock." Akainu growled, steam rising from him in disbelief. His reaction wasn't solely due to the Marines who had been petrified—he had anticipated her abilities, though it seemed they had grown significantly stronger since his last encounter. What truly shocked him was the sight before him - a vast expanse of solid stone stretching across the sea in front of his ships, transforming the ocean into an immovable floor. This posed a serious problem. The pirate had awakened.
"Fujitora." He called to the blind admiral. "There can be no mistakes."
"But of course."
The two Admirals leaped down onto the stone platforms to face the two pirates.
The air was heavy with tension as Monkey D. Luffy, the rubber-bodied pirate with a straw hat, stood at the forefront, eyes locked onto Admiral Akainu and Admiral Fujitora. Boa Hancock, the Empress of Amazon Lily, stood at Luffy's side, her gaze unwavering.
Akainu's fury ignited like a volcanic eruption, his fiery rage mirroring the intense magma swirling on him. In stark contrast, Fujitora remained calm and composed, drawing his sword with a steady hand, prepared to manipulate gravity itself.
Luffy grinned, his trademark smiles unfazed by the gravity of the situation. "Hey Hancock, ready for some fun?"
Hancock's eyes gleamed with confidence as she replied, "Always, my Luffy."
As the two Admirals readied themselves for the confrontation, Luffy and Hancock moved in perfect synchrony. Luffy surged forward, his Gear Second amplifying his speed to an incredible level, while Hancock followed closely, darting toward the Admirals with equal precision. The Admirals braced themselves for the coordinated assault from the two formidable pirates.
Akainu, radiating with volcanic fury, unleashed a barrage of molten fists at Luffy. "Red Hound!" he roared, the fiery attack streaking through the air with destructive force.
The rubber pirate dodged and weaved, his body stretching and contorting to avoid the attacks. The next moment he appeared next to Sakazuki. Coating his hand in Haki he punched at the Admiral only for the Admiral to act quickly and raise his arm in defence. The two Haki met in the middle and fought with one another, neither wanting to yield.
XXX
Hancock danced gracefully through the air, effortlessly evading Fujitora's gravity-altering slashes. As she steadily closed the distance, it became clear that the purple Admiral was maintaining his distance for the time being. With a swift motion, Hancock pulled up, kissed her finger, and traced it through the air, forming a glowing pink heart. Drawing back on the heart, she aimed it at the blind Admiral and declared, "Slave Arrow!"
A barrage of arrows shot from the heart toward Fujitora, who expertly blocked the attack with his sword. Seizing the opportunity, Hancock closed in on the Admiral and aimed a kick at the sword he raised to defend himself. The clash of their Haki abilities created a fierce struggle for dominance.
Hancock quickly pulled back and launched another kick toward Fujitora's head, which he intercepted with his sword. Fujitora then countered with a sweeping strike aimed at Hancock's feet, forcing her to leap into the air. Undeterred, Hancock took advantage of the moment and kicked out fiercely, continuing her relentless assault.
Just before Hancock's kick could land, Fujitora deftly moved his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. With no time to dwell on his evasive maneuver, Hancock focused on her next move. Channelling her Haki, she struck downward at the sword Fujitora had raised in defence. Seizing the moment, she executed a handstand and propelled herself away, quickly creating distance between herself and the blind Admiral.
"Hm, you avoided that, that was quite something," Fujitora said bringing his sword up for another attack.
"This one does not need your words. We had our curiosity and we tested it. There were rumours but it seems there is truth to it. The Marines have another strong person who has developed the Observation Haki to see the future." Hancock said flipping her hair though unconcerned with this development.
"Oh, thank you for the compliment. But it is empty praises coming from you, who can also see the future."
"We are Empress. Of course, we can."
Fujitora said nothing to that and the two resumed their fight.
XXX
In the other battle, Luffy and Akainu engaged in a brutal exchange, their combat resembling a relentless slugfest. They exchanged Haki-infused blows with reckless abandon, each strike delivered with little regard for their own safety or the surrounding environment.
As they collided and then separated, Akainu remarked with a grim smile, "You're stronger than I anticipated, Dragon's son. But justice will prevail, just as your brother faced his end all the same."
Luffy's anger flared at the Fleet Admiral's words, and he threw his arm back behind him. It stretched and grew to a colossal size- like that of a giants, his hand enveloped in Haki. However, this was no ordinary Haki; it was imbued with the power of Conqueror's Haki, amplifying its intensity.
Akainu, taken aback by the sheer force of Luffy's attack, recognized that this was no ordinary assault.
"Ace was a thousand better than you." Luffy roared bringing his punch forward. "Gomu Gomu no King Punch."
"Grand Hound!"
The two attacks collided in mid-air, their Conqueror's Haki meeting with a thunderous clash. The immense power from both sides tore through the stone floor beneath them, sending fragments and debris flying in all directions.
Once more, the two combatants separated, and Luffy's muscles bulged as he transformed into the colossal form of Gear Fourth Boundman. He surged forward with astonishing speed and power, his body enveloped in a Haki-infused steam. Akainu, momentarily stunned by the dramatic shift in Luffy's strength, quickly adapted and launched a renewed assault with fierce determination.
Luffy charged at him, his fists enveloped in Armament Haki, striving to pierce through Akainu's molten defences. The impact of their clash sent shockwaves through the stone floor, causing it to tremble under the force of their battle.
XXX
Hancock, observing Luffy's transformation, intensified her strikes against the purple Admiral.
The Empress of Amazon Lily moved with unparalleled grace and precision, delivering a series of swift and devastating kicks to Admiral Fujitora. Each strike was infused with the power of Conqueror's Haki, disrupting the very essence of the gravity-manipulating Admiral. Fujitora, aware of the immense threat posed by Hancock and lacking the Conqueror's Haki that Sakazuki possessed, adjusted his stance. He wielded his sword to generate gravitational fields that countered Hancock's relentless assaults.
XXX
As Luffy and Akainu engaged in their intense battle, the rubber pirate's Gear Fourth demonstrated its formidable strength. Luffy's powerful punches collided with Akainu's magma attacks, creating shockwaves that reverberated across the petrified sea, sending ripples through the stone surface.
Soaring through the air, Luffy delivered a punch that shattered the magma Admiral's defenses. The force of the blow sent Akainu flying through the air, crashing into a stone platform some distance away.
Before Akainu could recover, Luffy was on him again. Akainu swiftly rolled aside to dodge Luffy's incoming punch, then crouched and fired magma fists that forced Luffy to evade. Despite the distraction, Luffy closed the gap and landed another powerful strike to the side of the Admiral.
Simultaneously, Akainu retaliated with a fierce punch across Luffy's face. The combined impact of their attacks sent both combatants reeling away from each other, each injured from the clash.
"I'm growing tired of this," Sakazuki said, his frustration palpable. He had underestimated the strength of the Straw Hat, finding himself in a prolonged battle that was neither ideal in location nor timing. Akainu felt as if he were facing an opponent on equal footing, and he clenched his teeth in irritation.
"Grand Magma World!"
Instantly, Luffy felt the temperature around them soar. Hancock and Fujitora, caught in their own struggle, halted their fight as the atmosphere grew unbearably hot. The heat intensified, forcing all three combatants to use their Haki to withstand the sweltering conditions.
Magma erupted from the Fleet Admiral, transforming the stone platform into a sea of red-hot stone. Streams of magma spread across the terrain, drastically altering the battlefield.
"So, this is it," Luffy muttered, eyeing the awakened magma-man before him. He knew he couldn't hold back any longer. A broad grin spread across his face as a dramatic transformation took place. His hair and clothes, except for his iconic straw hat, sash, and sandals, turned white. His eyes glowed with red ring-like pupils, and white clouds floated around his neck, reminiscent of steam. A faint drumbeat echoed in the background.
Luffy's body radiated an intense aura as he tapped into the full potential of his Devil Fruit abilities. Then, in a surprising shift, the stone sea seemed to bounce with him as he hopped up and down, his grin unwavering as he stared at Akainu. It was as if, despite the chaos around him, he felt as though everything was perfectly fine.
XXX
Fujitora, understanding the necessity for a decisive response, activated his awakened Devil Fruit powers, pushing the manipulation of gravitational forces to a new level. Though there was no immediate visual cue aside from the greyish clouds forming around his neck, the gravitational aura around him grew noticeably heavier, even to Hancock, who was observing from a distance.
Not to be outdone, Hancock tapped into the full potential of her Mero Mero no Mi. The stone sea responded to her command, shifting into a malleable substance under her influence. Her pupils narrowed into slits, and if possible, her beauty intensified even further. This overwhelming charm had an immediate effect on the Marines watching the battle. Every single one of them turned to stone, with no exceptions, leaving only the Admirals untouched by her power.
"Truly a terrifying power," Fujitora remarked, sensing the fate of the other forces that had accompanied them. Hancock's mere gaze had been enough to petrify them; she didn't even need to use her power directly.
The battle escalated into its next phase as Luffy, enveloped in the swirling energy of Gear Fifth, charged forward like a blazing comet. Akainu, his magma fists poised for impact, met the rubber pirate head-on. The collision generated shockwaves that rippled across the stone sea, causing the petrified surface beneath them to crack and tremble.
Fujitora, harnessing gravity with heightened precision, conjured miniature black holes that warped the battlefield. Hancock felt the intense gravitational pull trying to drag her in.
"Even these things fall before my beauty," Hancock declared with confidence. With a playful wink at the black holes, she watched as they instantly turned to stone, her charm turning the formidable forces into mere statues.
Following up she shot at the purple Admiral who met her in the middle, and they engaged in close combat. As Hancock moved her body felt heavier with every kick and spin.
"Mm, so you do not have to actively use your gravity anymore and have a wider range."
"Does it matter?" Fujitora replied.
Large explosions went off on the side.
Luffy unleashed a relentless barrage of advanced Haki-infused punches against Akainu's defences. In response, Akainu summoned a magma pillar from beneath Luffy, forcing the pirate to shift position. However, Luffy took a deep breath and blew forcefully on the pillar, causing the magma to harden with the sheer force of his breath.
With a satisfied smirk, Luffy broke the hardened pillar apart with a powerful two-handed strike and hurled it at Akainu.
Akainu, seeing the pillar hurtling toward him, roared and shattered it with a powerful punch. But Luffy was already closing in; delivering a punch from a distance that struck the Fleet Admiral. In a sudden burst of whimsy, Luffy did a cartoonish run towards Akainu. Out of nowhere, he produced a baseball bat and helmet, taking up a stance as if preparing for a game.
Akainu, caught off guard and unable to stop his momentum, was struck by Luffy's makeshift bat for a dramatic home run. Luffy watched with a grin, hand shielding his eyes as he admired his own skill, observing Akainu soaring through the air.
Akainu flipped through the air, halting his descent with a powerful kick. Using Geppo to maintain his position above, he glared down at Luffy, who grinned up at him from below. Akainu's rage reached its peak, and the air around him grew increasingly hot. "Great Volcano!" he roared.
From beneath the arena, Akainu summoned a colossal surge of lava, tearing apart much of the surrounding area. The molten flow encased him briefly before he propelled himself toward Luffy with a powerful kick, sending the lava crashing down like a massive wave.
Meanwhile, Hancock had encased Fujitora in a cage of petrified stone, limiting his mobility. Undeterred, Fujitora manipulated gravity to shatter his stone prison, creating shockwaves that disrupted the battlefield. The advancing lava forced him and Hancock apart, pushing them away from the central clash. They both turned their attention to the escalating fight, which seemed to be nearing its climax.
With Luffy, he just grinned at the incoming tide, he sucked in the air immediately making himself buffer and bigger. Flexing his arms, he would up his right arm cartoon style and let his fist fly at the incoming wave. En route to Akainu, Luffys' fist grew and grew in size until the two attacks met in a massive power struggle. The struggle went back and forth a few times but no winner. Eventually, both attacks lost their steam and Akainu fell from the sky at Fujitora's position while Luffy regrouped with Hancock.
Fujitora, his expression inscrutable, spoke calmly amidst the chaos, "Fleet Admiral, it appears we have underestimated the scale of our opponents. A strategic withdrawal may be our best option. Continuing could result in significant losses, not only to our forces but also to our ships."
As Fujitora spoke, it became evident that the Marine forces' ships were sustaining heavy damage. The on-going battle, coupled with the frozen state of the Marines aboard, left them unable to maneuver the ships and evade the destruction. Although such a situation could normally be managed, the immobilized forces on the ships exacerbated the risk of total loss.
Akainu, still seething with the remnants of his volcanic fury, recognized the validity of Fujitora's assessment. He nodded, his teeth clenched in frustration, "Retreat for now. We need to re-evaluate our strategy and prepare for a more calculated approach."
With resolute nods from both Admirals, the dynamics of the battlefield shifted. The gravitational anomalies conjured by Fujitora dissipated, and the searing heat from Akainu's magma attacks gradually diminished. The stone sea, now scarred by the intense confrontation, remained unchanged as Hancock chose to keep her powers active while their enemies were still present.
On the Marine ships, Fujitora leveraged his gravity manipulation to guide them away from the island, ensuring a strategic withdrawal from the conflict zone.
Luffy, still in Gear Fifth, and Hancock, poised and alert, watched as the Admirals withdrew with a mix of surprise and caution. The overwhelming power they had unleashed had clearly forced the admirals to rethink their strategy, underscoring the formidable strength of the pirate duo.
As the Admirals retreated, fading into the horizon, Luffy and Hancock exchanged a meaningful glance before jumping back to the island. Once there, Hancock released her powers, causing the entire stone arena to disintegrate and collapse into the sea. Her control over the petrified Marines was also lifted, freeing them from her influence. The area around Amazon Lily soon returned to its pre-fight state, as though the battle had never occurred.
Breaking the silence, Hancock remarked, "Luffy, it seems the Marines didn't anticipate us being on this level."
Luffy flashed a confident grin. "Yeah, but we can't let our guard down. Let's stay prepared for whatever comes next."