The sun burst through the ripped clouds above the newly conquered throne room of Dressrosa, casting long shadows along the worn stone floors. The palace, which had been so full of life and was now in the hands of Solian Flare, felt rejuvenated. The air still bore the heaviness of battle, but the scent of victory, of new life, lingered in the air. Solian stood tall, the burden of his new rank settling upon him as he gazed out across the kingdom he had just conquered.
His crew surrounded him, all of them still attempting to wrap their heads around what they had accomplished. Their bounties, rising in the aftermath of their victory over Donquixote Doflamingo, now marked them as some of the most notorious pirates in the oceans. Their names were beginning to echo throughout the Grand Line, their reputations growing with each passing day.
Solian had already ordered the treasury to be opened, and within was a staggering 300 million berries. Doflamingo's fortune, once used to finance his operations and his vast network of influence, was now a testament to Solian's power and a stepping stone for his ambitions. The crew had dreams of spreading their influence, but there were still so many trials standing in their way.
As Solian paced through the palace hall, his crew gathered around, discussing the future with a mixture of excitement and cautious optimism.
Kael leaned against a pillar, his arms folded. "This is it. We've taken control, but this place isn't ours just yet. There's still so much to be done."
Jorin chuckled, pushing a stray lock of hair behind his ear. "We have the kingdom, Kael. Now we must solidify our hold. We require allies, we require influence, and above all—we require a plan. The world won't simply let us keep Dressrosa."
Vance clenched his fists, his usual confident grin still present despite the heavy atmosphere. "And that's why we've got to stay sharp. There are always more threats lurking. Doflamingo wasn't the only one who wanted to control this place."
Solian nodded, looking at them. "We're not conquering this kingdom to simply rule it. I want to build something that can stand the test of time. This won't be a stepping stone. We'll make it a foundation for everything we build from here on out."
His eyes circled the room, locking with each crew member's. They had been through a lot already, but this was only the beginning.
Milo, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke up. "Solian's right. We do hold the power now, but we can't just stand still. There are always bigger players out there. I'm not even talking about the Marines, but the other big-name pirates as well. They're going to try to take us down sooner or later. And when they do, we ought to be ready."
The silence that ensued was stifling. The weight of what they had done was starting to settle. Their lives were altered. Their fate was no longer hanging in the balance—it had been forged in the flames of war and ambition.
Jorin breathed out. "So, we get powerful. That's the idea, right? We take out anyone who stands in our way. Make ourselves a reputation. And where else to start but here?"
Solian smiled. "Exactly. But remember, we must play the long game. Dressrosa is a key piece of the puzzle, but it's only one piece. We're going to need allies, trade, intelligence. everything. I don't want us to be just pirates. I want us to be a new force in this world."
As Solian was speaking, there was a sudden flurry of activity as a crew member burst in. One of the informants of the island, he was breathless and wide-eyed.
"Captain Solian!" gasped the informant. "You've. you've caused quite the stir. The bounties. they've already updated. Your crew members' names are being spoken everywhere!"
Solian's eyebrow rose as he exchanged a brief look with the crew. "What do you mean?
The informant quickly handed over a stack of papers. Solian took them, scanning through the contents. His eyes widened as he read through the new bounties.
"Solian Flare – 450,000,000 Berries. Kael 'Rustfang' Deyn – 300,000,000 Berries. Jorin 'Crimson Fang' Vael – 275,000,000 Berries. Vance 'Ironfist' Rhoan – 250,000,000 Berries. Milo 'Silent Shot' Trenn – 180,000,000 Berries. The Twin Tempest – 150,000,000 Berries."
A satisfied grin spread across his face. He turned to his crew. "This is the start. This is what we've earned. This is just the beginning."
The room erupted in cheers as each member looked at their own bounty. They had become infamous, their names now etched into the annals of the Grand Line's most wanted.
Yet with their bounties grew their enemies. Solian knew that this fame would be heard from all corners of the world. They would need to prepare for what was on its way.
"Now," Solian said, his voice firm and determined, "we secure our grip here. The Dressrosans need to know who's in charge. We make the kingdom prosper, then we decide what's next. The world will be a different place with us on the throne."
As he uttered his last words, the crew stood tall, their resolve strengthening. The war to take over Dressrosa was over, but the real war had just begun.
The world was waiting, and soon Solian's name would be feared across the seas.