[TL/N: Read my new work - Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
-------
"Are you finally here, Luffy?"
Ace's gaze lingered on the bounty poster featuring his younger brother, Monkey D. Luffy. A faint smile played at the corners of his lips.
"Hahaha! Luffy's first bounty is 35 million berries—not bad at all," Sabo remarked, his mood noticeably lifted as he examined the poster.
Among the three brothers, Ace had always been the undisputed leader.
From a young age, Ace was hailed as a prodigy, his talents surpassing all expectations. His guidance and rigorous training had been instrumental in accelerating both Sabo's and Luffy's growth.
Sabo, while not on Ace's level, had proven to be a formidable talent in his own right.
Then there was Luffy—the youngest of the three. Luffy's talent couldn't be called poor, but it paled in comparison to his brothers.
In truth, Luffy had been something of a fool.
Early in their training, he struggled even to control the abilities granted by his Devil Fruit. He would often miss his targets entirely, tying himself up in knots with his rubbery body instead.
Despite his clumsiness, both Ace and Sabo treated Luffy with the care an elder brother reserves for the youngest sibling.
Now, this once-naive little brother had fulfilled their shared promise: he had set out to sea and earned his first bounty.
Thirty-five million berries was no small feat, especially in East Blue, the so-called weakest of the seas.
Sabo, however, had no doubts about Luffy's potential.
It wasn't just because Luffy had consumed the Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Model "Nika," one of the most powerful Devil Fruits in existence.
It was also because Luffy was their brother.
"This is to be expected," Ace said quietly, his smile deepening as he held the poster.
Turning away, Ace glanced toward the shadowed corner of the room.
"Take this to him," he instructed.
"Understood!" came a swift reply as Ace flicked his hand, causing a glowing orb of light to rise into the air.
Two graceful figures emerged from the corner, stepping into the light. The space around them warped, creating a shimmering rift.
With a soft chuckle, they disappeared into the gap, and the room returned to stillness.
Ace walked toward the grand window overlooking Wanokuni. His gaze swept over the transformed landscape below as a contemplative smile touched his lips.
"I'm looking forward to it, Luffy," he murmured. "When you finally come to me, the final war will begin."
Ace's sharp eyes, glowing with the vibrant red of his Ultimate Observation Haki, narrowed as he peered into the distance. Enhanced by the power of the Time-Time Fruit, his vision stretched beyond the present, glimpsing fragments of the future.
"So that's your true face, Imu," Ace muttered, his expression hardening.
The World Government's enigmatic ruler, hidden at the apex of Pangaea Castle, had long been a mystery. But now, Ace had seen glimpses of Imu's true nature, along with the terrifying ability they wielded.
"What is it, Ace?" Sabo's voice trembled slightly.
As Ace's closest ally and right-hand man, Sabo knew much of the secrets concealed by the World Government. He was aware that one of the Ancient Weapons, Uranus, was under their control. He also knew of the mysterious figure who commanded even the Five Elders—Imu.
"Interesting… so fascinating," Ace said, his voice low yet brimming with intensity.
He paused before breaking into laughter, his fiery eyes blazing with insight.
"A pentagram… so that's it! Imu, is this the true extent of your power? Should I call you the wielder of the Sheep-Sheep Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Model 'Baphomet,' or are you the devil incarnate—Baphomet itself?"
Ace's vision of Imu's ability was vivid.
Before him stood a grotesque figure—a monstrous fusion of forms. It had the head of a goat, the torso of a human, the lower body of a deer, and a scorpion's tail.
The legendary devil, Baphomet, had revealed itself as the ultimate power behind the World Government!
Sabo's eyes widened as he processed Ace's revelation.
"The Goat Demon… the true face of Imu, the leader of the WG…" Sabo whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
At the apex of the creature's tail burned a vivid flame, emitting an eerie green glow. A pair of shattered bat-like wings extended from its back, adding to its grotesque appearance.
Most strikingly, a blazing pentagram was etched into its forehead, its signature mark.
As Ace gazed at the monstrous vision, his mind pieced together fragments of information he recalled from the original timeline—the one from before his journey through time.
Im was no ordinary ruler. Seated at the top of the Five Elders, they were the absolute authority of the world.
But the Five Elders themselves were monsters of unparalleled strength:
- Gyūki, a beast of unparalleled power.
- Itsumade, a phantom whose abilities defied reason.
- Hōki, a storm incarnate.
- Sand Wyrm, a creature born of earth's depths.
- Bakotsu, a figure whose wrath burned like hell.
Each of these beings was a force to be reckoned with. Yet, to command such monsters, their leader—Imu—had to be even more fearsome.
And the truth aligned perfectly.
Imu's form as a goat-like demon resonated with Ace's understanding of mythology and symbolism.
In Western traditions, the goat demon is a universal representation of evil. Even the figure of Satan is often depicted in the form of a goat. Within this value system, the goat stands as an unmistakable emblem of darkness and malevolence.
For Imu to rule over the Five Elders as a demonic entity—a goat demon—it was both fitting and terrifying.
Ace's thoughts shifted to the existence of the Knights of God, a subordinate force under Imu.
Drawing parallels to the religious systems of his past life, Ace recalled the infamous Knights Templar of Western tradition.
Under the Pope, the Templars had once held immense power, acting as both defenders of the faith and enforcers of their leader's will.
However, their influence had earned them countless enemies.
Accusations of heresy, idol worship, and clandestine rituals had led to their persecution. The object of their supposed worship?
Baphomet.
A Demon.
A chilling smile spread across Ace's face. The parallels were undeniable.
In the original timeline, Imu's monstrous form had only surfaced once—when Sabo infiltrated Pangaea Castle. There, Imu had impaled Sabo with a monstrous tail during their confrontation.
Ace now realized that this tail, distinct and deadly, perfectly matched the scorpion-like appendage associated with the demon Baphomet.
Adding to this revelation was the unmistakable pentagram emblazoned on Imu's forehead—a hallmark of Baphomet's legend.
Ace recalled another detail: when the Five Elders teleported using their mysterious abilities, a burning pentagram had appeared as a summoning circle. This, too, was tied to Imu's infernal power.
"Everything fits perfectly," Ace murmured to himself.
The truth was clear. Imu's abilities derived from none other than the mythical goat demon, Baphomet—a creature rooted in legend and steeped in fear!
But questions lingered in Ace's mind.
Were Imu and the Five Elders humans who had consumed mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits, or were they actual devils and monsters in their true forms?
For now, he couldn't be certain.
Ace frowned slightly, deep in thought. He had uncovered the nature of Imu's power, but not their true appearance.
Strangely, a nagging familiarity tugged at his mind.
"Have I seen that face before?" Ace wondered, his brows knitting.
Ultimately, he decided to let it go. Imu's identity would eventually reveal itself. For now, Ace's focus lay in preparing for the decisive battle ahead.
"Baphomet—you mean the demon in legend??!!"
Sabo's voice cut through the silence, laced with disbelief. He, too, knew the name, a figure woven into myth and legend, feared to the point of being equated with Satan himself.
If Imu truly commanded the power of Baphomet, the implications were catastrophic.
Sabo's thoughts shifted to the Five Elders, each governing a crucial domain of the world's order:
- The God of Scientific Defense
- The God of Environmental Affairs
- The God of Justice
- The God of Agriculture
- The God of Finance
And towering above them all was Imu, the shadowy ruler of the World Government—the Demon!
The realization hit Sabo like a storm surge.
"Hell," he muttered, his voice barely audible as cold sweat trickled down his face. "It's hell at the top of the world."
Ace's voice broke through, sharp and resolute. "Hell?" he repeated, his tone igniting with fiery determination. "Then it's perfect. My flames were made to burn through hell."
With a bold laugh, Ace turned and strode toward the exit, his steps brimming with unshakable resolve.
"Notify all cadres to assemble!" he commanded, his voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Understood!" Sabo called after him, watching as Ace's figure disappeared toward the grand conference hall. A confident smile tugged at Sabo's lips.
Hell? What of it? Ace's flames could reduce even the fiercest inferno to nothing.
And as for Baphomet? That so-called demon was destined to fall, nothing more than another defeated foe in Ace's hands.
Without hesitation, Sabo followed, his resolve as unyielding as the flames that would soon blaze against the darkness.
——
The Headquarters of the Entei Pirates: Flame Domain
The war in Wanokuni had reshaped the nation, transforming it into the heart of the Entei Pirates' empire. Its strategic location and vast reserves of seastone made it the perfect choice for their headquarters.
Rising from its once war-torn landscape were towering buildings, a testament to Ace's dominion. At the center of it all stood a grand palace, rivaling even the splendor of Pangaea Castle, the seat of the World Government.
This palace, known as the Flame Domain, served as the core of Ace's operations.
Within the Flame Domain's innermost sanctum resided Ace himself, alongside his most trusted cadres. The outer areas were allocated to other members of the Entei Pirates, creating a tightly controlled hierarchy.
At the boundary between the core and the periphery stood a massive conference hall. It was a structure no less imposing than the World Summit hall of Pangaea Castle.
Here, only Ace held the authority to convene meetings. These gatherings were known as Entei Conferences and were categorized into two tiers: the Supreme Conference and the Core Conference.
The Supreme Conference, held only once before, summoned the leaders of all nations under the Entei Pirates' rule. During that historic meeting, Ace had dictated the new systems and regulations governing those territories, including their obligations to provide resources, manpower, and funding to his empire.
This time, however, the gathering was a Core Conference, restricted to Ace's top commanders and fleet captains.
The grand hall brimmed with tension as Ace's most formidable subordinates took their seats along both sides of the expansive table.
Even giants had designated places, their towering forms underscoring the grandeur of the chamber.
At the very head of the hall loomed an empty throne, reserved solely for Ace.
Despite their reputations as fearsome warriors who had struck terror into the hearts of even the Navy's Admirals, the room's occupants sat in silent anticipation. None dared disrupt the proceedings.
Suddenly, the heavy doors creaked open.
"Click."
The sound echoed like a thunderclap, and every one of the 740 attendees rose to their feet in unison.
"Admiral!" they declared in a collective salute, their voices filled with respect.
Ace stepped into the room, his presence commanding attention. His gaze swept across the assembly as he walked toward the throne.
Even among them, Kaya and Vivi—women deeply connected to Ace personally—stood in line. Here, in the public domain of the Entei Pirates, they were not just Ace's companions but high-ranking commanders, each leading a division of the fleet.
Ace seated himself on the throne with an air of calm authority.
"Sit."
His voice was measured, yet it carried the weight of command.
"Yes, Admiral!"
The room returned to order as everyone resumed their seats, awaiting his words with bated breath.
Ace leaned back, his chin resting on his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. His eyes scanned the room, noting the presence of both familiar faces and new additions.
Among them were the Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy, captains of the Fourth Division; Perona's adoptive father, Moria; the Knight of the Sea, Jinbei; and the newly appointed leader of the Charlotte family, Charlotte Katakuri, who now commanded the Ninth Division.
Each division reflected Ace's strategy and dominance:
- The Ninth Division, led by Katakuri, comprised the powerful remnants of the Charlotte family.
- The Tenth Division, under Yamato, brought together the elites of the former Beasts Pirates.
Unlike Katakuri, however, Kaido's closest lieutenants—the Three Calamities—had been eliminated by Ace himself. Their loyalty to Kaido made them liabilities Ace refused to tolerate.
Yet Ace had preserved the unique bloodline of King, the last natural descendant of his tribe using the abilities of the Paw-Paw Fruit. He suspected the Lunarian lineage might hold strategic importance in the future.
The seamless assembly of these powerful figures was thanks to Ace's mastery of the Space Fruit, allowing even distant members like Katakuri to arrive instantly for critical meetings.
Ace's voice resonated through the hall.
"Now, let's begin. Today's agenda: the Final Battle."
The room fell into a charged silence.
Ace's next words were even heavier:
"We will also discuss the truth about Pangaea Castle, the World Government, and the true nature of Imu's power, the enigmatic leader of the World Government!"