The New World, had outdone itself. A seismic cataclysm, an earthquake of unprecedented magnitude, had ripped through a previously unremarkable stretch of ocean. But instead of mere destruction, it had birthed something astonishing. From the churning abyss, ancient, cyclopean structures had risen, dripping with brine and millennia of slumber – the ruins of a forgotten, technologically advanced civilization.
News spread like wildfire, "Sunken City of Atlantis." The tales were wild, almost unbelievable. Just on the outskirts, amongst crumbling, barnacle-encrusted towers, lay caches of powerful, advanced weaponry – energy cannons, strange metallic alloys, and hulking, dormant robotic giants.
But one News, ignited a fever pitch of greed across the seas. Amongst the cryptic glyphs and decaying murals found on the city's fringes: the existence of a "Philosopher's Stone," a mythical artifact capable of transmuting base metals into pure gold.
The Sunken City became a gold rush, a battlefield.
---
**Marine Headquarters, New World Branch**
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stared grimly at the unfolding intelligence reports. The Sunken City was a logistical nightmare and a strategic goldmine.
"Akainu," Sengoku's voice was stern, his brow furrowed as he addressed the Den Den Mushi. The admiral's impassive, magma-like features appeared on the snail.
"Fleet Admiral," Akainu's voice rumbled, devoid of inflection.
"The Sunken City of Atlantis," Sengoku began. "This 'Philosopher's Stone'… if it exists, it cannot fall into pirate hands. Its economic implications alone could destabilize the world. Your orders are clear: secure that stone. At any cost. And," Sengoku added, a harder edge to his voice, "intelligence suggests both Whitebeard's and Big Mom's crews are en route, likely working in some… unholy alliance concerning that brat, Gunnar. This is an opportunity, Akainu."
Akainu's magma features remained impassive. "The boy and the Sweet Commander. Neutralizing that alliance remains a priority."
"Indeed," Sengoku said. "The Philosopher's Stone is paramount. But if, in the course of securing it, you find an opportunity to… disrupt certain pirate factions, to sever inconvenient ties… I trust your judgment, Admiral."
"I may need to take drastic steps, Fleet Admiral," Akainu stated, a subtle, almost imperceptible heat in his tone.
"The World Government expects results, Akainu," Sengoku replied, his meaning clear. "Do what you must. Just bring me that stone." The line clicked off. Akainu stared at the silent Den Den Mushi, a predatory light in his eyes. Absolute Justice would be served, and pirates would burn.
---
**Aboard the Moby Dick**
Whitebeard, his health a constant, gnawing concern, addressed his assembled commanders. Gunnar, now Fourteen, stood beside Smoothie, their year of marriage having forged a strange relation, largely built on grueling training sessions.
"The Sunken City," Whitebeard rumbled.
"For this mission," Whitebeard continued, "Jozu, your strength will be needed to secure any heavy artifacts. Teach," he looked at Marshall D. Teach, whose grin seemed wider, more unsettling than usual, "your… unique abilities might prove useful in navigating unknown dangers. Gunnar, Smoothie… you will accompany them," his gaze softened as he looked at Gunnar, "stay safe, my son."
Gunnar nodded, his golden eyes serious. He felt Smoothie's gaze on him, cool and appraising.
Big Mom, via Den Den Mushi, had been explicit. "PEROSPERO! CRACKER! SNACK!" she had roared. "That Philosopher's Stone will be MINE! And you will ensure that little whelp of Whitebeard's and my dear Smoothie are… contributing to the Charlotte family's future! Secure the stone, secure the alliance's next step, or don't bother coming back! MAMAMAMA!"
Perospero licked his candy cane staff nervously. "Yes, Mama! Of course, Mama! We will… cooperate fully with Whitebeard's contingent, lick-lick!" He looked at his brothers. Cracker, with his biscuit armor, was itching for a fight. Snack, recently reinstated after a previous… setback, was eager to prove his worth. This joint mission was fraught with peril, both from the island and their supposed allies.
"WORORORO! A stone that turns things to gold, you say?" Kaido's voice boomed, even through the confines of the submersible. "And advanced weapons? Sounds like a proper brawl is brewing!"
Queen, the Calamity, cackled. "Indeed, Kaido-san! Imagine our forces, augmented by ancient robots! And all that gold… we could fund an army that would make the world tremble! Funk-a-doodle-doo!"
Jack, ever stoic, grunted. "The Marines are there. Other Emperors too. It will be a bloodbath."
"Excellent!" Kaido roared. "The more chaos, the better! Go, if this Philosopher's Stone is real… it belongs to ME!"
***
The Moby Dick and a few ships from the Big Mom armada (a tense, temporary alliance for this specific treasure hunt, brokered with much grumbling) anchored in a secluded bay.
"Alright, yoi," Marco announced, looking at the assembled search parties. "This island is vast and the exact location of this 'stone,' if it even exists, is unknown. We split up, cover more ground. Standard procedure."
The teams were… interesting. Jozu, a stoic diamond, found himself reluctantly paired with the unsettlingly jovial Marshall D. Teach, whose "Zehahaha" laugh echoed unnervingly across the sands.
Charlotte Cracker, ever eager to prove his biscuit-clad might, was teamed with his older brother Perospero, who seemed more interested in whether the sand could be turned into some new form of rock candy.
And then there was Gunnar and Smoothie. It had become an unspoken default. Since their strange, antagonistic partnership that somehow, sometimes, worked.
Gunnar, his crimson and white hair tied back, adjusted the pack on his shoulders. He was still lean, but the wiry strength was more evident. Walking was easier, though long treks still taxed him. "Ready?" he asked Smoothie, his voice holding a newfound confidence, though it was still tinged with the caution he always felt around her.
Smoothie, looking effortlessly regal even in practical desert gear, merely nodded. "Try to keep up, little husband."
After hours of trudging through the shifting sands, under the relentless sun, Gunnar spotted it first. A glint of gold, almost swallowed by a towering dune. "Smoothie, look!"
As they drew closer, a magnificent, if dilapidated, golden temple emerged from the sands, its intricate carvings remarkably preserved despite the centuries. The centerpiece, etched above a massive, sealed doorway, was a striking relief: a regal figure holding a radiant, multifaceted stone, with throngs of people bowing in adoration before him.
"The Philosopher's Stone…" Gunnar breathed, a sense of awe in his voice.
"Or a very convincing depiction," Smoothie corrected, though her eyes held a spark of interest. "The artistry is… impressive."
The golden doors, surprisingly, yielded to their combined effort, groaning open to reveal a dark, descending passageway. A cool, ancient air, smelling of dust and forgotten secrets, wafted out.
"Ladies first?" Gunnar offered, playful gallantry in his tone.
Smoothie smirked. "Don't be chivalrous, boy. It doesn't suit you." She drew one of her massive swords, its surface gleaming even in the dim light. "Stay alert."
They descended into the gloom, their footsteps echoing eerily. The passageway was narrow, carved from a strange, obsidian-like rock. Strange, bioluminescent fungi clung to the walls, casting a faint, ethereal glow.
"This place feels… old," Gunnar murmured, his senses on high alert. The whispers of his Devil Fruit were faint here, not of impending doom, but of immense, dormant power.
"Indeed," Smoothie replied, her gaze sweeping their surroundings. "And likely not entirely uninhabited."
As if on cue, a guttural snarl echoed from the darkness ahead. Two pairs of glowing red eyes appeared. Giant, sand-colored scorpions, each the size of a small boat, scuttled towards them, their pincers snapping menacingly.
Before Gunnar could even fully react, Smoothie moved. She was a blur of motion, her sword a silver whisper. Two swift, precise slashes, and the scorpions lay bisected, their venomous stingers twitching uselessly.
"Efficient," Gunnar commented, genuinely impressed.
"They were merely pests," Smoothie replied, wiping a non-existent speck of dust from her blade. "Save your awe for a real threat."
They continued deeper, the path sloping downwards. The air grew heavier, the silence more profound. Eventually, the passageway opened into a larger cavern, where it split into two distinct tunnels. One seemed to lead further down, into even deeper darkness. The other curved to the right, a faint, flickering orange glow emanating from its depths.
"Which way, little strategist?" Smoothie asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.
Gunnar studied the tunnels. "The light… it could be a trap. Or it could be where someone else has already been."
Before he could elaborate, a new sound reached them. Heavy footsteps, a metallic clang, and a low, guttural growl that was distinctly… familiar, if unwelcome. From the tunnel with the orange glow, a massive, shadowy figure emerged, backlit by the flickering light of what was likely a torch. Metal tusks gleamed. A colossal spiked club was held ready.
"Well, well, well," a harsh, booming voice resonated through the cavern. "Look what the sand coughed up. If it isn't one of Big Mom's long-legged daughters… and a little runt I don't recognize."
Jack the Drought, one of Kaido's All-Stars, stepped fully into the dim light, his fish-man features contorted into a cruel sneer. His gaze lingered on Smoothie.
"Jack," Smoothie stated, her voice cool, her hand tightening on her sword. "Fancy meeting you in a hole like this. Slumming it, are we?"
"Always a pleasure, Smoothie," Jack retorted, his eyes glinting. "Heard you got hitched. To this… appetizer?" He gestured dismissively at Gunnar.
Gunnar bristled, but Smoothie cut him off with a subtle gesture. "Business, Jack. We're all here for the same prize, I imagine."
"The Stone, yes," Jack rumbled. "And I don't like sharing." He took a menacing step forward.
A small, intense clash erupted. Jack swung his club, a devastating blow that Smoothie met with her sword, sparks flying, the impact echoing like thunder. Gunnar, knowing he was outmatched, tried to create a diversion, sending a blast of icy air towards Jack's feet, which the All-Star easily sidestepped.
The cavern trembled violently from the force of their blows. Dust and small rocks rained down from the ceiling.
"Enough!" Gunnar yelled, seeing a large crack spiderwebbing above them. "This whole place is going to come down on our heads if you two keep this up!"
Jack and Smoothie, both breathing heavily, reluctantly disengaged, eyeing each other warily. The rumbling from the ceiling intensified.
"The brat's right," Jack grunted, glaring at the unstable roof. "No point burying ourselves before we find the treasure."
"A temporary truce, then?" Smoothie proposed, her sword still ready. "We find the Stone, then we discuss distribution."
Jack sneered. "Don't get any ideas, woman. But fine. Fighting in this crumbling tomb is a fool's game." He then noticed something Gunnar and Smoothie had overlooked in the heat of the moment. The vibrations from their clash had dislodged a section of loose rock on the far wall, revealing a third, previously hidden, narrow passageway. "Looks like there's another option."
[A/N: I have an idea to create a Trio. A large Arc is gonna be based on that. It will take a while to get there, But I want to create a Trio for Gunnar. There will be Divison "Zero", I plan to have three Members in it. So recommend me two memebrs, You would want inside the Trio. Trust me It will be the best written part of the Fic. So, Recommend me Some Candidates.]