[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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Wanokuni – Prison
Ace sat cross-legged in the cell where Yamato was imprisoned, his body radiating the subtle energy of the "Realm of Comprehension."
In front of him, the devil factors of the Time-Time Fruit and the Space-Space Fruit hovered, enveloped by the radiant light of the field of comprehension. This light amplified their power, pushing them beyond the natural limits of their Devil Fruit abilities.
"Buzz!"
The devil factors glowed intensely, intertwining with one another. Their convergence created a dazzling brilliance that illuminated the prison.
"Crack!"
A sudden fissure tore through the fabric of time and space, appearing within the air.
From the rift, Yamato's figure emerged slowly, stepping into the present.
"How was it?" Ace asked with a faint smile as he observed Yamato. "Did you see the future of Wanokuni under the rule of Kozuki Oden, that fool?"
Ace's gaze carried a calm yet sharp judgment. Even if Kozuki Oden became the ruler of Wanokuni with the support of Roger and Whitebeard, the outcome would remain unchanged.
Ace continued, his tone steady and assured.
"Roger would still go on to ignite the Great Pirate Era with his death. Not even men as mighty as Roger or Whitebeard could alter the tides of the era—they could only flow with them.
And Kozuki Oden? That fool wouldn't stand a chance of protecting Wanokuni, a land brimming with valuable seastone—a resource coveted by both the Marines and the World Government."
Ace paused, letting his words sink in before continuing.
"Wanokuni's natural defenses make it strategically crucial—far more so than Amazon Lily in the Calm Belt. The only reason the World Government hasn't laid claim to it yet is Kaido. His presence as one of the Four Emperors deters them, as the cost of waging war with a Yonko is too high.
But Oden? What could he possibly offer in comparison?"
Ace's expression hardened.
"That clown lacks both the intellect and the strength needed to safeguard a nation like Wanokuni. His abilities aren't even close to the level of a Yonko. At best, he might scrape by at Admiral level—but that's a stretch.
Such power might be notable at sea, but against the overwhelming might of the World Government? He's nothing more than an ant."
Ace leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly, as though emphasizing the inevitability of his argument.
If Oden hadn't attempted to open Wanokuni's borders and establish it as a kingdom, the land might have survived, protected by its natural barriers, until the era when Luffy set sail.
But by founding a kingdom, Oden would only accelerate the downfall of both Wanokuni and the Kozuki clan. Without Kaido or a figure of equal power, the seastone resources alone would make Wanokuni a target.
The World Government wouldn't hesitate to act.
And Oden? With his clownish personality, he wouldn't even consider joining the Shichibukai to buy Wanokuni time. No, the moment the World Government took notice of him, his fate—and that of his people—would be sealed.
Ace leaned back, his gaze fixed on Yamato.
"Let me break it down for you. Oden was part of Roger's crew. He could read the ancient language, interpret the Poneglyphs, and helped Roger reach Raftel.
That alone makes him an enemy of the World Government—a threat they would eliminate without hesitation. And Wanokuni? Not being a member of the World Government means they'd face unrestricted warfare. Even a Buster Call wouldn't be off the table."
Ace shook his head. "Under Oden's rule, Wanokuni would stand no chance. It would crumble long before anyone could intervene.
The saying is true: 'An incompetent ruler destroys an entire nation.'"
Ace's voice carried a quiet certainty, as though he didn't even need to witness the events himself to know the outcome.
"After Roger's death, the dissolution of his pirate crew would mark the beginning of Wanokuni's end."
---
Just as Ace expected, Yamato remained silent. Her earlier conviction seemed shaken, her thoughts too chaotic to form a response.
"Don't rush to give me your answer just yet," Ace said, a faint smile forming on his lips.
"Next, you'll see what the future of Wanokuni looks like under the leadership of my Entei Pirates."
---
With a flicker, the devil factor of the Space-Space Fruit dissipated, leaving only the Time-Time Fruit glowing in midair.
"Before, I needed both the Time-Time Fruit and Space-Space Fruit to construct a past similar to a parallel time-space reality," Ace explained.
"But now, we'll move forward—to see what happens when Wanokuni is ruled by someone with true power and vision."
With that, the Realm of Comprehension glowed brighter, and the power of the Time-Time Fruit surged to life.
Traveling to the Future
The power of the Time-Time Fruit alone was enough to send someone into the future.
This Devil Fruit's unique ability allowed its user to traverse forward in time, bypassing the constraints of the present.
With the additional influence of Ace's Realm of Comprehension, its potential was pushed even further.
"Go, Yamato," Ace said with a faint smile. "See for yourself, and then tell me your answer."
"Buzz!"
The energy of the Time-Time Fruit enveloped Yamato, making her vanish into thin air.
Traveling to the future.
Ace closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
In the surrounding atmosphere, traces of the Time-Time Fruit's devil factors followed Yamato into the future. Under the influence of the Realm of Comprehension, this connection allowed Ace to retrieve Yamato without needing to personally enter that distant time.
Ace had no interest in witnessing the future himself.
The Time-Time Fruit could only take someone forward in time, never backward. The reason was simple: the past was unchangeable, while the future was a realm of infinite possibilities.
Even before Ace had come to this world, this truth was self-evident. On earth, where Devil Fruits didn't exist, it was a well-accepted principle: the past was set, but the future held countless paths.
Even if Yamato traveled to one potential future, it was just that—a possibility.
Ace's focus wasn't on observing the future. It was on creating his own.
After what felt like an eternity, faint ripples formed in the air.
The energy of the Time-Time Fruit fluctuated, and Yamato's figure emerged through the shimmering rift, stepping back into the present.
"How was it, Yamato?" Ace asked with a slight smirk, his gaze steady.
Yamato stood frozen, her expression one of disbelief and awe. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak. "I... I—"
Before Yamato could finish, Ace raised a hand, cutting her off.
"I'm not interested in the future you've seen," Ace said firmly, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. "Whatever you witnessed, it's irrelevant.
The future I will create will be far more magnificent than anything you could imagine."
Ace's words echoed with conviction, leaving Yamato momentarily speechless.
In that moment, Yamato felt a shift deep within. The man standing before her wasn't just confident—he carried a presence so powerful, it reshaped Yamato's entire perspective.
The naïve admiration Yamato once held for Kozuki Oden and his Bushido ideals—born of childhood ignorance—was gone.
After witnessing the past, present, and a glimpse of the future under Ace's rule, Yamato's understanding of the world had reached a profound new level.
With resolve, Yamato stepped forward, extending her hand.
"I want to join you, Ace. Can you take me to that vast ocean?"
Ace smiled, his hand clasping Yamato's firmly.
"Welcome aboard."
---
Yamato's addition marked a significant milestone for the Entei Pirates. The priorities were clear: transforming Wanokuni's polluted environment and establishing a new order.
With Ace's Realm of Comprehension amplifying the powers of Devil Fruits, the process of purification had already begun.
The flames of the Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Beast-Suzaku form, played a vital role in cleansing the land. Despite appearing as natural fire, Suzaku's flames were anything but ordinary. Their true power lay in their ability to purify.
Fields and water sources, once poisoned by Kaido's war factories, were being restored at an astonishing pace under Suzaku's purifying flames and Ace's guidance.
Meanwhile, cadres of the Revolutionary Army seized the opportunity to spread their message. In collaboration with former Kozuki family loyalists who had fully aligned with the Entei Pirates, they propagated a vision of Wanokuni's rebirth.
For the common people, the equation was simple: they supported whoever could provide them with a better life.
Under this concerted effort, the flags of the Entei Pirates began flying across Wanokuni.
The Kozuki family?
To the people, they were now a relic of the past.
It was Ace—the great Entei—and his crew who gave them abundant food, clean water, and hope for a brighter future.
More than 20 years ago, under Kaido's manipulative schemes and Kozuki Oden's reckless and foolish actions, the Kozuki family became a target of widespread criticism among the people of Wanokuni.
In the original timeline, the Kozuki family's eventual restoration of power and reputation largely depended on one crucial factor: Luffy's influence.
Luffy, having no intention of ruling Wanokuni himself, paved the way for the Kozuki family to reclaim leadership, making their resurgence feel natural and logical.
Now, under Ace's Entei Pirates, Wanokuni's resources and societal order were recovering at an unprecedented pace.
Wanokuni officially became the third stronghold of the Entei Pirates, joining Amazon Lily and Dressrosa.
While Dressrosa and Amazon Lily continued their steady development, Wanokuni had unique challenges due to its prolonged isolation. One such challenge was the near-extinction of skilled shipbuilders.
To address this, Ace utilized his Space-Space Fruit abilities to facilitate cooperation between the shipbuilders of Amazon Lily and Dressrosa. Using Wanokuni's seastone resources, they constructed warships that surpassed even the advanced seastone vessels of the Marine Headquarters.
Like a steady assembly line, these powerful ships emerged from the docks one after another, bolstering the fleet of the Entei Pirates at a rapid pace.
——
"How about it, Z? Do you want to join my pirate crew?" Ace asked with a calm smile, his gaze fixed on Zephyr and Ain across from him.
Behind Ace, Kuzan and Gion stood silently, observing the interaction.
Both Kuzan and Gion, former students of Zephyr, were deeply invested in this moment. They knew this was the final opportunity Ace was extending to their former mentor—a chance offered only out of respect for the bond they shared.
Zephyr, who was now aged and weakened, had once been a powerful force. Though his prime strength had only just reached the threshold of Admiral rank, his current abilities had declined to the level of an Admiral candidate.
Without Kuzan and Gion advocating for him, Zephyr might not have even caught Ace's attention.
Both students were moved by Ace's gesture but equally resolute. Should their teacher reject this last offer, they were prepared to bid him farewell permanently.
Zephyr exhaled deeply, his voice steady despite his visible fatigue.
"I'll join," he said, meeting Ace's gaze. "I've seen a different kind of future in you. If you don't mind my old age and frailty, I'll do my best to contribute to your great cause."
Ace's lips curled into a smile. Behind him, Kuzan and Gion let out quiet sighs of relief, their expressions softening as they looked at their mentor.
——
On the coast of Wanokuni, Ace stood with his crew gathered behind him: Zephyr, Gion, Raki, and Sabo.
"It's time I fulfill my promise," Ace announced, his voice carrying over the waves. "Zephyr, I'll grant you the Turtle-Turtle Fruit: Mythical Beast Species – Black Tortoise/Genbu Form."
Ace turned to Zephyr with a smile.
Though Zephyr's current strength was lacking, his potential in his prime was undeniable. Without relying on a Devil Fruit or Conqueror's Haki, Zephyr had achieved the rank of Admiral through sheer mastery of Armament Haki and physical prowess alone.
In terms of pure Armament Haki, he was considered an equal to Garp.
The Turtle-Turtle Fruit, a mythical Devil Fruit of the highest tier, possessed an extraordinary ability: it could restore its user to their physical prime.
Among the key members of the Entei Pirates, all of whom were matched with fitting Devil Fruits, Zephyr was unquestionably the most suitable candidate for this fruit.
"Let's begin," Ace said, glancing at Sabo, Raki, and Gion with a faint smile.
Ace now wielded three of the most powerful Devil Fruits, surpassed only by the legendary Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Beast – Nika Form. With their combined strength, he began guiding the emergence of the Turtle-Turtle Fruit.
The Realm of Comprehension activated, enveloping the devil factors in Sabo, Raki, and Gion.
"Buzz!"
From the depths of the ocean, a Devil Fruit emerged, its surface adorned with tortoise-shell patterns and strange, intricate designs.
Ace grinned as he gazed at it.
"Turtle-Turtle Fruit: Mythical Beast – Black Tortoise Form!"
The fruit glimmered in the sunlight, its immense power radiating through the air.