Six weeks had passed since the Straw Hat crew had left Fish-Man Island, diving into an ocean of dangers and unknowns.
The sun, high in the sky, cast dazzling reflections on the sea, but a subtle tension weighed on the crew. The New World was not a place for the careless, and rumors of a new threat were already circulating among the islands. On board, the atmosphere was a mix of excitement and vigilance.
Luffy, perched on the goat-shaped figurehead, scanned the horizon, a bright smile on his face. "We're going to find crazy adventures here!" he shouted, his arms stretched out by the wind's momentum.
Behind him, Nami, leaning over her sea charts, furrowed her brow, nervously tapping her compass. "Luffy, focus! We're approaching an island marked as dangerous. The currents are unstable, and reports mention recent attacks."
Zoro, leaning against the mast, a bottle of sake in hand, grunted without opening his eyes. "As long as there's something to cut, I don't care."
Sanji, lighting a cigarette, cast a charming glance at Nami. "Don't worry, Nami-san. With me on board, no danger will touch such a beautiful navigator."
Nami rolled her eyes, exasperated, but a fleeting smile betrayed her amusement.
In the engine room, Franky adjusted a mechanism, his robotic arms clanking loudly. "SUPER! The Sunny is in perfect shape to face anything!" he shouted, his voice resonating through the ship.
Beside him, Usopp and Chopper exchanged worried looks. "Do you think we'll come across a sea monster? Or worse... an emperor?" Usopp whispered, his voice trembling.
Chopper, clutching his hat, nodded frantically. "I hope not! That would be too scary!"
Robin, sitting on the deck with a book, observed the crew with an enigmatic smile.
Brook, strumming a melancholic tune on his violin, approached her. "Yohohoho! This New World is full of mysteries, isn't it, Robin-san?"
Robin nodded with a smile, closing her book gently.
Their conversation was interrupted by a cry from Luffy. "Land ho!" The crew rushed to the deck.
An island was coming into view, its contours jagged by steep cliffs. Columns of smoke rose here and there, and an acrid smell hung in the air.
"It smells like trouble," Zoro remarked.
Nami, peering at the island through her binoculars, paled. "This isn't normal. The villages are in ruins, and there are signs of explosions. Something big happened here."
Without hesitation, Luffy leaped onto the railing. "Then let's go see what's going on! Full steam ahead!"
Nami sighed but gave the orders to dock, knowing it was futile to argue with her captain.
The once-prosperous island was now nothing but a field of devastation. Stone houses lay in piles of rubble, fields were burned, and a sulfuric smell permeated the air. The Straw Hats advanced cautiously, their senses on high alert.
Leading the way, Luffy seemed more curious than worried, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey, who did this?" he asked, kicking at some debris.
Robin knelt near a crater, her fingers touching charred fragments. "These marks... they look like those of an explosion."
Sanji, taking a drag of his cigarette, furrowed his brow. "Whatever it is, the one who did this means business."
A faint groan caught their attention. Chopper, his ears twitching, ran towards a pile of debris. "Someone's injured!"
With Franky's help, he uncovered an old man, covered in dust, his eyes vacant. "Thank you," the man murmured, his voice hoarse. "They... they came without warning... a man with a mechanical arm... and two others... they destroyed everything..."
Luffy crouched down, his usually carefree face unusually serious. "Who? Tell us!"
The old man swallowed, trembling. "He... he wore a black coat... his arm was sparking... he talked about destroying all pirates... they had a weapon... a blinding light..."
Nami, wide-eyed, whispered, "An explosive weapon? This doesn't resemble anything we've seen before."
Deep in thought, Robin added, "It could be a Dyna Stone. A legendary weapon capable of rivalling Ancient Weapons."
Usopp, nervous, took a step back. "A Dyna Stone?! You mean we stumbled upon madmen with weapons of mass destruction?! I vote we leave immediately!"
Equally panicked, Chopper nodded. "Yeah, it's too dangerous!"
***
Several kilometers away, on a cliff overlooking the island, Satoru Gojo stood still, his black sunglasses reflecting the setting sun.
His hair gently swayed in the wind, and a sly smile played on his lips. "Zephyr, you're noisy for a retiree," he murmured, his piercing eyes scanning the ruins below. "Dyna Stones, huh? Not bad, I wonder where you found them."
***
In a hidden fortress, at the heart of a volcanic island, Zephyr stood before a map of the New World, his steely eyes fixed on the three End Points.
His mechanical arm, the Battle Smasher, clicked lightly, a constant reminder of his losses. Around him, Ain and Binz, his loyal lieutenants, awaited his orders.
"Pirates are a scourge," growled Zephyr, his voice heavy with anger. "They destroy everything they touch. The End Points... once activated, they will put an end to this cursed era."
He clenched his mechanical fist, metal creaking.
Ain, with her blue hair falling on her shoulders, placed a hand on his arm. "Admiral... we are with you. The Neo Marine will realize your vision."
Binz, adjusting his hat, added, "The Dyna Stones are ready. The next island is already targeted."
Zephyr nodded, his gaze unwavering. "No pirate will survive. Not even the emperors."
He turned towards a reinforced crate, where luminescent spheres gleamed - the Dyna Stones, capable of annihilating everything.
***
At the Marine headquarters, the atmosphere was just as tense.
Akainu, seated behind his desk, stared at a report on Zephyr. "This man is a disgrace," he growled, his fist smoking with magma. "He defies absolute justice. Kizaru, find him and eliminate him."
Kizaru, nonchalant, shrugged. "Oh, Zephyr? He's a bit too serious, isn't he? But alright, I'll look into it." His nonchalance irked Akainu, but he didn't press further.
In a corner, Garp, arms crossed, listened in silence.
His thoughts drifted to Zephyr, his former comrade. "You were a hero, Zephyr," he murmured, his eyes clouded with sadness. "What made you lose your mind?"
Sengoku, by his side, placed a hand on his shoulder. "He has suffered too much. But we must stop him."