One Piece: I will become stronger by checking in

"Franky?"

Kai's expression shifted to one of confusion. Why was Franky there, about to be executed?

The World Government was going this far? They'd even captured Franky?

Even if they suspected Franky had the blueprints for Pluton, this seemed excessive. Something felt off.

He'd been planning to ask Franky and Iceburg to build a new ship after this whole mess was over. With the Going Merry gone, he couldn't rely on the Ark Maxim forever, right? Though, technically, he could.

But seeing Franky here, about to be executed, was beyond bizarre. The plot had taken a wild turn.

What was the World Government playing at?

Kai was curious about what excuse Marine would come up with to justify Franky's execution. The World Government wouldn't reveal something as sensitive as Pluton's blueprints, especially not in a live broadcast watched by countless civilians.

Were they really going to accuse Franky of something ridiculous, like public indecency? That would be laughably childish.

As Kai pondered, the scene on the broadcast shifted.

The waters around Marineford churned violently, and then a ship burst through the surface. It was none other than the Moby dick, the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.

One by one, more ships emerged from the depths, all bearing the mark of Whitebeard's fleet. The atmosphere at Marineford grew tense, even though Whitebeard himself hadn't yet appeared.

Finally, a towering figure stepped onto the bow of the Moby dick. The moment he appeared, the entire battlefield seemed to hold its breath.

"Whitebeard!"

The name echoed through the air, whispered in awe and fear. Even in his old age, Whitebeard's presence was overwhelming. He was still the strongest man in the world, and no one dared to underestimate him.

But as Whitebeard surveyed the battlefield, his brow furrowed. The Five Elders, Saint Figarland Garling, and the God's Knights—these were faces he hadn't seen since the Battle of God Valley.

Why were they here?

Whitebeard knew the World Government well. They rarely intervened in pirate affairs unless it threatened their rule. The balance of power in the seas was what they cared about, not the rise and fall of individual pirates.

So why were they here now?

The weight of the situation pressed heavily on Whitebeard. The odds of rescuing Ace had just plummeted. But even so, his resolve didn't waver.

He had to save Ace, no matter the cost. Because Ace was his son. And he was Whitebeard.

——

On the Ark Maxim, Kai watched the scene unfold with a faint smile. He turned away from the broadcast and walked to the front of the ship, gazing into the distance.

Marineford was close now. He could see the outline of the island on the horizon. In just a few minutes, they'd be there.

Kai felt a surge of excitement. It had been a while since his last check-in at Water 7, and so much had happened since then. His strength had grown significantly, and he couldn't help but wonder what rewards this check-in would bring.

He had a feeling it would be something big—something that could change everything.

As the minutes ticked by, the Ark Maxim soared closer to Marineford. Below, the tension between Whitebeard and the Marines was palpable. The air was thick with the promise of war.

And then, the Ark Maxim arrived, hovering in the sky above Marineford. The sudden appearance of the flying ship shattered the tense atmosphere, drawing all eyes upward.

Standing at the bow of the ship was Kai, the Demon King.

"Demon King... Kai," Fleet Admiral Sengoku muttered, his eyes narrowing.

Garp, who had fought Kai before, wore a grim expression, though a flicker of relief crossed his face. He knew firsthand how strong Kai was. With Kai here, the chances of rescuing Ace had just gone up.

But the presence of the Five Elders and the God's Knights was a different story.

"Crocodile, Jinbe... those are Level 6 prisoners from Impel Down," Aokiji said, his voice low. He sat beneath the execution platform, his expression serious.

"Scary, isn't it? The Demon King Kai," Kizaru drawled, though he seemed more interested in trimming his nails than the impending battle.

"Such a dangerous pirate shouldn't exist. We'll end him here today," Akainu growled, his fists clenched.

Aokiji shot him a sidelong glance. He wanted to tell Akainu that picking a fight with Kai would be suicide, but he held his tongue. Akainu's pride wouldn't let him listen anyway.

On the high platform, the Five Elders exchanged glances.

"Is this the Demon King Kai our lord spoke of? I don't understand why he's mobilized us and the God's Knights for this," Saint Saturn muttered.

"Silence, Saturn. Our lord's decisions are not for us to question. We follow orders," Saint Venus snapped.

The Five Elders fell silent, though none of them were happy about being dragged into this. But orders were orders.

Meanwhile, Kai stood at the center of attention, his mind wandering. Because he'd just heard...

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