One Piece: Rising to Power as a Warlord of the Sea

"Lower the bounty? What's the reason behind it?" Sengoku slowly put down the transponder snail, replaying the command he'd just received from the Five Elders in his mind. He couldn't understand their rationale; even he didn't fully grasp the meaning of the "D" name.

The "D" lineage—known as the "natural enemies of the gods"—had long hidden themselves around the world, seldom appearing in recent history. The last notable presence was when Gol D. Roger became the Pirate King and cast this mysterious heritage back into the public eye.

The name of Pirate King Gol D. Roger began to spread far and wide, carrying the legacy of "D" with it. It's an unseen, intangible will, symbolizing dreams, destiny, and perhaps a new dawn. Every member of the "D" family exists with some mission embedded deep within them.

After a moment of contemplation, Sengoku followed the Five Elders' orders and issued new bounties:

Monkey D. Natsu, captain of the Smile Pirates: 500 million Berries.

Pet Kumo: 1,000 Berries.

Enel, Thunder God with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit: 200 million Berries.

Gin, a likely Zoan-type Mythical Beast Devil Fruit user: 170 million Berries.

As for Noriyuki, Hiro, and Karina, their bounties remained unchanged, as the focus of this latest skirmish had centered around Natsu and his top allies.

On Oto Island, the locals tearfully bid farewell to Karina. Many even sobbed openly; they'd watched her grow up and treated her like family. To them, she was more than a child—they'd come to see her as one of their own.

"Everyone, go back home!" Karina cheerfully waved goodbye, her lively smile returning as she joined the Smile Pirates as planned.

As the Smile set sail, Karina mentioned that a talented sniper was hunting on a nearby island. Natsu felt a surge of excitement; he aimed to make the Smile Pirates the most balanced crew on the seas, a true six-sided force that could even surpass the Red-Hair Pirates.

After three hours of sailing, they finally arrived. A lush forest and towering mountains met them, waves crashing against the shore with ever-increasing force.

"This is it," Karina said, patting her chest with pride, her face flushed with excitement. "This island is known as Hunter's Island. It's filled with vicious beasts. I wouldn't dare come here alone, but with you all, it should be fine."

"What do you think, Enel?" Natsu asked.

"No challenge," Enel replied. "To me, they're all weak—roughly around Hiro's strength, maybe a thousand beasts in total." Enel shot up into the sky, his body crackling with electricity as his Observation Haki covered the island.

Hiro: "…Are you even being polite?! (ー_ー)!!"

"Alright, let's go meet this 'genius sniper,'" Natsu said with a smirk as he gazed at a high peak in the distance.

At that moment, a white-haired boy named Eirin was perched atop the mountain, sniper rifle in hand, observing Natsu and the others through his scope. Seeing Natsu's expression, Eirin felt a chill but quickly brushed it off. "Impossible," he thought. "I'm a thousand meters away; there's no way he spotted me."

Suddenly, a massive bear, almost as big as a small mountain, appeared before the crew, blocking their path. It bared its fangs and lunged forward, intent on making a meal of them.

The bear's huge paw slammed down toward Enel with lethal force, but Enel looked unperturbed. With a frown, he summoned his strength.

"30 Million Volts: Thunder Bear!"

As Enel lightly tapped a drum behind him, a thunderous bear-shaped creature appeared and clashed with the real bear's paw. Within an instant, the once-ferocious bear fell to the ground, white smoke curling up from its now-scorched fur, filling the air with the scent of roasted meat.

It actually smelled pretty good!

One by one, the beasts that ruled the island—giant mantises, wolf packs, flesh-eating ants, and demon frogs—fell victim to Enel's electrical assaults, lying lifeless on the ground. Meanwhile, Eirin, observing from the shadows, couldn't help but shiver. "Are these guys all monsters? Even I wouldn't wander openly through this island!"

"Karina, is the sniper just beyond that mountain?" Natsu asked, looking at the towering peak.

"Yes, Eirin once mentioned he usually stays at the highest point on the island, a 'safe zone' free from beasts."

Kumo looked up, her little paws raised in excitement as she took in the sight of the massive mountain. "I've never climbed such a tall mountain before! Adventuring is amazing!"

"Then let's move," Natsu said.

…

At Marineford, Garp exited the Fleet Admiral's office. His face, usually filled with laughter, took on a more serious expression. He gazed at the navy's flag flapping in the breeze, his eyes drawn to the word "Justice" emblazoned around him. With a sigh, he headed toward the harbor and boarded a dog-headed battleship, setting sail.

On a high tower, Sengoku, who had just finished a meeting, looked down and muttered as he watched Garp's ship depart, a complex expression crossing his face. "Garp..."

After all, pirates and marines were sworn enemies. The thought of a grandfather and grandson walking such different paths had to be painful.

"Oooooh!"

Out on the open sea, seagulls flew freely with satchels slung around their necks, dropping freshly printed newspapers across islands and towns.

The latest bounty posters for the Smile Pirates were distributed widely, sparking discussions among those who encountered them. Recently, Natsu and his crew had been making waves, each action shocking the world. And with Morgan's exaggerated reporting, the Smile Pirates' fame only grew, with many eagerly awaiting their arrival in the New World.

Back on Hunter's Island, Natsu and his crew reached the mountain peak. For a crew that boasted two Devil Fruit users—one wielding the powers of a Mythical Zoan and the other of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—ascending the mountain was effortless.

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