One Piece: The Strongest Female Pirate Crews

Lodestar Island.

As time passed, the island grew increasingly crowded.

People from all walks of life had gathered here—pirates, reporters, and countless solitary wanderers, each of them formidable in their own right.

Most of them were here to witness history.

"Does anyone have an update? Where is the Sun and Moon Pirates now? How long until they arrive?"

Every moment, people could be heard asking these questions to those around them.

"Apparently, two days ago, someone saw the Sun and Moon Pirates visiting the Red-Haired Pirates."

"Why would they go looking for the Red-Haired Pirates?"

"Have you forgotten? Dracule Mihawk is with the Red-Haired Pirates. They must be settling the matter of who is the strongest swordsman."

"Hahaha, do they even stand a chance? Even Whitebeard lost. No matter how much Shanks or Mihawk have grown, they still can't compare to an old monster like Whitebeard."

"Unless Shanks and Mihawk joined forces, they couldn't defeat Kuke. But the Sun and Moon Pirates' crew aren't pushovers either. If they tried to gang up on him, wouldn't Phoenix Queen and the others step in to protect their captain?"

"True."

Suddenly, a reporter's voice rang out, loud and excited.

"Big news! Big news! Kuke has defeated both Red-Haired Shanks and Dracule Mihawk. The strongest swordsman is now Kuke!"

The shouting echoed across the air, drawing everyone's attention.

But no one seemed particularly shocked.

A nearby pirate rolled his eyes and muttered, "How is that newsworthy? Kuke losing would've been the real headline."

"Typical reporter nonsense, making a big deal out of the obvious," another added.

"Exactly."

The crowd's previously dismissive expressions shifted when the reporter clarified, "Did you miss the part where Shanks and Mihawk teamed up and still lost to Kuke?"

The murmurs of discontent vanished instantly. Faces that had been filled with disdain now showed disbelief.

"What did you just say? Two against one, and they still lost?"

"Yes! That's right—two against one, and they still lost!" The reporter's face was flushed with excitement. "This comes directly from our newsroom—it's absolutely true!"

"Is that even possible? Losing a two-on-one fight?"

A large group of people crowded around the reporter, demanding more details to confirm the story.

It was true.

"This might be the only instance in history where a monster-level fighter has won a two-on-one battle," someone marveled.

"The title of 'Strongest Man' is now set in stone for Kuke. It's as unshakable as a diamond," another added.

The crowd's reaction was one of sheer astonishment.

Moments earlier, many had underestimated Shanks and Mihawk. But it wasn't because they doubted the two's abilities—it was because Kuke's power was so incomparably overwhelming. No one questioned the strength of Shanks or Mihawk. Shanks had long been recognized as the man closest to the title of an Emperor of the Sea, and Mihawk was his equal as a rival swordsman.

"Even if they're not quite on the same level as old monsters like Whitebeard, they shouldn't be far off. For them to lose even after teaming up, just how terrifying is Kuke? Could he be the strongest man in history?"

"No wonder Whitebeard and Kaido have stayed quiet. They must know they'd lose even if they joined forces."

The pirates had nothing but awe for Kuke. Their respect for him deepened.

Hidden in the shadows, the three Five Elders received the same news.

They convened with the Navy's top brass for an emergency meeting.

"What a man—he's completely surpassed us," Garp said, uncharacteristically awake during the meeting. He couldn't stop sighing in admiration.

"Garp, you're a Navy hero. How can you praise a pirate?" Akainu snapped.

Garp shot him a sideways glance. "Sakazuki, are you saying you're confident you can beat Kuke? If so, then you go fight him next."

Akainu's face froze.

Kizaru and Aokiji's gazes immediately shifted toward him.

"I agree," they said in unison.

It was unanimously decided—Akainu could handle it.

Akainu's fists clenched tightly on the table. His mouth opened as if to retort, but he swallowed his words at the last moment. Memories of the scars left by the battle at the Sabaody Archipelago flashed through his mind, a permanent reminder of Kuke's strength. And now, Kuke was undoubtedly far stronger than he had been during that fight.

"This is war, not a one-on-one duel," Akainu growled. "In war, all that matters is victory. The process doesn't matter. He might win a two-on-one, but we're not just two people. If two can't take him down, then we'll use three. If three isn't enough, then four. Is Kuke truly invincible?"

Kizaru sighed audibly.

"What are you sighing about?" Akainu glared at him.

Kizaru shrugged but said nothing. I'm just lamenting how much you've changed, Sakazuki. You used to charge ahead without hesitation, letting us slack off. But now? Now you're cautious. What happened?

"Akainu is right. This isn't a game of honor. If we must gang up on him to win, so be it," the Five Elders warned, their eyes sweeping across the room to ensure everyone understood their stance.

They wouldn't allow anyone to hold back. Even they were prepared to intervene if necessary.

As time passed, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

"The Sun and Moon Pirates have been spotted 500 miles away!"

"They're now 400 miles out. They should reach us tomorrow."

The next day, Lodestar Island was packed to the brim. Crowds thronged along the shore, craning their necks and straining their eyes to catch a glimpse of the horizon.

Every few minutes, someone would report on the Sun and Moon Pirates' updated position. Half an hour ago, they were only a few dozen kilometers away.

"They're here! They're here! I can see them!"

"The Sun and Moon Pirates have appeared!!!"

A small black dot emerged on the horizon. Someone with a high-powered telescope had spotted it.

A crimson ship bearing the flag of the Sun and Moon Pirates came into view.

"They've finally arrived," someone murmured.

"It seems no major factions have made any moves yet. The Sun and Moon Pirates' claim to the Pirate King's throne looks all but certain now."

While everyone focused on the Sun and Moon Pirates' approach, they also kept an eye on other major powers' movements. The Whitebeard Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, and even the Red-Haired Pirates had remained inactive. Even the Navy and the World Government hadn't shown any signs of large-scale action.

Many of the pirates who had initially come to Lodestar Island with plans to unite against the Sun and Moon Pirates had abandoned those ideas. If the big players weren't moving, neither would they.

All eyes were on the Radiant Eclipse as it drew closer.

Five kilometers. Four. Three...

When it was just 300 meters from shore, the massive crowd on the beach instinctively parted, clearing a wide path for the Sun and Moon Pirates to disembark.

"It's time," said someone from the hidden ambush force.

The three Five Elders turned to Aokiji.

"Understood," Aokiji replied lazily. "Ice Age!"

Crack!

The turbulent sea froze instantly, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

The crowd's expressions shifted from excitement to shock.