[111] It's Time For War!

Time passed quickly as Ren and his crew were deeply immersed in intense training. Under Ren's vigilant supervision, no one could escape the rigorous regimen, not even the former Baroque Works agents.

Initially, Ren planned to wait until after the Summit War, hoping for a year or more of stability to train his fleet leaders and recruit powerful individuals. However, he decided to accelerate the process.

Every day, Nami honed her swordsmanship skills with Ren. She also didn't neglect her physical strength training, working on both Armament and Observation Haki. Her progress with her recently acquired Devil Fruit was notable after days of rigorous training.

Nami did not complain about the harsh training. Seeing her sword imbued with lightning and Haki was exhilarating for her. It signified her growing strength and usefulness to Ren, ensuring she would stay with him and keep pace, never falling behind.

Nojiko focused on improving her sniping and shooting skills. Recently, she experimented with new weapons, including rifles, small pistols, and small cannons resembling bazookas.

Her physical strength improved steadily. Nojiko never missed a training session and showed determination similar to Nami's.

The yandere's will was frighteningly strong.

Kaya spent her time in Alabasta's library studying medicine. Thanks to the medical talent scroll she consumed, she found herself on the path to creating medicines for previously incurable diseases. She also studied poisons and their types at Ren's request.

Vivi concentrated on her training to avoid feeling inadequate. Watching her crewmates grow stronger daily, she refused to stand still. Although her father seemed reluctant about her training, he remained silent, knowing she would ignore him anyway.

Zala, Mikita, and Robin trained in various aspects of their abilities. Mikita sought a more effective way to use her Devil Fruit alongside Haki and the Six Powers techniques, believing that combining these elements would significantly enhance her combat strength. Robin divided her time between training and reading historical books, progressing faster than most of the crew.

Ren faced challenges with Kalifa, but he was "taming" her every night. Kalifa harbored anger, resentment, and hatred towards him, but she couldn't act on it. Attacking him would ruin the plan, and she wasn't strong enough to confront him.

Observing the girls' training, Kalifa was shocked by their strength. She found valuable information to report, but every time she tried, something inexplicable happened, preventing her from saying anything.

Thus, the days passed in the Kingdom of Alabasta. It seemed Ren and the others were detached from the world's affairs, unaware of the increasing disturbances.

Three weeks had passed since Ace's capture, and surprisingly, neither the Marines nor the Whitebeard Pirates had made any moves. However, the Marines' recent activities caught people's attention.

"The Marines are summoning their main forces and elite troops from the four seas to Marineford!"

"Does this mean the war is about to start?!"

"What is happening to the world? We are on the brink of destruction!"

Amid civilian fear, and the anxiety and anticipation of both the Marines and pirates, it seemed the world had paused, silently awaiting the next move from the World Government and the Marines.

Billions of people awaited the newspaper that would publish the news that would change the course of the world and history.

Finally, three weeks after Ace's capture, on an otherwise ordinary day, civilians grabbed the newspaper and immediately saw the shocking news.

"Fire Fist Ace will be executed at Marineford in two days!"

Many people from different social positions read the headline with anxiety. They couldn't help but wonder about the world's direction after this bold move that might lead to a war with the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard!

••••

In the New World, on an uninhabited island, Shanks read the newspaper with a grim expression.

After a few seconds, he let out a long sigh and said to his crew, "It seems we will move soon."

"Huh? Are we going to join the war?" one of the crew members asked.

"No... It isn't our war. We just have to deter the parties that want to join and create more chaos," Shanks said in a deep and stern voice.

•••

In the treacherous waters of the New World, on the Moby Dick, Marco read the newspaper with a grim face and informed Whitebeard of its contents.

"Men, prepare for war! Marco, summon all our allies!"

"Yes, sir!"

••••

"Fufufufu~ What are the Marines thinking? Do they want to take down that monster?" Doflamingo's sinister laughter echoed throughout the Dressrosa palace.

After laughing for a few minutes, he became excited. A war with Whitebeard meant he would be called upon to contribute, so he would have some fun!

"Fufufu~ I'm eager to see the power of the world's strongest man."

••••

On Onigashima, the island's malevolent and eerie atmosphere seemed ingrained and unchanging. In the heart of Onigashima, one of the warlords, Kaido the King of Beasts, sat drinking from a giant sake jug.

One of his crew members held the newspaper for him, given Kaido's enormous hands.

"Worororororo..."

"Do they want to have fun without me? Wororororo!!!"

Kaido laughed as sake spilled from the jug onto his body. He didn't care and continued to laugh.

"Men, prepare for war!!"

His thunderous voice reverberated throughout Onigashima, accompanied by his shocking announcement.

••••

Totto Land.

"MaMa MaMa!!" Big Mom's distinctive laughter echoed throughout the island as she seemed to be in a good mood after reading the news.

"You better destroy each other, you fools, and clear the way for me to become the Pirate Queen! MaMa MaMa!"

••••

Back in Alabasta.

"So, the day has finally come..." Ren held the newspaper, reading the news.

"Captain, who will you take with you?" Robin, who was with him in a spacious training hall, interrupted his training with the latest news.

Ren looked at Robin, who was wearing the ring that housed Olvia's spirit. This woman's cold demeanor towards him had gradually changed day by day. After three weeks of Olvia's spirit being summoned by Ren, Robin no longer minded his more intimate touches.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and gently touched her flawless face, then said, "It's not suitable for you to appear in public, Robin, so I'll take Nami and Mikita."

Robin blushed at this close contact with Ren, then said calmly, "As expected... Please just stay safe, Captain." Her voice carried a lot of worry and fear.

"No need to worry, Robin." He looked at her with a small smile and left the training hall.

He called for a gathering of all crew members and discussed the latest news with them. He informed them of his decision to take only Nami and Mikita with him to the war. Naturally, there were no objections.

••••

At the same time, while the world was preoccupied with the news of Fire Fist Ace's public execution, in waters surrounded by fog from all sides, preventing ships and people from finding the right path, sounds of battle were heard in the distance.

There was a massive ship that looked like an island at first glance. This ship, known as Thriller Bark, was the stronghold of the current warlord, Moria.

This island was filled with the undead, zombies, and Moria's followers.

But currently, only devastation could be seen on the horizon. The undead and anyone who attacked the powerful intruder had been destroyed.

"Kishishishi!! I won't lose here!" Moria shouted madly. He had just been happy about going to war with the Marines, which meant getting many corpses and speeding up the building of his army to conquer the world and take revenge on Kaido!

But then, something unexpected happened, and some powerful individuals entered his stronghold, destroying everything in their path.

"Zehahahahaha!! Black Hole!!" Teach laughed sinisterly and attacked Moria.

"Ahh!! I won't lose here!"

••••

A day passed, and only one day remained until the public execution of Fire Fist Ace. On this day, Ren was preparing and reviewing his plans.

"Miss System, show my status."

--------------------------------------------

¶[Name: Konabar Ren]

¶[Age: 27]

¶[Height: 2.20m]

¶[Status: Stable]

¶[Title: Black Death]

¶[Bounty: 240 million 𝕭]

¶[Physical Strength Level: 65,800 (B)]

¶[Devil Fruit: None]

¶[Devil Fruit Evaluation: None]

¶[Skills: [Tempest Kick (medium)] - [God of Weapons (Low)] - [Sniping (High)] - [Shave (medium)] - [Moonwalk (medium)] - [Finger Gun (medium)] - [Swordsmanship (medium)] - [Divine Massage] - [Summoning the Spirit of the Underworld] - [Hell Eyes (Low)] - [Underwater Breathing] - [Cold Heart]]

¶[Haki: Armament Haki (intermediate mastery) - Observation Haki (intermediate mastery) - Conqueror's Haki (Basic Mastery)]

¶[Bloodline: None]

¶[Girlfriends: Nami, Nojiko, Conis, Angelina, Angela]

¶[Crew Members: Nojiko, Nami, Kaya, Tashigi, Mikita, Vivi, Robin, Zala, Kalifa, Leila]

¶[Fleet Commanders: Mr.1]

--------------------------------------------

Over the past three weeks, his mastery of Conqueror's Haki has increased alongside his swordsmanship skills and physical strength.

There was nothing else of note, so Ren continued to await the summons.

With only one day left until the execution, the day passed. Meanwhile, in Alabasta, a Marine ship could be seen docking at the port.

Several Marines disembarked from the ship, led by a woman in Marine attire.

Ren noticed them thanks to his Observation Haki from the moment they set foot in Alabasta. He was mildly surprised upon seeing the identity of the woman leading the group but remained composed, waiting for them to approach.

After a few minutes, the Marines reached the royal palace and confronted Ren.

"Warlord, Black Death Ren, you have been summoned to Marineford to contribute to the war against the Whitebeard Pirates."

Hina delivered her message with coldness, waiting for Ren's response. Inside, she hoped Ren would reject the summons, which would mean revoking his Warlord status.

However, Ren disappointed her, saying, "I accept the summons. May I bring two companions with me?"

Hina suppressed her irritation and replied, "Yes, each Warlord may bring only two companions to assist in this war as per higher orders."

Ren smiled with relief and said, "Then it's settled. You may leave for the port first. I will join you shortly."

Hina felt annoyed because Ren spoke to her as if they were old friends rather than enemies who sought each other's demise. Nonetheless, she nodded and withdrew obediently.

After Hina departed, Ren retrieved a Den Den Mushi and said, "Nami, Mikita, prepare to depart!"

"Aye, Captain!" they responded in unison.

•••••

"Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, do not make me repeat myself. If you refuse this summons from the Marines, your status as a Warlord will be revoked!" Momonga shouted, his leg bleeding. His face contorted in disgust as he glanced at the petrified statues, once his subordinates.

"Hmph... even if I refuse this summons, they'll forgive me, won't they?"

"That's because... I am beautiful~"

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The first volume titled <Destiny< strong> Breake> has ended.

The second volume titled <Rise< strong> Amidst Chaos> will begin.

This volume consists of 200,000 words.

I will take a short break and come back with better chapters.