The apocalyptic visions continued with relentless persistence, each new scene reinforcing the terrifying scope of destruction that Terra ancient weapon could unleash upon an unsuspecting world. The titans that strode across these hellish landscapes moved with mechanical precision, their colossal forms treating all life with equal indifference—whether crushing palaces or peasant homes, their massive footsteps left identical craters filled with the broken remnants of civilization.
Most disturbing was the expression on each titan's face: serene, almost Buddha-like in its complete emotional detachment. They showed neither malice nor pleasure in their work of annihilation, approaching the systematic extinction of intelligent life with the same dispassionate efficiency that farmers might show while harvesting grain. The absence of hatred made their actions somehow more terrifying than any display of rage or cruelty could have achieved.
The scene shifted upward, revealing that even the sanctuary of the clouds offered no escape from Terra's influence. High above the ocean's surface, where the small sky island of Weatheria had long served as a peaceful center for weather research and atmospheric study, massive winged forms blotted out the sun with their impossible size.
These aerial titans combined the worst aspects of their land-based counterparts with the terrifying mobility of flight. Steam-powered propulsion systems allowed them to navigate three-dimensional space with fluid grace, while their enormous hands could pluck buildings from the sky island's surface like children picking flowers from a garden.
The elderly meteorologists who had dedicated their lives to understanding nature's patterns found themselves helpless against forces that transcended natural law. Their weather-manipulation tools, capable of generating storms or clearing skies across vast areas, proved useless against enemies who seemed immune to atmospheric pressure, temperature variations, and wind resistance.
"Run, Haredas! Save the research data!" one scientist shouted to his colleague while a titan's massive hand descended toward their laboratory. Decades of accumulated knowledge about global weather patterns was about to be lost forever, along with the brilliant minds who had gathered it.
The final image showed an elderly researcher being lifted toward a titan's mouth, his expression reflecting not just personal terror but grief for all the scientific discoveries that would perish with him. Knowledge that could have benefited the entire world disappeared one bite at a time, reducing centuries of human achievement to nothing more than a brief meal for unstoppable monsters.
Perhaps most shocking of all was the revelation that even the Red Line itself—the massive continental formation that divided the world's oceans and had stood unchanged since before recorded history—could not withstand the titans' assault.
Humans clustered at the edge of the great cliff like insects clinging to a wall, their insignificant size emphasized by the emergence of a colossal titan head that rose from the ocean below. The scale was so overwhelming that individual humans appeared smaller than the titan's pupils, their terror visible even from the Sky Screen's distant perspective.
A World Noble in his distinctive bubble helmet was being carried on the back of a towering slave, fleeing in the opposite direction from the approaching threat. The sight of a Celestial Dragon—a being who claimed divine status and had never shown fear of any earthly power—running in obvious panic demonstrated just how completely the titans had shattered the existing world order.
The camera pulled back to reveal the mechanism behind this impossible assault. Dozens of colossal titans had formed a living ladder beside the Red Line's vertical cliff face, their bodies creating a staircase that allowed subsequent waves of attackers to scale the supposedly insurmountable barrier. Even terrain that had been considered a natural fortress for eight centuries could be overcome through coordinated effort and unlimited numbers.
[On that day, humanity remembered the terror of being dominated by giants, and the humiliation of being caged within walls of their own making.]
The annotation that accompanied this vision carried ominous implications that extended far beyond the immediate destruction. The Red Line had always represented safety and separation—the World Government's ultimate retreat where even the most dangerous pirates could never reach them. If that sanctuary could be breached, then nowhere in the world offered true security.
The Sky Screen's perspective shifted abruptly back to the Thousand Sunny's galley, where the Straw Hat Pirates continued their peaceful post-dinner conversation. The jarring contrast between the apocalyptic visions and their comfortable camaraderie created a surreal effect that left viewers struggling to reconcile the two realities.
"Those ancient weapons seem so far removed from our current era," Usopp observed with characteristic optimism, apparently unaware of how prophetic his words might prove to be. "I mean, who in their right mind would actually want to destroy the entire world? As long as capable people like us are around to become pirates and have adventures, surely no one would become desperate enough to trigger something like Terra."
His confidence was infectious, reflecting the crew's general belief that their positive impact on the world would somehow prevent such catastrophic outcomes. They had, after all, consistently turned enemies into allies and brought hope to oppressed populations wherever they traveled.
"Exactly," Robin agreed while carefully folding the Poneglyph rubbing and returning it to her clothing. "These ancient weapons belong to history. We should treat them as cautionary tales rather than immediate threats. The circumstances required to activate something like Terra are so extreme that they're practically impossible to imagine occurring in our lifetime."
Her scholarly assessment carried the weight of someone who had spent years studying historical patterns and human behavior. The combination of absolute despair and world-destroying power required for Terra's emergence seemed too unlikely to worry about seriously.
Nami gently stroked Arashi's transformed head while addressing their captain. "Luffy, didn't you say you had something important to tell everyone? Please don't tell me you've forgotten again."
Despite 5 years of growth and increased responsibilities, Luffy remained fundamentally unchanged in his tendency to become distracted by immediate pleasures rather than long-term concerns. He set aside the special post-dinner drink that Sanji had prepared specifically for him and suddenly adopted an expression of unusual seriousness.
When Captain Luffy displayed such focused attention, it typically indicated that something genuinely important was about to be discussed. His crewmates had learned to recognize these moments as opportunities to hear insights that their seemingly carefree leader kept hidden most of the time.
"I wanted to talk about Devil Fruits," Luffy began with uncharacteristic gravity. "I forgot to mention this when we were on Fish-Man Island because there was so much else happening, but I remembered it again a few days ago. I'm really sorry for keeping it from everyone for so long."
The crew waited expectantly for him to continue, their attention focused entirely on whatever revelation their captain was preparing to share. The importance he was placing on this information suggested it could significantly impact their future adventures.
Several seconds passed in silence.
Then, soft snoring began to emanate from Luffy's position as a snot bubble formed at his nose. Their captain had fallen asleep at what was apparently the most crucial moment of his announcement.
"LUFFY!" Nami's voice exploded across the galley as she launched herself from her chair and grabbed their captain by the collar. "You always do this! You get everyone's attention for something important, then fall asleep right before the crucial part! Wake up this instant!"
Her violent shaking eventually roused Luffy from his impromptu nap, though his disoriented expression suggested he had completely lost track of the conversation's context.
"Is it morning already?" he asked with genuine confusion, blinking at the artificial lighting that illuminated their evening gathering.
"What were you trying to tell us about Devil Fruits?" Nami demanded while raising her fist in a threatening gesture. "If you can't remember, I'll use my fist to help jog your memory!"
"Wait, wait! I remember now!" Luffy protested while backing away from his navigator's intimidating posture. "It was about Buggy! He taught me some really important things about training and getting stronger. I thought everyone should know about it."
The Sky Screen immediately transitioned into Luffy's memories without giving him additional opportunities for distraction, apparently recognizing that the audience's patience for delays had reached its limit.
3 Years Ago - Unnamed Beast Island, First Half of the Grand Line
The scene materialized as a rugged wilderness where massive predators roamed freely among ancient trees and rocky outcroppings. This was clearly not an island that welcomed human visitors—every plant and animal seemed designed for maximum lethality, creating an environment where only the strongest could survive.
Luffy appeared in the center of this hostile ecosystem, his body noticeably younger but already showing signs of the intensive training that would transform him from promising rookie into future legend. His fists were wrapped in the black sheen of Armament Haki as he faced down a pack of creatures that resembled elephants crossed with tigers, each one standing over three meters tall and possessing both tusks and fangs that could tear through steel.
"Gomu Gomu no... Pistol!"
His rubber-enhanced punch, amplified by Haki and proper technique, connected with the pack leader's skull with enough force to send shockwaves through the surrounding forest. The massive beast—which could have easily destroyed a Marine warship through brute force alone—collapsed instantly, its body creating a crater in the forest floor.
The remaining predators scattered immediately upon witnessing their alpha's defeat, their survival instincts correctly identifying Luffy as a threat beyond their ability to handle. Rather than pursuing them, the young pirate hefted his fallen opponent onto his shoulders and began walking toward a makeshift camp deeper in the wilderness.
"Excellent work today, Luffy," came a familiar voice from behind a cluster of boulders. "Your Armament and Observation Haki have both improved dramatically since we began this training regimen. Bring that beast back to camp—we'll need the protein for tomorrow's exercises."
[Silvers Rayleigh - Former Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates, "Dark King," "Right Hand of the Pirate King"]
The legendary figure emerged from concealment with the casual confidence of someone who could end most battles simply by releasing his Conqueror's Haki. Despite his advanced age, Rayleigh moved with the fluid grace of a master swordsman whose skills had been honed across decades of combat against the world's most dangerous opponents.
Their "camp" proved to be little more than two weather-beaten tents positioned to take advantage of a natural rock formation that provided minimal shelter from the elements. The simplicity of their accommodations spoke to the harsh training philosophy that had guided this intensive preparation—comfort was a luxury that would weaken rather than strengthen the student.
Luffy constructed a fire pit from gathered stones while Rayleigh used his sword to butcher their evening meal, his blade work displaying the precision of someone who had learned efficiency through necessity. Chunks of meat were skewered on sharpened branches and positioned around the flames, seasoned only with coarse salt that they had managed to extract from seawater through improvised evaporation techniques.
"Sometimes we can supplement this with island fruits," Rayleigh explained while tending to their cooking, "but you learned early in your training that unknown vegetation can be more dangerous than any predator. Better to rely on what we can verify through direct experience."
The comment referred to Luffy's initial weeks on the island, when his enthusiasm for trying new foods had resulted in several near-fatal poisoning incidents. Without access to medical treatment, he had been forced to develop his body's natural resistance through repeated exposure—a brutal but effective education in survival skills.
As they waited for their meal to cook properly, Rayleigh suddenly opened his eyes and directed his attention skyward. His Observation Haki had detected something approaching that didn't belong in their isolated environment.
"Well, that's unexpected," he murmured while studying the massive shadow that was gradually obscuring the stars above them.
"Whoa! A flying city!" Luffy exclaimed with his characteristic enthusiasm, apparently unconcerned about the potential threat that such an appearance might represent. After months of isolation with only Rayleigh for company, the prospect of meeting new people was purely exciting rather than worrying.
"It's descending deliberately," Rayleigh observed with the tactical awareness of someone who had survived countless ambushes and surprise attacks. "Whatever this is, it's coming specifically for us."
The sound that followed defied easy description—like a massive string instrument being plucked by invisible hands, resonating through both air and ground with supernatural force. When the strange music faded, their surroundings had been completely transformed.
They now stood within what appeared to be an ancient city that floated freely through space, its architecture combining classical design elements with impossible engineering that allowed buildings to move independently through three-dimensional space. Lights began illuminating throughout the vast complex as if responding to their presence, creating a constellation of warm illumination against the darkness of the night sky.
"This is incredible!" Luffy declared while lying on his stomach to peer over the edge of their platform. "All the buildings are moving around each other like they're dancing! I've never seen anything like this!"
The structures throughout the floating city were indeed in constant motion, rotating and repositioning themselves according to some predetermined pattern that suggested both artistic expression and practical function. The two visitors found themselves carried along with their platform as it moved through the architectural symphony, rising and descending in graceful arcs that provided constantly changing perspectives of the magnificent construction.
The movement continued for several minutes before another musical note rang out, causing all motion to cease simultaneously. When the platforms locked into their final positions, a figure became visible on the highest throne in the complex—someone whose presence had been concealed until the city's transformation was complete.
"Vice Captain Rayleigh," the figure called out across the vast space, his voice carrying clearly despite the distance involved. "It's been far too long since we last spoke."
The speaker was nearly four meters tall, with the distinctive red nose and theatrical makeup that had once made him a laughing stock among serious pirates. But the Buggy the Clown who sat upon this floating throne bore little resemblance to the bumbling criminal they remembered from the early days of the Straw Hat Pirates' adventure.
This version of Buggy radiated an aura of power and confidence that seemed to transform the very air around him. His posture suggested someone who had grown accustomed to command, while his clothing bore the elaborate designs typically associated with royalty or high-ranking military officers.
"Are you really Buggy?" Rayleigh asked, his voice carrying notes of genuine disbelief despite his extensive experience with the impossible transformations that the Grand Line could produce.
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