-Real World-
The revelation had taken several days to fully sink in across the world's collective consciousness, but now the complete scope of Devil Fruit Domain Expansion stood exposed for all to witness. The demonstration of such overwhelming power left even the most experienced observers struggling to comprehend its implications.
Three CP0 operatives—each individually capable of slaughtering Donquixote family executives with contemptuous ease—had been reduced to helpless insects the moment they entered that alien dimension. Their years of training, their mastery of Rokushiki and Haki, their cold professionalism—all of it became meaningless within the Domain's boundaries.
Buggy the Clown's earlier explanation to Straw Hat Luffy echoed in the minds of those who'd witnessed the carnage: Devil Fruit Domains possessed an absolute hit guarantee within their boundaries. No amount of advanced Haki mastery could overcome such fundamental manipulation of reality itself.
The identity that had remained shrouded in mystery was finally laid bare: Eren Yeager, wielder of one of the Ancient Weapons—Terra. Such devastating power now rested in the hands of someone who served under a Shichibukai's banner, nominally allied to the World Government and Marines. The bitter irony wasn't lost on anyone paying attention: when the critical moment arrived, would such allegiances prove worth the paper they were written on?
At Marine Headquarters, intelligence analysts worked around the clock to dissect every frame of footage the Sky Screen had provided. Their conclusions painted a grim picture for the organization's future operations.
Terra's abilities appeared to manifest in two distinct but equally terrifying ways. First, it could transform ordinary humans into titans through self-inflicted injury—Machvise becoming the Beast Titan, Gladius morphing into the Colossal Titan. When these gigantic forms were enhanced with Armament Haki, their destructive potential became truly nightmarish. Any Marine officer below Vice Admiral rank would find themselves completely outclassed.
Second, and perhaps more disturbing, Terra could temporarily grant Devil Fruit awakening to its subordinates. Gladius and Machvise had originally possessed abilities limited to self-application or direct contact, but under Eren's influence, their powers transcended those limitations entirely. Considering that most of Doflamingo's organization consisted of Devil Fruit users, the strategic implications were staggering.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sat in her office at Marineford, surrounded by tactical reports and intelligence assessments, her weathered hands pressed against her temples as a migraine built behind her eyes. The woman who had dedicated her life to bringing order to the seas felt the weight of every passing year more keenly than ever.
"I should have seen this coming," she muttered to herself, reviewing footage of Kaku's initial performance. The giraffe-man had displayed combat abilities comparable to a Marine Vice Admiral—mastery of Rokushiki, sophisticated application of both Armament and Observation Haki. Such elite agents specialized in single combat scenarios, and without Ada Wong's parasitic support, he likely would have died in those opening moments.
The revelation that CP0 could be so thoroughly dominated despite their strength made Tsuru question everything she thought she understood about modern warfare. More immediately, it crystallized a growing suspicion that had plagued her for years.
"Doflamingo has always stayed one step ahead of my operations," she realized, her voice carrying the bitter taste of long-delayed understanding. "There's no way he could predict Marine deployments so consistently without inside information. How could I have been so blind?"
During the years when Corazon had still been alive, she had led her all-female unit in countless pursuit operations against the Heavenly Yaksha. Each time, she had felt confident in her tactical superiority, convinced that her experience and resources would finally corner the slippery Shichibukai. Each time, Doflamingo had slipped through her fingers like smoke, always seemingly aware of Marine movements before they could be executed.
The identity of the traitor within Marine Branch G-5 remained frustratingly elusive. Without concrete evidence, she couldn't risk accusing any mid-level officers—if she was wrong, it would create a scandal that would damage Marine credibility across all branches. The paranoia and mistrust that would follow such an error could cripple operational effectiveness for years to come.
But the spy issue paled in comparison to the larger strategic nightmare unfolding. News from the Holy Land suggested that Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the Five Elders were locked in increasingly heated disagreements about how to handle the Ancient Weapons situation.
What had begun as Sengoku's standard briefing to Marijoa had devolved into open confrontation with the world's highest authorities—a development that would have been unthinkable just months earlier. But approaching death had a way of clarifying priorities, and the Fleet Admiral was no longer content to simply follow orders without question.
"Ancient Weapons are wasted on the World Government," Sengoku had reportedly declared during one particularly explosive session. "They belong under Marine supervision—if not actively serving our cause, then at least prevented from threatening our interests."
The transformation in Sengoku's leadership style had shocked even his closest subordinates. The same man who had once embodied diplomatic restraint now issued direct challenges to Admirals and slammed his fist on conference tables when addressing the Five Elders. Knowing that his remaining time was measured in years rather than decades had unleashed something primal in the old tactician.
He had already ordered Admiral Kuzan to capture Nico Robin as penance for past failures, and his increasingly aggressive stance suggested he intended to spend his final years reshaping Marine policy through sheer force of will. After all, what could they do to a man who was already dying?
The Sky Screen's earlier footage contained apparent contradictions about Sengoku's fate—references to both retirement and death during the upcoming Battle of Marineford. The Fleet Admiral had drawn his own conclusions: if he was destined to lose his combat effectiveness in that conflict, the Marines would likely declare him killed in action to preserve organizational morale. Such propaganda served the greater good, even if it meant accepting a living lie.
In the opulent chambers of Marijoa, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn considered the tactical implications with cold calculation. Unlike his more emotional counterparts in the Marine hierarchy, he approached the Ancient Weapons question from a purely pragmatic angle.
"Terra possesses independent will and intelligence," he observed during one closed-door session with the other Elders. "If we cannot secure its cooperation, destroying Eren Yeager's physical form might cause the Devil Fruit to resurface elsewhere—potentially in even less favorable circumstances. The risk-benefit analysis favors containment over elimination."
The logistics of imprisonment presented their own challenges. Marijoa lacked facilities designed for housing such dangerous individuals, while Impel Down's security protocols were specifically engineered for this type of threat. More importantly, treating Eren like a Celestial Dragon's pet would only increase his resentment and determination to escape—a scenario that could prove catastrophic if he ever succeeded.
"Domain Expansion represents a new paradigm in Devil Fruit application," another Elder noted, his ancient voice carrying the weight of centuries spent observing the seas' evolution. "If Eren achieved such results with an incomplete manifestation, other users will inevitably follow this path. We must assume our enemies are already pursuing similar developments."
"The Clowm," a third Elder interjected with obvious distaste. "That red-nosed fool continues poisoning promising individuals with his knowledge—first the Straw Hat boy, now this. Has the Marine made any progress in locating Buggy's East Blue hideout?"
"CP9 and CP0 resources will supplement Marine search operations," the fourth Elder promised. "His ability to operate from the shadows while maintaining such influence cannot be tolerated indefinitely."
The Five Elders' true concern wasn't the Ancient Weapons themselves—they had lived long enough to understand the deeper currents flowing beneath surface events. Through careful analysis of Sky Screen footage, they had identified the real puppet master manipulating the Dressrosa conflict.
Superficially, the brewing war would be fought between Doflamingo's Donquixote family and the invading Straw Hat Pirates. But both sides had received crucial assistance from Buggy the Clown, suggesting that all participants were unwitting pieces in a larger game. The legendary Clown Emperor was using these "protagonists" to achieve objectives that remained frustratingly opaque.
Their timeline analysis suggested the Iron and Blood Massacre would coincide with the Dressrosa incident, creating a scenario where Marine forces would be stretched impossibly thin. The planned abolition of the Shichibukai system would further disperse high-level combatants at precisely the moment when the Rumbling's Colossal Titan would strike at Marine Headquarters itself.
Such coordination couldn't be coincidental—it spoke to planning and foresight that spanned years, possibly decades.
After hours of heated debate, the Five Elders finally conceded to Fleet Admiral Sengoku's demands. Terra would be transferred to Marine custody, but with strict conditions attached. Eren Yeager would remain under constant supervision, and any security failure would result in immediate consequences for the responsible officers.
The guarding duty fell to Vice Admiral Garp—a choice that spoke to both respect for his abilities and concern about the magnitude of the threat. If the Hero of the Marines couldn't contain an Ancient Weapon, no other individual possessed the necessary qualifications.
The Celestial Dragons maintained their own Knights of God as a personal protection force, but these elite guardians were themselves Celestial Dragons—a limitation that restricted their operational flexibility. The Marines represented a mature military organization with established command structures and proven effectiveness, making them the logical choice for such a critical mission.
Admiral Borsalino was enjoying a leisurely afternoon in the Sabaody Archipelago when word of these developments reached him through official channels. The revelation that Marine leadership expected him to participate in containing an Ancient Weapon caused even his perpetually relaxed demeanor to show cracks.
"Ohhh, how troublesome," he drawled, though sweat had begun beading on his forehead despite the comfortable weather. "It seems this old Admiral might end up taking responsibility for something quite serious indeed."