In the New World, deep within Wano Country, the Beast Pirates' stronghold echoed with drunken laughter and the clatter of tankards.
At the center of the great hall, Kaido sat heavily on his throne of bone and steel a living symbol of unchallenged dominance. A hunk of roasted meat in one hand and a massive gourd of sake in the other, he alternated between tearing meat with his fangs and gulping down liquor, every movement radiating savage satisfaction.
His subordinates caroused wildly below him, the air thick with the stench of smoke, alcohol, and bloodlust.
But the celebration was cut short when the doors creaked open. A trembling subordinate walked in, clutching a folded piece of paper. He approached King, the All-Star known as the Wildfire, and whispered a few urgent words before handing over the report.
King's crimson eyes darkened. After a long pause, he strode to Kaido's throne and spoke, his voice grave.
"Boss... Doflamingo is dead."
Kaido blinked, mid-drink. "What did you just say?"
King silently handed him the paper. "Doflamingo is dead," he repeated.
Kaido's eyes swept over the report every word describing the battle between Eli Winters and Doflamingo, ending in the Donquixote Family's annihilation.
For a moment, the Beast Emperor sat motionless. Then, as the truth sank in, he threw back his gourd and took a deep, burning swig of sake. Tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes. He clutched his face with one massive hand and began to wail, his voice booming through the hall like thunder.
"Joker! You damned fool! How could a little no-name brat take you down so easily!?"
The hall fell silent. His men froze, exchanging uneasy looks none daring to speak.
Finally, one nervous underling muttered, "Boss... people die. You should take it easy, don't be too sad—"
A jug came flying.
"Sad my ass!" Kaido roared, his tear-streaked face twisting in rage. "That bastard owed me three billion Berries' worth of cargo! He's dead, and the goods are gone!"
King covered his face with one gloved hand, sighing. His captain's grief wasn't for the man, but for the money.
"My lord," King said with strained patience, "though Doflamingo's dead, his Donquixote Family still exists. We can send men to seize their stockpile and recover what's owed."
Kaido grinned, his fangs glinting. "Good. Handle it. And that kid who cost me three billion? I'm going to meet him myself."
Before King could reply, Kaido's body swelled, morphing into the form of a colossal azure dragon. With a thunderous roar, he ascended into the storm clouds above Wano, vanishing from sight.
King exhaled slowly, muttering, "This family's going to fall apart one of these days…"
Meanwhile, aboard the Voyager, Eli Winters awoke from a long, satisfying sleep. The battle against Doflamingo was behind him. The spoils five Devil Fruits were safely in his possession.
After washing up, he stepped into the galley where the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Chiyo was bustling around, plating a feast that could rival a royal banquet.
"Good afternoon, Captain," she said cheerfully. "Lunch is ready! You can start eating I'm still finishing the desserts."
Eli grinned, sitting down. "You're a lifesaver, Chiyo. Where's everyone else?"
"Fiona's still training, Felina's upstairs reading, and Big Pan and the others are... um... still passed out on the deck," she said with an embarrassed laugh.
Eli chuckled. "I swear, one day they'll learn not to drink with pirates."
He took a bite, savoring the perfectly seasoned meat. "You've really outdone yourself this time, Chiyo."
Her face turned pink. "It's nothing, Captain. As long as you enjoy my food, I'm happy."
He leaned back. "Tell me something have you ever thought about eating a Devil Fruit?"
Chiyo's eyes widened. "Like Felina's power?"
"Sort of," Eli said, opening his storage space and setting several fruits on the table. "Each Devil Fruit gives a unique ability. Take a look see if any call out to you."
The sight made her gasp. Each fruit glimmered with its own strange color and pattern. "Captain... you've collected so many! It's like you're running a Devil Fruit market!"
Eli laughed. "So? Any you like?"
She shook her head shyly. "None of them feel... right for me."
"Fair enough," he said. "The right one will find you in time."
He wasn't disappointed. The truth was, a Devil Fruit's power depended entirely on its user. Doflamingo's String-String Fruit wasn't legendary on its own he made it terrifying.
After lunch, Eli headed into town to tie up loose ends. But when he reached the port, he was greeted by an unexpected sight the king of Nordis Kingdom himself, kneeling before the Voyager alongside his ministers and guards.
"Great benefactor!" the king cried, his voice trembling. "You have saved Nordis from ruin!"
The entire delegation bowed, their heads touching the ground.
Eli frowned slightly. He had no affection for this king, nor did he bear him any particular hatred. He knew the betrayal that had once nearly cost the king his life was no act of treason merely a political ploy meant to use Eli against Doflamingo.
Still, he'd let it go. The man was at least a competent ruler one who had fought, however futilely, for his people's survival under tyranny.
"Stand up," Eli said. "No need for that."
The king rose, bowing respectfully. "Sir Winters, we have imprisoned the surviving members of the Donquixote Family. How do you wish to deal with them?"
"Do as you see fit," Eli replied curtly. "And don't call me 'sir.' Just Eli is fine."
The king hesitated, then said, "Eli... are you leaving Nordis?"
Eli nodded. "Soon. Don't worry I have no interest in ruling your kingdom. But be careful. Doflamingo's allies won't forgive this easily."
The officials exchanged looks of relief.
"Rest assured," said the king. "Nordis still has some strength left to defend itself."
Eli studied him quietly. "Then use that strength wisely. Don't return to the mines. Your people have suffered enough."
The king smiled bitterly. "I've already dismissed the miners to reunite with their families. But without the mines, the kingdom will face an economic crisis. The land is too barren to feed everyone…"
Eli's eyes gleamed. "Perhaps there's another way."
"What do you mean?" the king asked quickly.
"You'll see soon enough," Eli said with a mysterious smile.
He already had a plan to entrust the Stone-Stone Fruit to someone trustworthy. With its power, the ruined lands of Nordis could be restored. But power corrupts, and Eli wasn't about to hand a miracle to a man whose heart he hadn't tested.
"Return to your duties," he told the king. "I'll handle the rest."
The king bowed deeply once more before leaving, a mix of awe and gratitude in his eyes.
That afternoon, Eli explored Doflamingo's captured ship the Flamingo. The vessel was enormous, lavish, and utterly extravagant golden furnishings, jeweled maps, and silk banners adorned every inch of the captain's quarters.
"Typical Doflamingo," Eli muttered. "A peacock to the end."
Among the clutter, he found something priceless a book bound in ornate leather: The Encyclopedia of Devil Fruits.
Flipping through its pages, he discovered the fruits he'd recently collected. The one he'd found on Poison Tree Island the Venom-Venom Fruit, a Paramecia type. Another, retrieved from Chinjao's treasure vault, turned out to be the Bird-Bird Fruit, Mythical Beast Model: Azure Phoenix.
Eli whistled. "No wonder that old man hid it away... this thing could change the world."
He closed the book with a grin. "Another good day."
Over the next few weeks, Eli and his crew oversaw the transformation of the Flamingo into their new vessel. Gone was the gaudy bird-headed prow in its place, a sleek silver dragon with eyes like molten steel.
The ship's hull gleamed in pale metallic light, streaked with black lines that gave it a sense of motion and menace. Inside, the cabins were remodeled into private quarters, a training hall, and even a circular aquarium inspired by the Thousand Sunny's design a gift to Chiyo and Felina.
When the work was done, the ship no longer looked like a relic of Doflamingo's arrogance. It was something entirely new. Something theirs.
They named it the Silver Dragon.
As the Nordis people gathered at the docks, waving and cheering, Eli stood at the bow beside his friends.
"Are you ready?" he called.
Fiona smiled. "Always."
Big Pan thumped his chest. "Let's show the world what real adventurers look like!"
Eli laughed, raising his hand. "Then let's set sail again!"
The Silver Dragon's sails unfurled, catching the wind. The ship glided smoothly into the open sea, sunlight flashing off its silver hull.
On the distant shore, King Kimi raised a goblet of wine, shouting after them, "May the sea favor you, Captain Winters! May your voyage bring endless glory!"
Eli turned, waving once with a grin. "Let's go, Silver Dragon. To the next adventure."
The cheers faded behind them as the ship disappeared over the horizon carrying its crew toward a new and boundless world.
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