Early the next morning, sunlight slipped through the cabin window and spilled across Eli Winters' face. He slowly opened his eyes, only to feel as though someone had hammered his skull. His mind was still hazy, his thoughts sluggish and tangled. He rubbed his temples with one hand, trying to ease the pulsing headache while forcing himself to recall what had happened the night before.
It took quite a while before the memories came back. Yesterday, after struggling for so long without progress, he finally achieved a major breakthrough in his swordsmanship. The excitement had swept him away, and one drink became two, then far too many. The result was obvious. Now he was paying the price for it with a merciless hangover.
"When will this ridiculous headache-after-drinking problem disappear for good? With my physique, I shouldn't be this fragile," Eli muttered under his breath. He staggered out of bed and made his way to the wash basin. After rinsing his face and clearing his head a little, he felt marginally more alive.
Once he straightened himself up, Eli stepped out of the cabin. He greeted Dorte, who was on guard duty for the ship that morning, then headed straight toward Little Garden. It was nearly noon by now, and his stomach growled loudly, reminding him he desperately needed food.
Originally, the group had built a simple temporary base directly on Little Garden where they could rest. But for reasons he still didn't understand, Filina and Fiona insisted on dragging his drunk body back to the Silver Dragon instead.
Eli soon arrived at their temporary campsite on Little Garden. Chiyo and Reiju were bustling about, one focused on preparing lunch while the other set out utensils and seasonings. Klee stood nearby, dutifully helping however she could, passing ingredients and carrying plates with serious concentration.
Seeing him approach, Chiyo called out warmly, "Captain, I made a bowl of warm meat porridge for you. It should help with your stomach."
"Thank you, Chiyo. I really needed this," Eli replied gratefully.
He didn't bother being polite. He filled a large bowl to the brim and found a spot to sit. The moment he took his first bite, his expression softened in pure satisfaction.
"Chiyo, your cooking keeps getting better. Every mouthful tastes like comfort."
"Haha, as long as you all enjoy it," Chiyo said with a grin, her eyes curving into crescents.
While enjoying the porridge, Eli began checking the improvements brought by his recent breakthrough.
Eli Winters
Age: 15
Physical Strength: King Level
Speed: King Level
Spirit: Emperor Level
Devil Fruit: Modified Spatial Fruit
Spatial Control: 48% (increased by 3)
Haki:
Observation: Top Level (Mid-grade future sight)
Armament: Top Level (Ryuo)
Conqueror's: Top Level (Conqueror's Infusion)
Conqueror's Techniques: The Six Paths of Tyrants
Dragon Path, Tiger Path, Bear Path, Whale Path, Bull Path, Eagle Path
Spatial Skills:
Spatial Slash, Chaotic Blades, Storage Space, Dual Kamui (Phasing, Transfer, Shift, Distort), Instant Step, Spatial Bind, Spatial Walk, Void Banish (drag enemies into chaotic spatial turbulence), Spatial Gate (large-scale teleportation without requiring contact)
Spatial Arts:
Radiant Cross, Spatial Compression, Space Collapse
Swordsmanship: Seventh Realm, Nothing Cannot Be Cut
Sword Techniques:
Piercing Point, Soaring Strike, Phantom Style, Breaker Style, Void Slash (turns anything hit into nothingness)
Combination Technique: Judgement of the Hunt
Overall Strength: Quasi-Emperor Level
Big Pan (Kung Fu Panda)
Age: 9
Haki:
Observation: High
Armament: High (Ryuo)
Conqueror's: High (Infusion)
Martial Arts:
Eight Desolate Staff Style
Arts:
Shatter, Wuji Break, Stacked Waves, Law Dance Shield, Shadow Staff, Duality Staff
Can replicate God Avoidance using the staff
Overall Strength: Quasi-King Level
Prosperity Points: 17,689
Spatial Inventory:
Logia: Magma Fruit
Ancient Zoan: Tyrannosaurus (Sky Gold)
Paramecia: Swim-Swim Fruit, Flutter-Flutter Fruit
Three standard Zoans (White Ape, Bee, Zebra)
Modern speedboat
Disguise mask
Two rail-type annihilation cannons
Two purification potions
Mysterious map
Mysterious compass
Various treasure
Special Item: Life Gourd (three drops)
Very good. Not only had his swordsmanship advanced, but his spatial control had increased by three points, reaching 48 percent. The boost in power was immediately noticeable. And from the subtle intuition forming within him, he could sense something monumental waiting at 50 percent. A complete metamorphosis. He could hardly wait.
Big Pan had grown significantly too. After studying Roger's famed attack, God Avoidance, the panda finally grasped its essence. His strength no longer lagged behind the Admirals of the past. And although Eli had cut down Akainu with ease, that was only because Akainu's attacks couldn't touch Eli. In truth, Akainu had been the strongest of the three Admirals.
As Eli felt joy from his rising strength, the world outside was heating toward a storm.
The defeat of multiple high-ranking pirates had shocked the seas. Now, the three great Emperor crews were preparing to join forces and strike back at the one who had slain their commanders.
The entire world turned its eyes toward Little Garden.
Marineford: Assembly of Admirals and Generals
Inside the austere and echoing conference hall of Marine Headquarters, the air had grown so heavy one could almost feel it pressing down. Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat in his chair of authority, his expression grim, his sharp eyes sweeping across the gathered officers. Not a single one dared relax.
Nearly every general not on an urgent mission had been summoned. The hall was full to the brim, with even the aisles holding extra chairs.
After a moment of silence, Sengoku straightened his back and addressed them.
"Everyone here has likely heard the disturbing news. I will give the official briefing. According to confirmed intelligence, Eli Winters recently killed three division commanders under the Whitebeard Pirates, as well as Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates, and one of Big Mom's sons. He annihilated every group they brought with them. This news has spread across the seas, and the three Emperor crews are preparing to unite and strike him down. A battle of unprecedented scale is imminent. Today, we must decide how to respond."
Garp clapped his hands with a grin.
"That boy Eli is still as outrageous as ever. Killing people even those three wouldn't want to provoke. Hahaha. I'm going to celebrate with a hundred donuts."
"Idiot Garp. This is not the time to praise him," Sengoku snapped.
"Do you understand the consequences if Whitebeard and the others clash with him?"
"What consequences? A bunch of pirates dying? As for Eli, that kid's spatial powers are freakish. He'll be fine."
"Enough," Vice Admiral Tsuru interrupted, seeing the discussion derailing.
"We must discuss how to respond, not argue about Eli."
Admiral Azure Dragon, newly promoted, frowned.
"Why not let them fight until both sides suffer? Wouldn't that benefit us?"
Sengoku's eyes hardened.
"Eli's power is terrifying. Even if the three Emperors win, they will pay a terrible price. Their territories will fall into chaos, and the civilians living there will suffer the most. We cannot allow the world to collapse into disorder."
He continued, voice solemn.
"The three Emperor crews exist partly because the World Government allowed it. They draw most pirates to the New World, preventing them from flooding the other seas. If those forces collapse, the balance shatters."
Azure Dragon nodded slowly as understanding dawned.
Vice Admiral Tsuru sighed.
"This battle cannot be avoided. Our only option is to send forces to prevent opportunists from exploiting the chaos. If we fail, innocent people will pay the price."
Sengoku concluded:
"Thus, Aokiji, Kizaru, and Azure Dragon will each lead troops to fortify the three territories. Everyone else will await further orders. Dismissed."
As Garp was about to leave, Sengoku called out.
"Garp. You're coming with me."
"Where to?" Garp blinked.
"Little Garden."
New World: The Red Hair Pirates React
Meanwhile, deep in the New World, the Red Hair Pirates had just defeated a notorious pirate crew worth over 12 billion berries combined. But the celebratory air vanished in an instant when a shocking piece of intelligence reached them.
The three Emperor crews were preparing to fight Eli Winters.
Shanks stiffened as he read the report, his expression uncharacteristically heavy. Beckman noticed instantly.
"Shanks… you're planning to intervene?"
Shanks nodded.
"If this battle happens, the fragile balance of the New World will collapse instantly. Chaos will follow."
Beckman exhaled quietly.
"I'll be honest. You may not be able to stop them. Whitebeard lost three sons. His rage won't be calmed by words."
Shanks knew it too. But he still said, with quiet determination,
"Even if there is only the slightest chance, I have to try. I cannot sit back and watch."
Beckman nodded.
"Alright. I'll prepare the crew."
Shanks looked toward the horizon.
"I hope this works."