The Structure of the Blue Sea
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Being banished to a Cloud Drift was nearly a guaranteed death unless fortune favored the fallen, allowing them to stumble upon another island.
Otherwise, the grim choices that remained were either to leap towards certain death or to await the inevitable end.
"Fortune smiled upon me when I found myself on a larger Cloud Drift. There, within an ancient building, a strange fruit caught my eye. Driven by hunger, I ate it without hesitation in order to survive." Enel said.
"The Purple Lightning Fruit?" Brontes said gently, his hand thoughtfully caressing his chin.
"Yes, the Purple Lightning Fruit. Eating it gave me the power of gods. With this newfound strength, I returned to Birka, laying it to waste and sparing none who lived there." Enel said, with an evil grin on his face.
Brontes smiled, expressing no sympathy for the people of Birka. After all, it had been the people of Birka who, on the orders of the Head Priest, had nearly succeeded in ending his life.
"Don't you want to see the infinite land, I will say it directly, there is nothing there but ruins. Follow me, and I'll let you see the vastness of the sea." Brontes said, spreading his arms wide as if to embrace the horizon.
"You are very powerful, no doubt, but our shared mastery over lightning falls short against that boy's rubber powers." Enel pointed out to Brontes.
"Hahaha! you mean Luffy? Let me tell you, in the wide sea, that kid is just a rookie. Despite his ability's advantages over yours, there are many ways to kill him with lightning." Brontes said with a loud laughter.
"Your Devil Fruit is part of the Logia System, arguably the pinnacle of strength within the Devil Fruit categories. Allow me to unveil the realities of the world below, introducing you to the essence of true power and the concept of infinity." Brontes said with earnest voice, his tone was conveying the deep respect he held for Enel's strength, without underestimating him.
Coming from Skypiea's sheltered environment, Enel's understanding of "infinite land" will certainly be challenged once he witnesses the might of those navigating these tumultuous seas, especially the formidable pirates in the New World.
Observing the Summit War would serve as the ultimate revelation for Enel, exposing him to the true fearsome nature of this world.
"The next stop will be the G-8 Base." Brontes took out his notebook.
He always had a plan for his journeys. Ever since Alabasta, he knew he couldn't loaf around for too long.
With the possibility of the Summit War breaking out, he couldn't continue wandering like this, especially after he almost killed Blackbeard in Mock Town.
While the G-8 Base might lack the renown of the five major bases situated in the New World, namely G-1 to G-5 — celebrated as the strongest fortresses under the direct control of Marineford and staffed by Marine Admirals or high-ranking Vice Admirals — it shouldn't be underestimated.
Unlike its more illustrious counterparts, the G-8 operates in the first half of the Grand Line, alongside bases G-6 through G-10.
Under the command of Vice-Admiral Jonathan, an old comrade of Brontes from their days at the Elite Camp, the G-8 holds a special place in Brontes's itinerary.
The shift of Brontes's position from the Marines to the World Government had resulted in fewer opportunities to interact with his long-standing friends.
Vice-Admiral Jonathan, having been assigned to G-8 directly upon graduation after a stint in the New World, ascended to his current rank about a decade ago — coinciding with Brontes's own promotion to Fleet-Admiral.
The journey to G-8 necessitated a couple of pit stops, primarily driven by the need to cater to the increased food consumption brought about by an additional passenger.
Given the airship's limited capacity for storage, these brief island visits for resupply were essential to stave off hunger.
In Sky Island, there was a shortage of grain, which led the people, including Brontes, to make fruits their main diet. The island basked in plenty of sunlight, making it perfect for fruit to thrive.
As Brontes watched Enel enjoy an apple on the ship's deck, he decided to join him and eat one too.
"The islands in the Grand Line are similar to Sky Island in the way they look, one island after another," Enel observed, looking at the vast sea he continued: "But there's a big difference when it comes to resources. The Blue Sea has much more than Sky Island."
Then, Enel turned to Brontes, and asked: "Where are we going next?"
"G-8 Marine Base!" Brontes answered.
"The Marine?" Enel looked puzzled. He was clearly not familiar with the concept.
Brontes decided to take a moment to explain the power dynamics of the Blue Sea.
"You've heard of pirates, right?" Brontes sat down and said.
"Yes, I've seen some people from the Blue Sea in Birka calling themselves pirates. And there was that kid with the straw hat, talking about his dream to become the Pirate King." Enel recalled with a nod.
"That's right. Pirates are often seen as bad since 'thief' is part of their name. They're known for causing trouble, destroying things, and stealing without making anything themselves. The biggest authority in the world is the World Government, which is made up of over one hundred seventy countries. It has three main military branches: Marineford, the Enies Lobby, and Impel Down. The Marines go after pirates and criminals, Enies Lobby is where these criminals are judged, and Impel Down serves as their prison." Brontes laid it all out for Enel.
"Oh, so you're with the Marines?" Enel asked, realizing the importance of what Brontes was explaining.
"My situation is a bit special, but you'll understand in due time. For now, let's focus on the pirates. They wield a lot of power, especially the Four Yonko, who are the strongest pirates out there. They command massive crews of thousands and are based in the New World." Brontes explained in a serious voice.
"The New World?" Enel repeated, his interest piqued.
Brontes patiently unrolled a map and pointed to a globe-like illustration: "This is our world. This landmass is the Red Line, made entirely of red rock, standing high above sea level. And this." He traced a circular path: "Is the Grand Line, the sea route we're on now, cutting right through the Red Line and splitting the world into four seas: East, West, South, and North Blue."
Enel nodded, trying to fit the pieces together: "But what about the New World?"
"The Grand Line is split by the Red Line into two parts. The first is called Paradise, where we are now. The second, beyond the Red Line, is the New World, a haven for pirates. Over here is Marineford, there lies Enies Lobby, and this point marks Impel Down." Brontes detailed, pointing to specific locations on the map as he explained.
He then expanded on the geography: "Adjacent to the Grand Line, on both sides, lies the Calm Belt. It's an unusual sea with neither wind nor waves, but it's teeming with Sea Kings, making it incredibly treacherous. To get to the Grand Line from the Four Blues, one must cross the Red Line; it's nearly impossible to directly traverse the Calm Belt into the Grand Line unless you're powerful enough to fend off the Sea Kings." Brontes's explanation provided Enel with a clearer picture of the world's structure and the perilous adventures that awaited in the vast seas.
"It's like a maze, this Blue Sea, far more complicated than I had pictured." Enel said, sounding exhausted from all the new information.
"True, the diversity of the sea regions, the uncharted islands, each with its own climate and all four seasons, it adds layers to the complexity." Brontes agreed, smiling with a nod of acknowledgment.
"It does sound intricate indeed, and it seems there's no shortage of pirates around here." Enel observed, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
As Enel, who was new to the concepts of the Blue Sea, listened, Brontes delved into the history of the World Government, which had been established eight hundred years ago.
Through Brontes's explanations, Enel started to understand the sheer scope of the Blue Sea.
He realized that, compared to the vastness and complexity of the Blue Sea, the Sky seemed like nothing more than a small village.
"So, would you say my power here is about equal to the Seven Shichibukai at best?" Enel asked, seeking to understand where he stood in the Blue Sea's hierarchy.
"Exactly. At the moment, your strength would place you on a level with the Seven Shichibukai. With Haki, you might see some improvement, but still within the range of what the Shichibukai represent." Brontes affirmed.
He then shed light on the officially recognized system of the Seven Shichibukai among the pirates and positioned Enel's capabilities alongside theirs, akin to Crocodile but with the added edge of his superior lightning powers over Crocodile's sand abilities.
"Are the Seven Shichibukai that different in strength?" Enel pondered, then asked.
"There is significant variance among the Shichibukai. The strongest among them could be matched with division captains under the Four Emperors, while the less formidable Shichibukai might compare to the lower division captains of the Emperors' crews. You stand somewhere in the middle of the Shichibukai ranks. Your Mantra ability is akin to what's called Observation Haki here, and the reason I can hit you even when you're in your elemental form is due to my Armament Haki. There's also a rare kind, Conqueror's Haki." Brontes explained, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"What about you, then? You mentioned you're with the Marines, so how high up are you?" Enel asked, curious about Brontes's actual position.
"You'll know in the future." Brontes replied, his smile widened with a touch of mystery.