123 The Unexpected Encounter
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Only a select few knew about the Poneglyph hidden in Alabasta.
The ones who discovered this Poneglyph, rumored to reveal the location of the ancient weapon Pluton, were none other than the Roger Pirates, as seen in the anime.
However, it has been nearly twenty years since Gold D Roger was executed and his crew disbanded shortly after. Given their good nature, it seems unlikely that they would have shared such critical information with Crocodile.
Among the Four Emperors, only Kaido and Big Mom had real interest in obtaining the ancient weapons.
Their immense power and strength meant they wouldn't resort to the slow methods employed by Crocodile, which wasted precious years of his life in vain.
With their straightforward and brutal approach to matters, they would have directly attacked Alabasta without lingering.
This made the World Government or potentially the World Nobles the probable sources of such crucial information.
From the viewpoint of the Five Elders and the World Nobles, the Nefertari family were labeled as traitors for rejecting the World Noble status and opting to return to Alabasta instead.
Originally, there were intentions to wipe out the Nefertari family. However, a former king of the family wisely agreed to erase their history, choosing to secretly retain a record detailing Pluton's whereabouts.
By consenting to erase their historical texts, the Nefertari family essentially acknowledged their act of betrayal.
Thanks to the clever tactics of their ancestors, there was almost no traceable evidence of the Nefertari Family dating back eight hundred years, aside from the slab found in the royal tombs.
Even though Brontes was aware that Crocodile would likely attempt to conquer Alabasta even without his involvement, he believed his presence influenced the situation.
His close bond with King Cobra and his adoption of Vivi as his daughter may have made some individuals uneasy, but they hesitated to act openly against Brontes. Consequently, their only recourse was to have someone else take action.
Additionally, Alabasta was a member of the allied countries, so attacking it openly would surely draw significant attention.
If the attack was somehow linked to the World Government, even indirectly, it could tarnish the powerful and positive image of the World Government.
"Such a headache..." Brontes sighed in frustration, feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of the situation.
...
Brontes decided to spend an extra day in Alabasta before continuing his journey.
Crocodile's actions there had garnered significant attention, especially from the World Government and the Marines.
To avoid the risk of his location being exposed, Brontes promptly departed from Alabasta.
Having no plans to return, Brontes set his sights on Skypiea as his next destination.
He felt a strong urge to visit, particularly to check on Enel's current status.
There was a personal element to it as Brontes now possessed powers that were originally Enel's. He was curious whether Enel remained in Birka or had already made his way to the God position of Skypiea.
With the course of events altering due to his actions, particularly involving Enel, Brontes was intrigued to see if the original storyline remained and how it may have impacted Luffy and his crew.
Despite the timing being quite late, Brontes understood the advantages of having foreknowledge.
As his warship soared through the sky, Brontes adjusted its course towards Skypiea Island.
The most direct route to Skypiea required a stop at Gaya Island before entering the White Sea. Skypiea, being a stationary sky island located ten thousand meters high in the sky, existed in a layer of atmosphere with minimal wind.
Disrupting the unique atmospheric conditions that kept the Sky Island afloat proved challenging as the air pressure there was nearly identical to that of land.
"Well..."
On the second day following Brontes' departure from Alabasta, he came across a surprising sight that left him astounded.
"I never thought I'd encounter him here." Brontes said with a smile spreading across his face.
Before him floated an island in the sky, suspended without any visible support or force, situated at about five thousand meters above sea level.
Witnessing such an island defying gravity was truly remarkable.
Brontes recognized this phenomenon from the past. Aside from Skypiea ascending naturally, only one individual had the power to lift an island into the sky.
"Shiki... The Golden Lion..."
Brontes muttered the name of the person known for his ability to elevate islands.
While a Gravity Fruit user like Issho might achieve a similar feat, Shiki, with his Float-Float Fruit ability, made such incredible displays seem effortless.
Twenty years ago, Shiki had escaped from Impel Down, despite extensive efforts by the Marines and the World Government to recapture him.
Encountering Shiki now, Brontes understood the level of danger he posed. If Shiki unleashed the savage beasts under his command, their sheer power could devastate an island in a short time.
Brontes often pondered how newer pirates like Luffy managed to defeat Shiki, the Golden Lion, once a notorious captain of the Flying Pirates and one of the overlords in the New World.
It seemed illogical to Brontes, considering Shiki's combat prowess, especially his Haki abilities, exceeded Luffy's capabilities by levels.
While such events might seem unrealistic in an animated world, Brontes acknowledged that his reality differed from the One Piece realm portrayed in the anime.
The laws governing his world were distinct, and what occurred in the anime version might not align precisely with the world he inhabited.
...
Upon discovering Shiki's presence, Brontes couldn't ignore the situation. He directed the airship straight towards the Sky Island known as Verum.
Meanwhile, Shiki, occupied with his research on enhancing animals' ferocity through River Q, remained completely oblivious to the approaching danger.
His twenty-year plan, in collaboration with his subordinate Indigo, was on the verge of realization.
In the Strong World Film, Shiki had shared his scheme with Whitebeard, who held animosity towards him. Within this world, individuals like Shiki were not uncommon, with figures such as the Warlord Gecko Moria sharing a similar path - possessing formidable abilities yet seeking to misuse them, relying on external forces.
While Shiki aimed to bring about destruction, Moria harbored a vendetta against Kaido.
In Brontes's view, Shiki posed a threat far more significant than even Gecko Moria.
Despite Shiki's defeat at the hands of Luffy, Brontes dismissed it as inconsequential.
He contemplated the havoc Whitebeard, a figure as formidable as Shiki, had wrought at Marineford, envisioning the potential chaos Shiki could unleash with his monstrous allies at his command.
....
As the warship neared the island, Brontes skillfully landed it on the firm ground and disembarked from the ship.
His Observation Haki swiftly detected a myriad of life forms, most of them incredibly powerful, granting him insights into their sizes and combat prowess.
Verum Island, once an ordinary landmass, housed a unique plant similar to a radish that could induce animal mutations.
These mutations caused genetic changes akin to radiation exposure, triggering species evolution and granting them enhanced abilities.
Among the inhabitants were a group of humans distinct from the Skypieans, possessing wing-like structures on their arms that enabled them to fly akin to an Archaeopteryx.
The island held substantial value due to the formidable animals residing there.
Each creature had undergone evolution, much like the yellow duck bird that had saved Nami, boasting potent electrical capabilities.
While not matching Sea Kings in strength, they had managed to defeat many formidable beasts with their relatively small bodies.
"Here we are!"
Venturing further into the island, Brontes encountered a group of fierce beasts standing before him.
Concerned that his presence had been detected, Brontes raised his head to face the formidable creatures - a blue lion, a black crocodile, wolf dogs, and tigers, each one larger and more imposing than the next.
Although Brontes had just arrived, it seemed the beasts had taken notice of him. It was likely that the Golden Lion would soon become aware of his presence as well.
"Step aside."
Approaching the creatures, Brontes exerted his Conqueror's Haki, causing the beasts to cower and lie down before him, overwhelmed by his intimidating aura.
"It's time to reunite with the Golden Lion. It's been more than two decades since our last encounter." Brontes remarked with a smile, anticipating the forthcoming meeting.
