One Piece: Lightning's Heir

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The Marines rarely initiated attacks against major pirates in the New World—with the exception of hardliners like Akainu, who disregarded casualties.

Such offensives were costly, resulting in heavy losses of life and ships. And if the target escaped—the losses were unbearable. Besides, their presence in the New World was limited, their forces stretched thin.

So, when major pirates clashed, the Marines, their intelligence network vast and efficient, would dispatch warships, hoping to swoop in and capture the weakened survivors.

They were derisively known as "bottom-feeders" by the New World's elite.

Arthur's clash with Whitebeard was inevitable.

Garp knew Arthur was strong, a world-class fighter—but he was no match for Whitebeard.

——

The Moby Dick, Whitebeard's massive, whale-headed flagship, sailed swiftly through the New World, its Jolly Roger, a skull with a crescent-shaped white mustache over crossed bones, a symbol of fear and respect.

"Where are we?" Whitebeard, seated on his massive throne, his sake gourd in hand, asked.

"Three days to Big Mom's territory, Pops," Jozu reported, checking his Log Pose.

"Pops, Arthur left Whole Cake Island. He's claimed his first territory—Wheat Island, near Totto Land," Marco added, a newspaper clutched in his hand.

The other "sons," gathered on deck, their expressions grim, their anger palpable.

"Gurararara! Then we'll head to Wheat Island. Send that arrogant brat to the bottom of the sea—avenge Squard!"

Whitebeard set down his sake gourd, his bisento in hand, his massive frame radiating power, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

"Kill him! Avenge Squard!"

"KILL!"

Their roars echoed across the sea, sending shivers down the spines of a nearby pirate crew, who quickly changed course, eager to escape the impending storm.

——

Arthur's name, after two days of relentless news coverage, was now known throughout the New World.

His killing of Squard was a different kind of notoriety than his previous exploits. Then, they'd laughed at his audacity, his recklessness. Now, his name was whispered with a mixture of fear and respect.

Most of the New World's Emperors were known by their epithets :

"Golden Lion," "Whitebeard," "Red Count," "Hundred Beasts," "Big Mom." Few knew their real names.

But Arthur's epithet, "Thunder God," was spreading like wildfire—inspiring awe and fear in equal measure, a legend in the making.

If he were to raise his flag now, to call for recruits—countless pirates would flock to his banner, eager to join his crew, to share in his glory.

Such was the power of reputation.

——

Deep beneath the waves, the silver bracelet, lying in the mud, vibrated softly.

Inside, Arthur, roused from his slumber, his mind still groggy, stretched, his muscles aching.

He had no idea how long he'd been unconscious.

The exhaustion, the sheer physical and mental toll of the battle—it was immense. If not for the Castle-Castle bracelet, he'd have drowned, his stamina depleted, unable to use his powers.

But the bracelet had allowed him to push himself to his limits, to fight without reservation.

He retrieved some food from the bracelet's storage, devouring it hungrily, his mind already racing.

"Roger's journey is almost over. He'll be Pirate King in a few months. The era is about to explode. I need to get stronger—to master my lightning, to push past the two hundred million volt limit."

He had reached a plateau with his Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

To normal people, he was a monster, his power was scary...

But against the New World's Elite, he was still outmatched. He couldn't even defeat Big Mom. How could he hope to face Whitebeard, the Strongest Man in the World?

He needed a secluded place to train, to hone his powers, to prepare for the coming storm.

And Raijin Island—the island shrouded in perpetual thunderstorms—it was the perfect place.

"And my electromagnetism, I can't neglect that."

The potential of electromagnetism was limitless, but his current understanding was rudimentary.

He needed Vegapunk's help...

The scientist's genius, his understanding of physics could guide Arthur, help him unlock the true potential of his powers.

And the Thor, his flagship on Skypiea should be nearing completion. A few more months, and it would be ready. Once Roger's journey was over he'd retrieve it.

So many things to do but so little time. However, his priority was clear: Get stronger.

Only strength would give him a voice in the coming era.

He finished his meal—consuming several times his own body weight in food—then stood up, stretching again.

The food, disappearing into his seemingly bottomless stomach, was instantly converted into energy.

A faint electrical aura flickered around him, then faded, his bloated stomach shrinking back to its normal size.

Masters of the Six Powers possessed an ability called Life Return—allowing them to control their bodies, their hair, even their internal organs, with conscious thought.

But it wasn't limited to Six Powers users. Anyone who reached a certain level of physical mastery could achieve it. The Six Powers only streamlined the process.

Arthur, using Life Return, accelerated his digestion—his stamina rapidly regenerating.

He was ready!

Suddenly—

A suffocating pressure filled the bracelet's interior, the temperature rising rapidly.

"No air!" Arthur held his breath, his brow furrowing.

He pressed his hand against the bracelet's inner wall, channeling his remaining stamina into a single, focused burst, teleporting out just as the seawater rushed in.

He activated his Isolation Field, retrieving the bracelet from the mud, and swam towards the surface.

A massive Sea King, its eyes fixed on Arthur, its jaws agape, lunged from the darkness.

"GET LOST!!"

Arthur unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki, stunning the creature, then shot towards the surface like a torpedo.

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