Scholar of Strawhat Pirates

The Strawhat Pirates then left the Yuba Oasis, with only 17 hours remaining before Crocodile's Operation: Utopia commenced. The Strawhats had no idea what was going to happen—except for Douglas. The scenes kept playing in his head: every moment from the One Piece anime, every panel from the One Piece manga was stored vividly in his memory. He could replay and review them endlessly, ensuring he knew exactly what was about to unfold.

The Sand-Sailer was working as intended, and the desert winds began to pick up, making it glide smoothly across the sandy tracks. Luffy's eyes sparkled, as did Chopper's and Usopp's, as they raced through the desert at a speed that felt like they were aboard the Going Merry.

"Awesome! We're going so fast—it's like we're in a rocket ship!" Luffy said, grinning ear to ear. Both Chopper and Usopp nodded enthusiastically, clearly enjoying the thrill.

"Mhm! It's like we're flying—it's so cool! And the wind feels so nice!" Chopper added, agreeing with Luffy.

The trio then lay down and relaxed, basking in the comfort of the warm breeze as they let the sand-sailer carry them. Sanji and Zoro kept watch at the rear, staying alert in case any desert creatures attacked. Nami was in charge of navigation, and Douglas managed the sails—adjusting them to catch the wind properly: unfurling them, angling them as needed, or letting them coast naturally with the breeze.

Of course, Douglas had also prepared for the worst-case scenario—if the wind ever died down. That's where Nami's Clima-Tact came in. When he had created it, Douglas made sure the Tornado Tempo could be used repeatedly. He had specifically modified it so the gusts of wind it generated could be precisely controlled—powerful enough to move the boat, but gentle enough not to damage it.

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When the Strawhat Pirates arrived near Rainbase, they halted at a safe distance to avoid being spotted. Luffy, brimming with energy and determination, immediately tried to dash straight toward the city.

"Come on! I'll kick Crocodile's ass!" Luffy shouted, just as he was about to sprint forward.

Nami stopped him with a swift punch to the head.

"HEY!!!" she yelled, furious. "Don't be an idiot! If you charge in now, we'll lose the element of surprise! Do you want Crocodile to catch us before we even get near him?!"

Luffy groaned and rubbed his head, but he got the message.

Douglas gathered the crew, his expression serious. He had already formulated a plan.

"Listen up. If Crocodile is here, it's safe to assume that Baroque Works agents are stationed all over Rainbase. He probably knows we're somewhere in Alabasta by now—and if he's expecting interference, this is where he'd prepare to spring a trap. Vivi used to be part of Baroque Works, and she's the one person who can stop the Civil War. If I were Crocodile, I'd be waiting for her."

The crew grew silent as Douglas continued.

"So here's what we do: Vivi separates from us—with two strong bodyguards. That way, if Crocodile is focused on catching her, we divert his attention and buy her time. Meanwhile, the rest of us infiltrate Rainbase from another angle."

Sanji immediately stepped forward. "If Vivi's separating, then I'm going with her."

Douglas nodded. "Alright. Sanji, Zoro—you'll guard Vivi. Stay under the radar and try to disrupt Baroque Works from the shadows. If you need to take someone down, do it. Don't let them regroup or reinforce Crocodile's side."

Nami, Usopp, and Luffy all flinched at his words.

"Don't say things like 'take them down' so casually, you psycho!" Nami snapped.

Douglas looked at her, unfazed. "Why not? We're up against a Warlord of the Sea. If you're not ready to fight for real—even kill when it's life or death—then why did you become pirates in the first place?"

Nami went quiet, unsettled by his cold logic. Sanji's fists clenched, but before he could speak, Zoro raised a hand to stop him.

Douglas turned to Zoro. "Zoro, make it happen. Don't show mercy."

Zoro met his gaze and grinned. "Got it."

Douglas then looked at Luffy. "Captain. Since we know Mr. 2 has copied your, Nami's, and Usopp's faces, they'll likely target you to sow confusion. So here's the play—we use you as bait. You'll draw Crocodile's attention. I'll be right behind you, hidden, observing everything he does. I'll record his words and everything, and if we are lucky, he would slip up and tell his plans due to overconfidence, it would be our key to stop the Civil War."

The Strawhats then spent over an hour planning their next moves. They listened carefully to the plan Douglas had laid out—especially Usopp and Nami, who would be accompanying Luffy as part of the bait. Both of them knew they couldn't rely on Luffy when it came to strategy and planning, so they paid close attention to every detail.

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While the Strawhats were planning their siege on Rainbase against Crocodile, Ace was fighting a battle of his own. He had traveled to Wano to visit Yamato but was confronted by a squad of Beast Pirates. After defeating the first wave with ease, two of the All-Stars—Queen and Jack—arrived to stop him. Now, Ace was locked in a fierce battle against both of them.

"What's the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates doing here?" Queen asked, his tone mocking as he fired a laser beam from his cybernetic body. "Is Whitebeard declaring war on Kaido?"

The beam shot through Ace—but it didn't faze him. The laser passed harmlessly through his body of flames.

"I'm just visiting an old friend," Ace replied calmly. Then, with a sudden burst of rage, he launched his signature Fire Fist, striking Jack with a blazing punch. Jack roared as the intense flames engulfed him, the heat searing even his thick mammoth hide.

Before Ace could follow up, Queen launched his long mechanical neck forward, coating it with Armament Haki. He coiled it around Ace's torso like a constricting snake.

"Grahhhh!!" Ace shouted in pain, his body writhing under the pressure. But moments later, his entire form flared up, releasing a massive surge of heat that scorched Queen and forced him to loosen his grip.

Taking the opening, Ace tried to pull away—but Jack had already circled behind him. Catching Ace off guard, Jack delivered a powerful blow to the back of his head, sending him crashing toward Queen.

Queen was ready. With a cruel grin, he lashed out again, slamming Ace mid-air with his reinforced neck. The two All-Stars began tag-teaming the Whitebeard commander, their combined strength pushing Ace to the edge.

Ace suddenly unleashed a massive surge of fire—hotter, denser, and more intense than anything he had used before. His mind flashed back to something Douglas had once taught him: "The more you compress your flames, the hotter they burn." Taking that advice to heart, Ace condensed the fire around his fist until the very air shimmered with heat, then hurled it directly at Jack and Queen.

The impact was immediate and devastating.

A massive explosion of flames erupted across the battlefield, the sheer heat distorting the ground itself. Both Queen and Jack were caught in the center of the blast. The inferno incinerated their surroundings and left the two All-Stars scorched and groaning in agony—bodies burned, armor cracked, and breath ragged. The flames had pushed them far past their limits, leaving them in a pitiful state.

But the technique came at a price.

Ace dropped to one knee, his chest heaving. The toll on his stamina was immense—compressing and controlling such a powerful flame drained almost everything he had. His breaths were shallow, and his vision blurred slightly as exhaustion started setting in.

Just as he turned to leave, the sky darkened for a moment. A shadow descended from above, flanked by massive black wings wreathed in flame. The figure landed with a thud—tall, imposing, and clad in dark armor. Fire blazed from his back like a pair of jet engines. His face was obscured by a horned mask.

Another Disaster had arrived.