Although he had been denying it out loud all along, when the crisis truly arrived, the first thing that flashed through Law's mind was still the name of the Straw Hat Pirates.
After all…
It really was incredibly useful.
Countless precedents had already proven that a single Straw Hat Pirates flag could eliminate at least eighty percent of man-made disasters.
Yet this time, the Straw Hat name seemed to have lost its original deterrent effect.
"Trafalgar Law~"
"Captain of the Heart Pirates under the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, bounty of 350 million Beli. Accompanied the Straw Hat Pirates in invading the Holy Land · Mary Geoise and committed unforgivable crimes!"
High in the sky, Mirabelagon gazed down at Law, who had just saved the harbor, her eyes flashing with a cold gleam as she recited his information word for word.
In the next instant, she raised the black blade in her hand—Black Blade · Night Moon.
Though she had already become one of the Five Elders, the stain of the God's Knights still clung to her.
And this time, she would erase this scourge on behalf of the God's Knights.
"Who are you?!"
Below, Law stared at the unfamiliar figure in the sky, his mind racing through every powerful figure he knew—yet none matched the woman before him.
But the moment his voice fell—
Another razor-sharp slash descended toward his head.
"Damn it!!! Can't you at least answer a question properly?!"
"Antibacterial Armament · Reflect!"
Law's expression darkened as he cursed through clenched teeth.
In the next second, as a fellow bearer of the Will of D., he displayed astonishing combat talent.
A massive transparent barrier suddenly materialized above the harbor. Like a soft veil drifting down from the heavens, it expanded to envelop more than half of the port.
Within the shield, faint seven-colored light shimmered.
Reflect—a Psychic-type move capable of mitigating physical attacks.
In the past, Luffy had even used this move to farm experience off Dracule Mihawk. In a world like the seas of pirates, where physical attacks dominated, its practicality was maxed out.
Now, Reflect had become a standard technique among all Psychic-type members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
Mirabelagon's fierce slash struck the strange barrier—
Yet it felt as though it had hit cotton. The shield deformed under the impact but the harbor beneath suffered no damage.
"Hmm?!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Mirabelagon's face.
But in the next second, her gaze sharpened, killing intent swirling within her pupils.
"The same power as that man?!"
The battle against Red was still vivid in her memory.
She could never forget the Psychic Power he had displayed.
So the instant Law activated a Psychic-type move, she sensed it.
What she hadn't expected was that such power was not exclusive to Red alone.
"It seems my decision was indeed correct!!!"
Boundless killing intent surged from her body.
"A dangerous existence like you cannot be allowed to live!"
As she spoke, she raised her blade once more.
A terrifying aura erupted outward, transforming into black mist that spiraled upward into the sky.
Like a gigantic crow spreading its wings, it shrouded the heavens in darkness.
"W-What is that?!"
Having just finished sending a distress signal, Bepo turned instinctively toward the sky—and collapsed in terror at the sight.
This time, Mirabelagon's attack was no casual swing.
Admiral-level power manifested in full.
"Black Feather · Flash!"
Whooooosh!!!
A violent gale roared across the harbor.
The massive black slash seemed to tear space itself apart as it descended upon Law's Antibacterial Armament with overwhelming force.
Screeeee—
The sound was like a chainsaw grinding against steel.
Under the collision, a crack suddenly split open in the mysterious barrier.
Oppressive pressure poured through the fissure, throwing the harbor back into chaos.
"Damn it!!!"
"Who the hell is this woman?!"
Law, desperately chugging Super Potions to sustain Reflect, felt panic creep onto his face.
Thankfully, with a massive injection of stamina, the barrier ultimately withstood the terrifying slash.
If that attack had landed on the harbor directly, Law didn't even want to imagine the destruction.
But just as he exhaled in relief, he tensed again and shouted to Bepo:
"Bepo! Has Cake Island responded?!"
"Ah—?!"
Snapping out of his fear, Bepo scrambled to his feet and checked his personal terminal.
"Yes! Yes~!"
"Cake Island says reinforcements are on their way to Abra Island. Estimated arrival time—five minutes…"
"Are they kidding me?!"
"You expect me to hold off someone like this for five minutes?! Are they serious?!"
Law roared.
But at that very moment, a shadow appeared before him.
"So you're merely a capable one after all…"
Mirabelagon's icy voice whispered at his ear.
In the next instant—
A crimson line of blood sprayed into the air.
Law was blasted backward like a cannonball, crashing into a stack of shipping containers.
Rumble—!!!
Already destabilized, the containers collapsed, burying him beneath twisted steel.
"Captain?!"
Bepo cried out in alarm.
But in the next second, the previously timid mink turned his gaze toward Mirabelagon, who was flicking blood from her blade.
"You bastard!!!"
"How dare you hurt our captain!!! Unforgivable!!!"
"Aaaahhh!!!"
Bepo suddenly pulled out a vial and gulped it down without hesitation.
This was not the transformation medicine Chopper had once prepared for the Minks in the anime.
After the Vinsmoke Family learned of the Mink Tribe's transformation ability, they had invited Bepo to participate in bloodline factor experiments.
This potion was a byproduct of that research.
Its effect was similar to Chopper's medicine—unlocking the Mink's hidden power.
But a Vinsmoke product was never that simple.
"ROAR!!!"
Bepo's eyes turned blood-red.
His fur exploded outward, once pure white now coated in metallic black sheen.
Crackle!
Blue lightning arced across his body.
A dual Fighting- and Electric-type, he unleashed the Electric-type move—Wild Charge.
Though it inflicted recoil damage, the explosive power granted him the ability to contend even against opponents far stronger than himself.
"ROAR!!!"
Transformed, Bepo's personality shifted dramatically.
Like a berserk beast, he swung a massive paw down at Mirabelagon.
"A Mink?!"
"No… this power feels…"
Mirabelagon frowned.
It wasn't Bepo's strength that shocked her.
Even now, his combat level merely surpassed that of an elite Vice Admiral—nothing more in her eyes.
What truly shook her was the fact that Bepo also displayed that unfamiliar power similar to the Straw Hat Pirates.
Even a peripheral member like him possessed such combat strength…
Mirabelagon suddenly realized she might have uncovered the Straw Hat Pirates' core secret.
Boom!!!
The lightning-wreathed paw crashed down—
But Mirabelagon blocked it effortlessly with her blade.
No matter how much one erupted, before absolute strength, everything was futile.
Yet Mirabelagon, newly appointed Warrior God of Science and Defense · Saint Saturn's successor, did not immediately kill Bepo.
Instead, she wanted to bring him back to Mary Geoise for research.
"You are not qualified to interfere, Mink."
Her free fist tightened.
Boom!!!
The punch struck Bepo's abdomen.
Shockwaves burst through his back in a violent gale.
Bepo's face twisted in agony.
His paw lifted again, lightning gathering—
Yet after a long pause, he could only stammer:
"Un… unforgivable…"
The lightning flickered out.
With a single punch, Bepo fell unconscious.
"I hope, as my first experimental subject, you'll yield promising results."
As Bepo reverted to normal, Mirabelagon grabbed his neck and tossed him aside.
"Bepo…"
Clang—
From the collapsed containers, a loud crash rang out.
Law emerged, blood streaming from a deep slash across his chest.
He shoved aside a ruined container, spilling cargo everywhere.
Then he pulled out another Super Potion and downed it.
In moments, the wound vanished.
"The Straw Hat Pirates really do hide a lot of good stuff…"
Mirabelagon couldn't help but remark.
Before coming to the Pokémon Sea Region, she had studied the Straw Hat Pirates' records.
The more she learned, the more astonished she became.
In just a year and a half, they had risen from an unknown East Blue crew to one of the Four Emperors capable of challenging the World Government.
Legend was the only word fitting.
And to defeat them, she knew—
Uncovering that mysterious power was key.
This raid on the Pokémon Sea Region was merely the surface mission.
Deep down, she intended to uncover the Straw Hat Pirates' true secret.
…
…
"You can still stand?"
"Seems you're stronger than your two-month-old intelligence suggests."
Mirabelagon mocked lightly.
"Hmph… that was two months ago."
Law sneered back, though his eyes flicked toward Bepo.
Then—
Mirabelagon sheathed her blade and smiled.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"You pirates truly can't be underestimated~"
"But unfortunately, your fate ends here!!!"
"Come forth—my predecessors!!!"
She spread her arms, head tilted skyward.
Endless darkness poured from her body, spreading across the ground like flames forming four enormous magic circles.
Thunder exploded across the sky.
The world seemed to descend into apocalypse.
From the circles, four colossal beasts slowly emerged.
At that moment, Law's face finally darkened completely.
Though he hadn't personally fought in that battle, as a member of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, he knew the Five Elders' true forms.
What he hadn't expected—
Was that the one attacking Abra Island would be one of them.
Wait.
Law's eyes snapped toward Mirabelagon.
She said—
Her predecessors?!
Does that mean she's one of the Five Elders too?!
Are you kidding me?!
I'm just a captain under the Straw Hat Grand Fleet!
Do you really need all Five Elders—upgraded version—to deal with me?!
"ROOM!!!"
Without time to think, Law grabbed a pebble and endured the overwhelming aura.
"Scan!"
In an instant, Bepo teleported onto his shoulder.
No hesitation—
Carrying Bepo, Law spun around and unleashed Shave at full power, sprinting toward the harbor's edge.
You've got to be kidding.
If it were a normal powerhouse—even an Admiral—he wouldn't retreat.
But this was the Five Elders.
All of them.
Upgraded version.
How the hell is he supposed to fight that?!
"Everyone! Evacuate the harbor immediately!!!"
Law shouted at the top of his lungs.
But—
A black figure appeared beside him.
"Where do you think you're going, Trafalgar Law?"
Boom!!!
The black blade thrust forward at incomprehensible speed, aiming straight for his heart.
"Damn it!!!"
"Teleport!!!"
Facing death, Law's pupils shrank.
Ignoring the strain, he activated Teleport, another essential Psychic-type move.
He vanished—
And reappeared in the distance, feet skidding across the ground.
"Damn it! You won't let me leave?!"
He glared at Mirabelagon.
Boom!!!
Meanwhile—
The four Five Elders had begun their assault.
Even with Law's earlier delay, allowing many workers to escape—
The Five Elders' range was beyond ordinary comprehension.
In moments, Abra Island's harbor became hell.
Casualties mounted.
Four demonic beasts rampaged.
Law was cornered.
Despair swallowed everything.
(End of Chapter)