Location: Aboard the Red Blade – Days After the Gale Rift Trial
The sun rose gently over calm waters. For once, there were no storms. No Cipher Pol agents. No trial gates. Only sea birds, the sound of wind-filled sails, and the scent of salt.
Peace.
And yet—it wasn't peace that filled the crew.
It was waiting.
Shanks leaned against the railing, one boot resting on a barrel. His gaze stretched beyond the horizon, unreadable as ever.
Benn Beckman adjusted his coat and tossed a coin that landed on its edge. "Odds are bad. We've been too loud."
Makino sat by the mast, cleaning a prototype den-den mushi communicator. Her lips were tight. Eyes alert.
Ankit stood at the bow, both swords sheathed at his back. His posture was more grounded now. Centered.
The sixth fragment of the Stormmark pulsed faintly beneath his coat.
System Alert: "Stormmark – Core Threshold Achieved"
You are now a Tier A Threat
Proficiency Growth Unlocked – Manual Skill Creation Available
Next Objective: Await Catalyst for Bounty Revelation
Ankit exhaled.
The world would come.
And he was ready.
Location: Marine Headquarters – Bounty Calculation Chamber
Inside a marble dome chamber where golden eagle insignias loomed over walls of bounty posters, Fleet Admiral Kong stood with his arms crossed. He wasn't alone.
Vice Admirals Tsuru, Garp, and Sengoku surrounded a single, massive projection panel.
On it: dozens of reports, video captures from Cipher Pol agents, soulstream analysis charts—and at the center, an image of Ankit, blurred by spiritual interference.
"He destroyed a Cipher Pol Echo-Class agent."
"Resisted a Memory Severance Field."
"Outdueled the Stormwalker prototype."
"Possesses unknown soul-based combat logic tied to a relic map system."
Sengoku adjusted his glasses. "He's not just Shanks' Vice-Captain. He's a flame the World Government can't smother quietly."
Garp snorted. "Should've invited him to be a Marine."
Tsuru didn't smile.
"He doesn't belong to any world. Not truly."
Kong finally spoke. His voice was steel wrapped in silence.
"Set the bounty."
Cipher Pol Command Room – Operation Ash Veil
Meanwhile, within Cipher Pol Omega's black sector, Director R.O.N. stood before a hollow map.
"Operation Ash Veil has failed. The Rift was not deep enough."
One of the agents spoke, trembling. "You mean he survived?"
"He didn't survive," R.O.N. said. "He ascended."
He turned to Vault Door 1.
Engraved into the steel were six names.
The last was blank.
"Unlock the final blade," he said.
"But sir, that violates World Government accord—"
"The accords are dust when the fire rises."
Flashback – Ankit's Dream
That night, Ankit slept against the mast, lulled by the lullaby of the sea.
And dreamed.
He stood on a burning battlefield—his swords buried in the ground. Shadows warred around him, familiar silhouettes blurred by flame and smoke.
Then a man approached.
Tall. Laughing.
Wearing a red captain's coat.
Gol D. Roger.
The Pirate King.
He placed a hand on Ankit's shoulder.
"The world will hate you before it knows your name. But when it does—what will you become?"
Ankit opened his mouth to answer.
And awoke.
Location: East Blue – News Coo Office
Three dozen News Coo birds took off from the central tower, their sacks loaded with special editions.
The new bounty sheet unfurled like a banner.
It read:
WANTED
ANKIT
Alias: The Flame Unbroken
Vice-Captain of the Red Blade Pirates
Known for: Cipher Pol Resistance, Ancient Relic Conflict, Dual-Soul Combat
Bounty: 820,000,000 Berries
A collective silence filled the News Coo office.
Then chaos erupted.
Scene – Global Reactions Begin
Foosha Village
Makino's bar shuttered its windows. The villagers read the bounty and whispered.
"That's… our Makino's captain?"
"No—he's the Vice-Captain."
Water 7
Shipwrights stared. "A swordsman? That high already? Not even Zoro reached that in his second year."
Jaya
Bellamy tossed his drink aside. "Who the hell is this Ankit?"
Enies Lobby – Cipher Pol Reeducation Chambers
Eyes stared at the paper in terror.
"He beat the Stormwalker?"
"He shouldn't exist…"
Scene – Ankit Reads the Bounty
Makino handed the paper to him quietly.
Ankit read it.
Paused.
Then whistled. "That's a lot of zeroes."
Shanks grinned. "You finally made it."
Benn said nothing—just lit a fresh cigar.
Makino folded her arms. "It's not the bounty I'm worried about."
Ankit looked up. "Then what?"
Her voice dropped low.
"The shadows it'll draw."
System Update – Global Shift Initiated
You are now recognized by all major factions as a Tier A Flame Entity
Expected Response:
Yonko Curiosity – High
Marine Aggression – Rising
Revolutionary Interest – Moderate
World Nobles – Alarmed
Next Catalyst: The Silent Duel at Broken Bell Bridge
Final Scene – A Hidden Island Burns
On a small, forgotten island in Paradise, a den of bounty hunters celebrated another capture.
Then the sky turned red.
And a man landed in their midst—a cloaked figure with twin black blades.
The Stormwalker had found them.
But he did not kill them.
He simply whispered.
"Where is the Flame Unbroken?"
The survivors screamed as the island vanished in fireless ruin.