One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

----------

The Summit War had left an indelible mark on the world, like an ever-expanding whirlpool beneath the sea, drawing in all of existence.

In the current maelstrom of events, the Four Emperors, the Shichibukai, and the Marines had become focal points of global attention. Especially after the chaos of Marineford, Alex's rise to prominence had been nothing short of meteoric. Even as countless factions vied for control of Whitebeard's former territories in the New World, the spectacle of the Sky Kingdom still commanded unparalleled fascination.

Under the relentless surveillance of the World Government, not even a flying warship slipping through the skies could evade detection, thanks to the Cipher Pol's reach. This success was largely due to key operatives embedded within the Sky Kingdom itself, providing the government with accurate intelligence.

Clad not in her usual attire as the Queen of the Pleasure District, but in the pristine white uniform of a CP0 agent, Stussy remarked coldly, "Take note. This time, the Flying Admiral is heading to Zou. And no, he didn't bring the Quake-Quake Fruit weapon with him."

Standing beside her in the main shop of Pleasure District, nestled on the second island of the Sky Kingdom, two operatives—shields of the Celestial Dragons—watched a fleet disappearing into the horizon.

"Of course," one said flatly, "we understand the importance of your abilities. Otherwise, the higher-ups wouldn't have entrusted us with this mission."

Ignoring the subtle reminder of her lesser status, Stussy nodded. "Still, wouldn't it have been better to send the strongest shield for a task like this?"

In the hierarchy of the World Government and the Marines, status comparisons were inevitable. An Admiral's position in the Marine hierarchy, for instance, was roughly equivalent to that of a "shield" for the Celestial Dragons. However, the roles of Celestial Dragons' shields were far more nuanced and complex.

Despite Stussy's strength being comparable to that of an ordinary Vice Admiral, her exceptional achievements had elevated her to the position of a shield. The two operatives before her, though of higher rank, still fell short of Admiral-level combat ability.

Even so, their confidence was apparent. "Don't worry, we're not planning to brute-force our way in. For this mission, finesse is more critical than raw power."

Stussy shrugged, acknowledging their assurance, and produced a map of the Sky Kingdom's core. She pointed out key locations, emphasizing a scientific research base where the Quake-Quake Fruit weapon was likely being enhanced—possibly undergoing a transformation akin to the Dark-Dark Fruit's unique properties.

With their objective clear, the two operatives prepared to act. The thinner of the two placed a hand on his companion, and moments later, their bodies began to warp and twist, as if swallowed by the void. In the blink of an eye, all three vanished from the space, reappearing in an alternate dimension.

Though the environment mirrored the outside world, it was unmistakably a different space. Stussy observed her companions, recalling the details about them that had been provided by Catarina.

The first, known as "Dimension," possessed a mysterious spatial ability. While not suited for offense, his power excelled in stealth and mobility. The second, dubbed "Locator," had a coordinate-based ability, allowing precise movement within a range of several kilometers. Together, their abilities made them invaluable for covert operations—one ensuring concealment, the other facilitating swift retreat.

The spatial abilities of the two operatives were undoubtedly peculiar, but their effectiveness came with notable limitations. Against opponents with the strength of the Admiral alternates, their powers could still be countered without much difficulty.

What the two hadn't accounted for, however, was betrayal—from Stussy, who served under the same "shield" as them.

Confident in Stussy's loyalty and leadership, the operatives had no reason to doubt her intentions as she led the mission. While their abilities allowed them to infiltrate the area with ease, they came with a critical weakness: interacting with objects in the real world required them to momentarily return to physical space.

When the target of their mission—a weaponized blade infused with the Quake-Quake Fruit's power—came into view, it was suspended on a floating platform at the center of the chamber. The two operatives were relieved to see that it had already bypassed the heavy layers of outer defenses. Believing the task would be simple, one of them stepped forward and exited the spatial plane.

"Is this the Quake-Quake Fruit blade? That was almost too easy!"

Dimension, now confident in their success, reached out to seize the weapon. Even with the slight unease of the situation being so smooth, he trusted their ability to retreat instantly if an alarm was triggered. Thanks to Locator's power, they had an immediate escape route.

However, when Dimension attempted to grab the blade, he found it inexplicably immovable. No matter how much strength he applied, the weapon wouldn't budge.

At that moment, a mocking voice echoed from above.

"Huh... the so-called Celestial Dragons' shields didn't even notice they'd walked into my spider's web?"

The operatives froze, the realization of their predicament hitting them hard. Their eyes darted upward to find the source of the voice.

Dangling from the ceiling, her golden hair cascading downward with gravity, was a towering figure—a massive, elegant spider-woman in a flowing kimono. She gazed at them with a wicked smile.

"Black Maria!"

The two recognized her instantly. But before they could act, they felt their movements become unnaturally sluggish, as though their retreat was weighed down by invisible chains.

Black Maria snapped her fingers, and the room was suddenly illuminated by the glint of countless silk threads. The invisible trap she had set was now fully visible, a gleaming web spun across the chamber.

The operatives realized, to their horror, that the floor beneath them was completely covered in her threads. The blade they had been trying to retrieve was also tightly bound by the same unyielding silk. It was no wonder Dimension couldn't move it.

In the next moment, shimmering projections on the walls flickered and faded, revealing they were not alone. A contingent of the shogun's retainers and high-ranking cadres had been lying in wait, elegantly led into the room by none other than Stussy herself.