A new start

As the chaos of Marineford reached its zenith, the war took a devastating turn with the arrival of Blackbeard and his crew, accompanied by notorious escapees from Impel Down. The battlefield, already drenched in blood and desperation, was thrown into further disarray.

Blackbeard taunted Whitebeard, mocking his injuries and declaring himself the one to claim the era for his own. The marines and pirates alike were stunned by his audacity, but the true horror began when Blackbeard revealed his intentions to claim Whitebeard's power.

Amidst the chaos, Akainu relentlessly pursued Ace and Luffy, targeting them with merciless precision. In a desperate bid to protect his younger brother, Ace faced Akainu head-on. Despite his efforts, Akainu's magma punch pierced through Ace's torso, leaving a gaping, fatal wound.

As Ace collapsed into Luffy's arms, the younger brother cried out in anguish, his screams echoing across the battlefield. The grief and shock overwhelmed Luffy, and he passed out, cradling Ace's lifeless body.

The death of Ace unleashed Whitebeard's full fury. Despite his mortal wounds, he launched a devastating assault on Akainu, his Gura Gura no Mi abilities shattering Marineford in a cataclysmic quake. Akainu was temporarily incapacitated, and the very foundation of Marineford began to collapse under Whitebeard's wrath.

Yet even Whitebeard's unmatched power couldn't turn the tide. Blackbeard and his crew descended upon him, exploiting his weakened state. In a final, brutal act of betrayal, Blackbeard dealt the killing blow, bringing an end to the era of Edward Newgate.

As Whitebeard's body stood lifeless, Blackbeard covered himself with the corpse, and when he emerged, he wielded the same quake-inducing power as his fallen foe. The marines and pirates alike were horrified, witnessing the unprecedented event of someone possessing two Devil Fruits.

With Luffy unconscious and dangerously vulnerable, Jinbei took on the responsibility of protecting him. However, Akainu, enraged and relentless, pursued them, delivering a magma-fueled strike that burned both Jinbei and the unconscious Luffy.

Just as all hope seemed lost, Trafalgar Law arrived aboard his submarine. Using his Ope Ope no Mi abilities, he managed to extract Jinbei and Luffy from the battlefield, treating their injuries and escaping the inferno of Marineford.

The battle ended in a devastating loss for the Whitebeard Pirates. Their captain dead, their forces in disarray, and Ace sacrificed for nothing, the remnants of the crew retreated, carrying with them the scars of their defeat.

The war only stopped when the emperor, red haired shanks debarked with his crew threatening to fight the marines if they insisted on continuing the war, which they gladly accepted, not ready to deal with another emperor

The marines celebrated their "victory," but the cost was staggering: Marineford lay in ruins, and the world had witnessed the terrifying rise of Blackbeard.

Amidst the carnage, Gaku, gravely injured and unconscious, lay abandoned on the battlefield. His allies, focused on Luffy's survival, left him behind, assuming he was already dead. The marines, too, paid him no attention, mistaking him for another lifeless corpse among thousands.

But Lili, Gaku's loyal companion, refused to give up. With fierce determination, he dragged his limp body across the rubble. Bloodied and exhausted, Lili revealed his hidden wings, previously concealed beneath his fur. He lifted Gaku onto his back and took to the skies, narrowly avoiding a hail of bullets from pursuing marines.

His flight was erratic, his energy waning as he pushed herself beyond his limits. Gaku's fate hung in the balance, his survival uncertain, as Lili soared into the unknown. His only goal was to find safety and keep his partner alive, wherever that might be.

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Days after the chaos of Marineford, Gaku slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurred. He found himself lying on the soft floor of a crude shelter, surrounded by towering jungle trees. The rhythmic chirping of birds and the distant roars of beasts filled the air. As his senses returned, he noticed the thick bandages covering the right side of his body, particularly where his arm used to be. A dull ache radiated through his body, but the pain from his missing limb was the worst of all.

Lili, perched nearby, immediately noticed Gaku stirring. The black cat padded closer, his tail flicking anxiously.

"Finally awake," Lili said, his voice gruff but tinged with relief. "Thought I lost you a few times there. I'm no doctor, but I did what I could."

Gaku tilted his head toward the feline and gave a faint nod. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice quiet, almost defeated. Then he fell silent, staring at the ceiling of leaves above them.

The silence hung heavy until Lili broke it. "You know... your allies? They're ungrateful bastards. You're the reason they even got Ace free, and what did they do? Left you for dead. Disgusting, if you ask me."

Gaku's gaze remained distant as he replied, "It's natural."

"Natural?" Lili's tail lashed. "You saved their lives, fought for them, and—"

"The moment I fell," Gaku interrupted, his tone cold, "I became like everyone else. I became a nobody. To them, I was just another body on the battlefield. And Ace... Ace still died. My interference didn't change anything."

Lili was stunned into silence. After a long pause, he muttered, "So... what now? What do we do?"

Gaku pondered the question for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "The Marines? The bounty hunters? Anything tied to the World Government? All of it is off the table. I fought in their war. I defied Warlords and Admirals. I escaped their prison. If they catch me, there's no mercy."

Lili shifted, his ears flicking. "Then what about Luffy? We could find him. He's your ally—or was."

"We don't even know where we are," Gaku replied, gesturing weakly to the jungle outside. "This island... it's enormous. Full of massive beasts, wild and untamed. A map would be useless here."

Lili sighed, sitting down. "So we're stranded."

Gaku didn't respond right away. Instead, his expression hardened, and his usual stoic demeanor cracked. "I wanted to win, Lili," he said suddenly, his voice tinged with frustration. "I wanted to win so badly in that last fight. I thought I could, but..."

Lili's eyes widened. To see Gaku, the unshakable warrior he had known, now speaking like a frustrated child was jarring.

"But you didn't," Lili said carefully. "That's the truth. So what are you gonna do about it?"

Gaku sat up slowly, ignoring the sharp protests of his injuries. "I'm going to stand," he said, his tone resolute. "And then I'm going to keep moving. Somehow, some way, I'll get stronger. I'll become freer. Freer than I've ever been."

He turned his gaze to Lili, his eyes steely but warm. "Will you join me?"

Lili snorted, standing and puffing out his chest. "I already swore loyalty to you, didn't I? No way I'm backing down now."

A faint smile touched Gaku's lips as he rose to his feet, unsteady but determined. Together, the two of them looked out at the vast jungle before them—a wild, untamed world that mirrored their uncertain future. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.

The jungle was alive with the sounds of chaos as Gaku stood in a clearing, breathing heavily. Before him lay the carcass of a giant boar, its tusks the size of tree trunks. Gaku's bandages were gone, replaced by a rough tunic. His body was leaner, tougher, and scarred from weeks of grueling survival and training.

"Another one down," Gaku muttered, wiping sweat from his brow with his left hand. His right shoulder, where his arm had once been, was now covered in hardened callouses, evidence of the toll his training had taken.

Nearby, Lili was perched on a rock, gnawing on a chunk of cooked boar meat. "You didn't even break a sweat this time. Show-off."

Gaku smirked, then sat down to join him. "You've gotten faster too, Lili. Don't think I didn't notice you dodging that snake earlier."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm not useless," Lili retorted, but his ears twitched with pride. Over the past few months, he had trained alongside Gaku, sharpening his agility and wit. His claws were sharper than ever, and he could now pounce on prey twice his size.

But Gaku's focus was elsewhere. He had spent countless hours honing his remaining strengths. With his left hand, he had become proficient in wielding a blade, even crafting one from the bones of a defeated beast. His armament Haki had grown stronger, now coating his strikes with a dense black sheen. His observation Haki, once a passive tool, had become razor-sharp, allowing him to sense the slightest movements of the jungle's predators.

However, there was one skill that eluded him: the mysterious power Luffy had displayed at Marineford. Time and again, Gaku would focus his willpower, attempting to unleash the wave of force that had knocked down so many Marines. But each attempt ended in frustration.

"Still nothing," Gaku muttered after another failed attempt.

"Maybe you're trying too hard," Lili suggested between bites. "Luffy's... well, he's an idiot. Maybe you need to stop thinking like a warrior and more like—"

"A pirate?" Gaku interrupted with a faint smirk.

Lili shrugged. "Just saying."

Despite his frustration, Gaku's progress was undeniable. Hunting the massive beasts of the jungle, sparring with feral predators, and refining his Haki had turned him into a force of nature. What once had been life-or-death battles were now routine.

One evening, after a particularly uneventful hunt, Gaku sat on a rock overlooking the jungle's horizon. Lili perched beside him, his tail flicking lazily.

"This place isn't enough anymore," Gaku said, his voice steady.

Lili stretched and yawned. "So what? Back to bounty hunting?"

"No." Gaku stood, his expression firm. "I'm done hunting for others. This time, I'm going for myself. I don't care about money or fame. I just want to prove a point—to the world, to them, and to myself."

"And what point is that?" Lili asked, leaping onto Gaku's shoulder.

"That I'll win," Gaku replied.

The two packed what little they had and prepared for their journey. Lili unfurled his wings, now stronger from months of carrying Gaku across the jungle. He gripped Gaku by the back of his tunic, and with a powerful leap, they soared into the sky.

As the jungle faded below them, Gaku looked ahead, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Our next adventure, Lili. Wherever it takes us, we're ready."

"Yeah," Lili replied, his voice carrying a rare note of excitement. "Let's see what's out there."

And so, Gaku and Lili took to the skies, heading toward an unknown future full of challenges, dangers, and the promise of battles that would test their limits. They weren't just surviving anymore—they were thriving, chasing strength and freedom on their own terms.

__________________________________

(Months later)

The island was lush and abundant, a paradise teeming with resources: freshwater rivers, thick jungles, and cliffs glittering with precious minerals. Gaku and Lili had docked their small ship to restock and hunt pirates in the area, but the moment they stepped onto the island, an ominous crackle in the air set them on edge.

"This place is too quiet," Lili muttered, his ears twitching as static ruffled his fur.

Gaku smirked, adjusting the sleeve over the stump of his missing right arm. "Quiet's good. Means no distractions while we stock up. Come on."

They hadn't gone far when the air grew heavy, electric, and a booming voice thundered down from above.

"Who dares set foot on my island?"

Gaku and Lili looked up to see Enel, descending on a disc of lightning. His golden staff gleamed in the charged air, and his expression was one of absolute disdain.

"This land belongs to me, the one true God," Enel declared, his voice echoing like thunder. "You mortals are not welcome."

Gaku tilted his head, unimpressed. "God, huh? Hate to break it to you, but your 'divinity' isn't worth much to me."

Lili sighed from Gaku's shoulder. "Why do you always provoke the powerful ones?"

Enel's smirk faded, replaced with a scowl of irritation. "Mock me, will you? Then suffer the wrath of God!"

Before either of them could react, a massive bolt of lightning shot toward them. Gaku barely dodged, flipping back as the ground where he stood erupted in a plume of smoke and sparks.

Gaku wasted no time, launching himself forward with his legs enhanced by years of rigorous training. His speed was incredible, closing the gap between him and Enel in seconds. With his remaining arm hardened by Armament Haki, he swung with precision, aiming for Enel's face.

But Enel's body dispersed into lightning before the blow could land, reforming behind Gaku with a mocking laugh. "You can't touch a god."

"Yeah, yeah. Heard it before," Gaku growled, pivoting on his heel to unleash a Rankyaku air blade.

The slicing wave cut through the air, but Enel dodged again, teleporting in a burst of light. From his new position, he raised his staff and fired a volley of smaller lightning strikes.

Gaku gritted his teeth, dodging left and right. One bolt clipped his shoulder, searing his flesh and sending a jolt of pain through his body.

"You're fast, I'll give you that," Gaku said, shaking off the pain. "But I've fought worse."

Enel sneered. "You're an insect buzzing in my presence. I'll swat you soon enough."

Gaku took a deep breath, his posture relaxing. "Guess it's time to try something new. I've been saving this for someone worthy."

Lili, watching from the sidelines, yelled, "You're going to use it now? This is the first time you're testing it on a real opponent!"

Gaku grinned, his eyes narrowing as his heart began to beat faster—louder. "No better practice dummy than a 'god,' right?"

As his heartbeat quickened, his body began to change. His skin flushed red, and veins bulged prominently across his muscular frame. His hair floated as if electrified, and a feral grin spread across his face.

"This technique's inspired by a guy I know," Gaku said, cracking his finger. "I call it Advance, and this is my First Gear. It overclocks my heart, pumps my blood faster—makes me faster, stronger. The strawhat uses something similar, but I've made it my own."

Enel's smirk faltered for the first time. "Hmph. A desperate trick."

"Desperate? Nah. I just wanted to see how a god screams."

Gaku vanished in a blur, appearing in front of Enel with blinding speed. Enel barely managed to react, teleporting away just as Gaku's fist obliterated the spot he'd been standing.

The ground cracked and trembled beneath the force of Gaku's blows. Enel fired another El Thor, summoning a column of lightning, but Gaku sidestepped it with ease, closing the distance again.

This time, Gaku's kick connected, slamming into Enel's chest with enough force to send him flying through the jungle. Trees splintered and fell as Enel crashed into the ground, coughing from the impact.

"You're a lot easier to hit now," Gaku taunted, his grin widening.

Enel wiped blood from his mouth, his pride bruised. "You dare injure a god?"

"I dare a lot of things."

Infuriated, Enel rose into the air, his body glowing with a blinding light. "I'll reduce this entire island to ashes! Raigo!"

Above them, a massive orb of lightning began to form, crackling with unimaginable energy. The sky darkened as the orb grew larger, casting an ominous glow over the battlefield.

Gaku's feral grin didn't waver. He crouched low, his enhanced blood flow making his entire body feel like it was on fire. "Let's see if your godly tricks can handle this."

Gaku launched himself into the air, his veins bulging. The air around him warped from the sheer speed of his ascent.

As the Raigo descended, Gaku twisted his body mid-air, spinning with incredible velocity. His left leg, coated in Armament Haki, glowed with raw power as he brought it crashing down onto the lightning orb.

The Raigo shattered, its energy dispersing in a deafening explosion. The shockwave flattened the jungle, leaving a smoking crater where the orb had been.

Before Enel could react, Gaku landed in front of him. His feral grin had turned into a look of pure determination.

"Time to end this," Gaku growled.

With a burst of speed, he drove his hardened fist into Enel's chest, shattering his ribcage and driving him into the ground. Enel gasped, blood spilling from his mouth as his body convulsed.

Gaku loomed over him, his grin returning. "Guess gods aren't so tough after all."

With one final blow, he silenced Enel forever.

As the dust settled, Gaku sat atop Enel's lifeless body, his breathing ragged. His skin still glowed red from the overexertion of his new technique.

Lili padded over cautiously. "You okay?"

Gaku smirked, pulling out a fresh bounty poster with his face on it—500 million berries. He held it up to Lili. "What do you think it'll be after this?"

Lili rolled his eyes. "At this rate, you're going to get every marine and bounty hunter in the world chasing us."

"Good," Gaku said, still grinning.

Reaching into his bag, Gaku pulled out a worn journal. Inside was a faded picture of Luffy, mourning Ace with a tattooed message: 3D crossed out and followed with 2Y.

Staring at the image, Gaku's grin softened. "I wonder if I'll ever see him again." He said remembering the fun he had the few hours he was with the rubber man.

Lili flicked his tail. "Knowing your luck? Probably."

Gaku stood, cracking his neck, and deactivating his technique, gaining back his normal skin color, his hair fell down giving him his usual hairstyle and nonchalant expression. "Let's move. The world doesn't wait for nobodies."

And with that, the two set off, leaving the broken body of a "god" behind them.