Location: Grand Line – Government Broadcast Hub, Enies Station
Lightning flashed over the towering spires of Enies Station, the hidden nerve center of the World Government's information division. Within its core chamber, hundreds of Den Den Mushi blinked in sync, awaiting signal.
Inside a soundproof chamber, a Cipher Pol agent slid a paper across the polished obsidian table to a grizzled broadcast officer.
The agent's voice was dry. Cold.
"Release them. All of them. No more whispers. The world must see what they're facing."
The officer adjusted his headset.
"Understood."
He activated the global signal.
Across the Seas – The Bounty Unleashing Begins
Marineford. Alabasta. Water 7. The Four Blues. Even parts of the New World.
Every bounty board shimmered and snapped as new posters began rolling out.
Screams. Murmurs. Eyes widened. Names whispered like curses.
And on each wall, hanging like death's decree, were the faces of the Red-Haired Pirates.
📜 Official Bounty Updates – Released to Global Public
"Red-Haired" Shanks – 1,004,000,000 Berries
Captain of the Red-Haired Pirates. Former Roger Pirate. Known relic wielder. Confirmed Yonko threat.
Benn Beckman – 850,000,000 Berries
Strategic threat. Documented relic translator. Responsible for mass ambushes.
Makino – 410,000,000 Berries
Former East Blue civilian. Now acting First Officer. Specializes in silent kills and relic disruption.
Ankit "Twin Blade" – **550,000,000 Berries (Updated)
Unknown origin. Age: 17. Known to possess Stormmark Resonance. Lethal in close quarters. Subject must be captured, not killed. High-priority anomaly.
Reactions Across the Seas
East Blue – Foosha Village Tavern
The old bartender dropped his glass.
"Ankit... That boy... he left barely a year ago."
Whispers spread.
South Blue – Bounty Hunter Guild Hall
A large man slammed his fist into a wall.
"Five hundred and fifty million?! For a kid?! What is he—one of the Ancients reborn?"
North Blue – Revolutionary Outpost
Koala passed the poster to Dragon.
He stared at it for a long moment.
"Stormmark… So the whispers were true."
New World – Yonko Territory
In a frozen hall lit by candlelight, a massive figure chuckled.
Kaido.
"Another brat with a bounty bigger than his bones. Hah! Let's see if he lasts longer than the last 'chosen one'."
Big Mom's ship.
Charlotte Katakuri folded the poster slowly.
"Interesting. Twin Blade, huh?"
Red Blade – Aboard Ship, Calm Belt
Rain still fell.
Ankit sat on the deck, soaked, staring at his own poster.
550 million.
He didn't flinch. But inside, he felt a war begin to brew.
Shanks joined him, two mugs of hot coffee in hand.
"Should've made you smile in the picture," the Yonko grinned. "Now the world thinks you scowl for a living."
Ankit gave him a tired look. "It's a death sentence."
Makino appeared, her own poster folded under her arm. "No. It's an announcement."
Benn Beckman, puffing calmly on a cigarette nearby, added, "It means they're done playing cloak-and-dagger. From now on, everyone will be gunning for us."
Ankit nodded.
"So be it."
System Pulse – Internal Update
"Global Recognition Trigger Achieved."
System Sync Progression Boost: +2.0%
Sync Level: 38.4%
Emotional Core Update: 'Burden of Fame' unlocked.
New Trait – "Named Storm" (Passive):
Your presence now induces hesitation in mid-tier enemies. Faction hostility increased. Chance of fear state in bounty hunters: +18%.
Nightfall – Captain's Quarters
Shanks leaned over the map of the Grand Line. The Relic Trail was growing hot. But now, there was a new concern.
"We can't just chase relics now," Makino said. "Not with bounty factions and marine divisions plotting moves."
Shanks tapped the map near an unmarked island chain.
"We'll shift course. Go underground for a while. Let the storm swirl while we move where no Den Den Mushi listens."
Ankit looked up. "You want us to vanish?"
"No," Benn said. "We want them to think we're vanishing."
Shanks smiled. "We're hunting something next. Something deeper. The world just doesn't know it yet."
Elsewhere – Cipher Pol Archives
The Five Elders reviewed a second document—not released to the public.
A bounty still secret.
"Ankit – Designation: Class-R Anomaly"
Level 3 System Integration. Relic Compatibility 67%. Predicted threat level by 20: Age 25 – Catastrophic Tier.
One of the elders folded his hands.
"Move the Seraphim into standby. If he awakens the Seventh Gate, there will be no containment."
Another nodded.
"Let the pirates test him. If he falls, our hands stay clean."
Back on the Red Blade
As the crew gathered that night, a strange energy buzzed across the ship.
Some whispered of fear. Others felt pride.
And yet, Ankit stood in the shadows of the mast, gripping both swords tightly.
Makino approached.
"You okay?"
He nodded once.
Then looked out over the sea.
"The bounty doesn't scare me. The expectations do."
She smiled softly. "Good. That means you're still human."
🔹 SYSTEM PANEL – Ankit 🔹
System Sync: 38.4%
Skill Level (Twin Flow Style): 9.4
Passive Ability Gained: Named Storm
Causes suppression in lower-rank enemies. Bounty-tier hunters may hesitate upon engagement.
Memory Bleed Status: Dormant
No active vision loops detected.
New Trait Potential (Locked): "Gate Resonance – Fragment Alpha"
Final Scene – At Sea, A Shadow Watches
From a distant island, a hooded figure watched the Red Blade through a scope.
A twisted grin curled across his face.
His own bounty poster fluttered in the wind.
"The Warden of Ruin – 777,000,000 Berries"
He whispered:
"You're not the only one who came from beyond, Ankit."
To be continued…