Dressrosa is currently just a rehearsal ground for Ace's plans.
Unlike Amazon Lily, known for producing many Haki users, or Wanokuni, which is rich in precious seastone resources and famous swords that could directly enhance Gion's combat abilities, Dressrosa holds no such strategic assets.
Wanokuni also conceals another critical secret—one of the three Ancient Weapons, Pluton , a battleship capable of obliterating an island with a single shot, is buried there.
This was detailed in the historical texts beneath Alabasta and later confirmed by Robin in her discussions with Kozuki Sukiyaki, the former shogun of Wanokuni in the story.
Previously, Ace had little interest in this legendary battleship. At the time, his priority was to enhance his personal strength, understanding that reliance on external powers would only lead to stagnation, as seen with figures like Crocodile, whose Haki weakened over time.
Now, however, the situation is different. Ace's current power and capabilities are sufficient to control a weapon as formidable as Pluton without becoming dependent on it.
In the ultimate confrontation against the World Government, Pluton could serve as a crucial war asset.
The Mother Flame , a devastating weapon in the hands of the World Government capable of destroying islands, is speculated to have been modeled after Pluton.
This suggests that Pluton possesses power at least equal to, if not surpassing, the Mother Flame. Such devastating might justifies its title as an Ancient Weapon, capable of deciding the outcome of world-scale conflicts.
If Ace were to acquire Pluton, he would possess two of the three Ancient Weapons, the other being Poseidon. Even if "Uranus" is indeed under the World Government's control, Ace would hold a significant advantage in the balance of Ancient Weapons.
Furthermore, the blueprints for Pluton that existed in Water 7 have been destroyed, and the World Government has long sought them through CP9's infiltration efforts. This suggests that the government does not possess any alternate blueprints for the ship, making the original design a rare and irreplaceable asset.
For these reasons, Wanokuni is essential to Ace's plans.
As for Dressrosa, its only noteworthy aspect is its history as one of the 20 kingdoms that founded the World Government 800 years ago.
However, Ace doubts there are any lingering secrets in Dressrosa tied to the World Government.
For now, Ace remains patient. Those secrets will inevitably surface during the final battle.
Until then, Ace's priority is to continue strengthening himself and his allies.
From the information he has gathered and his own understanding, Ace believes that the power ceiling of this world extends beyond the king-level —the strength exhibited by legends like Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger.
There is likely a higher realm of power, one that Joy Boy must have reached.
Only with such immense strength could Joy Boy have stood against the united might of the 20 kings who founded the World Government.
As Ace grows stronger and delves deeper into the power of Nika , he senses the astonishing potential of this ability.
The king-level, exemplified by figures like Whitebeard and Roger at their peak, would pale in comparison to Joy Boy, who fully harnessed the power of Nika.
As for Imu, presumed to be one of the original 20 kings from 800 years ago, their strength is undoubtedly formidable. However, Ace doubts they surpass Joy Boy in power.
If Imu had been stronger, the 20 kings would not have needed to unite to defeat Joy Boy.
Although Imu's current strength remains unknown, the fact that Sabo managed to escape from Pangu City, as depicted in the original story, suggests that Imu is not as strong as Joy Boy.
However, the so-called "Celestial Dragons' secret treasure" held by the World Government warrants special attention.
Despite Joy Boy's immense power, he was ultimately defeated in that historic battle. This confirms that the combined might of the World Government exceeded Joy Boy's strength, as well as that of Uranus, the kingdom established by Imu.
In light of this, Ace acknowledges that his current preparations are insufficient.
His personal strength still has significant room for improvement—he must surpass Joy Boy at his peak. Similarly, his subordinates' combat power must be further enhanced to face the World Government in the final battle.
For these reasons, Dressrosa is not a place where Ace can afford to linger for long.
After entrusting the Enlightenment Light Ball and Robin's drafted national management regulations to Rebecca, Ace and his crew prepared to set sail for Wanokuni.
---
At the Port of Dressrosa
As the fleet of the Entei Pirates departed, Rebecca, King Riku, and Cyrus stood silently, watching the ships vanish over the horizon.
Kuzan and Issho, who had stayed in Dressrosa, also boarded the First and Second Division ships, setting off for Wanokuni.
Ace's upcoming campaign would involve attacking two of the Four Emperors' pirate groups, so every additional powerhouse was critical.
Alongside the First and Second Divisions, Rayleigh's Zero Division and Gion's Sixth Division joined the fleet.
This brought the number of ships in the Entei Pirates' expedition to five, forming a formidable fleet worthy of the name.
---
"They are gone..."
King Riku murmured as he watched the fleet fade into the distance, his thoughts clouded.
Viola, who had become a full-fledged member of the Sixth Division of the Entei Pirates, also departed with the fleet.
King Riku had anticipated this outcome. As a territory under the protection of the Entei Pirates, Dressrosa was left without any direct supervisors or managers from Ace's crew.
Given these circumstances, Viola's role as a bridge between Dressrosa and the Entei Pirates was expected.
This wasn't due to Ace's concern about Dressrosa's loyalty but rather as a demonstration of his authority and benevolence.
An emperor of the sea must command both respect and awe.
Even so, the sight of his daughter departing with the fleet filled King Riku with quiet sadness.
For years, he had carried the weight of his inadequacies as a ruler. His inability to prevent Doflamingo's coup had plunged Dressrosa into misery, transforming it into a hellish "toy kingdom."
Viola had infiltrated the Donquixote family under these circumstances, enduring untold hardships to protect her homeland.
Now, with the Entei Pirates preparing to face the combined might of the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates—a terrifying alliance of two of the Four Emperors—Riku couldn't help but worry for his daughter.
While he had confidence in the strength of Ace and his crew, Viola's power paled in comparison to the top cadres of the Four Emperors' forces. In such a war, Viola's survival would depend entirely on Ace's strategy and protection.
"Grandfather, don't worry," Rebecca said with a reassuring smile, sensing the unease in his grandfather's heart.
Her growing mastery of Observation Haki , thanks to the Enlightenment Field's influence, allowed her to clearly perceive his emotions.
"Look," she added, producing a strange fruit.
"This... this is..." King Riku stammered, staring at the peculiar fruit, white as silk threads.
Rebecca nodded. "Yes, it's Doflamingo's String-String Fruit . The Admiral gave it to me before he left."
King Riku's breath caught as he processed her words, realizing the significance of this gesture.
"The String-String Fruit...," he muttered, goosebumps spreading across his skin.
"Is this the Emperor's grace and power?"
King Riku, who had once faced Doflamingo, understood well the immense power of the String-String Fruit .
Among Paramecia-type Devil Fruits, this ability stood out as one of the strongest, second only to the top-tier Devil Fruits like the Tremor-Tremor Fruit . It occupied the upper echelon of Paramecia powers, making it a highly coveted asset.
With its abilities, even an average wielder could potentially grow into a combatant at the Shichibukai level.
The fact that such a powerful Devil Fruit was given directly to Rebecca demonstrated Ace's calculated generosity.
This, combined with Ace taking Viola—whose strength wasn't urgently needed by the Entei Pirates—underscored the Emperor's balance of grace and authority. King Riku could feel this dynamic more profoundly than ever.
"Rebecca, work hard for the Admiral," King Riku said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"I will!" Rebecca nodded firmly before biting into the String-String Fruit in one swift motion.
---
Aboard the Fleet
"I didn't expect you to give the String-String Fruit to Rebecca—it's an incredibly strong Devil Fruit," Robin remarked during the voyage, propping her chin with a smile.
Ace chuckled at this observation. "Hahaha, I don't need Shichibukai-level forces anymore. By giving the String-String Fruit to Rebecca, I've ensured Dressrosa's security. And now, you can rest easy, right, Viola?"
Ace's gaze shifted to Viola, who stood aboard the Sixth Division's ship.
Indeed, the String-String Fruit was formidable, but its inherent potential capped out at creating Shichibukai-level combatants. Even with the addition of well-trained Armament Haki , its best potential would only elevate someone to Admiral-candidate level.
What Ace needed now was peak combat power—individuals who could operate at Admiral level and above . Anything less was insufficient for his ambitions.
The gift of the String-String Fruit wasn't intended to bolster his fleet directly. It was a gesture to ensure loyalty and to enhance Dressrosa's self-reliance while securing their unwavering service to him.
Besides, Ace had already obtained a portion of the String-String Fruit's devil factor . If the need arose, he could fully utilize its power himself.
"Thank you, Admiral," Viola said softly, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. She understood the immense significance of Ace's gesture.
With the String-String Fruit now in Rebecca's hands, Dressrosa would become much harder for outside forces to threaten, even without the Entei Pirates' immediate protection.
For Rebecca and the nation of Dressrosa, this was an undeniable blessing.
"Ace, we're about to face both the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates . Please, no reckless behavior this time!" Nami warned, her voice tinged with exasperation.
Every time Ace charged into battle, he seemed to take half the crew's sanity with him.
"Reckless? When have I ever done that?" Ace replied with a grin, giving Nami a playful pat on the shoulder.
"That's 'exactly' why I'm worried!" Nami groaned, her frustration evident.
Ace's grin only widened. "Relax, this time it'll be a straightforward attack."
Nami rubbed her temples. "I hope so…" she muttered, resigned to Ace's unpredictable nature.
Though she couldn't control Ace's decisions, she focused on preparing herself for the upcoming battles. With her Thunder Fruit abilities, as long as she was at sea, she could handle most situations effectively.
"Wanokuni…" Ace murmured, gazing at the horizon. A wide smile spread across his face. "I can't wait for it."
As the fleet, under Going Merry's guidance and Nami's command, closed in on Wanokuni, anticipation buzzed through the air.