MTS: Marvel and Beyond

A massive amount of ice shattered under the impact, along with the frozen bubbles falling from the sky, creating a chorus of crisp cracks. Unlike the Marines around them, Alex and his group didn't need to dodge the falling ice chunks, as an invisible barrier surrounded them, blocking all attacks.

The Marines were briefly silent upon hearing Alex's words, then burst into outrage:

"Insolent brat, how dare you talk to Admiral Aokiji like that?"

"Show some respect! Your strength may not be weak, but you're certainly no match for Admiral Kuzan."

"That's right! You're just a rookie; don't get too cocky!"

Before Alex could respond, Usopp had already lost his patience. "Just Admiral Aokiji? Against Alex, he'd be nothing more than a plaything! Look at your precious admiral. He still has to defend himself against falling ice, but Alex is just standing here, effortlessly blocking everything. Isn't it obvious who's stronger?"

Usopp puffed up his chest and continued, "And let me tell you, the power Alex has shown so far? That's just the tip of the iceberg—not even one percent of his true strength!"

Usopp's one-man speech seemed to completely overwhelm the Marines, showing that, while he might not be the strongest in combat, his rhetorical skills were maxed out, and he was undeniably lucky.

Seeing this, Alex had an idea. Bringing Usopp along as his personal spokesperson could actually be quite handy. Yes, Usopp could handle all future pre-battle trash talk.

Meanwhile, Usopp suddenly shivered, feeling a chill down his spine as he continued his one-man showdown with the Marines.

Across the battlefield, Aokiji's face was growing darker by the second. Initially, his attention had been focused on Alex and Robin, but Usopp's relentless chatter had grated on his last nerve. Now, all he wanted was for that long-nosed kid to shut up!

"Ice Saber!" Aokiji conjured a blade of ice from his hand and threw it forcefully in Usopp's direction.

Usopp barely had time to react. By the time he noticed, the ice blade was already within the range of Alex's Limitless Technique, trembling and suspended in midair.

With a gasp, Usopp stumbled backward, scrambling to take cover behind Alex, and stammered, "Alex! I'll leave them to you!"

Alex simply smiled at Usopp's fearful reaction, finding it amusing rather than frustrating. Of course, you avoid tougher fights if you can. Why risk your neck taking on enemies above your level?

Reading novels in his past life, Alex had enjoyed tales of characters triumphing against stronger foes, but experiencing it firsthand? No, he preferred to rely on pure strength to overwhelm his opponents.

And now, Alex himself was that overwhelming force for the world of pirates—a power on par with the might of a universe.

Turning back to Usopp, Alex held out his right hand, forming a purple sphere that quickly reshaped into an elegant longsword adorned with intricate runes. These were the indestructible runes he had gained from the Naruto world, allowing the imagined weapon to remain stable for longer.

Handing the longsword to Usopp, Alex placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling as he said, "Go on, you've been strengthened. Go defeat Aokiji!"

The rest of the Straw Hats were shocked by Alex's suggestion. Sanji quickly protested, "Hey, Alex, you know Usopp's skills; sending him against Aokiji is just a death sentence!"

Luffy, though often carefree, was fiercely protective of his friends. He immediately joined Sanji in protesting, "No way! Usopp's way too weak; he can't take on Aokiji. Let me go—I'll beat him!"

Nami delivered a hard punch to Luffy's head, causing him to yelp in pain, as she scolded him, "Do you really think you can beat Aokiji? Last time, we would've been wiped out if he hadn't held back! Even together, we can't take him down, let alone just you!"

Nami looked at Alex, confused, and asked, "Mr. Alex, why do you want to send Usopp to face Aokiji alone? His combat power is lower than mine."

Alex didn't answer her question. Instead, he turned to Usopp. "Usopp, do you want to remain weak? Do you want to be just support forever? Or do you want to stand tall and earn the respect of your crew? You've been strengthened. Go, Usopp!"

As Alex's hand gripped Usopp's shoulder, a warm energy surged through him, spreading from his core to every fiber of his being, optimizing every cell. Outwardly, he looked unchanged, but within, he was transformed. His physical strength skyrocketed, surpassing even Luffy's, reaching an admiral's level!

Usopp clenched his fists, feeling the immense power within him. For the first time, he understood what it felt like to possess monstrous strength.

For all his past bravado, Usopp had always wanted to be more than just the crew's weakling. Thanks to Alex's enhancement, he finally had that chance. Lowering his head, a shadow cast over his face, he muttered, "No, Nami, I'm going to defeat Aokiji. I'm done being a fragile sniper—I want to be a warrior!"

The crew stared in shock at Usopp, who had seemed to undergo a profound transformation in mere seconds. Even Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji could sense the newfound pressure radiating from him—one that was on par with an admiral's strength.

Nami, too weak to sense his change, continued to worry, saying, "Usopp, come back! You're no match for Aokiji; you'll get killed!"

Usopp looked back, flashing her a bright smile. "No. I'll win."

With that, he turned and began walking toward Aokiji.

Aokiji frowned, sensing the exponential surge in Usopp's strength since Alex's touch. Somehow, Usopp had risen to an admiral's level, and the weapon Alex had given him felt sharper than any supreme-grade sword. Aokiji wondered just what Alex had done to Usopp, but he quickly shrugged it off. "Doesn't matter. I'll figure it out by defeating them."

After all, as one of the Marine's strongest forces, he feared no one but the Four Emperors.

Another ice saber formed in Aokiji's hand. This time, he threw it with even greater force, aiming it straight for Usopp's chest.

The icy blade sliced through the air, generating a sonic boom. It was coated with Haki to amplify its power. From Aokiji's perspective, Usopp had left the protective range of Alex's shield; this attack would be on him alone to defend against.

In the next moment, the ice saber hurtled at Usopp with lightning speed, leaving the Straw Hats in stunned silence. Even Luffy couldn't track it with his eyes. But to everyone's amazement, Usopp effortlessly caught the ice saber mid-air.

Aokiji had aimed for a non-lethal spot, but even a glancing hit would have left Usopp severely injured, likely unconscious. Yet, the supposedly devastating strike was now firmly grasped in Usopp's hand, as if it were nothing.

Usopp's hand connected with the saber, without so much as a scratch. In that instant, the ground beneath him shattered as he vanished, reappearing in front of Aokiji. He swung the imagined longsword in a powerful arc.

Boom!

Aokiji barely managed to evade the blow, though a strand of hair was sliced off, left floating in the air. Usopp's strike continued on, carving a massive gash across the battlefield that stretched hundreds of meters.

The Straw Hats watched in shock as Usopp and Aokiji clashed. The battle was so intense and swift that even Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji could barely follow it, only catching glimpses of flying ice and sword slashes that devastated the surroundings—comparable to Rayleigh and Kizaru's battle.

Among them, Zoro was the most affected. His dream was to become the world's strongest swordsman, something he had relentlessly pursued. But now, Usopp, who had once been weaker than him, had suddenly reached a level capable of matching an admiral. It was as if years of Zoro's hard work had been rendered meaningless.

Turning to Alex, Zoro asked, "What did you do to Usopp?"

The rest of the crew looked to Alex, curious about the sudden transformation. With a bright smile, Alex replied, "I used my ability to amplify Usopp's body, unlocking his full potential. Now, he's as strong as an admiral."

Then he added, "By the way, any official employees of mine receive even greater enhancements. If you join me, I'll also give each of you an imagined weapon, capable of nullifying all powers—even Logia users can't escape its effects."

Nami's eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked, "If I got the enhancement, could I defeat the Three Admirals and easily take down the Four Emperors?"

Alex nodded, "Of course! Believe in yourself—you have that potential!"

Meanwhile, the distant battle had reached its climax. Enhanced with immense physical strength and seasoned fighting skills Alex had implanted in him, Usopp was now outmatching Aokiji. The admiral could barely defend against Usopp's sword, which could bypass his Logia powers.

In one final clash, Usopp's imagined longsword sliced across Aokiji's chest, leaving a gash so deep it exposed his organs. Aokiji kneeled, clutching his chest, using his ice powers to seal the wound as he gasped for breath.

The Marines, watching in horror, shouted, "Admiral Aokiji!"

They rushed to his side, but even if they reached him in time, they wouldn't be able to stop Usopp if he chose to deliver the final blow. From a distance, Kizaru, seeing Aokiji wounded, attempted to aid him, only to be blocked by Rayleigh.

Rayleigh laughed, "We're the remnants of a past age; let the new generation stir things up and let the dirt and shadows settle!"

Kizaru, annoyed, retorted, "Old man, I'm not from your generation—I'm younger than you by a whole era!"

"Let me through! You have no idea what losing an admiral will do! It would crush the Navy's authority, and the seas would swarm with pirates like ravenous sharks!"

But no matter what Kizaru said, Rayleigh kept him restrained. Glancing over at Alex from the corner of his eye, Kizaru sighed inwardly.

'If what Alex claims is true—that he can mass-produce warriors on par with admirals—then the world is about to descend into chaos.'

Seeing Aokiji kneeling on the ground, powerless to resist, Usopp felt an overwhelming sense of pride. The frustration and helplessness he'd felt in the past evaporated. Usopp had now surpassed the level of an admiral.

Father, mother, can you see me? I wasn't lying. I really have this strength now!

After calming his exhilaration, Usopp sent Aokiji flying with a swift kick, right into the arms of the quickly approaching Marines. Aokiji had spared them once, so Usopp, in return, spared him. This was the magnanimity of God Usopp!

With Aokiji defeated, Usopp and Rayleigh also overcame Kizaru, wiping out the Navy's presence on Sabaody Archipelago.

The Straw Hats, less pirates and more adventurers at heart, didn't trouble the remaining Marines, who promptly left Sabaody to regroup at the nearest naval base.

Word of the events at Sabaody soon spread worldwide, yet surprisingly, most people seemed less focused on Usopp's victory over Aokiji and more fixated on Alex.

At Marine Headquarters, the high-ranking officers assembled in a conference room. Sitting at the head of the table, Sengoku wore a severe expression.

The events at Sabaody had exceeded all expectations. Yesterday's developments were astonishing—a weak pirate suddenly achieving the level of an admiral? Who would believe that?

Sighing, Sengoku said, "What are your thoughts on the Worst Criminal?"

Silence filled the room. Even Garp, normally so relaxed, was serious, reflecting his demeanor from his younger years. Finally, breaking the silence, he spoke.

"It's been confirmed that Alex has an ability to strengthen others—possibly to the level of an admiral—and he himself is at least admiral-level, likely even stronger. We don't know his ability's limits, but if he can create enough admiral-level warriors, even the World Government might not stand a chance. I propose we act now and eliminate him before he gains any more power."

Hearing Garp's suggestion, the officers nodded thoughtfully, and Vice Admiral Tsuru, a contemporary of Garp and Sengoku, voiced her agreement.

"I support Garp's proposal, but we need to deploy our full force—the Three Admirals, Sengoku, Garp, all admiral candidates, and everyone at the rank of rear admiral or above. If possible, we should even seek the support of the Five Elders."

Admiral Candidate Gion looked at Tsuru, surprised. "Deploying that much force? It sounds like a full-scale battle against the Yonko. Is that really necessary for Alex alone?"

"It's absolutely necessary," replied Akainu before Tsuru could answer. He alone hadn't been sent to Sabaody, so he was at full strength. Typically at odds with Garp and Tsuru, this time, Akainu fully agreed with them.

"We don't know the limits of Alex's abilities, so we can't afford to be careless. Besides, Alex can replicate other Devil Fruit powers with his Copy Fruit. Even just Kizaru's and Aokiji's powers would make him a formidable foe—perhaps strong enough to defeat an admiral easily. So, as Vice Admiral Tsuru suggested, we need every resource possible. We can't take any risks here; the stakes are too high."

Everyone in the room was silent, each one fully aware of the potential consequences. If Alex wasn't stopped, he could destabilize the world order, topple the World Government, and even render the Four Emperors irrelevant, leaving only one name in history: Alex.

Alex, a pirate.

Seeing that everyone was in agreement, Sengoku rose to his feet and declared, "I will contact Commander-in-Chief Kong to secure additional forces for our assault on Alex, the Worst Criminal."

At that moment, a Marine captain burst in, announcing, "Report! Blackbeard has captured the son of the Pirate King and intends to turn him in to the Navy to become a Warlord of the Sea!"

Garp's eyes widened. "What did you say?"

Oblivious to Garp's relationship with Ace, the captain repeated himself. Garp's face darkened, but he sat back down. He was a grandfather, but above all, he was the Navy's Hero, the unshakeable symbol of justice.

Sengoku, fully aware of Garp and Ace's bond, gave his old friend a look of concern. He took a deep breath and said, "We'll need to revise our plans. Alex, the Worst Criminal, certainly won't miss the execution of the Pirate King's bloodline."

---

Meanwhile, other major powers received news of the events at Sabaody.

In Dressrosa, Doflamingo sneered, "Heh heh heh… interesting. Another figure capable of shaking the world."

At Totto Land, Big Mom eyed the newspaper and asked her son Katakuri, "What do you think about making him part of our family?"

In Wano, Kaido tore his newspaper to shreds, laughing, "Ha ha ha! Another powerhouse, eh? The seas are getting interesting!"

In the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard looked at the paper with a mix of contemplation and excitement. "This sea just keeps getting more chaotic…"

Then, with renewed vigor, he bellowed, "Good! A chaotic world might bring forth someone to rival Roger—or even surpass him. We relics of the old era must make way for the new!"

---

While the world shifted around him, Alex was focused on more immediate matters. The Straw Hats' ship was fully coated and ready for their journey to Fish-Man Island, and he joined them for the adventure. As he looked down through thousands of meters of water, he could see the beautiful Fish-Man Island, encased in a giant bubble.

Admiring the scenic underwater world, Alex couldn't help but think about adding this island to his Pocket Universe. Though it wasn't as grand as Asgard, it would make a wonderful addition!

With his plans set, Alex returned to his Pocket Universe, where the supernovas awaited him. As he was attended by the newly "disciplined" Sharlia, he turned to the supernovas and said with a smile:

"Relax; it only hurts the first time. Everyone has to start somewhere!"

°°°

Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!

Link: Påtreon.com/BaphometFiction

I post 20 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.