Akainu watched as hundreds of people swarmed around the grand ballroom, wasting their time with banter until the Reverie started in earnest. Besides the royals, countless servants mingled around carrying beverages for the assembled kings and queens.

His gaze landed on a particular bunch...

King Riku, Neptune, Elizabello and Cobra were the only ones here who seemed to be actually using the time to get some business done. What he didn't like about them was their connection with the Straw Hats, it is safe to assume that their loyalty was not to the World Government, and with the threat Monkey D. Luffy is turning out to be that was dangerous. I will need to speak with the Gorosei about them, it shouldn't be to difficult to have them send some CP0 agents to eliminate a few kings. Or perhaps they should extinguish their whole dynasty and grant their kingdoms to someone more loyal?

Satisfied with the idea he went back to observing the other guests, his sole reason for being here - see and be seen.

The Gorosei made it perfectly clear that he and the Marines were only the 'face' of the World Government.

And because of that every turd that came flying hit them first and foremost, allowing the Cipher Pol bastards to keep clean and out of sight.

Unlike the agents his presence here wasn't only to protect the gathered dignitaries, but to show the royals that the Tenryuubito held all the power.

How bothersome...thought Sakazuki as he turned to watch through the window. Its been raining for days now and thought it finally stopped the thick mist that replaced it didn't improve his mood.

He vaguely listened to the music in the background, and much to his annoyance even the bloody bard sang about the bloody rain. Castamere...never heard of it...mused the Fleet Admiral as he rubbed his eyes...this standing around, doing nothing was a pain in the neck.

Suddenly his head began to spin...what's happening to me? Turning around Sakazuki saw that the other royals were laying on the ground or wobbling on their feet like King Elizabello.

On the other hand the Tenryuubito and their servants didn't seem to be affected at all by whatever was happening here.

"You don't look too good Fleet Admiral" said one of the servants as she came closer to him, a poorly concealed smirk appearing on her face "perhaps some water would help?"

Suddenly his observation haki flared, without thinking his left hand shot out and hit the serving girl in the nose.

To his surprise his hand went right though her head.

A water logia?! His eyes widened at the realization "You!"

The woman's head easily reformed back into its former shape "Me" said the servant as her body morphed and changed into the familiar armored figure "Seems I was too optimistic thinking the sleeping gas will knock you out as quickly as the rest of them."

The other servants used forks taken from the nearby tables and placed them under the necks of the Tenryuubito, obviously taking them hostage.

"Come now Fleet Admiral, surrender and nobody has to get hurt" promised the Hunter, though that was a obvious lie. The Celestial Dragons were nothing more than puppets and most of their slaves, servants and guards were consumed or changed into something more useful days ago.

Akainu growled as he examined his options, he had to protect the Celestial Dragons and the other royals but he couldn't go all out if they were close by. There was no way to save all the hostages...

Then a thought crossed his mind Why should I even bother?...they only make my job harder.

Without wasting time Akainu burned a hole through the wall and jumped down into the gardens below.

Two more servants emerged from behind a corner and to his surprise turned their hands into all to familiar claws.

What?! wondered the Marine as the duo used soru to attack him, their razor sharp claws piercing his body.

Unfortunately for them he knew how to overpower others people haki making it ineffective against him. Deciding that he didn't have time to play around he used his Meigo technique to burn the two enemy's in one hit.

The magma fist easily went through the two Evolved, evaporating their water body's...so it was a bit of an unpleasant surprise when the water vapor reformed back into two undamaged opponents.

"Damn!" cursed the Fleet Admiral, he couldn't even harm those freaks anymore. And his situation went from bad to worse when more Evolved started to emerge from the building.

Dozens...no, more like hundreds of them walked towards him.

It was obvious that the situation was bad, even if he managed to get to his ship he wont be able to outrun the bastards. The Red Line in itself was now a obstacle since he couldn't melt through it leaving him out on in the open against the monsters.

But if I stay here, I'm a deadman...decided the Fleet Admiral.

Seeing no way out he rushed passed the closest pair of monsters towards the exit. The Evolved went immediately after him and using soru appeared right behind him, their claws again going through his magma body without any resistance.

He was almost at the stairs to the docks when his body suddenly collapsed, only after a few seconds did his brain register the agony in his leg.

He looked down and saw blood dripping from a shattered knee "What?!" hissed the Marine as he looked at the direction of Mariejois.

The distance wasn't great so he could easily see a person standing on the buildings roof, holding a rather large sniper rifle.

A seastone bullet! Seeing how the monsters were almost upon him he quickly discarded the thoughts about that and jumped off the cliff.

Mercer could only smile as he saw the seastone bullet pierce Sakazuki's leg. The prototype gauss cannon they made for this occasion certainly paid off, and once mass production starts it will be even better. It was a common weapon in the US army for three decades already and now this world will see them replace their old chemical propelled predecessors as well.

He and his Evolved were ready to jump after the Fleet Admiral when something fell from the sky and a shock-wave stopped them in their tracks, a huge dust cloud engulfing the whole area.

"What happened?" asked Asul as she switched to her infrared vision. Instantly one heat signature appeared in front of her eyes.

So it was a bit of surprise that she received a heavy hit from a completely empty angle, the punch crushing her armor and sending her flying back into a wall.

What?! Were the thoughts of all Evolved, thanks to the den den mushi's telepathic ability they were aware what any singe one of them perceived and so were all equally puzzled by the attack.

Then the dust settled down and they saw that there wasn't one intruder but two.

The duo had the same red hair and similar facial structures indicating that they were possibly related to each other.

"The woman doesn't have a heat signature" said one of the Evolved "no wonder we couldn't see her in the dust."

The duo observed the numerous armored figures with what appeared to be a bored expression "They are all armored...July which one is the Hunter?"

The woman pointed her finger at Mercer "That one."

How did she know that? wondered Alex. Those two are unknowns, so it would be prudent to test them against some other Evolved first...

The two red heads thought otherwise as they used soru and send Alex flying at least two kilometers away...the duo following right behind him.

They're good...mused Mercer as he used Shiki's power to stop himself midair. Rather than hunting down the disabled Fleet Admiral those two will be a far more enjoyable prey. But he wasn't letting Akainu escape this time either "Brigid, take care of the Fleet Admiral" said Alex knowing that all Evolved will hear his words no matter the distance.

"And you?" she inquired.

"I will deal with our uninvited guests."

"As you wish, I'll save you a sample of his DNA" she smiled and jumped off the cliff, the other Evolved following down after her.

He'll be damned if Akainu slips through his claws once more, but truthfully hunting down the Fleet Admiral was more for his pride than anything else. Any information the other Evolved acquired could easily be passed to him and the man's Devil Fruit though powerful wasn't very versatile in its use.

The red haired man was the first to attack and slammed his fist into Mercer armored head. The attack connected easily but his defenses and his regenerative ability made the damage none existent.

Before Alex could counter attack the red haired woman was upon him and he was forced to dodge a storm of kicks from her.

Using his muscle-mass he pointed his haki strengthened finger at her heart and used a shigan.

His finger connected, but to his surprise it failed to pierce through her skin.

What the?! Were his thoughts as he blocked the red haired man's punch with his other hand.

He quickly took a step back as the woman swung her leg and tried to shatter his knee. The other opponent used this opportunity to land another punch to his face.

Mercer again barely felt it as he used Foxy's power to slow down the duo...only the woman moved regardless.

Impossible! Thought Mercer as the red haired girl completely ignored the power and actually punched through his torso with a shigan so powerful that her whole forearm went through.

To overcome his carbon strengthened armor alongside his haki and tekkai was something even the Fleet Admiral couldn't manage.

As she tried to pull her arm out of his chest he grabbed her appendage and applied all his strength, but to his amazement it didn't break at the joint.

Curious though the sentient virus as he made tendrils burst out of his body and bind the woman so she couldn't move her arms or legs, he had to finish her of quickly before the slowed down man could interfere.

It was in that moment that the girl opened her mouth and a laser cut right through the tendrils binding her.

Seeing the familiar attack Mercer finally understood what he was fighting...a new model of Pacifista. One that could negate Devil Fruits...that implied seastone was used in her construction! Though Alex as his mind raced through a way how to defeat her.

But the woman wasn't going to give him the time to contemplate his predicament, using all her strength she ripped Mercers left arm from his body, and though he started to regenerate it immediately she focused on his other arm and ripped it off as well.

Alex growled as the woman delayed his efforts to heal himself, tearing out more and more biomass from him body.

Then how about this! Though Mercer as he levitated into the air, the robot hanging on his body.

He flew through the air with maximum speed and aimed the woman's head against the cliffs of the 'indestructible' Red Line.

To his surprise the peculiarity that was the Red Line held true to its claim of indestructibility as it collided with the seastone construct.

Since both were pretty much indestructible the one who had to give way was Alex as the machines arm tore through his torso.

His almost bisected body quickly reformed itself and he watched as the woman used geppo to stop her fall and attack him once more head one.

What a pain in the neck! Though Mercer as his regenerated arms changed into hammersfists. Thanks to Kizaru's power and observation haki he was fast enough to dodge a storm of wind blades that rained down on his position.

Once the machine was close enough to him he used all his strength to punch her in the face, making his opponent fly back a good distance.

But though he landed a solid hit he could see that it didn't leave even a scratch on her skin.

Damn...I will have to think of something else, physical and devil fruit attacks are useless.

His observation haki flared and Mercer dodged a laser beam fired by the other opponent who now was able to move again.

Is he a Pacifista as well? Certainly not the same kind since Foxy's beam worked on him.

Mercer pointed his finger at the newcomer and hit the man with a similar laser beam but to his amazement his opponent turned into water and let the attack go right through him.

Mercer didn't have long to be astonished by the occurrence as the woman appeared behind him and kicked his head right of the neck.

If he was a human this would have been instantly fatal, but since he was not a human it was only a inconvenience.

As he regenerated his head back the two red heads fired their lasers at him, but those attacks failed to penetrate his defenses.

"This isn't going anywhere" finally said the male.

"What are our options?" asked the woman.

"Keep him immobilized, I have an idea."

The woman nodded and used geppo again to appear before Alex, getting him into a grappling hold.

Mercer struggled against the robot when suddenly a fist punched through his head, a trivial attack.

"Pointless" grumbled Alex.

"Incorrect, your time is numbered criminal" replied the woman.

True to her words, the attack had an effect.

What wasn't trivial was the fact that he was being consumed by the red haired man.

What?! wondered Mercer for the umpteenth time in this fight. It wasn't every day his opponent consumed his biomass as if he was a Blacklight virus as well. Impossible! The World Government couldn't have extracted the strain so fast or even at all, so how?!

Red and black tendrils erupted from the assassins body and pierced Mercer draining him of even more biomass...far more than he could regenerate.

He was dying...that much was clear.

And then his body was completely consumed by the opponent.

The free fall was a pain in the neck but the adrenaline did manage to suppress the poison gas he inhaled in Mariejois. After what appeared like minutes of falling he finally crashed where to docks were. Thanks to his logia ability the fall didn't damage him at all so he quickly stood up and looked where he landed.

The whole dock was covered by a thick mist making visibility practically zero, but none of that mattered, he had to reach the ship!

But before that he pulled out a den den mushi "This is Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, Marine Headquarters respond!"

He waited patiently until someone picked up his call, but after seconds turned into minutes he could only conclude that the Hunter was somehow blocking the signal.

"Damn it all!" growled Akainu as he made his way down the docks.

Even with a useless, bloody leg he managed to reach his vessel faster than someone with two healthy legs could. With a single jump he landed on the ship's deck and went straight to the bridge.

But one glance at the vessel made his step faltered, there were no soldiers on the deck and the bloody, cracked glass on the window answered him why that was so.

Damn it all! Though Sakazuki as he saw the shredded and bloody cabin door, a human hand still holding the steering wheel until the rigor mortis wears off...

"Is anyone here!" he shouted into the mist desperately.

Only silence greeted him back...

As he was frenetically thinking what to do now his haki warned him that danger approached...even the sea itself became deathly quiet as he scanned the mist around himself.

"I'm afraid your crew isn't here any more."

"That voice..." hissed Akainu.

From all around him dozens of Evolved appeared, and among them was a familiar figure.

"Doctor Asul..." he growled at seeing her face.

"Greetings Fleet Admiral" said the Evolved in her usual cheery, singsong voice "its so nice to finally meet you in person!"

His eyes went to the other armored individuals before returning to glare at her face "You're committing high treason you know that!" he spat "l will see you all hang for that!"

The woman only chuckled "I'm afraid that wont be possible. We have made sure that every single living thing that came to the Reverie was out of commission until we...remake them to our specifications."

She was perplexed why Alex would insist to silence and replace even the crews that were left in the docks but now she understood...all manner of unforeseen things can happen. But even the Fleet Admiral won't be going anywhere without a crew to man a ship, that is until they did some tinkering with the corpses.

"I will find a way, justice always prevails!" he shouted before his hands turned into magma, ready to fight the monsters off.

As he was about to attack, thick chains appeared from the mist, striking Akainu all over his body or coiling around his neck and arms.

S-Seastone! Though Sakazuki as his strength left his body and he collapsed down on his knees.

"Justice is a nice concept" said Asul as she slowly approached the disabled man, the Evolved holding the chains right behind her "but I'm afraid it has to take a backseat to the law of the jungle. "

Sakazuki could only glare in defiance as the monsters encircled him and their hands turned into razor sharp claws.

"Good by Fleet Admiral" were the last words he heard before the monsters were upon him.

"It is done" said July as her partner completely absorbed their target, leaving absolutely nothing behind.

"Yes" answered June "we should deal with the others as well."

"Our orders were only to eliminate the Hunter, we need a new directive to go after them" she responded in a monotone voice.

"That will be hard to do if they really have taken out everyone in Mariejois, the heart of the World Government...we have no more superiors to give us orders" was the man's reply.

"..." it was obvious that the situation they found themselves in wasn't something they were prepared for...they had only one goal in life, to serve the Celestial Dragons.

But what to do when there were no Celestial Dragons left to serve?

"Are...are we ...free?" asked June in disbelief.

"What does being free mean?" she asked.

"I...I'm not sure..." he knew the word, but what does freedom actually mean? As a child when he was brought to be trained as a Cipher Pol assassin he desired freedom, the word was engraved into his mind and soul. But he couldn't imagine what that word represented anymore...why did his younger self wish to be free?

Suddenly his body shook and he fell down on his knee.

"What's the matter?" inquired the woman, her words showing absolute disinterest for his well being.

"I..I d-don't know" he gasped "p-pain...its like ...m-" he didn't manage to finish the sentence as red and black tendrils erupted out of his body and started to dissolve his flesh.

And as June's body crumbled so did the all to familiar armor appear "I cannot be killed. I cannot be caged. I cannot be controlled. Understand this as you die, ever pathetic, ever fools!"

With the last cell of the man consumed Mercer shifted his gaze towards the female that instantly tried to grapple him one more time, even though there was nobody else to help her defeat him.

But thanks to the man's memories he knew...

Using the genes he took from electric eels he transformed his entire body into a giant bundle of electrogenic cells. Since the electricity wasn't coming from a Devil Fruit the conductive seastone wont stop it from doing its part.

Electricity cracked around them as his modified body started to pump the energy into his opponent, even though it did as much damage to him as it did to the cyborg he had one advantage - he could regenerate.

Her body shook as the high voltage traveled through her metallic body, melting any insulation in the process until it reached the encased human brain.

Mercer watched as any semblance of life left the cyborg and her arms fell limply aside. Finally free from her hold Alex pushed the broken thing aside.

The duo really had no luck.

Kidnapped from a loving home at the age of five, the red haired twins were placed into a strict Cipher Pol training regiment that could be described with one word - torture.

Every day they would be injected with drugs that would help them get stronger and persevere though the 'training'.

Rokushiki, haki, marksmanship, martial arts...they had to learn it all and they did it in record time. But the years of abuse and the intake of chemical substances left them a bit mentally broken...they even forgot their own names.

The only happiness they had was that they were together...that is until the doctors came and extracted the girl's brain from her skull. Seeing his sister's naked body in a trash can like some garbage shattered what little personality the boy had left.

The procedure was a success according to the doctors, with the only side effect being that the girl lost any emotions she had.

The seastone body she was give was certainly amazing, like many things Vegapunk created, but it lacked versatility. So almost a years ago June was give a Devil Fruit to raise his combat capability's a bit more.

The Clone-Clone Fruit once used by the now deceased Bon Kurei. What was more important to Mercer was the knowledge that the boy managed to awaken its power under a year, giving him the ability not just to mimic other peoples appearances but also their abilities.

That certainly explained how he managed to do that consuming stunt on him...the bastard copied his powers. Truly a versatile ability...

"Seems you are done on your side as well" said Brigid as she floated towards him, a severed arm in her hand.

"Hmm yes. It was a bigger challenge than I originally assumed it would be" responded Mercer as he nudged the cyborg with his foot, if it wasn't for the man's absolute lack of will this actually could have been the end of him "I have to give the World Government credit, they can even make me look good in comparison."

Asul only raised a eyebrow "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, but that can wait" she the grinned and presented Alex with the severed appendage "here, a little souvenir from the good Fleet Admiral." All Evolved perhaps perceived everything one of them perceived but that didn't extend to their thoughts.

"How thoughtful of you" said Alex as a tendril pierced and consumed the thing, giving her a sample of June's absorbed DNA as well "I also acquired a new power, the Copy-Copy Fruit."

Asul frowned "Do we really need it? I mean we can already do the same thing."

"That was my assumption at the beginning" mused the virus as he walked back to Mariejois "Tell me doctor, have you ever heard about Awakened Devil Fruits?"

"Can't say that I have."

"The first time I heard it was during the Impel Down infiltration, I didn't give it too much attention since I thought it concerns only the Demon Guards. Apparently I was wrong..."

The two monsters made their way through Mariejois and watched as a few Evolved finished their job of inserting the mutated den den mushis into the last few sleeping royals.

"The red haired man managed to awaken the Copy-Copy Fruit allowing him to copy peoples powers with a touch. A very interesting concept that I wasn't familiar with until now...Devil Fruits that seemed unimportant now have certainly risen in their desirability."

Brigid could understand that..."Imagine Foxy's power as a wide area effect that slows down everybody without the need to hit them with the beam! Oh, that's marvelous!"

Mercer nodded "Or Caesar's ability to manipulate gas...if the range increases and he gets the ability to create any gas at will...the possibility are endless..."

A sinister smile appeared on the faces of all Evolved scattered around Mariejois.

Mercer approached the closest window and gazed out onto the endless horizon "We made it" he finally said "the world is ours."

"You know, simply releasing an airborne disease like Redlight would have been faster."

"Of course, but I would have less control over what it does" was his reply "besides its not like I wish to exterminate humans, they are useful."

"Why? Anything they can do an Evolved can do better?"

"Its their weakness that drives them forward. They can't fly so they will make a machine that fly's, they will than improve on it until even travel between worlds is in their grasp. An Evolved would never make a aircraft because it doesn't need it, and because of that it would miss on a lot of experience and ideas. I believe humans will surprise us still..."

"I see, so what now?" asked Asul as she watched the royal puppets rise to their feet.

He glanced over his shoulder "The mission is a complete success, we will leave the puppets to run the World Government, there is no need for us to waste time here. As soon as we make the replacements for the collateral damage we can go our own separate ways. And thanks to June's power it will be even easier."

Asul smiled "Until its the Yonko's turn."

Mercer nodded "Yes, though some preparations need to be taken fist. Blackbeard is doing almost the same thing we are, he shouldn't be underestimated. Naturally we will hunt down other Devil Fruit users in the meantime, even those we ignored because we though their powers were useless."

"Of course. So what will you be doing now beside hunting?" inquired the female Evolved as her eyes follow Mercers gaze to the nearby aquarium where a mermaid swam around.

"I'm going to play God."

A/N:

This is as far as I can go without someone helping me out with the Straw Hats.

Basically here should be a change in the point of view since Mercer and the Evolved are now too powerful as protagonists to make this story interesting (at least until I balanced the sides a bit out, at least five or six chapters. Just to give Mercer and the Evolved some organized resistance). On the other hand seeing the Straw Hat's face off against individual Evolved, infected Sea Kings, Parasites, Nāga and Mimics would certainly be more entertaining.

Chapter 26 and onward would be Straw Hats centered, unlike Blackbeard who gets power the same way (and the same speed) as Mercer, Luffy and co. will need to make alliances to survive until the last war in this story (it will be a free for all between four factions).

Evolved:

Scientist (137 out of 541) that were evolved by Brigid and Mercer. The Evolved have all the ability's Alex has and are now scattered across the world doing their own things.

Mimic:

A infected infiltrator similar to humans with the exception that they don't have a face, only featureless skin, and have the power to copy peoples powers and appearances. They can consume people to gain their knowledge but are omnivores by nature. They are not a sentient virus though and don't regenerate on their own. They can only reproduce with humans irrelevant of gender.

Nāga:

A deep sea race created from a mermaid. They have the appearance of beautiful woman but behind their captivating smiles lurk shark like teeth. The Nāga are hermaphrodites but can reproduce with mermaids and fishmen, though any offspring will be a pure Nāga. A single individual can produce to one thousand fertile eggs yearly.

Their society is led by the Nāga Queen who is selected by combat. The candidate that defeats all other rivals then devours their corpses to gain their strength, knowledge and power. In the case of the Queens death the trials are held anew.

Nāga are carnivores and eat any meat they can get their hands on, from fish and crabs to humans, fishmen and Sea Kings.

They are all natural water logias with instinctive knowledge of haki and fishmen karate, usually armed with tridents made from Sea King bones and plundered or found seastone nets.

Their expansion through the seas is swift and poses a tremendous danger to any living creature that lives in the sea or travels on it.

Parasite:

A small dragonfly like creature with a paralyzing stinger that reproduces by injecting eggs into its victims. After 24 hours the larva eats its way out of the host. They are fragile flyers but can use a potent laser as a long range weapon. They eat fruit, insects, small mammals and birds. They don't posses sentience.

Hydra:

Infected Sea King's are huge, armored, regenerating monstrosity's that are spreading through the world seas with rapid speed. They are omnivores that eat plankton, ships, whales, sharks, fishmen, humans, other Sea Kings etc.. They reproduce the same way normal Sea Kings do. They don't posses sentience.