The New World was in turmoil.
The earth-shattering battle that erupted in the territory of the Red Hair Pirates spread through the New World at an unbelievable speed, drawing countless eyes.
The fact that the Giant Prince Loki, who had been imprisoned in the Netherworld of Elbaf for barely a year, had reappeared in the world and imdiately attacked the territory of one of the Four Emperors, Shanks, was a developnt that could hardly go unnoticed by the various powers of the New World.
Because, before being imprisoned in the Netherworld, Loki had once stirred up storms of bloodshed in the New World.
His monstrous strength had turned countless pirates into nourishnt for the Sea Kings, and many powerful individuals who had suffered under the Iron Thunder still vividly rembered it to this day.
It was believed that Loki would remain trapped in Elbaf forever, yet unexpectedly, in just over a year, Loki—the giant prince with the physique of the Ancient Giant Tribe—reappeared in the New World.
Without a word of warning, he erupted into a shocking confrontation with Shanks!
In an instant, countless pirate forces lurking in the shadows or hiding in seclusion across the New World sensed the ominous atmosphere of an impending storm.
...
On the coastline of a naless island.
The Magic Flute Pirates, who had vanished from sight ever since Fleet Admiral Orion led the Training Ship into the New World, were now fully assembled here.
They gazed into the distance toward the territory of the Red Hair Pirates, where the sky was dyed in apocalyptic hues by thunderclouds and Haki.
Even across the vast expanse of sea, the suffocating sense of oppression was unmistakably palpable.
Beside Captain Mostiens, a crew mber nervously swallowed, his face pale.
"Captain? What do we do now?"
"First, Orion took down Tesoro, wiping out countless pirate factions that relied on him overnight. Then, he effortlessly seized Elbaf. Now, he's even released Loki from Elbaf's Netherworld. Clearly, he's not just targeting the Red Hair Pirates!"
"Most importantly, once the Red Hair Pirates are crushed, the only one left on the high seas will be that aging Whitebeard."
"If the Marines take down Whitebeard too, there'll be no place for us in the New World anymore!"
Mostiens remained silent, his expression grave as he stared into the distance, his eyes filled with complexity.
He knew exactly what this ant.
The Cursed Prince of the Giant Kingdom wouldn't break free without reason.
Loki's assault on the Red Hair Pirates' territory at this mont could only an one thing.
Elbaf had been completely taken over by that Fleet Admiral!
Orion's entry into the New World with the Training Ship wasn't so damn training mission—it was a full-scale purge, aid at personally ending the Great Pirate Era and wiping out the kings of the sea from both the old and new eras!
It's just not fair!!!
Mostiens sighed.
After struggling in the New World for half his life, he had finally achieved his current status.
Was he really going to watch helplessly as the era crushed him?
Brrr brrr brrr…
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in his pocket abruptly rang.
Before Mostiens could answer, a trembling voice ca through.
"C-Captain! Latest news!"
"Orion's Training Ship is heading at full speed toward the Red Hair Pirates' territory! And Fleet Admiral Orion himself… he crossed thousands of ters of sea, arriving at the battlefield ahead of the Training Ship!"
Mostiens' pupils contracted sharply as he asked in a low voice.
"Orion joined the battle?"
"Yes!" The voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi carried an unmistakable fear. "The mont Fleet Admiral Orion landed on the island, he used Conqueror's Haki to suppress all the officers of the Red Hair Pirates!"
"Even the unfathomably powerful Ben Beckman couldn't resist! Now, the only one left standing on the island is Shanks himself!"
"However, Orion didn't attack personally. Instead, he let Loki continue to assault Shanks, as if he wanted Loki to settle their grudge with his own hands!"
"What did you say?!"
Mostiens felt as if struck by lightning, his eyes widening like copper bells.
"Say that again?! Orion suppressed the entire Red Hair crew with just Conqueror's Haki?! Reorganize your words, damn it! That's the Red Hair Pirates, known as the Iron Wall Pirates!"
From the Den Den Mushi ca an utterly certain, despair-filled reply: "It's absolutely true! All of us have underestimated the Fleet Admiral's strength!"
"His strength… could single-handedly annihilate any of the Four Emperors' crews! His true power might even equal the combined strength of the forr Four Emperors who once ruled these seas… no, perhaps even surpass it!"
Muscle twitched violently on Mostiens' face.
After a long pause, he suddenly let out a heavy sigh, then slowly raised his head to gaze at the turbulent sky.
A bitter laugh, uglier than crying, escaped his lips much later.
"How are we supposed to compete with that?"
"Before Fleet Admiral Orion cos for us, we should all turn ourselves in."
...
New World, Sphinx.
Outside the cherry blossom grove, warm sunlight bathed the land.
Whitebeard Edward Newgate's massive fra leaned against a giant cherry blossom tree, surrounded by a boisterous crowd of children.
His complexion had improved dramatically recently, the sickly pallor replaced by an unprecedented healthy glow.
Every patch of reclaimable wasteland on Sphinx had been cultivated by him and the children.
Nowadays, his daily routine mostly involved regaling the ever-growing group of kids with fascinating tales from his lifeti adventures across the seas.
"…Back then, Rocks gathered the most vicious scoundrels from across the world and challenged the World Governnt and Celestial Dragons at God Valley!"
Whitebeard's voice bood as he vividly recounted those history-shrouded events, resembling nothing more than a contented patriarch enjoying the pleasures of family life across four generations.
A little girl with pigtail braids widened her eyes, nervously tugging at Whitebeard's trouser leg.
"Grandpa Whitebeard, what happened next? Did Rocks win?"
"Gurararara!" Whitebeard erupted in hearty laughter before gently patting the girl's head. "Well then… a man wearing a straw hat and a vice admiral from Marine Headquarters joined the battle…"
The children listened spellbound, gasping in awe one mont and holding their breath in tension the next, as if they were personally witnessing that legendary world-shaking conflict.
Just then, a plu of blue flas descended from the sky.
Marco hurried to Whitebeard's side and reported in a hushed tone:
"Pops, just received news. After Fleet Admiral Orion released Loki from Elbaf's 'Netherworld', he imdiately led the Giant Warrior Pirates to attack Shanks' territory. When Loki and Shanks reached a stalemate, Fleet Admiral Orion personally arrived on the island and… used Conqueror's Haki to suppress all the officers of the Red Hair Pirates."
A barely perceptible flicker passed through Whitebeard's eyes at these words.
Yet the ripple vanished almost instantly, replaced by his customary imperturbable calm.
He didn't even bother turning to look at Marco, rely stating mildly.
"Marco, from now on, when I'm telling stories to the children, no interruptions—regardless of what happens."
Before Marco could respond, Whitebeard had already reinstated his benevolent smile, directing it toward the eager young faces before him.
"Gurararara! Children, where did this old man leave off?"
The children imdiately chorused in unison:
"Grandpa Whitebeard! You reached the part where the straw-hat guy and a Vice Admiral joined the fight! Tell us what happened next!"
"Right, right,"
Whitebeard nodded repeatedly, his voice brimming with contentnt.
"Let's continue!"
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