The core principles of Ron's vision were clear:
1. Preserve the essential functions of the World Governnt.
2. Establish a new Marine force—one that upholds true justice, protects the weak, and no longer serves the interests of the nobles or the Celestial Dragons.
3. Shatter the aristocratic order built by the Celestial Dragons.
Just these three points alone were enough to convince Zephyr.
He made his decision.
The Neo Marines would stand with Ron in this war.
Kyros, too, offered his support, proposing to send thousands of Dressrosa's soldiers into battle.
But Ron refused.
"The soldiers of Dressrosa should only defend their holand. There's no need for them to get involved in this."
With that, their preparations in Dressrosa ca to an end.
Ron and his crew set sail once more.
Standing beside Ain, Rebecca watched the ship slowly disappear over the horizon, her heart heavy with reluctance.
"...Ain, do you think he'll win?"
Ain smiled gently.
"Of course."
...
The Neo Marines Mobilize
From that day forward, Zephyr took command, leading the Neo Marines into full-scale preparations for war.
...
anwhile—
Sabaody Archipelago, Nearby Island
Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji were deep in training under Rayleigh.
Rayleigh's staff whipped through the air—
SMACK!
Luffy was sent flying.
"Calm your mind and feel it," Rayleigh instructed. "If you don't, you'll never master Haki."
Luffy gritted his teeth, flipping back onto his feet.
"Damn it... Again!"
...
Wano Country.
In Onigashima, Kaido had summoned his top officers.
"The Supre Commander... is really going to ally with that guy?"
Queen's face was filled with doubt.
"That guy killed one of our Lead Perforrs—"
Before he could finish, Kaido's fierce glare locked onto him.
A sudden chill ran down Queen's spine.
"...Are you questioning my decision, Queen?"
Queen instantly broke into a cold sweat.
"N-No, sir! Of course not!"
Just then, a clear, determined voice cut through the tense air.
"Father! I want to fight in this war, too!"
The speaker was Yamato—Kaido's "son," though in truth, she was his daughter.
She stood firm, eyes burning with resolve.
Kaido studied her for a few monts before finally nodding.
"If you're that determined... fine."
Yamato's face lit up with excitent.
...
East Blue – The Liberated Tequila Wolf
In the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Base, an urgent ssage had just arrived.
Belo Betty, the Eastern Army Commander, had returned with news that sent ripples of excitent through the room.
"Commander! Chief of Staff! We've located the Glint-Glint Fruit!"
Silence fell for a mont.
Then—
"What?! Where?"
"It was spotted in the West Blue. Morley has already gone ahead with a team."
"This fruit must be secured at all costs," Dragon declared, his expression grave.
He turned to the silent figure beside him—Bartholow Kuma.
"Kuma, go with them."
Kuma nodded.
Then, without another word, he raised his massive palm—
And vanished.
...
Fish-Man Island
The remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates—Ace, Marco, and others—had all gathered here.
For so, it was a place to recover from their wounds.
For others, it was a rallying point—a place to reunite their scattered forces.
After Marco officially declared that the Whitebeard Pirates would take part in the war, he gave his crew a choice.
They could stay and fight—or walk away.
So chose loyalty and stayed.
Others chose to leave, unwilling to step into another conflict.
...
Across the New World, the Grand Line, and even the Four Seas, monuntal changes were shaking the world.
Powerful forces were gathering strength.
Tension was building.
Every day, the newspapers struggled to keep up with the explosive developnts.
...
Holy Land—Mary Geoise
Clad in his justice coat, Fujitora strode through the lavish halls of Mary Geoise.
He had just received orders from Kong—
His mission: travel to the Four Seas and conscript as many new soldiers as possible.
Fujitora's brows furrowed.
"...They're really planning to send untrained recruits into this war?"
A deep sense of unease settled within him.
As he exited the palace—
A Celestial Dragon, perched arrogantly atop a human slave, blocked his path.
A crowd of guards and attendants followed closely behind.
"Hey! You're a Marine Admiral, aren't you? Have you caught that damn traveler, Ron, yet?!"
Fujitora's voice remained calm.
"...No."
The Celestial Dragon's face twisted in anger.
"What?! Why not?! You're a Marine Admiral, aren't you? What the hell are the Marines even doing?! Do you idiots even know how to do your jobs?!"
He sneered and circled Fujitora, still sitting atop his slave like a king on a throne.
"And another thing—why the hell haven't you bowed to yet?!"
Fujitora kept walking, his voice eerily neutral.
"Because I am blind."
He passed the Celestial Dragon without another word.
As he stepped out of Mary Geoise, he slowly turned back—his milky-white eyes gazing at the extravagant city behind him.
"...Looks like you were right, Ron."
"...The Celestial Dragons have no place in this world."
...
Marineford—The Ruins of War.
In the broken remains of Marineford, Smoker walked through the rubble.
Atop the ruined Marine Headquarters, basking in the sun, lay Aokiji.
Smoker frowned.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Aokiji didn't even open his eyes.
"Isn't it obvious?" He yawned. "I'm enjoying my last monts of laziness."
Smoker took a deep drag from his cigar, then sat beside him, gazing out over the war-torn plaza.
The once mighty Marineford was in ruins.
Above, the sky was an endless blue—peaceful and unbroken.
After a mont of silence, Smoker spoke.
"...I saw Ron in Loguetown."
Aokiji gave a lazy hum of acknowledgnt.
"He told he was going to overthrow the world."
Smoker exhaled a long plu of smoke.
"...Didn't think he actually ant it."
Aokiji let out a chuckle.
"If that guy says he'll do sothing, he'll do it."
"That's just how he is. Even back when we were at Marineford, he was like that."
Smoker's gaze hardened.
"If he had joined the Marines back then..."
"...Would things have turned out differently?"
Aokiji finally opened his eyes.
"...That guy was never ant for the Marines."
Smoker sighed.
"...Yeah."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then, Smoker turned to Aokiji.
"I heard Zephyr-sensei founded a Neo Marine Force in the New World."
Aokiji gave a soft grunt of acknowledgnt.
"...What do you think about it?"
Aokiji leaned back, hands behind his head, staring at the sky.
"...Who knows?"
His voice was filled with quiet uncertainty.
...
Fifteen Days Until the Promised War
High above Totto Land, at an altitude of 10,000 ters, a lone ship hovered in the sky.
Then—
A single figure dropped from the heavens like a shooting star, descending straight toward Whole Cake Island.
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