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In just one day, the Marine Government's announcement of Fire Fist Ace's public execution had spread like wildfire across the world.
The looming shadow of war soon enveloped the seas.
Marine Headquarters had begun gathering elite forces from every corner of the globe, preparing for a full-scale confrontation. Their confidence lay in one undeniable truth: Whitebeard would not sit idly by.
In the New World, the ripples of this event stirred countless undercurrents, none more turbulent than those within the Whitebeard Pirates.
Marco, the first division commander, stood before Whitebeard with a grim expression. "The summons have been sent out. Every allied pirate crew has responded—they're ready and waiting!"
Whitebeard, seated upon his throne on the deck, radiated an aura of unshakable determination. His towering frame seemed immovable, his expression cold and resolute.
"Anyone who dares to harm the Whitebeard Pirates must be prepared to pay the price!" he declared, his voice rumbling like thunder. "Even if the enemy is Marine Headquarters itself!"
Hive Island, Kaido's Territory
On Skull Island, Kaido, the King of Beasts, stood atop the massive skull that dominated his stronghold. With a jug of sake in hand, he roared with laughter.
"This is the chaos I've been waiting for!"
"But... Worororo! Whitebeard, you sentimental fool! For a brat who isn't even related to you by blood, you're willing to risk the entire crew!"
His underlings, both seasoned members of the Beasts Pirates and those newly conscripted, exchanged nervous glances. Kaido's mood swings were infamous, and his current mix of laughter and sobbing was unnerving.
Still, some found courage to speak.
"Old man Whitebeard is insane!"
"Boss Kaido, why not just sit back and let them tear each other apart? Once the dust settles, we can swoop in and claim Whitebeard's territory!"
The sentiment echoed among Kaido's crew. To them, Whitebeard's decision to wage an all-out war over Ace seemed reckless. A son—blood-related or not—wasn't worth throwing away the stability of the entire crew. From their perspective, it made more sense to strike later, delivering revenge when it was advantageous.
But Kaido's response was swift and brutal.
The pirate who spoke was sent flying by a single swing of Kaido's massive fist.
"What do you know, you idiot?!" Kaido snarled. "This is benevolence and righteousness among pirates!"
The Beasts Pirates fell silent, cowed by their captain's fury.
Kaido's expression shifted again, this time alight with excitement. "This war... I'll witness it myself! It'll be a spectacle for the ages!"
"Don't be rash, Boss Kaido!" several crewmates cried, rushing forward to dissuade him. They knew better than to expect a change of heart, but they couldn't help trying.
Kaido ignored their pleas, his decision already made. Unbeknownst to them, he had received word from Alex, who had suggested that Kaido's interference as a third party could create even greater chaos.
Kaido's grin widened. "A good show awaits, and I'm not about to miss it!"
With less than six days until the public execution, all the pieces were falling into place. The world stood on the brink of a war that would change its course forever.
At this time, after a grueling journey and countless battles, the Straw Hat Pirates finally reached the Sabaody Archipelago, the last island in the first half of the Grand Line.
Although the events involving Hatchan from the original story didn't occur, the crew still needed a professional coating to prepare their ship for the depths of Fish-Man Island. Following directions and local rumors, they found themselves at the famous bar, Shakky's Rip-Off Bar, where they encountered an unexpected figure—Silvers Rayleigh, the "Dark King," and former right-hand man of the Pirate King.
Inside the dimly lit bar, Shakky greeted them warmly.
"Speaking of which, there's a major event brewing that's bound to shake the world," Shakky said with a sly smile. "The New World is going to change dramatically because of it. With your current strength, it's still too dangerous for you to break through in that sea. If you're willing, why not let Rayleigh teach you for a few years?"
"Huh?! Rayleigh would really do that for us?!" Chopper exclaimed, leaping up from his seat in disbelief. Despite the kindness Rayleigh and Shakky had shown, the idea of receiving direct training from one of the legendary pirates of old seemed too good to be true.
"Of course," Shakky said, patting Chopper's head and glancing knowingly at Rayleigh. "He's been looking forward to meeting all of you."
Rayleigh nodded in agreement. His gaze settled on Luffy, filled with a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. "Shanks asked me to look out for you. As his predecessor and an admirer of his faith in the next era, I'm curious to see how far you'll go."
Rayleigh's words carried deeper meaning. Beyond the bond between Shanks and Luffy, the iconic straw hat, the enigmatic Nika Fruit, and Luffy's uncanny resemblance to Gol D. Roger all led him to believe that Luffy could be the Joy Boy the world had been waiting for.
Hearing Shanks' name, Luffy clutched his treasured straw hat tightly, his expression unwavering. "I'll definitely keep the promise I made to him!" he declared with newfound resolve.
While Luffy was lost in his determination, Hughes—the Straw Hats' newest informant—couldn't help but ask, "Wait, what's this big event you're talking about? Something's going on?"
Shakky raised an eyebrow. "You mean you haven't heard?"
"We've been stuck on Thriller Bark for a while," Hughes said, scratching his head sheepishly. "And we haven't seen a single newsbird on our way here."
Realizing their ignorance was genuine, Shakky leaned forward. "Marine Headquarters is about to go to war with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"War?!!" The Straw Hats shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the bar.
"Is this for real?!" Usopp gasped, his hands flying to cover his mouth. "That's insane! This is the kind of thing you'd only hear about in legends!"
The room buzzed with tension. Everyone understood the gravity of the situation.
Marine Headquarters—the strongest military force under the World Government, the symbol of law and order.
The Whitebeard Pirates—one of the Four Emperors of the New World, led by Whitebeard, the previous "Strongest Man in the World," a legend whose strength was said to rival the power to destroy the world itself.
Two of the most powerful forces in existence were about to clash in an all-out war. The sheer magnitude of the news left the crew stunned.
Hughes and Sanji exchanged uneasy glances, recalling something important. Sanji broke the silence with a serious tone. "Now that I think about it... isn't Luffy's brother the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Shakky and Rayleigh's expressions shifted. Their casual demeanor vanished, replaced by visible tension.