On the rocky coast of Punk Hazard, the atmosphere was heavy. The Straw Hat Pirates and the Heart Pirates stood together, watching the former Admiral Aokiji cycle across the frozen sea until he was nothing more than a speck on the horizon. The silence was thick with the weight of his warnings, and every member of the two crews wore a solemn expression.
It was Sanji who finally broke the silence, his voice low and steady. "So, what do we do next?"
The group looked at one another, their gazes eventually shifting toward their captain, Monkey D. Luffy. The young man stood with his straw hat shadowing his eyes, unusually quiet.
"Robin-chan, Franky," Luffy said, looking up. "Is that Ancient Weapon really as powerful as they say?"
Franky, the crew's shipwright, looked deeply troubled. He crossed his massive metallic arms and remained silent, his jaw set tight. Robin, however, gave a slow, grave nod.
"Yes, Luffy," Robin replied. "That is one of the legendary Ancient Weapons. It is a force of nature from the Void Century. Legend says it possesses enough power to destroy an entire island with a single shot."
The revelation hit the crew like a physical blow. Everyone present turned pale. Usopp and Chopper looked as though their hearts might jump out of their chests, their eyes bulging in synchronized terror.
"Destroy an entire island with one shot!" Usopp shrieked, clutching his head.
"That is so scary!" Chopper cried, ducking behind Zoro's leg for safety.
Nami bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her climate baton. "Um... as long as we don't provoke Kaido, there shouldn't be any problem, right?" she asked hesitantly.
Robin turned to her with a sympathetic but serious look. "That is true, Nami. If this were like our journey before, we might have been forced to oppose that ruler of the New World to find the Road Poneglyphs. But things have changed. As of now, we have no direct reason to clash with a Yonko like him."
Trafalgar Law, who had been standing slightly apart from the group, saw his opening. He stepped forward, his long coat fluttering in the cold wind of Punk Hazard.
"Straw Hat-ya, you should have seen the reality of things by now," Law said, his voice sharp. "With your strength alone, you cannot protect Nico Robin from the forces moving against her. Only by forming an alliance can we hope to have the power to confront those monsters of the New World. You saw what an Admiral can do. The Emperors are on a different level entirely."
Roronoa Zoro, who had been leaning against a nearby rock with his arms crossed, let out a skeptical grunt. "Hey, hey, even with you, it doesn't seem like things change much. I didn't see you make a move against the Admiral just now."
Law's eyes narrowed slightly at the swordsman's bluntness. "That is because we are not allies yet! I have no reason to risk my crew's life for yours without a formal agreement."
"But isn't Doflamingo one of Kaido's subordinates?" Robin asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
Law's expression stiffened for a brief moment before he regained his composure. "No... Doflamingo's relationship with Kaido is unique. They are in a cooperative partnership, nothing more. Doflamingo is a descendant of the Celestial Dragons. He is not the kind of man who would ever be subservient to anyone. He plays his own game."
Nami shuddered, her imagination running wild with the dangers Law was describing. "But even so, isn't it still incredibly dangerous? We're talking about the strongest pirates in the world!"
Law didn't back down. "That is true, but don't forget what Aokiji just said. Kaido might be too busy to deal with us right now, but the Big Mom Pirates are also hunting for you, Nico Robin. Even if you try to hide, where could you possibly go? The New World is their territory."
The crew fell silent again. The logic was sound, and the threat was undeniable. They all looked to Luffy, waiting for his decision. After a long moment of silence, Luffy slowly raised his head. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"No, Tra-guy," Luffy said, his tone firm and unwavering. "I want to become the Pirate King with my own strength. If I start relying on other people's power just because I'm scared, I won't get very far. I'm going to protect my friends myself."
Law stared at him, stunned. He clearly hadn't expected Luffy to refuse such a logical proposal so decisively. He gritted his teeth, looking visibly upset as he adjusted his hat.
"Is that so? Then I understand," Law said coldly. "I wish you a smooth journey, Straw Hat-ya. We're done here. Let's go, Bepo!"
Law turned on his heel, ready to leave without another word. His crew began to follow him back toward their submarine.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Zoro called out, stopping them in their tracks. "What about that distress call we picked up earlier? And what about that samurai guy we found?"
A mysterious, knowing smile appeared on Law's face as he slowly walked past the Straw Hat Pirates. He didn't stop moving toward the water.
"Hmph," Law muttered over his shoulder. "You'll find the answers to those questions if you just go and look for yourselves..."
Thousands of miles away, in the East Blue, a different kind of tension hung in the air.
On the massive Garbage Mountain located just outside the borders of the Goa Kingdom, a group of bandits was hiding. Dadan, the rough-edged woman who had served as the foster mother for Ace, Luffy, and Sabo, led her crew through the dense forest on the hilltop. She held a pair of binoculars to her eyes, gazing intently at the distant royal city and the coastline.
The sight was harrowing. Pirate ships flying the dreaded flag of the Beasts Pirates had completely blockaded the Goa Kingdom. The kingdom's famous walls, which stood dozens of meters high and had protected the nobility for generations, lay in absolute ruin.
"So... so powerful," one of the bandits whispered, his voice trembling. "Is this really what a great pirate from the New World is like?"
For a group of bandits living in a remote corner of the East Blue, the Beasts Pirates were like something out of a nightmare—a level of power they could never hope to reach. Only moments ago, they had watched a young pirate destroy a city wall ten meters thick with a single punch. It was a display of raw physical force that reminded Dadan of Garp the Fist.
Dadan looked grim. She knew that the world was changing, and the peace of the East Blue was a thing of the past. However, she tried to keep her cool for the sake of her men.
"Hmph, let that idiot King Sterry go fawn over the Celestial Dragons," Dadan muttered. "Don't worry about it. From the looks of these pirates, they have no intention of coming up here into the woods. They're only interested in the gold."
"Yes... Boss!" the subordinates replied, though they didn't look convinced.
As they watched, a bizarre and terrifying sight unfolded by the shore. The sea began to churn and bubble, and a giant, mountain-sized frog Sea King emerged from the depths. It carried a massive, basket-like box on its back. The members of the Beasts Pirates began loading the Heavenly Gold—the massive tribute intended for the World Government—from the Goa Kingdom's ships into the basket. Once the cargo was secure, the Sea King leaped back into the ocean and vanished beneath the waves.
"How terrifying," Dadan whispered. "Can the Beasts Pirates even command the Sea Kings now?"
As Dadan's expression grew more solemn, a frantic voice rang out from behind her.
"Boss Dadan! Boss Dadan!"
Dadan jumped, nearly dropping her binoculars. She whirled around, baring her teeth. "You bastard, not so loud! Are you trying to make sure those pirates hear us?"
The subordinate flinched and quickly lowered his voice. He was holding a bulky electronic device in his hands. "Boss, look! This thing suddenly started working again..."
Dadan looked at the object and froze. It was a television set that had been smuggled in from the New World years ago. She had once used it to witness the great war between the Beasts Pirates and the Marines. Since that battle, the World Government had strictly banned these devices, and it had been broken for a long time.
"Quick, open it and see what's happening!" Dadan commanded.
"Yes, Boss!"
The screen flickered to life, and a grainy projection began to play. The scene on the screen was strangely familiar to the bandits. It took them a moment to realize they were looking at the very city they were currently watching through their binoculars.
On the screen, the battered and bruised King Sterry of the Goa Kingdom appeared, looking pathetic as he knelt on the ground. Beside him, a very young-looking pirate wearing a mask and a long cloak stepped into the frame. His voice echoed through the forest, broadcasted to whoever was lucky—or unlucky—enough to have a working receiver.
"It has been a long time, everyone on the seas," the masked pirate said. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Page One, a high-ranking executive of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Tobi Roppo. I am currently stationed here in the East Blue under the direct command of Lord Kaido. I believe all of you should be well aware of Lord Kaido's recent orders."
The pirate stepped closer to the camera, his presence imposing despite his youth.
"So, let me take this opportunity to reiterate Lord Kaido's will to you all. There is an upcoming war between the Beasts Pirates and the World Government. Our crew is merciful. We will not demand your support, and we even permit you to stay on the sidelines. You may wait for a final victor to emerge before you choose a side. Lord Kaido allows this."
Page One's voice turned cold as he looked down at the trembling King Sterry.
"But similarly, the Beasts Pirates will absolutely not allow you to defy Lord Kaido's commands. For example, the King of the Goa Kingdom, who is behind me, tried to transport supplies and Heavenly Gold to those Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. He chose the wrong side. Therefore, there's nothing I can do but execute his will on behalf of Lord Kaido. Execution!"
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse