...
The Marine warships carrying civilians slowly sailed away from Elegia's coastline, the flags of justice fluttering loudly in the morning breeze.
The Totto Land ships led by Katakuri also set sail, their mirror surfaces reflecting dazzling spots of light under the sun.
This pillar of the Charlotte family stood at the bow, gazing toward the red-haired figure in the ruins holding his daughter. No one could see the expression beneath his scarf, only a complex gleam flashing through those red eyes.
The Red Force of the Red Hair Pirates lay quietly anchored offshore.
Shanks, carrying Uta, ascended the gangway extended to the ship, each step steady and slow.
The crew followed silently; no one spoke, only the sound of waves slapping against the hull.
As they passed the Straw Hat crew, Beckman glanced toward Luffy.
The rubber boy was still unconscious, being carefully tended to by Chopper.
The Red Hair Pirates unconsciously showed gentle smiles.
It was the gratification of seeing a junior grow up, the emotion of witnessing a dream being passed on—that boy from back then had grown up too…
Shanks paused for a moment before stepping onto the deck, turning back to look at Luffy on the shore. Indescribable emotions flickered in his eyes:
Anticipation, worry, pride, and a heaviness that only he himself understood.
"Set sail," he said in a low voice.
The Red Force slowly turned its bow and headed toward the New World.
At the same time, people around the world who had been watching the live broadcast gradually woke up.
They climbed up from sofas, from plazas, from the floors of their homes, staring blankly at the now-normal screens—as if everything they had just experienced was merely a long, vivid dream.
In the ruins of Elegia, Luffy suddenly opened his eyes and sprang up with a kip-up.
"Where's Uta? Where's Shanks?" Luffy looked around urgently and asked.
Zoro leaned against a broken wall with his swords in his arms and jerked his chin toward the sea horizon: "They left."
Luffy didn't shout or make a fuss.
He stood up, walked to the edge of the ruins, and gazed at the familiar red-sailed ship gradually growing distant, at the circle of Red Hair Pirates members gathered on the deck.
They were bowing their heads, as if guarding something.
Luffy fell silent for a moment, his expression darkening. It was as if he had guessed something but didn't dare—or didn't want—to confirm it.
In the end, he simply raised his head and looked toward the sun slowly rising on the eastern horizon.
Morning light fell on his straw hat, on his dust-covered face.
A soft, familiar melody drifted faintly in the wind—the last song Uta had sung, "Where the Wind Goes."
The song was very light, almost like an illusion, yet it truly existed in everyone's hearts.
At that moment, the light screen slowly dimmed, like a stage curtain falling at the end of a performance.
"It's over…"
In God Valley, someone murmured softly.
The Five Elders rose almost in unison.
Saint Nusjuro gripped the First Generation Kitetsu tightly once more. Killing intent surged in Saint Topman Warcury's eyes. Saint Saturn, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, and Saint Marcus Mars—
The five exchanged a glance—a wordless understanding.
"We can't wait any longer."
Saint Nusjuro's voice was cold as steel: "The future has already proven that Monkey D. Luffy's awakening is inevitable. And the only way to stop him…"
"…is to kill his father before he is born." Saint Topman Warcury finished.
The Five Elders' auras began to rise. The moment the light screen vanished, they were prepared to charge out. Sensing this, members of the God's Knights gripped their weapons tightly.
Saint Garling stared fixedly at Dragon in the distance—the Revolutionary Army leader, the father of that future "demon."
The pirates keenly sensed the shift in the situation. Roger Pirates, Rocks Pirates, Whitebeard, Golden Lion… everyone almost simultaneously reached for their weapons as battle intent flared once more.
A chaotic battle was about to erupt.
However, at this critical moment…
The light screen, which should have dissipated, did not disappear—instead, it suddenly expanded dramatically!
The screen that had originally covered only God Valley expanded wildly, instantly enveloping dozens of surrounding islands and kingdoms! Whether farmers tilling fields, merchants walking the streets,
or nobles in royal palaces—everyone saw the enormous light screen that had suddenly appeared in the sky!
"What... what is this thing?!"
"What the hell is that?! A disaster?"
Countless citizens looked up in panic and confusion.
In God Valley, the pirates who had been about to act froze.
Then, someone—nobody knew who—was the first to let their weapon clatter to the ground with a "clang" and plop down on their butt.
"Hey hey, what's the point of fighting now?"
Scopper Gaban grinned: "With this thing here, do those old fogeys dare make a move?"
The other pirates followed suit upon
Killing each other brings no benefit! Cooperate first, split the loot later! What do you say?!"
In God Valley, everyone's gazes snapped toward Rocks.
That voice… was none other than Rocks D. Xebec!
On the light screen, the scene was crystal clear: it was the moment just hours earlier when the three forces had first landed on God Valley!
The full Rocks Pirates assembled, the Roger Pirates on high alert, Garp leading the Marine forces, Saint Garling at the head of the God's Knights… three sides in confrontation, swords drawn and bows bent!
"This… this… how did it start playing 'our' story?!"
Golden Lion Shiki stared in disbelief.
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Could it be… what's playing now is our original timeline?"
The scene continued.
A young Rayleigh struck and sent Saint Sommers flying, rescuing Shakky from being surrounded.
Roger clashed with Whitebeard, Garp's iron fist shattered the earth, Dragon and the red-haired twins' desperate escape…
Every scene faithfully recreated what had happened just hours ago.
"Sommers!!!"
Saint Garling's furious roar suddenly exploded.
He stared fixedly at the screen where Saint Sommers attempted to kill Shakky, then whipped his head toward the God's Knights member beside him, rage nearly bursting from his eyes: "You! How dare you!!!"
Saint Sommers's face turned deathly pale.
He never imagined the light screen would expose his actions to everyone!
He truly had harbored killing intent back then—better to kill Shakky outright than let her fall into Saint Garling's hands…
But he never dreamed it would be broadcast publicly!
"C-Commander… I…"
Saint Sommers stammered incoherently, unsure what to say…
Saint Garling's fists cracked as he clenched them, but he ultimately held back. This wasn't the time for infighting.
The scene continued playing.
Everyone saw how Dragon took advantage of the chaos to snatch little Shanks and Shamrock, saw the tiny twist of fate in that instant.
"So that's how it was…"
Roger held little Shanks and murmured: "Without the light screen, Garp's son would still have taken these two children… but the difference is—"
In the scene, Dragon tried to reclaim Shamrock amid the chaos but was struck in the shoulder by one of the God's Knights, Saint Maffey.
One infant slipped from Dragon's arms and was seized by the arriving God's Knights member.
Shamrock was taken back.
Seeing this, the rage in Saint Garling's eyes eased slightly; a faint, barely noticeable satisfaction even appeared.
At least in this "original timeline," he had managed to keep one of his sons.
The screen continued flickering, showing more details:
How Bartholomew Kuma ate the Paw-Paw Fruit and instinctively used its power to help injured slaves…
How Kaido ambushed Big Mom from behind and stole the Azure Dragon Fruit that originally belonged to her;
How one of the Five Elders, Saint Saturn, hid in the shadows, observing the entire battle's progression and recording every noteworthy individual…
Fragments of history were pieced together one by one.
And the biggest difference: the fate of Rocks and Eris.
However, when the scene switched to the other side of the island, everyone was stunned.
This was decisively different from the reality they had experienced.
On the light screen, Rocks was running wildly through dense jungle, holding Eris and little Teach!
His heavy, ragged breathing was clearly audible, sweat covering his forehead, his black coat torn in many places.
Behind him came the pursuit force led by Saint Garling.
But the most hair-raising part was that among the pursuers were dozens of figures whose faces…
were all people Rocks knew!
His father, his grandmother… and some close friends and relatives!
Yet now their faces were twisted and ferocious as they chased him, eyes gleaming with inhuman madness!
At this moment, Saint Garling's head had been slashed open by Rocks, his regeneration noticeably slowed…
"Immortal bastards?! These scum!"
On-screen Rocks roared, kicking away the "father" lunging at him.
The body rolled several times on the ground, then twisted and crawled up again, charging once more.
Eris in his arms was pale, clutching the crying infant tightly. Her voice was weak but resolute: "Xebec… put me down. Do you think you can drive them off with just one hand?!"
Eris struggled free from Rocks's arms while holding Teach. Though battered and bruised from the fall, her eyes remained utterly determined!
"If you can't even protect one child… if I'm just a woman dependent on you, you never would have fallen in love with me, right?! Isn't that so?!"
"You fool!!"
Eris spoke as if making final arrangements—if she were captured, he would kill Teach and then bite her tongue to commit suicide!
"We both have to live. See you in Lulusia, Xebec!"
With that, Eris turned and fled backward, clutching Teach.
On-screen Rocks gritted his teeth as he watched his wife and child, then abruptly turned around, glaring murderously at the arriving Saint Garling and the others!
"Finally put your wife down… let's see how you fight now!"
"Pfft!"
Just as Saint Garling finished speaking, Rocks drew his long sword in one motion. A single slash cleaved half of God Valley in two!
This strike was both a show of force and a severance of his own retreat!
...
[From here onward, it begins recounting the original storyline. This timeline was disrupted because of the light screen, but the original one still exists!]
...