In a remote sea of the New World, on a desolate, uninhabited island where rain gently fell and mist veiled the landscape, the Red-Haired Pirates had taken refuge in a cave. They huddled around a bonfire, drinking and singing to keep the damp chill at bay.
Suddenly, Shanks, who was drunkenly sprawled on a rock, snapped his eyes open and turned towards the cave's entrance.
Ben Beckman, already alert, sat up straight, gun in hand, pointed toward the direction of the approaching footsteps.
"Seems like someone troublesome has arrived," Beckman muttered, his tone calm but cautious.
As the slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the cave, a figure emerged from the darkness, stepping into the firelight.
The man had short black hair, eyes as sharp as a hawk's, and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a black hat adorned with white fur, a burgundy patterned shirt under a black coat, white trousers, and black boots. His chest bore a cross-shaped pendant, and a massive blade—the famed black blade Yoru—was strapped to his back.
"It's you, Mihawk!" Shanks exclaimed, his tone shifting to one of mock surprise, as he slumped back into a relaxed position.
Beckman lowered his weapon, taking a swig from his bottle, as if to calm his own nerves.
Indeed, the visitor was none other than Dracule Mihawk, the world's strongest swordsman and a Warlord of the Sea.
Mihawk regarded them with his usual calm demeanor. "You should have recognized me before aiming a gun," he remarked.
"Sorry, sorry," Shanks waved his hand dismissively. "Had a bit too much to drink."
"What brings you here?" Shanks asked, sitting up slightly.
"It's raining, and I saw your ship nearby. Figured I'd stop by," Mihawk replied, taking a seat near the fire.
Shanks chuckled, imagining Mihawk's coffin-shaped boat braving the storm.
"You've heard about Whitebeard, haven't you?" Mihawk asked after a brief pause.
The casual atmosphere instantly shifted. Shanks sat up straight, his expression curious.
"Whitebeard? Did the fight with Sanders conclude? What happened?" Shanks inquired.
The other Red-Haired Pirates also turned their attention to Mihawk, eager to hear the news.
"It's over. Whitebeard lost," Mihawk stated bluntly.
The cave fell silent.
Shanks stared at Mihawk, his shock evident. "Whitebeard... lost?"
The crew exchanged surprised looks. It was hard to believe. This was Whitebeard, a man who had ruled the seas for decades.
"So the battle's already over? I thought it'd drag on for days." Shanks frowned. "I was planning to check it out if it lasted long enough. Didn't expect it to end so quickly."
Mihawk nodded. "It was quick. Just over a day. By the time I was halfway there, the news came that Whitebeard himself admitted defeat."
He pulled a few newspapers from his coat and handed them to Shanks.
Shanks skimmed through the reports, his expression growing serious. He passed them to Beckman after finishing.
"So it's true," Shanks muttered. "Whitebeard, the man who once stood equal to Roger, was defeated by Sanders."
He leaned back, lost in thought. "What's going on with this Sanders guy? How does he have so many Devil Fruit abilities?"
Mihawk's eyes narrowed slightly. "It's likely some ability we've never encountered before. This sea is vast and full of mysteries."
Beckman, who had been reading over the newspaper, added, "If he truly has all these powers, it's no wonder he could defeat Whitebeard. But this raises questions—how did he gain those abilities?"
Shanks stared into the fire, his brow furrowed. "The balance of the world is shifting faster than I expected. We'll need to keep an eye on this Sanders."
Mihawk remained silent, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Ben Beckman put down the newspaper, exhaling smoke as he said calmly:"This guy is just insane. One Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability is enough to make him one of the top powerhouses on the sea. Add in his other abilities, and no wonder Whitebeard lost."
Shanks, visibly stunned, nodded and said:"Looks like he's spent the past year mastering these abilities. Once he was ready, he came out to challenge Whitebeard."
Ben Beckman added:"It's only a matter of time before we cross paths with him."
The New World might be vast, but it's also small. The territories of the Four Emperors were already divided; there was no room for a fifth emperor. Since Sanders had chosen to stir up the seas, confrontation was inevitable.
"If we face him, we face him," Shanks shrugged nonchalantly, adding with a grin, "It'll be a good opportunity to test the power that defeated Whitebeard! If we can't win, we just run. Nothing to be ashamed of."
Running away from battles wasn't a big deal for him. After all, his former captain, the Pirate King Roger, did it plenty of times. Even the Red-Haired Pirates had been chased down in their earlier days.
Dressrosa
The citizens of Dressrosa had also received the shocking news.
"Lord Sanders actually defeated Whitebeard!!""Unbelievable!""This is amazing! Does this mean Dressrosa is now under the protection of the world's strongest man? Fantastic! Pirates will think twice before raiding us now.""Multiple Devil Fruit abilities! No wonder Lord Sanders has his base up in the sky!"
Soon after, Viola rushed to Sky City aboard an airship, clutching several newspapers.
"Is there news about Sanders?" she asked.
On the beach, Robin, dressed in a revealing swimsuit, lay on a lounge chair sunbathing, a thick book in her hands.
"The newspaper says Captain defeated Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, and is now recognized as the world's strongest man!" Viola said breathlessly, placing the papers in front of Robin.
Robin skimmed through them, then smiled faintly and set them aside.
"Aren't you even a little surprised?" Viola asked, incredulous. "That's Whitebeard we're talking about! I was scared to death when I heard the news!"
"Nothing surprising," Robin replied with a calm smile. "He went out this time specifically to defeat Whitebeard. This was all within expectations."
Her lips curled up slightly as she added, "That guy never makes empty promises."
Viola sighed, throwing her hands up. "Fine. I'll go share the good news with the others."
Somewhere in the New World
A submarine was sailing across the sea.
Law held a newspaper in his hands, a smirk on his lips.
"Incredible, Captain! You've already become the world's strongest. Looks like I need to work harder myself!"
As the ship's doctor and a crewmember of the world's strongest pirate, being obscure didn't sit right with him.
"Hey, Law! I found that guy with a bounty of 110 million berries!" shouted Penguin, holding a telescope.
"Perfect," Law said, folding the newspaper. "It's time to make a name for ourselves on the seas. Let's start with this pirate crew!"
Penguin, Shachi, and Bepo cheered, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit. After more than a year of grueling training, it was time to see the results.
An hour later, the captain of the rival crew, the infamous Big Demon Mond, who had a bounty of 110 million berries, was easily defeated by Law. The rest of his officers were brought down by Shachi, Bepo, and the others.
Thus, the Heart Medical Corps of the Thunder God Pirates began to make a name for themselves!
Elsewhere in the New World
Battle Demon Wyper had similar ambitions. He and his crew targeted another pirate group with a captain whose bounty slightly exceeded 100 million berries.
"Our captain has already reached the top of the world!""We can't fall behind. Let's show the world what the Thunder God Pirates are made of!"
"Alright! Take them down and make a name for ourselves!"
Small Sky Island, Weatheria
An elderly man named Haredaheld a newspaper as he rushed to Nami's quarters.
At the time, Nami was diligently working on a nautical chart inside her room.
A year had passed, and Nami had grown taller and more elegant. Her cheeks were rosy, and it was evident that her time in Weatheria had been quite fruitful. Over the past year, besides studying meteorology on the sky island, she had often accompanied the island's residents to assist nearby countries by altering climates, bringing rain, or mitigating natural disasters.
Each time they visited a new location, Nami made it a point to draw a map of the area. The stack of chart paper she had amassed over the year was now over half a meter tall.
Suddenly, a loud Duang! Duang! Duang! sound of heavy knocking startled her. She jolted, and her pen slipped, leaving a deep mark on the pristine paper.
Taking a deep breath, she clenched her small fists, sprang from her stool, and stormed to the door. She flung it open with a huff.
"Haridass!!"
Seeing Nami's fiery expression, Haridass's eyes softened with affection, though he outwardly feigned displeasure.
"Young Nami, you should address me as 'teacher'!"
Nami sighed deeply, rolling her eyes, barely masking her exasperation.
Before she could retort, Haredaquickly waved the newspaper in his hand."It's news about your captain!"
"Hmph! This kid shows no respect for her elders!" Haredagrumbled internally, but deep down, he and the other elders on Weatheria all adored this spunky girl.
Although Nami could be short-tempered at times, Haredaknew she held genuine respect for them. After over a year together, they had grown close, like family.
Hearing news about Sanders, Nami's anger vanished instantly. She snatched the newspaper eagerly and began reading.
"That Sanders is something else. Whitebeard was a monster who dominated the seas for decades, and your captain actually managed to defeat him. Truly remarkable!" Haredamuttered beside her, still in disbelief.
He had never expected that the young man who had brought Nami to Weatheria would one day defeat Whitebeard—a man capable of destroying the world.
"Of course! That's my captain!"
Nami's face lit up with pride as she raised her chin, her expression full of self-satisfaction.
"Amazing, Captain... You're already the world's strongest? Looks like I need to step up my game!"
Nami resolved to work harder—not just on meteorology and navigation but also on earning her bounty.
Over the past year, although she had trained diligently, she had refrained from showcasing her Rumble-Rumble Fruit abilities, aiming to avoid drawing attention to the fact that she possessed such a powerful ability. Even though Sanders didn't mind, Nami preferred to keep things under wraps to minimize unnecessary trouble.
Now that the news of Sanders defeating Whitebeard and his multiple Devil Fruit powers had spread across the seas, there was no need for her to hide anymore.
Her new goal: earn a 500-million-berry bounty within a year!
Elsewhere in the New World
Doflamingo's Reaction
On a remote island, Doflamingo clutched the newspaper, cold sweat running down his face.
"That guy... He actually defeated Whitebeard!"
He let out a sinister laugh, "Fufufufu! Truly terrifying!"
After escaping from Impel Down, Doflamingo had been evading the Marines while rebuilding his influence. Despite losing most of his officers, many of his previous operations and assets remained intact.
Now known as the infamous Joker in the underworld once again, Doflamingo had regained a decent standing.
Initially, he had entertained thoughts of scheming against Sanders and the Thunder God Pirates. But upon seeing the latest news, those ideas vanished entirely.
"No way I'm messing with him. Absolutely no chance."
Against someone who could defeat Whitebeard, no amount of plotting or trickery would suffice. Doflamingo made up his mind to steer clear of Sanders and his crew.
The Fish-Man Island's Perspective
At Fish-Man Island, King Neptune expressed regret over the defeat of his old friend Whitebeard but was relieved to hear he had survived the encounter.
Jinbe, the sea knight, also breathed a sigh of relief.
He had only learned about the battle between Whitebeard and Sanders after it had ended. Information was harder to come by on Fish-Man Island, and the delayed news gave him quite a scare.
The Fish-Man Island lacked the sophisticated intelligence networks of the Four Emperors or the Marines. Even so, the news eventually reached them. Neptune, while relieved that Whitebeard was unharmed, decided that Jinbe should visit the Whitebeard Pirates to assess the situation firsthand.
For the common folk of Fish-Man Island, however, it was a time of pure celebration. With both the former and current world's strongest individuals protecting the island, they felt an unprecedented sense of security—no one dared disturb them.
Expanding Reverberations Across the World
The Fish-Man Island lacked the sophisticated intelligence networks of the Four Emperors or the Marines. Even so, the news eventually reached them. Neptune, while relieved that Whitebeard was unharmed, decided that Jinbe should visit the Whitebeard Pirates to assess the situation firsthand.
For the common folk of Fish-Man Island, however, it was a time of pure celebration. With both the former and current world's strongest individuals protecting the island, they felt an unprecedented sense of security—no one dared disturb them.
Sabaody Archipelago
On a secluded shore, Rayleigh sat alone with a bottle of liquor in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
"It's truly astounding, Sanders. Whitebeard, that old monster, actually lost!"
His eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and intrigue as he pondered the new power dynamics.
Amazon Lily
On her throne, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock sat gracefully, her expression both haughty and stern.
The paper she held had been brought back by the Kuja Pirates during their latest voyage. Her gaze lingered on the name Sanders, and a flicker of annoyance crossed her face.
"He left claiming he'd search for a way to remove the mark... and now he's forgotten entirely? Unforgivable!"
Though her anger seemed directed at the absent captain, there was a hidden softness beneath it—a rare concern for someone she deemed worthy.
East Blue
Far from the chaos of the New World, in the peaceful East Blue, a young man stood atop a cliff overlooking the ocean. He wore an orange cowboy hat and shorts, with a tattoo on his left arm that read ASCE, the S notably crossed out. A string of red beads adorned his neck, and freckles dotted his cheeks.
Holding the newspaper in one hand and his hat against the breeze with the other, he grinned broadly.
"The world's strongest and the second strongest, huh?"
"Wait for me! Once I reach the New World, I'll challenge the second strongest first, and then the strongest!"
His voice carried with it the determination of a rising star ready to stake his claim.
The shocking news of Whitebeard's defeat spread across the seas, accompanied by the reveal of Sanders' astronomical bounty of 5.343 billion berries.
This figure not only surpassed Whitebeard's bounty of 5 billion berries, but it also solidified Sanders' position as the strongest. The bounty was justified further by the revelation of his multiple Devil Fruit abilities.
Yet, the bounty itself was less surprising to the world compared to Whitebeard's defeat. After all, it was expected that someone capable of defeating the "Strongest Man in the World" would be rewarded with a bounty surpassing his predecessor's.
The revised bounty poster also came with an official notice from the World Government, declaring Sanders and the Thunder God Pirates to be a force that no government entity may engage without explicit orders. This marked Sanders' official ascension as the fifth Emperor of the Sea.
Alongside Sanders' updated bounty, another significant notice circulated: the new bounty of 738 million berries for former Warlord Crocodile.
After attacking Marine forces, Crocodile was officially stripped of his Warlord title. While his bounty was impressive in the New World, it drew little attention compared to the buzz surrounding Sanders and Whitebeard.
Crocodile himself was unfazed, dismissing the notice with disdain. He ordered his crew to set sail, heading toward an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
In the Wano Country, Crocodile sought to capitalize on the chaos. His aim was clear: to locate Pluton, the legendary warship capable of mass destruction. For this, he was even willing to temporarily ally with Kaido.
Kaido, surprised but intrigued, accepted Crocodile's allegiance. Although a Logia user like Crocodile seemed out of place in a crew known for its Zoan theme, Kaido appreciated his strategic mind and the strength of his Sand-Sand Fruit.
With Crocodile now under Kaido's banner, the Beast Pirates gained another formidable force, inching closer to their ultimate ambitions.
The seas were ablaze with new developments, and all eyes were on the New World as these powers prepared for the inevitable clashes ahead.
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T/N:
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