The world was changing. It always had, and it always would. But never quite like this.
The seas had become restless. The winds carried whispers of names unknown yet terrifying. In the aftermath of the unexpected clash at Amazon Lily, the marine world had been thrown into a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and unprecedented urgency.
The pirate crew known as Voidreign had emerged from the shadows of mystery and made their mark. They had not come to dominate, nor to destroy. But their sheer presence had shaken the foundation of the World Government.
And now, they were the center of every conversation.
---
At Marineford, the headquarters of the World Government's elite military power, a special emergency assembly had been called.
It wasn't just the Admirals who were summoned. Every Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral, and strategic commander had been called to report, analyze, and act.
The Grand Hall buzzed with tension as high-ranking officers filled their seats, their faces grim and their eyes weary. Holographic screens flickered with video logs, incomplete data, battle aftermaths, and scarce surveillance records.
Fleet Admiral akazuki, a man of unwavering justice and absolute resolve, stood at the front with clenched fists. His face was carved from stone, eyes cold with fury. He looked over the assembly, the room growing quiet under his heavy presence.
"Begin," he growled.
Vice Admiral Momonga stepped forward, activating a large screen that displayed footage retrieved from den-den mushi and marine ships. The shaky, chaotic clips revealed moments from the Amazon Lily confrontation—blurry but horrifying images of marines being repelled by an unknown force.
"This," Momonga said, his voice low but clear, "is what little we were able to recover. The pirate group known as Voidreign appeared during the chaos near Amazon Lily. They did not declare themselves as enemies of the World Government directly, but their power was unmistakable."
He paused, then added, "They were led by one named Jessie."
The screen shifted. An image—clearly illustrated by marine artists using eyewitness descriptions—depicted Jessie, standing tall with wild dark hair, a cowboy hat and blacksuit, and a sword glowing with haki. His eyes were calm, not of a killer, but of a man who had seen too much.
"Eyewitness accounts suggest his power is on par with those ranked Above Emperor Level," said Momonga. The crowd stirred, some gasping quietly. "To be clear, this estimate is based solely on observations from surviving marines."
"Only 70% of their combat capability has been understood," added Rear Admiral Brannew, stepping in. "Due to limited encounters, we've only confirmed rankings for a few of the Voidreign crew."
He brought up the board:
- Jessie - Above Emperor Level
- Uta - Emperor Level
- Vash the Stampede - Admiral Level
- Kuina, Panda (BlackEye), Seraphim Mihawk, Seraphim Hancock - Candidate Admiral Level
Murmurs filled the hall. The power levels were staggering.
"Voidreign... they appeared out of nowhere," whispered an officer in the back. "It's like they were never on any radar."
Brannew nodded. "We are treating this pirate crew as an emerging world-level threat. Their origins remain unknown. We have no record of them before the Elegia incident months ago, where Jessie reportedly first appeared."
A chill ran through the room. For the marines, this was a nightmare.
"And then," added Momonga with a heavy voice, "there is the matter of Captain Coby."
The screen changed again. This time, to the damaged hull of a marine ship, debris floating across the sea, and blood splattered on torn flags.
"He was captured during a surprise ambush by Blackbeard."
"Ze ha ha ha ha...!" echoed an audio clip, Blackbeard's maniacal laughter replayed from a marine transponder recording.
A long silence filled the room. Garp, seated near the back, hadn't moved. His clenched fists sat on the table before him, his knuckles white.
Brannew said carefully, "Survivors report Blackbeard followed the retreating fleet and struck with full force. Captain Coby fought valiantly, but they were outnumbered."
Still, Garp didn't move.
"Where were the Straw Hats?" asked Vice Admiral Tsuru suddenly. "Have we heard from them? Or the Revolutionaries?"
"No confirmed sightings. We suspect they may be in motion, but their current locations are unverified."
"Strategic neutrality," corrected Tsuru. "If that man wanted to, he could've destroyed both sides. He didn't. That means he's playing a deeper game."
---
Back in a private corridor, after the meeting concluded, Garp sat alone on a bench near the observation deck. His usual jovial demeanor was gone. His eyes gazed out into the sea, unmoving.
Footsteps approached.
"Still blaming yourself?" came the soft voice of Tsuru.
Garp didn't answer.
"You knew Coby would face danger. He knew it too."
Garp finally spoke. "He was like a grandson to me... just like Ace. I told myself I wouldn't let it happen again."
"Blackbeard is playing a different game now. And with Voidreign in the picture... the board's more dangerous than ever."
Garp nodded slowly. "If I go after Blackbeard again... I won't be coming back."
Tsuru looked at him, eyes full of wisdom and pain. "Then make sure it counts."
---
In another hidden chamber of Marineford, bounty posters were being printed at full speed.
The first ones for the Voidreign Pirates.
- Jessie - 4.8 Billion Berries
- Uta - 3.6 Billion Berries
- Vash the Stampede - 2.9 Billion Berries
- Kuina - 2.3 Billion Berries
- BlackEye (Panda) - 2.1 Billion Berries
- Seraphim Mihawk - 2.0 Billion Berries
- Seraphim Hancock - 1.9 Billion Berries
"Put these across the Grand Line, New World, and all allied territories. The world needs to know who they are," ordered Brannew.
One marine asked hesitantly, "But sir, will putting a bounty only provoke them?"
Brannew shook his head. "No. It's a warning to others. A signal. We're not in control anymore. But we still stand."
---
Far across the sea, Shakky's bar was quiet.
Rayleigh sipped his sake as he stared out the window.
Jessie had visited him not long ago. He remembered that conversation vividly.
> "The world will descend into chaos soon," Jessie had said.
> "Then you should prepare for what comes," Rayleigh replied.
Now, the news was out. And it was worse than he feared.
Voidreign was rising.
Coby had been taken.
And Jessie was choosing to stay in the shadows, saving lives while refusing to dictate the flow of the world.
Rayleigh chuckled to himself.
"A man who walks between light and shadow. Dangerous... and necessary."
---
Back at Marineford, Sakazuki stood alone in his office.
The silence was deafening.
A new poster lay on his desk. The words burned into his mind.
> Voidreign. First Appearance: Elegia. Current Status: Unaffiliated. Danger Level: S+
He picked it up, crushing it slightly in his hand.
"This world doesn't need new kings," he growled. "It needs order."
He turned to his transponder snail. "Contact CP0. I want agents in every major region. No blind spots."
And with that, the gears of the World Government turned again.
But this time, they were no longer sure who they were chasing.
Was it a villain?
A savior?
Or something far more dangerous?