One Piece: Scourge of the Seas

Just as the Straw Hat crew felt a slight sense of relief...

A beam of light rapidly condensed in the mouth of the Pacifista, aiming directly at the Thousand Sunny.

In that instant...

Zoro's eyes sharpened as he leaped into the air.

Armament!

His right hand, gripping the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, was instantly coated in Armament Haki, which then extended to the scabbard.

One-Sword Style Iai: Shishi Sonson!

Drawing his sword, he executed a swift slash.

The pitch-black blade seamlessly cleaved the incoming laser beam in two, causing the divided beams to fall into the sea behind the Sunny.

"Boom!"

Violent explosions erupted, sending two towering columns of water skyward.

"Whoa!!!"

At the ship's railing, witnessing Zoro's single strike deflecting the Shichibukai's attack, Luffy and the others were invigorated, cheering loudly.

"Armament Haki, huh..."

Sentomaru observed Zoro's steady landing, a look of surprise in his eyes.

The fact that the opponent could slice through a laser beam akin to Kizaru's was unexpected.

However, this didn't signify much.

"Good, the 'insight' gained from yesterday's battle still lingers."

Zoro held his sword before him, his fighting spirit blazing as he faced PX-1.

His eagerness to grow stronger fueled his desire to battle formidable foes.

Luffy, Sanji, Usopp, Bartolomeo, Franky, and the others had no intention of merely spectating; they jumped off the ship one after another, confronting PX-1.

Sentomaru watched as nearly the entire Straw Hat crew mobilized, casually resting his double-edged axe beside him, thinking: Just right for testing strength.

PX-1's eyes flashed red, scanning Luffy and the others one by one to confirm their identities as wanted criminals.

But having suffered a crushing defeat at Maude's hands just yesterday, the Straw Hats lacked the patience to wait for PX-1's scan to complete and charged forward collectively.

It was as if time had returned to yesterday.

Only,

Today, the enemy they faced was another Shichibukai in their eyes—Bartholomew Kuma.

"Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, violent explosions echoed among several of the archipelago's groves.

...

Lawless Zone, Grove 18.

Drake, also one of the Supernovas, encountered a Pacifista sent to intercept him.

"Has it already been developed..."

Hearing faint explosions from other areas, Drake looked in surprise at the approaching Pacifista.

As a Navy spy, he was aware of some internal Navy secrets, including the research on Pacifistas.

"Fallen Rear Admiral, surrender quietly!"

The elite Marines leading the Pacifista were unaware of Drake's spy identity, simply viewing him as a Navy traitor.

Drake shifted his gaze to the leading Marine officer.

In silence, he drew the double-edged axe and rapier hanging at his waist.

There was nothing to say, and it was a good opportunity to experience the latest war weapon developed by the science department.

Drake took the initiative, attacking the Pacifista designated PX-3.

...

At the same time...

Grove 13, Shakky's Rip-off Bar.

Shakky sat on the sofa by the window, resting her chin in her hand, gazing out in a certain direction.

It was as if she could see the various Supernova forces confronting the Pacifistas.

"It's getting lively again."

She sighed softly.

Fire Fist Ace, Phantom Sniper Maude.

And this year's surge of Supernovas.

Since her retirement, only in the past three years has Shakky clearly felt the old gears of the era beginning to turn anew.

"Will you make it back in time... Rayleigh."

Shakky extinguished her cigarette.

"I wonder what the world will look like after the war?"

When the Golden Lion returned to the seas, when the Navy announced the execution of Fire Fist Ace.

Anyone with insight could easily foresee...

A massive war is imminent.

After the war, whether the Navy is defeated or Whitebeard's side falls.

The world will usher in new and unknown changes.

At the bar.

Law put away his Den Den Mushi.

Beside him, Urouge looked at Law, curiously asking, "Who were you talking to just now?"

"None of your business."

Law stood up, called to his crew, and headed straight for the bar's door.

Urouge watched Law's back, scratching his head, sighing, "What a difficult man to get along with."

Clearly, they were both under Boss Maude's banner, and they had fought side by side just yesterday.

Yet his attitude remained so cold.

Urouge felt a bit helpless.

Perona quietly approached, whispering, "Actually, he's sick."

"Huh?"

Urouge looked at Perona in surprise, puzzled, "What illness?"

"Never mind what illness, just know that guy is sick."

"..."

Urouge was bewildered, thinking that Boss Maude's subordinates didn't seem to get along well.

Little did he know...

In fact, he was the only one in the bar who was truly Maude's subordinate in name.

On the sofa by the window.

Shakky glanced at Law, who had reached the door, and smiled, "Leaving already?"

"Yes."

Law stopped, nodded to Shakky.

He might have been rude to Urouge, but in front of Shakky, he dared not be disrespectful.

"The time has come."

Law said to Shakky, then led his crew out of the bar.

The direction they headed was precisely Grove 20, where the Straw Hat Pirates were located.

...

At the same time...

Grove 20.

The intense sounds of battle had driven away all curious onlookers.

Under the combined assault of the Straw Hat crew, PX-1 was in a bitter struggle.

In desperation, Sentomaru personally joined the fray, engaging Luffy.

After exchanging blows for over ten minutes, relying on his superior mastery of Armament Haki, Sentomaru repeatedly repelled Luffy.

"This guy is strong too."

Luffy stood up from the ground, eyes fixed on Sentomaru, who held a double-edged axe. He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

Sentomaru eyed the reassembled Luffy with a calm expression. "Five hundred million… not much to speak of."

"..."

In response, Luffy vanished in an instant, using a high-speed movement technique akin to Shave, appearing behind Sentomaru.

"Useless."

Without turning his head, Sentomaru's hand shot back, grabbing Luffy by the collar the moment his figure reappeared.

"Seems like you don't understand Observation Haki."

With Luffy in his grip, Sentomaru raised his double-edged axe with the other hand, swiftly swinging it toward Luffy's body.

The axe blade was coated in Armament Haki — if the strike landed, it would undoubtedly cause serious injury.

Seeing the blade descending, Luffy's pupils shrank. He clenched his fists and launched a double punch at Sentomaru's chest and stomach.

However, Sentomaru, leveraging his Observation Haki, had already clad the targeted area in Armament Haki, nullifying Luffy's punches.

Without losing momentum, the axe continued its arc toward Luffy.

"Damn it…"

Faced with the incoming strike, Luffy's heart raced.

At the critical moment, a figure appeared beside Sentomaru out of thin air.

"Hmm? When…?"

Sentomaru's keen senses reacted immediately, his eyes flickering with surprise before the figure's fist landed heavily on his shoulder.

Boom!

With a dull impact, Sentomaru was sent flying sideways, releasing Luffy in the process.

Luffy tumbled to the ground, sitting up in confusion.

The figure who had struck Sentomaru stood before Luffy, back facing him.

"Yo, Luffy. Long time no see."

The figure adjusted the brim of his hat with a wide grin.

Luffy stared at the man's back, dumbfounded.

Who the hell is this guy?

...

Somewhere in the New World.

The usually tranquil sea was disturbed only by the presence of a massive ship resembling a whale — the Moby Dick, flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.

On the ship's expansive deck sat a giant chair, occupied by the man known as the Strongest Man in the World — Whitebeard.

A group of tall, beautiful nurses busied themselves around him.

To rescue Ace, Whitebeard needed to summon all his fleets, but he also needed his aging body to remain in the best possible condition.

Nearby, the ship's first division commander, Marco, stood with the other crew members, watching their captain with worry.

No matter how powerful a person may be, they cannot escape the ravages of time.

The Pirate King Roger had fallen to illness.

Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, faced the same fate.

The nurses finished their thorough examination, their eyes heavy with concern.

The results were as grim as ever.

Even a single failing organ would be enough to kill an ordinary man in a short time — yet Whitebeard's entire body was riddled with severe ailments.

Such a fragile body was wholly unsuited for high-intensity combat.

With his eyes closed in quiet repose, Whitebeard suddenly opened them.

"Jihahaha…"

A familiar laugh echoed from above.

Hearing the sound, Marco and the others looked up in surprise.

Descending from the sky was the Golden Lion, Shiki.

"Long time no see, Whitebeard."

Alone, Shiki landed on the Moby Dick's deck.

Marco and the older crew members quickly recognized him, lowering their guard.

Whitebeard glanced sideways at Shiki, silent.

Unbothered, Shiki's eyes swept over Whitebeard, noting the medical equipment attached to him.

"Twenty years… you've aged too, Whitebeard…"

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