Meanwhile, on the shimmering sea,
The Red Force, the Moby Dick, and two Marine warships sailed out of Marineford's waters.
On the Red Force,
Buggy angrily grabbed Shanks' collar, his red nose pressed against Red Hair's face.
"Shanks, you dare show your face in front of me again? Do you know how much I hate you?!"
However, Red Hair just laughed heartily.
"Buggy, long time no see!"
"Don't play dumb with me! If you hadn't talked to me back then, I wouldn't have lost the treasure map, and I wouldn't have become a Devil Fruit user!"
Buggy looked indignant.
"Alright, alright!"
Red Hair, as if coaxing a child, pulled an old treasure map from his pocket and spread it in front of Buggy.
"Look what this is?!"
— Swish!
Buggy instantly snatched it and tucked it into his embrace.
"Alright then, I'll forgive you this time. But the next time we meet, I'll definitely take you down, Shanks!"
Buggy made a fierce threat and boarded one of the warships.
As soon as he got on the ship, he was met with prisoners whose eyes were full of stars.
"Did you see that?"
"Captain Buggy actually spoke to Red Hair with such an attitude!"
"— Captain Buggy, we will follow you forever!"
...Meanwhile, on the other warship.
"Mr. 2 Bon Clay, are you really going to Okama Kingdom?"
Mr. 3 asked, a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
"Yes, Kamabakka Kingdom, that's the holy land all Okama dream of!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay's eyes were full of longing, then he looked worriedly at Mr. 3, "And you, be careful sailing the seas!"
Finally, the two warships went their separate ways.
Red Hair Shanks sat at the bow, enjoying the sea breeze.
"Boss, it's been ten years since we last saw Luffy, are you really not going to see him?!"
Lucky Roux, still with meat in hand, asked.
Red Hair paused, looking up at the sky.
"— That's right! I really want to see him again!"
Then he suddenly smiled.
"— But if we meet now, it won't be according to our promise!"
"Hahahaha!"
Immediately, a burst of laughter erupted on the ship.
"Boss, I think you're clearly saying one thing and meaning another!"
"You're clearly eager to see Luffy, but you're pretending not to care... Boss, you're so funny!"
"You, you guys!"
Red Hair instantly jumped up, tackling Lucky Roux and snatching the large piece of meat from his hand, taking a bite... showing no sign of being a strong person... On the Moby Dick,
Unlike the joy of Red Hair and his crew, a deeply sorrowful atmosphere permeated the ship.
They sat blankly on the deck, lifeless.
From time to time, they recalled past happy memories, always unable to hold back tears.
Sobs rose and fell, unending.
The two large ships headed towards the New World!
...Marineford
The injured were being treated.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, bandaged all over, sat by the ruins, watching the work in progress.
This war was truly a heavy blow for the Marine.
Garp, Aokiji, and Kizaru were all severely wounded, and Akainu was even on the brink of death several times, barely clinging to life with the help of over a dozen world-class doctors.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the situation at Impel Down has been confirmed!" A general began to report.
"How is Magellan?!"
"He sustained very serious injuries and is critically ill. He lost an arm, which might affect his foundation!"
"Is that so?"
"— Additionally, almost all the prisoners who survived Impel Down's Level 6 have joined the Blackbeard Pirates!"
"Nani? What else?!"
"Also," the general's body trembled involuntarily, "according to Magellan's report, Douglas Bullet, the 'Demon Heir'... has escaped from Impel Down!"
"What?!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's face turned pale; the guy who absolutely couldn't be let out... had escaped!
"— Immediately, issue a worldwide bounty!"
Fleet Admiral Sengoku made up his mind.
"This," the general hesitated, "but the World Government wants us to conceal this incident!... After all, if this matter gets out, it will affect the government's credibility."
For credibility?
But releasing a Four Emperors-level figure would likely plunge the entire world into immense panic and chaos!
"Damn it... The World Government is truly... foolish..."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku couldn't help but curse inwardly... Holy Land Mary Geoise,
Inside the council hall.
Five aged figures exuded an unsettling sense of danger, standing or sitting, their expressions cold.
But at this moment, they shared many commonalities:
Large parts of their bodies had disintegrated, fresh blood stained the floor and sofas, and silver lightning continuously pulsed within their flesh.
Their faces were grim, and their pupils held a deep fear!
After a long silence, Saint Varcolica, who was in the center, spoke.
"Now that nika has appeared, Imu-sama wants us to find a way to eliminate him. Does anyone have a solution?!"
At these words, the hall fell silent.
A solution?
The five of them together almost died; what solution could they possibly have??
"Didn't Whitebeard die? Then let's make Straw Hat Luffy a Four Emperors, and let Kaido and Big Mom deal with him!"
Satan Saint expressed his opinion.
At these words, everyone's eyes lit up!
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"Since that's the case, let's draft a bounty. How much is appropriate?"
"I think...!"
After Satan spoke, the council hall became lively.
Presumably, Satan Saint had proposed a good method... As if!
The five of them together were useless, so would one Kaido be useful?
They were merely waiting for a scapegoat; if it failed, Satan would be that goat.
The Gorosei appeared united on the surface, but once trouble arose, they were bound to harbor ulterior motives... One day later,
News of the Marine's victory spread far and wide.
Whitebeard's death shook the world!
"Wow! Marine invincible!"
"Hats off to the heroes!"
"That Whitebeard is dead, great!"
"To celebrate the Marine's victory, today our store offers half-price discounts!"
Residents of the Four Seas and Paradise were celebrating excitedly.
Even if Ace's survival was a bit regrettable, Whitebeard's death made them happy.
The situation in various parts of the New World was slightly different.
Countless pirates targeted Whitebeard's territory, and the residents suffered greatly!!!
..."Hahaha, the Four Emperors of the New World: Whitebeard, Red Hair, Kaido, and Big Mom. One of them has been eliminated, and the balance has been destroyed! A new era is about to begin!"
Kid stood at the bow, laughing maniacally amidst the stormy weather.
"Boss, I think you should see this!"
Killer spread a wanted poster in front of him.
In an instant, Kid's smile vanished!
"Hahahaha!"
He laughed wildly, incessantly...!
The Supernovas of the new era, after "experiencing" the Marineford War, resolutely headed to the New World.
They held grand ambitions and aspirations, confronting that chaotic era head-on!
...Meanwhile,
New World.
Kaido was drinking sake, and Big Mom was devouring cake.
And in their hands, they both held a wanted poster.
At this moment, they were silent, but those familiar with them knew this was the calm before the storm.
"Ororororo!"
"Mamamama!"
An indescribable, terrifying aura erupted from both of them, covering the sky and earth, soaring into the heavens, piercing the clouds!
In an instant, Onigashima and Cake Island were completely covered by black-red light, and the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki solidified space!
Cracking sounds deafened the ears, and streaks of black-red lightning flickered in the void, constantly appearing and disappearing.
King, Katakuri, and others stared blankly at the boundless aura in the sky.
A sense of powerlessness welled up in their hearts.
Below the level of Admiral, all are mere ants!
...Meanwhile, two wanted posters spread across the world!
"Flame Emperor" Gol D. Ace, Son of the Pirate King, Bounty: 1 Billion Berries! — Dead or Alive
Luffy's wanted poster had a white main body, with flame-like white hair, white flame clouds like ribbons floating behind him, and silver lightning circling his body.
"Four Emperors" Monkey D. Luffy, Son of the Revolutionary Dragon, Bounty: 3 Billion 946 Million Berries!
— Dead or Alive!!!
(Marineford War Arc — End)