"Is the camera angle ready?"
Dr. Vegapunk questioned his subordinates. Standing directly behind him was the gargantuan, gaping hole that Alucard had blasted through the Red Line using the Dyna Stones.
Dr. Indigo gestured wildly at Dr. Vegapunk as if performing a pantomime. Having long grown accustomed to this idiot's antics, Dr. Vegapunk simply nodded to the others to begin the broadcast.
…
During the early stages of Alucard's intervention in the war, Luffy had been ushered away from Marineford by Whitebeard's 17th Division, led by the likes of Lucky Roux, and returned to the Sabaody Archipelago. With the assistance of Rayleigh and Shakky, he was currently in hiding.
Soon after, Jinbe, Ace, Sabo, and a contingent of the Whitebeard Pirates converged there as well.
However, this was only a small fraction of the Whitebeard Pirates. The majority of the crew had chosen to return to their respective territories to regroup. Their plan was clear: seek vengeance against Teach and demand an explanation from Alucard.
After all, the final image the world saw was Alucard manipulating their "Pops" like a puppet on a battlefield.
In Grove 13 of the Sabaody Archipelago, inside Shakky's Rip-off Bar:
Ace set down the Den Den Mushi receiver and turned to Luffy, Sabo, and the others. "The news just came in. Most of Pops' original territories in the New World are being carved up by Kaido and Big Mom. In the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Seas, countless pirates are fighting for control. Marco and the others have headed out to stop them, but..."
Ace trailed off, but everyone understood. Even if the Whitebeard Pirates weren't on the brink of total annihilation, they had officially fallen from their throne as one of the Yonko.
"Luffy, everyone from the Straw Hat crew, Sabo, Jinbe... thank you for coming to save me," Ace said. He then turned his back to them, pointing at the emblem on his cape. "But for now, I am still a member of the Whitebeard Pirates. I have to go back."
"With your current strength, do you really intend to face the remaining three Emperors?" Rayleigh asked, sitting in his corner and nursing a drink in silence.
"No. I need to watch out for that bastard Teach," Ace said, his teeth gritting. "He's a veteran member of the crew; he'll definitely try to swallow the remaining territories. There are several secret islands in the final stretch of the New World that only the Whitebeard Pirates know about. I'm going to intercept him there."
With a final farewell, Ace departed alongside several members of the Second Division.
"He's Roger's son. It's impossible to make him stand still," Rayleigh sighed.
"Luffy, what do you all plan to do next?" Sabo asked, turning toward his younger brother.
Luffy spoke with resolve. "We've decided to follow Rayleigh's advice. We'll train in separate locations for two years before we head into the New World."
"Have you decided on the locations?" Sabo followed up.
"Hawk Eye issued an invitation to me during the war," Zoro added, looking visibly annoyed. "It irritates me, but I need to borrow his strength right now."
"I-I'm going to a place called the Torino Kingdom," Chopper said, raising a hoof. "They have incredible medicinal and pharmaceutical technology there."
"Rayleigh told me about a place the Roger Pirates visited, a Sky Island called Weatheria. It has the most advanced meteorological research in the world. I'll head there," Nami said.
"SUPER! I'm heading to Vegapunk's hometown, Karakuri Island! SUPER!" Franky struck a pose.
The Straw Hat Pirates continued to share their plans for the time-skip. Usopp had reunited with his father, Yasopp, and left to master sniping techniques. Emporio Ivankov had taken an interest in Sanji and used a "special method" to whisk him away.
Luffy would remain with Rayleigh to train. As for Brook, he intended to return to his homeland, the Rumbar Kingdom, to find his own path to power.
"And finally, Robin..."
Luffy started to say her name, but Nami immediately silenced him with a sharp blow to the head. Only then did he remember, Robin had already left them.
Rayleigh swirled his drink and sighed. "Doflamingo was right on that battlefield. The current Alucard has already surpassed the Roger of the old days."
Rayleigh turned to the Straw Hat crew. "I don't mean to discourage you, but with your current strength... don't even think about coming for Alucard for at least twenty years."
Silence fell over the room. For Zoro, Nami, and the others, they didn't exactly have a blood feud with Alucard; it was mostly the resentment over Robin's "career change." But for Luffy, the hatred was deep as Alucard was the man who had killed his father.
Zoro, unsure of what else to say, decided to make his exit. "I'm leaving. That bastard Hawk Eye isn't exactly known for his patience."
Pere pere pere...
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Shakky's bar began to ring. Shakky picked up the receiver. This was a specialized model meant for private listening rather than a speakerphone.
After listening to the caller, Shakky's brow furrowed. She turned to the group. "You all should head to the broadcast area. Something big is happening."
Rayleigh's eyes sharpened. "I'll take them."
Rayleigh led the Straw Hats and Sabo to the plaza where the Summit War had been broadcast. In the center of the lawn stood the massive projection screen. It was supposed to have been dismantled, but new footage was flickering across the display.
Journalists who had flocked to the scene stood frozen in shock. On the screen was a group of researchers in white lab coats. Behind them was an impossibly large, ventilated tunnel.
"This is the handiwork of our Captain, Alucard. This location is directly beneath the Holy Land of Mariejois, providing a direct passage between the New World and Paradise."
The man at the front, Dr. Vegapunk, smiled faintly. "To all you 'specimens' who have gone wild following the death of Whitebeard... the Immortal Pirates are waiting for you at this Gateway of Peace."
Dr. Vegapunk didn't say much. After those few sentences, he prepared to cut the feed, but added one final remark at the very end:
"One more thing for the world to know."
"While the Summit War was taking place, the Immortal Pirates engaged the World Government's forces on a Sky Island in a battle no less grand than the one at Marineford. The result: a total victory for us. The Government fled in disgrace."