"HAHAHAHAHA! What a haul!!!"
Even though they were beneath the sea, Fishman Island was engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing everywhere.
Countless pirates had gathered, capturing beautiful merfolk with cages. But because there were so many, some burly men simply grabbed them barehanded, shoving their tails into sacks and tossing them over their shoulders.
A few frightened little fishmen hid among the coral reefs, trembling as they watched human traffickers and pirates rampage without restraint.
The pirates lunged wildly toward the mermaid women, but just then—
A massive fist swung out of nowhere, sending them all flying.
Against the backlight stood a towering figure, his face hidden in shadow.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The pirate leader roared, but his anger quickly turned to terror, and then to desperate pleading.
Because that figure was none other than the World's Strongest Man—
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate!
"Spare me!!! I swear I'll never traffic merfolk or fishmen again!!!"
Panic erupted. Pirates scattered in every direction, terrified that monstrous figure would chase them down and end their lives with a single punch.
"Don't you dare destroy my friend's country!!!"
"GET LOST!!!"
Immediately after, members of the Whitebeard Pirates began landing one after another—Marco, Jozu, Vista… even Teach, carrying his signature hook.
Seeing that colossal, awe-inspiring figure, many fishmen who had been resisting desperately now saw a glimmer of hope.
Even the arrogant thugs from the Fishman District didn't dare breathe too loudly in the presence of this living legend.
Among the crowd, a much younger Jinbei stared at Whitebeard, utterly stunned.
Because this man… truly radiated power and domineering will!!!
Under his name, the pirates fled in droves. The fishmen and merfolk were saved.
"Kurarararara! From this moment on, this island is MY territory!!!"
"OOOOHHHHHH!!!"
The Whitebeard Pirates' crewmembers cheered with relaxed expressions, grinning as they watched the other pirates fleeing in chaos.
Even the residents of Fishman Island began hugging each other, tears in their eyes as they celebrated the arrival of peace and safety.
But at that moment—
From the depths of the sea, a coated ship slowly began to rise.
Sailing against the tide of fleeing vessels, it advanced straight toward Fishman Island.
As it drew closer, sharp-eyed onlookers quickly spotted it.
"Look! There's a ship coming this way!!!"
"Must be some clueless pirates, huh? Guess they don't know where they are!"
"Yeah! This is Whitebeard Pirates' territory now!!!"
The lower-ranked Whitebeard Pirates and Fishman Island residents smiled confidently, but they failed to notice the expressions of Whitebeard's commanders… and Whitebeard himself.
All of them were staring intently at the approaching ship.
Because they knew that ship all too well.
Its golden spiked prow, adorned with elegant mermaid carvings on both sides, its lavish red-and-gold trim—this was no ordinary vessel.
Even though the sails no longer bore the Jolly Roger, its luxurious grandeur was unmistakable.
"Wait… that's… the Oro Jackson!!!"
"The Roger Pirates' ship?!"
"Then… that means the people aboard are…"
Marco and the others clenched their jaws, watching the approaching ship with grave expressions.
Whitebeard gripped his Murakumogiri tightly, his towering form radiating force. As he laid eyes on the Oro Jackson, his gaze narrowed sharply.
"This is…"
From deep within the ocean, a relaxed voice echoed out:
"It's been a long time… Whitebeard!"
BOOOOM—!!!
As those words fell, a terrifying aura exploded outward—boundless, oppressive, like an endless abyss swallowing everything.
The pressure ripped through the deep sea, sweeping violently across Fishman Island.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!!
Black-and-red lightning roared like a living storm, ripping across the island. The ground trembled, massive Sea Kings flipped over and thrashed violently, and deep-sea currents surged wildly.
The earth beneath Fishman Island cracked apart. Countless fishmen, merfolk, and even Whitebeard's own subordinates—including several division commanders—collapsed under the suffocating pressure.
Only a handful of commanders remained standing, their faces pale, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.
Among them, Teach trembled violently, his toothless grin frozen as his eyes filled with fear and dread.
And it wasn't just the sheer strength of this Conqueror's Haki Infusion that frightened them.
It was the identity of the one wielding it.
The one who had once left a shadow over their hearts.
The one feared as the most monstrous opponent they'd ever faced.
"Oi oi oi… the worst-case scenario, huh? We really ran into HIM!!!"
Teach gripped his hook tightly, silently hiding behind the other commanders as he glared nervously at the steadily approaching ship.
"A brat from Roger's crew!!!"
"In front of me, don't you dare act cocky!!!"
Whitebeard slammed the butt of his Murakumogiri into the ground, his gaze burning with defiance. His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged violently, colliding head-on with the incoming storm.
When their auras clashed—
The earth split apart, undercurrents raged, and an apocalyptic force blanketed the entire Fishman Island, as if threatening to shatter it completely.
Jinbei, now the acting commander of the Fishman Kingdom's forces, watched in horror, his entire body trembling with helplessness.
Someone who could stand equal to Whitebeard… who in the world was this person?!
As the Oro Jackson finally docked beside Fishman Island, the figures aboard were revealed at last.
...
"[Black Emperor]Orin!!!"
Among the few fishmen still conscious, Jinbei and Tiger, who was watching from a distance, instantly recognized the man standing at the bow. Their pupils constricted sharply.
Living under Fishman Island, right beneath Orin's sphere of influence, they understood better than anyone what this name represented.
Absolute dominance over the next generation!!!
Now, here on Fishman Island, the World's Strongest Man and the King of the Next Generation had finally crossed paths…
"Whitebeard," Orin said calmly, standing tall at the bow, his black cloak fluttering behind him. Beside him stood a cold-faced Mihawk and a scowling Crocodile.
"Showing up in my territory without so much as a greeting… isn't that a little rude?"
Black-and-red lightning continued to rage as Orin's aura clashed violently against Whitebeard's, neither side giving an inch.
Orin's face remained composed, but his crimson eyes burned with terrifying intensity as they locked with Whitebeard's from across the battlefield.
"Kurarararara… I'm Whitebeard!!! Why would I need to greet a brat like you?!"
Whitebeard's voice was thunderous, his tone sharp and unyielding. Murakumogiri thrummed with shockwaves and armament as his battle spirit soared.
With a powerful swing, he unleashed a devastating quake-infused slash straight toward the Oro Jackson!
Orin didn't flinch.
Calmly, he drew Ace from its sheath. Black-and-red lightning coiled tightly around the blade, and where its edge passed, space itself seemed to warp and collapse inward.
With one fluid motion, he brought his sword down, meeting the incoming attack head-on.