The New World was as vast and unpredictable as ever, but today, the grand sea felt particularly heavy with anticipation. A yellow submarine, distinct and sleek, broke the surface of the rolling blue waves. The hatch hissed open, and Trafalgar Law, the Captain of the Heart Pirates, stepped out onto the deck to breathe in the salty air. His crew followed closely behind, blinking in the bright sunlight.
About fifty nautical miles away, another pirate ship was visible, cutting through the water in the exact same direction as the submarine. It wasn't just them; the sea felt crowded.
"This is getting out of hand," Law muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon.
The world had been in an uproar for three days. It started when Big News Morgans released a special report that shook the very foundations of the world. Two of the Four Emperors—the most powerful pirates in existence—had formed an alliance. They were currently holding a massive ceremony to solidify their pact in the Woka Kingdom. Now, anyone who carried a name worth mentioning was racing toward that island.
An alliance between two of the Yonko was a nightmare for everyone else. For those with dreams of finding the One Piece and becoming the Pirate King, the news was even worse.
"We're talking about Kaido and Charlotte Linlin," Law said quietly.
Since the death of Whitebeard at Marineford, either one of those monsters was enough to rule the New World with an iron fist. Now that they were working together, people wondered if anything could stop them. Could the Red-Haired Pirates do it? Could the Marines? Nobody had an answer. This news was so massive it had completely buried the recent rumors about Douglas Bullet and the Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale.
Behind Law, Bepo the Mink shifted uncomfortably, his furry face full of worry. Law noticed and gave a small, confident smile.
"Don't worry, Bepo. I'm not looking for a fight I can't win," Law said. "Though, looking at the state of things, joining up with the Beasts Pirates like Hawkins did might have actually been the smart move."
The crew laughed a little, feeling some of the tension break. They knew their captain was joking; Law would never join the Beasts Pirates. Everyone knew that Kaido worked closely with Donquixote Doflamingo, and Law's hatred for the "Heavenly Yaksha" was a debt that could only be paid in blood.
"How much further until we get there?" Law asked.
A crew member in a bright yellow diving suit checked a special New World Log Pose. They had paid a fortune for it after receiving an official invitation from Morgans. The middle needle of the pose was slowly tilting upward at a sharp angle.
"Captain, the invitation says that when the needle points toward the sky, we're almost there!"
"I see," Law replied, looking ahead.
A thick, dark mist began to roll across the water. Inside the clouds, flashes of lightning flickered and the low rumble of thunder echoed over the waves.
"Get ready. We're going in," Law commanded.
"Yes, Captain!" the crew shouted in unison.
They quickly retreated into the safety of the submarine. The vessel dove and accelerated, slicing through the choppy water. When they finally emerged on the other side of the storm, a breathtaking sight waited for them.
The sky was perfectly clear and sunny over a deep blue sea. In the center of the water sat a massive island that seemed to be vibrating with energy and joy. The surrounding docks were packed with luxurious ships from every corner of the globe, all being guided into the port by an organized staff.
"Wow, look at that! It's beautiful!"
The voice came from a ship belonging to the Kamabakka Kingdom. Sabo, the Chief of Staff for the Revolutionary Army, stood at the railing next to Emporio Ivankov and Koala. They were staring at the island in genuine shock. It was enormous—at least seven or eight times larger than the island they called home. You couldn't even see the edges of it from the shore.
The island was split into two very different themes. One side looked like Wano Country, filled with ancient wooden buildings and traditional architecture. The other side was pulled straight out of Totto Land, featuring European-style castles made entirely of cakes, chocolates, and candy.
In the very center of the island was a massive lake. Hovering directly over the water was a smaller landmass—a floating island. On top of it sat a magnificent palace that blended both cultures together. One half looked like the Shogun's palace from the Flower Capital, while the other half was the iconic Cake Castle.
Order was being kept by an unusual mix of guards. Clone soldiers from the Vinsmoke Family's Germa 66 stood alongside the Homies of the Big Mom Pirates. Everywhere you looked, there was music, singing, and laughter. Cherry blossom petals fell from the sky like pink snow, mingling with colorful streamers.
"It looks like Kaido and Big Mom aren't playing around," Ivankov said, his voice unusually serious. "The amount of Berries it must have cost to build a place like this... even for two of the Four Emperors, this is a massive statement."
As their ship moved through the waterway toward the docks, Sabo turned to Ivankov.
"Ivan-san, I heard Dragon mention that Kaido and Charlotte Linlin used to be on the same crew a long time ago. Is that actually true?"
Ivankov's expression darkened as he thought back to the stories of the old era.
"It's true, Sabo-boy. Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, Whitebeard, Golden Lion Shiki, and even Wang Zhi... all of those monsters who ruled the sea were once just crewmates on a single ship."
Koala gasped, her eyes wide. "That's impossible! What kind of person could ever be strong enough to make all those monsters follow him?"
Ivankov decided it was time the younger generation understood the true history of the sea. He spoke the name with a heavy weight.
"That man was Rocks D. Xebec. He was a terrifying force who truly ruled the oceans. He was the only man the Marines, the Celestial Dragons, and the World Government were truly afraid of. He almost took over the entire world, but he was eventually defeated at God Valley by the combined strength of Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp."
Sabo spun around, his jaw dropping. "The Pirate King and Garp had to work together to take him down?"
"That's right," Ivankov nodded. "He was the man who stood at the absolute peak of all pirates."
"Did you ever see him?" Koala asked.
Ivankov shook his head. "Only on his bounty posters. During the God Valley Incident, Ginny, Kuma, and I were only focused on escaping with our lives. We didn't have the courage to get anywhere near that battlefield. And there's one more thing..."
Ivankov pointed toward the port as they drifted closer.
"The Devil Fruit that Kaido ate? Charlotte Linlin was the one who took it from my hands and gave it to him during that chaos."
Sabo and Koala were stunned by the revelation.
"So their bond goes back that far," Sabo remarked. "If she gave him a fruit that powerful, they must be closer than we thought."
"Exactly," Ivankov said. "That's why Dragon sent us here. We need to find out what this alliance is really planning, and we need to see if the rumors are true—has Kaido finally found the Ancient Weapon, Pluton?"
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