-Real World-
The Sky Screen's revelations had shattered the world's understanding of the future: twelve Marine Admirals, the complete annihilation of the Revolutionary Army basse, the Yonko Red-Haired Shanks' exit from history's stage, Sea God's treasure in the Mermaid Kingdom, and the barely mentioned Battle of Marineford. Each piece of information struck like a dagger through the hearts of those watching.
The overwhelming majority of viewers had developed absolute faith in the Sky Screen's projections. These broadcasts had reached a point where audiences would believe anything the ethereal display revealed, leaving them increasingly pessimistic about the world's trajectory 5 years hence.
Not only had these people become devoted believers in the Sky Screen's prophecies, but many had fundamentally altered their behavior, adopting a hedonistic "live for today" mentality that Kaito had never anticipated. Some of the weak-willed had simply given up entirely, while only the strongest individuals took decisive action, desperately seeking to seize whatever opportunities might exist in this predetermined future.
The Straw Hat Pirates, initially the most beloved crew in the broadcasts, suddenly seemed tragically vulnerable when contrasted with the future Marines' overwhelming might. When such absolute force pressed down upon the seas, even Yonko crews couldn't withstand the pressure—smaller pirate groups would be annihilated in moments, solving the "pirate problem" at its very source.
The future Marines' terrifying power created an unexpected irony: the first group to feel uncomfortable wasn't the pirates themselves, but rather the World Government that supposedly controlled them. The Five Elders had never expected that the attack dog they'd raised would eventually turn on its masters—a self-inflicted wound of the highest order.
Even the most politically naive observer could recognize the implications. With twelve top-tier fighters and the ability to generate independent funding, would the Marines continue obeying World Government directives? Would they remain willing servants to the Celestial Dragons?
The Five Elders had moved beyond concerns about Fleet Admiral Sengoku's future death in battle. These ultimate decision-makers had summoned him for emergency consultations, intending to use the World Government's current authority to issue stern warnings to the Marines. Such rebellious arrogance had to be eliminated before it could take root.
Regarding Artoria's situation, the future acting Fleet Admiral had been placed under special protection. The World Government wanted to transfer the blonde officer to alternative institutions, but the entire Marine organization had collectively refused. Fleet Admiral Sengoku led the opposition, and no amount of persuasion from former Fleet Admiral Kong could sway his determination.
Beyond Artoria, both Sakazuki and Smoker had become focal points of political attention. Both officers were considered ideologically compromised and had been forcibly detained at Marine Headquarters by Fleet Admiral Sengoku's direct orders. Neither could leave Marineford without his explicit permission.
Smoker's issue centered on his caustic tongue—his future self's harsh mockery of Marine colleagues and dismissive attitude toward others' interpretation of justice had painted a target on his back. Fleet Admiral Sengoku kept him confined to headquarters purely for his own protection.
Sakazuki's problems proved far more severe. The prospect of his even greater extremism 5 years in the future had left many officers physically nauseated. Nobody could imagine how much blood would stain his hands by then. Those who despised his methodology had secretly begun referring to him as the "Red Dog Butcher."
"As long as I draw breath, Sakazuki, I will firmly oppose your collective responsibility system," Admiral Kuzan declared, his usually calm demeanor cracking with barely contained disgust. "Your methods have become absolutely unconscionable."
Kuzan had always considered Sakazuki somewhat extreme—willing to sacrifice innocent lives to eliminate pirates and complete missions. Akainu had employed such tactics repeatedly in the past, but the revelation that his extremism would escalate beyond all reasonable bounds of Marine justice was deeply disturbing.
Sakazuki refused to acknowledge Admiral Aokiji's criticism. Fundamental ideological differences made meaningful dialogue impossible—further words would merely be wasted effort. "I should have implemented collective responsibility systems years ago," he muttered with conviction. "Deterring pirates at their source requires exactly this kind of ruthless methodology. Such measures are precisely what those damned criminals deserve."
"How terrifying! I'll see you tomorrow if there's anything else to discuss," Admiral Borsalino observed, calculating the time with characteristic precision. Every additional second spent at Marine Headquarters represented a personal affront to his work philosophy. With Fleet Admiral Sengoku summoned to Mary Geoise for questioning, nobody remained to monitor his activities.
Admiral Kizaru's form dissolved into countless particles of light, vanishing through the war room's windows. Speculation ran rampant about his destination—many suspected he was heading to Sabaody Archipelago for recreational spending. Rumors persisted about an Admiral's mistress residing there.
Compared to the tense atmosphere pervading Marine Headquarters, Revolutionary Army headquarters on Baltigo had fallen into deathly silence. The Sky Screen's future held nothing but catastrophe for their organization—complete annihilation represented an unprecedented disaster they'd never contemplated.
Four Admirals had proven sufficient to destroy Baltigo entirely. Did this mean the Revolutionary Army was significantly weaker than the Yonko? Eliminating Red-Haired Shanks had required eight Admirals, making the Revolutionary Army's comparative weakness deeply embarrassing.
The Revolutionary Army's commanders remained scattered across the world, with most elite operatives working in the four seas to subvert kingdom governments and assist rebel forces in overthrowing World Government-backed regimes. But if all these efforts would ultimately fail, what purpose did current subversion serve?
The vast majority of Revolutionary Army members with unstable convictions had already deserted. Facing the catastrophic defeat predicted, these individuals lacked the mental fortitude to continue. Like Commander Ginny's tragic fate years ago, some struggles became powerless in the face of overwhelming strength.
"First, use Den Den Mushi to contact all Revolutionary Army cells," Dragon commanded with heavy heart. "Order them to lay low temporarily while we gather more information from the Sky Screen. Current circumstances are extremely unfavorable—we must prioritize the bigger picture."
Dragon made this painful decision reluctantly. He refused to watch the organization he'd built sacrifice itself meaninglessly. More intelligence from the Sky Screen might provide opportunities to avoid the Revolutionary Army's prophesied doom.
Ever since the Sky Screen had predicted his appearance in Loguetown—combined with revelations about Pirate King Roger's capture by the Marines—Dragon had developed absolute faith in the broadcast's accuracy. The convergence of these two pieces of information left no room for doubt.
Fortunately, the mystery of Luffy's parentage hadn't been explicitly revealed, only hinted at through Nico Robin's commentary. Most audiences wouldn't connect a pirate captain with the Revolutionary Army's leader—a small blessing amid the chaos.
"Luffy hasn't matured yet," Sabo said, seeking Dragon's approval for his request. "The Sky Screen has exposed his future completely. If unknown powerful enemies approach him, he won't be able to cope. I want to meet with him."
Through days of Sky Screen broadcasts, Luffy's sworn brother had recovered his memories, recalling his shared past with both Ace and Luffy.
"Don't worry, Sabo," Koala comforted her beloved. "The Revolutionary Army is already secretly protecting Luffy. Having the leader's son become the Sky Screen's protagonist—I honestly don't know if this is fortune or disaster."
Some information remained deliberately obscure in the broadcasts, leading external analysts to develop concerning theories. The Straw Hat Pirates' journey seemed guided by invisible hands from behind the scenes. Buggy the Clown, who appeared in Luffy's memories, had become particularly suspicious—his involvement carried the distinct scent of conspiracy.
Today's Sky Screen content had delivered tremendous shock to global audiences. Passionate enthusiasm for following these dramatic revelations had gradually built in viewers' hearts. Watching others' adventure stories provided its own form of entertainment, though some naive observers mistakenly believed all pirate lives resembled the Straw Hats' experience.
These individuals possessed limited understanding of how exceptional Luffy's crew truly was. Every crew member represented a rare individual whom the Straw Hat captain had somehow convinced to join his cause. Could such recruitment success be attributed to mere fool's luck?
Certain people who had never considered maritime adventure found themselves inspired by the Sky Screen's broadcasts. They'd never experienced such wonderful adventures—traveling with trusted friends who truly understood one another.
-Broadcast-
Night had fallen once more upon the Thousand Sunny as the Straw Hat Pirates settled into sleep. Through precise calculations of sea distances, the ship would arrive at Dressrosa by noon the following day. The genuine prelude to this major event was about to unfold.
Across the world, various factions prepared for an uncertain future. The Marines grappled with internal political pressure while expanding their power base. The Revolutionary Army went underground to avoid prophesied destruction. The World Government scrambled to reassert control over their increasingly independent military wing.
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates sailed peacefully toward their next adventure, blissfully unaware of the massive forces converging around their simple desire to explore the world. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight, they rested easy beneath starlit skies.
The stage was set. The players had taken their positions. All that remained was for destiny to play its hand.