The rain poured down in torrents, as if it meant to wash away the old era and clear the path for a new one.
The once-boiling crowd, drunk on chaos and excitement, slowly dispersed under the downpour, each person returning to their life or chasing the illusion of a new age.
Doflamingo strutted out from a narrow alley, his arrogant gait and splashing footsteps echoing sharply in the rain. His signature, unsettling laughter, "Fuffuffuffu", pierced through the storm.
"So it begins... The curtain has finally risen on the New Era! Things are going to get real interesting from here on out."
Not far away, the young Buggy and Shanks were clutching their heads, crying bitterly as the rain mixed with their tears.
Shanks wiped his face roughly, his eyes red but his voice filled with firm resolve.
"Buggy, I'm setting out to sea! Come with me! Let's go find Laugh Tale together!"
"No way!" Buggy shoved him back, his face streaked with rain and tears, full of anger and stubborn pride.
"It's all your fault! You made me eat that damn Devil Fruit! I'll never forget this, not for the rest of my life!"
"But Buggy, aren't we friends?"
Buggy sniffled hard, emphasizing each word with defiance.
"No 'buts'! I've already decided, I'll stay in the East Blue and find treasure! I'm not going to wander around like some fool with you!"
Without waiting for Shanks to respond, Buggy turned and stumbled off into the curtain of rain, vanishing from sight.
Shanks stood alone in the storm, staring after him. Rain ran down his young face, a blend of sorrow and helplessness.
Elsewhere, Dracule Mihawk walked quietly through the rain, Roger's final words still echoing in his ears.
"The One Piece, huh..." he muttered softly. "But that's not my path. My goal is to become the strongest swordsman in the world."
Under a shop's eaves, a silver-haired boy, Smoker, frowned as he watched the cheering crowds shouting about setting sail.
"The seas... they're going to become unimaginably chaotic." He clenched his fists as a fierce sense of duty welled up within him.
"I'll become a Marine, a true force of justice, and capture every last one of these troublemakers!"
From a rooftop, a man in a green cloak, Dragon, descended silently into the plaza, gazing at Roger's lifeless body. His eyes dimmed.
"Perhaps... It's time I make a choice."
Countless people across the world, ignited by Roger's final words, set out on different paths, their wills inherited, their dreams intertwined with the tides of a new era.
As long as people continue to seek freedom, the waves of destiny and dreams will never cease!
["Ding!"]
[Strong emotional fluctuations detected. Generating exclusive commission for host. Please select one:]
[In the Name of Justice]: Join the Marines and fight against the coming era of chaos.
[The Spark that Ignites the World]: Form a revolutionary army and overthrow the Celestial Dragons' rule.
[The Tide of an Era]: Become a pirate, reach Laugh Tale, and claim the title of Pirate King.
[Master of Chaos]: Chaos isn't the abyss, it's a ladder. Stir the world to its very core and let pandemonium reign.
Wayne didn't hesitate for a second; he instantly chose the fourth option.
No deep reason. He just wanted to have fun.
[Exclusive Commission Order: Master of Chaos]
Objective: Plunge the world into utter turmoil.
Reward: Earn commission points and accumulate Chaos Level.
Each of the 10 Chaos Levels unlocks a special reward of your choosing.
Reading the description, Wayne grinned wide. This was exactly his style, do whatever you want, as long as it's entertaining.
["Ding! [Commission Order: Final Farewell] completed. Reward: Supreme Grade Blade – Ace (bound to personal storage). Commission Points +500."]
["Congratulations, host, on completing your first commission!]
["Complete three total to unlock the Auto Dispatch feature; future commissions will be sent based on world development."]
Wayne's eyes lit up.
"Wait, there's a delivery feature too?!"
He'd been worrying he'd have to travel all over asking people about their regrets like some wandering therapist. Thankfully, his system was competent. And since it was the Multiverse Commission System, who knew? Maybe requests from other worlds would start rolling in one day.
"Wayne... let's go. I... I want to go home."
Snapping out of thought, Wayne looked at Rouge's tear-stained face and sighed softly.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Let's go."
.....
Impel Down – Eternal Hell
Shiki stared at the Den Den Mushi screen showing Roger's execution, then chuckled bitterly.
"So that's why you turned yourself in, huh, Roger? You damn fool…"
Then suddenly, he burst out laughing, loud and wild.
"Shihaha! Guess it's the kid's turn next. Don't let me down, brat!"
.....
New World – Moby Dick
Listening to his sons recount Roger's death, Whitebeard sipped his sake silently, remembering their last talk under the cherry blossoms.
"Gurararara… Roger, the tides of the new era are starting to rise…"
High Above the Clouds
A wooden cabin soared through the air toward the Goa Kingdom. Wayne planned to settle Rouge temporarily in Foosha Village, a peaceful place where she could safely carry her pregnancy until Ace was born.
Who knows? Maybe he'd even beat Whitebeard to it and become Ace's godfather.
"We're heading to the Goa Kingdom?" Rouge asked softly.
Wayne nodded.
"Yeah. A place called Foosha Village."
"Alright… I'll trust you."
...
The Next Day – Foosha Village, Goa Kingdom
Villagers gathered around a strange wooden house that had appeared overnight, murmuring in confusion.
"Huh? Wasn't this just empty land yesterday?"
"Who'd move an entire house here?"
Creak.
The disguised Wayne stepped out, smiling kindly at the onlookers.
"Hello everyone! My name's Wayne, I just moved in. This is my sister, Rouge.
Please take care of us."