It was clear to everyone, the East Blue was changing.
In just a single day, the combined forces of pirates, bounty hunters, and Marines were all crushed and annihilated by the Nightfall Pirates.
Their overwhelming strength and accomplishments announced to the entire East Blue that a new Overlord had been born.
This series of events shook the East Blue like an 18-magnitude earthquake.
Nations, underground organizations, pirates, and even civilians across the sea all turned their attention toward a single name, Marshall D. Teach and his rising pirate crew.
They all wanted to know; what would become of this crew that rose so fiercely in such a short time?
They had faced enemies who outnumbered them dozens of times over; among them, famed bounty hunters and even Marine Colonels.
And yet, the result was a total annihilation.
Not a single Nightfall Pirate had died. The meaning behind such a result was clear... absolute power.
The East Blue was in uproar. The Nightfall Pirates became the center of attention, discussed by countless factions and commoners alike.
While Teach himself had rarely acted, the crew's cadre members had all become famous. Many had witnessed their strength on Sakhalin Island, and speculation about the mysterious captain only deepened.
By dawn, the events had spread across the entire sea, published by every major news outlet and newspaper and even reached the Grand Line.
In an era overflowing with new pirates, the Nightfall Pirates dominated the headlines. Though the East Blue was known as the weakest sea, the whole world now knew their name. Even pirates of the New World had begun to take notice.
"The Nightfall Pirates: The Birth of the East Blue's Overlord."
"Marines Humiliated: Pirates Feast at Marine Branch."
"A Complete Victory: 100 vs. 3000."
"The Unstoppable Nightfall Pirates."
.....
"How interesting," someone said, scanning the paper. "A pirate like this from the East Blue, bold enough to feast at a Marine base. The Navy's reputation is in tatters. What will they do now?"
But in the New World, where storms and monsters were the norm, this event was just a ripple on a vast ocean.
Most pirates there saw it as a minor skirmish, impressive, perhaps, but meaningless until they proved themselves in the Grand Line. Many prodigies had risen and fallen before; only the ones who survived truly mattered.
Even so, the name Nightfall began to circulate.
New World — Moby Dick
"Pops, there's news about Teach, from the East Blue!" Marco grinned, holding the newspaper out.
"Gurararara! So he's made a name for himself already?" Whitebeard chuckled, setting aside his sake. "Still far from it, though. Oy, brats! To celebrate Teach's rise, let's have a banquet!"
The crew roared in excitement.
"So that's the one who left Pops' ship, huh? He's got guts, I'll give him that," murmured a commander, shaking his head with a grin.
New World — Flying Pirates' Territory
Golden Lion Shiki leaned back, laughing as he finished reading the article. His sharp eyes gleamed with recognition.
Through bits of intel and his own intuition, he had long guessed who the man behind the message truly was.
"Captain, should we try to recruit him?" Rhein asked cautiously.
"No." Shiki smirked. "That kid's like me, he won't bow to anyone. Even Whitebeard couldn't keep him. Hah! Let's just wait. I want to see how far this one can go."
White Sand Island — White Bird Pirates' Base
The island had grown prosperous, the White Bird flag flying proudly.
Mostima sat alone on a couch, smiling faintly at the newspaper in his hands.
"Teach… it's just like you said. The new era has begun, our era."
Excitement burned in his chest. Yet beneath it lay determination. He couldn't fall behind.
With a soft rustle, feathers appeared around him, forming radiant wings.
"Should I tell Ares?" he mused. Then shook his head. "No, I'll let him rest."
"Boss Mostima! The Marines are stirring up trouble again!" a voice shouted from outside.
"Is that so? Then let's remind them why that's a mistake." His eyes flashed coldly. With a single flap, he vanished, a streak of light cutting through the sky.
Elsewhere, a young woman with long, wavy green hair sat on a rock, reading the same newspaper.
"Teach, you'll be shocked when you see me next time," she said softly, eyes gleaming with challenge.
A massive tiger crept behind her, ready to strike. But before it could pounce, thorny vines erupted from the ground, snaring its limbs and body.
Spikes burst from the vines, impaling it as venom seeped into its veins.
The beast shriveled as its blood was drained, its body collapsing in silence.
If seen from above, the whole area was a deathtrap of hidden thorns, her personal domain of slaughter.
Seth Island — Former Marine Vice Admiral Antony's Territory
Under Antony's leadership, Seth Island had transformed into a thriving and fortified haven.
After countless battles and the awakening of his Pop-Pop Fruit, Antony's strength rivaled an Admiral's. The Marines regretted ever losing him.
"Boss Mobius! Come quick, it's Boss Teach!"
The young pirate Dubai burst into the training hall, waving a newspaper.
Mobius stopped mid-training and grabbed it eagerly.
"Hahaha! As expected of Boss Teach!" he laughed, pride glowing in his eyes as he studied the photos of the Nightfall Pirates.
"It seems I can't slack off. I'll find a beast island to train, awaken both types of Haki and grow stronger!" Mobius clenched his fists, resolve burning in his veins.
"Did you tell Big Sister Annie?" he asked.
"She didn't seem happy," Dubai admitted nervously.
Mobius laughed. "Go tell her that ship's just temporary. Once Boss builds the real one, that'll be our true pirate ship."
He turned to the Den Den Mushi on the table. "It's time to call Voss back. We've got a year and a half before departure. Let's get ready."
Annie's expression softened as she heard the news. "As expected of him… he never disappoints."
The once-girl had blossomed into a confident woman, clouds shimmering faintly around her, her newly awakened power. Under Antony's mentorship, she had grown immensely strong.
The New World — Eric Pirates
"Teach, huh?" The infamous Sulfuric Acid Man, Captain Eric, bounty 1.38 billion Berries, smirked as he read the paper.
He'd seen Whitebeard with his own eyes. That monstrous presence alone could crush weaker wills. To think someone had left that crew and now ruled his own… that took courage.
"Guess I'll keep an eye on him," Eric muttered, tossing the paper aside.
Sabaody Archipelago — Shakky's Bar
"He's made quite the name for himself," Shakky said with a chuckle, cigarette smoke curling in the air.
Rayleigh raised a brow. "What are the Marines planning?"
"Twenty-three Marine branches are uniting to crush the Nightfall Pirates."
Rayleigh grinned. "Then they're just marching to their graves. Brom still underestimates him, he'll regret it."
"Brom won't stop him," Shakky said softly, smiling. "He might not even live."
New World — Arkas Island
In a quiet coastal town, the sign outside a small clinic read Closed Today.
Inside, a blonde girl held a trembling newspaper, tears streaming down her cheeks as she stared at a familiar face.
"Teach… you're alive," Monica whispered, smiling through her tears.
Behind her, a burly man crossed his arms, grinning. "Told you, Monica, that kid's too stubborn to die. But making you wait for years? When he comes back, I'm giving him a proper beating!"
"Dad, please…" she said softly, still smiling.