If even the Four Emperors had chosen to rot in place, what right did lesser ambitions have to dream recklessly?
Following the example set by those towering figures, the Four Emperors began tightening their grip on the New World. Their suppression of emerging pirate forces grew harsher and more systematic with every passing year.
They would never allow anyone to challenge their authority.
Nor would they tolerate the rise of new competitors.
As a result, the legendary treasure [ONE PIECE], once distant yet dazzling, gradually turned into nothing more than a mirage—visible, tempting, and forever out of reach.
For new pirates stepping into the New World, only two fates awaited them:
Either submit to one of the Four Emperors and become a vassal,
or die beneath their overwhelming might.
Thus, the structure of the world solidified into an eerie, suffocating stability.
For ten years straight, nothing truly changed.
Fewer people chose to go to sea.
Pirate forces stagnated.
The World Government grew steadily stronger.
And with the rise of the Three Admirals, a subtle yet undeniable trend emerged—the Navy was beginning to suppress the pirates outright.
If Xiao wanted to draw more pirates into the storm, he could not act cautiously.
He would have to follow the path Blackbeard once walked in the original timeline—
Shatter the fragile balance between the World Government and the Four Emperors.
Only then would the world plunge into unprecedented chaos, forcing the Navy and the World Government to finally move with lethal intent.
And in that chaos…
All pirates would be forced to unite under crushing pressure, raising the Black Sun banner—the symbol of resistance and freedom.
When that moment came, Xiao would harvest boundless faith and worship,
while the pirates would gain the freedom they had long dreamed of.
A perfect exchange.
A win–win.
The Deal
Escorted by soldiers, Lafitte, Burgess, and Van Augur were finally brought before Xiao's throne.
A lavish feast had already been prepared.
Yet despite the mouth-watering spread, none of the three dared touch a single dish.
Who could say whether this was a banquet—or a final meal?
"I have something for you to do."
Xiao spoke casually, already lifting his chopsticks and eating without restraint.
"Through fire and water, Your Majesty!"
Burgess reacted instantly.
He grabbed a slab of meat with his bare hands, took a savage bite, then lifted a wine jug and gulped it down, laughing loudly—completely at ease, as if he already belonged there.
Seeing this, the other two exchanged glances. A trace of sharp understanding flashed through their eyes.
They calmly picked up their cutlery and began eating with composed elegance.
All three were sharp minds.
From Xiao's tone alone, they understood—this was recruitment, not execution.
And following someone like Xiao?
That was not a risk.
That was opportunity.
"Good."
Xiao lifted his wine cup, drained it in one motion, and spoke plainly.
"From today onward, I am your captain—Blackbeard.
Let's continue the plan."
The three froze.
Their expressions shifted rapidly.
If Blackbeard's plan succeeded, they wouldn't just replace him—they would ascend to the throne of a Four Emperor, overturn the world order, and drag the entire Grand Line into chaos.
What they couldn't understand was this—
Why would a king, the ruler of a nation, willingly execute a plan so insane it could destroy his own country?
Xiao answered their unspoken question with a single sentence:
"Chaos is the ladder to ascension.
And the Black Sun was forged by my own hands."
Nothing more needed to be said.
In that instant, everything became clear.
Four Emperors.
Pirate King.
All of it was meaningless to Xiao.
The Drum Kingdom had already reached the limits of what a single island could sustain—but Xiao's ambition extended far beyond land and sea.
He sought to stand above the world itself.
An unrivaled god.
Without hesitation, the three rose, stepped forward, and knelt on one knee.
"We are willing to serve Your Majesty… to the death."
They had seen the power of the Black Sun with their own eyes.
They knew—
These were the tides of a true dragon.
"To recognize the times is true wisdom," Xiao said calmly, nodding in approval.
Then he raised his hand.
Three strands of dark light shot from his palm and struck their bodies precisely.
In the next instant, Black Sun Seals bloomed into existence on their flesh.
The seals granted them access to Black Sun power—and something more.
Through a unique resonance, they were now connected to a space within the cyber dimension:
The Black Sun Arena
Since it was an arena, it naturally existed for competition.
The system Xiao implemented was brutally familiar.
The Black Iron Arena was divided into nine ranks:
Black IronBronzeSilverGoldPlatinumDiamondEmeraldMasterKing
Each rank contained five tiers: V → I.
Every tier required 100 Black Sun points.
Accumulate enough points, and you could challenge a promotion match.
Win—and your rank rises, unlocking greater Black Sun power.
Lose—and you remain trapped.
Fail to attempt promotion at all?
Then your points reset to zero.
Start over.
Rank did not restrict personal growth—but it directly determined the strength of Black Sun power.
Higher rank meant absolute dominance.
Every Earthly Executor entered the arena at Black Iron V, starting with 100 points.
From that moment on, the only way forward was simple—
Execute justice. Hunt sin.
Each point of sin harvested equaled one Black Sun point.
Mass slaughter of evil could even allow tier-skipping promotions.
But mercy?
Indecision?
Stagnation?
Those were punishable by regression.
In the Black Iron Arena, there was only one truth:
Power belonged to those who kept killing sin.
And the climb…
had only just begun.
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