Meanwhile, in the New World, the balance of power had shifted dramatically.
After the alliance of the Three Emperors dealt a crushing blow to the Marines, the Supernovas who sought to survive in the New World found themselves with almost no room to maneuver. Once known as the Worst Generation, these rising pirates were now forced to tread carefully, moving through the sea like fugitives, wary of every shadow.
On a small, unremarkable island, three members of the Worst Generation had gathered.
Jewelry Bonney, the only woman among them, sat on a broken crate, biting into a slice of pizza with visible irritation. She glanced at the two men in front of her and snorted.
"So this is what's left of the Worst Generation. Just the few of us."
Scratchmen Apoo clicked his tongue, his usual grin lacking its former confidence.
"Times have changed. Among our peers, the dead are buried, the captured are imprisoned, and the missing have vanished without a trace. The rest either submitted to the Four Emperors or aligned themselves with the Marines."
Basil Hawkins calmly shuffled his tarot cards, his expression unreadable.
"This is fate," he said flatly. "An era shifts, and those who cannot adapt are swept away. We are merely passengers in that tide."
In just over half a year, the landscape had transformed completely.
Eustass Kid, once the Supernova with the highest bounty, had been killed by the Phoenix Pirates. After his death, Killer and the remaining members of the Kid Pirates were captured by the Marines and sent to Impel Down.
Trafalgar Law, captain of the Heart Pirates, had accepted the Marines' offer and become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Urouge, the Mad Monk who once challenged Big Mom, disappeared after his defeat. Capone Bege, after clashing with the Big Mom Pirates, ultimately chose to join them.
X Drake was rumored to have been killed by Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach.
As for Monkey D. Luffy and Roronoa Zoro of the Straw Hat Pirates, their whereabouts were unknown.
Of the eleven Supernovas who once gathered at Sabaody Archipelago, only these three remained active and unaffiliated.
Thus, they formed a temporary pirate alliance. Their combined strength was modest compared to the Emperors, but it was better than standing alone in a sea dominated by monsters.
Bonney swallowed her food and shot Apoo a sharp look.
"So tell me, Apoo, why exactly did you call us here? Even if the three of us join forces, we stand no chance against the alliance of the Three Emperors."
Apoo's grin returned, sly and calculating.
"You're thinking too narrowly. After the war at Whole Cake Island, both the Marines and the Three Emperors Alliance suffered heavy losses. This is not the end. Their conflict will continue. We just need to survive in the cracks between them. When both sides are weakened, that will be our opportunity."
Hawkins glanced at him, his gaze cold.
"It will not be so simple."
"That's why we wait," Apoo replied, spreading his hands. "If we refuse to submit to the Emperors, then survival is our only priority. We cling together, endure, and seize the moment when it appears."
Bonney and Hawkins remained silent, but neither denied the logic.
Then suddenly, the island trembled violently.
A thunderous boom shook the ground, splitting the air with a deafening roar.
"What was that?"
"An earthquake?"
Pirates from the Bonney Pirates, the On Air Pirates, and the Hawkins Pirates rushed to their feet, hands flying to their weapons.
"There's a massive crater outside!"
The three captains immediately ran toward the source of the impact.
What they saw froze them in place.
At the center of the island lay a colossal humanoid crater, as if a giant had been hurled down from the heavens.
"Did someone fall from the sky?"
"There's supposed to be a Sky Island above this sea route, right?"
"But who could survive that?"
As murmurs spread among the crews, a massive hand suddenly clawed its way out of the crater.
The ground cracked further as a towering figure slowly rose.
He was enormous, with long black hair cascading over his shoulders. Two massive horns curved from his head like those of a beast. A long beard framed his jaw, and a dragon scale tattoo marked his left arm. His upper body was bare, revealing a muscular frame and an X shaped scar across his abdomen. A purple garment hung loosely from his waist, secured by a thick rope belt, and a fur cape draped over his shoulders.
He stood there like a demon descended upon the earth.
The moment the three captains saw his face, their pupils contracted.
They had seen him in the newspapers only two days ago.
Kaido of the Beasts, captain of the Beasts Pirates.
The man known as the strongest creature in land, sea, and air.
A pirate with a bounty of 5.5 billion Berries.
Even Apoo's composure faltered. He had never imagined Kaido would appear in such a manner.
Kaido slowly rubbed his head, his voice thick with irritation.
"Damn, that hurts. Jumping from that height is never pleasant."
He tilted his neck, the bones cracking audibly.
"And still, I cannot die."
His gaze swept across the assembled pirates. A savage grin spread across his face.
"Worororo. Brats, a worldwide war is coming. Now then, choose."
Without warning, a terrifying wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Kaido's body.
The pressure was overwhelming, crashing over the island like a violent storm. One by one, the weaker pirates collapsed, their consciousness snuffed out instantly.
In moments, only the three captains remained standing, barely.
Bonney clenched her teeth. The crushing force pressed against her mind, threatening to drag her into darkness. Her legs trembled despite her effort to stand firm.
Apoo suddenly dashed forward, panic and desperation in his voice.
"Kaido sama, it's me. Apoo. I already joined your crew earlier. I was the one who provided the information about this location."
Bonney and Hawkins stared at him in shock.
Betrayal.
The so called alliance had been nothing more than a trap. Apoo had already submitted to Kaido.
Kaido glanced at him indifferently.
"I know."
He then ignored Apoo entirely and fixed his gaze on Bonney and Hawkins. His eyes were cold, devoid of patience.
"The world war is about to begin. You have ten seconds."
His voice was calm, yet absolute.
"Join me and fight in this war under my command, or die here."
"Choose."
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