On the vast, surging sea, a massive pirate ship with a bow shaped like a white whale rested on the waves.
This pirate ship was the main ship of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Moby Dick.
Judging from the wreckage of various ships floating across the surrounding sea, along with countless corpses drifting face-up in the water, a fierce battle had clearly just taken place here. And on the deck of the Moby Dick, another show was currently unfolding.
Yellow sand filled the sky, rolling up into a spectacular sandstorm that blotted out the sun as it swept toward the Whitebeard Pirates on the deck.
Facing the incoming attack, Edward Newgate, captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, merely raised his right hand and punched toward the surging sand.
Boom.
With a sound like an explosion, the space before him visibly cracked, letting out a series of sharp cracking noises.
The surrounding sky was torn apart.
This was the power of the Gura Gura no Mi possessed by the man known as the strongest in the world, Whitebeard.
And along with the splitting sky, the yellow sand filling the air was torn apart as well. A man came falling from above, covered in blood, wearing a black fur coat, his head tilted back, his eyes nearly rolling white as if he were about to pass out.
Boom.
Then came the sound of his body slamming heavily onto the deck.
Around the two combatants stood the division commanders and family members of the Whitebeard Pirates, all watching the scene as if enjoying a show.
"Hehehe, so this is the rookie pirate known as a Supernova, Crocodile?"
"He's definitely a terrifying man, but against Oyaji's power, he can't fight back at all!"
"A brat like this actually dared to challenge our Whitebeard Pirates…"
"Looks like this year's rookies aren't much, hahaha…"
"Logia Devil Fruits don't seem that impressive either…"
At that moment, Crocodile lay on his back on the deck, his face covered in blood, feeling as though every bone in his body had been shattered. He could not move at all. Yet as he listened to the words of the Whitebeard Pirates around him, his heart was filled with nothing but rage.
"Whitebeard… I won't let you get away with this… Ugh… Cough, cough…"
Because he was too agitated, blood surged straight from his mouth.
Seeing this, Whitebeard smiled without a care and looked at Crocodile.
"Revenge, is it? I welcome it. But first, you'd better see whether you can survive on this sea."
As soon as he finished speaking, Whitebeard sat down boldly on his throne, as if the fight just now had only been a warm-up.
Seeing this, Marco gestured to his crew members.
"Throw him and his men into the sea."
"Oh!"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates immediately began cleaning up, throwing Crocodile and his subordinates into the ocean while washing the deck.
Watching Crocodile fall into the sea, Whitebeard turned to Marco beside him and asked, "Marco, what do you think of him?"
Marco pushed the small glasses on the bridge of his nose and said confidently, "He's strong, Oyaji. But we're not weak either."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily in satisfaction.
"Let the sea decide that brat's fate. As for now, let's hold a banquet!"
"Oh!"
In an instant, the deck of the Moby Dick filled with lively laughter.
The banquet began. Everyone sang, danced, drank, and ate meat.
Just then, a cry came from above the sea. As the one in charge of intelligence for the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco immediately recognized it as the call of a News Coo.
Sure enough, a seagull wearing a white suit, with a small wallet hanging under its neck and a bundle on its back, flew over from the sea.
Marco took out 100 Belly from his pocket and waved it toward the sky.
The glint of the 100 Belly coin instantly caught the News Coo's attention. It descended from the sky and landed beside Marco. After money and goods changed hands, the News Coo flew back into the sky, and Marco opened the newspaper to read it.
But the moment he saw the headline, his expression changed drastically.
"Hey, hey… You've got to be kidding me…"
"What is it, Marco?"
Marco's exclamation drew everyone's attention, and Whitebeard asked curiously.
Marco wasted no time. He turned the newspaper around, held it up in front of everyone, and shouted, "Oyaji, Shiki escaped from Impel Down!"
"Huh… Shiki… Shiki the Golden Lion?"
Everyone looked over. Sure enough, the front-page headline of the newspaper read: Shiki the Golden Lion Escapes Prison, accompanied by a photo of Shiki's arrogant expression.
Seeing this, Whitebeard also understood that Shiki really might have escaped.
"Looks like this sea is about to get chaotic again…"
When it came to this old friend, Whitebeard understood his ambition better than anyone.
Just then, as if answering his thoughts, Whitebeard sensed something. He looked toward the distant sky and frowned tightly.
"Well, speak of the devil…"
The crew on the deck froze, then followed Whitebeard's gaze. They were startled as well.
A pirate ship appeared in the sky, floating like an island. At the bow of the ship, a massive golden lion statue shone brilliantly under the sunlight.
At that moment, Whitebeard's voice rang out.
"Brats, get ready. We have a new guest to welcome!"
...
Three minutes later, as the massive island-like pirate ship slowly descended, Shiki's figure appeared in the sight of everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates.
Even from far away, the aura Shiki radiated made some of the newer members of the Whitebeard Pirates tremble all over.
"S-So strong…"
"So this is Shiki the Golden Lion, the great pirate said to stand on the same level as Oyaji?"
"What did he come to see Oyaji for?"
Shiki, with a cigar in his mouth, flew up and then slowly landed on the deck of the Whitebeard Pirates, arriving in front of Whitebeard.
"Long time no see, Newgate!"
Seeing this, Whitebeard instead relaxed. He narrowed his eyes and asked Shiki in a low voice, "Shiki, I don't remember inviting you here."
The atmosphere between the two instantly became tense, making everyone on the deck swallow unconsciously.
Fortunately, Shiki's unruly laughter soon rang out.
"Shihahaha… Don't be so heartless, Newgate."
As Shiki spoke, he looked at the newspaper beside Whitebeard's hand, the one printed with his photo.
"Looks like news of my escape has already spread across the sea. But don't worry, I didn't come here to fight you."
"Is that so? Then why did you come to me?"
"The reason? Of course I came to ask you a question. But before that, an old friend has come to visit. Is this really how you treat a guest?"
Whitebeard gave Shiki a deep look, then shouted, "Brats, bring out good wine and meat. The banquet continues!"