...…
On the light curtain, the scenes after the Roger Pirates' disbandment drifted away like falling leaves, each returning to their own tranquility.
Shanks and Buggy parted ways in the drizzling rain.
Vice-captain Silvers Rayleigh, accompanied by his beloved Shakky, quietly retired to Sabaody Archipelago, the once fearsome reputation of the "Dark King" seemingly vanishing with the wind.
The helmsman Scopper Gaban chose to withdraw from the world in the land of the giants, Elbaf, living among the giants.
The ship doctor Crocus returned to the Twin Cape that separated the four seas, continuing to uphold his promise to Laboon…
The members of the once world-shaking Roger Pirates—some chose ordinary lives, others continued their journeys in different ways…
They completely went their separate ways, blending into the corners of the world.
The scene shifted, and when it brightened again, it had switched to a Marine warship sailing across the sea.
The most eye-catching trio on the deck stood out strikingly.
The Straw Hat kid Luffy, covered in wounds yet with resolute eyes; the white-haired but steady and imposing Dark King Rayleigh; and the reliable and composed Sea Hero Jinbe!
All the original Marine soldiers on the warship had been cleverly bound by Jinbe using skillful techniques, rendering them unable to move.
With this "borrowed" warship, the three of them passed through the Gate of Justice—symbolizing absolute justice and boundaries—without any obstruction!
At this time, Marineford, having suffered devastation in the Summit War, had only just begun reconstruction. Everywhere were broken walls and ruins, a scene of utter devastation.
Most of the Navy's combat power had been dispatched to various parts of the world to suppress the increasingly rampant pirates reignited by the Great Pirate Era, even the three Admirals had been deployed. Only a very small number of troops remained stationed here.
When the remaining Marines saw that familiar warship (albeit "borrowed") carrying Luffy and the others barge into the harbor, they broke out in cold sweat. They immediately ordered the shore defense cannons to open fire!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Shells whistled toward them, but before they could approach the warship, they were intercepted mid-air by Jinbe's powerful Fish-Man Karate from a distance, exploding into bursts of sparks in the sky.
Occasionally, a few stragglers slipped through the water curtain, only for Rayleigh to calmly pick up a few small iron pellets with his fingers, flick his wrist—
"Swish… Bang!"
The iron pellets seemed to come alive, piercing precisely through the cores of the shells and detonating them prematurely.
Amid the spreading smoke, the warship remained unscathed and continued sailing toward the inner harbor.
Even with his hair turned white, the Dark King Rayleigh was far from an ordinary old man!
Around Marineford, sharp-nosed news reporters had already set up various filming equipment.
When they clearly saw who was coming—especially recognizing Rayleigh—they instantly went mad. The sound of camera shutters erupted like a rainstorm!
The Straw Hat kid Luffy dared to return to Marineford! And accompanying him were the Pirate King's vice-captain, the Dark King Rayleigh, as well as the former Warlord, the Sea Hero Jinbe!
Though only three people, just the topics "Dark King Rayleigh reappears in the world" and "Straw Hat kid is alive" were enough to ignite global public opinion!
Soon, the three arrived at the inner harbor where the most intense battles had once raged.
Using the stretching ability of his Rubber-Rubber Fruit, Luffy grabbed Jinbe with one hand and Rayleigh with the other, effortlessly bringing both companions down to the cracked plaza ground.
"What is this supposed to mean? Walking right into the net?!"
Outside the light curtain, Kaido watched this scene with a puzzled look on his rugged face.
If he was going to undergo Rayleigh's special training to get stronger, he should find a place to hide and train quietly. Coming to the Navy Headquarters now—what was that if not suicide?
Though he thought this way, he was also puzzled why the shrewd and calculating Rayleigh would go along with Luffy's "recklessness."
"Mam-ma-ma-ma~ It's not that simple, Kaido."
Big Mom Charlotte Linlin now seemed to have transformed into an insightful commentator. Her massive body leaned forward slightly as she pointed at Luffy's arm on the light curtain.
"You have to be good at observing when doing anything! Look at Garp's grandson's arm—doesn't he have some new additions?"
Though Kaido disdained Big Mom's "lecturing" posture, he still focused and looked closely.
Sure enough, on the light curtain, when Luffy moved in battle, several numbers "3D" and "2Y" were clearly visible on his arm.
This bizarre tattoo left him even more confused.
"Luffy… what the hell are you trying to do, kid?"
Outside the light curtain, Garp watched his grandson on the screen—wrapped in bandages yet still full of vitality—with complex emotions in his eyes: both heartache and bewilderment.
He was certain Luffy would never return to Marineford on a whim, and Rayleigh's accompaniment meant this action must have deep meaning.
Luffy swung his rubber fists along the way, easily repelling the sporadic Marines trying to block him. His target was clear: straight toward the highly symbolic structure on the Marineford plaza—the Ox Bell!
Under the gaze of countless reporters' lenses and the horrified eyes of the Marines, Luffy took a deep breath and struck the war-scarred bell of profound significance!
One strike, then another—steady and powerful—he rang it a full sixteen times!
"Dong—!" "Dong—!" "Dong—!"
The resounding bell tolls echoed like a proclamation over the ruined Marineford, striking the hearts of everyone witnessing the scene.
After finishing, Luffy did not linger at all. He turned and headed toward the most ferocious scar at the edge of the plaza—the massive chasm torn open by Whitebeard's final power.
A young Marine mustered his courage and stood in Luffy's path with sword drawn, but Luffy merely looked at him calmly without attacking.
The Marine was overwhelmed by something heavy and resolute in Luffy's eyes, his body freezing stiff, unable to move.
Luffy silently walked to the edge of the fissure, gazing down into the bottomless abyss that seemed to lead straight to hell.
He took out a bouquet of flowers—prepared at some unknown time—from his chest and gently tossed them down.
Then, he removed the straw hat from his head, pressed it to his chest, closed his eyes, and began a silent moment of mourning.
He was paying respects—to Whitebeard Edward Newgate, to his own brother, and to the countless lives lost in that war.
Some Marines tried to step forward to stop him, but they were casually blocked and taken down by Jinbe and Rayleigh.
These two titans acted as the most reliable guardians, creating a brief, undisturbed space of mourning for Luffy.
Some quick-witted reporters immediately realized this was prime news footage. They ventured across makeshift wooden bridges to the other side of the fissure, aiming their lenses at the mourning Luffy and capturing incredibly impactful close-ups.
Other reporters shot frantically from every angle, recording this unbelievable scene: the pirate Straw Hat kid causing chaos at Navy Headquarters again—this time just to mourn?!
After a few minutes of prayer, Luffy put his straw hat back on. The sadness on his face receded, replaced by an unwavering determination.
He called out to Jinbe and Rayleigh, and the three began to withdraw swiftly.
The reporters watched their departing backs, utterly perplexed.
Could it be that the Straw Hat kid risked everything to break into Navy Headquarters just to ring a bell a few times, offer a bouquet of flowers, and hold a few minutes of silence?
"Wait! Why would Dark King Rayleigh act as bodyguard for the Straw Hat kid?!"
One reporter suddenly seized the key point. He excitedly shouted to his colleagues: "Could it be… could the Straw Hat kid Luffy be the successor of Pirate King Gol D. Roger?!
Is Dark King Rayleigh escorting the new 'King'?!"
This bold speculation spread like wildfire among the reporters. They could already envision tomorrow's explosive newspaper headlines and skyrocketing sales!
For this story, they captured every frame of Rayleigh and Luffy together with even greater fervor.
Before long, these frontline reports and photos from Marineford were quickly compiled, printed, and turned into countless newspapers.
Carried on the wings of News Coo birds, they flew to every corner of the world.
These newspapers proclaimed a bombshell to the entire world: the Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy—who had been gravely injured and gone missing in the Summit War—was not only alive but had reappeared in an extremely high-profile, even provocative manner!
He had stormed the rebuilding Navy Headquarters, rung the bell of proclamation, paid respects to the fallen powerhouse, and departed safely under the protection of the legendary "Dark King" Rayleigh…
A new legend, a new journey!
It seemed to be quietly beginning with these scattered newspapers.
The name of the Straw Hat kid Luffy once again swept across the entire world like a storm!
...…