Chapter 346: The Revolutionary Army
[The result of this battle was that neither of the two top pirate crews managed to determine a winner. Instead, part of the Marine Headquarters near an unnamed island was destroyed. Even after deploying two Admirals, the Marines still failed to capture either crew and could only watch helplessly as you completed coating your ship and left — utterly humiliated.]
[Afterward, more than ten Marine warships pursued you, but you used Platinum Star to sink them one by one. They were practically powerless against you. Platinum Star, combined with Time Stop, was the natural enemy of all ships — the ultimate vehicle killer. Its devastating efficiency left no doubt, making you nearly unbeatable in naval combat. Before you knew it, you had become one of the strongest forces on the entire sea.]
[Meanwhile, the News Coo of the World Economic Journal captured the entire chaotic battle at the Sabaody Archipelago and published it in their latest issue.]
[The coverage focused especially on your clashes with Whitebeard, Shanks versus Zephyr, and the fierce skirmishes among Benn Beckman, Lucky Roux, Marco, and Sengoku.]
[This battle completely shattered many people's worldviews. Who would have thought that not only were the captains of these two top pirate crews powerful, but their subordinates were equally formidable? Black Arm Zephyr — one of the few who stood at the pinnacle of Armament Haki across the seas, a former Admiral and symbol of the Marines' might — fought to a stalemate against Lucky Roux and Benn Beckman of the Pineapple Pirates, as well as Marco from Whitebeard's side. Even Vice-Captain Shanks battled Sengoku evenly. What made it all the more shocking was that Sengoku and Zephyr were already aging, while the members of both pirate crews hadn't even reached their prime.]
[Thus, Morgans, president of the World Economic Journal, proposed a new concept: to recognize the Pineapple Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates as sovereigns reigning above all others — Emperors of the Sea. You and Whitebeard were respectively titled the two "Sea Emperors." Your bounty skyrocketed to an astounding 1.5 billion Berries, while your crew's collective bounty reached 4 billion. You couldn't help but think: "I haven't even done that much… Is this world's currency just printed for fun?"]
[Aside from that headline, another piece of news caught your attention: the island of Ohara — the sanctuary of archaeologists in the West Blue — had been obliterated by a Marine Buster Call. You frowned deeply. As a scholar yourself, you had once considered visiting Ohara to study its archives. The brutal suppression of unarmed scholars was something you found utterly intolerable.]
[On April 21, 1503, the White Red departed from the Sabaody Archipelago — this time with three new members aboard, all of whom were exceptionally strong.]
[Two of them were Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of Roger's crew, and Shakky, the owner of the Shakky's Rip-Off Bar. Ironically, the earthquakes Whitebeard caused had been very controlled — only two buildings collapsed on Sabaody. Perhaps intentionally, one was the Celestial Dragons' auction house, and the other was their bar. After a brief exchange with Shanks, the two joined your crew temporarily.]
[Rayleigh, who had once accompanied Roger to the final island, told you with deep meaning that Roger had once prophesied the birth of two new kings — one possibly being the Mermaid Princess who holds Poseidon's power, and the other, Roger believed, would be his son Ace. But Rayleigh doubted that. "Perhaps," he said, "someone like you, who appeared like a comet, is the one he foresaw." He offered to guide you to Laugh Tale anytime, as long as you wouldn't be disappointed by what awaited there.]
[Though the offer was tempting, you refused without hesitation. You believed that the journey toward Laugh Tale was an essential part of life itself — that if you sought shortcuts or ways to skip that journey, a part of your life would be lost forever, no matter what powers you possessed.]
[Rayleigh said nothing more, but his gaze toward you changed subtly. The third new member was an old acquaintance — Marshall D. Teach. According to him, he had defected from Whitebeard's crew because he believed you, rather than the aging Whitebeard, were the one who could truly change the world. You were skeptical of his motives, but Shanks seemed to know him and approved his joining. Only later did you learn that they had met years before — and that the scars across Shanks's face came from that very encounter.]
[At the Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters under the sea, you saw deep-sea creatures you had never encountered before. Schools of fish and whales roamed freely, and your knowledge of marine biology was expanding by the second. The scenery was breathtaking — immense coral forests and ship graveyards. The island itself was protected by a massive double-layered semi-spherical bubble shield, with an air pocket in between. Ships that entered via the wrong route would have their coating stripped away and merged into the island's membrane, sometimes crashing into the ground below — the very reason for the ship graveyard.]
[Within the coral forest, you found a letter of apology written by Joy Boy to the Mermaid Princess, expressing remorse for failing to fulfill his promise. Nearby, guided by Rayleigh, you discovered the first red Poneglyph. Once all four red Poneglyphs were gathered, they would reveal the route to Laugh Tale.]
[On April 26, 1503, you passed through the long underground tunnel beneath Fish-Man Island and arrived at the New World — a sea full of mysteries and dangers. At its end lay "Laugh Tale," where the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, was said to rest. Whoever found it would become the Pirate King. Inevitably, you and other great pirates — as well as the Marines — would battle for dominance over this ocean. You unlocked the achievement: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.]
[At the entrance of the New World stood Marine G-1 Base, home to the Navy's elite force in these waters, commanded by an old acquaintance — Borsalino, now a Vice Admiral. Yet as the White Red sailed past the base, not a single Marine ship dared to intercept you. Only when your ship disappeared into the distance did a few cannon shots echo weakly — more like a farewell salute than an attack.]
[In May 1503, to your surprise, compared to the so-called "Paradise" of the first half of the Grand Line, nearly every island in the New World was embroiled in war. Some were invaded by pirates; others fought each other — all for the absurd purpose of collecting enough Heavenly Tribute for the Celestial Dragons. Otherwise, they risked Marine retribution. "War… for this?" you thought incredulously.]
[On one such island, you encountered a mysterious cloaked man you had glimpsed once before at the Pirate King's execution. Beside him stood a peculiar man with an abnormally large head and a massive, imposing figure — whom you also recognized: Bartholomew Kuma, the "Tyrant" of the Sorbet Kingdom in the South Blue.]
[The cloaked man introduced himself as Monkey D. Dragon and explained his purpose. He spoke of the massacre on Ohara one month earlier — of how those unarmed scholars had merely voiced objections to laws they found unjust, only to be slaughtered. "They hated war," he said, "yet they were destroyed by it. We must build a force strong enough to change this world. The will of Ohara will not be in vain."]
[Bartholomew Kuma then shared his own story — of how, to protect his people, he had taxed them heavily to gather enough Heavenly Tribute for the Celestial Dragons, making himself a scapegoat for their anger. "As long as people live," he said, "there's hope. Even hatred can spark hope." But no matter how much he sacrificed, he could never satisfy the Dragons' greed. In the end, he was overthrown and became a pirate.]
["The World Government must fall," Dragon declared. "A world that discards whatever it deems unnecessary will never know true happiness."]
[Their words struck deeply within you. You made a pact with Dragon — to form an alliance and build strength in secret. When the time came, you would strike together, to end unjust wars and overthrow the Celestial Dragons' tyranny. Thus, the Revolutionary Army pledged full support in your cause to upend the unequal rule of the World Government.]
[From May 1503 to August 1505, another two years passed. During that time, the Pineapple Pirates' power expanded rapidly. Because both you and Shanks were fair and benevolent leaders, many nations plagued by pirates declared themselves under your crew's protection. This inevitably led to conflicts with other pirate crews and with the World Government. You also freed countless slaves captured by the Celestial Dragons.]
[Of course, you also proved why you were one of the Sea Emperors. Having just turned 29, you had reached your peak. According to Rayleigh, in pure combat power, you had already surpassed the former Pirate King, Roger. Not only had you mastered the Six Powers and all three forms of Haki, but your Mist-Mist Fruit had also awakened. Your bounty rose to 2.5 billion Berries, and you earned a new, rather chuunibyo title — "The White Emperor."]