When people speak of the three "End Islands," only one is actually named End Island. The other two are Firs Island and Secon Island. Together, these three locations are known as the Endpoints, signifying the "end" of the New World.
There has long been a legend whispered throughout the New World: it is said that the three islands of the Endpoints are magma storage nodes sitting directly above the New World's subterranean volcanic veins. If all three islands are destroyed, the magma beneath the sea will lose its restraints. The resulting pressure imbalance would trigger a massive, uncontrollable eruption.
The scale of such an event would be apocalyptic, a disaster capable of incinerating the entire New World in one fell swoop, turning the surrounding seas into a literal hell of molten lava.
This story has circulated for so long that its origin is lost to time. In the New World, almost everyone has heard the tale, yet because it is so well-known, few take it seriously. Historically, the World Government treated it as a joke on the surface. Whether it was the Navy or the Cipher Pol agencies, they actively worked to downplay and obfuscate the truth. High-ranking officials knew the reality but feigned ignorance. Because everyone knew the story but no one cared, the legend became nothing more than a "folk tale," dismissed by the masses.
But in reality, it was all true!
In the original timeline, after Zephyr succumbed to his inner darkness, he planned to use this exact method to completely wipe out the pirates of the New World. Could it work? Yes. But it would also drag hundreds of millions of innocent civilians into a grave of fire and magma. It was a sin of unfathomable proportions.
In the original history, given Zephyr's status and prestige, it didn't matter if he left the Navy or even started the "Neo Marines," a so-called "new style Navy" to compete with Headquarters. No Marine generals went out of their way to provoke the old lion. That is, until Zephyr couldn't hold back anymore and began destroying the End Islands to annihilate the New World.
That was when the Navy Headquarters could no longer sit idly by. Even Sakazuki couldn't stand it. Good grief, I thought I was radical, iron-fisted, and hawkish enough. But compared to you, Sensei, I'm still far behind.
As the saying goes: "A blackened hero is three times more ruthless." Zephyr, the former "Admiral Who Never Kills," was suddenly ready to slaughter the entire New World in the blink of an eye.
As the new Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki could never allow this. If Zephyr succeeded, resigning in shame would be the least of Sakazuki's problems; he'd likely face a firing squad. Furthermore, while Sakazuki was iron-fisted, he wasn't truly cruel. He would sacrifice civilians only if it were a necessary cost of eradicating evil; under normal circumstances, he didn't treat human life with such total disregard. Therefore, regardless of his own life or career, he could never let Zephyr commit such a world-ending atrocity for the sake of the innocent lives in the New World.
The end of that story saw Borsalino lead a fleet to intercept him. After Zephyr destroyed two of the End Islands, he was finally killed by Borsalino's own hand. For a Marine Admiral, such an end was deeply tragic.
But now? Such a thing was no longer a concern.
Zephyr was currently eating and sleeping well at Marine Headquarters; his asthma hadn't flared up in ages. He hadn't encountered the catalyst for his "blackening." When he took his cadets out for practical training, they did indeed run into Weevil, but the beast had been dispatched by Gion. The ship full of students returned to Marineford safe and sound. Zephyr didn't lose an arm, the Seven Warlords system was about to be scrapped anyway, and he had no reason to turn bitter.
Naturally, he had no intention of bombing the End Islands to eliminate pirates. And given the current situation, even if he didn't bomb them, the pirates didn't have much of a future left. That tragedy had been averted.
However, Charlotte Linlin had now thought of this very plan.
As the crew with the best intelligence network in the pirate world, Big Mom had naturally heard of the End Points. She didn't just hear the stories; two years ago, sensing the pirates' situation would grow increasingly dire, she began searching for a "trump card" for a rainy day. Consequently, she investigated the legend.
Initially, she did it just to see what she might find, not expecting anything major. But after cross-referencing information about Dyna Stones and conducting multiple verifications, she realized the legend was real! Every insider was simply a "stage actor" playing a part!
After discovering this, Linlin didn't spread the word. She wasn't a lunatic who wanted to destroy the world for fun, and she understood why the "actors" kept quiet. You act, I'll act. As long as the New World stays intact, everyone wins.
Though she kept the secret, it was classified as top-tier intelligence within the Big Mom Pirates. Very few knew, and those who found out accidentally were silenced. Linlin kept this as her ultimate "fish-to-die-and-net-to-break" ace, a last resort to threaten the Navy.
If she weren't truly at a dead end, she wouldn't have made this choice. After all, her stronghold, Totto Land, was also in the New World. If the New World was finished, her dream kingdom was finished too. But things had reached this point; without this move, she would surely die. With it, there was a chance to seek life within death.
"The three End Islands?" Newgate blinked, nodding slowly. "I know the stories, but why bring up a nursery tale now?"
Kaido was also confused. He knew the legends, of course, but he didn't see Linlin's point.
"It's not a story," Charlotte Linlin said suddenly.
After a brief pause, under the shocked gazes of Newgate and Kaido, she nodded. "That's right. It's the truth. Everyone knows it, but they think it's a myth. Two years ago, I thought so too, but then I uncovered some secrets. I can tell you with full responsibility: if those three islands are destroyed, the New World is finished. This is our way to seek life within death!"
"What's the plan?" Kaido asked, intensely interested.
"Let the Marines in! Draw their main forces deep inside. While we move our strength to hide in the Calm Belt and retreat further into the New World to bait them, once their main fleet is inside, we destroy the three End Islands. We'll wipe out their entire force in the New World in one strike. Then, amidst the global chaos, we seize everything and dominate the world!" Linlin said viciously.
To be fair, if her plan worked, it had massive potential. Mariejois had already fallen. Aside from the Navy, no one could take charge. The so-called "Pan-Global Covenant United Organization" was just in its infancy and meant very little. If the mighty Navy were destroyed in a single blow during this power vacuum, the world would fall into total anarchy. No one would be able to stabilize the situation.
At that point, the three pirate crews, having preserved some of their strength, could strike hard. They might truly be able to carve up the world and rule the four seas! It was a plan to flip the script from a desperate corner.
Kaido, who lacked any shred of humanity, slammed the table in support as soon as he heard. "Good! There's such a way? Then why hesitate? Kill all those Marine bastards and the world is ours!"
Seeing Kaido agree, a cruel smile played on Linlin's face.
But at that moment, Whitebeard let out a thunderous roar. "I refuse!"
Compared to pirates like Kaido and Linlin, who had no principles or humanity, Whitebeard was an "outstanding pirate" with a certain sense of social responsibility. He killed and burned, yes; he had a mountain of crimes to his name, certainly. But Newgate had a soft spot in his heart. For instance, he lived in poverty not because he couldn't loot, but because he was a secret philanthropist, quietly donating his wealth to his home.
Perhaps because he came from the grassroots, a child of poverty, Newgate never pillaged civilians or targeted the weak. On the contrary, the people under his flag lived relatively comfortable lives. Fish-Man Island was a prime example. In these respects, Whitebeard was a pirate, even a top-tier one, but he was a pirate with a bottom line and a heart.
Linlin's plan was brilliant; if it worked, they could reverse their fortunes and even ascend further. But the cost was the lives of hundreds of millions of innocent people in the New World being buried in a sea of fire!
Newgate wanted to win, but he was a man of honor, a pirate of grand stature. He had lived his whole life with heroic pride; even as a lord of crime, he was a true hero of the era. How could he agree to such an inhuman plan at a time like this? He would rather fight the Navy in a fair, grand battle and die on the field than win like this! A hero should have that kind of spirit!
"I, Whitebeard, am no saint, but I am not so insane as to do this! You want to bury the entire New World just for your ambitions? Do you not fear losing sleep at night? That isn't a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand people, that is the lives of hundreds of millions! I will never agree to such a despicable, shameless plan!!" Newgate said without hesitation.
He had already made up his mind: if Kaido and Linlin tried this, the alliance was over. He would fight the Navy on his own. He even planned to inform the Marines of the plot once the battle began. Stopping this would be his final act of conscience.
He wanted the world to know that Whitebeard was not a bastard without a bottom line!
"You old geezer, we've reached this point, and you're still putting on airs? You're a damn pirate! Did you think you were a Marine? Where did this 'Heart of Justice' come from? Why don't you just surrender? Maybe the Navy will give you a rank of Captain!" Kaido shouted angrily.
"Kaido, do you believe I'll sink you to the bottom of the ocean right now!?" Newgate's eyes burned with rage, and the powerful vibration energy in his body began to surge.
Charlotte Linlin truly hadn't expected the old man to react so violently. If she'd known, she wouldn't have brought it up here; she would have plotted with Kaido in secret, and once it was implemented, Newgate would have had to get on the boat whether he liked it or not. Or, they could have just left him in the New World to fend for himself.
But the cat was out of the bag, and she couldn't take it back. It was awkward. Fortunately, Linlin was clever enough not to fall out with Whitebeard right then. She pulled Kaido back and said helplessly, "This is a move of desperation. Totto Land is in the New World; do you think I want to do this? There's simply no other way, is there?"
"Don't waste your breath. I will never agree. If you insist on going through with this, then we disband right here, right now!" Newgate said, refusing to budge an inch.
Linlin didn't want to actually disband; that would be even more awkward. She could only take a temporary step back.
Diarmuid and the others had no idea they had just skirted past a world-ending conspiracy, all thanks to Newgate having a bit of character. Linlin planned to wait and see if she could convince Newgate to change his mind later. But she didn't realize that a "decapitation strike" was already being quietly set in motion. By failing to act decisively at this moment, she had already lost her final chance at victory.