Time flowed like a steady river, and soon, two full years had slipped away into history. In the first half of the Grand Line, specifically on a wild and primitive island located near the secluded Amazon Lily, a farewell gathering was coming to an end. The sleek pirate ship of the Kuja Pirates bobbed gently in the water, docked at the island's rugged edge.
Standing upon the sandy shore was a small but legendary group: Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates; Boa Hancock, the Empress of the Kuja; and Silvers Rayleigh, the man known as the Dark King and former first mate of the Pirate King. They were surrounded by several warriors from the island of women, all watching the young pirate with a mix of pride and concern.
Rayleigh's face was uncharacteristically serious as he looked at his student. "Luffy, have you really thought this through? Are you sure you're ready?"
Luffy stood tall, his presence far more commanding than it had been two years prior. He felt a surge of strength beneath his skin and clenched his fists tightly. "Yeah! Thank you for everything these past two years, Uncle Rayleigh. My friends are waiting for me at Sabaody, and I've got no reason to stay here any longer. It's time to go!"
"Oh, Luffy!" Hancock swooned, her eyes literally transforming into shimmering stars as she gazed at his confident expression.
Seeing the boy's unwavering determination, Rayleigh's sharp gaze softened into a calm smile. "I understand. I have no right to stop a man who is ready to set sail. But as someone who has seen the world, I have to warn you: the New World has changed. When you cross over, you're going to face challenges that didn't exist in my day. They might be even harder than what we dealt with back then. You have to be careful. If you ever find yourself in a situation you just can't handle, go find your brother, Ace."
Luffy gave a heavy, serious nod. "Don't worry, Uncle Rayleigh. I'm not a fool anymore. Well then, goodbye, everyone! I'm heading out!"
Rayleigh sat down on a weathered rock by the sea, his eyes fixed on the Kuja ship as it disappeared toward the horizon. His expression remained solemn. Beside him stood Elder Nyon, the former Empress of the Kuja.
"Rayleigh, do you really think Luffy can do it?" she asked quietly.
In his younger days, Rayleigh might have laughed and given a confident "yes," but things were different now. "I honestly don't know. I wasn't joking with him just now. The obstacles standing in Luffy's path today are far greater than the ones Roger faced during our era."
Elder Nyon was stunned by his honesty. "Are you talking about Kaido? Has he truly become strong enough to be compared to that legendary figure?"
Rayleigh shook his head slowly. "I saw everything during that war two years ago. Garp and the others are older now, sure, and they aren't as fast as they used to be, but they are still monsters. For Kaido to suppress Garp, Sengoku, Akainu, and Kizaru all at once without losing ground... that kind of power is terrifying. It's on the same level as Rocks D. Xebec."
Nyon nodded, remembering the stories. "It's true. A Conqueror's Haki that can dominate an entire sea was something only Rocks could achieve in the past. Luckily, Luffy isn't doing this alone. He has Ace by his side. Seeing the two of them together reminds me so much of Roger and Garp. Maybe it's just fate."
"Actually, that's exactly what I'm worried about," Rayleigh admitted.
"What? Why?" Nyon asked, confused.
Rayleigh looked out at the waves, lost in thought. "We haven't waited all these years just to watch Ace and Luffy walk the same path Roger did. We want something more for them."
Elder Nyon understood immediately. Their real enemy wasn't just other pirates; it was the deep, systemic darkness of the world that allowed such chaos to exist in the first place. It was a darkness so vast that even Roger, the Pirate King himself, had eventually chosen to surrender to it.
"There is one more thing that's bothering me," Rayleigh continued. "It's Kaido and his Beasts Pirates. Something is wrong. That kind of power shouldn't be possible."
"What do you mean?"
"I've studied the reports," Rayleigh explained. "Kaido and I were once on the same sea. I know he has the blood of the Ancient Giant race, which makes him naturally tough, but he's too strong now. If you look at the intelligence from the last two years, everything changed when he left the New World for 'Paradise' two years ago. Since that moment, his strength has undergone a massive transformation. We're all human; we all know that nobody except the Giants can escape the weight of time. Kaido was over fifty years old then. Even if he kept training, his physical power shouldn't have spiked like that unless..."
"Unless he actually found the power of the Ancient Weapon, Pluton!"
A dangerous light flashed in Rayleigh's eyes, making Elder Nyon flinch. "Are you sure about that?"
"It's the only logical explanation," Rayleigh said firmly.
"Then we are in serious trouble," Nyon whispered. "If the legends of Amazon Lily are true, the only person who can defeat Kaido is someone like Luffy, who possesses a similar level of power."
"No... Luffy's power alone won't be enough." Rayleigh stood up, finished the last of his wine, and began walking toward the shoreline.
"Rayleigh! Where are you going?"
"I'm going to visit some old friends. Don't forget, it's not just Kaido who has grown. His subordinates have changed, too. The Beasts Pirates have been way too quiet for the last two years. The sea is only ever this calm right before a massive storm hits."
In the New World, within the borders of Wano Country, lies the region of Kuri. It was once the most lawless and chaotic place in the land. However, two years ago, Kaido drove out the samurai loyal to the Kozuki Clan and wiped out those who resisted. Since then, the land has been under the strict control of the Beasts Pirates.
The region is now governed by Sasaki, one of the Tobi Roppo and the leader of the Beasts Pirates' science unit. As the General of Kuri, Sasaki needed a proper home. He decided to dismantle Oden Castle on Mt. Atama and rebuild it into his own grand manor.
Despite the luxury, Sasaki rarely spent time there due to his duties. The manor was mostly occupied by his wife, Galette, the eighteenth daughter of Charlotte Linlin. They had married two years ago and now had three children. This family changed Sasaki. He cherished them more than anything, and the once-wild pirate had matured into a responsible man.
He wasn't the only one. Many children had been born to the Beasts Pirates over the last two years. Sasaki and Jack had the most, likely due to their Fishman heritage. Jack's wife, Shyarly, a mermaid from Fish-Man Island, had recently given birth to triplets.
Even Who's-Who had settled down. He married Galette's sister, Charlotte Sinamon, and they already had twins—a boy and a girl. Then there was King. King had always been hesitant to have children, fearing his descendants would suffer the same fate as the rest of the Lunarian race. But when he saw his wife, Conis, hold their daughter for the first time, everything changed.
Looking at his tiny, angelic daughter, King felt a sense of purpose that no motivational speech from Kaido could ever provide. He worked hard to be a father, and this year, he and Conis welcomed a son as well.
The birth of these children brought hope and a future to the Beasts Pirates. It changed the parents, too. For years, Kaido had tried to force his men to change their ways, but old pirate habits are hard to break. However, once they had families to protect, they matured naturally. They were no longer just pirates with a violent past; they were people with something to lose. They had become complete individuals.
And finally, there was Kaido himself...
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