"That guy has finally made his move."
Holding a freshly printed newspaper, Buggy's eyes locked onto the bold headline detailing the Nightfall Pirates' renewed expansion war. His expression turned unusually solemn as he spoke in a low, measured tone.
Despite the clown outfit and exaggerated makeup, an undeniable aura of authority radiated from him. This was no longer the jester of the past, but Buggy the Star Clown, captain of the Buggy Pirates, a man with a bounty of 760 million Berries. In less than a year, his value had tripled, and so had the weight of his presence.
"Captain, even if the Dark Emperor is strong, you're not exactly weak either. Why are you so wary of him?" Carlos asked, puzzled.
He could clearly sense it. Beneath Buggy's confident exterior lurked a deep, instinctive fear of Marshall D. Teach.
Carlos had seen it himself. The clash between Teach and Silvers Rayleigh had left a lasting impression. That level of power was monstrous, far beyond what most could reach.
Still, he believed in Buggy's potential. Given time, their captain could stand on equal footing. What he lacked was not talent, but years.
Then again, remembering Buggy's usual antics, Carlos almost laughed.
"Hmph! That guy is a real monster. He's lived far longer than us."
Buggy snorted, though his eyes remained sharp.
Teach's abnormal physique was no secret anymore. Buggy, having crossed paths with him before, understood it even better than most. That kind of body, that kind of natural strength, created a ceiling others could hardly reach.
Even if Buggy improved, Teach would not stand still. The gap would not close so easily.
More importantly, Buggy's instincts screamed danger.
Back in the East Blue, when Teach was about to leave, the look in his eyes and the words he spoke had sent a chill down Buggy's spine. It felt as though something unseen had already set its sights on him.
Something inevitable.
Buggy trusted that feeling. His intuition had saved him more times than he could count.
That was why, after entering the New World, he chose to part ways with Shanks. While Shanks sailed south, Buggy deliberately steered north, distancing himself from the looming shadow of the Nightfall Pirates.
Until his wings fully matured, he had no intention of confronting Teach head-on.
"Hahaha! Enough of that. It has nothing to do with us. Let's keep the party going!"
On another sea, Shanks tossed aside the same newspaper without a second glance. He grabbed a bottle of wine and took a long swig, laughter booming across the deck.
The Red-Haired Pirates were deep in celebration, completely unconcerned with the shifting tides of the world.
"Captain! Trouble!"
A crew member rushed in, breathless.
"Three pirate crews have formed an alliance. They're heading straight for us!"
The festive atmosphere froze instantly. In the next moment, a sharp, murderous intent spread across the deck as every member of the Red-Haired Pirates reacted.
Shanks set his bottle down, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.
"How troublesome. Looks like the banquet will have to wait."
A grin spread across his face, calm yet dangerous.
"Let's deal with them first."
Far away, in the Golden Sea of the first half of the Grand Line, war raged without pause.
The conflict had escalated far beyond expectations. The World Government, unwilling to relinquish its claim over the Golden Sea's immense wealth, continued to pour in troops at an alarming rate.
Yet the resistance centered on Jaya Island proved far more tenacious than anticipated.
As the Government reinforced its forces, powerful individuals from the New World also began arriving one after another, drawn by both profit and principle.
Despite being at a numerical disadvantage, the defenders adapted quickly. They focused on fortifying Jaya Island while employing guerrilla tactics at sea, harassing Marine and Army forces relentlessly.
Whenever an opportunity arose, they struck without hesitation, aiming to thin enemy numbers regardless of rank.
The blockade around Jaya Island tightened, but it was never perfect. Supplies still slipped through, though at great risk.
Nelson, a Devil Fruit user with the Steal-Steal ability, became a vital lifeline, repeatedly transporting massive quantities of materials in secret.
At the same time, external cargo ships attempted to break through. To ensure their arrival, elite fighters from Jaya Island would first eliminate patrol warships in the target area.
Without Vice Admiral level protection, those patrol ships stood little chance.
The cost of this war was staggering.
In just one year, the World Government had lost over 100,000 soldiers. Sixty thousand from the Army, forty thousand from the Marines.
Warships were sunk in the hundreds, each loss crippling their operational capabilities. Without ships, there was no mobility, no offense, no rescue.
The Golden Sea had become a true meat grinder.
And yet, the war showed no signs of stopping.
At the center of the battlefield stood three titans of the World Government.
Marine Admiral "Black Pigeon" Freda.
Admiral Aokiji, Kuzan.
And an Army Admiral known as "Tyrant Bear," a master of physical combat with an awakened Ancient Zoan.
Together, they formed an overwhelming force.
Against them stood only one figure of equal standing on Jaya Island.
"Thunder Tyrant" Kronos.
In raw combat power, Kronos surpassed each of the three Admirals individually. Yet even he could not be everywhere at once.
The balance was fragile, teetering on collapse.
Across the world, the effects of this war spread like wildfire.
Pirates in every sea grew more aggressive. Marine branches suffered constant attacks. Even in the New World, chaos intensified.
Kaido descended upon G1 like a natural disaster, leaving destruction in his wake. Only the timely arrival of Kizaru prevented total annihilation, though the base was still devastated and Akainu severely wounded.
Elsewhere, Ares of the Nightfall Pirates crushed G3, slaughtering its defenders and erasing the base entirely.
The "Red the Aloof," Redfield, struck three branches in the first half of the Grand Line, leaving nothing but ruins behind.
The Marines were forced into retreat, their influence shrinking under relentless pressure.
Public opinion turned sharply.
Voices across the world condemned the war, claiming the Golden Sea's wealth belonged to all, not just the World Government.
The narrative shifted.
The Government became the aggressor, driven by greed.
The defenders of Jaya Island were hailed as champions.
Revolutionary forces seized the moment, spreading their ideology and inciting rebellion. Even within the Red Line, unrest began to stir.
Allied nations, burdened by chaos and loss, began to push back.
Refusing to pay the Celestial Tribute, they demanded accountability.
One kingdom could be ignored.
Ten could not.
Fifty became a crisis.
The foundation of the World Government trembled.
Within the halls of power, division emerged.
One faction demanded a ceasefire to preserve stability.
The other insisted on pressing forward, unwilling to abandon victory at the brink.
In the end, arrogance prevailed.
The war would continue.
At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku sat with bloodshot eyes, exhaustion etched deep into his face.
The weight of countless lost lives pressed heavily on him.
The Navy had once again become the shield for the World Government's ambitions, bearing the cost in blood.
Anger simmered beneath the surface.
Even he had nearly lost control when a high-ranking official accused the Marines of incompetence.
A cup of tea was placed gently before him.
Tsuru stood nearby, her gaze calm but heavy.
"What's their decision?"
Sengoku took a slow sip before answering.
"They'll continue. Full force. They want Jaya Island taken as quickly as possible."
Tsuru nodded, unsurprised.
"More reinforcements?"
"Not from us," Sengoku replied. "Two Admirals are already the limit. They will send another. Possibly CP0 as well. Fifty thousand more soldiers from them… and twenty thousand from us."
Tsuru's eyes narrowed slightly.
"They're all in."
Sengoku exhaled.
Whether it would be enough… even he did not know.
Tsuru looked out toward the distant sea, her voice quiet.
"I just hope it ends soon."
But deep down, both of them understood.
The true storm had only just begun.