…
New World, a certain island.
Rumble—!!!
A tremendous roar echoed across the island as the ground continuously cracked apart. Countless beasts and birds fled in panic.
"What a stubborn beast."
Standing on the island was a towering, powerfully built man—
Whitebeard.
He had been fighting an enormous beast, though now the creature lay defeated.
Back during the battle at God Valley, Whitebeard had withdrawn midway through his fight against Senju Hashirama, seized a ship, and escaped the island.
Ever since Fish-Man Island, he had already sensed that Rocks would eventually fall, so he had never intended to remain at God Valley and fight to the end.
He had been drifting at sea for two days and one night.
He came to this island today simply to hunt some beasts and see how they tasted.
Whitebeard lit a fire and began roasting meat.
Flap! Flap!
A News Coo flew overhead, dropping several newspapers. Whitebeard caught one and began reading carefully.
"So… it really ended, Captain Rocks."
Looking at the newspaper, Whitebeard sighed helplessly, emotions swirling within him.
Though he had never felt much attachment toward the Rocks Pirates—
He had still spent a long time aboard that ship.
And over time, even he had developed a trace of sentiment.
As for Rocks' death…
Whitebeard still felt a little regret.
Rocks had been strong.
Unfortunately, he had encountered Aurelius D. Virel Is.
"Now it's time for me to pursue what I truly want."
Whitebeard tossed the newspaper into the fire.
His feelings toward the Rocks Pirates had existed—
But only slightly.
Now that Rocks was dead, it was time to seek the thing he genuinely desired.
A certain sea in the New World.
"Jihahaha… Hand over all your treasure, or every last one of you dies!"
Floating in midair with two famous swords in hand, Golden Lion looked down at a cargo ship and laughed viciously.
He had already read the newspaper.
Rocks was definitely dead.
No one could restrain him anymore.
In his eyes, this entire sea would now belong to him.
He had already finished researching ship designs. Next, all he needed was money to build a pirate ship of his own—
Then recruit a crew.
"Damn it! Why did we run into a Rocks Pirates officer?!"
The people aboard the cargo ship cursed their luck.
"I'm not one of the Rocks Pirates anymore!"
Golden Lion roared at them.
"I'm Shiki! My pirate crew is called the Flying Pirates!"
If not for Rocks' terrifying dominance, he would've left that ship long ago.
Now—
He didn't even want to hear Rocks' name.
"Fire!"
After much hesitation, the people aboard chose resistance.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Golden Lion swung three consecutive sword strikes.
The cargo ship before him was instantly cut into three pieces.
Then he rushed in and looted all the treasure inside.
"If you'd handed it over earlier, none of this would've happened."
Golden Lion sneered while watching the ship sink beneath the sea.
…
New World, a certain kingdom.
Charlotte Linlin and Kaido were slaughtering their way through an island, plundering treasure.
Looking at the corpses scattered everywhere, they divided the loot—
Three parts to Kaido.
Seven parts to Charlotte Linlin.
"Kaido, don't forget the favor I've done for you."
Standing atop Zeus, Charlotte Linlin looked at Kaido with a strange smile.
During the God Valley war, after escaping from Uchiha Madara, she had gone to find Kaido—
Saved him.
And given him a Devil Fruit.
Not just any Devil Fruit—
A Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit.
In this world, Devil Fruits were divided into Zoan, Ancient Zoan, Logia, Paramecia, and Mythical Zoan.
Mythical Zoans were the rarest of all.
Even rarer than Logias.
Their value was immeasurable.
The future Kaido becoming one of the Four Emperors was inseparable from this Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit.
It could be said—
Charlotte Linlin had not only saved Kaido at God Valley.
She had also given him a Devil Fruit with an incredibly high growth ceiling.
In many ways, she had personally shaped Kaido's future.
"I know."
Holding his share of the treasure, Kaido nodded obediently.
At this point, he was still young.
Compared to a powerhouse like Charlotte Linlin, his strength was lacking.
Naturally, he didn't dare argue with her.
"I hope you'll still be alive in the future to repay my kindness, Kaido."
Charlotte Linlin said slowly while riding Zeus.
"I will."
Kaido nodded.
"Farewell, Kaido."
Charlotte Linlin rode Zeus away from the kingdom.
Watching her departing figure, Kaido sneered.
"Who'd ever repay a crazy woman like you?"
Kaido was exactly that kind of person—
Untrustworthy.
Ungrateful.
Even in future Wano Country, he would break promises and betray Kozuki Oden.
Afterward, Kaido stole a nearby ship and quickly departed.
If he stayed longer—
The Marines would come.
Is had ended the Rocks Era.
But—
A new era was beginning.
The Roger Pirates still existed.
Whitebeard lived.
Charlotte Linlin lived.
Kaido lived.
Golden Lion lived.
Freed from the restraints of the Rocks Pirates, they had all begun walking separate paths, developing their own forces.
A new age—
One no less massive than the era of Rocks—
Had already begun.
…
Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
Today was the day Is's excavation attempts refreshed.
With only minutes remaining, he stared intently at his status panel.
The moment the countdown reached zero—
Without hesitation, Is immediately began the process.
"Activate positioning mode."
Ding! Positioning mode activated.
Just as before, after the system's voice sounded, a virtual map appeared before him.
Is studied it carefully and discovered that this destination wasn't too far from Mary Geoise.
After memorizing the location—
He decided to go alone.
After roughly ten minutes of flying, Is finally reached his destination.
Like last time—
It was another black excavation block.
"Looks like I might get something good again this time…"
"…Though hopefully it's not another Fairy Magic Wand or something."
Just remembering the Fairy Magic Wand he dug up last time made him want to complain.
A freaking Fairy Magic Wand? Seriously?
A shovel appeared out of thin air in Is's hand.
Staring at the black block before him, he didn't hesitate.
He swung the shovel down immediately.
Bang!
Just like before—
The black block was incredibly hard.
One strike wasn't enough to break it.
Clang!
Is struck the block again.
A crisp sound rang out as a small crack appeared on its surface.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!!
Is accelerated his movements, repeatedly smashing the shovel against the black block.
The cracks spread wider—
Growing more numerous with every strike.
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