In the aftermath of the battle, the Grand Line began to settle. Blackbeard's reign was over, but the cost had been high. The sea was still filled with pirates, but their leader was gone. The world's balance was restored—for now.
As I stood aboard the warship, watching the horizon stretch out before me, I could sense the weight of what had happened. The pirates had been defeated, but there would always be others. The sea would never be truly free of chaos.
I turned away from the edge and walked back toward the Marine fleet, my mind lost in thought. The Marines had lost too many soldiers in the fight, and the world was still recovering from the aftermath of Blackbeard's campaign. But there was a glimmer of hope. With Blackbeard gone, the balance of power had shifted once again.
And as long as I was still standing, I would fight to keep it that way. The world might have been a little safer now, but the fight wasn't over.
It had only just begun.