Seireitei.
The Solarity Tower had now been erected, its towering structure so immense that it could be seen even from Rukongai.
After the tower's framework was completed, the final step was to install a signal base station, a task entrusted to the 12th Division Captain, Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
Head Captain Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni harbored some inexplicable concerns about this and thus assigned Kyoraku Shunsui to oversee the construction.
However, Kyoraku had no real expertise in such highly specialized matters.
His supervisory role was more symbolic than functional.
He simply reasoned that, given Mayuri's level of scientific expertise, it should at least match that of the living world, and thus there shouldn't be any major issues.
Even Yamamoto himself thought the same, but to be cautious, he specifically instructed Mayuri to thoroughly inspect the technology and ensure that nothing harmful to the Soul Society would be introduced.
Mayuri confidently assured the Head Captain:
"Rest assured, when it comes to my work, you have nothing to worry about."
And so, the gateway between the living world and the Soul Society was opened once again.
A massive sphere radiating alternating purple and white light was transported into Seireitei.
Under the watchful eyes of many, the glowing sphere was placed at the pinnacle of Solarity Tower, its purple luminescence shimmering outward while a white glow remained contained within, resembling a less dazzling sun suspended over the heads of the many Shinigami below.
Curiosity spread rapidly—what exactly was this object?
In response, the 12th Division publicly announced that it was a technological marvel from the living world, and with it, Seireitei could now integrate aspects of modern technology.
In truth, the living world of this dimension had already advanced into a modern technological age, and most Shinigami were familiar with various electrical appliances.
However, the technological advancements of the ninja world, under Makoto's guidance, were vastly different from conventional modern technology.
The main distinction lay in the energy efficiency and convenience of ninja technology.
The chakra-based systems consumed minimal energy and were far more practical.
After the Solarity Tower's completion, a permanently active gateway was also constructed beside it, directly linking the two worlds.
This gate served as both a signal transmitter for the tower and a power conduit for energy supply.
5th Division Barracks.
Hinamori Momo hurried down the corridor, clutching a stack of documents as she made her way to the captain's office—only to find her captain sitting on the wooden floor of the walkway, gazing up at the distant sky.
"Captain Aizen…"
"Ah, Hinamori." Aizen turned his head toward her, a warm smile gracing his face.
Hinamori had originally come to discuss official matters, but upon seeing Aizen's kind and approachable demeanor, she momentarily set her business aside.
"Captain Aizen, what are you looking at?"
She sat down beside him and followed his gaze.
Towering over the sea of rooftops, a single monumental structure stood out—Solarity Tower.
Aizen spoke softly, "So, it has been completed today. Solarity Tower."
It had taken nearly a month to construct this technological marvel from the human world.
News of Solarity Tower had spread widely throughout Seireitei, especially after the Interworld Conference had given many seated officers a glimpse into the advancements of the modern world.
Those who had been fortunate enough to visit Konoha on soul purification missions had witnessed its grandeur firsthand, and upon returning, they became the subject of envy among their peers.
Now, curiosity ran high—what kind of changes would Solarity Tower bring to Seireitei?
Hinamori asked, "Captain Aizen, now that we have this tower, will Seireitei become just like the living world?"
Aizen smiled.
He had initially wanted to respond with something firm—the living world is the living world, and Soul Society is Soul Society; they will never be the same.
But then, his thoughts drifted to that emperor of the living world.
Beneath his glasses, his eyes glimmered with intrigue.
"The future… no one can predict it."
The future of Soul Society…
It had been some time since he last returned to Hueco Mundo.
............
A Thousand Miles from the Water Province—Lightmarker Island
A silver light curtain cascaded over the island, resembling a celestial river flowing from the sky.
Originally a barren island, it had been transformed into a massive town within mere days thanks to the tireless efforts of Uchiha Obito, a renowned architect from Konoha.
Since everything constructed here was temporary, it lacked the meticulous craftsmanship of Konoha's official expansions—hence the rapid pace of development.
Now, countless pirates had gathered here, and the waters around the island were packed with ships.
Latecomers struggled to find docking space.
The town itself was lined with makeshift taverns, inns, and shops, catering to the influx of seafarers.
However, to prevent chaos, the Empire had stationed a significant military force on the island, with none other than Uchiha Shisui, one of the Ten Crown Guards, personally overseeing order.
A few incidents of pirate uprisings had already been swiftly crushed by force, which led to most pirates becoming noticeably more obedient.
However, conflicts still arose in private, particularly over docking disputes.
Given the sheer number of pirates, skirmishes were inevitable, gradually giving rise to an unspoken rule—pirates with higher bounties held greater privileges.
Those with bounties exceeding 100 million could move freely on the island, provided they didn't violate Imperial law.
With less than a week remaining until the designated meeting, all eyes were on the arrival of Crocodile.
Unbeknownst to the masses, Crocodile had already arrived.
A teleportation array had been set up inside the Empire's headquarters on Lightmarker Island, allowing key figures to convene in secret.
Gathered in the meeting room were:
Crocodile
Uchiha Shisui
Terumi Mei
Karatachi Yagura
Hoshigaki Kisame
The Straw Hat Crew
All of them were present, awaiting the next move.
Frequent Reports and a Long Wait
From time to time, someone would knock on the door and enter to report which new pirate crews had arrived on the island.
Many notable figures had already shown up, but the key players they were waiting for had yet to make an appearance.
Of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, only Dracule Mihawk was absent—the rest had all arrived, and it was even rumored that they had met up in a tavern.
Besides them, many infamous pirates had also made their way to the island.
However, none of the Four Emperors had come.
With each new report, the anticipated names remained unheard.
It had been the same for days.
"Some people really know how to keep their composure," Shisui remarked as he lounged on the sofa.
"There are still three days left," Crocodile replied.
"Those who should come will come."
In the corner, Kisame sat in silence, his Samehada sword resting in his arms.
Having been appointed as Crocodile's second-in-command by the Emperor, he understood the implications of this role.
From Mei, he had learned that these so-called Four Emperors had individuals who could rival even Kakashi, one of the Ten Crown Guards.
That revelation had made him take the pirate world much more seriously.
As for the Straw Hat crew, though they weren't physically restrained, they were effectively under house arrest.
While Zoro, Nami, and the others were deeply concerned about what was to come, Luffy seemed as carefree as ever, eagerly anticipating his reunion with Shanks.
At one point, he had even persistently asked Crocodile about One Piece, only to drop the subject after his crewmates told him it was all a lie.
Another day passed.
As dawn broke and most were still fast asleep, a sudden shout echoed across the quiet island.
"The Four Emperors are here! The Four Emperors are here! It's the Beasts Pirates!"
People jolted awake and rushed to the shore.
Through the morning mist over the ocean, a massive fleet was steadily approaching.
Through the haze, the pirate flags fluttering in the wind became visible—a skull with two curved horns.
There was no doubt.
No one in the entire sea would dare forge or impersonate the flag of the Beasts Pirates.
Shisui and the others received the news.
The Four Emperors had arrived.
But they still had no intention of showing themselves.
The ships anchored around the island scrambled frantically to clear a path, while the pirates onshore instinctively lined up on both sides, as if welcoming the arrival of a king.
Although the Beasts Pirates' fleet had docked, no one had disembarked yet.
"It's really the Beasts Pirates!"
"The Four Emperors have come—the news about One Piece must be true!"
The arrival of Kaido, once hailed as the "Strongest Creature," took many by surprise.
On Lightmarker Island, the Warlords of the Sea were already considered formidable figures, but the Four Emperors of the New World were legendary beings—almost mythical in the eyes of most pirates.
In the past, if someone claimed to have information about One Piece, Kaido would have likely ignored them outright.
However, the world had suddenly undergone a great upheaval—everything they once knew had changed.
The sea was no longer a threat to them as Devil Fruit users, and it was precisely because of Crocodile's sudden emergence that Kaido decided to come see for himself.
Of course, he was not the only one coming.
Another day passed.
"The Big Mom Pirates have arrived!"
The second Emperor had appeared—Charlotte Linlin, also known as Big Mom, the only female among the Four Emperors.
Her fleet docked near the island, not far from the Beasts Pirates' ships.
However, just like before, no one disembarked.
Instead, figures could be seen moving between the two fleets, likely messengers exchanging words and greetings between the crews.
Many speculated that these powerful figures were all waiting for Crocodile to appear.
The pirates on Lightmarker Island were ecstatic—not only had the Warlords of the Sea gathered, but now the Four Emperors had also arrived!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime event—something unheard of in a hundred years.
Many pirates knew they had no chance at One Piece, but just witnessing this moment made the journey worthwhile.
No—it made their entire life worthwhile!
Another day passed.
The Whitebeard Pirates had arrived.
The Moby Dick slowly approached Lightmarker Island, its infamous pirate flag fluttering in the wind.
Edward Newgate, Whitebeard, was the most renowned of the Four Emperors, known as "The Strongest Man in the World."
Unlike the other two Emperors, Whitebeard and his crew disembarked immediately.
The once legendary figures, whom most could only see on bounty posters or in newspaper articles, now stood before them—real and alive.
The pirates onshore erupted with excitement, with some even rushing forward to kneel before Whitebeard, begging to join his crew.
One particularly passionate pirate gave a grand, heartfelt speech, declaring his desire to become Whitebeard's "son."
However, such individuals were swiftly dealt with by Whitebeard's crew.
Empire Outpost Headquarters – Rest Area
"Whitebeard has arrived! He and his crew have set foot on the island!"
Hearing this report from his subordinates, Shisui pondered for a moment before glancing at Crocodile, who sat silently, his gaze deep and unreadable.
Suddenly, Shisui chuckled, "Whitebeard, huh… A man whose strength rivals that of Kakashi-senpai. I'd love to witness his power firsthand."
He then turned to Crocodile and asked, "You knew Whitebeard before, didn't you?"
Crocodile replied calmly, "We've met."
Shisui pressed further, "Are you old acquaintances or old enemies?"
"..."
This time, there was no answer.
Among the Straw Hat crew, Luffy looked troubled. "Why isn't Shanks here yet?"
His crewmates, however, had become numb to the shock of the past few days.
Every name they had heard belonged to legendary pirates.
Even Luffy—who had the highest bounty among them—had only just reached one hundred million, an amount far below the bounty of even an average officer in some of these crews.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard marched forward, his massive naginata in hand, leading the way.
Behind him, his sixteen division commanders followed in formation—Marco, Ace, and the others.
Upon arriving at the tavern where the Warlords of the Sea were gathered, Jinbei stepped forward to greet Whitebeard out of respect, while the others remained silent, watching coldly.
Everyone present had a clear purpose—they were here for One Piece and to understand this strange new world.
And because of that first reason, it was inevitable that most people on this island would become enemies.
Whitebeard and his crew then entered another tavern, prompting the pirates already inside to leave voluntarily.
The arrival of Whitebeard pushed the tension on Lightmarker Island to its absolute peak.
No one could predict what would happen next—but with all Four Emperors and the Seven Warlords gathered in one place, if a conflict broke out, it could easily tear the entire island apart.
That night, countless people stayed awake, as the silver radiance of the moon bathed the calm sea in an almost surreal, dreamlike glow.
That Night, Kaido Stepped Ashore
"That's Kaido…!"
Thud!
As a towering figure stepped off the ship, an unseen force instantly swept across the shore.
Countless pirates couldn't withstand the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki and collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Kaido, a behemoth of a man, led the way, followed by his Calamities, Tobi Roppo, and other top officers.
Without hesitation, he strode directly toward Whitebeard's tavern.
Seeing this, Whitebeard's crew members immediately moved to shield their captain.
"No need. Stand down," Whitebeard gestured, indicating that there was no need for such hostility.
Kaido walked straight up to Whitebeard, then sat down cross-legged across from him, completely at ease.
Fortunately, when these buildings were originally constructed, the imperial architects had taken into account the enormous sizes of certain pirates, making the taverns and furniture larger than normal.
Otherwise, these two giants of men might not even have had a proper place to sit.
Whitebeard stared at Kaido for a long moment, then suddenly grinned and shouted, "Sons! Bring the drinks!"
That night felt endlessly long.
Not a single person on the island slept—the streets remained packed with pirates gathering in groups, each speculating about what would happen tomorrow.
Suddenly, a shout from the shore sent waves of excitement through the crowd:
"Hawkeye is here!"
All eyes turned toward the sea.
Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had arrived.
Compared to the grand fleets of other great pirates, his entrance was strikingly simple—he came alone, steering a solitary boat across the sea.
No one knew how long he had been drifting before arriving.
And just as the island was buzzing about Mihawk's arrival, another long-awaited figure finally made his entrance.
The Red Force.
The Red-Haired Pirates, the Final Emperor!
No massive fleet, just fewer than ten crew members—not much grander than Mihawk's arrival.
For many pirates, this was their first time seeing Red-Haired Shanks in person, and they couldn't believe their eyes.
Compared to Whitebeard and Kaido, this middle-aged man didn't even look like a pirate!
Shanks didn't unleash his Conqueror's Haki, nor did he make any grand entrance.
Only when he saw Mihawk waiting for him on the shore did a smile finally appear on his face.
"Looks like I'll be seeing a lot of old friends today."
The night was cold and quiet, the waning moon hung lonely in the sky.
At last, all the great figures had gathered on Lightmarker Island.
Not a single important pirate was missing—a testament to Crocodile's influence as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
As the night slowly faded, the sun began to rise from the distant horizon where the sea met the sky.
And with the morning light, the silver glimmer that had been cascading down from the sky finally disappeared.
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