Sengoku stared at Kong in shock.
"Big Mom—Charlotte Linlin... How are these things even connected to being low-key?" he asked, incredulous.
The power structure of the world had shifted. The current forces were divided into several camps. Among them, the pirates' power clearly outweighed Marine's.
As for the title "Emperor of the Sea," not everyone agreed on who truly deserved it. Newspapers had begun labeling several incredibly powerful pirate groups collectively as the "Yonko"—the Four Emperors.
But there were actually six dominant pirate forces now.
Whitebeard—Edward Newgate, rival of the late Pirate King Roger.
The Flying Pirates, led by the notorious Golden Lion Shiki.
Beasts Pirates, ruled by the fearsome Kaido.
Big Mom Pirates, under Charlotte Linlin.
Red-Haired Pirates, now rising under Shanks.
And finally, the most mysterious and powerful of them all—Ayr.
Since the dawn of the "New Era," countless pirates surged onto the seas, eager to stake their claim. The balance of power had completely collapsed.
Every few months, powerful new rookies rose from obscurity. But despite all that noise, none could match the figure now standing at the mountain's peak—Ayr.
Low-key in appearance, but not in influence.
To the World Government, Ayr's existence was anything but subtle. He had struck the Holy Land Mariejois, brazenly attacked Marine Headquarters, and taken the legendary Op-Op Fruit.
Some even claimed Ayr had gained immortality through its ultimate power—the Perennial Youth Surgery.
Ayr flipped through the pages of the newspaper, reading about the new names being hailed as "Sea Emperors." Despite rarely showing himself, his shadow loomed over the entire New World.
There were even whispers—if you joined Ayr's crew and proved loyal, you might gain access to eternal life.
And that possibility had begun drawing dangerous individuals into his orbit.
Kong watched Sengoku carefully. "No matter what happened that day," he said solemnly, "your choice saved the top four pillars of Marine power."
Sengoku still looked uneasy. "But this time… things have gone too far."
Kong raised a hand. "Marine cannot afford rashness or despair. We cannot act out of pride."
He continued, "I've received news—I'm being promoted. Soon, I'll become the Supreme Commander of all World Government forces."
Sengoku's eyes widened.
"That means," Kong said with finality, "my position as Marine Marshal will be vacant."
He turned and looked straight into Sengoku's eyes. "After long deliberation, I've decided. You're the most suitable person to succeed me."
Sengoku blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"I want you to guide the new generation. The Sea is changing. If Marine is to survive, we must adapt."
Kong's tone grew sharper. "Remember—no matter how strong Ayr becomes, the world always produces new challengers. That is the nature of the Grand Line."
Sengoku nodded solemnly. "I will do my best."
Kong gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave.
In the newspapers, Ayr was still described as the most low-key of the emperors, but that was only half the truth. He didn't act frequently—but when he did, the world shook.
And his crew... not just strong—they were unnatural. Some had abilities eerily similar to the Op-Op Fruit's power. Ayr's control over life and death itself had begun altering the very nature of the pirate world.
As the situation escalated, Jinbei—a former Warlord of the Sea—publicly announced his loyalty to the Marines, becoming one of the new "Seven Warlords of the Sea."
Still, it wasn't enough.
Marine had only three true top-tier combatants left. Against a world filled with Yonko and rising legends, the balance was crumbling fast.
Marine, the Warlords, the Emperors—every faction was shifting. The New World was no longer stable.
The sea was spiraling into chaos. And at the eye of the storm—stood Ayr.
The world's pattern had changed forever.
{🥳 The Fanfic is now fully completed! 🎉
You can access 300+ advance chapters right now on Patreon—available for subscription or purchase! ✨
👉 patreon.com/Oreski
🥰 Your support keeps me motivated and eager to create even more amazing stories!}