The Seven Warlords hadn't been officially announced yet, but the World Government was already prepping behind the scenes. This sea was crawling with more and more powerful pirates, and they needed something to keep the chaos in check.
So naturally, they went all-out promoting Doflamingo's rise to fame.
Even New World pirates knew the name Donquixote Doflamingo now.
East Blue
Some random island tavern.
The place was buzzing with drunk conversations and clinking glasses. In the middle of it all, a red-haired guy in a straw hat was demolishing a plate of food, chewing while lost in thought.
Where the hell was he supposed to find crew members?
While he wrestled with life's big questions, the loud conversation at the next table grabbed his attention.
"You guys catch the latest news?"
"Hell yeah! That big shot 'Black Gun' Aus! Some young punk actually escaped from him alive!"
"Who's Aus? He famous or something?" one guy asked, clearly living under a rock.
This lit up his buddy like a Christmas tree—the man had witnessed that heaven-splitting slash in Loguetown firsthand. After that mind-breaking experience, he'd become Aus's biggest fanboy.
"Are you kidding me? Let me educate you—'Black Gun' Aus used to sail with Pirate King Roger himself. Back in the day, that man was an absolute monster..."
Shanks perked up and adjusted his straw hat. News about Aus always caught his attention, so he leaned in to listen.
But as this fanboy kept talking, Shanks's expression got weirder and weirder.
Single-handedly fighting every Marine officer. Being Roger's most trusted right hand...
Shanks knew Aus well enough—those parts were barely true. But then the stories got completely insane.
"Here's some inside info—'Black Gun' Aus has this super secret... well, secret. You know why they call him 'Black Gun'?" The man leaned in conspiratorially.
"Because his gun is really black?" some genius suggested.
"Wrong!" The fanboy glared. "Listen up—they say while he usually fights with swords and fists, his deadliest weapon is still that gun on his back. You know Marine monster Kuzan, right? That freak who can team up with two others and still not lose to Aus? Word is, his leg that's still messed up? Aus shot it clean through. If Kuzan hadn't gotten lucky and dodged at the last second, it would've been blown off completely!"
"Whoa..." The other guys nodded along, totally lost but trying to look impressed. Finally one asked: "So is this Aus guy good or bad?"
"Uh... he's protecting his home turf, so... good?"
Shanks: "..."
His eye twitched. Unable to take any more of this bullshit, Shanks finally bought his own newspaper.
After reading through it carefully, his expression turned serious. Same thought as everyone else on the seas:
This Doflamingo kid was the real deal.
Having spent years on the same ship as Aus, Shanks was one of the few who truly understood what that monster was capable of. After all, he'd been on the receiving end of Aus's beatdowns more times than he cared to count.
And because he knew exactly how strong Aus was, he understood just how incredible it was for some young guy to survive his full-power pursuit and escape alive.
Hell, if Shanks was being honest with himself—if Aus decided to kill him, unless Vice-Captain Rayleigh or someone else stepped in, he'd be dead meat.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, huh? Another major player in the new era... Guess I'll have to fight him eventually."
Shanks made a mental note. Once he got stronger, he'd definitely track down this Doflamingo for a proper fight. See who really deserved to be called "King of the New Era."
Yeah, he'd given up on that "Next Generation King" title. Captain Roger said Aus belonged to the old era anyway. In the new era, there was no way another freak like that existed.
Right?
East Blue
Some backwater town.
Using his Chop-Chop powers and the skills he'd picked up on Roger's ship, future great pirate Buggy was currently terrorizing the small-time scene.
He spotted that familiar name in the newspaper too.
"Aus..."
Seeing that name hit him right in the feels. But reading the actual story? That shocked the hell out of him.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
His jaw dropped so hard his tongue fell out. His whole body exploded into floating pieces.
"Some young asshole can go toe-to-toe with Aus and walk away?!"
"No... no fucking way. This has to be complete bullshit! Aren't they scared Aus will hunt them down? These idiots will print anything..."
Funny thing was, in this entire massive ocean, only Buggy saw through the lies.
Maybe because Aus had protected him since they were kids, Buggy understood him better than anyone. In Buggy's mind, Aus was basically untouchable.
If it were old-school legends like Whitebeard or Golden Lion Shiki—guys on Captain Roger's level—fighting Aus, sure, Buggy might buy it. But some punk from the younger generation pulling this off? With no backup? And Aus couldn't handle him?
Hey! You bastards! Just how weak do you think his best friend is, you morons?!
Captain Buggy was absolutely livid!
"Oi! You idiots! Shoot down every News Coo you see!"
"Yes sir, Captain Buggy!"
PS: (Blacklist +1)
Grand Line, first half
A young man with a massive black blade sat alone in a tiny boat, his razor-sharp eyes narrowing with pure killing intent.
"Sabaody Archipelago..."
"You slipped away from me in Loguetown. Not happening again."
The lone swordsman put down his newspaper and gripped his black blade tighter, rowing with violent determination toward his destination.
This was none other than one of the sea's most notorious rookies—the future World's Greatest Swordsman and creator of the revolutionary "Small Blade Style" that would follow the legendary One-Sword, Two-Sword, and Three-Sword techniques...
Dracule Mihawk!
After witnessing Aus unleash that heaven-splitting slash with the blade "Ace," everything clicked into place.
This was his next target on the path to sword mastery.
As a world-class swordsman carrying on Roger and Rayleigh's legacy, he was dead certain—defeat Aus in pure swordsmanship, and he'd take the biggest step yet toward becoming the World's Greatest Swordsman.
"Once I've tasted your blade work, I know I'll learn something incredible. Can't wait to meet you again... Doctor Aus!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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