[Madman Mundo Destroys the Navy!]
[Fleet Admiral Akainu Falls in Battle, the Navy Routed!]
[The Navy Defeated. The World Government in Fury!]
These were the headlines splashed across every newspaper the following day.
The tale of Madman Mundo—standing alone and bringing the Navy to its knees—spread across the seas like wildfire.
A sensation that shook the world!
When people read the news, they were stunned into silence.
More than 30,000 naval soldiers dead. The Fleet Admiral of the Navy, Akainu, slain by Mundo himself.
The revelation landed like a thunderclap, a bombshell that rattled the entire world.
The name Mundo carved itself instantly into history.
To destroy the Navy single-handedly—such a feat had never been seen before. Not even the Pirate King Roger had ever achieved a record so brilliant.
Even the greatest powers on the sea were shaken.
"Who is Mundo?"
"What does he seek?"
"What will the rise of such a monster mean for the future of the seas?"
Questions like these filled every port, every tavern, every market.
Even the Four Emperors, the titans of the New World, remembered the name with caution.
Big Mom, one of the Four, personally decreed: Do not provoke Madman Mundo.
Not long ago, Whitebeard's attack on Impel Down to rescue Ace had been considered the greatest event in living memory. But now, Mundo's name eclipsed it entirely. All eyes turned to him.
—--
Out at sea.
On a small pirate sloop, a group of Samsara players disguised as pirates huddled together, newspapers in hand, jaws slack.
"Holy shit! Boss Shura actually destroyed the entire Navy!?"
"Destroying common soldiers is one thing. But the scary part is that he survived a siege by Garp, Fujitora, and Akainu—three monsters of the Navy—and still killed Akainu!? That's insane!"
"This has to be a guaranteed Super God evaluation, right?"
"No doubt. With this record, the system won't give him anything less."
"I'm jealous! When he gets his Devil Fruit reward, his power's gonna skyrocket."
"Yeah! The system's Devil Fruits might not be as potent as the real ones in this world, but they also aren't weakened by seawater. Shura's strength will definitely leap forward. Maybe straight to S-rank!"
"If he hits S-rank this early… after just the fourteenth floor… that's unprecedented. No one before, no one after!!"
"I swear, if I had that power, I'd be ruling kingdoms already."
"Don't envy him. Some people just start the game miles ahead. Us? We're just background noise."
"I heard the third stage of the One Piece dungeon is the war between the Navy and Whitebeard. But if Shura already killed Akainu and Ace is rescued… what happens to the scenario?"
"Damn, good question. Does that mean we'll be dragged into whatever Shura triggers?"
"Relax. The system will assign him a separate mission. We won't be affected… not unless you think you're strong enough to survive twenty-plus dungeon clears. Me? If I don't get a big reward this time, I'm retiring. Back to the real world, find a cushy government job, and never touch another dungeon again."
"…Bro, that hurts to hear."
—--
The former Sabaody Archipelago.
Now nothing more than open sea. The ruins of the island had been swallowed whole by waves.
At the site, one lone ship lingered.
The vessel of the Kuja Pirates.
Onboard, Fenric had eaten his fill and rested a full day, his strength restored to its peak.
He had already instructed the Empress not to leave the area.
The mission lasted five days. To abandon these waters early would mean automatic failure, according to the system. Fenric wasn't about to make such a rookie mistake.
Boa Hancock had obeyed without hesitation, dropping anchor where the islands once stood.
She hadn't asked why.
For her, being near her Lord Mundo was reason enough.
"Senior Mundo, your news is in the paper!"
One of Hancock's sisters came running with a folded sheet.
"Oh? Let me see."
Fenric took it, scanning the bold headlines. He chuckled.
It had indeed been the right call to end Akainu's life.
With fame like this, he was certain—back in the Samsara space, his evaluation would be Super God.
"They say this dungeon guarantees a Devil Fruit reward," he mused aloud. "The quality depends on the evaluation. With Super God… I wonder what kind of fruit I'll get?"
Expectation flickered in his eyes.
He already wielded incredible power. Yet who in this world would ever refuse more?
As he pondered, Hancock leaned closer, her voice soft.
"Lord Mundo… a ship is approaching."
Fenric turned. On the horizon, sails dotted the sea—an entire fleet drawing near.
At first, the flags were indistinct. But their hulls weren't Navy standard—they were pirates.
As they neared, the symbol became clear.
A skull, crowned with a white mustache.
"The Whitebeard Pirates…"
Boa Hancock's expression tensed, her beauty sharpened by unease. But as her gaze fell on Fenric, her worry faded. With him beside her, she felt no fear.
"Senior Mundo… should we avoid them?" one of her sisters asked quietly.
The Empress said nothing. She simply turned to Fenric, awaiting his judgment.
Fenric smiled. "No. They're not here to pick a fight."