Next Bonus, 100!!
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"Edward Newgate, Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, is dead!"
A headline with the power to paralyze the globe.
In a fraction of a second, the news spread to every corner of the world!
This was the climax of the Summit War, an event that would be analyzed and debated for generations to come!
But for those who had just witnessed it live...
There was only a stunned, reverent silence.
The entire world was still struggling to process the reality of Whitebeard's death.
The collective emotion was indescribable.
Even those who absolutely despised Whitebeard were profoundly moved by the sight of his ruined body, still standing tall and unyielding even in death!
Sabaody Archipelago!
Standing before a massive broadcast screen, Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King, took a long pull from his flask.
"So you're gone too, Whitebeard... what a magnificently grand funeral! I'm almost jealous!"
As the former First Mate to the Pirate King, Rayleigh had clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates more times than he could count.
Watching his old rival fall in battle brought a complex swirl of emotions to the surface.
It felt as though all the ghosts of his past—the friends, the enemies—were slipping away one by one, leaving him behind without even the chance to say a proper goodbye.
When would his own number finally be called?
He wasn't made of stone; how could he not feel it?
The profound melancholy of watching a peer pass on... it was a universal human experience.
Shakky took a drag from her cigarette and exhaled a slow plume of smoke.
The New World.
Near the entrance to the Grand Line!
"Wororororo! Whitebeard... my old brother!"
Kaido halted his ferocious duel with Shanks the moment he heard the news of Whitebeard's death.
Shanks let out a heavy sigh.
He had tried to warn Whitebeard. If the old man had just listened to him, if he had stopped Ace from hunting Teach, none of this would have happened.
But...
A man's pride is a stubborn thing.
Kaido grabbed a massive jug of sake.
He poured a generous offering onto the deck for his fallen rival.
Then, he downed the rest in a single, massive gulp.
The sake ran down his chin, mingling with his thick beard.
"What a glorious way to die! I'm genuinely envious!"
"If I could guarantee a funeral that grand, I'd die with a smile on my face!"
He roared with genuine appreciation.
King the Conflagration turned his cold gaze toward Shanks. "Whitebeard is dead. His territories are now officially ownerless!"
"I assume you have no further objections to our advance?"
Queen the Plague, chewing on a thick cigar, snorted in agreement.
Shanks slowly sheathed his sword.
"We're leaving!"
He ordered his crew to stand down and prepare to depart.
Kaido didn't make a move to stop him this time.
His initial interception of the Red Hair Pirates had merely been a matter of morbid amusement.
But now that Whitebeard was dead, the Beast Pirates' primary objective instantly shifted from stalling Shanks to aggressively annexing Whitebeard's now-defenseless territories.
It was simple economics.
Following a series of devastating setbacks to his underworld operations, Kaido's organization was hemorrhaging money. He desperately needed a massive influx of plundered wealth to stabilize his finances.
The All-Stars and the officers of the Beast Pirates all looked to their captain, waiting for the order.
Kaido smashed his empty sake jug onto the deck, the shards scattering everywhere. "Alright, boys! Set sail!"
"YEAH!"
The massive armada turned its sights toward the islands formerly under Whitebeard's protection.
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Totto Land!
"Mamamamama... so Whitebeard finally dead, huh??"
Charlotte Linlin lay sprawled on her massive throne.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She began to openly weep.
Whitebeard was a relic of her era.
His death struck a surprisingly deep chord within her.
They were all getting old. No one, not even monsters like them, could outrun the ravages of time.
After crying for a while...
She muttered to herself, "The One Piece... is it really real?"
She currently possessed everything a person could ever desire: limitless food, absolute comfort, and a massive family. She lacked for nothing.
And because she lacked for nothing, she had lost her primary motivation, slowly descending into a state of gluttonous decadence.
But now...
Whitebeard's death, and his earth-shattering final declaration, had profoundly shocked her, violently reawakening the dormant ambitions of her youth.
She remembered the days when she sailed the seas, free and unburdened.
Back then...
Their ultimate goal had been nothing less than conquering the 'world.'
In truth, whether it was Kaido, Big Mom, or Whitebeard—the legendary remnants of the Rocks Pirates...
None of them had ever genuinely prioritized finding the One Piece or claiming the title of Pirate King during the Great Pirate Era.
They all had their own distinct, personal agendas.
Pirate King?
It just wasn't that important to them.
"Perospero..."
"Yes, Mama!"
"Gather every Poneglyph you can find! I'm going to claim the One Piece!"
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The New World, on an island previously under Whitebeard's protection!
"That old monster Whitebeard is finally dead?? Excellent!"
Inside a rowdy tavern, a crew of pirates jumped to their feet.
The captain drew his flintlock and fired a shot into the ceiling. "Listen up, boys! Our era has finally arrived! We're taking this island for ourselves!"
"UWOOOOOH!"
The pirates roared, drawing their swords and cutlasses.
Across the countless islands flying Whitebeard's flag, hordes of opportunistic, bloodthirsty pirates suddenly emerged from the woodwork.
The flag of the Whitebeard Pirates was torn down and set ablaze.
It was the ultimate symbol of a fallen empire.
Fish-Man Island!
King Neptune watched the live broadcast with a grave expression, his eyes fixed on the imposing, lifeless figure standing on the ruined battlefield.
"This is a disaster, King Neptune! A massive gang of pirates is rioting in Gyoncorde Plaza! They're looting the stores!"
"Mermaid Cove is under attack by human pirates!"
As the grim reports flooded in...
King Neptune stood up, his heart heavy with dread.
"A broken, chaotic era has arrived!"
He could perfectly foresee the immediate fallout.
Following Whitebeard's dying declaration, a new, massive wave of piracy was about to explode across the world!
All those who had previously doubted the existence of Roger's treasure were now rushing to the docks, desperate to set sail.
And Fish-Man Island... as the mandatory, unavoidable chokepoint connecting the first and second halves of the Grand Line...
If they didn't immediately secure a powerful new protector, they were about to enter the darkest, bloodiest chapter in their history.
"Deploy the Neptune Army! Suppress the riots with extreme prejudice!"
"Take down Whitebeard's flag! Hoist the... wait. Hold on..."
Neptune had been about to order the raising of the Winter Blossom Kingdom's flag. But the battle at Marineford was still raging; a clear victor had yet to emerge.
He couldn't help but hesitate.
"Father, this is our greatest opportunity!"
Prince Fukaboshi stepped forward, demonstrating significantly more resolve. "We will never be truly accepted by the current World Government."
"Therefore, our only viable path forward is to actively participate in the forging of a new order. Only then can we secure a legitimate place for our people in the new era."
King Neptune looked at his son, falling silent for a long moment. In truth, thanks to Jin's continuous backing over the past few years...
Fukaboshi's prestige and influence on the island had already eclipsed his own. The prince had also forged strong ties with the Sun Pirates and other key factions.
He had developed a powerful, loyal following.
Consequently, Fukaboshi was naturally inclined to fully support Jin's agenda.
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"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
"Sengoku!"
Whitebeard dead on his feet, Sengoku collapsed in the rubble... The sheer, shocking visual impact of the two fallen titans brought a momentary, stunned pause to the chaotic battlefield.
"An era... has ended."
Jin witnessed it all firsthand.
He lowered his head slightly, a silent gesture of profound respect.
Whitebeard's life had been an absolute legend!
And his death was equally legendary!
He hadn't claimed the title of Pirate King.
But he had lived a life devoid of regrets.
Some men chase fame, others chase fortune. But there are those whose only true desire is a 'family.'
Whitebeard was a man who harbored that simple, pure dream!
A man who dreamed of a family!
And Sengoku was a legend in his own right!
From an ordinary seaman, he had risen to the absolute pinnacle of the Marines...
His career was easily as storied and impressive as Garp's.
The strategic failure of the Summit War...
Was the result of an unprecedented, cascading series of unpredictable variables.
It wasn't Sengoku's fault.
After observing a three-second moment of silence for Whitebeard, Jin raised his head. "The era of the old guard is officially over."
Hancock looked at him, her expression unreadable.
She knew that if Jin had truly wanted to intervene, Whitebeard wouldn't necessarily have died. He could have easily ensured the old man survived for a few more years.
The same applied to Ace.
But!
Why should he?
Just because he was Whitebeard, did that mean Jin was obligated to save him?
Don't be ridiculous!
Besides!
'To bow out in the climax of a war this grand, this monumental... isn't that the highest honor a warrior like Whitebeard could hope for?' Hancock thought.
Just as a woman desires to eternally preserve her youth and beauty...
A hero desires a glorious, unforgettable end.
The sea breeze gently lifted Hancock's hair. "To die on the battlefield... is far better than wasting away in a sickbed."
Jin smiled faintly.
"The old era is dead and gone. Are you ready to face the crushing darkness that precedes the dawn of the new one?"
The darkness just before the dawn is always the deepest.
The same is true for the turning of an era.
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