A shocking piece of news sent ripples throughout the pirate world, spreading like wildfire across the Grand Line and even reaching the farthest corners of the seas.
A newly rising pirate crew—The Orca Pirates—had done the unthinkable: they challenged the World Government directly.
At the center of the incident was the capture of Nico Robin, also known as the Devil Child. A former criminal with ties to the lost history of the world, Robin was taken by the government in secrecy. But to the shock of all, the Orca Pirates didn't stay quiet.
Instead, they launched a full-scale assault on Enies Lobby, the government's heavily fortified judiciary island.
It was no small attack. Rumors claimed that the entire Orca crew mobilized for the rescue mission, including a mysterious winged giant, whose identity remains unknown. The boldness of the operation left many speechless. The island, long regarded as untouchable, had been stormed head-on.
To make things even more chaotic, a notorious group of shipbuilders and gangsters from Water Seven, known as the Franky Family, joined the raid. Their goal? To rescue their boss, Franky, who was also being held captive by the government. In a bizarre twist of fate, their mission aligned perfectly with the Orcas.
And then... the impossible happened.
They succeeded.
Against all odds, the Orca Pirates not only broke through the island's defenses but also defeated the CP9, a group of elite assassins known as the deadliest agents under the World Government's command.
But that wasn't even the most unbelievable part.
The Buster Call was triggered—a devastating military protocol that summons five Vice-Admiral-led warships to obliterate a target without question.
Yet, the warships never arrived.
Why?
Because, according to circulating reports, the Gate of Justice was sealed off by enormous ice pillars, blocking their entry.
Eyewitnesses and hearsay pointed to the Orca Pirates' enigmatic captain—Monkey D. Zino—as the one responsible. Some whispers claimed he fought Admiral Aokiji in the past, and this ice blockade was proof that Zino's power could rival that of a Marine Admiral.
Official news outlets—those still brave or foolish enough to report it—didn't confirm Enies Lobby's defeat. The World Government, as expected, maintained its silence. But rumors have a life of their own.
Independent adventurers, bounty hunters, and curious civilians who dared approach the island after the chaos shared even more disturbing accounts.
Enies Lobby had suffered catastrophic damage.
The once-proud structures were reduced to rubble. Towering buildings collapsed. The famous courthouse lay in ruins. The sprawling military presence—tens of thousands strong—had been utterly overwhelmed.
Even the giant guards, said to be unstoppable, were defeated.
And most humiliating of all?
The entire island had been looted clean. Weapons, treasures, food, even classified items—gone.
It was as if the pirates hadn't just rescued their crewmates—they'd ransacked the World Government's pride and walked away untouched.
More astonishing still, no casualties were reported among the Orca Pirates. Every one of them survived. They achieved total victory and vanished quietly, leaving behind a shattered judiciary island and a message the world couldn't ignore:
~The World Government was not invincible.~
The incident sent shockwaves through every major power. Pirates across the seas cheered, inspired by the crew's defiance. Underground factions began whispering the name "Orca Pirates" with newfound respect. Even some in the Revolutionary Army took note.
The final verdict?
The Orca Pirates didn't just win a battle. They made a statement.
And the world would not forget it.
While the world was still reeling from the shocking victory of the Orca Pirates at Enies Lobby, another earth-shattering news emerged—this time, from a very different corner of the sea.
This news, however, wasn't about a victory. It was about a defeat. And not just any defeat—it was the fall of a Whitebeard Commander.
The incident took place on Banaro Island, a relatively quiet and isolated land that became the battleground for two extremely powerful individuals: Portgas D. Ace, the Commander of the 2nd Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, and Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard—Ace's former subordinate.
What happened there was nothing short of cataclysmic.
Witnesses claimed that their clash tore the island apart. Mountains were leveled, buildings reduced to rubble, and much of the forest was consumed in roaring flames. The very ground quaked beneath their battle, and many unfortunate bystanders became casualties of the storm unleashed by their duel.
Ace, the wielder of the Mera Mera no Mi (Flame-Flame Fruit), burned with righteous fury, trying to bring justice to the traitor who killed a fellow crewmate. But Blackbeard, now the captain of the newly formed Blackbeard Pirates, displayed a terrifying power of his own unknown Logia-class ability with a sinister twist.
The clash was long, fierce, and destructive—but in the end, Ace was defeated.
The outcome sent shockwaves across the Grand Line. Ace, one of Whitebeard's most trusted commanders and a fearsome pirate in his own right, was captured by his former subordinate. That alone was enough to shake the balance of power.
But what followed made the situation even more alarming.
Rumors began circulating that Blackbeard had contacted the World Government directly. In a shocking move, he offered Portgas D. Ace—a high-profile criminal as a bargaining chip.
In exchange?
A seat among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, replacing the recently dethroned Crocodile.
To the disbelief of many, whispers soon spread that the World Government accepted the offer. Ace was swiftly transferred to Impel Down, the great underwater prison, to await further judgment.
The implications of this were enormous.
Speculation ran wild across every corner of the seas. Would Whitebeard remain silent? Would the man known as the "Strongest in the World" allow his own commander—and someone like a son to him—to be taken and imprisoned?
The answer, most people believed, was a resounding no.
If Whitebeard moved, it would not be a small operation. The full might of the Whitebeard Pirates would descend, and it wouldn't just be a rescue—it would be a war.
And that terrified the world.
Because if Whitebeard made his move, other Emperors might follow. Big Mom, known for her unpredictable temper and pursuit of power, might seize the chaos to advance her goals. Kaido, obsessed with starting the greatest war in history, might leap at the opportunity to stir up a global conflict.
If all three Yonkos moved at once, challenging the World Government head-on, the consequences would be catastrophic. It would be a world-altering conflict—one that could claim the lives of thousands, reshape territories, and topple long-standing power structures.
The mere possibility of it happening was enough to drive governments and pirate crews alike into a state of heightened alert.
And yet, as of now, it's all still speculation.
No official word had come from Whitebeard's fleet. No ships had sailed from his territory. The seas remained calm—too calm.
But the tension was rising.
The world was holding its breath, waiting for the next spark.
Because everyone knew one thing for certain:
If Whitebeard chose to act, the world would never be the same again.
...
Three days later.
A brand-new ship was sailing calmly across the open sea. Crafted from the legendary Adam Tree and built through the combined efforts of Franky and the Galley-La Company, this vessel was both sturdy and elegant.
Its name: The Thousand Sunny.
At the helm of this ship was none other than Monkey D. Luffy, who had just formed a rather unexpected new crew.
His current companions included: Tensuro, Mohji, Cabaji, Richie, Chopper, Helia, Sauri, Franky, Zambai, Kiwi, and Mozu.
The rest of the original Straw Clown Crew had chosen to stay behind in Water Seven. The reason? A devastating twist of fate.
While the crew had split into small groups to explore the city, Admiral Aokiji arrived—coincidentally crossing paths with Buggy. Not wasting the opportunity, Aokiji swiftly captured the clown and transported him straight to Impel Down.
Buggy's sudden arrest left the Straw Clowns in disarray. With their captain gone, many lost the will to continue sailing, deciding instead to remain on land.
As for how Franky ended up as part of Luffy's crew—it was, quite frankly, a miracle.
While building the ship at Galley-La, Luffy appeared, looking for a shipwright to join his crew. After several ridiculous yet heartfelt attempts, he managed to recruit Franky. Iceburg himself supported the idea.
His reason was clear: Franky and some of his closest followers had been marked by the World Government and received new bounties. That included Franky, Zambai, Kiwi, and Mozu. Joining a pirate crew was their best shot at survival.
Also, Iceburg mentioned something else—Luffy was related to Zino. He knew this by checking their name, and asking Luffy about his relation to Zino. Though he didn't elaborate, it seemed to carry weight.
In the end, the four decided to sail with Luffy.
Meanwhile, Cabaji and Mohji were still deep in discussion, trying to come up with a plan to rescue Buggy from Impel Down. Even Luffy had expressed interest in the rescue—but none of them had the faintest idea where the infamous underwater prison was located.
As the Thousand Sunny sailed gently across the sunlit waters, the calm was suddenly broken by Chopper's sharp voice.
"Hey guys! Something's floating in the sea!" he called from the port side.
The crew perked up instantly. Luffy dashed to the railing, nearly tripping over Richie, who was napping in the sun.
"Where? Where? Is it food?" he shouted, eyes darting around.
Chopper pointed ahead. "Right there, bobbing on the water! It looks like… a barrel!"
"A barrel?" Luffy leaned over the side, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Could it be treasure?!"
"Not sure," Chopper said with a shrug. "But it's not sinking, so it's sealed tight."
"Let's haul it up!" Tensuro grinned, already extending his stretchy arm over the waves.
With a quick flick, he snatched the barrel out of the sea and placed it on the deck with a solid thud. The crew gathered around, curiosity rising.
Pasted on the front of the barrel was a large paper tag with bold kanji written on it.
Cabaji crouched down and read it aloud. "Takara... It means 'treasure'."
Luffy's jaw dropped, his pupils sparkling like stars. "Treasure?! It is treasure?!"
"Not so fast," Tensuro chimed in. "That word can also mean 'offering'—like an offering to the Sea God."
Mohji tilted his head. "So… either we're about to get rich, or we've just robbed a god?"
"Let's just crack it open and find out," Mohji suggested.
"Leave it to me!" Franky said, stepping forward. His large hands gripped the lid, and with a loud clunk, he pulled it open.
Tsiuuuuu!
Suddenly, a loud hissing noise came from inside the barrel—and before anyone could react, a flare shot into the sky, trailing a sparkling tail of light.
"What the?!" several voices exclaimed in unison.
The flare arced high into the air, then—
BOOOOM!!!
It exploded with a thunderous bang, bursting into a scattering of bright red and orange sparks across the sky.
"What what what's happening?!" Sauri cried out, ducking behind the mast.
"Signal flare," Tensuro muttered, squinting at the dissipating lights.
"A distress signal?" Zambai asked, brow furrowed. "Or a warning?"
"Could be a call," Franky said, arms crossed. "Maybe whoever made this wanted to draw attention… or set a trap."
"Tch. No treasure after all," Luffy grumbled, kicking the now-empty barrel. "What a waste!"
The crew looked around warily, unsure if someone—or something—might appear from beyond the horizon. But the seas remained quiet, with only the fading crackle of flare smoke in the air.
After a moment of tense silence, the crew shrugged it off.
"Let's keep moving," Franky said. "No point in hanging around waiting for whoever sent that flare."
With that, the crew resumed their course, slowly pulling away from the flare's fading smoke trail.
What they didn't realize, however, was that the moment the flare went off, a Den Den Mushi inside a distant ship blinked to life.
"Signal received," said a deep voice.
From the shadows of a massive, fog-covered vessel—a ship as large as an island—several cloaked figures stirred.
"They've taken the bait," said another voice. "Let them sail in. The fog will do the rest."
The ship's name was etched in eerie, jagged letters across its side: Thriller Bark.
And now, the Thousand Sunny was unknowingly being lured straight into its grasp.
A certain Warlord of the Sea had already marked them.