"You sure can, Nami..."
Kuina looked up at the ominously clouded sky and said, half-irritated:
"So this move of yours... was it specially prepared just to counter your onee-chan"
"How could that be, Kuina-nee~~"
Nami stuck out her tongue playfully:
"After everything that happened back in Loguetown, I had to think about how to escape from you somehow!"
"You really are something..."
Kuina sighed helplessly:
"It would've been so much better if you'd just come with me to Marineford. Instead, you're running around the seas with that moss-brained directionless swordsman and that idiot rubber man, playing pirates... Seriously..."
"Alright, this time it's just a little hello... Next time, it won't be so simple."
"Wow~~ Kuina-nee is sooo cool~~"
Not having to defend against any attacks, Sanji instantly shifted into his usual fawning mode. He couldn't help it — Kuina, like a goddess soaring through the sky, dealt critical blows to Sanji's spirit every time she appeared.
"Uuugh... is it finally over..."
Chopper and Merry collapsed into each other's arms, tears streaming down their faces. Finally able to catch their breath, the two little ones immediately slumped to the ground:
"Even a Marine Rear Admiral is this scary... They're even scarier than Vice Admirals!"
"Good thing Nami-chan's thunderclouds were here... Thunderstorm weather really is the perfect counter to floating types."
Brook sheathed his sword and chuckled:
"Honestly... I was so scared, my heart nearly stopped... though I don't actually have a heart, yohohoho!"
BOOM—
The Skyblade descended slowly from the clouds, its hull wrapped in a radiant golden shield. Kuina cast a long, deep look at the crew before turning to board her warship.
"A new 'Four Emperors' has been born. If you want to challenge any of them, you'd better move quickly..."
"Otherwise, they'll start to fall one by one... and once we make our move, you won't have the chance."
The Skyblade smashed through the clouds and soared away at speed, leaving the Straw Hat crew disheveled and stunned in the clearing winds.
"Nami... your lightning... if Kuina's warship is protecting her, wouldn't it be useless?"
Zoro muttered. Nami, caught off guard, nodded blankly:
"Yeah... probably..."
"Heh... well, we got lucky this time. Survived again. I really thought we'd end up mashed like potatoes."
Robin smiled as she tossed out a cold joke that made Usopp's face go pale:
"Robin~~ How do you even think of such terrifying images?!"
"Ahh... we can finally set sail again!"
Luffy, carefree as ever, laughed:
"Kuina-nee is a good person. She must have come to warn us about the dangers of the New World!"
"Well... that's the New World for you. 'The Four Emperors!' Looks like we'll have to pick up the pace!"
The rest of the crew stared at the giggling Luffy like he was a complete idiot.
"No! She was totally trying to capture us just now!"
"Eh? Really?"
"Of course she was, you idiot!"
...
In the New World, the balance of the 'Four Emperors' had shifted just days ago.
Despite the Marines' best efforts to suppress the New World, the territories once ruled by Whitebeard had, after countless battles and bloodshed, finally stabilized.
Marco the Phoenix, former First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, had finally quelled the chaos within their territory. Hardened by two years of relentless fighting, his strength had grown tremendously!
Marco rallied the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates under his leadership, upholding the legacy of "Whitebeard" and, as the "Eldest Son," ascended once more among the ranks of the "Four Emperors."
True to the name of the Phoenix, Marco did not succumb to the endless pain and regret. Instead, he was reborn through fire!
He defeated the invading Beasts Pirates' "Conflagration" King, clashed with Big Mom Pirates' "Three Sweet Commanders," and even when an enraged Big Mom herself attacked, she failed to drive him back!
At the very same time Marco fought Big Mom head-on, the newly formed Whitebeard Pirates — though they now controlled less territory than in Whitebeard's era — had not suffered any drop in strength.
Two years of unceasing war had forged every single member of the new Whitebeard Pirates into battle-hardened elites.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, an exceptionally rare full-scale strategy meeting was underway.
"Conference King" Commodore Brannew — a nickname jokingly bestowed by the Fleet Admiral himself — wore the title with immense pride. Somehow, it had even gained acceptance throughout all of Marine HQ...
As usual, it was Commodore Brannew presiding over the meeting — a role truly befitting the "Conference King."
At the center of the room stood a podium and a presentation board, with the Navy's officers seated solemnly below.
By the blackboard sat Fleet Admiral Wright, Inspector General Sengoku the Buddha, and "Chief Strategist" Tsuru.
Unlike Sengoku, who was half-retired but still active, Garp had completely let loose — now entirely absorbed in "training" the recruits at the boot camp. Had Zephyr not been overseeing things, the place would've descended into utter chaos.
In front of the blackboard, Commodore Brannew spoke passionately:
"Just a few days ago, the structure of the 'Four Emperors,' which had been forcefully shattered by the Summit War, has abruptly reformed!"
Brannew slapped the blackboard vigorously, his excitement palpable:
"'Marco the Phoenix' — his power is no longer what it once was! Whether out of guilt over Whitebeard's death or forged by two years of unrelenting war, the fact that he can stand toe-to-toe with Big Mom proves he has the right to claim the title of Emperor!"
"After the Summit War, the Whitebeard Pirates were left with only their elite core — tied together by the deepest bonds of 'family'!"
A glint flashed across Brannew's sunglasses as he continued gravely:
"But unfortunately, Marco's breakthrough came too late! By now, the situation had largely stabilized, and the new Whitebeard Pirates' territory had shrunk too much to truly rival the other Emperors."
"Yet against all odds, a miracle happened in just a matter of days!"
"'Red-Haired' Shanks — on the very next day after Marco fought Big Mom — announced he would return to Marco all the territory Marco had once gifted him in gratitude!"
At this revelation, the previously composed Marine officers broke into an uproar — this was breaking news even to them!
It turned out the news of Marco's "coronation" had only leaked after the fact!
"Thus, though the new Whitebeard Pirates' strength, influence, and territory still fall short of the other three Emperors, they now overwhelmingly surpass the rest of the New World's pirate forces. Marco, bearing the new Whitebeard banner, has successfully ascended as a 'Four Emperor'!"
Flushed with excitement, Brannew's voice trembled slightly:
"But make no mistake — the Summit War, which cost us dearly to achieve, was not fought merely to let the pirates reclaim their momentum!"
"We have thoroughly consolidated the territories we secured over the past two years! The New World's G-11 Branch has become a nail driven straight into the heart of pirate territory!"
"And now — the true suppression of the New World by the Marines officially begins!"
BOOM—
The room erupted in fervor. Brannew's rousing speech filled the attending Marine officers with boundless excitement — how many years had it been? Since any of them had heard such exhilarating news?
"Justice will prevail!"
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