New World, a certain island.
A vast canopy of pitch-black clouds loomed over the land like a suffocating hood, pressing down with an oppressive weight.
Howling winds whipped the sea into towering waves, each surge crashing like a raging dragon roaring from the deep.
Rain poured in torrents, pounding the massive forest like a barrage of bullets.
A full-blown storm had arrived, sweeping through every corner of the island.
Inside a cave nestled in the jungle, the Roger Pirates gathered around a crackling campfire, sheltering from the rain and taking a break.
"This rain… it's not normal."
Rayleigh leaned against the damp stone wall, holding a bottle of strong liquor, his eyes narrowed as he watched the chaos outside. The storm tugged at his nerves, and he couldn't help but frown.
Crack!
A blinding white light suddenly ripped through the gloom.
A thunderclap split the sky, the deafening sound nearly shaking the cave. In the distance, the rumble of landslides and collapsing boulders echoed across the island, and even the cave's walls trembled faintly as pebbles rained down from above.
"Wahahaha! Isn't that just New World weather for you?"
Roger threw an arm around Rayleigh's shoulders, laughing heartily.
One hand lifted a bottle high into the air, the other clutching a slab of greasy, aromatic roast meat. His face was flushed red from drink, and even the two wiry hairs on his upper lip twitched with joy.
"We've been through plenty of storms before! Stop worrying, Rayleigh!"
"Let's just enjoy the break. That meddling bastard Garp's stuck out there in the wind—this is the perfect time to relax!"
Roger grinned, taking a big bite of meat.
The rich, sizzling juices burst in his mouth, mingling with the harsh burn of cheap whiskey. The sharp flavor hit him hard, making him narrow his eyes in satisfaction.
"Right, fellas?"
He raised his bottle toward the rest of the crew with a wide grin.
"Hahahaha! Damn right!"
"Party! Party! Isn't this what sailing's all about—throwing a party anytime, anywhere?"
"Strike up the music!"
"..."
Gaban and the rest of the crew burst into laughter, raising their drinks in celebration.
Since boarding Roger's ship, their lives had been anything but stable. Sometimes they feasted, sometimes they went hungry.
And when there was wine today, why wait for tomorrow?
A storm like this? The perfect excuse for a party!
That was what it meant to live like a pirate.
Rayleigh watched the lot of them—drinking, laughing, tearing into meat like wild animals.
The corner of his mouth twitched. He rubbed his temples instinctively.
He could still remember—when this crew first came aboard, they weren't like this at all...
When had they become so carefree? So reckless?
He couldn't recall anymore...
Rayleigh's eyes softened as he stared at their smiling faces, lost in a moment of quiet daze.
"Alright..."
Rayleigh suddenly smiled, discreetly dodging Roger's greasy hand as it reached over to mess with him.
"But really, when it comes to Garp, you never seem worried at all, do you, Roger?"
Roger chuckled, saying nothing.
Rayleigh rolled his eyes and shook his head, though deep down, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The Roger Pirates had been under heavy pressure lately.
Ever since the World Government learned they had collected all four Road Poneglyphs and were close to locating the "final island," the Navy's pursuit had intensified dramatically.
Especially that stubborn old bastard Garp—his offensives had come wave after wave without pause, doggedly hounding the Oro Jackson, giving them barely a moment to breathe.
If it hadn't been for the sudden storm interrupting Garp's advance, they'd probably still be dodging shells and cannonfire right now.
"What the—!? A News Coo actually made it through this storm?"
A surprised voice rang out.
Everyone turned to see a one-armed figure in samurai garb flash through the wind and rain before quickly returning, holding a newspaper sealed in a clear waterproof pouch.
"Oden's gotten even faster," Rayleigh said with a smile to Kozuki Oden.
He was full of admiration for the samurai's incredible swordsmanship. No matter the training or advice given, Oden picked it up instantly—something Rayleigh had rarely seen in his life.
Kozuki Oden humbly shook his head.
"You flatter me, Rayleigh-san. It's only thanks to your guidance and Captain Roger's help that I've improved so quickly."
He raised his head, unfolding the newspaper with one hand as a determined smile formed on his lips.
"If I faced that Marine again now—even if I couldn't win—I'd still have the strength to stand and fight!"
"I'm actually looking forward to our next encounter. I want to test my sword against his 'Indestructible Body' and see just how far I've come... Hmm?"
Oden's confident smile suddenly froze.
His eyes widened. He stared at the front page of the paper in utter shock, pupils narrowing to pinpoints.
"This... this can't be real!"
He staggered back two steps, disbelief written all over his face as the color drained from his skin.
The rest of the crew noticed his reaction and quickly gathered around, curious about the sudden shift.
"What happened?"
"Some kind of major headline?"
"Hahaha! Don't tell me the World Government got blown up or something?"
"Damn it... it actually did!!"
"Whoa! No way!"
"Rogers Daren—that Marine kid—he really went after the Five Elders!?"
"The Flying Fleet... bombed Mary Geoise!?"
"..."
A wave of gasps erupted as the Roger Pirates crowded around Oden, eyes glued to the newspaper in stunned silence.
One earth-shattering headline after another blasted off the page like bombs, blowing their minds wide open.
They stood frozen, jaws practically hitting the cave floor.
The legendary Marine prodigy, once celebrated across the seas, had openly defied the World Government—going so far as to clash directly with the Five Elders, the supreme rulers themselves?
The once-invincible airborne fleet had reemerged, descending on Mary Geoise with overwhelming firepower, leaving the Celestial Dragons' holy land in ruins?
What in the world was going on?
They'd only been evading Garp's pursuit for a couple of weeks—it wasn't even the first time they'd been chased like this. So how had everything outside changed so drastically?
That Marine brat—whose strength had once driven even the Roger Pirates into a corner—was now labeled a "traitor to the Marines" and "enemy of the World Government"? Just like that?