For eight hundred years since the establishment of the World Government, its might and the existing order have been deeply ingrained in everyone's hearts.
Yet in this Summit War, a remnant of the old era named Bob single-handedly defeated the World Government and sank the entire Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines.
All the forces deployed by the Marine Headquarters crumbled before Bob like clay, utterly powerless to resist.
Not just the Marine's strongest, even the Five Elders seemed like feeble chickens in Bob's presence.
The World Government suffered a crushing defeat.
And this wasn't the first time.
Forty years ago, during the God Valley War, Bob had already defeated the World Government once.
He slaughtered dozens of Celestial Dragons and sank their sacred island into the sea.
Over the forty years the World Government spent covering up the truth, Bob remained hidden in the shadows, quietly building his forces.
He formed a grand alliance.
The Supernovas, the Four Emperors, the world's richest man, the Seven Warlords—even the Revolutionary Army—all became members of Bob's alliance.
At this moment, all those oppressed by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons saw Bob as their savior.
His sudden emergence was like a ray of dawn piercing their bleak world.
The pirates sailing the seas now regarded Bob as their new idol to chase.
The image of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, collapsed in their hearts.
But the war's impact didn't end there.
Without a doubt, after the Summit War, the World Government's credibility and power suffered immense damage, both hitting their lowest points in eight centuries.
Within days of the war, uprisings erupted across the East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, South Blue, and the Grand Line.
The oppressed took up arms to rebel against the World Government's order.
The world had long suffered under the World Government.
This battle became the spark that ignited the discontent of the oppressed masses worldwide.
Organizations large and small sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain across the globe.
And in this era, piracy was no longer the first choice for resisting the World Government.
Joining Revolutionary Army was also a choice.
Some even sought to join Bob's alliance directly.
But in the days following the Summit War, no news emerged from Bob's alliance—not even a whisper about Bob himself, as if he had vanished from the world.
Despite searching everywhere, no information surfaced about the alliance or Bob.
People knew, Bob's alliance had gone into hiding, plotting something in the shadows.
*****
Meanwhile, in a grand meeting hall at the holy land of Mary Geoise...
Around a table, the Marine's strongest gathered—except for Akainu who remained hospitalized for his injuries.
The Five Elders sat on the foremost couches, their faces haggard and exhausted, their once-sharp eyes now dull with weariness.
They seemed to have aged decades in an instant.
The atmosphere was suffocating, every face grim with tension.
"Haa…" Among the Five Elders, Saturn suddenly let out a long sigh, the wrinkles on his face trembling slightly.
His gaze swept over the injured high-ranking Marine officers, all wrapped in bandages, before he spoke.
"This battle at Marineford was a complete defeat—not just for the Marines, but for the World Government as well!" As he spoke, he placed a newspaper in front of everyone.
Its contents detailed Morgan's meticulously crafted coverage of the Summit War.
In truth, these newspapers weren't even necessary—the live broadcast had already spread the events of the battle across the world.
The papers merely amplified its reach.
"Not only was our strength crushed, but the World Government's credibility has also plummeted to its lowest point in eight hundred years!"
"You should all be aware of the situation outside by now!"
"Rebellious forces are erupting everywhere, waves of pirates are emerging and Bob's reputation has even begun to overshadow that of the World Government!"
Beside him, Shepherd Ju Peter jabbed his finger violently at the newspaper on the table, sending shreds of paper flying from his fingertips.
Yet, it did nothing to quell the fury on his face.
"More importantly, after the war, Bob and his alliance seem to have vanished, lying low as if they've disappeared!"
"Without a doubt, he's scheming some earth-shattering plot in the shadows!" Mars, his hands crossed over his chest, frowned deeply and spoke in a weak, exhausted voice.
In just a few words, the three elders had laid bare the dire straits of the World Government.
Everyone present wore expressions of extreme distress.
The issues raised by the Five Elders were hardly news to them—the reality was even worse than described.
Marineford had been utterly destroyed, leaving them without even a place to call home.
In the aftermath of the battle, they had fled to Marine branches, hastily bandaged their wounds and then rushed straight to Mary Geoise.
"The situation is even worse. The severe weakening of the Marines has left every branch vulnerable to pirate attacks!"
"And the matter of Bob is spreading like wildfire across the world!"
Sengoku, his hand wrapped in white bandages stained with blood, spoke with visible agitation, his emotions laid bare.
As his words fell, Kong and the other high-ranking officers nodded in grim agreement.
"The reason we've summoned you is to address the aftermath of the Marineford War!" Nusjuro spoke up.
As he did, he instinctively reached for the Shodai Kitetsu at his waist—only to withdraw his hand halfway, his expression growing even more desolate.
Hearing this, a glimmer of hope flickered in the eyes of the Marine officers, their despair momentarily alleviated.
"To quell external threats, we must first stabilize within!"
"The defeat at Marineford and its sinking have shattered the morale of our soldiers!"
"This is the first issue we must resolve!" His words left everyone deep in thought.
After a pause, Nusjuro continued, "The new Marine headquarters... shall be established at G-1!"
The G-1 Branch holds a strategically vital position, directly facing the former Marine Headquarters across the Red Line, serving as a crucial defensive point for protecting the Celestial Dragons.
For the Celestial Dragons, whose prestige and authority have now plummeted to rock bottom, this provides the most immediate protection available.
"Beyond this, the Marines must rapidly expand their forces!"
"Initiate the World Military Draft immediately!"
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