The Grand Line, first half.
Ligal Island, at the port.
The captain of the Wind Sickle Pirates, "Whirlwind" Nigel, was commanding his crew to carry supplies.
At that moment, a strangely mocking voice came from behind him:
"A little interruption, if you don't mind~"
"Would you kindly come put on these shackles yourself~"
"Wanted criminal with a bounty of 58 million Belly, 'Whirlwind' North Nigel~"
Upon hearing the voice behind him, Nigel lightly placed his hand on his sword hilt.
A flash of viciousness gleamed in his eyes.
He drew his sword and slashed backward.
A spinning, cyclone-shaped blade of air roared straight toward Borsalino.
The sharp blade cut through the body.
Borsalino's form was sliced into several pieces and scattered to the ground.
A troubled voice followed:
"Cut into pieces in an instant, huh~"
"How troublesome~"
Borsalino's body then reassembled itself in glowing particles of light.
He raised his index finger, pointing in Nigel's direction.
Golden light swirled in a cross-shaped pattern:
"Well then~"
"Would you kindly surrender~"
"Mr. Wanted Criminal~"
Nigel's face darkened as he watched Borsalino reconstitute—damn it, a Logia...
Both hands gripping the sword were now imbued with power.
Spinning blades of air visibly coiled around the blade.
He took a deep breath, then slashed forward with full force.
A near hundred-meter-long tornado dragon swept through the surroundings, slashing straight toward Borsalino.
The sharp blades tore apart everything caught within the whirlwind.
At the same time, Nigel's figure rapidly retreated toward the pirate ship:
"Drop the supplies!"
"Everyone, retreat!"
The spiraling tornado surged as it charged forward.
Borsalino glanced upward at its height:
"So dangerous~"
"What if someone gets hurt~"
With a light flick of his fingertip, a laser beam of golden light shot toward the center of the whirlwind.
BOOM—
Blazing energy exploded within the eye of the tornado.
A violent heatwave tore apart the massive twister.
Blades of air, scattered within, slashed out in every direction.
Countless houses and buildings were torn apart.
Borsalino looked at the ruined surroundings:
"What a pain~"
"This was a bit too much, huh~"
"Mr. Wanted Criminal~"
With a troubled expression, Borsalino slowly lifted his right leg.
He looked toward the pirates about to reach the ship.
Golden light gathered and flowed over his raised leg:
"Speed is power~"
A whistling sound split the air as a laser fired.
BOOM!!!!!!
A massive explosion erupted just in front of the boarding pirates.
The fireball shot into the sky, many times the size of their pirate ship.
In an instant, the entire ship vanished without a trace.
Only a scorching heatwave remained, roasting everything in its path.
Countless pirates collapsed to the ground in terror, forgetting to even run.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap...
The crisp sound of leather shoes echoed as Borsalino slowly walked forward:
"Now, would you kindly put the shackles on yourself~"
"Mr. Wanted Criminal~"
"Nigel~"
Nigel snapped back to his senses, his expression ferocious.
His long sword glowed with power as a three-meter-long air blade erupted from it.
Several afterimages flashed past.
A barrage of razor-sharp blades surged toward Borsalino.
Borsalino exaggeratedly opened his mouth.
In a flash, he formed a three-meter-long blade of light.
A blinding burst of golden light followed.
Each incoming slash was precisely deflected.
Then he slashed straight at the charging Nigel.
Clang!
The light blade collided with the air blade.
Borsalino looked at Nigel, slowly being pushed down:
"This long journey ends here~"
"Mr. Wanted Criminal~"
The entire port was now engulfed in blades of wind and searing lasers...
...
The New World, Paya Island, port.
A young man in a black coat, slicked-back hair, and golden earrings sat on a crate beneath his ship.
In his hands was the latest newspaper.
Rustle—
The sound of flipping pages rang out.
"Hm?"
Something suddenly caught his attention.
The article described a recent event—
A great battle had erupted over the territories granted by the Three Emperors of the New World to the new generation of pirates.
"Interesting. Too interesting."
"Hahahahahahaha."
"Things like this—"
"How could I possibly miss out."
Crocodile suddenly stood up:
"You lot!!"
The underlings moving cargo looked at their captain:
"Oh!!!"
With high spirits, Crocodile grinned:
"Set sail!!!!!!"
...
North Blue, the island of Pado in the Kingdom at the World's Edge.
At the Bryan household.
Dragon looked at the elderly white-haired woman.
In the end, he didn't tell her that Bryan had died.
Instead, he handed her some Belly.
Told her that this was money Bryan had earned, and that he simply didn't have time to come home right now.
After quietly burying Bryan's belongings beneath the tree, he chatted with the old woman about the island for a long time.
The more he learned, the more he wanted to change this world.
He sighed, glancing at the sky.
He bid farewell to the old woman cooking in the kitchen and stepped out of the courtyard.
As the setting sun sank below the horizon, he turned into a breeze... and vanished.
What Dragon didn't know...
Was that the old woman in the kitchen had, at some point, stopped cooking.
Tears dropped silently, seeping into the floor.
Only after a long time did they stop.
That was because she had no more tears left to cry...
She dragged her rocking chair beneath the tree and lay down, gently swaying.
Beside her was the spot where Dragon had buried Bryan's keepsakes.
She could smell the faint fragrance of the sachet she once made for Bryan.
And softly, over and over, she murmured:
"It's good you're back."
"It's good you came home..."
...
The Grand Line, first half, Ligal Island.
The sun had slowly descended.
Countless unconscious and dead pirates lay scattered across the port grounds.
At the feet of a slightly dust-covered figure—
Lay Whirlwind Nigel.
Blood covered Nigel's entire body, his eyes rolled back, mouth agape.
His faintly rising chest showed he was still barely alive.
Borsalino took out a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Moshi~ moshi~"
"Moshi~ moshi~"
After a while, Borsalino sighed:
"So troublesome~"
"Why isn't anyone picking up~"
...
Several days later.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, conference room.
Fleet Admiral Kong waited until all summoned officers had arrived.
He pulled out a newspaper and a document:
"Alright, everyone's here."
"Let's move to the purpose of this meeting."
"Regarding the pilot trial of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system..."
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