After a long while, the roaring sea seemed to have exhausted itself. The final wave rose a full man-height before slowly settling back down, and the ocean's surface regained its calm.
The shattered ice, having lost sufficient buoyancy due to Ace's reduced size, began sinking gradually toward the sea floor.
The Moby Dick regained full freedom, drifting along as a gentle sea breeze swept across the shattered ice.
Step!
Ace planted his foot firmly on the deck of the massive whale-shaped warship.
He bent down and carefully lifted the unconscious Whitebeard, placing him gently in front of himself.
"Medical team!!! Hurry over!!!"
Ace's shout rang across the deck, and the clatter of hurried footsteps responded immediately.
Several squad captains surrounded the pair, unsure of what to say. Their anxious gazes remained fixed on Whitebeard.
Fortunately, Whitebeard seemed only knocked unconscious by the intense shockwave, and his condition appeared stable.
Soon, a team of fierce-looking medics, mixed with a few statuesque nurses, arrived carrying a massive stretcher. They carefully transported Whitebeard into the ship's cabin for treatment.
The deck was left with only the captains and a handful of crew members.
Brook and Koby stood off to the side, knowing it was best for outsiders like themselves to keep their distance.
Silence lingered for a long time.
Finally… Marco, the Second Division Commander, stepped forward, having adjusted his mindset, and called out solemnly:
"Ace, Captain!"
...
...
Meanwhile, in another part of the New World's Grand Line, Whole Cake Island appeared.
Though an island by definition, its layered structure resembled a massive multi-tiered cake, decorated lavishly with cream and sweets of every kind.
It was the dream of every child: a place to spend a lifetime in wonder.
Yet it was also the stronghold of one of the Four Emperors—Big Mom and her crew.
At the entrance to the cake-shaped castle, various Homies were scattered around like decorative frosting.
Baron Tamago wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, his fear evident as six figures approached him.
"Yo~"
Zoro, nonchalantly slinging Shusui over his shoulder, looked the Baron over with amusement.
"Is this the officer here?" he asked, glancing at his companions.
Usopp immediately pulled out a stack of papers from his bag, flipping through them carefully.
Finally, he paused on a wanted poster in the middle, raising it for Baron Tamago to see:
"That's right!"
"Intel from Doflamingo confirms it. You're Baron Tamago, a combatant of Big Mom's crew, with a bounty of 429,000,000 Berries!"
"Ability…"
Curious, Usopp leaned closer to read the small print at the bottom:
"Baron Tamago is a Devil Fruit user. After splitting, his body can undergo multiple evolutions—a very unusual ability."
Usopp paused and looked toward the ground near him.
A sound of surprise immediately caught his attention.
"Eh!?"
Chopper's face lit up in amazement as he stared at the compass-shaped Baron Tamago.
"Does he evolve too?!"
"Like digital evolution?!"
"Probably not…"
Usopp hesitated. "It's just a Devil Fruit ability, nothing like Chopper's special gift."
Sanji lit a cigarette and stepped forward.
"Digital evolution is your personal ability, Chopper, gifted by Luffy. No one else in this world would have it. You're truly unique!"
"Stop it! Even if you praise me, I won't be happy! Idiot! Baka!"
Chopper twisted his body like noodles, blushing, looking both embarrassed and proud—adorable as ever.
Meanwhile, Usopp's eyes gleamed with curiosity, reflecting on Sanji's words.
"There must be countless strange abilities in this world… Didn't Luffy once speculate that beyond this planet, other unusual creatures exist?"
Sanji nodded in agreement.
"You're right…"
"Alright, everyone!"
"Chit-chat's over. Let's move in!"
"Doflamingo said Big Mom's crew attacked the Vinsmoke family, right?!"
A remodeled Franky urged the group forward.
"Yeah! You big guys are always dawdling!"
Nami, impatient as ever, scolded the crew.
Since learning about the Vinsmoke family, Sanji had been unusually quiet, speaking only when necessary.
Thus, Nami naturally took the lead in coordinating the team.
Even caring for a lost Zoro had her on edge.
Meanwhile, Usopp, Chopper, and Franky—ever the mischievous trio—added to her stress.
Thankfully, perhaps out of respect for Sanji, they quieted down upon stepping onto Whole Cake Island.
"Ah…"
Zoro, as the operation's lead, spoke in his usual calm voice:
"Then let's move in quickly."
This mission was critical—Sanji's family was at stake, and the Starry Sky Pirates took it very seriously.
Three months had passed, enough time for the crew to grow stronger with their "system enhancements."
Zoro, having learned from Mihawk, had stepped onto the threshold of Emperor-level power.
Sanji, the voracious prodigy, kept pace with Zoro.
Usopp, the team's strategic genius, could overcome any obstacle.
Nami, the Dragon-transforming navigator, approached Admiral-level strength.
Chopper, fully evolved, could dominate in the New World.
And Franky, remodeled for maximum defense and raw power, embodied the ideal of manly strength.
Six pirates. Six formidable warriors.
The Starry Sky Pirates had clearly transcended the normal bounds of the pirate world.
While defeating Big Mom's crew entirely might still be ambitious, taking on a single Emperor-level territory would not be impossible.
But as their feet stepped forward…
Nami suddenly shouted in frustration:
"Zoro!!!"
"The main gate's over here!!!!!!"
A sudden gust swept through, buffeting Zoro as he had wandered off in the wrong direction.
Embarrassed, he gave a sheepish grin, shivering in place.
Nami, exasperated, covered her face. How could Zoro, with the gate's sign so obvious, still wander accurately in another direction?
Meanwhile, a terrified Baron Tamago pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket, commanding his remaining Homies:
"Report back to Mama!"
"Something… big is about to happen!!!"