Avalo Pizarro, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Byrnndi World, and Sanjuan Wolf — the four former prisoners — exchanged dark looks. Of course they remembered. They had rebelled against Ashveil's principles, refusing to follow his restrictions. That act of defiance was what had led to their brutal defeat at his hands.
"So no," Shiryu continued, his eyes narrowing coldly. "I don't owe Thorne Ashveil a thing. And besides, killing him earns me the privileges of a Shichibukai. The Marines will overlook my crimes, and I'll enjoy power and freedom as both pirate and warlord. Why would I refuse that?"
A bloodthirsty gleam flashed in Shiryu's eyes. To him, piracy meant plunder, chaos, and killing the weak — that was true freedom. Morality and gratitude were meaningless.
Sengoku listened with a deepening frown. These pirates were rotten beyond redemption. Still, his hands were tied. The release of the prisoners wasn't his choice — it was an order from the Gorosei themselves. Until Thorne Ashveil was dealt with, Sengoku had no choice but to endure their existence. Only afterward would he purge them. For now, he remained silent.
Among the new Shichibukai, Bartholomew Kuma stood motionless — his cyborg form a symbolic reminder of the Government's control.
Thus, the new lineup of the Seven Warlords was complete: Shiryu of the Rain, Sanjuan Wolf, Avalo Pizarro, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Byrnndi World, Bartholomew Kuma, and Whitebeard Jr.
Kaido laughed thunderously, gripping his kanabo club. "Hahahaha! I believe you, Shiryu. Just you wait, Thorne Ashveil — when the time comes, it'll be I, Kaido of the Beasts, who crushes you!"
The World Government's alliance was monstrous — uniting Emperors, warlords, and even criminals from Impel Down. With this many powerhouses, plus the five legendary Gorosei themselves, Ashveil's odds looked grim.
Sengoku's voice broke through the murmuring. "You're all allies now. I trust none of you object?"
"I've got no objections," Kaido said with a grin. "Gathering this much strength to fight Ashveil? Hah! The more, the better!"
"Mwah~ mwah~ mwah~ You've really outdone yourself, Sengoku!" Big Mom laughed, her enormous frame shaking. "With all these monsters on our side, we'll crush him easily and take the Sea Stone from Wano for ourselves!"
"Then it's settled," Kong said grimly, his voice cutting through the noise. "Once the World Conscription ends, under the leadership of the Gorosei, we will hunt down and kill Thorne Ashveil!"
The room fell silent. Every face bore the same murderous intent.
---
At that very moment, completely unaware of the Marines' schemes, Thorne Ashveil was peacefully sleeping in his quarters, earplugs in, snoring softly.
Empress Boa Hancock, hearing his faint snores, quietly entered his room to tidy his bed. The faint fragrance of her perfume filled the air.
While she worked, her Observation Haki suddenly flared — something felt off. She turned sharply toward the window, her senses alert.
Outside, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates, along with Mihawk and Doflamingo, were all staring toward the heavens.
High above the Moby Dick, an enormous island floated in the sky, blocking out the sunlight and casting the sea below in shadow.
"Look up! There's a whole island floating above us!" Doflamingo shouted in astonishment.
Hancock's eyes widened. "Someone has the power to lift an entire island… who could possibly do such a thing?"
"Could it be the Marines?" Doflamingo muttered. "They've been recruiting like crazy lately… maybe it's one of their new monsters."
Everyone's attention locked on the sky, wary and tense.
Moments later, Whitebeard himself arrived on deck, his presence commanding.
"Pops! Look!" Marco pointed upward urgently. "That massive island — it might be the Marines coming for revenge!"
Whitebeard squinted, his brow furrowing. "No… that's not their doing." His expression darkened, his tone dropping low. "That's him… Golden Lion Shiki."
Marco froze. "You mean… the Golden Lion? The one who rivaled the Pirate King himself?"
Diamond Jozu's face paled. "What's a monster like that doing here?"
The island's outline became clearer — and then, floating proudly above them, came the figure of a tall man with golden hair, a cigar clenched between his teeth, and two gleaming swords for legs.
"Gurararara ra! Edward Newgate!" the man boomed, his voice echoing across the sea. "I heard your crew's been making waves lately!"
"It really is him… Golden Lion Shiki!" Doflamingo breathed, his grin faltering.
A legendary pirate — one of the few men to stand as an equal to Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard. Some even said that had fate turned differently, he might have been the one crowned Pirate King.
Hancock, Mihawk, Ace, and the others all felt the crushing pressure of Shiki's presence. After decades of silence, the lion had returned to the sky.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, his voice rumbling with restrained fury. "Shiki, you old bastard… I thought you'd faded into history. What business do you have here?"
"I've got nothing to reminisce about with you!" Shiki bellowed from above, his laughter rolling like thunder. The air around him pulsed with power — his Conqueror's Haki spreading like a stormfront.
Whitebeard's own aura flared in response, the sea around the Moby Dick trembling. "Then stop wasting words, Shiki. Show me what you came for!"
______
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