The next morning, at the crack of dawn—
Big News Morgans' World Economic News was the first to break the shocking headlines from Water 7, Enies Lobby, and the Sabaody Archipelago.
The destruction of Enies Lobby, the death of the Chief Justice, the burning of the World Government flag, open war declared against both the Government and the Celestial Dragons, the deaths of Celestial Dragons themselves, even the Marine Headquarters under attack—every outrageous act crammed together into an extended special edition.
Photos of Lafitte mercilessly killing the Chief Justice, of Kuma and his daughter burning the flag in open defiance, of Souta Kiryuu's blade piercing through a Celestial Dragon, and even snapshots of the vanished Enies Lobby—all made the front page.
The news shook the world like a thunderclap.
The World Government immediately called Morgans, trying to buy his silence with mountains of berries. When bribery failed, they shifted to threats, demanding he retract the reports.
But Morgans, unafraid, rejected every form of coercion. He slammed down the receiver, rallied his newsbirds, and had them hoist his entire headquarters into the sky to relocate elsewhere, vanishing before the Government could strike.
The Five Elders were so enraged by his defiance that they dispatched a CP0 strike force to hunt down the "fat bird" and silence him.
Yet it was too late. The news had already spread. They could only scramble to contain the damage, suppressing the shockwaves.
Now, the threat posed by the Kiryuu Pirates had surpassed even the Revolutionary Army. Souta's ideals were fiercer than Dragon's—an open declaration to topple the Celestial Dragons' rule. That was something the Government could never tolerate.
But Souta Kiryuu, Bartholomew Kuma, and Enel possessed powers too dangerous to underestimate. For now, the Government could only raise their bounties sky-high and flood the seas with spies, determined to uncover the base of operations for the Kiryuu Pirates.
Dressrosa – King's Plateau
Donquixote Doflamingo read the news with a storm on his face. Even though yet another Celestial Dragon he despised had died, there was no joy in his heart.
Because Souta Kiryuu was his enemy. And the stronger the Kiryuu Pirates grew, the more endangered the Donquixote Family became.
"They actually destroyed Enies Lobby! And even dared provoke Marine Headquarters?!"
Doflamingo's hand clenched the newspaper tightly, veins bulging across his knuckles and forehead as cold sweat beaded on his skin. He couldn't believe Souta's crew had grown so powerful, so fast.
Their rise was even swifter than Gild Tesoro, the Golden Emperor.
Refusing to do business with them through the Dark World emperors had been a monumental mistake.
But was there still a chance to correct it? Souta Kiryuu wasn't like Tesoro—seizing most of his profits in exchange for cooperation might not sway him now.
Slim though the chances were, Doflamingo had no choice but to try. If cooperation proved impossible, then he would burn every last connection he had to fight the Kiryuu Pirates to the bitter end.
Wano Country – Onigashima
"That brat caused such chaos?! Why the hell didn't he call me?!"
Kaido roared after downing a massive swig of sake. The destruction of Enies Lobby and provoking Marine Headquarters were the kind of wars he longed to join. It could have ignited a world-shaking conflict.
"Big Brother Kaido, that experiment—he killed not one, but two Celestial Dragons. Perhaps even we don't measure up to him."
King the Wildfire's eyes glimmered with growing interest in the "Subject No. 88." Recruiting Souta into the Beasts Pirates burned in his mind.
"Utter madness…"
Fukuro, once a CP9 assassin, couldn't comprehend such audacity. Even after defecting from the Government, he still trembled with ingrained reverence toward the Celestial Dragons.
"Fufufu! The World Government must be tearing their hair out."
Queen the Plague bellowed with laughter. Seeing the Government in chaos was his greatest joy. He himself had fled from MADS and been hunted for years before finding shelter under Kaido's banner.
The New World – Moby Dick
"Oi, Ace! Looks like Souta Kiryuu's name has completely eclipsed yours. Even that Thunder God Enel is being hailed as one of the strongest Logia users of this era, right alongside him!"
Thatch, commander of the Fourth Division, clapped Fire Fist Ace on the shoulder, laughing heartily. Not long ago, Ace had basked in fame after defeating a Warlord.
But now, Souta's name dominated the headlines everywhere.
"I really want to test myself against them…"
Ace's eyes blazed as he stared at the photos in the paper. He burned to see just how powerful Souta Kiryuu and Enel truly were. Ever since defeating a Warlord, his confidence—and his hunger for greater challenges—had swelled.
"Gurararara! If you encounter Souta Kiryuu in the future, show him some respect. Don't get tangled with that kind of monster."
Whitebeard Edward Newgate chuckled, though there was weight in his tone. He admired Souta's ferocity, but he had long abandoned the idea of recruiting men like him as sons.
A ruthless warrior like Souta would only drag disaster into the Whitebeard Pirates. At his age, Whitebeard longed for peace, not reckless wars.
"Yes, Pops!"
The division commanders bellowed in unison, convinced their father admired Souta as a hero. But in truth, Whitebeard feared they wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Behind the crowd, Blackbeard Teach studied the paper in silence. Enel with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Kuma with the Paw-Paw Fruit—if one day he succeeded in his own plan, those Devil Fruits would be prime targets to seize for his crew.
Calm Belt – Amazon Lily
On Nine Snake Island, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock clutched the newspaper, her eyes glued to the image of Souta Kiryuu cutting down a Celestial Dragon. She tore out the photo and carefully framed it, pressing it against her chest as though to treasure his very presence.
"Souta Kiryuu… I truly long to meet you…"
She rushed back to her chamber, stroking a stone statue she had crafted. The sculpture, carved with painstaking care, bore an uncanny resemblance—almost a perfect likeness of Souta himself.
"I wonder how I can ever find him…"
She whispered softly. Souta was now the most wanted man of the age, hunted by the World Government and Marines alike. He would never reveal himself so easily.
Even she couldn't track him down. If the World Government, with all its reach, couldn't uncover his base, how could she?
The Big Mom Pirates, the Red-Haired Pirates, the remaining Warlords, and the underworld emperors—all reeled from the shock.
The Kiryuu Pirates had fully entered their sights now. None dared underestimate them anymore.
And then, on the third day—before the world had even finished digesting the last headlines—Big News Morgans struck again.
The defeat of Warlord Gecko Moria splashed across the front page.
Doflamingo and the underworld kings panicked. Souta Kiryuu was becoming something terrifying, a storm that could descend upon them at any time.