After the memories and the sorrow came unrestrained celebration!
On a nameless island within the territory of the Whitebeard Pirates, a towering bonfire lit up the night sky.
Mountains of giant Sea King meat sizzled on spits, and the crewmates had long abandoned cups—drinking straight from barrels instead, toasting each other with cheerful abandon.
All the tension and grief that had been suppressed were now released in a frenzy of survival and joy.
"Ohhhh! Drink! Eat!"
"A toast to Pops! A toast to Ace!"
"A toast to all our brothers who survived!"
The pirates roared, shouted, and poured their post-battle emotions into the feast.
At the center of the party, two Whitebeards—identical in appearance, one old, one in his prime—simultaneously raised their massive bowls of sake and let out their iconic hearty laugh.
Each held a barrel larger than a man's head.
They stood, sweeping their gaze across the gathered allies.
"Gurararara!"
Their laughter echoed into the sky.
"My sons!
And allies from afar!"
The older Whitebeard looked over the crowd with a booming voice.
"This time, it was all thanks to you!"
The Peak Whitebeard grinned and added, "No need for long speeches! Everything's in the drink!"
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
As their words fell, both Whitebeards threw back their heads and drained their bowls in one gulp!
"Ohhhhhh!"
However, amidst this harmonious atmosphere, a corner of the gathering erupted into a chaotic "battle."
"Hey! That's my meat!"
"I saw it first!"
"Gum-Gum… Rocket!"
"Fire Fist!"
Luffy, Luffy, and Ace were tangled together, brawling over a golden, crispy leg of Sea King meat.
One Luffy's arm stretched out infinitely, curling toward the meat.
The other Luffy's arm did the same, wrapping from the opposite direction.
Ace was surrounded by flames, trying to use fire to drive back his two younger brothers.
"You bastards! That's for Pops!"
"Don't lie! You're drooling too!"
"Exactly!"
The three brothers caused such a ruckus over a piece of meat that it sent everyone around them into fits of laughter.
"Gurararara, those brats are as lively as ever!"
The older Whitebeard watched with loving eyes.
Nearby, Marco rubbed his forehead with a sigh, looking at the trio.
"Honestly... haven't changed one bit."
Vista raised his glass with a laugh.
"Isn't that a good thing? This is just how we remember them."
Amidst the laughter, both Whitebeards set down their drinks and, as if by unspoken agreement, looked toward the corner where Lucian Thorn quietly sipped his drink.
They exchanged a glance and walked over together.
"Lucian."
The older Whitebeard's face wore a fatherly smile as his giant hand gently patted Lucian's shoulder.
"My good son, this time… we really owe it to you."
Peak Whitebeard also stepped forward. He wasn't as sentimental as his older counterpart, but the admiration in his eyes was unmistakable.
"Kid, you did good."
Lucian smiled and raised his glass.
"It was only right, Pops."
That single word—"Pops"—made both Whitebeards pause for a moment, then break into genuine smiles.
"Gurararara! Good! My good son!"
Peak Whitebeard took a massive swig of sake, then looked at Lucian and asked a critical question.
"Lucian, this farce is over now. Rayleigh and I, along with that glutton Straw Hat brat and the green-haired punk, it's probably time for us to head back, don't you think?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to a few nearby ears.
Peak Rayleigh, who was in a drinking contest with Zoro, paused and turned his gaze toward them as well.
"We don't belong in this era after all. We've been here for quite a while... who knows what's happening back in our own time."
"Indeed. We don't belong here."
Only Peak Luffy remained oblivious, clutching the massive leg of meat while ducking away from Ace and the other Luffy's chase, stuffing his face and mumbling, "So good! So delicious!" completely ignoring the topic.
Seeing all eyes on him, Lucian didn't look surprised—he simply smiled faintly.
"No need to worry."
He raised a finger and gently wagged it.
"Time isn't equal."
"Hm?" Peak Whitebeard raised a brow, not quite understanding.
Lucian explained, "To put it simply, although I summoned you all into this space-time, and it may feel like half a day or more has passed here… in your original timeline—"
He paused, then dropped a truth that shocked everyone.
"Only three or four minutes may have passed."
"What?!"
Peak Whitebeard's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Only three or four minutes?"
Rayleigh and Zoro were both stunned as well.
They had endured such a brutal war, witnessed so many impossible events… and yet, in their own world, only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea had gone by?
This…
This was far beyond their understanding.
Watching the shock on their faces, Lucian shrugged.
"So there's no rush. Once the banquet's over, I'll send you all back."
"Gurararara!"
After the brief shock, Peak Whitebeard burst into thunderous laughter.
"I see! So that's how it is!"
He clapped Lucian's shoulder with such force the ground trembled beneath their feet.
"Lucian, your power really is something else! You can even toy with time itself!"
Rayleigh shook his head with a wry smile.
"Truly… the more I see, the less I understand you, Lucian."
Zoro lowered his head again, quietly polishing his blade—but the look in his eyes betrayed the storm of thoughts within.
With no more worries hanging over them, the group let loose completely.
Peak Whitebeard and Peak Rayleigh, two legendary pirates, began going from captain to captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, challenging each to drink-offs and pushing the celebration to new heights.
Zoro was pulled aside by Rayleigh, and though no words were exchanged, their silent drinking contest was a duel in itself, their gazes clashing like blades.
The entire island was awash in joy and laughter.
Lucian didn't join the drinking battles. He walked alone to the seashore, letting the salty breeze wash over him as he enjoyed the rare peace.
The war was over.
Ace had been saved.
Blackbeard was punished.
Everything seemed to be heading in the best possible direction.
But just then—
Lucian's brow furrowed slightly.
His gaze shifted to a patch of distant, calm ocean.
The waves there were surging in a highly unnatural rhythm.
That wasn't caused by Sea Kings.
It felt more like… something was speeding up from the ocean depths, rushing straight toward the surface!
Lucian slowly closed his eyes, unleashing a wave of powerful Observation Haki across that part of the sea.
A second later—
He opened his eyes, a playful arc lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Oh?"
"So you've come after all?"
"Old Man Rayleigh!"