"Jiehahahaha! Long time no see, Captain Rocks!!!"
The Flying Pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, roared with laughter as his voice thundered across the battlefield.
In that instant, the entire Naval Headquarters fell into utter silence.
A heartbeat later—chaos erupted.
"What… what did he just say!?"
"That was Golden Lion Shiki—did he just call that man 'Captain'!?"
"This is insane! Today's gone completely mad!"
"Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom… and now even Golden Lion Shiki!?"
"Who the hell is that red-haired man!?"
"Even if he's aged, that's still Golden Lion Shiki—one of the living legends!"
"He was as famous as the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and Whitebeard himself in the previous era!"
"Three of the Four Emperors—and now the Golden Lion… four monsters, each capable of shaking the entire sea with a single step…"
"And they all call that man Captain!?"
"If he once commanded all of them, how terrifying must that man truly be!?"
"But wait—if they're really the captains from that legendary age, why do they look younger than Whitebeard and the Golden Lion!?"
The voices of Marines and pirates alike trembled in disbelief.
"What in the world is going on!?"
"Not just Whitebeard, but even the old man Kaido…"
"Could that person have been their former captain too!?"
"I don't get it—but if those monsters are calling him their captain, he's definitely not just some ordinary man!"
Even the Fairy Tail mages—Robin, Nami, Vivi, Erza, Mirajane, and the others—stood frozen, their eyes wide.
"Mr. Rayleigh! Do you know who that man is!?"
Koala turned to Silvers Rayleigh, who seemed unshaken despite the chaos.
"Ah…" Rayleigh nodded slowly, his eyes dark with memory.
"That man is the sea devil who once threw an entire era into chaos."
"Nani!? Captain Marco—did you hear that!?"
"The same as the Pirate King Roger… is he saying that man's been resurrected!?"
The Whitebeard Pirates' first division broke into shouts.
"I've heard the story from my old man too," said Diamond Joz, the third division captain, his tone grim.
"About thirty-six years ago, the entire New World was ruled by a single man."
"He was the true overlord of the sea in that age."
"His name… was Rocks D. Xebec."
"Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, Golden Lion—every one of them once served under his flag!"
"Alongside them were other legends—Captain John, Silver Axe, Ochoku…"
"The Rocks Pirates once planned an event that would shake the very world itself!"
The terrible history spilled from the lips of those who had lived through it, freezing every soul on the battlefield.
The air at Marineford grew heavy, as though the world itself was holding its breath.
"No! Impossible! I refuse to believe this!"
The former Fleet Admiral—now Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's military, Kong—roared, his voice cracking with panic.
"The dead can't come back to life! This must all be an illusion!"
From the ranks of the Holy Knights, Figaland Garin screamed, his composure shattered. His eyes, once calm and noble, now glimmered only with fear and madness.
Even the Five Elders, the highest authority in the world, could no longer hide their unease. The war that took place thirty-six years ago had nearly shattered the foundations of their rule—and now, the very monster behind it all stood before them once more.
Under the harsh glare of the broadcast lights, the Overlord of the Sea finally stirred.
Rocks D. Xebec slowly opened his eyes. In the depths of that gaze burned a violent, unrestrained killing intent—a madness that had once swallowed the world.
"Y-you… who the hell are you!?"
A trembling young Marine forced the words out.
"Heh…"
Rocks' lips curled into a grin—sharp, arrogant, and cruel. He raised his arms slowly, as though claiming the heavens themselves.
"Hahahahahahaha!!!"
The laughter was wild and unhinged, echoing across the entire battlefield.
"Little brats of this new era—listen well, and remember my name!"
He bared his teeth, his voice a thunderous roar.
"My name is Rocks! Rocks D. Xebec!"
His words split the skies above Marineford.
"Thirty-six years have passed since I fell into hell itself—but now I've returned! Marine, Government, and the entire World—TREMBLE!!!"
And with that declaration, the age of chaos was reborn.
...
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